CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47 - LAST RESORT

"She’s really going at it huh?" Lidia asked Zion as they watched Alice completely destroy a training dummy.

"Heh, maybe it’s that time of the month."

Lidia elbowed him.

"Ow!"

"That’s not funny."

He apologized "Sorry."

"Should we talk to her?" Lidia asked, obviously worried about Alice

"You want to talk to her? The same girl you were about to fight at the Entrance Exams?"

"That was then, this is now." She waved his comment off. "Besides, that’s how you met me, and look, the rest is history."

"You tried to beat me up if I recall correctly."

"I DID beat you up." She giggled

"Ahh, didn’t know you were still suffering from brain damage."

"YOU!" Lidia started punching Zion’s arm as he ran away from her.

"This is a training ground, not a damn dating spot. If you’ve got nothing better to do, get the hell out." Alice said with anger filling her voice.

"Woah, somebody’s mad. What happened, wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" A voice asked as he entered the training ground.

Turning around Zion and Lidia couldn’t help but frown once they got a look at who was speaking.

"Curtis." Zion sneered

"Well if it isn’t the fatherless bastard himself Zion." Curtis was tall with building muscles that looked unnatural. He was also someone Zion hated deeply.

"Is that the only joke you can come up with after ten years?" Zion asked

"It’s the only one that matters." He smiled

"It’s honestly hilarious—you were raised by your dad, yet you still turned out to be a pathetic little bitch. Guess it just runs in the family. Speaking of which, wasn’t he the one who ran off to a safe house like a coward when his territory got wrecked by that monster horde? Real inspirational dad you’ve got there."

Fueled by anger, Curtis clutched Zion’s shirt, "You take that back!" His mana surged as he tried to overwhelm Zion. He wasn’t going to let him insult his father, the one person he looked up to.

Zion however wasn’t fazed, only pissed that Curtis dared to lay his hands on him. With a firm grasp of his arm, Zion squeezed it for force, almost breaking his bone. "Get. Off. Me. Now." He said calmly, his voice filled with power.

Curtis pulled back, holding his arm as the pain throbbed. "Tch, loser."

"Let’s go, Lidia."

"What? That’s it? No punching? No fighting? No duel? Are we just leaving? I wanna see you kick his ass!" She pouted, holding back Zion’s arm hoping he would stay and fight.

"Do you truly believe he’s worth my time?"

Laughing, she replied, "But that’s what will make it more interesting. Thinking he has a chance against you only to get beaten one-sidedly. It would be the funniest fight ever!"

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU TALK SHIT ABOUT ME WHILE I’M STANDING RIGHT HERE, YOU BITCH!" he roared. Stomping his foot, he sent a violent tremor through the ground as jagged earth spikes shot toward Lidia at blistering speed.

It would have been understandable if someone in this situation panicked and got hurt. Maybe they’d have managed to react in time and block the attack. But against Lidia? She felt nothing but disgust.

With a single glance, she shattered the stone, her eyes locking onto Curtis with a gaze that pierced through him, filling him with a terror that sank deep into his soul.

"Heh, yeah, you’re right babe, he isn’t worth your time." Wrapping her arm around his, they left the training grounds.

Alice who witnessed everything could only sigh while looking at him with no respect. She packed her things and attempted to leave but was stopped by Curtis.

"You think he’s better than me don’t you!" He yelled

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Shut up!" He slapped her face and then grabbed both of her cheeks in a tight grip. Leaning in close, he whispered into her ear, his voice low but filled with malice.

"Don’t you dare give me that look again do you hear me? My father fucking owns you which means I own you."

Alice was angry, so angry that she wanted to fight back, but she knew she couldn’t. She swallowed her pride and accepted his treatment of her.

"Heh, that’s right, know you’re fucking place! You better have that money by next week or else. Sell your filthy body for all I care." He pushed her aside and walked away with his arms in his pockets

"I’m sure you know what will happen if you don’t." He said before leaving

Waiting until she was sure he was gone, Alice punched the wall in anger, the stone cracking from her strength. She hated her situation, hated being exploited, and hated nobles.

She thought back to her friend Nicole, the one person who helped her through this, but after being abducted, Nicole had to take time for herself, leaving Alice to work even harder, not that she hated Nicole for it.

’I have no choice now.’ She sighed, shedding a tear, leaving the training room after grabbing her things.

---

"Zion, Zion! Have you heard of that new restaurant that opened last week? They serve all kinds of chicken there! It’s so amazing. Fuck I can’t stop thinking about it, my mouth is watering!"

"Chicken? I like chicken. What’s the name of the place?" Zion asked watching as Lidia hugged a pillow while rolling around.

"It’s called Soul Food because it touches your soul when you eat it. Such a great name."

’Hmm? Why does that sound familiar?’ He wondered

"Is it in the marketplace?" He asked

"Yup! Are you getting some? Please tell me you’re getting some!"

"Yes, yes, I’ll pick you up some."

"Yay! You’re the best!" She kissed him on the lips before he left.

At the marketplace, he looked for the restaurant called ’Soul Food’ while thinking about where he heard that name from.

"I hate that stupid feeling of having your thoughts on the tip of your tongue but can never get it out."

As he walked the busy night streets, he saw someone familiar, Alice. She was walking as if she didn’t want to be followed, constantly turning around, maneuvering around people just in case someone was on her tail, and being on edge.

Finding her actions suspicious, Zion decided to follow her to see what she was up to. When she finally reached her destination, he was left speechless.

"No fucking way!" Zion was left stunned as he saw the building she walked in. He looked up at the sign and only read one word. ’Brothel’