At a roadside open-air teahouse…
Sebastian sat alone at a table, staring thoughtfully at the pocket watch in his hand.
His brows were tightly knitted.
Just then…
Someone took the seat across from him.
Looking up…
He saw a man dressed in unusual white-and-red robes.
A deep hood concealed the man’s face.
Standing silently behind him was a Black man in dark robes.
Sebastian frowned.
“Brother…”
“May I ask who you are?”
The hooded man ignored the question.
Instead, he calmly asked one of his own.
“What does your ideal world look like?”
Sebastian froze.
His mind drifted back to the day he had founded his revolutionary society.
He remembered the dream that had driven him ever since.
His voice gradually grew firmer.
“I want to build a republic.”
“A nation where the people govern themselves.”
“A world where no one suffers from hunger.”
“Where no one has to fight stray dogs for scraps of food.”
“Where no one freezes to death on the streets.”
“Where every child can receive an education.”
“Where every family can afford medical care.”
“Where our homeland is prosperous and strong.”
“And where our children can walk proudly beyond our borders…”
“…with their heads held high.”
By the end…
His voice had risen enough for everyone nearby to hear.
People throughout the teahouse turned to look at him.
Most stared as though he were insane.
A world like that?
Impossible.
The hooded man spoke again.
“Then…”
“What is your Creed?”
This time…
Sebastian answered without the slightest hesitation.
“For my country…”
“I am willing to give my life.”
The moment the words left his mouth…
Everything around him disappeared.
The teahouse…
The streets…
The people…
All vanished.
He found himself standing within an endless expanse of darkness.
Only he…
And the hooded man remained.
“W-What is this…?”
Sebastian stared around in shock.
Lucian slowly walked toward him.
His calm voice echoed through the void.
“What is truth?”
“Through our convictions, we perceive the world as it truly is…”
“And we strive for the day when everyone else can see it as well.”
“What is the world?”
“It is merely an illusion.”
“We may choose to follow others blindly…”
“Or we may choose to transcend.”
“And what is transcendence?”
“It is to remember…”
Nothing is true.
Everything is permitted.
Sebastian stood motionless.
Every word struck directly at his soul.
After a long silence…
He finally looked up.
“Who are you?”
Lucian met his gaze.
“I…”
“…am an Assassin.”
“I work within the darkness.”
“So that others may live in the light.”
Then he extended an invitation.
“Will you join us?”
Sebastian fell silent once again.
His thoughts churned.
Then…
He asked quietly,
“Can you truly help me?”
“Help this world?”
Lucian smiled.
“Of course.”
Sebastian took a deep breath.
“…Then…”
“I’ll join.”
The instant he spoke…
A faint smile appeared beneath Lucian’s hood.
The darkness dissolved.
The teahouse returned.
The sounds of the bustling street flowed back into Sebastian’s ears.
It was as though nothing had happened.
Except…
The man sitting across from him was now smiling.
Although Mordo’s face remained expressionless…
His heart was anything but calm.
Lucian’s words had not only changed Sebastian…
They had shaken him as well.
Turning slightly, Lucian said,
“Mordo.”
“Take Sebastian back to the palace.”
“Have him help care for the children.”
“Yes, Mr.
Lucian.”
Mordo immediately bowed.
For the first time…
There was unmistakable admiration in his eyes.
Soon…
Mordo and Sebastian departed together.
Left alone…
Lucian leisurely sipped his tea.
“…We meet again.”
Seeing three familiar figures approaching in the distance…
He smiled faintly.
Perhaps sensing his gaze…
Aunt Thirteen turned her head.
The instant she saw him…
She stopped walking.
“Hm?”
“Aunt Thirteen?”
“What’s wrong?”
Huang Feihong and Leung Foon looked at her in confusion.
“Aunt Thirteen?”
“…Aunt Thirteen?”
They called her several times before she finally reacted.
Following her line of sight…
The two men noticed a hooded figure dressed in white and crimson quietly smiling at them.
Recovering from her surprise…
Aunt Thirteen walked toward him.
Huang Feihong and Leung Foon followed close behind.
Standing before Lucian…
She asked,
“What are you doing here?”
Lucian shrugged.
“You already knew I’d be here.”
A smile played on his lips.
Leung Foon leaned closer to Aunt Thirteen.
“Aunt Thirteen…”
“Who is he?”
Before she could answer…
Huang Feihong clasped his fists politely.
“I am Huang Feihong of Po Chi Lam, Foshan.”
“May I ask your name, Brother?”
Lucian returned the smile.
“Just call me…”
“Lucian.”
The moment he said his name—
Leung Foon’s eyes widened.
“Master!”
“He’s Lucian!”
Lucian looked puzzled.
“Oh?”
“You know me?”
Did Aunt Thirteen tell them about me?
Leung Foon nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course!”
“Yesterday Aunt Thirteen kept mentioning your name!”
“She said you had no idea how to treat a lady…”
“And—”
“Enough!”
Huang Feihong frowned sharply, cutting him off.
Beside him…
Aunt Thirteen’s face instantly turned crimson.
Meanwhile…
Lucian secretly felt rather pleased.
Being remembered by a beautiful woman…
Was certainly something to be proud of.
Especially…
When that woman was Aunt Thirteen.
“T-That’s not what happened…”
“I…”
Aunt Thirteen hurriedly tried to explain.
Before she could finish—
A loud commotion erupted in the distance.
Everyone turned toward the noise.
A crowd was running frantically through the streets.
Several people were covered in cuts from blades.
“What happened?”
All of their expressions changed.
Huang Feihong immediately stopped one of the fleeing townsmen.
“Brother!”
“What’s going on?”
The terrified man answered without stopping.
“The White Lotus Society!”
“They’ve set Tongren Academy on fire!”
“They’re attacking everyone!”
“Run!”
Leung Foon blinked.
“Master…”
“What’s Tongren Academy?”
Huang Feihong had yet to answer when Aunt Thirteen’s face turned pale.
“It’s the school where foreigners teach!”
“There are still many students inside!”
Without another word…
She immediately sprinted toward the flames.
Huang Feihong and Leung Foon rushed after her.
A short distance behind…
Lucian calmly rose from his chair.
Then…
He followed them at an unhurried pace.