Bab 67: The Word of a Man

Malcom looked directly into Jonah's eyes. That proposition was unexpected. He didn't know what to say.

He frowned when he saw Albert's smile. Malcom was suspicious.

"Why me? There are many people better qualified for this than me!" Malcom said honestly.

Jonah looked at him carefully and then responded, "Of all the things you could say, that question was the one I least expected!"

Malcom looked at him firmly.

"Listen, you don't know me, but my life wasn't all roses and songs. I had to work hard to be who I am," Jonas said with a smile.

Malcom still could not believe what he was hearing.

Jonah added, "It's a long story, but actually, that is why I know what it is to be weak, to have limitations. And that gives you something that few can get! You have it, and that's what I need!"

Malcom looked at him even without being able to understand his proposal. It was the first time in his life that someone in a position of power gave him an opportunity in something.

Yes, Mabel worked with him multiple times, but only because she could make a profit from everything he did.

Still, the more he thought about it, he could not discover what benefit Jonah would get from offering this opportunity.

On the contrary, knowing the system, integrating Malcom in his team and, therefore, in a branch of the army could only cause him problems.

However, he still offered an opportunity for no apparent reason.

Jonah looked, turned to the map, and then continued speaking, "I know it is overwhelming. Take the time you need to think about it."

"Before accepting, consider that this will be a fight. And the work you will have to do will be much more difficult than what you have done so far," he added. His gaze was focused on the map.

Malcom, on the other hand, was staring at Jonah's figure as if he was looking for clues. He studied his face and body language to see if there was something dishonest in his proposal.

He was so immersed in the fact that Jonah was possibly gaining something from all of this that he didn't really consider the proposal they made.

Jonah raised his face and, then looked back at him, "I will receive your answer later when I return from this mission. In the meantime, take care of yourself and prepare for your next match in the tournament."

"Will I not go with you?" Malcom asked curiously.

"Here we go!" Albert said, smiling and leaning back from one of the shelves.

"No! You will not go!" Jonah said before he sighed.

Malcom, forgetting all the conversation they had had a second ago. He frustratingly asked, "Why not? You said I could help find Nora!"

Jonah shook his head. "That's how it is. And you have, but considering the information, this place will be dangerous, we don't know what would be waiting, and taking you in your state would be irresponsible!"

Malcom gave a helpless. He snorted and then asked, "What are you talking about? I can protect myself very well!"

"I know!" Jonah replied. He then looked at the cast on Malcom's arm before he said, "But not now! You're limited, so you won't go!"

Malcom frowned. "This won't mean that I could not figh―"

"It's not that," Albert interrupted. "We know you could fight, but this is different. The first time we let you go with us, we somehow underestimated the enemy, now we could not take any risk."

Malcom gritted his teeth. Albert was not saying it, but he knew that they were treating him as a liability. "But that―"

"Dude, complaining doesn't change anything. The reason you were invited to the team is because of your intelligence. Use it. Change your role with the Colonel and tell me what your decision would be," Albert said.

Malcom inflated his chest to speak but using the reasoning that Albert had given, he understood all the reasons why he was not accepted in the mission.

Also, even if he complained, that would not change anything, and he knew it perfectly.

When he understood that, he released a deep and long sigh of resignation.

"I have never asked anything from a Virtue," Malcom said with a complicated expression.

The Marked one took his hat off his head to run his fingers through his hair. He then continued, full of reluctance, "Hell, I don't even respect you… But I will ask this of you. I will ignore the fact that you are Virtue and speak to the man. If you get Nora, please, protect her!"

Jonah planting his eyes on those of the Marked, nodded and seriously.

"You have my word and that of my team. We will do everything in our power to find your friend and bring her back safely!" Jonah said.

Malcom nodded, and turning around, he began to retreat. When he got to the door, Jonah spoke again.

"Think carefully about my proposal. It would be good for you!"

The boy nodded and calmly walked out of the office. As he walked, he observed the servants of the house walking from one side to the other in their different tasks. They were all very efficient.

His mind did not stop thinking about what work he could do.

Since he was a child, that mark on his arm had limited him. No job suited him, and everyone told him that this was his life.

That he was condemned to always live the same way. But stubborn as he was, he had denied that reality and had managed to excel.

That day for the first time in his life, someone had told him that he needed him specifically for a job.

It was a feeling he had never had, and it certainly overwhelmed him. While he was walking distracted, he inadvertently collided with a person.

Looking up, he saw Beatriz again. The Major gave him a smile despite seeing his cold expression.

"Hello, Malcom! Whatever the Colonel told you seems like shocking news… look at your face," she commented before shaking her head.

Malcom forced a smile. However, this disappeared instantly when he saw Satin and Maximo talking right behind the girl.

When they saw him, Satin frowned instantly. Maximo's indifferent gaze widened.

The leader of the Virtues walked in his direction and asked coldly, "Did you finally decide to leave that absurd tantrum and come to the mansion where you can be properly protected?"