Unwilling...

Such a familiar emotion.

In a daze, Jack suddenly remembered his father, the one he almost never looked up to.

This man, terrible to the extreme, would drink excessively, get into affairs, drink himself into a stupor and lie on the ground, have the last coins picked from his pocket by a pickpocket, and then get taken to the police station, causing Jack to be called in for a lecture, and forcing him to carry him home.

And the most detestable part was, he refused to take responsibility as a father.

"He was a man rotten to the core, emanating the stench of failure from every pore. I will never become him, or become such a failure."

Jack always thought so.

However, that man, who was a coward all his life, did something that shocked even Jack before he died.

He betrayed the family, abandoned past beliefs, and denied everything he had done in the first half of his life, sacrificing his life just to ensure his children obtained freedom and escaped the cage that imprisoned them.

But sometimes, things don't go according to people's wishes, and the chasms in reality are not something ideals and passionate blood can fill.

He naturally failed, and the last expression he showed before dying was also unwillingness.

Unwilling!

Jack firmly remembered this emotion and silently inherited his father's dying wish.

At that moment, he swore in his heart never to let anyone he cared about show such an "unwilling" emotion.

Never.

Thus, amidst the astonished gazes of others, Jack stopped in his tracks.

"Really..."

Jack sighed long, shaking his head with a wry smile.

"In the end... I still can't go against my heart."

"I'm really an unqualified mercenary."

As the words fell, the silver steel blade in his hand suddenly slashed out! It drew a clean, sharp arc in the air.

However, the target he struck was not Yun You at his feet, but... Yang Lie, who was watching the show behind him!

The blade sliced through the air like lightning, stabbing towards Yang Lie's face along with the glint of steel...

The speed was unimaginably fast! In an instant, Jack activated all of the Vajra Bone in his body, pushing both power and speed to the maximum.

At that moment, Yang Lie, due to the close distance, having deactivated his Power and Speed Amplification, and never expecting Jack to make a move, was completely unprepared and unable to make a defensive move! He could only rely on his Apprentice Death God's strong instinct for danger, taking half a step back.

But even so, the blade's tip still grazed his cheek, forcefully leaving a wound from his brow to his chin!

The once arrogant Black Tiger Yang Lie lost his handsome face, marred by the slash of the blade.

"Didn't you think you were best at manipulating human nature? Wanting me to make some so-called choice."

"Well, now I tell you."

Jack lightly shook off the blade, flinging away the dark red blood, and calmly replied, "This is my answer."

"..."

Yang Lie was stunned.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say; the mocking words stuck in his heart turned hard as bones, clogging his throat...

He felt his cheek was a bit wet and cold, subconsciously wiped it, and found his hand covered in blood.

"Ah..."

"So that's it."

Only then did the Red-haired Death God finally realize what had just happened.

So... the man he had belittled all along, the mercenary he mistakenly thought he could manipulate at will, rejected his proposal.

Jack Carlos, this man abandoned the pursuit of "life," choosing instead "death," something even he wouldn't dare to think of, after thorough deliberation. It was the only path that wouldn't betray his heart.

The slash towards Yang Lie and the blood on his face were proof of this realization.

But... why?

Why would a girl he knew for just a week, an employer who paid him, make a mercenary forsake his own life and be willing to die with her?

Yang Lie couldn't understand it.

"No, you don't need to understand it."

He shook his head, murmuring, "It's just fine like this, it should maintain a kind of ambiguous mystery."

"Indeed, there are such atypical existences among people, willing to go against human nature..."

As he spoke, Yang Lie put away his playful attitude and began to take Jack seriously.

"I understand your choice now."

"I have to admit, this time, I indeed misjudged."

"Mercenary! You're not some low-tier scum! But a strong one, a strong one deserving respect! Just like that little girl."

"Come!"

He grinned, beckoning Jack, solemnly saying, "Allow me to personally grant you a fair duel opportunity."

"And, a glorious death!"

As he spoke, he took a withered blue petal from his pocket, dabbed it with his own blood, then swept it over his own head and Jack's head at a distance.

"Gladiolus lightly touches the shoulder, and ill fortune no longer stays."

"Gladiolus sweeps over the divine head, and the War Master grants courage."

"Gladiolus sweeps over the chest, and fear never exists..."

"The great War Master will guard the legitimacy of this killing, use blood to please Him."

The duel ceremony.

The most esteemed ritual of battle in Nest City.

It holds unparalleled legitimacy and also signifies the duel initiator's respect for the enemy.

"Heh..."

Jack chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"I'm just an ordinary mercenary, past battles were purely for some petty cash and I don't understand these convoluted rituals."

"But since you proposed a duel request, it seems rude to decline it."

"I accept this duel."

This time, Jack made his choice without any hesitation.

But instead of immediately taking a battle stance, he turned back, half-kneeling in front of Yun You.

"Chica."

While blocking Yang Lie's view, Jack took a small electronic watch from his pocket, scribbled some words on it, and then quietly slipped it into the little girl's hand.

"Don't worry about me, Chica, I will do what I should do and try my best to fulfill my promise."

"So..."

"You must... stay alive..."

"You've always been a strong child, haven't you?"

Jack curved his lips into a gentle smile, just like he always did.

"Live on, wait, and then..."

"Keep hope in your heart."

"Chica."

"Your smile will never lead to a tragic end."

After saying this, the young man slowly stood up, stretching his shoulder joints, took his sword, and walked toward his enemy.

"..."

Yun You widened her eyes, trying to grab Jack's hand, wanting to say something to stop him... but she lacked even this bit of extra strength.

All she could do was tightly grasp that watch, watching this partner who called her "Chica" walk towards a duel he could never win...

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