"Arde, how about we discuss something?"
In a certain alley, the leader of the Soma Familia, Zanis, looked sinisterly at Lili, greedily eyeing the pouch of money in her hands.
"What... what do you want?!"
Lili, terrified, looked at Zanis, tightly clutching her backpack.
"What do I want? I just want you to obediently take this pill and start making money for us."
Zanis spoke coldly, taking out a dark-colored pill from his hand.
Upon hearing this, Lili's pupils widened in shock, and her body trembled with fear and anger.
Having grown up in the treacherous Soma Familia, Lili was highly intelligent, and in an instant, she understood the situation.
"Lord Blake is my companion! If he finds out about what you're doing..."
Lili clenched her fists, panicking as she spoke.
"Find out? No, no, no, as long as you don't say anything, it'll be fine. And do you really think he considers you a companion? How naive."
"Just obediently take it. I don't want to get rough, but if you really resist, I can't help you."
Zanis sneered while the other two laughed mockingly. In their eyes, Lili was just a puppet they could manipulate however they liked.
Listening to their words, Lili's eyes dulled, as if losing all color. Was this her fate? She had already lived a miserable life and was finally starting to see the light, only for it to be completely shattered.
At that moment, faint footsteps suddenly rang out, startling Zanis and his group. They quickly turned around, and their faces turned pale with fear.
Because standing before them was a silver-haired youth, his face as cold as ice, exuding a murderous aura. He was the one they had just been talking about.
"Blake... Lord Blake!"
Lili, on the other hand, showed a look of joy, her brown eyes regaining their brilliance.
"What do you plan to do to my friend?"
With steps as calm as death, Blake walked forward. Though his pace was slow, it felt like a hammer striking their hearts, freezing their bodies with fear.
Blake's words, filled with killing intent, were the final straw that broke their nerves, and they collapsed to their knees, horrified.
Even the LV.3 dwarf was immobilized by Blake's murderous aura, let alone the three LV.2 individuals.
Ignoring the three of them, Blake instantly kicked out with such speed that they couldn't react. The blow struck their vital points, sending them crashing into the wall, unconscious, while their energy channels were severely damaged, causing their life force to leak away.
"Lili, are you okay?"
After dealing with the three underlings, Blake turned to look at Lili, who was standing in the corner, staring at him blankly. He spoke gently.
"Ah! Yes! Lord Blake, why are you here?"
Startled by Blake's voice, Lili paused for a moment, then responded with a grateful and relieved expression.
"I can sense the malice of gods, let alone humans. When I sensed something was wrong, I followed and didn't expect this to happen."
Blake gently patted Lili's head, speaking softly.
"... Lord Blake, thank you."
Hearing his words, Lili's eyes welled with tears of gratitude. It wasn't just because he saved her, but because he had called her a friend. This recognition was more meaningful than just being companions—it was a deeper connection.
"Lili, though this may be a bit awkward, I still want to ask you... your life is not easy, right? Can you tell me? I want to help my friends."
After a brief silence, Blake sighed lightly, then squatted down to meet Lili's brown eyes at her level, speaking kindly.
"... Mm... Lili, Lili is in great pain."
Hearing this, Lili's tears flowed more freely, her small nose twitching as if she had found an outlet for her emotions. She suddenly threw herself into Blake's arms, mumbling:
"Lord Blake, let me tell you a story."
Blake didn't interrupt her, merely stroking her head as he listened seriously.
"Once, there was a little girl whose parents belonged to the 'Soma Familia,' so she was born into it. Her parents, desperate for money, went to the Dungeon but died in battle. The goddess of the Familia was only interested in brewing wine and ignored everything else. The girl, oppressed in the Familia, was also exploited by adventurers outside. Eventually, she fled the Familia."
"When the Familia members found out that a flower shop couple had taken her in, they destroyed the shop, which indirectly led to the girl being hated, making her resent adventurers. She then wanted to earn enough money to leave the Familia and escape."
"But the girl resorted to any means to make money, and those people also exploited her mercilessly... making the girl's heart almost fall into darkness... this girl is Lili. Lord Blake, until I met you several times, I had been living this way. I've suffered so much and just want to escape this dark life..."
As she spoke, Lili's body trembled more violently, and tears flowed uncontrollably. Her voice cracked as she spoke.
"Please, Lord Blake, I beg you, save me..."
"I understand. Leave it to me."
Hearing Lili's story, Blake's anger, which had been intensifying, strangely calmed down, and he smiled sincerely.
Feeling the warmth of Blake's genuine affection, Lili immediately lost her composure and began crying uncontrollably, releasing all the pent-up emotions of these years of silent suffering.
Soma Familia, I hope you'll know your place.
While comforting Lili, Blake's crystal blue eyes looked up at the dimming sky, his heart filled with violent fury.
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