Micheal's eyes settled on a lanky man in a brown doublet and leather pants. He was overseeing the unloading of crates with a desultory attitude. Micheal followed the others and emptied his cart in a trance-like manner.

  Afterwards, he left the ship and prepared for the second round. He planned on taking action once it was nearing the end of the entire process.

  It took a cloud’s passing to empty the warehouse. As the group of boys wheeled their carts towards the ship for the last round, Micheal found his heart racing uncontrollably.

  He faltered.

  What would happen to him if he got caught? Getting discovered by a Luminary would spell the end of him. He doubted the sinister lady would come to his rescue…

  Just as he neared where the crates were arranged, Micheal gritted his teeth and abandoned all hesitation. Following his carefully crafted plan, he exerted strength and tilted his cart a little to the right. This disrupted the balance, and a barrel came rolling down.

  Amidst the noise and gazes that swerved over, Micheal stepped away from the cart and hurried after the barrel, seemingly in a bid to prevent further damage. Just as he had calculated, the barrel rolled in the direction of the sailor he'd targeted.

  The sailor with a desultory attitude frowned and tried to step out of the way. However, he hit his foot against the tumbling barrel and fell face-first, almost breaking his nose on the wooden surface of the deck.

  This in turn, halted the momentum of the barrel.

  Amidst the laughter of the other sailors on the deck, Micheal hurried towards the lanky man and parted his lips to apologize. At that moment, however, he paused.

  With a sudden change of attitude, he simply bent and lifted the barrel next to the man. During this brief moment, he deftly slid the orb into the pouch by the man's waist. Then, he returned to his cart and began offloading with diligence.

  The sailor who had fallen over rose to his feet and grumbled.

  “Damn mindless fools!” He cursed and harrumphed, feeling stinged by the laughter from his peers. Although he was disgruntled, he refrained from reprimanding the boy who had caused the accident.

  After all, they had fallen under the control of a certain figure and could do nothing but finish up their task.

  Cold sweat dripped from Micheal's back as he pretended to be engrossed in his work. All the while, he was on the lookout for any sudden appearance of the powerful Visionary on the ship.

  At times, he thought he would be pulled to the side and questioned. At other times, he thought someone would expose the fact that his hands were trembling beyond reason.

  However, nothing happened and Micheal finished unloading the barrels and crates. He pushed the cart off the deck and down the gangway.

  When he was off the ship, he quickened his pace and distanced himself from the group of boys. Then, he suddenly switched directions and rotated around a few stalls. He had long abandoned the cart.

  “I really did it…” Micheal found reality too surreal. He took a careful glance around and couldn't help clutching his chest.

  Phew, I remembered the instructions passed by that mysterious figure just in time. If I had apologized to that sailor, an abnormality would've been detected instantly. Then, I really would've been captured, dissected and fed to the fishes. Thankfully, thankfully...

  He continuously praised Lord Hanuman as he approached the concealed alley. There, he found Esmerelda waiting for him with a smile.

  “Good job.” She said with a brief applause.

  Micheal beamed and almost forgot that he was being held captive. He glanced at the half naked boy who remained standing in a daze and asked, “Is that all?”

  “Yes.” Esmerelda nodded. “You can change back now. Here's your pouch.” She tossed the bag of coins to him.

  Micheal skillfully caught it and frowned immediately. He felt the increased weight and asked, “Did you add more?”

  Esmerelda retained her smile and nodded slightly. “Consider it an additional reward.”

  “Thank you!” Micheal was beyond elated. He hurriedly changed back into his clothes and stuffed the pouch into his pocket.

  Esmerelda glanced at the dockworker who remained standing in a daze, and she quickly manipulated him to wear his clothes. Then, she guided him out of the alley and released her influence over his cognitive body.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Let's go.” She said afterwards.

  Micheal exhaled and followed obediently. He still couldn't believe the wealth he had amassed in the span of two days. Not only that, but he would also be getting a tome of great value.

  This really is a fortuitous encounter… He whistled inwardly.

  …

  Capital of Oralio, noon.

  Marie stood in front of the dilapidated building. Her heart grew heavier as she awaited her brother's return. Usually, he never took longer than stated when he was out seeking jobs.

  Due to this, the frail little girl couldn't help but imagine heartbreaking scenarios.

  Time went by in slow agony, and her worried expression gradually changed to one of determination.

  She decided to go looking for him in the town of Avon.

  After taking just a step forward, Marie paused. She bit on her lower lip and glanced at her legs. Just walking from one end of the street to another posed a great challenge. Coupled with her illness, there was a very high chance of collapsing at any moment.

  “Can I really do it? I don't have enough for a ride, and walking there seems almost impossible…”

  Marie pondered for a while, and eventually, she steeled her resolve. Her brother was all she had left. The boy, who was only four years older, had assumed a parental role after the unfortunate accident a few years ago. Not a day went by that Marie didn't blame her inability to make things easier for him.

  Perhaps he would be living a better life if she hadn't been born at all.

  “Ah. Micheal…”

  The little girl gnashed her teeth and began the agonizing walk.

  …

  After journeying east for a long time, Micheal's gaze fell on the isolated Chapel surrounded by a field of blooming flowers. Feeling quite ecstatic, he almost offered to help the lady secure the horse to a pole.

  However, he ultimately restrained himself.

  Throughout the journey, all he had been thinking of was how he could finally change his sister's life for the better. He planned on taking her to the best Alchemists and finding a way to treat her illness. Then, they would start up a business with the knowledge learnt, amassing a sufficient amount of wealth.

  Hehe, things are finally looking up. I almost forgot, I still have to learn Celt, but that shouldn't pose too much of a problem… Micheal's thoughts whirred as he followed the ethereal lady into the Chapel.

  This time, there was no one seated in the front pew, but the interior retained its saintly atmosphere.

  When they arrived behind the large mural that concealed a secret door, Esmerelda suddenly chuckled.

  Micheal glanced at her. In his high spirits, he asked, “What's the matter?”

  Esmerelda didn't respond right away. She unlocked the door with a special key and gestured for him to proceed forward. Once he did, she followed and locked the door once more, returning the Chapel to its tranquil state.

  They approached the end of the passage, and only then did she speak. She said with a slight curl to her lips, “I wonder, how amusing is it for prey to willingly follow a predator to its demise?”

  At that moment, Micheal paused in his tracks. His elated expression slowly faded, replaced by deep puzzlement as he turned to look at her.

  When he gazed upon her, in that dark ambience, all he beheld were eyes that hid the most cruel thoughts.

  The underground passage descended into a chilling silence.

  More than a dozen heartbeats passed, yet neither moved from their spot.

  “...”

  Without declaration, Micheal thrust out his fist. His entire arm had assumed a greenish glow at some point in time, propelling the speed at which he attacked!

  Esmerelda didn't dodge. With a slight raise of her finger, the boy's arm hung in the air. Then, she made a motion of flicking her index finger, and the boy was instantly slammed against the wall by an unseen force.

  This was the psychokinetic ability grasped by Visionaries at the Luminary Grade. They could not only influence and manipulate thoughts, but directly move things with their minds. Hand gestures often reduced the strain it had on the mind.

  Micheal crashed into the wall, his eyes almost turning white. However, Radiants had the highest endurance after Vessels, so he was able to recover almost immediately.

  He gritted his teeth and lunged forward once more. Green mist billowed from his pores as he threw punch after punch, trying to find an opening with the intention of making a break for the door.

  It was as though Esmerelda understood his pattern of attack. She deftly dodged every hit, amused by his decision to fight back. The gap between a Seeker and Luminary was absolutely ridiculous.

  However, she secretly praised his attempt to escape. After all, for someone like her who enjoyed breaking the will of her victims, plunging them into the depths of despair, it was no use if they didn't make any attempt to resist.

  The pleasure simply couldn't be matched.

  Thus, she let Micheal land a few hits, watching hope gradually take shape in his eyes.

  At that moment, the lady ‘slipped’ and fell backwards.

  A chance! Micheal's eyes flashed as he thrust himself forward. He moved like a rabid creature, gathering all the Essence he had left in him for a single leap towards the door. He was extremely determined to escape.

  For some strange reason, he had forgotten all about his fear of the lady who had the eyes of a killer. For some reason, his apprehension towards her had been stripped to the bare minimum.

  This isn't merely because she promised to reward me… Is this the power of a Visionary? I was secretly being manipulated without knowing it… Back at the port, I could've escaped! Why did I return to her?! As Micheal had this frightening thought, he crashed through the door and fell before the mural.

  He wasted no effort standing up and hurrying towards the exit of the Chapel.

  Freedom was just right in front.

  …Or so he thought.

  Just when he stepped out and felt the glaring rays of the sun against his face, he heard a crisp snap.

  Crack.

  At that moment, the scene before him shattered like illusory glass.

  Micheal's pupils dilated as he realized he was still standing in the underground passage. All that happened from when the lady slipped on the stone steps was but a mere illusion.

  Esmerelda was staring at him with a smirk, her dark-purple eyes shimmering like night stars.

  “W-what did you do to me?” The boy asked in a low tone.

  Esmerelda’s smile widened and she casually explained, “Do you know when people are most easily manipulated? Heh, usually, it's quite difficult to project a desired scene into the mind of a target, but when they're feeling extreme emotions, it becomes relatively easy.”

  Micheal's heart winced as he said with great difficulty, “Why are you doing this? I haven't done anything to you…”

  “Why?” Esmerelda playfully tapped her cheek. Suddenly, she began laughing as she flailed her arms wildly.

  “Why, you ask? Because I want to! Because it is who I am! Humans are nothing but caged creatures starved of their true thoughts and desires!

  “As a Visionary, I understand this all too well. The human mind is dark, filthy. We are nothing but depraved beasts hiding under the fallacy of societal etiquette! Our true nature is to kill, hunt, defile and dominate! And this is what we, the Primeval Sect, seeks—”

  “Lunatic.” Micheal spoke over her.

  His eyes flashed with a hint of disgust. “Who are you trying to fool with big words? Humans are humans because of the very fact that they restrain their immoral thoughts and desires. Every being is born with the innate desire to do evil… being human means constantly fighting against that side. That is what makes us different— what makes us grow.

  “Justify all you want, but the truth is that you're simply a degenerate. A shameless pervert trying to drag others down the path of depravity.”

  He exhaled and added with a chuckle, “You want to kill me? Go ahead. Afterwards, you can return to the pigsty and roll in the mud with the rest of your kin.”

  Forgive me, Marie. This is where I leave you… The boy had a fleeting thought as he shut his eyes.

  The underground passage descended into silence once more.

  Esmerelda’s gaze flickered, and her smile remained frozen on her face. She stared at the boy for a moment, before swiping her hand sideways.

  Micheal instantly crashed into the wall against his will. Blood lined his frame as that part of the wall caved in, causing his head to jerk backwards. Esmerelda swiped her hand across the air once more, and Micheal's body moved once again.

  Crash after crash, this sequence repeated until he finally lost consciousness.

  By then, his face had turned into a bloody mess.

  As for Esmerelda, there was a single stream of blood trickling down her nose. This wasn't due to any hit she'd suffered, rather, it was as a result of her restraining the morbid desire to instantly kill the boy.

  Her smile finally vanished as a malefic glint appeared in her eyes. Her lips were tightly pursed, and she clenched her fists repeatedly.

  “Kill you?” She muttered. “Foolish brat, I'll do so much worse.”