Chapter 25 : Kill or Be Killed

Chapter 25: Kill or Be Killed

When Conrad and Clara arrived at the church school, their attention was immediately drawn to a huge crowd gathered before the closed church gate. Several rough-looking men blocked the entrance, preventing anyone from entering.

"Why is there such a huge commotion?" Clara asked nervously.

A hand grabbed onto her arm, giving her the comfort that she was safe no matter what. Looking up, Clara noticed her brother's eyes were focused, calm like a deep ocean with some concern on his face.

"Stay near me."

"Hmm," Clara nodded slightly, walking alongside her brother.

Maya stood among the crowd when she spotted her best friend approaching.

"Clara, you're he—oh... Conrad, you're here too."

"Maya, what's going on?" Conrad kept his eyes fixed on the men blocking the path ahead.

"The men you beat the other day came back with more backup. They said their boss wasn't in town then." Maya fidgeted with her fingers while explaining.

"Oh, so they think they can take me on now?" A smile played across Conrad's face.

"Conrad?" Clara looked at her brother with confusion, wondering what he was thinking.

"Hey!" Conrad called out to one of the guys he'd beaten yesterday.

The man with the scarred face trembled slightly at the familiar voice. "You—" he pointed a shaking finger toward Conrad.

"You think you can behave like this? Don't get me wrong, you're strong, I'll give you that, but our boss—"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You guys are small fries," Conrad cut him off. "Let's not make a scene where kids are studying for their future. We should take this somewhere else. I have a proposal: why don't you bring me to your boss? Isn't that a good deal?"

The man remembered yesterday's brutal beating. One of his friends had gotten his leg broken; he'd been lucky to just fall unconscious. He considered the proposition.

"Okay..." He signaled his companions to move away from the gate.

"Conrad, no! It's too dangerous!" Clara pulled at Conrad's arm.

While patting his sister's head, Conrad said, "Clara, listen—your brother isn't that weak. Trust me." He turned to Maya. "Take care of her."

"Can I come with you?" Maya asked.

"No—it's too dangerous. You two stay here and study. Let adults handle their business." Conrad's gaze swept over the group of men waiting for him.

"I'm an adult now," Clara whispered, making a face.

Conrad gave her a gentle smile before joining the group.

"Alright, I'm ready. Let's go."

"Conrad!" Clara called out from behind.

But the group walked away, leaving Maya and Clara behind. The bell rang to start classes, and church school began late that day.

I've had so many things on my mind recently. Recently I've been studying the book and learning about the way of Essentia. The more I learn, the more aware I become of just how terrifying this world is. If I want to escape and survive, I need to be strong—but strength alone isn't enough in any era, that much I know. History witnesses that individual strength doesn't matter as much as the power you wield. I need to create something that can rival this world's power, like UG or nations' strength, while increasing my own power and working toward my goals.

Conrad looked at the man leading the group. "Hey, scarred face—"

"Neo," the man interrupted.

"Yes, Neo. Where do you live?" Conrad asked.

"We all live in the streets and dark alleys. Even though there are National Civil Guard and police departments active in Prismara, they overlook this side of town. Here, we are kings," Neo replied.

"Is that so? Then why does the king live in the streets instead of these luxurious houses?" A mocking smile played across Conrad's face.

Neo glanced at the young man who was neither too tall nor too short, but whose blue eyes knew no fear.

"Huh... your silence says everything. It's not like you want to live in these dark alleys. You can fool others, but you can't fool yourself. You also want a normal life, but—"

Thud!

With a sudden push, Conrad slammed into the wall. He saw it coming but didn't block as Neo gripped his collar with calloused fingers.

"You brat think the world is some idealistic place, don't you? I can tell you're from a well-off family. Those fucking blue eyes—some noble family of the past, maybe? Do you have any idea how tough it is when you don't have a job? When you never got a chance to study? You want to lead a normal life but you can't. Your stomach growls every day. Yes, with my face, it's so funny—I was even rejected for being a prostitute. Do you think I chose this life?" Neo's voice trembled with rage and frustration.

"Oh? So what? If you can't live a good life, let's do bad things and that will justify your poor excuse of a life? Is that what you're saying, you dirty bastard?" Conrad grabbed Neo's hands and twisted them so hard the man screamed in pain.

"Boss!" The other men called out but didn't dare approach Conrad.

"This world really is unfair. People are born with privileges, but that doesn't mean you blame it on life and become some kind of maniac in the name of your misfortune. I'd rather die as some poor bastard than live as somebody whose life will be remembered as some dirty dog from the dark alleys working for others."

Neo looked up, his enraged eyes meeting the young man's calm gaze. He remained silent as the group resumed their walk toward a large house.

Ring! Ring!

"Sir, rest assured the girls will be to your liking... No, sir, I promise this time it will be fifteen. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

A man with blonde hair set down a device that looked like a round circle connected to a small pipe-like material. It was called a Kation—people could communicate over long distances with it, though it had a very specific range and cost more depending on the distance. The maximum range typically spanned a nation, but the general public didn't have access to those models. Rich families usually owned ones that could communicate between cities. Poor and middle-class couldn't afford those models, though cheaper options existed.

"Kalifa," the man called out.

"Yes, sir?" A woman with dark hair streaked with white stripes replied. Her eyes were devoid of any emotions if they are just meant to listen and obey.

"Did you hear? These Technocratic Society members want to have a party, so they want girls from our group. Do you know what that means?" A wide smile spread across the man's face.

"....."

"It's a loot, an opportunity Kalifa. Twenty thousand Aatan for each girl." The man laughed.

"Boss," a man entered the room to report.

"What is it?"

"They found that guy who beat our men the other day."

"Oh, is that so? Tell Neo to bring him to the third floor. And tell him not to bring his whole group. I don't like poor people leaving dirt in my room."

"Yes, boss."

"Did you find any record of that man, Kalifa?"

Kalifa glanced down at the papers in her hands. Adjusting her glasses, she analyzed the information.

"Conrad Valor. He's nothing out of the ordinary. He studies at the prestigious National Aurelias University, but his grades are among the lowest. He has three unmarried sisters. His family might appear middle class, but they're actually quite poor, with massive debt after their parents' passing. Conrad Valor isn't bright, reportedly very cowardly in nature, and likes to gamble." Her tone didn't have any flavour like some machine reading out the it's predermindeted texts.

"Sounds like some random person. So how could he beat our men?" The man's eyes narrowed.

Could he be an Essentia? Essentarii are rarely found causing public scenes. Maybe a newbie, but I'll sense him once he's here. Let's see who he really is.

As he pondered, a man entered his room as if he owned the place. Neo followed behind like a bodyguard instead of being the captor of the blue-eyed man.

"So this is the place of the big bad guy." Conrad looked around, his eyes taking in the lavish mix of modern and Victorian furniture filling the space.

I'm not sensing any Brahman. He's an ordinary person.

"Welcome. I am Juliet Harley, owner of the Drako gang in the underworld," the blonde man said with a smile.

An Essentia. I can sense his Brahman fluctuations. Now this is very interesting, Conrad thought to himself.

"I'm Conrad Valor, the one who took down your men. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Conrad bowed with one hand on his chest.

Kalifa observed the young man through narrowed eyes behind her glasses.

A beauty with glasses. I must say there's no shortage of beauties in this world.

"Don't mind her. She's my personal security and former sister-in-law," Harley said, taking a sip of wine.

"Former?" Conrad asked.

"Oh, don't worry. In our business, sometimes brothers must die by brother's hands."

Conrad's eyes shifted to the young woman; there was no hint of sadness in her expression.

Sick bastards.

"So I was curious, Conrad—how did you beat my men so easily? I heard it was like some superhero coming down to save the girls."

Harley pressed his fingertips together and brought them to his forehead, straightening his posture like an interrogator.

Conrad stared at him for two seconds before a smirk crossed his lips. "Well, what can I say? I'm just such a ladies' man. I'm not some good person myself, but if bugs interfere with my life, I like to squish them like the pathetic insects they are."

The veins in Harley's hands became visible.

"Bugs, huh? Hahaha, yes, if they get squished so easily, they must be bugs." He laughed loudly.

"Usually I like to crush bugs myself, but I do like those with a little attitude. Okay, Conrad, let me be honest here—I really don't care much about those men you beat, but it made me look bad. I'm a busy man, so let me propose a good deal."

"But Boss, he—"

Neo tried to interrupt, but Harley raised his hand to stop him. "I'm talking."

Neo felt a shiver down his spine as if something unnatural had taken hold of his heart. A fear of death encroached on him like a snake.

"Excuse my insolent men. As I was saying, work for me and I'll let everything go. You'll receive a handsome salary, and that debt of yours will be paid in no time. I'll take full responsibility for that."

"So what do you say about our deal?" Harley extended his hand for a shake.

"I always like profitable business," Conrad replied with a smile.

"I knew you were—"

"And the most profitable situation for me would be if I took over your entire business, wouldn't it?" Conrad cut him off.

Harley stared at the young man, dumbfounded, as if too confused by what he'd just heard. Then he burst into laughter. The entire room echoed with the sound.

"Hahaha, oh you... Hey Neo, this brat is a funny one. Oh, I didn't think there would be idiots like this still alive in this day and age." He wiped his eyes as if clearing away tears from laughing, then continued.

"You really think like some hero from those crappy street dramas. But think about it realistically, boy—do you think just killing me makes you the boss of this entire business? How easy do you think that would be?"

Conrad's eyes turned serious. "Don't worry. I'll think about that after your death."

"You really are serious. I'm surprised a kid like you can talk about killing someone so easily. I'm curious who you really are." Harley took another sip of wine as if unbothered by the threat from a young man.

I've decided I need to kill to survive. I won't be like those fool characters in novels stuck with their stupid ideology. This isn't my world—from the information I've gathered, it's a world of kill or be killed. I've killed an Oddity. I can also kill a human. I need to grow stronger to survive. This isn't a world where I can learn by failing and getting back up. This is reality—I won't get another chance. I need to take this situation seriously.

"Are you going to just talk?" Conrad said, his face emotionless.

Bang!

Suddenly Conrad was struck by some kind of invisible bullet. Though he sensed something coming, he couldn't dodge in time.

What just hit me? If my body wasn't enhanced by Brahman, I would have suffered serious internal injury or just died.

A drop of blood trickled from Conrad's mouth. Looking ahead, he saw the blonde man already standing, still holding his wine glass.

This won't be easy. Conrad's mind tensed as he prepared for his first combat without Anira.