"Anton ShadowBane, have you become an ungrateful son now that you serve as an exorcist priest?"
"You've kept me so busy that I can barely sleep. Should I be an ungrateful son or fulfill my duties?" Anton looked at his father expressionlessly.
This was his dad, Sebastian ShadowBane, the Grand Exorcist, leader of the Light Association, and an incredibly powerful man.
As a distinguished figure who had been through more than a thousand battlefields, Sebastian had the appearance of an elderly man and was elegantly dressed in a traditional black uniform. His hair was completely white, as was his immaculate beard. Visible wrinkles adorned his hollow face, giving him a seemingly gentle appearance, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
This man had trained Anton relentlessly, and although the memories were now vague, he felt a deep respect for this seemingly ordinary elderly man.
"I've heard of everything you've done. Even though people may dislike your methods, the results have always been perfect. So, despite what others say, I am proud of you." Sebastian said as he walked towards a seat in front of a confessional.
Anton was surprised. He looked around and noticed at least a dozen men in suits guarding the perimeter—his father's bodyguards. He said nothing and sat beside his father after confirming there were no further surprises.
"This lifestyle is very exhausting, Anton. Always remember that," Sebastian said, omitting the word 'son' for Anton and addressing him simply by his name.
"I always keep that in mind, father. But I have a question: How do you separate soul pain?" Anton had undergone significant changes after becoming an exorcist, leading him to try smoking and many other things, including certain pain relievers.
Sebastian chuckled slightly at Anton's words and said, "You never do. You'll live with that pain and learn to manage it very slowly. That's how exorcists begin to digest their true purpose in this world."
"That's not an answer... But now that we're having this conversation, what exactly are you doing here?" Anton asked, slightly confused. His father wouldn't waste time on a simple conversation like this, so something must have happened.
"I know your job is very demanding. You won't even have time to defecate peacefully because you'll have one mission after another and one purpose after another. So, as an important member of the ShadowBane family, we need descendants before thirty," Sebastian explained.
Anton was momentarily silent, turned his head towards his father, and asked, "Are you going to have another child?"
Sebastian closed his eyes; the veins on his forehead became visible as he murmured, "Don't play the fool. You know exactly what I mean."
"Who is it?" Anton sighed, taking advantage of being in a church to make a tasteless joke to his father. Although it was both funny and stupid, he understood that his father was here to show him who his wife would be.
Apart from Anton and Sebastian, there were other members of the ShadowBane family, but not all of them were powerful. Besides Anton, no other ShadowBane had undergone the infernal training that the family subjected its descendants to, so it was evident that he would be treated differently.
"You're a ShadowBane; you'll figure something out." Sebastian said as he waved his hand and left the church.
Looking at the folder in his hand, Anton sighed and sat down. "Akira. That's a cat's name."
As a Real Priest, responsible for eliminating evil and guarding the paranormal, the ShadowBane family typically assigned a wife to their descendant, and this was not negotiable.
Truth be told, Anton had never fallen in love. His mind had always been focused on his work, and he was not a romantic man whom a normal woman could fall for.
The darkness that accompanied him made him appear cold, fearsome, and very bloody when he wasn't pretending to be a kind priest. Therefore, considering many factors, the current family leader usually finds a suitable wife for the next leader.
"Her name is Akira Shimazu. She is your age and is currently working as a custodian at a Continental Hotel in Osaka. Her father is the handsome Koji Shimazu, a great friend," Sebastian said, handing a folder with information to Anton, who remained silent.
Anton trembled upon learning that his fiancée was connected to the Continental, which would directly link him to all the chaos that would arise with John.
He knew that the Continental was a worldwide hotel chain that served as neutral ground for members of the criminal world. Hotel employees attempted to manage the mercenaries and assassins who came to stay.
"Is it certain that this will work?" Anton asked, looking at the girl of Asian descent.
Sebastian stood up, looked at his son, and pointed, "Nothing will work if neither of you puts in some effort. But it's decided that both of you are suitable to be spouses."
"This is madness. We can't get involved with the criminal world."Anton knew the rules his father had instilled in him before letting him go on his own.
Sebastian looked at Anton; his expression turned fierce as he said, "Remember that she is the daughter of a very dear friend. If you dare to ruin it, I'll break your bones."
Anton smiled, thinking that things might or might not work out, but it wasn't time to worry. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, someday I'll visit her, and we'll see if we're compatible."
"That's what you should have said from the beginning. I'm not a damn babysitter to let you choose women like candy. She is suitable; her father suggested it, so accept it knowing she is suitable to be your wife, and that's it. I don't want objections."
Anton quickly said, "I don't care. You know the life I lead better than anyone, so this is a relief. What bothers me a bit is that she might not agree."
"That's not your problem, of course, only if you fail to capture that woman's heart."
"That's nonsense... I mean, how do you expect me to do something I've never done before?"