Tristan didn't see them for two years... closer to three now.
He watched the progress of his brother's career through news, but he always tried to keep away from news about his parents.
At first, he feared they would search for him, and at the same time wanted them to. Then he just didn't want to hear them excuse his disappearance from the public...
And praise his brother.
Tristan realized he was gritting his teeth and forcefully relaxed. He took a flute of champagne from the snack table and drank it in three gulps.
It helped a little.
Norah and Harry Hayes went on to greet the host and shake hands with guests, paying no attention to Tristan.
It stung, despite being stupid.
What stung much more was the color of the thread between Tristan and the pair. It was an ugly mixture of red and black from Tristan's side, and colorless from theirs.
Tristan hated and loved them, and they... they didn't know who Tristan Gemello was. Unless they saw him on the news.
'Even my parents don't recognize me in another identity. Tsk. I'm being foolish.'
Tristan forced himself to look away from the married couple and at his empty glass.
'No, I was foolish for a while. For... a long while, I think. I was lying to myself when I thought I wanted to just take revenge on them by rising above their wildest imaginings. No, I just wanted them to... Love me. Heh, if I just come to meet them in my criminal identity, I'd know in an instant thanks to the String Theory talent.'
Tristan didn't want to know.
He set the empty glass aside and went to the exit from the hall, forgetting all about the other guests he could've befriended and the Gossipers with their offer.
'I never stopped to think why would my parents love Tristan Gemello in the first place, no matter what he achieved. I never stopped to think why would my brother feel remorse I wanted him to feel, if he never knew what he was punished for.'
It was like with Jane. But Tristan had less good and ill feelings toward Jane than toward his family. He never needed her to feel this way or that—just stomping on her a little was enough.
Tristan clicked his tongue and opened his status.
'The interfacing skill will let me do some illegal chemistry if I make it high enough. Chemistry is far from easy. At the very least, it might give me more insight on whether it's possible to tamper with Chief's car without it being noticeable later.'
[Interfacing skill increased from 1003 to 6003.]
[Interfacing rank increased from Great to Impossible!!.]
[New talents are available in the shop!]
As the flood of knowledge hit Tristan's head, he understood he did everything right—but he needed more. To kill, he needed to know how to heal.
[Medicine skill increased from 203 to 5203.]
[Medicine rank increased from Fine to Impossible!!.]
[New talents are available in the shop!]
NOW he had it.
Tristan smiled.
The things he could do now... No wonder the system put two exclamation marks next to that skill rank.
The ideas that flooded his head were so exciting that he delayed going to the shop to enter the Darknet instead.
He was going to shop for chemistry ingredients, many of which required special permission to buy.
Others were easily bought in any drugstore.
Tristan had a long list of things he wanted to buy, and besides them...
'I will need a chemistry lab and a way to administer the poison. Should I just level up my skills and do it all myself?..'