Free Web NovelChapter 15: If you betray me, a nightmare will begin for you.
"Well, have you decided in the end?" — Lucian asked Ruthless.
They were in an abandoned wasteland on the very outskirts of the academy. Rusty rebar protruded from semi-ruined brick walls, and fragments of concrete and dry branches crunched underfoot. When Ruthless, having analyzed the situation, decided to discuss it with him after all, they had come exactly to this place, hidden from prying eyes by thick, wild thickets.
"And do you have a plan to establish a patriarchy?" — Ruthless asked, answering a question with a question.
’At the moment, collaborating with him is the most profitable condition for me, but even free cheese is always only in a mousetrap...’
’He may have other motives; I cannot understand them at the moment. I need to find out as much as possible.’
"Of course. I know you have your own goals or, perhaps, dreams... I will help you with that, but in exchange, you will help me simply destroy my sister. It’s simple — mutual benefit," — he said with a smile.
Even in the falling twilight, his golden hair shone dully, and right behind his back, a huge, blue, and very beautiful moon rose in the darkening sky, bathing the abandoned ruins in a cold, deathly light. The moon caught Ruthless’s attention — whether because of its unnatural beauty or something else. Meanwhile, Lucian peered intently at Ruthless and smiled softly.
"Imagine that, your eyes don’t even reflect the moon. What an interesting person."
Ruthless shifted his cold gaze to Lucian. The latter seemed to want to tease Ruthless, but the latter didn’t give a damn about such words.
Ruthless looked straight into Lucian’s eyes, and he into his. They were like two opposites: one — golden, light, and smiling, and the other — black as the abyss and always with a cold face. Но it was only outward — inside, they both thought only of profit. The night wind swept between them, rustling the dry grass in the wasteland.
"How do you intend to destroy your sister? You must understand that she is very strong," — Ruthless continued the conversation.
"Of course, I know that. I’m not saying we’ll just destroy her head-on... I’ll be in the academy for some time, 3 years to be exact, so I won’t be able to fully control her," — having said these words, Lucian looked around cautiously, perhaps to make sure no one was there. The dead silence of the ruins continued to reign around them.
"That’s why I needed to find a smart and more pragmatic person, someone like me," — he said, raising his hand and pointing his finger at Ruthless.
"But, as you know, I also study at the academy..." — Ruthless began to speak, but Lucian interrupted him.
"Then simply change your identity..." — he said.
’Well, that’s true. All friends love your identity, all enemies hate your identity, and not you yourself. By completely changing your identity, to everyone you are a new, unopened box, inside of which anything could lie.’
"If that’s the case, then I don’t care. But you will owe me a few things for it," — Ruthless said with a soft smile.
"And what is it that you want?" — Lucian asked.
Seeing Ruthless’s smile, his own smile became more sinister. Their smiles could be distinguished by only one thing: Lucian’s smile came through emotions, but Ruthless’s smile was never born of feelings — on the contrary, it appeared only from cold calculation.
"You know that some ancient sword was recently brought to our academy, right? I need that very one. But don’t worry, I will lure this sword outside with a certain person, and you will have to kill her, take the sword, and bring it to me," — Ruthless said.
’Of course, I had my own plan to get it before this, but it was riskier, though the profit justified it. But now that Lucian has appeared and offered this to me, if I entrust the dirty work to him, the risk will be lower. Moreover, he won’t betray me, since there is nothing to betray right now, and if he wanted to eliminate me, he would have done it long ago — he has enough power for that,’ — Ruthless analyzed, evaluating the risks and benefits.
"I see you’re not an easy one. Aren’t you asking for too much?" — Lucian said. His voice became more serious than at the beginning of the conversation.
The atmosphere between them was becoming increasingly heavy and creepy. In addition, it was now night, and the deathly moonlight sinisterly emphasized the sharp shadows of the brick ruins around them. Any ordinary person in such a place would have acutely felt discomfort and panic. But that was the difference — neither of them was "ordinary."
"I don’t think I’m asking for much, because I’m helping you with the big picture, and naturally, I’m demanding things that I need for both myself and your plan," — Ruthless said, and for the first time in the conversation, a smile appeared on his face. It could be considered that he was intentionally making this suffocating atmosphere even heavier.
"Well, but apparently you have a plan on how to do this as quickly as possible, don’t you?" — Lucian asked, peering into the impenetrable face of his interlocutor.
"Yes, I do. I’ll write everything to you later about how it will be. You, as I said, will simply give me the sword," — Ruthless replied levelly.
"What if we change your identity right away?"
"And how are you going to do that?"
’It wouldn’t be bad for me either, if I can change it. More opportunities would open up for me,’ — Ruthless thought.
"It’s simple: we’ll make it look like you died, and after that, you’ll change your clothes, face, hairstyle, and so on."
"You speak as if it’s very easy," — Ruthless said, adopting his usual appearance with a stony face again.
"Don’t forget who I am. Although I have no strength, I have power that you don’t have," — Lucian said, stepping closer and patting Ruthless on the shoulder.
’His pat on the shoulder feels much better than that girl’s pat. Although for an average person, Lucian’s pat is a bit strong.’
"So, how do you plan to do it?" — Ruthless asked, not taking his eyes off his partner.
’If his plan is actually good, then it’s worth a try. Looking at his face, he’s serious, but believing by the face is stupid.’
"Primal Gaze!"
<Current Stats of Lucian Valmont:
Strength: 60
Speed: 60
Stamina: 60
Intelligence: 70
Primal Level: 1
Chosen Path: Path of the Leader (23% mastered)
Path of Disguise (40% mastered)>
’Last time his Path of the Leader was at 20%, but now it’s 23%...’ — Ruthless mentally noted the changes, inconspicuously studying Lucian’s condition.
"Have you joined any club?" — Ruthless asked Lucian.
"Yes, but not exactly a club; I am the vice president and also the leader of the academy," — he said, straightening up slightly.
’One can conclude that the more you immerse yourself in the role of a chosen path, the more it is assimilated. But the main question is how and where one can get them. I’d like to ask Lucian this, but now is not the time — that way I can only cause suspicion, it’s not pragmatic.’
"Ruthless... You know, if you betray me, a nightmare hell awaits you that you haven’t even dreamed of," — Lucian said.
At that moment, his eyes... glowed ominously with a blue light in the darkness of the abandoned wasteland. In the rays of the huge blue moon hanging over their heads, he looked like a real devil, and a frightening smirk froze on his face, with which he desperately tried to make Ruthless shudder with fear.
