Lucian blinked, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of the situation. The tension in the room had been palpable ever since these three powerhouses arrived.
How had he.a street rat, an orphan come to the point where the world's strongest individuals came knocking at his hospital door? Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined something like this.
Hesitantly, he raised a hand and pointed to his own face. "Is it really me you're looking for, or is there some kind of... misunderstanding?" His voice trembled slightly, and he gulped down the rising nervousness.
"No misunderstanding. We're at the right place," Endeavor replied, his voice deep and resolute.
As if reality itself bent to their will, a luxurious black table suddenly materialized before Lucian's eyes, accompanied by several chairs. He wasn't sure who among the three conjured it, but the gesture felt effortless to them. Without a word, the three powerhouses took their seats across the table, each exuding an aura of authority that made Lucian's chest tighten.
Endeavor locked eyes with him, then subtly nodded towards a chair on Lucian's side of the table. Understanding the silent command, Lucian slowly moved to sit down, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. Now seated directly opposite them, the atmosphere shifted. The room, which moments before was just a sterile hospital ward, now resembled a high-stakes conference room.
Lucian's heart pounded in his chest. It felt like he was being interviewed for a position he never applied for, one he didn't even know existed. He fidgeted slightly, unsure of where to place his hands or how to sit properly. His mind raced, the sense of discomfort gnawing at him. This was far beyond anything he'd ever experienced.
Endeavor glanced toward Arthur, a silent question in his eyes.
Arthur, with a casual flick of his hand, grinned and made a 'V' shape with his fingers. "Twenty layers this time. I'm sure even if the entire country tried to eavesdrop, they wouldn't hear a thing." His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an underlying seriousness in his words.
Lucian gulped, his anxiety spiking. He wasn't an idiot; he understood what they were talking about barriers, protection. They were putting up layers of secrecy so thick that not even the government could pry into what was happening. What the hell have I gotten into? he thought, feeling the creeping weight of the unknown settle over him.
Endeavor's gaze returned to Lucian, the seriousness in his eyes impossible to ignore. "Alright then, let's begin, Mr. Lucian Valentino," he said, placing his hands firmly on the table as if ready to start some grand interrogation.
Cough cough Arthur cleared his throat dramatically, a playful smile dancing on his lips. "Dude, seriously? That was so cringe. You're gonna scare the kid," Arthur muttered, barely suppressing a chuckle. He never was the type to take things too seriously.
Lucian, sensing the strange shift in tone, couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration mix with his fear. "Um... so, what exactly is going on?" he asked, his voice a mix of nervousness and exasperation. He couldn't take the tension anymore. He needed answers.
Endeavor straightened, his expression turning more solemn. "First of all, I owe you an apology for what happened earlier regarding the... torture you endured." His voice was steady, filled with the weight of responsibility.
Lucian's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected them to bring that up, let alone apologize. He quickly tried to brush it off, his words spilling out without much thought. "Oh, no need to apologize. I didn't really expect any help anyway," he said, his tone casual but a little too blunt, as if he wasn't used to filtering his thoughts around people of this caliber. For someone like him, who grew up in the harsh realities of the streets, being direct and overly clear was second nature.
Endeavor, however, didn't seem offended. Instead, he nodded solemnly. "No, it is my responsibility. I'm in charge of maintaining law and order. That's why I created the WMA to make society as crime-free as possible. If something happens under my watch, then it's my failure."
Lucian stared at Endeavor, confused by the man's sincerity. He could tell that Endeavor meant every word, but he still couldn't wrap his head around why someone so powerful would care about someone like him.
"I... I see," Lucian murmured, unsure how to respond.
Endeavor's expression darkened slightly but looking into Lucians eyes as if to convey something like he know..."Unfortunately, I can't punish the man who harmed you. He's no longer alive."
Lucian's heart skipped a beat. Does he know,why us he looking at me? The thought struck him hard, and fear crept into his chest. Does he know that I killed that lunatic?
Panicked, Lucian reached out mentally to his system. "Hey, System, is there any chance these guys are reading my mind or doing something I'm not aware of?"
[No, host. They aren't using anything harmful. From the moment they entered the room, i observed everything....Arthur used a very high-level concealment spell, followed by Endeavor conjuring the table and chairs. Lastly, Arthur and Aria communicated via high-level telepathy.]
Lucian let out a silent breath of relief, but he was still baffled. "Wait, you can sense all of that? You can even tell what kind of magic they're using?"
[Of course. If I wasn't bound by this world's rules, I could tell you exactly what they were discussing in their telepathy.]
Lucian's head spun. He had barely come to terms with having a system, let alone the fact that it could identify the powers of the strongest people in the world. He was starting to wonder just how deep this rabbit hole went.
Endeavor's voice snapped him back to reality. "And yes, we will ensure that nothing like this happens again. Even though I can't punish him directly, we will take action against those associated with him. His friends, his associates they will all be dealt with accordingly."
"Klark?" Lucian asked, the name unfamiliar to him.
"The man who attacked and tortured you. His name was Klark Sivir."
Lucian frowned. "But... wasn't his identity confidential? I asked the officers before, and they said I wasn't allowed to know."
Endeavor smiled slightly. "It was confidential, but not anymore."
"What do you mean? Why am I suddenly getting special treatment?" Lucian raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping into his voice. "The officers made it clear that this information was off-limits."
Endeavor spread his hands, a casual gesture. "Well, I'm the one who made those rules. So yes, you're getting special treatment. That's the main reason why the world's top three powerhouses came here to meet you."
Lucian's eyes darted between them, uncertainty and disbelief clouding his thoughts. "Is this about my... background? Like you said it before,no... I don't have any family, not even a proper name. I only learned my full name a few hours ago."
Endeavor nodded. "We're aware of that. And that's precisely why we're here."
Arthur leaned forward, his voice softer but more intense. "Lucian, your surname Valentino carries a heavy significance.
You might not realize it, but it connects you to something very heavy.
and we are hear to talk about your family and your identity
Lucian's easygoing expression faded, and his body stiffened. His usual sarcastic demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp look.
He narrowed his eyes, his voice low and dangerous. "What family? And why should that concern me?"