The car soon stopped in front of a desolate street, and Julius got down, straightening his coat.
"That'll be two points as usual," the driver gave him a smile, stretching out his hand.
Julius tapped the driver, and then he saw a floating sentence in his vision:
[–2 life points. Current total >> 103 life points.]
Julius let out a sigh as the driver drove off. He looked at the words floating in his vision and shook his head.
Life points became a concept when the Evernight descended. The sun hadn't come up since that day—the day the first calamity descended on Earth and battled the first wonder.
Humans now had to pay for the life they lived on Earth, as if in tribute to their creator. At that time, only the Wardens battled the fiends coming from the other world.
Eventually, more than 50% of the population of each race on Earth was wiped out by that singular event.
The sun shining above the empire was only due to an invention he didn't know much about, though it brought no heat.
Julius removed his hat, staring at the sun with a frown on his face as he soaked in his reminiscence.
The sound of hurrying footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts, and he saw kids in ragged clothes running past him.
'What a day.' He took a step forward and went into the slums.
Soon, he arrived in front of an orphanage not too far from the road. A few children in front immediately noticed him and ran toward him.
"Big brother!!" two kids cried out as they ran into his arms. He smiled, bending down and lifting them in both hands.
"Sorry, guys. I couldn't get you anything today," he said with a smile, and the kids shook their heads.
"It's okay, we're just glad that you came back," the little boy said, making him frown.
"Why did you think I wouldn't return?" he asked.
Just then, more sounds from the building caught his attention, and he walked forward.
An elderly woman came out of the building with a smile on her face, approaching him.
"Miss Monroe?" Julius smiled as he saw the elderly woman.
Her short black hair had streaks of grey, and her face had slight wrinkles. It was no doubt that she had been very popular with men in her youth, judging by the way her figure hugged the gown she wore.
Everyone simply called her Miss Monroe. She had been here for over fifty years and was the one who raised Julius. He was extremely grateful for that.
"Mister Julius. I thought it would be one of those days where you don't come back," she said in a teasing tone, and Julius only shook his head.
Seeing her bright smile, he couldn't help but wonder how she would react if she knew he was either going to die or be erased from this world.
"How was work today? I hope you're not smoking again too," she said, glaring at him as she noticed a familiar stench from his mouth.
"Work is stressful as always. I've got a full desk waiting for me tomorrow—we're about to finalize the 'God's Garden' report in a week," he said with a smile, staring directly into her eyes with a calm look on his face. "And whether I've been smoking or not... Yes, I have."
Miss Monroe frowned, visibly annoyed. After a few moments of silence, she sighed and took the two kids from his arms.
"Go freshen up and meet us later for dinner," she said in a visibly annoyed tone, and Julius quietly made his way to his room.
The small space consisted of a bed in the corner, a small box beside it, and a table with a chair and a single drawer.
Julius took off his hat and coat before plopping on the bed. His eyes were heavy from exhaustion, and his mind was buzzing.
After everything that had happened today, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep.
He later left the room with a towel and used the public bathroom. Afterward, he changed into a brown polo and some shorts and came out of the room.
A few kids greeted him here and there; some didn't even notice him.
He wasn't very popular with the kids, and he preferred it that way. They could be a bother most of the time.
He soon stopped in front of a reflective window and looked at his reflection.
His short black hair was messy, and his deep purple eyes were striking. It might sound arrogant, but he had the most beautiful pair of eyes in this world.
"Where's Monroe?" he mumbled as he looked around, catching her in the corner of his vision.
He clicked his tongue and walked out of the orphanage. There, he saw Monroe walking out of the premises and into the street.
His eyes immediately turned cold, and he followed behind her, hands in his pockets.
'It's that time of the month, huh?' He let out a breath, following her from a distance.
Monroe soon reached an alley outside the slums, where an elderly man in his early forties stood with a cane. The man waved at her as she approached.
Julius stood near a shop and observed.
The man was clearly an aristocrat from the inner city. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt with a black vest, topped off with a top hat and round glasses.
Anyone could tell he was nobility.
And indeed, he was—a filthy noble extorting money from their orphanage.
Julius walked over to the alleyway and leaned against the wall just out of view.
"What about the rent for the land?" the man asked Monroe, who looked down, fiddling with her fingers.
She was clearly nervous.
"W–well, we weren't able to get as many donations this month. B–but we'll make it up to you next month," she stammered.
The man chuckled as he looked her over and shook his head.
"We can come to another sort of agreement, though. Your body, to help the orphanage," the man smiled as he licked his lips. Monroe whimpered and looked away.
She wanted to call for help but couldn't. If she did, the man could immediately claim the land and demolish the orphanage for one of his factories.
Julius let out a breath and stepped into the alley, walking toward the man with a calm expression.
The man noticed him and stepped away from Monroe.
The elderly woman's brows lifted in surprise when she saw him.
"J–Julius? What are you doing here?" she asked quickly.
Julius smiled at her and looked at the man.
"Mr. Alvin. I don't think we've met before. My name is Julius," he said, and the man looked up to meet his eyes.
"What do you want? I'm in the middle of business," the man said, gesturing for him to leave.
"Actually, I want to make a deal with you." Julius pulled an envelope from his pocket. "Take a look at this."
The man frowned and took the envelope curiously. He pulled out a photograph—and his eyes widened in pure horror.
"She can go. Let's talk," Julius said, still calm.
"Lady Monroe, you can leave," the man said with a fake smile. The elderly woman looked at Julius.
He gave her a reassuring nod. She grit her teeth and walked away, clearly embarrassed that Julius had seen her about to trade her body.
Once she was gone, the man turned to Julius with a tense frown.
"Where did you get this?" he demanded, facing the photo toward Julius.
In the picture, he held a naked female child by the neck, smiling. The photo seemed taken through a window.
"I infiltrated your compound to get those shots. I suspected something when you always came every month to collect a child. You were clever, mixing in boys once in a while. But you can't fool me, you fucking pedophile," Julius said, his face filled with disgust.
This world was full of hypocrites—more twisted than the one he'd come from.
"You infiltrated my house?! How dare you! I could have you arrested—you won't even see the light of day again!" the man fumed.
Julius smiled and glanced behind him. A few people on the street had noticed them.
"Be careful what you wish for." He pulled out a folded paper and handed it over. "This is my profile. Where I work."
He watched the man's face change from annoyance to horror.
"One word from me and you'll become the hottest news in the Midgard Empire."
Alvin now understood. He calmed himself and looked Julius in the eyes.
"What do you want?"
"Simple. Don't disturb us for the usual payments anymore. And don't come to collect more kids. I know how many you have in your house."
Knowing he had no choice, Alvin tucked the envelope away.
"Hope we have an agreement. I'll keep in touch, Mister Julius," the man said, quickly turning to leave.
"Wait."
The man flinched and turned around.
"Do you have any connection with the Wardens?" Julius asked, raising a brow.
"Um… no, not directly. But I do know a man who works for them," the man said, a sweat drop forming on his temple.
"Can you set up a meeting? There's something I need."
"Y–yes. I can do that," he replied, walking away.
"In two days. I'll come over at noon. It's very urgent," Julius added. The man nodded and scurried out of the alley.
Julius' lips twitched. He spat on the ground.
The urge to beat the man down was strong.
It was satisfying to see an arrogant noble comply with a mere slum dweller—but not satisfying enough. The man deserved death for what he did to children.
But he was an aristocrat. The nobles would protect him before even knowing what he'd done wrong.
Julius walked out of the alley slowly.
He'd been planning this situation for an entire month. He couldn't expose the man yet—not when he couldn't afford the land the orphanage sat on.
It would take time. But eventually, that man would pay.
As Julius stepped out of the alley, a shop selling digital TVs caught his eye. On the screen was footage of a woman in otherworldly armor, wielding a longsword against a titanic beast in the sea.
Her long golden hair. Her slim figure. That blazing blade.
"Warden Selena." A smile formed on his lips.
Julius watched the screen, fascination lighting his eyes.
The Wardens were exalted figures, managed by both the Church and the Warden Sanctuaries across the world.
He needed an audience with one—because he didn't know how to handle his broken vessel.
So the meeting in two days might give him a chance to fix it.
As Julius walked through the dimly lit streets, the cool air of the Evernight brushing against his face, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders—only for another to settle in its place.
The alleyway, the confrontation, the noble's trembling voice—it all replayed in his mind.
As he approached the orphanage he let out a breath and rubbed his elbows. It was cold outside.
He couldn't help but with he had a cigarette.
As he stepped into the premises he noticed Miss Monroe standing in front of the wide building.
Miss Monroe stood by the doorway, arms crossed, face pale in the moonlight. Her eyes—those normally warm, motherly eyes—were filled with sadness, regret.
"Y–you're late," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Julius frowned. "I had something to take care of."
She stepped closer, the gaslamp flickering above them. "What did you and the landlord talk about. A–and what exactly did you take care of?"
He hesitated. "...Something that needed to be done. Just be rest assured that he won't be coming here to take rent again."
Miss Monroe stared at him for a moment her eyes wide as she realized something.
"You didn't kill him did you?" She asked with a surprised face and Julius calmly shook his head.
She regained her composure and then pulled out a sealed envelope—thicker than usual—and handed it to him.
"It came while you were gone. No return mark. Only your name... and a symbol I haven't seen in decades."
Julius took the envelope and turned it over.
His eyes narrowed.
Branded on the back was a seal in dark crimson wax: a sun cracked in half, bleeding into the shape of a Warden's crest.
His breath caught.
Only one person he knew used that mark to send him messages. And they hadn't sent him one in a long time.
His mother.
Before he could speak, Miss Monroe placed a hand on his shoulder. Her expression was no longer cold, but deeply worried.
"Julius..." she whispered. "Why would the royal family send you a message?"
Julius kept quiet, ignoring her question as he opened the envelope.
And what he read inside made the blood drain from his face.
"Be at warden's sanctuary at the end of the week. Failure would result in execution."