814 An Equal

“A deal?” asked Lin Xue with interest, raising her brow high. “Last time we had a deal, you wooed my sister and freed the underground’s forger. I cannot say I trust you enough to make more deals.”

“A deal for your gang to be more than just a gang,” said Arthur before turning to Suyin. “You can come over as well, Little Yin. This concerns you as well.”

Suyin sheathed her sword while staring at the two with confusion. As for the bloodflower, she seemed to understand what Arthur wanted to ask of her, and she did not like it.

“We are not your p.a.w.ns, outlander. You cannot move us as you please with empty promises and unattainable glory,” said Lin Xue while Suyin walked to stand beside her. Before her sister could say anything, Lin Xue interrupted her, “I know that he saved you, but that was a part of a deal. He is a sellsword.”

“If need be,” said Arthur with a smile. “How about I change the terms of my deal? You seem fine being a gangster, but can the same be said about your sister’s well-being being endangered?”

That question changed everything, and Lin Xue’s wariness crumbled into worry. Her eyes darted toward her sister, who seemed confused by Arthur’s words.

“The enemies are no longer watching me, you said,” said Suyin, and Arthur nodded. “Then, what danger do you speak of?”

“The puppeteer that has been searching for you fears me because I almost caught him the last time he tried looking at you. However, I don’t think he would give up after so many years.”

“Are you using her safety to threaten me?” asked Lin Xue with trembling lips before grabbing Little Yin. “I will protect her as I have for countless years.”

“I intend on seeking the puppeteer who targets her after I’m done with Ilios, whether you help me or not,” said Arthur before raising his fingers, and a screen appeared to play a video. “This footage is before Suyin awakened. I asked Julia to investigate her enemy for me to uproot. However, I can’t do that if I die in the next battle.”

“Lin Xue,” called Suyin toward her sister, who turned toward her. “I don’t want you to do as he asks, but Arthur fought a calamity to save me when he could have abandoned me. So the last thing I would question is his intentions.”

Lin Xue seemed to mull over it for a few seconds before nodding toward her sister. Then, she turned toward Arthur and let go of her sister before offering her short sword to Arthur.

“As long as you keep my sister safe, the Bloodflower Gang will aid in your next venture, Arthur Silvera. I am not half as strong as you are, but my men are loyal, and we know the city better than anyone.”

“I have no doubts about that. As for the safety of your gang in the war to come, my guild will ensure arming them with artifacts and runic cards. If the time comes, we will work together toward a better future than this.”

Lin Xue nodded and sheathed her sword back. Suyin sighed in relief but soon found herself the center of attention again. Arthur stared at her with his golden, serene eyes as if expecting her to answer.

“I am…”

“You can stay here during the war, as this would be the safest place for you,” said Arthur with a smile. “I have no doubts about your strength, but it’s too soon to see you on the battlefield.”

“I want to fight too,” said Suyin with a frown. “I fought against a calamity and won, so I have more right than anyone than to be on that battlefield.”

“You have fewer reasons than anyone to fight this battle, and if you could state one, then I will allow it.”

Arthur’s rebuke left Suyin unable to say anything as she stood there frozen. Her mind tried to find an answer, but the only one she could think of was not one she could admit.

“He is right, Suyin. While you carry strength now, that also makes you an invaluable ally. The emperor has already aimed for your life once, and he will do it again,” said Lin Xue to dissuade her sister from the matter.

“You realize this is foolish, right?” said Suyin as she took a step toward Arthur. “You are fighting not only against the emperor and a calamity but the fearsome ancestor that backs them. I met him before I lost consciousness, and he was the one to free Ca.s.sius from my prison.”

“I received the report, but that does not change my stance. Tell me the reason you fight for, and I will let you fight,” said Arthur, forcing her back into the same corner. Suyin knew that he knew her reason for fighting but wanted her to admit it.

“I fight for your sake,” said Suyin, defying his expectations, but Arthur smiled in return. “This is the same reason that all of your guildsmen fight. Are you going to leave them here too?”

“Are you a part of my guild?”

“I will be if I need to,” said Suyin, but Arthur laughed and shook his head. “Why can everyone else fight for your sake, but I need my own reason?”

“Because we are equal,” said Arthur with a smile. “I am the embodiment of Gaia, the G.o.ddess of creation. You are her sister, the embodiment of death. I would win if you serve me now, but we must each fight for our own reasons.”

There was a deathly silence between them because Suyin realized the hidden feeling in Arthur’s eyes. It was grat.i.tude and respect for what she did. He was not pushing her away because of her feelings but because he believed she was higher than serving him.

“Night is setting, so let’s return to our rooms,” said Lin Xue while holding her sister, and Suyin nodded after a moment. The two of them left, and Arthur remained with Alan. He watched them go until they disappeared into the mansion.

“It would have been easier to let her follow you. That girl carries affection toward you, which makes her useful,” Alan said after the two left. Arthur smiled and looked down at his hand as if there was something to read.

“It would have been easier indeed, but what happens when that affection ends?” asked Arthur before he walked back into the mansion. “Love can die, but honor lives a bit longer.”

***

“I cannot believe that he is involving Layla in this,” said Lyle as he paced around the room. “This is the one thing I asked of him, and he does the exact opposite!”

“Calm down, Lyle,” said Rain while munching on her food. “We have seen the broadcast. Your sister and that woman, whom Arthur trusts so much, are closer than we thought. There is no way for Arthur to keep her away from our plans.”

“You are so quick to defend him because of your d.a.m.n l.u.s.t,” said Lyle with resignation as he sat down opposite Rain. “He could have done anything but chose to give her a crucial task.”

“A crazy one, too,” said Rain as the carriage shook. She opened the window and threw a chicken’s bone from it before grabbing another. “No one has ever managed to escape the Light Prison, and none attempted to infiltrate it. But Arthur Silvera has some crazy ideas.”

“Our first plan was to use Gray since he was going to prison, but the d.a.m.ned emperor decided to execute him. We somehow managed to fix that, but now the people distrust the rebellion.”

“You cannot blame them. Their parents told them bedtime stories about the Stealer of Elements, painting him as the greatest threat this elemental land would see. Since the emperor made the people believe it was Arthur, the rebellion took a hit.”

“The executions are getting closer, so what is he waiting for?” worried Lyle. Then, after a sigh, Rain punched him in the face, sending the man hurling to his seat. While it did not hurt him, the surprise unsettled him.

“Your worries are pathetic, Lyle,” said Rain. “You are our leader. But, even if you are worried, stop whining. Haven’t you heard about Ayaz?”

“…I have,” said Lyle while rubbing his face. “It doesn’t make sense for countless meteors to strike the same spot simultaneously. This was no tragedy.”

“Some deserters say that they have seen the Light Emperor fighting against a monster, but no one knows what happened there. However, who would fight the emperor at the current time?”

“…our Stealer of Elements,” said Lyle with a frown. “Ai and the rest know nothing about this, so it can only have happened after they parted. If so, then Arthur already fought against the emperor.”

“…there is more,” said Rain after a pause before she looked through the curtains. “I can feel it. A new calamity has descended to this world.”