Bab 62: Chapter 60: Deal(1)
Luke looked around the island and noticed the children interacting with someone unexpected: Bell. He suddenly remembered that, even though Bell is hot-tempered, he is usually a good guy and has a soft spot for kids. It's just that, if you get on his nerves, you are really going to get it, just like what Spencer did in the original novel.
Luke slowly approached them and Bell noticed him and looked up at him.
"Hey, let's talk."
Bell blinked for a moment before slowly nodding and going inside the castle with Luke. They sat in the spare room because Nash was sleeping in his own room and he didn't want to wake him up. Luke sat in front of Bell and crossed his arms.
"Let me get this straight. I want you to join us."
"Straight to the point, I see; but what would I gain by joining you?"
Luke smiled at Bell's question. As expected, he also doesn't want useless chatter and goes straight to business. Luke then slowly spoke calmly.
"I will help you with your revenge on the Empire."
Bell's eyes sharpened. He also seemed to be shocked. Why was he shocked, you ask?
'It's because the empire is famous for its witches and witchcraft.'
The empire is what people call a jack of all trades and a master of none, but they do have one specialty that distinguishes them from the others. And it's the witches.
The Arram empire is called God's land since people think that there is no discrimination in that empire and people are treated fairly.
Witches were banished from the land in ancient times because they absorb withered souls and also because of their scary curses. But all of that changed when the empire suddenly started to accept witches, which touched the people's hearts and also the whole continent.
But there is a secret that they didn't know.
Witches in the infamous Witch Tower are basically slaves of the empire. They are abused and force witches to create high-quality potions day and night with only three hours of sleep. The witches could just fight back, but they are blinded by the praise and admiration of the people within the empire that they receive.
They were outcasts and didn't really receive nice treatment or attention in the past, but when they came to the empire, people treated them warmly, which the witches were probably longing for.
But Bell noticed the abuse and tried to escape the witch's tower. He escaped but is still being hunted by the empire to this day. This is also why Bell joined Noah's group, hoping that they would aid him in his vengeance and save the other witches.
But guess what? It didn't happen because of Ash's sudden attack and Bell died in the most miserable way possible.
Luke smiled at Bell, who continued to stare at him.
"Don't worry, I want to help you. I also want to fuck the empire up. They owe me a debt."
'It's actually the Dark Eye but if the empire is in cahoots with the Dark Eye then they are also part of their debt. That's right, I'm going to drag everyone who is related to the Dark Eye down with me.'
Luke smiled gently, almost holy. Bell looked at his holy smile while frowning. He must be thinking about whether he should accept the offer or not. Luke then dropped another delicious bait for him.
"I am going to expose the empire's abuse. I will also put the witches in their proper light. But I need your help to do that."
Bell flinched. He then looked at Luke's calm face with shaking eyes.
"I-I, you'll really do that?"
Luke tilted his head.
"You don't believe me? I am someone who finishes what he started and now I am planning to help the witches and fuck the empire up, I must put it in motion. Am I right?"
Bell came to a halt and considered it for a moment.
'He seemed to be telling the truth. But just what is the empire's debt to him?'
Bell frowned, but he thought that it was none of his business. He can't let this opportunity slide. He is currently powerless, so he needs to grab everything he can. He's desperate.
"I accept."
"Good, now stay here and rest. I'll buy you some... I don't know? Witch supplies? Is that what you call it? Whatever, I'll buy the stuff you need. I also need you to create some healing potions for me. You are free to do whatever you want with the remainder."
Luke turned around, missing Bell's stunned expression.
'The instruments and supplies needed for a witch to create potions and the ingredients are no joke to buy. They're pricey, how could he say that so casually?'
Bell is now starting to wonder who did he just made a deal with and if it is really the right decision.
Luke ignored his concerns and went up to his room. He then saw Nash lying on the bed, still curled up in a ball. Luke just sighed.
'Maybe I'll just do it tomorrow.'
Luke had planned to meet someone today and needed Nash with him, but he decided to just postpone it and let Nash rest. The child just brought up his terrible past, so it must be hard to push him to work once he wakes up. He just turned around and left the room quietly. He then went outside and saw the kids training with Selena and Spencer. Liam and Lina are sparring and Julius is having a peaceful talk with Bell while watering the plants. Luke saw this peaceful scene and sat in a peaceful spot on the island's edge.
'Ahh, so damn peaceful. This is heaven.'
Luke smiled while feeling the breeze hit his face. His hair and black coat also fluttered in the process. Luke looked down and saw the vast blue ocean and birds flying. He wishes that time could just stop for him and his group so that they could enjoy this peacefulness a little bit more, but they can't. War will soon break out and troublesome organizations start to appear left and right.
Luke can't afford to underestimate the Dark Eye. He can't just let rage blind his rationality. They are an organization capable of apprehending an adult legendary beast and, according to Nash's story, their numbers are large enough for him to consider it a disadvantage.
Luke just sighed and decided to put all the thoughts away for a minute and look at the clear blue sky.
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"Do you feel fine now?"
Luke asked Nash who was floating beside him. He then saw Nash smiling brightly at him and puffing up his chest.
"Of course I am fine! I am not that weak!"
"...That's good then."
Luke nodded and looked at Liam, who was standing in front of him. Liam also then nodded. Luke then concluded that they were all prepared and ready to go, and he looked at Nash.
"Let's go. I'll treat you both to a nice restaurant."
"Okay!"
Nash then casts a teleportation spell with glee. They then arrived inside Luke's room in the estate. Luke, Liam, and the invisible Nash walked out of the room. The maids passing by his room were surprised to see him, but Luke ignored them, thinking it was a natural reaction.
They both then went outside the estate and the knights flinched while looking at him before bowing and, again, as usual, Luke just ignored it. When they arrived at the gate, he saw the guard looking at Luke like he was some sort of idol. This is the part where Luke started to frown. He then mumbled unhappily.
"Just why are they staring at me like they've seen a ghost?"
Liam seemed to hear him and answered him.
"I don't think they are looking at you like you are a ghost, brother. They seemed to be staring at us as if we were famous. "
Luke then made an enlightened expression.
"Ah, I get it. They must be looking at you because you are a hero. I should've realized it sooner."
Liam's eyebrows twitched.
"U-uh, I'm not the only one who has become a hero, though..."
"Hmm? What's that?"
"N-nothing."
Liam clenched his fists. Even though it is true that some people are looking at him, most people are looking at Luke. Liam wanted to tell Luke that he deserved to be called a hero too since he had even sacrificed himself, but he managed to stop himself. He noticed that Luke didn't really want to be in the spotlight, so he just let that to himself. He then saw Luke talking to the guard.
"Hey, I want to go out."
"O-okay! Yes, young Master Luke!"
The guard bowed 90 degrees and opened the gate open wide. Luke just thought that since the hero, Liam, was with him, the respect of the people rises which Luke didn't particularly like, but he ignored it. They then exited the estate and made their way to the plaza.
And the scene Luke saw in the plaza was outright horrifying. He was so shocked that he said his thoughts out loud unintentionally.
"Jesus Christ, what is this?"
"Hahahaha!"
"I will save the plaza!"
"Oh no! A monster has invaded and plans to explode! I shall use my wings to prevent it!"
"With a trusty, fiery knight by my side! We will defeat you!"
"Huaaaaa!"
Luke and Liam looked at a bunch of children playing in the middle of the plaza. They wear white wings on their backs and a sword with purple and red blades. Heck, some of them were even wearing black coats. The children played happily while the adults clapped while looking at the adorable children playing.
This might be adorable and cute, but for Luke, it's horror. He felt like crying. Luke could feel his stomach turning from cringe and embarrassment. He then turned his head and saw Liam smiling gently while looking at the kids. Luke felt betrayed for some reason and then heard Nash's excited voice.
· Wow, look! They also have wings and black coats! I also want one! Luke! Buy me one! Can we also buy some for Michael, Josh, Jessa, and Lily? Please?
Luke's face crumpled like a wet tissue at the pleading of the young child beside him. He then sighed and massaged his temples in frustration. He felt stress boiling up inside him. He then answered Nash in a soulless and weak voice.
"....Fine, I'll buy you one."
'Hey, at least on the bright side the Plaza seemed to be restored completely. How does that have anything to do with me?'
"Ah, I also want to buy one brother Luke!"
Luke looked at Liam, who was looking at him innocently. Luke frowned.
"....You want to buy a red plastic sword? You know that it's just a fake product inspired by your aura right?"
Liam smiled brightly and shook his head. He then said something horrifying with an embarrassed face.
"...I want to buy ehem, the wings and ehem, the purple sword."
Luke looked at Liam's flushed face in disbelief. He couldn't believe it. Liam wanted to buy toys when he was a full-grown man and, not to mention, wings and purple toys that were identical to his powers. He then spoke in a serious voice.
"No, those are for kids and not for adults like you. And...."
Luke frowned while looking at the children acting like him and Liam and the others.
"I need to talk with His Highness."
Liam's shoulders sagged as he made a sad face. He then felt Nash patting his back as if to console him. Liam just sighed and followed behind Luke. He noticed that a lot of people were looking in their direction with both admiration and excitement, but Luke didn't seem to care at all and just kept a straight face while walking through the now crowd-less road.
The civilians saw Luke and Liam and immediately made way for them. Luke just sighed and hid his face with his long silver hair. Liam followed behind him while innocently smiling at the people around them, which made the crowd excited and they started to chatter loudly. Luke couldn't take it anymore and looked at the crowd on both sides and spoke in a loud voice.
"Please don't make way for us, just treat us like regular citizens. We don't want to bother you, so just keep doing what you were doing before. "
'So that we won't be the center of attention.'
The whole crowd stopped chatting and looked at Luke, who seemed to be really disturbed by what they were doing. One of the citizens then touched his own chest and spoke with an almost teary expression.
"He just wanted us to treat him like a normal citizen, like anyone else. He is so humble and nice"
The man beside him also spoke in a voice filled with admiration.
"So it is true that he didn't even receive any awards for saving our lives. And he didn't want to bother us at our work and asked us to act naturally."
"Oh, such a humble and admirable hero."
"He saved our lives and the kingdom, but he didn't even ask for a medal or a reward."
People were filled with even more admiration than before. Even though Luke told them to just pretend they didn't exist, they were still making way for him with a more determined and moving expression. Luke felt their more intense stares and sighed. He then hurried to his destination. He can't handle being in an uncomfortable situation anymore.
For some reason, Liam trailed behind him with a brighter smile than usual, but Luke ignored him and almost dashed towards his destination. After a while of fast walking, he finally arrived at his destination.
[Extravagant Adventure Restaurant]
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone