第22章 第22章

**The 22nd Chapter: The Betrayal**

As the night fell on New Venus, Lemuel Xio's unease grew. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Nova was hiding something from him. He decided to pay a visit to the secretary, hoping to get some answers.

As he arrived at the secretary's office, Lemuel noticed that the atmosphere was tense. The secretary, a tall and slender woman with a cold demeanor, greeted him with a stern expression.

"What can I do for you, Lemuel?" she asked, her voice dripping with reserve.

"I'm here about the information Nova shared with me earlier," Lemuel said, trying to sound nonchalant. "What's going on, Secretary? What's Nova hiding?"

The secretary smiled, but it was a cold and calculated smile. "Nova is just being cautious, Lemuel. She's trying to protect you from getting involved in something that's beyond your capabilities."

Lemuel's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? What's Nova hiding?"

The secretary leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with a hint of malice. "Nova is hiding the truth about your past, Lemuel. She's hiding the truth about your identity."

Lemuel's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about? What do you mean?"

The secretary leaned forward, her voice taking on a sinister tone. "You're not who you think you are, Lemuel. You're not even human."

Lemuel's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about? I'm Lemuel Xio, a hunter from the Galactic Federation!"

The secretary laughed, a cold and mirthless sound. "You're a puppet, Lemuel. A puppet created by the shadows to do their bidding. And Nova is hiding the truth about your past, the truth about your true identity."

Lemuel's mind reeled as he struggled to process the secretary's words. He felt like he was being pulled apart, like his entire reality was being torn apart. He looked at the secretary, his eyes blazing with anger.

"You're lying," he growled. "I'm Lemuel Xio, and I'm a hunter. I'm not a puppet, and I'm not going to let you manipulate me."

The secretary smiled again, her eyes glinting with a hint of triumph. "We'll see about that, Lemuel. We'll see about that."

As the secretary's words hung in the air, Lemuel felt like he was being pulled into a vortex of chaos and confusion. He knew that his entire existence was being turned upside down, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face the truth.

The chapter ended with Lemuel's eyes fixed on the secretary, his mind reeling with the implications of her words. He knew that he had to find out the truth about his past, but he also knew that he had to be careful. The shadows were closing in, and he wasn't sure if he could escape their grasp.