Lucien's footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor as he approached his apartment door. The air felt still, unnaturally so. Years of training sharpened his instincts, and right now, every fiber of his being told him—someone was following him.
Without hesitation, he spun around, launching a swift and precise attack toward the presence lurking in the shadows.
His target dodged effortlessly, sidestepping Lucien's strike with an ease that immediately told him—this wasn't just anyone.
???: "Whoa, whoa—relax, kid."
Lucien: "…Tch."
The man finally stepped into the dim light of the hallway. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded an air of controlled recklessness. His dark hair was slightly unkempt, a contrast to his sharp, calculating eyes—the eyes of a soldier, but one who didn't take things too seriously.
Lucien's expression remained unreadable, but inside, he recognized him instantly.
General Damian Stryker.
The man who had once saved him.
A slow smirk spread across Damian's face as he shoved his hands into his pockets, completely at ease despite nearly getting his face punched.
Damian: "Still as cold as ever, huh? Man, you need to lighten up."
Lucien: "…Why are you here?"
Damian: "What? Can't an old mentor visit his favorite pupil?"
Lucien's gaze remained sharp. He knew Damian well enough to understand that he never did anything without a reason.
Lucien: "Tch. Cut the bullshit."
Damian: "Damn, still no humor in that dead soul of yours, huh?" He laughed and draped an arm around Lucien's shoulder—only to be shrugged off immediately. "Fine, fine. No small talk. Let's go."
Lucien frowned. "Go where?"
Damian: "To a bar. Obviously."
Lucien sat at the bar, arms crossed, gaze sharp and unreadable.
In contrast, Damian was already laughing, charming the bartender, and flirting with a woman sitting nearby. His personality was completely opposite from Lucien's—a man who knew how to enjoy life, despite the darkness he had seen.
Lucien simply observed.
Damian: "Kid, you need to loosen up. Life ain't just about missions and fights."
Lucien: "…For me, it is."
Damian: "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you've never liked anyone?"
Lucien said nothing. But for a fraction of a second, an image of Evelyn flashed in his mind.
Damian's keen eyes caught that tiny hesitation. His smirk widened.
Damian: "Oh? So there is someone?"
Lucien clicked his tongue, looking away. Damian let out a low chuckle, taking a sip of his drink before leaning in slightly.
Damian: "Listen, kid. If you want a woman, you gotta know how to treat her right. Can't be walking around looking like some emotionally constipated hitman all the time."
Lucien: "…I don't care about that."
Damian: "Oh, trust me. You will."
Damian leaned against the bar, grinning as he gestured around the room.
Damian: "Women don't fall for a mystery they can't solve, kid. You gotta give them something to work with."
Lucien: "That's unnecessary."
Damian: "Oh yeah? Try keeping up that attitude when the girl you like gets swept away by some loser with a cheap cologne and a guitar."
Lucien's expression remained unreadable, but the idea of Evelyn with someone else struck a nerve he wasn't ready to admit existed.
Damian: "Women like a guy who knows how to be dominant but not a dickhead. You? You're like a wall. A very scary, attractive wall, but still a wall."
Lucien: "…And that's a problem?"
Damian: "Let's put it this way—you want her to admire you, sure. But you also want her to miss you when you're not around. That's the difference between a crush and an obsession."
Lucien fell silent, considering those words more than he wanted to admit.
Damian: "Alright, enough talking. Come on."
Lucien: "Where now?"
Damian: "We're getting you a damn haircut."
Damian dragged Lucien to an upscale salon, ignoring all protests.
Lucien: "This is a waste of time."
Damian: "And your look is a waste of potential. Shut up and sit down."
Lucien sighed but allowed the stylist to work. It wasn't a drastic change, but his hair was styled sharper, giving him a more refined look—something effortless yet striking.
Damian grinned at the final result.
Damian: "Now that's a face that'll break some hearts."
Lucien: "…I don't care."
Damian: "Oh really? We'll see how she reacts tomorrow."
Lucien didn't respond, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if Evelyn would notice.
As they left, Damian's tone finally turned serious for the first time that night.
Damian: "Listen, kid. You think you're free, but Vermilion Oath? They're still watching."
Lucien: "…I know."
Damian: "They're not done with you, Lucien. Not by a long shot."
Lucien's eyes darkened. He had always known this. But hearing it from Damian made it feel real.
Damian: "Just… be careful. Play it smart. And maybe, for once, let yourself live a little."
He patted Lucien's shoulder before walking off, disappearing into the night like he was never there.
Lucien stood alone for a moment, his mind a storm of thoughts.
Was he truly free? Or was this just another mission… one he hadn't realized he was already a part of?
End of Chapter 40