Chapter 38: “Sparrow”

Allen’s public confession was remarkably effective.

He successfully reversed his image as a depraved scoundrel, and the Laval Family’s reputation was reshaped in an unexpected way.

Of course, as the price, this “suspicious heretic” drawing so much attention to himself would inevitably attract the Church’s deeper scrutiny.

The Inquisition folks would probably be working overtime writing reports tonight.

“Anna.”

Allen leisurely walked through the gradually bustling streets of the Lower City, glancing at the red-haired girl beside him still licking her fingers.

“You’re part of the Inquisition, and yet you stick so close to me, a suspicious figure,” he teased.

“Snacking and hanging around like that—aren’t your colleagues going to say something? You might even get branded a traitor.”

Allen was somewhat concerned about Anna’s situation.

She was as pure-minded as a blank sheet of paper.

If she lost her job or, worse, became a target of the Tribunal because of Allen, that would be terribly unfair.

The Inquisition’s stance toward “traitors” was zero tolerance.

If they weren’t fanatical and relentless, how could they serve as the divine blade of God?

Someone like naive, innocent Anna was better off just staying alive.

As for Marianne…

Allen glanced at the silent black-haired girl trailing behind him.

She was already tied to the same sinking ship as him—shared glory, shared disgrace.

In this doomed world, they were partners in crime ready to descend to hell together.

If Marianne died, Allen would avenge her; if Allen died, Marianne would avenge him.

That was the truly sound relationship—one that transcended petty emotions!

Hearing Allen’s words, Anna tilted her head, a look of innocent confusion on her face.

“Huh? I’m on a mission, aren’t I? Watching you is my job! Why would anyone say anything about me?”

She puffed out her chest, posing as if she were very dedicated.

“Well, if you say so, then fine.”

Allen rubbed Anna’s little head helplessly, and she immediately squinted her eyes in comfort, giggling foolishly.

This time, Marianne had no reaction at all.

She kept her head down, unconsciously twisting her hair between her fingers, exuding an air of low pressure.

Allen thought she was unhappy because their “date” had turned into a “family outing,” and because his public confession had exposed his past.

He wanted to comfort her.

“What’s wrong? Not in a good mood? What do you want for dinner? My treat, order anything!”

“Dinner…can I come too?”

Anna looked up eagerly, her amber eyes filled with hunger.

“You’ll definitely get your share,” Allen quickly reassured the little foodie.

At that moment, Marianne suddenly lifted her head, her voice trembling as she spoke the belated apology: “I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Allen was stunned, caught off guard.

“I…I didn’t know about your past.”

Marianne’s voice was low, her eyes slightly reddened, filled with deep guilt.

“You lost your mother…that’s an irreparable pain…yet in the past, I resented you…even almost tried to kill you with my own hands…”

Allen raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t all that in the past now?”

“No…”

Marianne shook her head.

Her crimson eyes looked deeply into Allen’s.

“That pain will never disappear. If possible…could you let me…keep taking care of you? Like a real family member, filling the emptiness in your heart?”

Allen: …What?!

I’m not some disgraceful guy!

I’m definitely not interested in a woman becoming my mother!

“Don’t think too much.”

Allen reached out and gently stroked Marianne’s black hair, just like he did with Anna, his touch soft and soothing.

As a supervillain who aims to overturn the Old World, do you think I can’t take care of myself?

Marianne, the one who truly needs to take care of herself is you.

“Your mother is still alive. Go see her more often. Talk with her. Don’t be like me…leaving behind irreparable regrets.”

He paused, then added, “I can give you some time off. You can go visit your parents in a few days.”

Marianne thought of the few hundred Livres Viscount Bernard had given her—a staggering sum for a commoner’s family!

Viscount Bernard had said her family was also part of the Laval Family.

With this money, she could really bring them to the Capital and let them live a better life, free from hardship.

“Allen…”

Marianne’s voice choked slightly, “You’ve given me so much…a stable life for my family…a new identity… but I…I can’t repay you with anything…it’s not fair…”

She felt deeply discouraged.

Perhaps this unequal relationship was the reason Allen had always kept some distance from her?

Allen said nothing, only took the butterfly hairpin the old lady had given him out of his pocket.

The small blue glass bead reflected a warm glow under the sunlight.

He reached out, naturally and carefully pinned it onto Marianne’s smooth black short hair.

That flicker of blue was like a sprite resting on ebony, instantly brightening her delicate face and adding a touch of youthful vitality and gentleness.

“It really looks great,” Allen stepped back, examining her with a satisfied smile.

“It suits you, Marianne.”

Marianne stared blankly at Allen, her heart pounding wildly.

Yet she soon realized there was not much tenderness in Allen’s black eyes—rather, a stern scrutiny of a “comrade.”

“Don’t waste too much energy on internal struggles. That’s my advice,” Allen’s voice became serious.

“Marianne, what is our mission?”

“To save humanity,” Marianne answered instinctively.

“Exactly.”

Allen nodded.

We can’t live in the past, drowning in unchangeable pain; we might never reach the future or see the dawn of our ideals.

We only have the present!

A crystal-clear moment demanding all our efforts! In our shared cause, my father might die, your parents might die, and we…even more so.

He looked straight into Marianne’s eyes.

“Marianne, are you truly ready for this?”

Marianne shuddered.

The joy of having the hairpin pinned on by Allen was instantly washed away by the weight of the greater mission.

She understood Allen’s meaning.

Personal guilt was so insignificant compared to the immense responsibility of saving humanity.

“…I understand now.”

Marianne took a deep breath, her gaze sharp and resolute once more.

She rubbed her slightly sore eyes, wiped away the faint weakness and confusion, and gave Allen a smile that was shy yet filled with unwavering determination.

“My perspective was too narrow. I still need to keep sharpening myself. Thank you, Allen. I really like this gift.”

Seeing Marianne finally free from needless emotional exhaustion, Allen’s lips curved into a relieved smile.

“Good. Now then, Marianne, next we need to deal with that little mouse who’s been following us.”

“Mouse?”

Marianne immediately became alert, a cold sweat nearly breaking out!

She had been completely absorbed in her emotions and had forgotten the most basic caution!

The young master was waking her up!

She instantly switched to high alert, her gaze sharp as lightning scanning the surroundings, relying on years of training…

It didn’t take long before she locked onto the target—

A brown-haired boy crouched in the shadow of a secondhand stall, wearing a dirty leather vest, small and agile.

“Want me to find a place…and take care of him?”

Marianne lowered her voice, her eyes icy cold.

“He probably wants to talk to me,” Allen shook his head.

“Let’s give him a chance.”

He then turned to the still looking around Anna and smiled.

“Anna, I remember there’s a small alley nearby, with a candy shop. Want to check it out?”

“Candy shop?!”

Anna’s eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs.

“Yes! I really want to!”

“Then let’s head that way.”

Allen led the way, guiding the two girls as they seemingly casually turned into a narrow, dark alley cluttered with junk.

Elsewhere, “Sparrow,” hiding in the shadow of the secondhand stall, felt his heart pounding wildly.

He had just witnessed the moment Allen de Laval pinned a butterfly hairpin on the black-haired girl’s hair!

That scene was incredibly strange!

Who was Allen de Laval?

A notorious “misogynist” among the Capital’s scoundrels!

When “Sparrow” used to hang around with him, he’d never seen Allen look at any woman properly!

He even suspected the young master had some strange fetish…

But now?

He smiled gently and tenderly placed a hairpin on that girl’s head?

And the girl looked shy and blushing?!

That gentle way of interacting with a woman was completely different from the old bastard Allen he knew!

Wait…that black-haired girl…the more he looked, the more familiar she seemed.

“Sparrow” squinted and tried to recall…

Damn!

That was Marianne Durand!

The maid who always dragged the drunken young master home like a dead dog!

He clearly felt the hatred and resentment Marianne had for Allen!

Those crimson eyes had once been filled only with cold murderous intent!

He thought this maid would eventually stab her young master to death, and when he heard Allen had drowned, he thought his guess was correct.

But what happened afterward was beyond his comprehension—

Rumor had it that after drowning, Allen fell into a coma, and it was said he received a Divine Revelation in his dreams, enabling the miracle of “resurrection.”

Shortly after, the Laval Family was attacked by cultists, and everyone on the streets said the cultists suffered heavy losses, even losing the largest underground base in the Capital.

Those were vicious, terrifying cultists!

How could a mere viscount family cause them such a huge loss?

However, the Church sealed off the news, and no one knew the truth or the details of the attack.

“Sparrow” had only heard from a well-informed source in the Thugs’ Guild that Allen and Marianne had been captured by the legendary Inquisition!

People captured by the Inquisition usually disappeared without a trace.

He had thought Allen de Laval’s fate was grim.

Unexpectedly, Allen and Marianne not only reappeared before him but were like completely different people!

The once sullen maid Marianne, now dressed in a beautiful white dress, stood gracefully, her gaze toward Allen devoid of hatred and filled instead with worship, loyalty, and unshakable love!

Allen was even more absurd—he not only returned alive from the Inquisition but seemed reborn, shedding his former decadent aura and even looking more handsome!

Did that make sense?

A terrifying thought entered “Sparrow’s” mind: could these two not be the original Allen and Marianne, but monsters created by the Church, perfect duplicates?

He had heard from an experienced old hand in the Wild Dog Gang that the Inquisition made copies of those they captured—perfect replicas with no differences.

They secretly released these copies to replace the originals!

These copies were spies and puppets for the Tribunal!

This horrifying urban legend once caused people to suspect anyone acting strangely around them was an Inquisition copy, leading to mass panic.

Though the Church officially dispelled the rumors, the effect was minimal.

An official denial only made the rumors seem more credible.

Just as “Sparrow” was horrified by his own imagination, hesitating whether to risk approaching them, he saw the black-haired girl’s sharp gaze sweep across the surroundings like a knife and finally lock precisely onto him!

Damn!

He had been discovered!