Chapter 216: Subordinate (1/2)
”So? You don't expect me to spare her, just because I fought her brother before, right?” Ed shot an inquisitive look at the old man. The last war was a tragedy that affected many people's lives. The fact that it couldn't be avoided made it even harder on the hearts of those that mourned. Ed and all those present understood that no one could be blamed. Yet, it wasn't easy to look past what happened during the war, which was why Jillian attacked Ed.
”If you mean to tell me, that I should let myself be killed because I caused the death of Letif. Then I should kill her because of the deaths he caused.” Ed wouldn't budge from his position. Jillian wasn't the only victim of the tragedies of the war, and he wouldn't back down just because she felt that way.
”That's not what I meant!” The old man raised his voice but retreated back after noticing the killing intent protruding out of the eyes of Ed's companions. ”That's not what I meant” The old man repeated his words, softly this time, as he clenched his hands.
”Her father, and her older brother; Letif. The only reason this continent managed to escape the wrath of Blood sect was thanks to them” the eyes of the old man could be seen, and regret filled them. ”Thanks to Letif joining Blood sect as a commander, and thanks to Adalrik's family giving away all of their precious treasures, Blood sect turned a blind eye on us. All I ask of you is to allow the Adalrik family to live without losing any more. I've already caused them much sorrow just by making them into a backer”
The old man's eyes became cloudy with tears. Jillian noticed this and struggled to try and say something, but only a muffled voice escaped.
”Mehen” Ed called out to his companion while sticking his right hand out. In an instant, Mehen let go of Jillian's body, letting her out of his clutches, and wrapped himself around Ed.
”Cough! Cough!” Jillian dropped down to her knees and started coughing. Although someone at her level could go without air for as much as hours, the fact that Mehen's muscles tightened around her lungs caused her to gasp for air. She could only hold on while he was constricting her body, but when he let go, she could feel the damage he caused.
”Thank you for your benevolence!” The old man bowed his head while thanking Ed. He believed that Jillian was now safe.
”You seem to misunderstand something, old man.” Ed's words dropped, like a bomb, on the old man's ears. He stood up and looked bewildered at Ed.
”The fact that they sacrificed so much, the fact that Letif was forced into joining Blood sect. None of them matter to me. What matters is the fact that at that moment, the moment when I stood in front of him, I was attacked. Much similar to how this lady just attacked me.” Ed, before anyone knew it, had Shusui pointing at Jillian's neck. ”If you want to save her, you need to offer something that weighs as much as her life.”
Ed was, in fact, already willing to let Jillian go. From her previous attack, he could tell that she didn't plan to kill him. It was, simply, the anger of seeing her brother's murderer in front of her eyes. However! That didn't change the fact that she attacked him. He wasn't as soft-hearted as to let a potential enemy live for no reason.