Chapter 1142: Different Roads Lead to the Same Castle


    Trantor: Transn Editor: Transn


    Rnd was surprised that Garcia’s first instinct was to call the police rather than report to the Martialist Association. Although the Martialist Association was a separate organization that was independent from judicial institutions, they required their members to adhere to a strict moral code and therefore, punishments to a corrupted martialist would be more severe than that imposed byw. It seemed that Garcia was particrly lenient with him.


    Rnd twitched his lips and felt an urgent need to rify this matter. He had not done anything wrong, so neither the police nor the Association should be involved.


    Anyway, he had to first calm Garcia down.


    "Call the police?" Rnd echoed in a falsely surprised tone. "Why?"


    "You ask me?" Garcia said exasperatedly. "What did I tell you the other day? An awakened man could easily lose his head over his power! That’s why a martialist should discipline his mind and control his emotions. I don’t want to interfere with your private life, and I don’t care how many girls you take home as long as they aren’t underage. But these girls... they’re still minors! Lust is the first sign of corruption. Do you still not understand?"


    So Garcia was more furious about him living a life of debauchery than about taking three young girls home?


    "I know, but why would I bring you here if I’m truly corrupted like you said?" Rnd said on a sigh. "Don’t you think that it doesn’t make sense at all?"


    "Er..."


    "In fact, whether this is true or not, taking three girls home would inevitably outrage the public. A wise man should make it as secret as possible. However, I invited you here. Don’t you think that is a little strange?"


    Garcia blinked nkly, slowly putting the phone down, and asked, "Then why?"


    Rnd heaved a sigh of relief and replied with utmost sincerity, "This is what I’m going to tell you. Miss Garcia... I need your help."


    ...


    Half an hourter.


    "So, you don’t have any inappropriate rtionships with these girls, but instead, you’re their... part-time tutor?" Garcia demanded while squinting at Rnd.


    "Exactly," Rnd said truthfully. "They’re all college students living nearby. I have to teach them as well as Zero, and it takes too much of my time. People will get suspicious if I keep them here for too long. Normally, girls of their age should have been in school, so I have to constantly bring in new students."


    Rnd had been always cautious about taking in the God’s Punishment Witches. No more than three or four witches were allowed to visit him in Room 0825 at a time so that the neighbors would not be rmed.


    "So they’re the ’rtives’ whom you needed to take care of during our first meeting?"


    "Oi Oi, this is something I said more than half a year ago. Why do you keep reminding me of that?" Rnd wondered reproachfully. He then said, "They aren’t my real rtives, but we’re from the same town," Rnd lied unblushingly. "Dawnen, Saint Miran, and Dido used to live in the same vige as me. They were still little kids when I left my town."


    This exnation would sound obviously wed in his original world but was actually quite reasonable in here since the Dream World had Zero’s memories.


    "Then why didn’t their names show up on the registry?"


    Rnd paused just at the right moment and said, "Because of... their gender."


    "I see," Garcia mumbled and fell into silence. When her eyes rested on the three witches again, her demeanor softened. Garcia asked, "Are there many people... like them?"


    "Quite a few although things have gotten a little better in past decade," Rnd said quickly as he realized that his n was going better than expected. "People in my vige are aware that I joined the Martialist Association. They probably didn’t want to stay there for the rest of their lives, so they came to look for me."


    "Your... Rnd is telling the truth!"


    "Please let us stay!"


    "I want to go to school."


    The three witches pleaded.


    Garcia turned away and looked like she was hesitating.


    "Neither tutoring nor learning by themselves would solve the fundamental problem. I want them to live a normal life like everyone else. I think you’re the only person who could help us," Rnd said slowly. Even if Gacia could not help him, the Clover Group must have some power to smuggle them in.


    Garcia was apparently thinking the same thing. After what seemed to be a long internal struggle, she sighed deeply, and said, "I’m sorry but I can’t help you."


    Upon seeing every sign of an interruption from Rnd, Garcia exined immediately, "I severed my rtionship with my family. Plus, the Clover Group has yet to abandon their n to demolish this apartment. If I go see him, he would use it as a leverage. I would betray the trust those protesters have put in me."


    Rnd fell silent when he saw Garcia’s clenched fists. He felt guilty to see Garcia be sorry for not being able to help the girls. Rnd said, "I understand."


    "But you can talk to him yourself," Garicia said and looked up at him. "My father will be holding a party for the outstanding martialists in the city center hotel tomorrow evening. He knows I would not go but he still sent me an invitation. By doing so, he at least shows to the media that he’s trying to mend our rtionship," Garcia said while smiling bitterly. "Although he didn’t invite you directly, you can go there on behalf of me. Just give the party organizer a call and they’ll let you in with my invitation card. A proxy could mean an eptance or a declination. If I choose you as my proxy, he’ll know that I declined his offer."


    Rnd instantly knew what Garcia meant. If Garcia asked her master Lan to represent her then that would be an eptance.


    "Talk to him in person..." Rnd mumbled while stroking his chin.


    "Are you scared?"


    "Regardless, I have to go. I’m so close," Rnd answered. As the King of Graycastle, he had attended numerous parties and gained arge amount of experience in dealing with distinguished figures. "I’m just worried he won’t help us. He’ll probably feel very affronted that you’ve rejected him."


    "Don’t worry. My father isn’t an unreasonable person. He cares more about business gains than personal loss," Garcia said while smiling. "And you aren’t any ordinary martialist. Even Prism City has noticed you. You should give yourself more credit."


    Rnd dimly understood what Garcia was referring to and said, "I’ll do my best."


    "To tell you the truth, I’m very d for you," Garcia said as she rose to her feet and extended her hand to Rnd. "You’re on the right track. Sorry that I misunderstood you. I’m very proud to have such an excellent martialist like you as mypanion." Garcia paused for a second and then went on, "Also, you can just let me know if you need help in the future, and don’t call me Miss Garcia anymore. It doesn’t suit you."


    Rnd slowly reached out his hand and shook hers.


    Although Rnd lied to Garcia, his goal was still to win the Battle of Divine Will, learn the truth of this world, and liberate humanity from the fate of endless war.


    This was the path he had chosen.