Chương 66: The Virtue's Manor (2)

"Look at that! The boy tells you his name if you ask him… I imagine you've already done it and checked your guest list for today, haven't you?" The woman said while looking at the other soldier with a raised brow.

The man held his breath and said, "I was about to do that, Major!"

Malcom smiled dazed at the lie but the girl making a surprised face said.

"Really? Because I would swear that you were about to do something stupid like attacking one of the people we were supposed to protect!" Saying that, she stared at him, and with a smile, she said, "Don't worry, I promise you will know about me soon!"

And with those words, she signaled Malcom to follow her. They both entered the gate, and walking down the main street Malcom observed the gigantic garden that surrounded the mansion of virtues.

It was a huge place. The house only had four wings, each with 20 rooms, and in its gardens, four houses of which size fit perfectly.

As they walked, Malcolm saw how people moved from one place to another. Tidying up the garden, doing different jobs, or just enjoying the afternoon.

As they advanced, the girl told him, "That wasn't very smart of you."

Malcom looked at her curiously but remained silent.

"Do you understand? Looking for a fight with a level one Mage is stupid!" She said while looking at him with displeasure.

Malcom looked in another direction and snorted before he said, "I did not seek a fight with anyone. He was an idiot. I just pointed that out. Just that!"

The girl laughed. "Well, in my book, that's looking for a fight," She retorted while looking at Malcom. She shook her head then added, "But you should choose your battles better, boy!"

Malcom nodded without paying attention. He was tired of everyone telling him how he should let others pass over him just because he couldn't beat them.

His entire life had been defined by that action, but he was not willing to be belittled by anyone, and if he would have to take a beating for it, then he was willing to.

"You must be thinking now―this stupid woman telling me what to do?" The girl said in a mocking tone as if she was not referring to herself. She laughed before adding, "I just think that it is not necessary to fight every fight. It is exhausting!"

Malcom looked at her strangely. He forced a smile before he spoke, "Maybe you're right. But old habits die hard." That's the truth, aside from the fact that whenever someone mocks him, Malcom could just not calm down.

He released a sigh, "Thank you for saving me, Major!"

"Beatriz," the young woman said with a smile, "That's my name, Beatriz Zans. It's a pleasure to meet you, Malcom."

Malcom smiled and nodded. In a few minutes, they both entered the mansion. It was a genuinely huge place, adorned with all the luxuries anyone could imagine.

The stairs were of refined mahogany with a color that highlighted its material. At the same time, the chandeliers on the ceiling were covered in gold.

On the walls, different hand-painted portraits of all the previous virtues, and at the entrance on the staircase so that it would not escape from the sight of any visitor, a huge painting of the first seven virtues rested on the wall.

When he saw it, Malcolm snorted and, with his typical mocking voice, said, "Good thing this place is not pretentious at all."

Beatriz laughed, "You never really keep anything to you, do you? Jonah must be in his office," she said before waving for the butler gestured towards Malcom. "Can you take him to the Colonel's office, please?"

The butler nodded seriously and then, pointed the way, indicated Malcom where to go.

He looked at the girl and saying goodbye to her.

"Win your next fight. I really like the way you fight, boy," she said with a grin.

He smilingly raised his hand and, following the butler, said goodbye. After a few seconds, they arrived at Jonah's office, when entering.

He looked at a quite simple place covered with books, much more orderly than Mabel's office and less pretentious than the room where Maximo had taken him in the stadium.

There were only two armchairs in front of a nearly empty desk and several bookshelves on the walls. Jonah and Albert were standing by a map that was flying in the air.

"Hello!" Malcom said when he saw them.

When they saw him, the Colonel smiled and, walking towards him, offered a hand that Malcom shook at that moment.

"I wanted your opinion on something, boy!"

Malcom opened his eyes, surprised, and walking along with the Colonel, he looked at the map. It was a huge ruin within a jungle.

The map was highly detailed on the outside, but inside the ruin, nothing appeared. It was like seeing the place from above.

"This is one of the locations that the prisoners gave us. Specifically where my men and I will attack," Jonah explained seriously.

Malcom looked at him with more interest now as he listened intently.

"What do you think? Why would you use such a place as a den?" Jonah asked.

Albert and Jonah looked at Malcom with interest, and the Marked young, thinking for a moment, said, "Not a bad place. Especially with the Mages they have."

Jonah smiled. He looked at Albert before asking, "What are you talking about?"

"It is a very dense jungle. If you have an elemental mage, you'd have a good defense system, especially if it is like the flower woman in the last lair. If you have a shaman mage, you can have the best surveillance system. In addition to such a lively jungle, there must be underground rivers that must connect with the den. Means of escape that cannot be seen clearly and the natural creatures of the forest always work in favor of those who know the terrain."

Albert grinned at that as if he was looking forward to the impending event.

"Listen to me, Malcom. I know you don't like me for being a Virtue. I know you hate the seven of us. But you are a very smart boy. I want to make a proposal to you," Jonah said carefully but seriously.

Malcom looked at Jonah with surprise and interest.

Jonah released a sigh before he continued, "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't choose you as a successor. But I can recognize your abilities, and you yourself discovered a way to fight!"

"Yup, you're good enough to defeat Skyler, and it's clearly not your full potential. You can improve a lot more," Albert added.

Malcom looked at them both, and Jonah seriously said.

"Besides that, you are a great strategist. It was not something that one is seen every day. An intellect like yours is something to be harnessed," Jonah complimented while staring at Malcom. He cleared his throat before adding, "What I mean is that... I want you to be part of my team!"

Upon hearing this, Malcom's eyes widened in confusion.

Jonah clarified, "I want you to be part of the Flawed."