Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]
Chapter 193: The Hidden Truth

Chapter 193: The Hidden Truth

Rocco sensed the tense atmosphere and immediately turned paled.

He looking up at his father, who held him tightly in his arms and tilted his head in confusion.

What was going on?

There was no doubt about it—everyone was hiding something from him.

He tried to appeal to his father with a pleading gaze, silently asking, Tell me!

However, the man’s expression remained completely unreadable.

Ugh... this is impossible.

Trying to win a poker face contest against his father was a battle lost before it even began.

With no other choice, he shifted his gaze toward Strasbourg and Philip.

But Strasbourg simply kept his usual bright smile, while Philip quickly averted his eyes at lightning speed, as if caught in the act.

Seriously?!

This is basically an open declaration that there’s something they can’t tell me!

Puffing out his cheeks in frustration, Rocco took a deep breath, ready to demand answers.

"Hey... Enough already, everyone—"

However, before he could finish his sentence, the door to the office suddenly opened without a sound.

Whoa—!

I didn’t even sense anyone coming!

"Father, I have returned—... Wait... Rocco?"

The one who entered was Sylas while carrying what seemed to be some important documents.

Oh? What’s this now? Is Sylas in on this secret too?

The moment Sylas spotted him, his eyes widened in shock, as if he had seen something completely unexpected.

What’s with that reaction?

What exactly is going on here?

Still frowning, Rocco crossed his arms and pouted, watching as Sylas who is seemingly struggling to grasp the situation, approached him.

"Rocco? Why are you here? You weren’t supposed to be able to leave your room."

At those words, the three adults in the room—his father, Strasbourg, and Philip—visibly flinched.

Rocco, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes in pure outrage.

Oh, I definitely did NOT just hear that!

"...Not supposed to leave?"

His voice dropped low, sharp with suspicion.

"What do you mean by that, Brother? Were you locking me in my room?"

Sylas stiffened, sucking in a sharp breath.

His expression screamed, I messed up.

But it was too late.

Rocco’s anger was on full display as he scanned the room, waiting for an explanation.

No one met his gaze.

Some averted their eyes awkwardly, while others tried to cover it up with forced smiles.

Even his father remained silent, his lips pressed together in a firm line.

Realizing he wouldn’t get answers sitting still, Rocco swiftly hopped off his father’s lap and marched straight to the center of the room.

Standing tall with hands on his hips, he glared at them all before demanding: "Where are Georgio and Ragar?!"

As Rocco spoke with such intensity that his voice nearly cracked, everyone flinched and lowered their heads.

Puffing his cheeks in frustration, he glared at them before finally turning his sharp gaze toward Sylas.

His voice rose as he demanded answers.

"Brother! Something happened, didn’t it? What exactly is going on?! Does this have to do with Georgio and Ragar? Tell me, Brother!"

"...Rocco, that’s—"

"You said you’d tell me once things settled down! I remember it perfectly!"

Frustration boiled over, and he stomped his feet angrily.

The reason his chest felt so tight, the reason he was raising his voice—it was because he knew.

Something bad had happened to Georgio and Ragar.

Or maybe... at least one of them.

Everything pointed to it.

The tense conversation he had overheard outside the office.

The way everyone was desperately trying to change the subject.

And most of all, Sylas’s hesitation.

Sylas never broke a promise.

If he was wavering now, that could only mean one thing—the truth would hurt Rocco.

That promise, whatever it was, was something Sylas feared would bring him pain.

Sylas was kind to him.

He always tried to protect him like a true older brother.

That’s why Rocco could immediately sense his hesitation.

Because deep down... he understood that expression all too well.

A gentle lie, meant to shield him.

The conflict in Sylas’s face said everything.

"If something happened to them, then I’m leaving!" Rocco declared, puffing up his chest. "I’ll go on my own! I’ll find Georgio and Ragar by myself!"

"—! Wait, Rocco—!"

Just like when he had shaken off the guards earlier, Rocco bolted through the office, aiming for the hallway.

However, the moment he tried to dash out, he was effortlessly caught.

Sylas snatched him up without breaking a sweat.

It was so smooth and so effortless, that it only made Rocco’s frustration burn even hotter.

It felt like Sylas was silently saying, No matter how hard you resist, I can stop you whenever I want.

"Mm—ugh—grr... Uwaaahhh!"

"Rocco, don’t cry..."

"I’M NOT CRYING!"

Tears and snot ran down his face as he yelled, completely contradicting himself.

Sylas adjusted his grip, holding him tightly like one would hold a struggling puppy, then gently patted his back.

The way he soothed him, as if calming a child, only made Rocco’s face burn even redder with frustration.

"Sniff... Uuuh... Brother, you idiot...! You big idiot! Stop hiding things and just confess already...!"

"...Yeah, I’m an idiot. You don’t have to forgive me. But please, try to understand. I just don’t want to hurt you, Rocco."

Rocco flailed his fists in a feeble attempt to land some punches, but Sylas made no move to dodge them.

Even as he looked down at Rocco’s tear-streaked, pathetic-looking face, there was no sign of mockery—only quiet concern in his otherwise unreadable expression.

Instead of pushing him away, Sylas cupped his cheeks, his palms warm and gentle as he wiped away the tears still rolling down Rocco’s face.

The soft touch made Rocco’s strength drain from his body.

But no matter how much Sylas pleaded, Rocco wasn’t going to just nod and say, Okay, I understand!

Not this time.

This was about his family.

Even if he couldn’t fully grasp the situation yet, one thing was certain—something bad had happened to Georgio and Ragar.

Which meant he couldn’t back down.