Bad Born Blood-Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Hemillas wiped his alcohol-soaked hand on his coat and let out a sigh.

"Giselle did seem to have softened in a peculiar way... But still, that was quite a bold move. I never thought you and Giselle would form such a relationship."

"If you had paid a little more attention to Giselle, you would have noticed. I was always on edge about it."

With Hemillas’ level of insight, he should have been able to see through my relationship with Giselle. However, he had been too preoccupied with other matters to focus on us.

"You did your best in your own way."

"Just because you protected someone doesn’t mean you fulfilled your duty as a father."

"No, I failed to protect her as well. I couldn’t save Nikolaos. That was when I understood the clear limits of my abilities—that I couldn’t win like this."

We spoke calmly.

I stared at the glass of alcohol in front of me. Through my auditory vision, the liquid looked strange. Every time the drink swayed, it was as if threads twisted and unraveled.

"I never thought you were the type to surrender, Commander."

Hemillas leaned back in his chair as if exhausted.

"Luka, this is your last chance. Once you finish that drink, turn around and walk out of here. Please, let me protect you."

He had tried to kill me for disobeying orders. But I knew he meant what he said—he truly wanted to protect me. He had given me multiple chances to walk away.

"I know too much that I shouldn’t. In this situation, there aren’t many ways for me to survive. If I retreat now, I’ll just end up dead anyway."

"It seems you’re not just blind—you don’t hear too well either. I just told you, I will protect you. More than you think, I can negotiate with His Majesty on many matters."

"Prince Francec is on his way here. And he’s gathered quite a bit of support from both the public and the nobility. If you align with him, you’ll have better terms for negotiation. You might even be able to save your own life."

The Emperor’s Shadows must have been watching us with chilling gazes. But this wasn’t the time to speak in riddles.

I sharpened my senses, ready to fight at any moment. If Hemillas stood with me, we might just have a chance against eight Shadows.

"Do you even understand what you’re saying right now?"

Of course I did. With the weakening of the Empire, external attacks would become inevitable. I voiced the thoughts I had carefully organized in my mind.

"If Prince Francec succeeds in the negotiations, His Majesty’s authority will weaken, and the governing system will become dualized... but that’s none of my concern. What matters to me is that you survive, Hemillas."

"I’ve already sent my friends and subordinates to their deaths. Seems like you’re determined to make me an even more shameful man."

"I feel sorry for Iskan and Paigon, but to me, they were just passing acquaintances. They weren’t people who mattered to me."

Hemillas shook with laughter.

"So, that means I am someone important to you?"

"You’re one of the few people I want to save until the very end. Just like how you tried to save me, over and over again."

If Hemillas had been nothing but cold-hearted toward me, I would have died long ago, no matter how skilled I was.

"That softness of yours will be your downfall. No, it’s already holding you back."

"If I were a profit-driven, calculating bastard, you wouldn’t have kept me alive in the first place. The only reason I’ve survived this long is because of that very softness."

It was time to admit it.

...I was never inherently cruel. I became distant and exclusive only to protect myself and survive.

An old memory surfaced. I had hesitated to kill a Coritan boy in the past. In the end, it was Ilay who killed him in my place.

I remembered that day in vivid detail. Losing my sight had only made my recollections sharper.

"I never thought you’d see that softness as a strength."

"I don’t know if it’s a strength, but because of it, people around me have been willing to help me. And you’re no different. Iskan and Paigon didn’t die for you out of blind loyalty. They did it because they genuinely liked you as a person, Hemillas. Just like how I came here, prepared to die."

Hemillas and I were similar to Noel, but also different. As for Kinuan, the contrast was even greater.

I should have realized this sooner. If I had, Hemillas would have been more willing to listen to me and would have found a better option.

‘Hemillas didn’t emphasize humanity just to manipulate me. Though, I won’t deny that there might have been some of that...’

I had been a fool to be swayed by Kinuan’s words.

‘...He kept talking about humanity because, deep down, he treasures his own. He wanted to show me what truly matters.’

Backed into a psychological corner, I had doubted Hemillas’ intentions after listening to Kinuan’s words. That was why I hadn’t revealed the truth until things had spiraled this far. If I had spoken up sooner, many things would have been different.

‘I fell victim to Kinuan’s psychological grip.’

Kinuan was a monstrous human being. I should never have entertained the thought that we operated on the same level. That was an absurd delusion—my own arrogance. Kinuan was someone who towered over me.

I was an idiot who couldn’t even read Ivan’s thoughts. How could I have been so conceited as to think I understood Kinuan?

"You understand now, Luka? That this contains important information?"

Hemillas reached out and pulled the chip toward him.

"With your specifications, Commander, you should be able to grasp the overall structure without losing external sensory input."

Since Hemillas had a full-body prosthetic, he didn’t need a separate virtual simulation device. He could insert the chip directly into the nape of his neck.

Rustle.

Hemillas rubbed the chip between his fingers. The chip crumbled, turning to dust that scattered into the air.

"I trust my own decisions. The moment I view this, my family’s security—guaranteed by my offerings—disappears. I have no intention of gambling with the fate of my household."

Though my auditory vision couldn’t see it, I knew Hemillas’ eyes must have been blazing fiercely.

I could feel it too. The Emperor’s Shadows flinched. They were ready to move at the slightest trigger. I bit my lower lip and furrowed my brows.

"This is something left behind by the Founder, Agatha—!"

"That’s enough! Don’t say another word."

Hemillas cut off my voice with a sharp shout. As he stood, he scanned the surroundings.

Creak, creak.

Eight Shadows unsheathed their weapons. They were dark, cold, utterly devoid of excitement—even as they prepared for battle.

Clatter!

The captured generals and officers, who had been silent until now, stirred uneasily. Just yesterday, they had dreamed of revolution. Now, they were standing under the Emperor’s blade.

Hemillas had spent a long time selecting these people—each and every one of them a subversive element. He had carefully lured in only those who posed a threat to the Imperial Family. They were offerings perfectly tailored to the Emperor’s desires.

"You’re doing the exact same thing that Noel Mullizcane did in the past!"

I shouted.

The mention of Noel Mullizcane made the Shadows react. Their emotionless gazes locked onto me.

The eyes of the captured generals and officers widened. Even those in the upper echelons of the military knew who Noel Mullizcane was.

"Luka! Stop!"

Hemillas lowered his spear, making one last attempt to dissuade me. The tip of his weapon hovered near my neck.

Ka-ang!

Crucis clashed against the spear’s blade. The grinding sound of metal on metal rang out as our weapons dragged against each other. Hemillas looked momentarily surprised by my skillful response.

Good. The effects of the drug were still coursing through my mind. My thoughts remained cold and quick. Even against Hemillas’ relentless attacks, I could react.

"The Empire and the Imperial Family have used people like you time and time again—gathering internal dissent only to eradicate it all at once. This was never your choice, Father!"

One of the Empire’s secrets slipped from my lips. And in the next moment, soundless screams and dying gasps followed.

Kwa-jik! Puk!

The Emperor’s Shadows moved. Upon hearing my words, they began executing the prisoners. What I had revealed was a secret that could only be silenced by death.

Everyone except Ivan was being slaughtered.

Once the execution was complete, the Shadows’ spears and blades would turn on me.

Hemillas furrowed his brows so deeply that his eyebrows nearly met.

"Whether it’s my will or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that this is the best course of action. I am fulfilling my duty and taking responsibility for my choices. Luka, why is it that, just this once, you refuse to follow my decision?! At this most critical moment! I’ve given you countless chances!"

His furious voice thundered through my auditory vision, nearly shattering it.

I felt dizzy. Time was running out. The executions were almost over.

"Because I hate it. I hate all of you who break your own will and surrender under the excuse that there’s no other way! From beginning to end, I despise every last bit of it! Hemillas, it’s not just you. Everyone with their feet stuck in this filth is the same! I was, too! And I’m sick of it!"

At every decisive moment, I had been like this.

I hadn’t been able to shoot that Coritan boy. I had tried to help Ilay save Lilian Lamones. Rather than surrender to Rick Kaiser, I had chosen to have my neck snapped. I had defied Rick and Kinuan, knowing that siding with the Empire would mean my death. Even though Francec’s death from Ivan’s assassination would have worked in my favor, I had stopped it.

It wasn’t just my actions—my emotions were the same.

I had known I wasn’t supposed to have feelings for Giselle, yet I still couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to her.

And this time was no different.

I should have returned to my family’s estate and played it safe to preserve my life... but in the end, I had come here.

A rebel to the bitter end, choosing catastrophe when it mattered most.

Because I was born a lowly commoner. Given the chance to rise, yet too much of a fool to seize it. This was why I could never escape the bottom rung of life.

Here stood an idiot who had clawed his way up, only to hurl himself off the edge of a cliff, unable to suppress a reckless impulse.

Crunch!

Hemillas clenched his spear shaft tightly. Even I had no idea where its tip would strike next.

The Shadows bypassed Hemillas and advanced toward me. I could handle two of them, perhaps. But eight? I had no chance of winning.

Kwa-jik!

A spearhead burst out from the mouth of one of the Shadows.

A weapon emerging from the mouth wasn’t particularly useful on the battlefield—unless the goal was to assassinate someone in the middle of a kiss.

...Which meant that spearhead belonged to Hemillas. He had killed a Shadow.

Creak, creak.

The remaining seven Shadows swiftly dispersed to the sides, attempting to surround us and secure advantageous positions.

"Lukaus Custoria, you’ve put the entire family at risk. As of now, I’m dismissing you from your position as acting head. This is the last mercy you’ll get from me. If things go south, you’ll be the first to die by my hand."

Hemillas spoke quickly, twirling his spear in tight circles. His movements, as always, were precise. His attacks were instinctive, direct, and efficient.

"I already told Juppe—if we don’t return in time, he should be ready to go into exile."

"Exile? And you trust Juppe to handle that?"

Hemillas sounded genuinely incredulous. What a terrible father—no wonder all his children turned out twisted and ill-tempered.

"Juppe’s an adult. He’ll figure it out."