Chapter 114: Mistletoe (1/2)

The words Master Ronin said before they arrived at the mansion still lingered in his mind. After all, how could someone accept such a revelation easily? To overthrow the king? That meant Si was planning a rebellion.

However, Arthur didn't feel any loyalty to the kingdom or the Union. After all, what had the Union given him except watch Everlasting Stream rob him and label his father a thief?

He still remembers how Si and he had agreed to mutually help each other in their goals. Si would help Arthur find his father as Arthur would help Si overthrow his father. Somehow, it felt befitting. Like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together.

”Our earlier conversation is a secret,” Master Ronin said matter-of-factly. ”Well, except for the others in Si's team.”

They walked into the mansion. It was still a mess; the way Arthur had left it. Master Ronin frowned as he avoided the clumps of herbs and clothes on the ground like avoiding a plague. They reached a room where several people waited there.

”Si, are you smoking again?” The moment Master Ronin opened the door, the acidic scent of cigarettes assailed their noses. Si was sitting holding a cigarette that he butted out the moment he saw Master Ronin.

”Ah, no, no. It's just an old habit to smoke when I'm nervous.” Si tried to wave the smoke away as he sent a sign to Reece to open the window. When Arthur saw this, he smiled involuntarily. He remembered that the first time he met Sier, he was smoking as well.

”Mm,” Master Ronin gave Si a displeased look before sitting on one of the couches, right opposite Si. When Arthur was able to see everyone in the room, there were two people he hadn't met before.

There was Reece with his eye-catching pink hair, Ivy waving at Arthur to sit next to her, Vihan drinking from a bottle, and two other people Arthur didn't recognize. One of them was a masked person with a sword on his waist and the other was a pale and frail-looking young man who looked like he's about to die at any second.

”Welcome, Arthur.” Si grinned at him when he entered. Arthur wasn't that good at socializing in a group and simply nodded back.

”Our meeting should have been after your contest, but things took a sudden turn. These people, like I told you before, are my family.” Si grinned and gestured toward the others. Arthur could feel how proud they were when Si said the word family.

Ivy was giddy with joy, Reece smiling shyly for the first time, the dead-looking person hiding his mouth behind his knees as he hugged them, and the standing masked person's back straightening up.

They were all proud and happy about being a part of this, it seems. This fact made Arthur let down his guard a little around them. He looked at Si, the person who was responsible for gathering these people and pondered.

Si has already told him that their meeting wasn't a coincidence. It means he had used his ability to foresee and scout every person in this room to make them a part of a self-created family. Arthur was a part of it as well, and it made him feel slightly flattered.

”Nice to meet you, everyone.” Arthur scanned the room and nodded with a sincere smile. Reece tried to come forward and hug him but Ivy kicked him away. The dead-looking person nodded back at him and the masked person gave him a thumbs up.

”We have a name,” Si said and Arthur turned to him. ”It's not the best of names, but it describes us perfectly. There are other members who you have yet to meet, but I think it's time for you to join us.” Si paused and Arthur looked at him in the eyes.

”We are Mistletoe,” Si grinned and his teeth shone in the light. ”We are the discarded, the broken, and the unwanted. Yet, we will slay even the Gods if we need to. There's no law to hold us back, nothing to guide us but our benefit. We're not saints nor villains, and we won't help or kill others needlessly. You can do whatever you want, but you can never betray this family.” Si extended his hand.

”Will you join us, Arthur?”

Looking at Sier's face and then hand, Arthur needed but a moment to think about this. He was also discarded by the world. The days he spent digging through the dirt and looking for any piece of artifact would forever be imprinted in his mind. As others felt love and made friendships, he was worried about what to eat that day. He missed his father, his mother's happiness, and his brother's childishness.

”Please take care of me, everyone.” He shook Sier's hand and grinned back at him. This was the first real backing he'd have. A group of people who would always help him out. For that, he was willing to help them back as well.