Hugh exited the corridor through a different pathway.
The sirens of an intruder alert blared around the whole villa at the very moment they appeared, before they tore down the metal gate.
While the others proceeded towards the master room, Hugh strolled down the swirl of hundreds of marble stairs leading down to a basement.
Squeak—
A pure cry of a squeaky toy echoed down and up the rounding staircase.
He knelt down, picking up the object he stepped on unintentionally— a squeaky toy bear.
Sliding it into his oversized pocket, he continued his journey downwards to the unknown.
——————————
Thirty and more people crowded in the pretty small facility, exchanging gradually faltering comfort and encouragement to the younger children.
This is a safe zone for the protection of the royal bloodline in case of an attack from an enemy. The adults acknowledge that the leader of their bloodline does not do clean business, but even if they request for changes or objections, it would be useless.
"Shh. Someone is here."
"Is it our guard uncle Joe?" A child asked innocently.
She didn't understand the importance of lowering her voice in this grave situation, which was therefore heard by Hugh, word by word.
As the lightly barricaded door creaked open, a shadow formed under the contrast of the faint light.
The large shadow imprinted in the wall increased in size and the people realized that the shadow definitely did not belong to one of their men.
"Squeak squeak!" Instead of a monster pouncing out, a little teddy toy protruded from the side of the wall, squeaking delightfully as if ensuring the safety of the people here.
"Ted!" A little boy escaped his mother's grasp abruptly, chasing for the precious toy he dropped on the hurried way down.
"Here you go little boy." A huge hand gently placed the toy in the boy's tiny hand, creating a vivid contrast.
The boy hugged his toy, raising his head to observe the features of the bald man. "Thank you! Are you here to save us?"
Hugh scanned the whole room of the panicking people. He disliked the faces of worry and fear towards him, a stranger.
"Please. Don't worry. You're all fine. I won't do anything." As the heavy atmosphere dispelled a little more, he continued with a more genuine tone. "Evacuate orderly and you'll be safe. I swear..."
It was not a very good time to see the man who organized a massacre and caused the death of his parents during his childhood.
Chris Rent, the only Warrior out of these commoners, cowering behind women.
Luckily Hugh has already given the bear back to its original owner, or else it would have been squashed in his palms from the emotions causing rampage in his heart.
Makes sense. Chris Rent, whom father accepted as a brother, was after all, the monster who stabbed a lethal weapon into his father's back when father was completely unaware of his unsatisfying greed for the family treasure.
He barely contained the tremendous rage building up, spitting out a few stiff words. "Go evacuate now. Go along the isle carefully and freedom is yours."
With subsiding dubiety, the first man left, then a second woman, then went by people in groups.
He saw Chris Rent nearing him, crouching behind two woman for cover. So weak. So vulnerable. Hugh knew he can crush the man's skull in an instance. And he wanted to.
Hugh felt the earth between him rumble. The earth deep beneath the ground reached equilibrium with the fury he is experiencing. It was without a doubt that he thirsted for Chris Rent's blood as tribute to his family.
But... in front of the children who were climbing up his massive build as a playground despite their parents cautious warning, as well as the child holding Chris Rent's hands, it's not something he can do even though he is a mercenary. A cold blooded mercenary who killed for money.
Yes. He could not do it. It would disobey the regulations he follows, disbanding the core value that keeps him from tilting too far to the point of no return.
He will spare the people he abhors, just to protect the holy innocents from the gore scenes of a violent, revengeful payback, and to prevent a child from experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Chris Rent deserved death, but the children do not deserve the sorrow of losing a loved one.
He has brutally killed the sick bastard who took away his brother's life. All was left in his heart is nonsensical fiery vengeance. He can forgive himself for reaping a person who is maniacal enough to murder a child, as it is seeking purposeful justice, but he won't forgive himself if he went on slaughtering for a desire.
Maybe it's time to forget the past and move on.
As Chris Rent brushed past this dangerous man, safe and sound, his intensely tense muscles relaxed slightly.
Suddenly, his feet stepped into a concave, tripping over the protruding piece of earth, catching off balance.
"Woah sir! Are you alright?"
Hugh grabbed his by the arm, smiling mischievously. A milky substance emitted from his palm.
When a bottle is filled to its brim and excess liquid is still forced inside, there are subsequently two possible scenarios.
One. The cap is uncapped, so the liquid can overflow elsewhere. The bottle is unscathed, the containment area increased.
Two. The bottle breaks. And the liquid leaks. The bottle is still fine as a bottle, but broken so no water can ever be placed.
No matter how strong a container is, once it leaks, it becomes normal like any other vessels that store things.
Meridians and Aura share a common relationship.
———————————
"We've only got a few questions for you." Atlas sat crossed legged on the mat, holding the chain like a leash.
Nova dragged out the Axonn named Zhafir whom they beat up a while ago.
"Where did you get him from?"
"He is an independent mercenary!"
Barnes Rent glared at him. But the eyes tells the truth.
Atlas saw the fear quivering in his wavering pupils.
Cling!
Atlas heard a very robust slash, filled with fury. In the corner, revealed a cage, hidden in the white wall.
Four female lay unconscious on the bottom of the metal cage, one of them clearly still underage. They were sound asleep. From the frequency and amplitude of breathing, they were drugged before brought to that cage.
Blade stood there emotionless, creating another slice for an opening in the cage. He was furious. This is the doing of the leader of a glamorous family?
It was not just crossing his line, but to the all the others too, because Infuriation consumed the whole atmosphere gradually.
"How well do you feel pain?" Nova crept up, wearing a deep yet bland smirk.
His parazonium illuminated eerily dark under the golden light of the chandelier hanging in the ceiling.
Double penetration to his heart and Barnes Rent broke down instantly.
"Please. I don't want to die! Did I kill your family by accident? Please, give mercy! I have money! I can pay you! My company? You want my company? I'll give it to you. I'll sign a contract. No! I'll give you cultivation techniques! Many powerful move sets you can perform!"
Despite all the alluring offerings, Atlas and the others didn't budge their will one bit.
Forgive a cowardly crook who does the most nefarious things? Not gonna happen.
Atlas squatted down, keeping his eyes in line with Barnes's. "I don't want anything. I just need to know, where did you find that bodyguard for your son?"
"Dad? Help..." Bob flailed weakly in the sturdy rope that came in handy of binding him.
"Bob... Bob! Bob!" As his eyes laid onto Bob, he was stunned for a few seconds, before yelling insanely while bobbing his head. "I'm not scared! Why would I be afraid! You are all dead! Dead! You hear me! Even a god won't be able to resurrect you from the wrath of the Sinister Scales! Hahaha!"
Bob frowned at his father's reaction. Nothing felt right. The attitude has altered. Did he just sense, his father displaying an emotion that can be categorized as fear towards his own son?
"Sinister Scales?" Atlas lifted him up by the chain around his collar. He has spoken the key word. "How do they associate to any of you? Or to your son?"
"He's not my son."
These four words spread across the room, amplifying due to the utter silence.