Rome 4
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3rd POV*
Sun has rose in the sky as Luke woke up feeling refreshed. He stretched his body to wave off the stiffness he felt from the uncomfortable bed he laid upon. Amidst stretching, the ray of the sun landed on his face forcing him to realize how late he was. Jerking up from his spot, he hurriedly went to the kitchen wondering whether Lucius has starved.
The scene that greeted him stopped Luke on his track, it was heartwarming to him yet heart-rending at the same time. He spotted Lucius trying to light up a fire while the ingredients for burger revealed themselves on her side. Guessing by the 4 pieces of bun in there, he concluded that she must have included him in the bunch.
This was honestly too cute for Luke, however he forced himself to wake up in his trance and went to Lucius' side. "What are you doing lad?" he spoke startling the child who didn't notice his presence firsthand. She slowly turned her head before jumping on him. Luke swiftly caught her chuckling at the frustration plastered on her face.
Tears were also threatening to fall out so Luke had to calm the child first. "Hey, hey, don't cry. It's fine, everyone had to experience failure first before they become expert at something" he said patting her head. She sniffed trying to prevent herself from bawling, "Why…why doesn't it light?" she grumbled clenching Luke's shirt.
It doesn't look like she was hoping for an explanation but more of a consolation from the person who she considered as her 'Father' figure, more of a Father than her previous one. "Hahaha, no need to be frustrated. I will teach you how to do it. No one can do something at first try, if they can then monsters would be a more fitting name for them" Luke said.
The Father and Daughter spent the morning in hands of each other learning new things from the opposite. The Father is giving new knowledge to the girl while the Daughter is helping the man form new experience in being a Father. It was a sweet scene that would make anyone smile from witnessing it.
Morning passed as Luke opened his business again. Just like usual, it was bombarded with customers waiting for him on line. "Luke! You're a cruel man, how could you be late for an hour?! Our stomachs are now complaining from hunger!" He was greeted by the enthusiastic grievance from the peanut gallery. Luke smiled wryly seeing this, last night's sleep was fantastic, he could not be blamed.
"I'm sorry, I'll give everyone who waited a discount" upon saying that, the complaints has instantly stopped. Everyone had a tight budget so hearing a discount is a marvelous music on their ears. "Hehe, you should have said so. You are really the best!" their annoyance immediately turned into giddy smiles while they complement Luke.
Luke sighed shaking his head clearly used to this situation, he ignored them and just prepared his weapons in this morning fight. While preparing, he kept his ears open to the talks of the people as information is crucial in this time. It would be a huge deal if something occur before him and he doesn't know what the cause of it was.
"Have you heard that 'he' is coming here?" Luke's ears perked up hearing that. "He? Damn, does that mean he already sniffed out this place?" the murmurs continued yet Luke noticed that they weren't mentioning the name of the man. He guessed that the person must be from the higher hierarchy so just by calling his name is already an insult.
"Hey, let me in. What are you talking about?" other people entered the conversation which prompted the first two to hush them. It would be disastrous if someone sell their actions to the person himself. "You know that man who is always meddling with the people in the lower caste? I heard that he already caught gist of this place" one of them restated the start of the conversation.
Upon hearing that, everyone widened their eyes as they turned towards Luke with sympathy in their gazes. Luke who is overly conscious in his surroundings noticed this thing which made him worry, why would they look at him like that? Is it really hopeless? "You guys, care to fill me in? I don't know what kind of man is that, but he must be a sore to my business" Luke asked.
The people looked at each other with difficulty, they are contemplating whether they should jump in this one. Most people backed down making Luke squint his eyes, he really doesn't want to see this scene yet the reasonable part of his mind can't blame them. It is the natural instinct of humans to avoid troublesome situations.
Only one person dared to walk in front of Luke. Luke stared at the man's eyes and saw conviction on it. "Before telling me. Can you give me a reason why you volunteered to be in the danger zone?" Luke asked gazing at him directly. The atmosphere in the area was not it was used to be, it became momentous.
The man didn't even flinch from being under the gawk of many people. He just silently stared at Luke which is enough answer for the young man. "Alright, guys I am taking a break. Please take care of Lucius for a second" Luke gave an apologetic smile to the people who grumbled. However this time, they didn't dare to complain to him as they have no right so.
Luke and the man walked inside the home of Luke that was close to the stall. They both took a seat in front of each other. Luke observed the man first before initiating the conversation, "I see your face is not a familiar one. New to my stall?" he asked smiling at the ketchup riddled hand of the man.
The man closed his eyes as he reminisced about the delicious food he just tasted earlier, it is unfortunate that it won't last long. "It was… delicious. Terribly so" he spoke. Luke saw that he wasn't finished yet so he remained silent giving the man freedom to speak. "I am Ladert, born and raised in this country"
"Your food is indeed tasty, which sadly is the reason for its upcoming downfall" Ladert spoke staring at Luke seriously. "Care to explain?" Luke requested gesturing for him to continue which the man did. "Lumino Verant, a member of the senate under the current emperor. He is infamous for destroying every shop that he deemed a threat to his own business" Ladert started explaining.
"He is a nasty man whose moral doesn't align with that of a human. Most of the higher ups are the same yet he stood out for not even trying to suppress that urge of him" Luke listened carefully afraid of letting a single information miss his ears. Now that this topic is brought here, he has no choice but to take it seriously.
Ladert halted for a second as he shook his head and continued, "That man already brought down tens of shops within this place, and all of the owners were… killed without exception. Lumino doesn't treat anyone favorably for he believed that only he can make Rome's cuisine flourish" he gritted his teeth while explaining this.
Luke got curious about this one because the expression that Ladert is wearing can only be found on those…. "Are you perhaps a victim too?" Luke asked easily afraid that it might trigger the man. Ladert widened his eyes for a second before returning to his normal face. Luke doesn't know whether that was a confirmation or maybe he was just taken aback by the question.
Ladert didn't answered Luke's question as he continued explaining, "That man won't hold back when it comes to pressuring owners. He will resort to any cheap tricks that others might scoff upon for he is from the above. There is no law that will restrain him from doing what he wanted in this place, we are in the lower caste after all"
Luke suddenly got alarmed by the information he heard, there was only one thing that reached his mind at this time. "When do you think he will arrive to my stall?" he hurriedly asked the man who has a difficult expression. "No… no person from the senate has ever graced their presence in front of peasants. There is absolutely no reason for him to come here when he can just order his troops"
"In the whole lower caste, only I know the face of that man" Ladert finished his explanation as he faced Luke. There was no calmness in the face of Luke, he was visibly anxious about this situation. It was just then that Luke realized something crucial, he stood up from his seat and hurriedly went out of the house. He was greeted by the despaired look of one of his customers face as his premonition came true. "L-Luke! Lucius was captured by the guards!"
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