Chapter 34
After politely asking and then torturing the Mayor, and his men, Lucas and Blake finally got the information they came for.
They discovered who was responsible for Natalie's kidnapping, and the truth surprised them.
When they asked why it happened, the reason was both simple and foolish, making the whole situation seem pointless.
Blake shook his head in disbelief at how something so stupid could cause so much pain.
Blake could have wiped out the small army in seconds using powerful magic, but he chose not to.
Using such spells would draw too much unwanted attention.
Instead, he used a little of his mana to heal his minor wounds while Lucas finished speaking with the Mayor.
"Killing a Mayor would create too many problems for us," Lucas said, his eyes shifting toward the carriage where the Mayor's wife and child were hiding.
"So I'm going to ask you one question. Answer it truthfully—it's the only way you and your family walk away from this alive."
The Mayor shook, terrified. Lucas asked, "Did you harm Natalie?"
"No, sir, I did not," the Mayor replied, kneeling before someone much younger than himself.
Lucas was only fifteen, but the Mayor knew better than to disrespect someone from the Hidden City.
"I only followed orders. I sent her to the hideout. The next thing I heard was that she had returned and everyone at the hideout was dead."
Lucas watched the flow of mana within the Mayor, sensing no lies in his words.
Even so, because the Mayor had been involved, Lucas could not let him live.
When the Mayor looked up, he saw Lucas gazing at the moon, and then at a headless body on the ground beside them.
The Mayor was dead.
Blake had finished healing himself and walked over. "What about the two in the carriage?" he asked.
"I'll take them with me," Lucas said with a sigh.
"If they return to the city without the Mayor, they'll be cast aside. I'll look after them."
Blake's voice was cautious. "Lucas, you must sense it too—the little girl has a mana core, and so does her mother. Bringing them into your home could be like signing your own death warrant. If they grow stronger, will you be able to stop them from trying to kill you?"
"Is that why you didn't want me to kill that man? But his family aren't cultivators," Lucas said.
"Many of us die because of our arrogance," Blake explained, looking away into the distance.
"We think only those with a mana core can be a threat. But even people without power can defeat us if we let our guard down. We start seeing ourselves as gods, and that pride will be our downfall one day. Always stay humble.
Remember, we are all the same we eat, sleep, breathe, and will die one day. The only difference is we may live longer or go without food for weeks, but in the end, as long as death exists, we are all mortal."
"I trust your judgment," Blake finished. "But don't regret this decision, big bro."
Lucas was stunned.
These were the same words Blake had once spoken to the sub-leader of the Abyssal Moon.
That group, like many powerful cultivators and even the Kings of the Hidden Cities, saw themselves as gods above others.
After awakening his mana eyes, Lucas knew he could reach incredible heights of power.
But the hard truth remained: no matter how strong he became, he would always be mortal.
"Huh…" Lucas murmured, watching as Blake began digging graves for the dead soldiers around them.
After a moment, Lucas turned and approached the carriage.
He opened the door gently.
Inside, the Mayor's wife held her daughter tightly.
The woman had beautiful orange hair and striking eyes.
She was in her mid-twenties, and even her modest dress could not hide her graceful figure.
Her daughter was a small, cute girl, trembling with fear after hearing the screams outside.
Lucas took a deep breath and removed his mask.
"I am sorry for everything that happened today. My name is Lucas, from Hidden Sky City. What you witnessed was the result of a mission, and the punishment for the sins of those men and the Mayor. I won't ask for your forgiveness, but I know if you return to your city now, you will be thrown out onto the streets."
He paused, looking at them with gentle eyes. "So, miss, would you allow me to help you and your daughter? You can live in my manor in Hidden Sky City, just as comfortably as before. In return, you would take care of the household. You will both have my protection I promise. What do you say?"
The woman did not answer right away.
She stared at Lucas, this fifteen-year-old who had just caused her husband's death, her eyes full of terror and confusion.
Finally, she whispered, "What will you do if we say no?"
Lucas smiled kindly. "Then I will take you back to the city and give you a million coins. That should be enough to live well for some time."
The woman was shocked. She studied his face, wondering if he was serious. "Why?" she asked softly. "Why would you do this?"
Lucas chuckled and sat down on the carriage step. "Why not?" he replied, answering her question with one of his own.
He smiled at the little girl, then turned back to the mother. "If one day you wish to kill me for what happened, that is your choice. I will defend myself, and if I lose, I will die. But right now, my only intention is to help you. After that, I leave things to fate, hoping you will both be okay."
He continued, his voice sincere. "I do not want to abandon you. So my only option is to offer a helping hand. But the choice is yours. Truthfully, I could leave you both here to die and never look back. But I would regret it. I would also regret leaving you to suffer in that city. Because from the moment I saw you both, you reminded me of someone I lost long ago."
Lucas met her gaze steadily. "I am not a kind person by nature, but I am kind to those around me. So, miss… what will you do?"