Read Novel Full Chapter 352: The Old Man’s Name
Chapter 352: The Old Man’s Name
"I’ll be willing to pay as much as two hundred million." Johan’s bold declaration made Isolde’s eyes widen.
If she were honest, a Titled god’s core was worth that amount at the least.
’Twenty percent of whatever his guild gains from every raid will be more lucrative. It would give us a chance against Michael’s financial stranglehold of the Blacks, but it’s Godfrey’s call. Should I go?’
She pursed her lips.
’No. It’s his offer.’
"I’ll speak with him. No promises, though." Isolde responded. "I’ll give you a call when I have his response."
Johan agreed and left the island shortly after. Pendragon Island was a dungeon in Staten Island. On the ferry, returning to Manhattan, Johan looked at the dark sky.
Although the sky had been dark for a while now, the lights of the skyscrapers, street lamps, and cars lit up the island.
’He’s the only person that I can think of. Charles, Lotus, and even Falco all recommended him. Let’s hope what we find in there won’t be bigger than what we can handle because that would mean death for all of us.’
***
On the other hand, Godfrey, the man Johan thought about, leaned against a doorframe, gazing at the orphans seated on the ground around Dirge, who was on her knees.
She sang. There were no words, just flowing through different tunes, like a hymn. Her voice was something else; it captivated the soul.
He had no idea when his Black-Out deactivated, revealing his ocean-blue eyes shimmering with awe as he gazed at the white phantoms floating about, chorusing.
Some were around Dirge; others were more interested in the children, caressing their chins and patting their heads, although their hands just dissolved into white mist.
Their presence made the room ethereal.
Dirge, clad in her golden armour, looked nothing like the Banshee; it made him reflect.
Spending more time with Dirge before naming her would have made him choose a more fitting name, but the castle wouldn’t allow it.
From now on, he would already start thinking about good names that embodied his knights, even those he had not acquired yet.
Her voice brought wonder to these innocent children, washing away all their pain from losing one of their own.
There was much more to his noble knights than what was defined on their monuments or tablets. They were actual beings.
At this moment, Godfrey saw the side of humanoid summoners the world refused to see. What humanoid summoners had were intelligent beings with a past, with regrets, with depth, just like them.
They weren’t beasts.
To think all he’s been doing all this while was just using them to fight. Fighting couldn’t be neglected in the slightest, but doing a little more couldn’t hurt.
Dirge liked cooking; earth’s cuisines interested her. He could start from there.
Mountain loved helping helpless children. Maybe he could visit orphanages with Mountain occasionally.
Now they were here, though; he had to make the best of it.
Unknown to him, a little, genuine smile filled with warmth appeared on his face as his lips curled up.
"Joy... is most times better felt after pain. How can it be that happiness is more cherished because there’s something like pain?" The old man came from behind.
"I can understand it, yet I can’t, even after a century," he added.
Godfrey folded his arms, pondering for a while. "I’m afraid you’re right," he replied, then turned his head toward the old man.
"I’ve been meaning to ask. What is your name?"
The old man’s eyes flashed with surprise. "It’s been a while. Most people just call me an old man or caretaker. My actual name is... Cain."
That name landed like a hammer. The moment Godfrey heard it, his face froze, then his teeth clenched, his eyes widening as he switched back to Black-Out State, barely stopping himself from taking off the old man’s head when a thought flashed past his mind.
’It’s just a name.’
Maybe it was, but most notable people whom he had grown to like were all true Cains with different names.
"Bad name, huh? I didn’t like it either," the old man chuckled weakly. "Apparently, I had a better name, just like my twin, but I heard that when we were two years old, I pushed him off the bed. He fell and died. My parents branded me with a name they said suited me and dumped me with my grandmother. They had other children, apparently, but I never got to live with my parents, and my own siblings were terrified of me every time they came to visit on Christmas Eve."
The old man smiled. "But you know what? My grandmother gave me a different name, one I answered with pride. She took me, her first grandchild without a proper name, and gave me a better one."
His smile widened. "Adam."
"What?!" Godfrey was dumbfounded. He was certain this old man was just a low tier, yet he was here with the names of two of the most iconic figures in the world.
"So..." the old man chuckled. Godfrey felt uneasy and unconsciously tensed up.
"You said you’ll repair the orphanage." He laughed softly. "I have the feeling your promise is bigger than your wallet. You’re broke, aren’t you?"
’Every Cain figure I’ve met has one thing in common: they’ve never been weak, and this man is too old to be a clone. Even if the old man was one and was lying, he wasn’t going to reveal anything about Isolde’s true identity.’
"I have a rich wife."
The old man coughed desperately and eventually cleared his throat. ’Young men these days.’
"You’re strong, yet broke. There are things money can get you that strength can’t. They work together; to be whole, you must have both. It’s like money and influence."
"But I don’t really have a use for money," Godfrey replied.
The old man looked at him. "Well... you do now. A promise is a promise. Don’t tell me your word isn’t also reliable?"