Free Web NovelChapter 18: Chapter 18- Sin
Chapter 18- Sin
After finishing their dinner, the duo left the restaurant and walked through the streets of the capital. Cipha made sure her driver wouldn’t come pick them up as she needed to talk to Zen about more details before their trip.
"How are you going to find the targets you’re looking for?" Zen asked. "I’m sure you aren’t just going to be looking around randomly, right?"
"Of course, I have my method and my connections around the globe. They are keeping an eye out for any potential names, and they have already sent me a list of candidates. I still haven’t decided who I’m going for, but we are certainly going to go through all of the names."
"I see..." Zen replied as he stared ahead of him. "I’m surprised we are still not being chased around. I thought the news would break out soon."
"I made sure to halt it for as much as possible. The news will break tomorrow morning, right when we set out of the capital." Cipha said. "I don’t want unnecessary eyes to chase around."
’The fact that she could easily stop the entire media from knowing about us with a simple command. It will never cease to amaze me how much influence Cipha has. She can change things with a few words. You can’t buy that kind of influence with money.’ Zen thought to himself as he gave her a side glance. Cipha didn’t seem that proud of it, which he understood why.
"That will definitely be interesting."
As they walked, Zen realized that they had diverged from the busy streets and found themselves walking through the quiet streets of a neighborhood, far away from the bright lights and the annoying noises. The atmosphere was peaceful and quiet, making Zen naturally relax.
He had been so tense for such a long time that he had completely forgotten what feeling relaxed was truly like. His constant thinking made it impossible to truly rest, even in his sleep. After everything he went through, relaxing became simply impossible. Whether it was day or night, he was always fidgeting, always moving, always thinking about it.
It was akin to a nightmare that chased him wherever he went. Except nightmares end when someone wakes up... His nightmare kept going for a very long time.
Zen’s smile slowly flared as he looked down, his expression tired and slightly sad.
"Is everything ok, Zen?" Cipha asked as she looked to the side.
"Hm? Oh yeah, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about." He said.
"..."
As they walked, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the vicinity. Neither needed to talk; they simply basked in the feeling of what was about to transpire in the near future. Their lives were about to get much crazier and much more terrifying. They would probably not have a moment like this for a very long time, and so taking every chance to enjoy the peace was important.
"Can I ask you something, Zen?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you want to be the strongest hunter in the world? Do you have a particular goal that you need power for?" Cipha asked. She was very curious as to what would make him so ambitious. Cipha had her own reasons, and they were not simple, so they required that power. She didn’t know what Zen wanted to do with that power. He didn’t seem like the type of person who would want it simply for ego or personal glory. freēwēbnovel.com
"Hm." Zen blinked slowly as he looked at her and then shifted his gaze ahead. His answer was always very clear. But he knew he couldn’t just tell her the truth immediately. Instead...
"It’s complicated... But, you could say... I want to atone for my sins." He replied in a quiet tone. "And fix my mistakes."
"Atone for your sins?" Cipha raised an eyebrow. "What sins?"
"..." Zen looked at her for a second. "Just... things that I did a long time ago that I want to reflect on and fix. Things that ruined my life for a long while."
"..." Cipha stared at Zen, slightly confused and yet also, for some reason, still feeling his emotions at that moment. After all, her situation wasn’t that far from his.
"So it’s guilt that’s driving you forward?" She asked.
"Guilt. Anger. Hatred. Basically, every negative emotion under the heavens. I am fueled by it." He said. "And that is why I am adamant on trying."
’What could even be the thing that made him feel this way?’ Cipha asked herself as she stared at his face. What could someone like Zen have faced to have that look on his face... The same exact look she has.
"Hatred is the strongest fuel one could have," Cipha replied. "I don’t know what it is that you want to atone for. But... I think we are very similar in our goals. Perhaps our partnership will be far more fruitful than we expect."
Zen stopped and looked at her. "Do you reckon we can do it?"
"..." Cipah stopped too and turned her head around. The wind rustled through her hair as she eyed Zen. Her beautiful green eyes reflected the faint light of the street.
Zen’s question was simple, and yet the meaning it carried was far deeper than anyone could imagine, and yet... Cipha understood it. She understood what he was trying to say. Her answer was... just as meaningful.
"Yes." She replied. "We definitely can."
"... I see..." Zen’s serious expression slowly melted into a faint smile. "Well, let’s change the world then. Me and you."
He extended his hand forward, asking for a handshake silently. Cipha stared at it and then at his face, and the confident look he had in his eyes. Then, she nodded her head and took his hand.
Even though the agreement had been sealed a while ago, that handshake felt like the true moment when their partnership was born. A partnership that even they couldn’t expect would do as much as it was going to do. Changing the world... was somewhat the least impressive thing that duo did.
However, that is a story for another time.
***
After that, Cipha drove Zen back home, where he immediately went to sleep, feeling so exhausted and drained. He wanted to try to go back inside the Tower to see if he could give the next round a try. But he could tell his body was utterly spent, and trying that round now would be pointless.
They were going to take the plane to their destination early in the morning. So, for the rest of the night, Zen rested as much as he could and recharged his body. The next day was bound to be long and eventful.
By the time the sun rose in the sky, Zen had already showered, packed everything he could pack, and called the landlord to tell him that he was leaving. Everything happened so quickly that even he didn’t feel it for a while.
Only when he stopped at the door and looked back at his house did he realize that he was truly leaving this small apartement. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
’Perhaps the next time I’m back in the capital, I will visit this place.’ He thought to himself. ’That could be years from now.’
"Thanks for hosting me here, you dilapidated apartment."
