Aris lowered his head, his mind clouded with confusion and emotional turmoil. All this time, he had tried hard to escape his past, but deep down he knew that shadow always trailed behind him. Not only that, frustration and anger surged as he looked at Juro—the man who acted as if he carried no burden for his past actions.
"Don't mess with me, you bastard! You're acting like this has nothing to do with you! At the very least, show some remorse or an apology in any form! But instead, you act like you did nothing wrong! And now you want me to join you just because you say my father told you to look after me? You think I'll just believe that?!"
The people inside the bar went silent for a moment, then started whispering softly. "Hey, look who that is... Daring to speak like that to Juro... a special-ranked mercenary."
But Juro only laughed—a loud and unexpected laugh. Aris stared at him, seething. "What the hell are you laughing at?!"
"Well, you really are as unpredictable as Raegar, your father," Juro said, then suddenly his tone shifted to something cold and pressing. "Now, lower your voice, kid. I'm still not someone you can challenge."
Aris gritted his teeth but eventually sat back down. Juro then pulled something from inside his coat—a letter. He placed it on the table. "Will this serve as enough proof?"
Aris glanced at the letter. It bore his father's official seal. His expression softened. He nodded slowly. "...You still need to apologize. Or at least make amends for what you've done. Also... how did you know my father?"
Juro leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before he began to speak, as if flipping through a long-buried memory.
"About twenty years ago, when the first war broke out, I was just a regular mercenary. My team and I were assigned to collect mana minerals from a mine on the eastern border. The place was still wild, untouched by the full control of any kingdom."
"Then, we ran into forces from the Kingdom of Thalassos. They were led by a young commander—Raegar. Their goal was the same: secure the resources. But our differences in status and interests led to a clash. That battle..." Juro chuckled lightly, though there was a bitter note of nostalgia in his voice. "My spear met his sword. We tore up most of the mining valley. In fact, the map of that region had to be redrawn because the topography changed completely."
"My men and Raegar's soldiers were forced to retreat. They couldn't keep up with our fight. And when we were finally exhausted, both of us collapsed in the middle of the ruined land, and we started talking."
"'You're not just some soldier, are you?' I said, sitting on a large rock, gasping for air.
"'You're strong too. Which kingdom are you from?' Raegar asked, wiping blood from his temple.
"'Are you joking? What do you mean, kingdom? Don't you see I'm not wearing any uniform? And you must be from cursed Thalassos with an affinity for water that strong.' Raegar replied, 'So you don't serve any kingdom?'
"'How about we strike a deal? With our abilities, we could make real change.'
"'This kingdom is too corrupt. I know it. I can't trust anyone in the palace.'
"'But you still work for them.'
"'For now. But I want to change it from the inside. I need someone outside the system. Someone who knows how to work in the shadows.'
"'You want to recruit me?' I asked, surprised.
"'I want us to build something. A free organization. Not tied to any kingdom. Seeking truth and rooting out corruption. I'll fund it—you run it.'"
"That's how Veritas started," Juro said, returning to the present. "Within three years, Raegar became a War Saint, then was blessed with a child—you. He also rose to the rank of Archduke of Cean, infiltrating deeper into the noble circles. And Veritas grew in the shadows—I managed its people, kept its secrets safe, and ensured information flowed."
Aris remained silent for a long time, his eyes fixed on the wooden table, the edges of which were starting to wear down. He knew now that his past was much larger than he had ever understood. And now, he stood on the edge of a life-changing decision.
Juro stared at Aris deeply, then said, "So really, it's just like you're joining your father. And as an apology for not recognizing you back then and making you kill Sylas—who was supposed to be my target—I'll speak with some of the grudge-holding kids in Veritas. Also... I'll teach you Origin Power to replace the Blessing. How about that?"
Aris let out a deep breath and looked Juro straight in the eyes. "Alright... But I have a few conditions."
Juro raised an eyebrow. "Name them."
"First, I want to be able to contact my father through Veritas' secret letter network. Second, I won't be bound to any mission that goes against my conscience. Third... if one day I feel like this isn't worth it anymore, I'm free to leave—no pursuit."
Juro was silent for a few seconds, then gave a faint smile. "Bold demands. But honest ones. Very well, Aris. I accept your terms."
Aris nodded slowly. A new chapter of his life had just begun.