Chapter 61: Love

Darius looked ready to bring up Olivia Hill. Finn sensed the conversation was about to turn awkward, so he cut in first and steered it elsewhere.

“Does the Radiant Path really have Holy Radiance? Why can they cleanse nuclear radiation? And what exactly are Heaven-sent Objects?”

Darius hadn’t expected Finn to cut him off so directly. He paused for a moment, thinking, before he replied.

“I don’t know much about Holy Radiance or Heaven-sent Objects either. The only thing I can say for sure is that their power to cleanse nuclear radiation comes from the Heaven-sent Objects. But I’ll tell you this—the Radiant Path’s followers are a rotten bunch. As long as they can dress it up in some noble-sounding cause, there’s no filthy, despicable thing they won’t do.”

“What’s their organizational structure like?” Finn pressed on.

“Based on reputation and combat strength, the Radiant Path is roughly split into three tiers: Monks, Priests, and High Priests. Their supreme leader is the Holy Pontiff, Alistair Rupert—a greedy, shameless bastard.”

“What do you mean?”

Darius’s gaze drifted into the distance as he recalled the past.

“When I was younger, I was friends with Holy Pontiff Alistair Rupert. For a while, I couldn’t see through him. I even admired the bastard. He only had the strength of a Tier 4 Vanguard, yet his ambition was bigger than the icebergs of the Alderon Sea.

“The longer I knew him, the clearer I saw what he really was. In my eyes, he was nothing but a conman, a thief, and a murderer. For a little clean water, he wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter an entire village of scavengers.

“Over some conflicting interests, we went our separate ways. I thought he’d get himself killed sooner or later. But a few years later, he somehow changed his face and reinvented himself. He founded the Radiant Path and became the Holy Pontiff. The organization he created spread across the land like a virus.”

Finn nodded silently, filing the name Alistair Rupert away in his mind. If Holy Radiance truly descended, this Holy Pontiff would likely be a key figure.

Darius held out a cigarette. “Want one?”

“No. I don’t smoke. Smoking is hazardous to your health.” Finn waved it away.

Darius looked mildly surprised. He lit the cigarette himself, took a deep drag, and chuckled. “Didn’t expect that. You’re actually someone who values his life. ‘Smoking is hazardous to your health’—that warning used to be printed on every pack before the Cataclysm.

“But nobody says it anymore. Most people don’t live long enough for cigarettes to cut their lives short. I’m just lucky, and my mutant genes helped me drag myself all the way to this age. Almost everyone I grew up with is already dead.

“A small number of the lucky ones get to die peacefully in their beds from old age. Most either die from disease or from some sudden, random misfortune.

“I’ve seen it too many times—men who were unbeatable in their youth, men who made great names for themselves. Once they grow old and weak, any nameless nobody with a gun can take their life with a single bullet.”

Finn remained silent, unsure what Darius was trying to get at.

Darius continued, “When I was young, I thought I could indulge myself forever, drifting wherever I pleased. It wasn’t until I got older that I understood—a stable life is what truly matters. Luckily, I came to my senses in time. I gathered a bunch of like-minded people and founded Black Mountain.”

He took a slow drag from his cigarette, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “That’s how I can enjoy my retirement in peace now, without worrying about some stray bullet blowing my head off.”

Finn frowned slightly. “Those things are all too far in the future. I just need to focus on the present.”

“I can tell you’re a proud man who likes to stand alone,” Darius said, exhaling smoke, his voice heavy with age and experience. “Do you really want to live like this for the rest of your life—always drifting, never settling down?”

“Of course not,” Finn answered with a nod. “Once I’m strong enough that no one can threaten me, then I’ll settle down.”

Darius looked thoughtful. “That practical attitude of yours is good. I’ve done some research—mutant genes have an extremely high chance of being inherited. Especially when both parents are mutants, their abilities are almost certain to pass on to the next generation.

“Have you ever thought about it? If your children inherited your power and also had a powerful X-ray vision ability, the combination would be formidable. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?”

Finn looked confused. “Where would I find someone with X-ray vision? Are you talking about gene modification agents? I know Ironatom’s people are working on that.”

Darius couldn’t tell if Finn was truly oblivious or just playing dumb. His cigarette was already half-burned. He decided to stop beating around the bush.

“My daughter Olivia Hill has already fallen head over heels for you. She loves you so much she can’t help herself. I hope you’ll marry her.”

Finn’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

He really just said it outright?

The people in the wasteland were far too direct. For a moment, Finn didn’t quite know how to react.

Seeing that Finn remained unmoved, Darius offered his second olive branch. “If you’re willing to marry Olivia, I’ll guarantee in the name of the City Lord that a high-ranking military position will be reserved for you. You can return anytime you like. Black Mountain will always have your back.”

Darius smiled faintly and added, “And if you choose to stay and settle down in Black Mountain, there’s a chance you could become the next City Lord.”

Finn felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. He didn’t know what to say. It was like a fat meat pie had suddenly fallen from the sky. Before he could even figure out how to catch it, the thing had already dropped straight into his mouth and nearly choked him.

Finn pushed the cloyingly sweet offer aside and spoke seriously. “You should understand that Olivia’s feelings for me are just a young girl’s passing infatuation—nothing more than a rush of hormones. Once she calms down, she’ll forget all about it.

“Besides,” Finn’s voice turned cold, “you know I don’t have any feelings for her. Forcing your daughter to marry a man who doesn’t love her isn’t something a responsible father would do.

“And did you even ask for her consent before offering to marry her off to me?”

A smile appeared on Darius’s weathered face. “I believe feelings can be cultivated. After all, men are beasts who think with the lower half of their bodies. No man would refuse a beautiful, desirable female.

“Though you’re different, I can see you’re a steady, reliable man. You’ll take proper responsibility for Olivia.”

Finn’s tone was icy. “Don’t use that self-assured voice to judge me. You know nothing about me.”

Darius gave a low chuckle. “I’ve been kicking around this world for seventy or eighty years. I can read a man’s character clear as day. You hide behind that aloof and cold exterior—has your heart never once longed for love? Wake up, kid. Start planning for your future.”

“Hmph!” Finn let out a cold snort. He dropped one last hard remark before turning and walking out of the office.

“No one has ever loved me, and I don’t need anyone’s love!”

……

Finn descended the stairs and left the towering black administrative building. He turned up his collar against the cold wind and walked on.

The setting sun slanted across the sky, casting broad swaths of golden-red light that bathed the dusk-shrouded Black Mountain in a warm golden glow.

He needed to find Jimmy first, then head to Alderon Sea. With that thought, his steps quickened.

Suddenly, a flashy red sport bike roared up and screeched to a halt. A striking figure in black leapt off the sleek bike—it was Olivia Hill.

“Finn!” she called out happily. “I heard you were back and had gone to the administrative center. I came to find you.”

Finn gave her a slight nod and was about to walk past. Without warning, Olivia rushed forward and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Caught off guard, Finn stood frozen for a second.

Olivia’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink. She quickly stepped back and let go.

The sun sank lower. The words Finn had thrown at Darius still seemed to linger in the cold air between them.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Olivia fidgeted, then slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes. Beneath her soft golden hair, her deep blue eyes shone with open, sincere feeling.

“Finn,” she said earnestly, “I like you! I really do.”