Stern watched the scene with a shocked expression. "Why is the master addressing this noble so respectfully?" he thought.
Stern knew the royal family only by name. In fact, many inhabitants of Zeyos have never seen the imperial family; they just know their names. It's even worse for those without means. Even though Stern had been getting by since following his master, he had never sought to learn about the elites and leaders.
"Master, why do you show them so much respect?" Stern asked with slight discontent.
Castiel gave him a look signaling him to be quiet, then straightened up to face the young prince before him.
"Why do you say you're nobody?" Zikron asked. He didn't understand what Castiel meant. Nobody? Why would one of the most dangerous gang leaders say something so absurd?
Amused by the young prince's question, Castiel replied with measured respect, "I am but a cog in the wheel of destiny, young master. My actions serve only to keep the mechanism turning. Today, perhaps I am someone. But after my death, my name will fade, scattered in the ashes of fate. I will be nobody. For those who follow and rely on me, my name is but a fragile shield, valid for an instant. Deep down, I am nobody."
Zikron still couldn't grasp this person. The masked man in the video and the individual before him were completely different. Although he knew not to fully trust videos or other media, he thought he might have judged too quickly.
"Why do you do this?" Zikron asked with complex emotions. Sery, who had been silent behind him, wanted to ask the same question but, knowing it wasn't her place, decided to remain quiet. Ester was about to say something to Zikron, but Castiel responded first.
"Judging by your expression, you've likely seen or heard of some of my actions." Zikron nodded.
"What do you think?" Castiel asked.
Stern didn't know what to say; his master's actions were incomprehensible at this point. He showed such respect to this kid, while he himself had wanted to hit that damn kid for his haughty demeanor.
Had he made a mistake in treating this kid with contempt? He didn't know. But why ask a child's opinion on his actions?
Zikron pondered Castiel's question. What would he have done? He had said he would take care of Ravencroft, but he had no plan. To him, Castiel's approach wasn't good at all; the people suffered because of him.
"Your actions are contradictory. You help the lower-class people of Ravencroft, but you destroy the city, you frighten the inhabitants, you sow chaos with your group. Why? Do you want to incite a revolution?"
"Young master, do you think the people of Ravencroft haven't tried anything? Do you think they're afraid?" Castiel retorted, slightly annoyed.
"We tried diplomatic means; the people cried out, made sacrifices, trusted the elites to improve their lives, to have a semblance of living. But in your opinion, what did Ravencroft's leaders do?" (He gestured to the surroundings as he spoke.) "Absolutely nothing. They ignored us." (Contempt could be heard in his voice.)
Zikron listened to Castiel without a word. He sensed it was a sensitive topic, so he listened. He looked at Ester, whose face now showed slight sadness at Castiel's words. His head was lowered, fists clenched. Stern seemed ready to pounce on Zikron at any moment. How dare he judge when he knew nothing?
"From your perspective, what we're doing is surely useless and contradictory. But it's the only way for them to be heard. If the leaders don't want to listen, I'll force them to hear. The people's voices. I will be their voice and their shield."
After saying these words, an intense primordial pressure filled the room. This pressure wasn't directed at them but at the surroundings.
Zikron's eyes widened, feeling Castiel's pressure. "A Primarch!" Zikron was shocked. The man before him was near the pinnacle of the world. His power was no joke. Sery shivered looking at Castiel. The last time she had shivered like this was watching a fight involving her father, the Red Star!
Stern instinctively knelt, his body trembling, whispering, "My King."
Zikron raised an eyebrow, a sense of discomfort growing inside him. Stern's reaction was beyond him. Ester, on the other hand, looked utterly disgusted by Stern; he resembled a fanatic.
"Apologies, young master. I overstepped. I should not have exerted my pressure in your presence," Castiel said with respect, his face emotionless.
Sery was completely outraged by Castiel's behavior. "This man, he's a lunatic! He's crazy!" she whispered in Zikron's ear.
Ester had the same thoughts but didn't dare speak. However, he agreed with Sery's words.
Zikron bit his lip. Even though the pressure wasn't directed at them, but rather around them, he couldn't stop his body from trembling. Sery and Ester were also shaking.
With such power, Castiel could easily overthrow the leaders. So why was he going through all of this? Zikron wondered.
"Why? You're a Primarch. In the world, very few people would dare to play with you. Why have you endured all this and let your people suffer? Honestly, I don't understand," Zikron said, frustrated.
"Yes, I could solve this now, but that would be a short-term solution. If one day I'm no longer here, my people will suffer again," Castiel answered calmly.
Zikron stared deeply into Castiel's eyes. As he remembered everything Castiel had said, he noticed that Castiel only spoke for others, never specifically including himself. Why?
"And you, in all of this? Why don't you include yourself?" Zikron asked.
Castiel remained silent before turning away and sitting on his dark throne. For half a second, he looked sad, but that expression disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and Zikron noticed.
Understanding that Castiel wouldn't answer this question, Zikron asked another:
"I saw a video where your group was fighting another gang led by a woman with a mask covering her mouth. Who is she? Why did you even start fighting? It doesn't make sense. Aren't you on the same side?"
Castiel grimaced in disgust, and with a dismissive tone, he said,
"That bitch? We're not on the same side at all. At first, I believed her and asked her to join us, but she's a manipulator and a pawn of the leaders. With all due respect, young prince, there's no need for you to worry about this. Go back to the emperor's side and live your life. You're too soft for this life. Ester, I hope you'll accomplish your goals by his side."
Soft? Zikron soft? Sery couldn't believe what she'd just heard. The Zeta family was anything but soft. They were a family of madmen.
The whole world knew it. And Zikron was nothing soft. She slapped her hand to her face, as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in the world.
Zikron didn't know what to feel about this statement. Being clearly underestimated frustrated him to a high degree, but unfortunately, he hadn't come here to cause trouble. And for just that, he wanted to look for trouble.
Castiel seemed eager to send Zikron and his group away.
"Thank you for caring about my goal, but why do you want us to leave? You seem in a hurry," Ester pointed out, deciding to speak up.
Stern opened his mouth, ready to say something, when Castiel cut him off sharply.
His voice cracked like a whip.
"Stay if you want. But I won't take responsibility for the consequences."
Simple. Cold. No promise.
The silence stretched on, heavy. The kind of silence that makes the weak sweat. Eyes met, filled with questions, but no one dared to break the echo of the Primarch's words.
Then—
BOOOOM.
The ground trembled. The walls vibrated. A rough breath rose from the depths. Not strong enough to shatter everything, but just enough to remind everyone that the world here could turn on a dime.
Outside, something had exploded. And suddenly, the room seemed a little smaller. The air, a little heavier.