Seth watched them coldly, then spoke with the detached tone of an official simply stating facts.

"It's not good for your daughter to be living like this. At such a young age, what she needs is a stable home, regular meals, and a chance at an education. Not a father who comes home from stealing."

He paused, letting his words be processed, then continued.

"There's a new decree from the Imperial Palace regarding child welfare. The state is actively placing children from unstable homes with registered families, especially young girls who can still be properly raised. Many respectable families are looking to adopt a daughter these days."

The man grew quiet, Seth's words painting a horrifying picture in his mind—his Lei, taken away to live with strangers.

However, Seth's next words were unexpected.

"But..."

He said, his voice shifting slightly.

"A man can only be stripped of so much in one day. I've seen enough poor, desperate people who, after losing everything, have nothing left to lose. They start fires or hurt others for revenge. I don't need another madman causing trouble in my district. So, I will be lenient."

He laid out the choice, his voice firm.

"I'll let you choose. Option one: you keep your daughter. I take the stolen goods as evidence, and you serve a two-month arrest for petty theft. You'll have a record, but you'll come back to her."

"Option two: I let you keep the money from the theft. But I will have to take your daughter with me to the child welfare center. She will be placed into the system."

The man reacted as if struck.

His arms tightened around Lei.

He looked from Seth's impassive face to his daughter's terrified one.

After a long, agonized moment, he asked in a hoarse whisper.

"Sir... what family will my Little Lei end up with? If I choose... that option?"

Seth shook his head slowly.

"I cannot guarantee anything. The system tries its best, but there are too many depraved and immoral people in the world. I can only pray your daughter does not end up in the hands of someone with... disgusting intentions."

The man was silent for another second.

Then, his grip on Lei loosened. His expression went blank, a mask of utter defeat.

Little Lei, confused, tried to grip her dad's shirt tighter.

"Daddy?"

But the man, with a movement that seemed to cost him everything, ruthlessly pried her small hands away.

He didn't look at her as he gently but firmly pushed her toward the "officer."

Seeing this, Seth was silent.

It seemed the man had made his decision.

Yet, Seth still couldn't make a final judgment on the man's core purpose.

The choice wasn't clear...

Choosing to keep the stolen money could be selfish greed.

But it could also be an odd logic for survival...

After all, if the stolen goods were confiscated, they would have nothing.

They might starve unless he committed more crimes or worked himself to death.

Letting Lei go could be a coldly made gamble that she'd have a better chance with a rich family than starving with him.

"Since you've made your decision, I shall take her to the center now..."

Seth said, reaching a hand toward the crying girl.

Just as he was about to leave, the man suddenly halted him.

"Officer, please wait."

Seth watched, confused, as the man grabbed a worn screwdriver from a shelf.

He knelt, jammed the tool into a gap between floorboards, and pried one up.

He reached into the hole and pulled out a small, grimy cloth pouch that clinked softly with the sound of coins.

It was clearly his most secret, precious stash.

He held the pouch out to Seth, then bowed his forehead to the floor again.

"Sir, this... this is my lifetime of savings. It might not amount to much, but please... take it. Use it. Help me find my Little Lei a good family. A kind one, please."

"No! Daddy, let me stay with you!"

Little Lei cried out, her small voice filled with pure anguish.

Seth stood there quietly.

And at that moment, his thoughts finally became clear.

'A good father...'

[Advancement Task: Understand the core purpose that drives different individuals to live.]

[9% Complete]

Seth looked down at the bowing man and the offered pouch.

He did not take it.

"Alright," Seth said, his tone losing its harsh official edge, becoming almost neutral.

"Keep it to yourself for now. I'm not heartless. So, avoid stealing from now on. Earn money honestly. I'll let you off with a warning this time. But if other officers catch wind of your activities, I cannot guarantee you'll be safe."

He looked at the man, then at the sobbing girl now clinging to her father again.

Without another word, Seth turned and walked out of the small apartment, closing the door softly behind him.

He left them in their difficult, fragile world, making the man heave a sigh of relief.

...

Having achieved his goal in that small apartment, Seth did not stop.

Over the next few days, he continued walking around Matamisan with [Null Presence] active at all times.

He moved unnoticed, slipping between crowds, alleys, and rooftops, quietly studying people without disturbing their lives.

He watched a group of students laughing in front of a small convenience store.

They were buying cheap drinks and snacks, yet they looked genuinely happy.

Their conversations were loud, full of jokes about school, teachers, and tests.

To them, exams and grades were the greatest challenge in life.

Seth found it interesting how simple their worries were.

He observed a middle-aged couple selling fruits at a roadside stall.

Even when they were tired and sweating, they still smiled at every customer.

When no one was buying, they sat beside each other, sometimes quiet, sometimes talking softly.

Their actions were routinely repeated.

They had done this for years, perhaps decades.

Their purpose seemed to be survival and companionship.

As long as they were together, they continued.

He also saw a lonely old man sitting at a park bench every afternoon.

The old man always fed stray cats.

He had very little, yet each day, he saved enough coins to buy food for those animals.

No one thanked him.

No one even noticed him...

But he kept doing it.

Seth wondered why.

Maybe it gave him a reason to wake up every morning.

Some people lived with laughter and lightness.

Others worked themselves to exhaustion just to earn enough for tomorrow.

There were gamblers losing everything, yet returning again the next day.

There were children playing in the street, unaware of hunger.

There were beggars sleeping on cardboard, dreaming of nothing but warmth.

Seth watched them all.

Although every person lived differently, there was one truth he slowly began to understand.

No one was living without a reason.

To each and every one of them — the poor and the rich, the tired and the free, the hopeful and the hopeless — each seemed to have something that pushed them forward.

A reason to wake up.

A reason to keep breathing.

A reason to live.

[Advancement Task: Understand the core purpose that drives different individuals to live.]

[100% Complete]

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.