In the fighting pit, Aiden stood almost motionless, his body battered and bloodied from the intense match.
His electric-blue eyes darted toward the Phenomenal who had opened the cage door, then shifted toward Silas, who was standing just beyond the railing.
His fists clenched tightly at his sides, electricity sparking faintly between his fingers as he took a tentative step forward.
Silas, unfazed, raised a hand in a gesture of calm. "Relax," he said evenly, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Iâm not here to control you. Iâm here to help."
Aiden didnât respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he studied Silas. "Help?" he echoed, his voice rough from exertion.
"Thatâs a funny word coming from someone who just bought me like a piece of meat."
Silas nodded slightly, acknowledging the bitterness in Aidenâs tone. "Youâre right. The circumstances arenât exactly ideal. But I didnât buy you to own you. I bought you to free you."
Aidenâs shoulders tensed, his body still coiled with suspicion. "Why? Whatâs in it for you?"
"Because I see potential in you," Silas replied. "And because people like us donât belong in cages."
Aiden looked at Silas for a brief moment, with filling up his head. He didnât know what to make of ge situation. Why does this young man want him? And what for?
Aiden was feeling very complicated emotions right now. He was happy and relieved that this young man bought him as he would had died in the cage fight today.
But he was also worried as he has no idea as to the reason why the young man bought him.
Aiden hesitated for a long moment as he thought of all these. It was after a while before he finally came to term with his reality and stepped out of the cage.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The crowd, now mostly dispersed, paid little attention to his exit. Silas watched him carefully, noting the wariness in his movements and the way his gaze flicked toward the Phenomenals stationed around the arena.
As Aiden approached, Silas extended a hand. "Iâm Silas."
Aiden stared at the offered hand but didnât take it. "I know who you are," he said flatly. "The question is, why do you care?"
Silas lowered his hand, unfazed by the rejection. "Because I know what itâs like to be used.
And I know how dangerous you can be to the people who think they own you."
Aidenâs jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with a mixture of anger and something resembling hope.
After a moment, he nodded curtly. "Fine. Iâll come with you. But if youâre lyingâ"
"Iâm not," Silas interjected, his tone firm. "And youâll see that soon enough."
.....
As the two of them made their way toward the exit, Rin watched from her vantage point in the VIP section.
Her sharp eyes followed Silasâs every movement, a faint smile playing at her lips.
"Heâs more dangerous than I thought," she murmured to herself, her tone tinged with both admiration and wariness.
"But I wonder... what does someone like Silas Kurt want with a fighter like Aiden?"
She leaned back in her chair, her mind already working through the implications of their encounter.
The Ono clan had dealt with many powerful figures over the years, but Silas was different. He wasnât just powerful. He was someone very unpredictable and equally mysterious.
Very little is known if him by the outside world and no matter how much they try to dig up on him, nothing ever comes up.
The only thing thatâs know about him is his face, his name and very little information on his family.
Rin was very determined to know everything about Silas. First, she will start with tracking him through the bank account that was used to send the money to her.
.....
Silas led Aiden through the dimly lit corridors of the underground arena, ignoring the curious glances of onlookers.
Once they emerged into the cold Osaka night, Silas flagged down a sleek black car waiting for them nearby.
The driver, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, stepped out and opened the door for them without a word.
"Get in," Silas said simply, motioning for Aiden to enter first.
Aiden hesitated, his gaze flickering between Silas and the car. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he climbed inside, sinking into the plush leather seat. Silas followed, shutting the door behind him.
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As the car pulled away, the silence inside was heavy. Aiden stared out the window, his battered reflection staring back at him. His mind raced with questions, but none of them felt safe to ask.
"Luna," Silas said suddenly, his voice breaking the quiet.
A soft, feminine voice responded from the carâs speakers. {Yes, master?}
"Prepare the medical equipment at the safe house. Weâll need everything ready by the time we arrive."
{Understood. Shall I also prepare the profile briefing on Mr. Aiden?}
Silas glanced at Aiden, who was now looking at him with renewed suspicion.
"No need," he said after a moment. "I already know enough."
Aidenâs jaw tightened. "Do you always talk about people like theyâre not sitting right next to you?"
Silas raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the edge in Aidenâs tone. "Only when theyâve just stepped out of a death match and havenât asked a single meaningful question about their situation."
Aiden flinched at the accuracy of the remark but quickly masked it with a scowl. "Fine. Then let me ask. Why did you buy me? What do you want?"
Silas leaned back in his seat, his gaze steady. "I need someone like youâsomeone strong, skilled, and experienced. And someone who understands what it means to fight for survival."
Aidenâs scowl deepened. "Sounds like youâre putting a lot of faith in someone you donât know."
"I know enough," Silas said evenly. "I know youâre not a killer. I know youâve been forced into a life you didnât choose. And I know you want out."
The car fell silent again as Aiden processed Silasâs words. He hated how accurate they were and how this stranger seemed to see through him with such ease.
But there was something else in Silasâs toneâsomething genuine. It wasnât pity. It was understanding.
The car pulled up to a discreet building on the outskirts of the city. From the outside, it looked like a typical apartment complex, but Aiden quickly realized it was anything but ordinary.
Security cameras tracked their every move, and the locks on the doors were far more advanced than anything heâd seen before.
Inside, Luna greeted themâor rather, her voice did. {Welcome back, master. Medical suite is prepped and ready.}
Silas guided Aiden to a sterile, state-of-the-art room that resembled a high-tech clinic. "Sit," he instructed, motioning to an exam chair.
Aiden complied, too exhausted to argue. As Silas began tending to his injuries with surprising skill, Aiden finally broke the silence.
"You didnât answer my question earlier. Why me? There are plenty of fighters out thereâbetter ones, probably."
Silas didnât look up as he worked. "Better fighters, maybe. But not better people. Youâre not just strongâyouâre principled. You have a line you wonât cross, even when it costs you. Thatâs rare."
Aiden scoffed, wincing as Silas cleaned a particularly deep cut. "You make it sound like Iâm some kind of hero. NewsflashâIâm not."
"Iâm not looking for a hero," Silas said simply. "Iâm looking for someone I can trust."
Aiden fell silent, his thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and curiosity. For the first time in years, someone had seen him as more than just a weapon. It was unsettlingâbut also strangely comforting.