Chapter 404: The First Step Toward Rebirth

The First Step Toward Rebirth

His head snapped upward.

His blue eyes widened in disbelief.

For a moment, he even questioned whether he had heard correctly.

Recover?

Advance even further?

His shattered nervous system...

Could it truly be restored?

His lips trembled uncontrollably.

The hopeless darkness that had consumed him moments ago shattered like fragile glass.

A brilliant light once again appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Lucas immediately dropped to both knees.

His entire body shook violently as excitement overwhelmed him.

"Please, Young Master Julian, give me a chance. As long as I can take revenge on the Obsidian Wing organization, I will fight them to the death with my life on the line!"

His forehead touched the ground once again.

Every word came from the depths of his soul.

This wasn’t simply gratitude.

It was rebirth.

As long as he could regain his strength...

He wished he could kill every single member of the Obsidian Wing organization!

The betrayal he had suffered...

The humiliation he had endured...

The hatred buried inside his heart...

One day, he would repay all of it.

Julian silently watched the kneeling man.

Hatred.

Determination.

Desperation.

Everything Lucas felt was clearly reflected in his eyes.

That was precisely what Julian wanted to see.

A person driven by revenge was often capable of achieving far more than someone who lived comfortably.

After a brief silence, Julian finally gave a small nod.

"Alright, I’ll give you this opportunity. I hope you can be useful."

Relief flooded Lucas’s face.

His shoulders, which had remained tense for days, finally relaxed.

He bowed deeply once more.

"I won’t disappoint you, Young Master Julian."

Julian simply smiled.

There was no need for lengthy promises.

Time would prove everything.

Soon afterward, Julian led Lucas toward the waiting vehicle.

Lina Ashford opened the rear door while Liza Voss quietly made room inside.

Neither woman questioned Julian’s decision.

Both trusted his judgment completely.

Lucas carefully climbed into the vehicle.

Although his nervous system had been completely shattered.

He had the protagonist’s template!

Julian leaned comfortably against his seat, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.

As expected... the protagonist’s destiny is ridiculous.

Destruction before rebirth. Every time these people are pushed to the brink, they somehow become even stronger afterward.

Fortunately... I happen to know exactly how to make use of that.

Only Lina and Liza silently heard Julian’s thoughts.

Neither showed any outward reaction.

Julian himself remained completely unaware that the two women could hear every stray thought passing through his mind.

The vehicle slowly pulled away from the isolated pig farm.

The moonlight stretched across the empty roads as they began the journey back toward the D’Aurelius household.

The atmosphere inside the car was unusually quiet.

Lucas sat respectfully, occasionally glancing toward Julian before lowering his head again.

His loyalty might not yet have been proven.

But his determination certainly had.

On the way back, Lucas provided Julian with all the intelligence he knew.

He spoke continuously, organizing every piece of information in his memory.

He concealed nothing.

Every hidden base.

Every contact.

Every secret route.

Every operation he had ever participated in.

Julian listened attentively while mentally piecing together the entire picture.

The more Lucas spoke...

The more complex the situation became.

"In Valemont, the Obsidian Wing organization had actually deployed two forces."

Lucas’s voice became more serious.

"Evan, along with me and Steffan, were only the forces on the surface."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"In secret, the Obsidian Wing organization’s strategic deployment had never stopped."

His expression darkened.

"They had long formed a vast network, aiming to bring the entire Valemont under their control."

Julian’s fingers gently tapped the armrest as he quietly absorbed every detail.

Gradually...

A complete network began forming inside his mind.

After several moments of silence, he looked toward Lucas and calmly asked,

"So this is the wormhole chain your organization has in Valemont?"

Julian’s golden eyes remained fixed on Lucas, carefully studying every subtle change in his expression. He wasn’t merely listening to intelligence—he was judging the sincerity of the man who had chosen to abandon his former organization.

Lucas lowered his head respectfully before answering.

"This is only part of what I know; there are many things I don’t know."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

His blue eyes, however, burned with an unmistakable chill.

Cold hatred.

The kind that had settled into his bones.

As long as he regained his strength, he would hunt every one of those people down.

One by one.

No matter how long it took.

No matter what price he had to pay.

The journey back continued in silence.

Outside the windows, the night gradually deepened as the lights of Valemont faded behind them. The city rested peacefully, completely unaware of the storm quietly gathering beneath its surface.

Not long afterward, the vehicle slowly entered the D’Aurelius family estate.

Elegant stone pathways stretched beneath warm lantern light, while ancient trees swayed gently in the cool evening breeze.

The estate remained peaceful despite the late hour.

As soon as Julian stepped out of the vehicle, he immediately began giving orders.

"Prepare a large wooden tub."

He turned toward one of the waiting maids.

"Fill it with water and bring it to a boil in the outer guest room bathhouse."

"Yes, Young Master Julian."

The maid bowed respectfully before hurrying away.

Lucas silently followed behind Julian.

Although exhausted, his heart had become lighter than it had been in years.

For the first time since his betrayal, he could finally see hope.

Not long afterward, the preparations were complete.

Steam drifted from the enormous wooden tub, filling the spacious bathhouse with gentle warmth.

The scent of fresh wood mixed with rising mist, creating a calm atmosphere that contrasted sharply with everything Lucas had endured.

Julian turned toward Lina Ashford and Liza Voss.

"Lina, Liza, help me bring the medicinal herbs from the storage room."

The two women nodded before leaving together.

A short while later, they returned carrying several carefully wrapped bundles.

Julian accepted them one after another.