Lucian sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the three powerhouses in front of him. Their faces shifted between various emotions, but none of them spoke a word. The tension in the room was suffocating, and the silence stretched on for what felt like hours. One could hear a pin drop in the stillness.
System, they're talking telepathically, aren't they? Lucian's thoughts raced. He wasn't a fool it didn't take a genius to figure out that these people were having a private conversation right in front of him.
[Yes, host, they are communicating telepathically. As for your other question, there are millions of ways to eavesdrop, but with your current strength, none of those options are available. In short, you can't do anything about it right now.]
Yeah, yeah... I expected that. Lucian sighed internally. The system mentioning "millions of ways" didn't matter to him at the moment. He was already in a foul mood, and this family-related discussion wasn't helping.
He couldn't stand the silence any longer. I've had enough of this…
"Cough." Lucian faked a cough, trying to break their mental conversation. He wanted to force them out of their private discussion he couldn't take it anymore.
All three of them Endever, Aria, and Arthur immediately shifted their gaze toward him, eyes locking on him with unsettling precision.
Endever cleared his throat. "So, Mr. Lucian, as we were saying, regarding your family… We never intended to force you into meeting them or anything like that. If it were just about that, we wouldn't have come. This... is about your mother."
In an instant, Endever slipped back into a professional demeanor, ignoring the unspoken conversation they had been having. From the start, he and the others had already reached a decision. Their telepathic exchange had merely been a futile attempt to alleviate their own guilt. After all, they had made their choice long ago choosing the lives of billions over their own morality, no matter how much it saddened them.
It was for the greater good.
Arthur and Aria remained silent, their expressions barely shifting. There was only a faint turbulence in their eyes traces of emotions they had learned to bury long ago. They were too well-trained to show their true feelings.
Lucian's patience snapped. He needed answers.
"If I may ask... can you tell me the real reason you're here?"
The suspense was unbearable. Lucian's gaze sharpened as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. He didn't trust these people no matter how powerful they were, no matter that they could kill him in an instant. He never trusted anyone. Not anymore.
Endever glanced at Aria and Arthur, silently seeking their approval. They exchanged brief nods, their eyes wavering despite their apparent calmness. Then, Endever spoke.
"Actually, the real reason we came here is quite the opposite of what you think."
Lucian frowned, his confusion deepening. "What do you mean?" His voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing further. Even though he knew the danger of questioning world powerhouses like them, he didn't care. His instinct to protect himself always overrode fear.
"We want you to hide your real identity... specifically, your surname. The Valentino name must remain hidden. You can keep using your first name I won't stop you there. But under no circumstances can you use the ability you used when you killed Klark. We know we're asking a lot, but we have no other choice. In return, we will compensate you. Whatever you ask for, we will give you. Anything. All we ask is that you keep your true identity and abilities hidden."
Endever's words felt like a negotiation a desperate attempt to dangle everything on the line and make Lucian believe he was gaining something from this deal. But Lucian knew better. They were the ones holding all the power here. Compensation was meaningless when they could control everything.
Lucian froze. Wait, what?! His mind raced, shock rippling through him. His heart pounded as he almost jumped from his chair. Hide my name? He couldn't comprehend the reasoning behind it. But what truly stunned him was what Endever had said about his ability.
How does he know that I was the one who killed Klark?
His mind scrambled for answers. That should have been a secret... between me and Klark. I made sure no one was around. So how do they know?!
His emotions surged, threatening to spill over, but Lucian forced himself to stay calm. His skill, Mental Fortitude, kicked in just in time.
Ding!
[Mental Fortitude has increased from F-rank to E-rank.]
Lucian barely registered the system's notification, though he did feel a sudden wave of calmness wash over him. His turbulent emotions subsided, allowing him to think clearly.
Keep it together... poker face. Lucian's expression remained stoic, betraying none of the turmoil inside him. He had to convince them that he was unaffected, that he could play their game. He wasn't going to let them see his fear or confusion.
"No, sir. I don't know what you're talking about. I definitely didn't kill him," Lucian replied smoothly. His voice was steady, his eyes unreadable. "As for the ability you mentioned, feel free to check. I don't even have mana circuits or veins I've never been able to use magic since childhood."
Arthur and Aria exchanged surprised glances not because of Lucian's words, but because of how quickly he had composed himself. Just moments ago, his emotions had been volatile, barely contained. But now, it was as if his mentality had shifted on a fundamental level.
"Arthur, did you see that?" Aria whispered telepathically. "His emotions... they were all over the place just a second ago, but now... it's like his mindset improved. It's not a massive change, but still... it's a qualitative leap."
"Yeah... I noticed too," Arthur responded, his gaze fixed on Lucian.
Endever remained unfazed, glancing between his two colleagues. "Don't dwell on it. It's not surprising, considering her bloodline," he muttered under his breath. "This is... expected."