---
Snake leaned forward and rested one hand against John's shoulder. The touch seemed simple, like a teacher checking whether a student was injured.
John felt a small pulse of mana enter his body.
It did not hurt.
The mana moved near his core, then stopped before reaching the void.
Snake's fingers remained there slightly longer than necessary.
John looked at him.
Snake removed his hand.
"Your mana is stable," he said. "But your core is under pressure. Do not force another advance too soon."
John accepted the explanation, but a small part of him remained uneasy.
Snake appeared caring. He gave useful warnings. He protected John from powerful people. He had never demanded anything, not the shop, or the gun designs.
Still, Snake always seemed to understand more than he should.
John stood.
"Thank you for the token."
Snake nodded.
"Use it before you become surrounded, not after."
John and Fizz left the office.
As they descended the tower, Fizz looked back twice.
