230 Chapter 230: An Assassin’s Honor (1/2)
”Are you sure about this?”
The hooded granny was staring at the couple in concern. The man and woman glanced at each other, and then nodded determinedly.
”Michael Porter is pushing our forces back hard. We did not expect him to have a Soul Beast of his own.”
”It's only to be expected,” the granny replied to the man's somber statement with a bow of her head. ”The Porter clan was always the guardians of the south, the great family that embodied the Vermillion Phoenix. Many of its most famous scions are well known for materializing the Vermillion Phoenix as their Soul Beast.”
”Daddy! Mommy! Please don't go!”
A young boy clung to the man while gripping the fabric of the woman's black skinsuit. The couple exchanged a glance, then the father knelt down to place a hand on the boy's shoulder.
”Don't be like this, Hades. We already told you that we need to go.”
”Your parents have a duty that they must fulfil.” The mother stroked the hair of the boy's head. She tried to smile, but was unable to stop the faint tears from leaking out of her eyes. ”We have pledged our lives to the Guild. It is only natural that we serve them unto death.”
”But…!” Hades wailed, refusing to let go of his parents. ”But you can't die! At least take me with you!”
”You know we cannot,” Hades' father told him as he placed both hands on his son's shoulders. Looking at the dark-skinned boy, he felt his heart break. The boy was barely five, but already he was forced to deal with tragedy. Cronus wished he could spend more time with his children. There was still so much he wanted to teach his son…
No, not just teach. Enjoy the warmth of a family, bringing him up, and watching him grow up to become a respectable Assassin.
”You have your own duty, young man. Your mother and I are counting on you to protect your little sister.”
Cronus's gaze turned toward the young baby in the granny's arms. She was cradling her in a soothing manner, having quietened her down when she was crying earlier. His wife, Serena, reached out to stroke the baby's face.
”I'm so sorry, Selina.”
The baby cooed happily, not understanding her mother's words at all.
”Take care of Selina, Hades.” Cronus turned to stare grimly into Hades' eyes. His son lowered his head for a moment, and then took a deep breath and nodded.
”I'll protect her with my own life if necessary. You can count on me.”
”Very good.” Cronus nodded and smiled proudly. ”I know I can count on you.”
He then stood up, still patting Hades' head, and turned to the granny, who was watching the entire scene in dejection.
”I'll raise them both as my own.”
”I know you will.”
The granny smiled bitterly. ”Don't hold too high an expectation of me. You know who we are. They will be raised to become killers like you.”
”We are all tools that serve the Guild, Granny.” Cronus merely smiled. ”And you raised me yourself. Look how I turned out.”
”A little rough around the edges, but a decent man all things considered.” Serena giggled. ”Good enough for me to marry, anyway.”
The granny tried to smile, but tears slightly trickled from her eyes.
”I wish there was a way where all of us can return alive.” She sighed. ”No matter how long I live, I can never get used to saying goodbye to my charges.”
”I hope you will never have to bid our children goodbye,” Serena said, sending a wistful look at Hades and Selina.
”I won't bury you,” the granny declared. ”No more. I've raised you, I've treated your injuries, but I won't bury you. I've buried enough members of the Wright family.”
”I don't think any of us have a say in the matter,” Cronus pointed out dryly as he tapped his chest. ”Our lives and souls belong to the Guild. We exist solely to serve the Guild.”
”They see only one end to their goal. Killing. Making more money. Becoming more powerful and obtaining new weapons. One day, I'll have to tell them…this isn't wartime anymore. It's an era of peace, where bloodshed can and should be avoided. They have to find another way. They used to talk about finishing, about expanding beyond that awful vocation of murder and assassination.”
”Don't let the higher-ups hear you say that,” Serena warned hastily, her face pale. ”Or they'll bring you in for correction training. Worse, they might eliminate you.”
The granny smiled. ”I've lived long enough.”
”Not yet. Not long enough.” Cronus placed a hand on her shoulder. ”We still need you to look after our children. Live for them, if nothing else.”
”…I understand.” The granny looked up into his face, and then at Serena's. ”But that doesn't mean I'll let you both off the hook if you die. You had better come back alive, no matter what. I don't care what the higher-ups or the Grand Master himself says. Your children are waiting for you.”
Cronus and Serena exchanged glances, and then they nodded heavily.
”Goodbye, Granny.”
They then turned away and departed, leaving their children behind with their new guardian. For a moment, they walked in silence, and then Serena suddenly turned to Cronus.
”Is it all right? Deceiving them like this.”
”We've said our goodbyes. They are aware of that there is a very high chance that we won't survive this mission.”