The confrontation with Seraphim Stroud hadn’t been an act of filial duty to protect the esteemed Whitemore name. 𝒐𝒱𝗅xt.𝗇𝓔t
Rather, it was a battle Val had been cornered into, and he had no other choice but to participate.
However, it was true that he went all out against Seraphim, but he did it in order to cut off a woman meant for the streets from his life.
He did it to untangle his life from a woman whose affections were fickle and ever-changing, hardly suitable for a lasting marriage!
Furthermore, he ensured an overwhelming victory in the ritualistic duel of honor not for prestige or dignity. It was a calculated move, aimed at the retrieval of the significant dowry bestowed upon the Kendricks. His ulterior motive was to skim a portion of it for his own gain. He had a good understanding of Joshua, knowing full well that his triumph would please the older man, who would undoubtedly reward him handsomely.
There were many reasons why he wiped the floor with Seraphim Stroud despite the risks involved, but none of them involved saving face for the Whitemores.
However, he lied that he did it out of filial pity because it was the best excuse he could give to paint himself in a bright light in the eyes of the Lord and the nun.
After all, people inherently disliked those who acted solely out of self-interest.
Contrarily, they were drawn towards individuals who appeared righteous, those seemingly governed by a moral compass!
Lies were coming out of his mouth smoothly, and there was no change in his expression when he lied, so Lucious fell for it.
‘Such filialty is rare in this world. He is different from others. He didn’t let the cruelty of the world shape his mentality. I expected this much from the child of prophecy.’
Lucious now saw Val as a devoted son who willingly exposed himself to danger, just to safeguard his family’s honor from being smeared. Unconsciously, he began to regard Val with increasing admiration and respect. His view of Val started to shift, tilting noticeably towards favor. He didn’t know that Val was as bad as they come. It’s just that he was good at hiding his true nature.
‘I wasn’t mistaken. Big Brother is really a good guy.’
Eliana, who had always held a positive opinion of Val, found her beliefs reinforced by his words. Her misconception about his true nature only solidified, after hearing his explanation.
His fa?ade of nobility further blinded her to his true motivations.
His was a masterful performance, and both Eliana and Lucious were fully ensnared by it.
The Outer Region was an enormous expanse of land, with the Northern Frontier marking its edge and IronSpire Stronghold at its core. Traveling from IronSpire to the Northern Frontier by train took approximately twelve hours, provided there were no unforeseen issues. Val had boarded the train early in the morning, and if everything went smoothly, he was set to arrive at his destination by midnight.
The railway track cut through the heart of the wilderness, connecting each stronghold in the Outer Region.
Each of these strongholds had its train station where the train would make a scheduled stop during its journey between IronSpire and the Frontier.
The sprawling landscapes of the Outer Region, visible through the train’s windows, were a breathtaking sight to behold.
However, the journey was not without its risks.
After all, the train was known to be attacked during the night by the creatures such as the Walking Dead or the zombies lurking in the darkness of the wilderness.
These creatures, whether they were either zombies or devils, had a unique trait: an intolerance to sunlight. Their vulnerability to the sun’s glaring rays forced them to seek refuge in the thickness of the forest during daylight hours.
However, the safety the day provided was ephemeral.
It was temporary!
After all, when darkness descends into the world, these creatures would emerge from their dark and secretive shelters in search of their next meal.
Hunting for their next meal, some might get drawn to the noise of the passing train that was full of people!
Fortunately, the sun was currently at its zenith, casting its radiant light upon the land. There was no immediate cause for concern about these sun-shy entities, who would never experience what it feels like to get a tan in their entire life.
Nevertheless, a different threat was present during the day. That’s why the daylight hours, though providing a respite from the zombies and devils, did not ensure total safety.
The wildlife native to these parts of the outer region posed a significant risk to the safety of the train at all times.
Unlike zombies and devils, these beasts weren’t weak to sunlight.
They could roam freely under the sunlight, undeterred by its brightness!
While this may sound terrifying, there was little cause for alarm.
After all, the train was protected round the clock by formidable Bloodline Users. These individuals were more than capable of handling such threats.
The persistent threat of an attack by the formidable beasts of the forest underscored the need to remain alert at all times, irrespective of the cycle of day and night.
That’s why the guardians of the train stood vigilantly, their watchful eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger or intrusion. They were prepared to respond swiftly to any potential threats.
Being a Bloodline User safeguarding the train was both a physically and mentally taxing job, and it was also dangerous. However, despite all this, the high compensation attracted many individuals willing to risk their lives for the task.
The passengers on board the train, including Val, Eliana, and Lord Lucious, were fully aware of the potential dangers outside the train.
However, they entrusted their safety to the capable guardians of the train, believing that they would do their utmost to keep everyone safe.
However, as the journey progressed, Val felt a cold chill crawl up his spine.
His heart pounded as if he was being stared at by a ferocious beast with murderous intent!
His sixth sense, always alert to danger, had been triggered.
‘What triggered it?’ Val thought as he looked around.
However, he saw no immediate threats within the compartment or outside the window.
Eliana and Lord Lucious appeared relaxed, with no discernible malice emanating from them. They didn’t seem to have any ill intentions against him. Not to mention, he had never wronged them. Why would they want him dead? It’s not like they are psychopaths, right?
It couldn’t be them.
Then who could it be?
There was not a single threat to his life in the vicinity.
‘Could my sixth sense be malfunctioning?’
‘No. That shouldn’t be the case. It has never happened before.’
He swiftly discarded that thought as his sixth sense for danger had never failed him before.
‘Something is definitely amiss, although I can not determine what exactly.’
After some minutes, the uneasy sensation gradually receded.
However, Val was left in a state of high alert.
The train chugged along, making several stops as it traversed through the vast expanse of the Outer Region.
Nothing out of the ordinary occurred during these stops, but Val remained vigilant.
After all, he could not shake off the gut feeling that danger was lurking somewhere, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
This train ride wasn’t going to be as safe as he had initially assumed. He had to be on guard.