Gare and Baret looked at one another with a questioning gaze.
'What should we do?'Baret seemed to be asking Gare. They weren't deep acquaintances nor were they friendly with one another.
Still, Baret knew that Gare was a crafty fellow and had quite plans hiding inside.
"Let's follow..."Gare spoke and then looked at Kael, "After all we aren't the ones handling the consequences."
Gare paused and looked back.
"What worse can happen to us now? We have already discarded pieces of dog that have been thrown away?"
Gare and Baret hurried ahead to carry out Kael's orders.
Meanwhile, Kael wrapped an arm around Chris, who tried to push him away but was too weak to resist.
"Show me your place, kid," Kael said, his voice calm but firm.
Chris clenched his jaw and struggled harder. But Kael's next words made him freeze.
"This is your chance, kid... A chance to turn your life around. Don't waste it."
Chris looked up at Kael's face. He was smiling, but his eyes carried a terrifying depth.
Gulping, Chris finally gave in.
Kael followed him through the winding, filthy streets until they reached an old, crumbling house. The wooden beams sagged, the walls were cracked, and the front yard was littered with broken tools and scraps.
Outside, a group of ragged children was busy—some mended torn clothes, others hammered nails into bits of wood, and a few sat by a fire, roasting something unidentifiable.
Kael raised a brow, amused.
Chris noticed his expression and scoffed. "We don't beg. We survive on our own."
Kael grinned. "That's a great choice."
As they stepped inside the yard, the children immediately noticed Chris.
"Brother Chris, you're home early!"
"What happened to your face?"
"Wait… Are you hurt?!"
Then, they noticed Kael. Their eyes widened in fear, and they instinctively took a step back.
Kael smirked. "What? Do I look scary?"
The smallest child clutched Chris's sleeve. "Brother… Who is he?"
"A crazy man," Chris muttered under his breath.
Kael chuckled. "Not crazy, kid. Just... different." He crouched to their level and ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't worry, I don't eat children. Only adults."
The kids flinched, their faces turning pale.
Chris sighed. "Just ignore him. Where's Aunt Meira?"
"Inside," one of the kids replied hesitantly.
Kael stood and stretched. "Alright, let's go meet this Meira lady."
Inside the house, everything was falling apart. The wooden floor creaked under Kael's boots, and the walls had black mold creeping across them. A musty smell filled the air. The furniture was barely holding together, patched up with ropes and nails.
In a cramped room, an old woman sat at a wobbly desk, her wrinkled hands counting a few miserable coins.
Chris stepped forward. "Aunt Meira, this guy wants to see you."
Meira lifted her head, her tired eyes shifting from Chris to Kael. The moment she saw his noble attire, her face drained of color.
"My Lord!" she gasped, stumbling to her feet.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"
Meira's lips trembled, but no sound came out. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, then nodded. "I was fortunate enough to see you once at an event."
"I see," Kael mused, making the silence even more uncomfortable. Then, with a casual shrug, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Mrs. Meira, relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. I just heard some... unfortunate things from Chris."
At that, Meira shot Chris a sharp glare. He simply shrugged.
"There's no issue, my Lord," Meira said quickly.
Kael's eyes darkened. "Mrs. Meira…"
His voice dropped, and the room seemed to shrink.
"Don't waste my time with polite nonsense. I'm not out here for a leisure stroll. I was given the power to punish wrongdoers. So don't hesitate—just speak."
The sheer intensity in Kael's voice made Meira swallow hard. She hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh.
"You heard the truth, my Lord. The orphanages are in a mess."
Kael's fingers tapped against the wooden table. "Why? Who's stealing the damn money?"
"The Grand Duke funds scholarships, education programs, and orphanage expenses. But the money is handed to the City Lord for management."
Kael's fingers stopped. His eyes gleamed. "So those greedy bastards are the culprits."
"If only it were that simple," Meira said with a bitter smile.
Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"
Meira sighed. "If the City Lord was the only problem, we could complain. If the issue reached higher authorities, it would be resolved. But…"
Kael leaned forward and asked in a subtle low voice, "Then who?"
Meira then took a deep breath. Her lips trembled as she finally whispered.
A sharp chill filled the room.
Chris and Meira froze as an eerie pressure pressed down on them. Their bodies went rigid, their skin crawling with goosebumps.
Slowly, they lifted their heads.
Kael sat there, his lips curled into a wide, unnatural grin. His teeth gleamed like a predator who had just found his prey.
His shoulders trembled slightly. Then, a low, bone-chilling chuckle escaped his lips.
Chris and Meira stared in horror as Kael's eyes gleamed with madness to the point that he was trembling.
"Well… isn't that interesting?"