Chapter 239: The Pride of the Cursed (2)

’How? How did she do it?’

Ethan couldn’t understand how a single woman who appeared to be barely in her forties could have accomplished something like this.

Especially after witnessing Matheus’s memories.

As far as Ethan was concerned, attempting to defeat an overwhelmingly powerful boss would be easier than trying to change the heart of a single man or woman.

Human relationships had always seemed far too complicated to him.

"What’s wrong, dude? You look troubled."

Verso’s voice interrupted Ethan’s thoughts.

Ethan turned toward him, stared at him for a second, then returned his attention to the road ahead.

"I’m fine... Just a little confused."

"Then tell me what’s bothering you! Maybe I can help!"

Verso laughed, but Ethan was immediately skeptical.

"You? How could someone like you, who sees everyone around him as nothing more than bags of blood, possibly help me?"

"Oh, come on! Don’t be like that, man!"

Verso threw an arm around Ethan’s shoulders and leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"You know, Ethan... When you treat people as nothing more than tools, dealing with them becomes incredibly easy."

"When you look at everyone the same way, without making distinctions and without expecting anything from them, you become capable of winning them over however you please."

That was the principle upon which Verso had built his entire philosophy.

He could interact with virtually anyone without the slightest difficulty precisely because he didn’t regard them as human beings in the first place.

And strangely enough, that attitude granted him an unexpected advantage.

It allowed him to manipulate the people around him with remarkable ease.

"Please don’t try to force your sick way of thinking on me..."

Ethan replied with a quiet sigh.

He could more or less understand the reasoning behind Verso’s words.

But he had no desire to embrace that kind of thinking, afraid that he might eventually become another deranged murderer willing to do absolutely anything to achieve his goals.

"Well... You’re free to play the game however you want. If you became exactly like me, you’d lose what makes you special."

Verso removed his arm from Ethan’s shoulders, finally releasing him, before turning his attention to the crowds gathered around them.

"This capital is incredible! There must be several times as many people here as there are in Ashvarn!"

Ethan turned toward Verso when he heard those words.

He realized that the man beside him had already begun surveying his new hunting grounds, searching for opportunities in a city where he would once again have to kill someone before the day was over if he wanted to stay alive.

’The capital is nothing like Ashvarn. Security here is much tighter, and he doesn’t have anyone covering for him... I wonder how he’s going to survive today?’

Ethan was curious about how Verso intended to hunt down his next victim under such strict security.

As far as he could tell, it would be an extremely difficult task.

Yet Verso didn’t appear worried in the slightest. He seemed perfectly relaxed, as though his life weren’t at risk of ending if he failed to obtain the blood he needed.

’Either he’s exceptionally good at hiding his true feelings, or he’s simply insane enough not to care even when his own life is on the line...’

In the end, Ethan couldn’t make sense of Square Dick.

All he could do was continue walking quietly with the others until they reached their destination.

...

They didn’t have to wait long.

Ethan and his companions soon arrived before an enormous building that resembled an ancient castle. Serena explained that it served as both her residence and her place of work.

In other words, they were now standing inside the headquarters of one of the Five Generals, the Empire’s most powerful warriors apart from the elders of the Heart Clan.

The interior was lavishly furnished, its refined atmosphere offering yet another reminder of Serena’s considerable status.

As soon as they arrived, servants hurried forward and began escorting the hunters away, separating the men from the women.

Looking somewhat confused, Moon glanced at the maids surrounding her before turning toward Serena and her grandfather.

"My lady... I thought we were going to meet the Emperor?"

"And you certainly will. Just not dressed like that."

Serena answered Moon’s question with a smile.

"Oh, and just call me Serena. There’s no need for formalities."

Moon nodded hesitantly as the maids led her away alongside Luna, Alicia, and the other women from the Second Hunting Squad.

The men, meanwhile, were escorted toward a different wing by male servants.

"Is all this really necessary?"

Asterion asked with a frown, particularly when Serena seized his arm and began dragging him along as well.

"Of course it’s necessary! Do you seriously intend to show up looking like that? You look like a beggar!"

Serena insisted, while Asterion muttered that he’d always met the royal family wearing exactly this sort of clothing in the past.

But things had changed.

Thanks to the efforts of Serena, the Queen of Storms, the Heart Clan had finally earned a measure of recognition and respect within the Land of Gold.

The Emperor could no longer simply drag them into his residence like dogs without offering any explanation.

Instead, he was now obliged to organize an entire celebration in their honor, using it as a cover for the true reason behind their summons.

The royal family still controlled the Heart Clan, and many of its members continued treating them as slaves, as the Third Prince Dalton had demonstrated.

But they could no longer exercise that authority without restraint.

At least, not in public.

For the first time, the Hearts were finally being afforded a measure of respect as human beings.

And they owed it all to one person.

"She’s incredible..."

The words escaped Alicia’s lips as she watched Serena, unable to take her eyes off the woman since the moment they’d met.

"Even though we’re in the capital, everyone treats her with respect and affection. I never thought something like that was even possible..."

"Neither did I. I thought it was impossible."

Luna agreed, admitting that their earlier reception had come as a pleasant surprise.

Luna possessed one particular advantage that the other Hearts lacked: her black hair.

It allowed her to blend in with the capital’s residents without anyone immediately recognizing her as a member of the Heart Clan, whose people were distinguished by their red hair.

But apparently, she no longer needed that advantage.