Modern war is the most highly developed of all sciences. We have perfected our weapons but failed to perfect the men who use them.
Pablo got to know Seraphim had a different kind of military and a division called the Abyssal Butchers.
"That's a heavy name." He commented.
Luke nodded and moved a few steps back from Pablo. Now he wasn't just beside Pablo's ears, at least.
His palms were not joined as well so Pablo deemed himself safe for now.
"Why were you scared to tell me all this? Isn't this just simple information?" Pablo asked.
"It is simple information, yes. But the doings of Abyssal Butchers and the whole military should be kept secret. No one is allowed to talk or reveal anything about it. If one is found telling something about the military, a fate worse than death awaits them." Luke revealed.
"I see. So Military is a big deal here. I get it. So how do I join it?"
"Heh. Not anyone can join it. They look for some specific traits in individuals and then give them a chance. I don't know the full details of their selection process but I surely know you have to leave this slum, Desper, to get a chance."
Pablo nodded. "One more thing. What is Ego? Tell me about it too."
"You don't know about Ego too? That's common knowledge all around the world. Everyone knows it."
"My memory is hazy. Those men hit me on the head. Just tell me."
Luke sighed but answered anyway.
"Everyone starts creating their Ego as soon as they are born. And when they turn eighteen, their Ego finally awakens and grows stronger as they keep growing up. Ego depends on the beliefs, attitude and will of the individual till they are Eighteen years old.
I am sure you haven't awakened your Ego yet as you didn't use anything like that. I guess you are not Eighteen yet. Once you turn Eighteen, go outside this slum and make your Ego tested. That's all you should know."
Luke stopped speaking and stared at Pablo.
"I hope you are not lying." Pablo said.
"There is no reason to lie. Everything I said is true."
Pablo glanced at his right side.
"Is he telling the truth? You must know something, right?" He asked Cupid in a low voice.
"I don't know much about the Military but he is right about Ego. He told the truth." Cupid answered.
Pablo nodded and focused back on Luke.
"The city we live in, it's called Numb, right?"
"Yes."
"Who governs this city?"
"Governs? Do you mean who rules this city?"
"Well, yes. You can say that." Pablo was just asking about the people at the top of the City.
"The Count of this city rules here. Every city has a Count and I don't think I need to explain the entire hierarchy to you now. But you should know, this slum, Desper, is a lawless area. It's where people like us, with nowhere to go, live. Everything is allowed here. Every city has lawless areas like this."
Pablo nodded. "Thanks for telling all this."
"Now can I have her back? She looks pale." Luke said, walking towards his daughter.
Pablo saw Luke's palms and they seemed normal so he let the man come closer to him.
Luke came and stopped just in front of Pablo and Betty.
Pablo slowly unwrapped his hands around Betty's neck and as soon as Betty found herself free, she hopped on Luke.
"You are safe now." Luke embraced Betty around his chest and Pablo watched their reunion with a straight face.
Luke looked at Pablo with a warm smile on his face.
"I appreciate that you didn't harm my girl. Let's just shake hands and forget everything that happened today."
Luke reached out his right hand towards Pablo and there was nothing on his palm.
Then, just like Luke, Pablo showed a smile of his own.
"Luke, thank you for telling me all that but before you can kill me…"
Pablo raised his right hand and with the same sharp stone, he pierced Luke's throat.
"I will kill you."
Luke's eyes widened as blood dripped from his mouth.
Betty felt warm liquid on her head and jerked her head upwards, at Luke.
"Daddy!" She screamed.
Apart from Betty, one more person lost it.
"What? Why the hell did you do that? He already gave up fighting and you killed him for no reason!" Cupid shouted at Pablo. She even used words not suitable for an Angel but Pablo forced her to do that.
"First of all, he is alive." Pablo said and made eye contact with Luke.
Luke's eyes were red from the blood as he held his neck with both his hands.
"You thought I would fall for that?" Pablo asked Luke, still smiling.
"What do you mean? Explain yourself." Cupid said. She needed answers just like Betty.
"This man gave a warm smile to make me let down my guard and asked for a handshake. But I know full well, people don't give warm smiles for no reason. Especially to those who try to kill them."
"So you are saying.."
"Yes." Pablo interrupted Cupid. "If I would have shook his hand then I'd be dead. There is no way a man would shake hands with someone who held his daughter hostage."
Pablo came closer to Luke's face.
"You thought I am a kid so you can easily fool me. But believe me, when it comes to fooling people…" Pablo held Luke's hand and separated them from his throat.
"I am your Father."
As soon as Luke's hands were removed from his throat, blood gushed out in a large quantity and Luke dropped on his knees.
Betty cried beside Luke but she couldn't do anything to help her father.
Cupid's heart squeezed by Betty's cries and she glared at Pablo.
"How can you be so sure that Luke would have killed you? His Ego activates after clapping three times. You told me that yourself. He didn't clap when he reached out his hand to you. Maybe he really wanted a handshake. Maybe he really wanted to forget everything. Maybe he really had good intentions."
Pablo was still holding both hands of Luke to stop him from putting them on his throat. But he still replied to Cupid.
"You are stupid, Angel." He said. "Before sending me here, Altor told me in clear words that everyone is evil here. And where there is evil involved, good intentions don't exist. And if you don't believe me, look at this.."
Pablo showed the right palm of Luke to Cupid and when Cupid saw it, her mouth went agape.
"He was…"
"That's right. His Ego is active and his palm can still burn my skin. This man kept me under the illusion that only three claps activate his Ego. While in reality, the claps aren't even needed."
Luke's palm was red and smoke was constantly coming out of it.
Cupid was out of her words now and Luke too, had his eyes wide open. Pablo saw through his illusion of clapping.
"It would have worked if not for me." Pablo said and finally let go of Luke's hands.
He did so not because he felt pity but because there was no need to hold Luke's hands anymore. He was dead.
"No! Daddy! You killed him!" Betty roared with tears spilling from her eyes as she shook Luke's body wildly.
"Poor girl." Cupid commented and that's all she could do.
"You monster!" Betty hollered again and this time, she pounced on Pablo.
She held his neck and applied strength.
Pablo choked under her grasp as in anger, Betty's strength was pretty high.
Still, he was Pablo Castillo.
"If you are so sad about your father, then go with him." He said and again wrapped his hands around Betty's neck.
But this time, he had no intention of taking her hostage.
"No. Don't do that. Pablo. She is just a child!" Cupid shouted but her words fell on deaf ears.
Pablo used his hands and in a swift motion…
KRACK!
He broke Betty's neck.
THUD!
Betty fell down on the ground, lying in front of Cupid.
And it was evident just by looking at Betty that…
Pablo killed the little girl.