CHAPTER 47: CH 47: SETTLE DOWN - PART 4

Lucian narrowed his eyes at the junkyard. The suited group moved with careful steps, their weapons gleaming faintly under the dull light. The beasts that prowled the edges of the wreckage were already restless.

He placed two fingers to his lips and let out a low whistle—mana lacing the sound.

The effect was immediate.

The beasts let out deep growls, their bodies trembling as if a hidden signal had struck their nerves. Then, one by one, they began thrashing, claws scraping against metal, eyes glowing with savage light.

The group in suits froze.

"What the hell was that?"

One of them muttered.

The leader raised a hand to silence them. They all tightened formation, weapons at the ready, but the unease was obvious.

"Do we pull back?"

Someone whispered.

The leader’s jaw tightened.

"No. We can’t afford to retreat. Not now."

But the beasts didn’t care for human resolve. Their agitation spiked in a violent wave. With roars, they charged across the junkyard, smashing into piles of scrap and sending metal flying. The ground shook under their rampage.

"Shit—!"

The suits broke rank. Even with their weapons raised, they were no match for this many beasts acting together.

One swipe of claws was enough to force them into a desperate retreat.

The leader cursed under his breath, then barked the order.

"Fall back! Now!"

Reluctantly, they obeyed, scattering as they fled the junkyard. The beasts chased them only for a short distance before returning to circle the wreckage, restless but unwilling to leave their territory.

Soon, the clearing fell silent.

Lucian stood from his hiding spot, smirking faintly beneath his hood.

"So much for them."

He stepped forward, and with a flick of his wrist, called upon a faint shimmer of light.

The fairy he had brought along fluttered weakly, its magic spreading around him. His form blurred, slipping from the beasts’ senses like smoke.

Moving carefully, Lucian entered the junkyard. The stench of rust and old oil hit him, but he ignored it. His eyes scanned the piles, searching with practiced focus.

Bits of metal, warped machinery, broken pipes—he sorted swiftly, pulling what he knew would serve for another furnace.

The beasts growled now and then, but their eyes slid past him, unable to perceive his hidden form.

By the time Lucian stepped back out of the junkyard, his arms carried more than enough material. He dismissed the fairy’s glow, setting the scraps down in the clearing.

The work began at once. He arranged the parts in neat stacks, sorted through what was salvageable, and started assembling the pieces together.

Sparks flew as he adjusted the core, his hands steady as if he had done this countless times.

But before he could lose himself completely in the work, a voice cut through the air.

"...Lucian."

He glanced up. Jamie sat where she had been tied, her expression calmer than before. Her eyes, however, carried a weight they hadn’t before.

"I’ve thought it through. And I’ve decided. I want to join your valley."

She said, her tone steady.

Lucian raised a brow.

Jamie exhaled slowly.

"As much as I want to go back home... being here made me realize something. There’s nothing left for me there. Even if I returned, I’d just be running in circles. At least here, I have a chance. A chance to start fresh... and survive."

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.

"Convenient. You burn your bridges, and now you want me to give you a place here? You think I can’t see your insincerity?"

Jamie bit her lip, her hands curling into fists. But she didn’t speak.

Lucian was about to dismiss her when the system flickered before his eyes. A line of text appeared—cold and precise.

[Jamie’s claim: 70% sincerity.]

Lucian froze. His eyes narrowed slightly.

This was the first time he had seen such a high number for her. Usually, her words barely reached past thirty percent, sometimes even less. But seventy...

He stared at her for a long moment.

Maybe she wasn’t lying. Maybe, for once, her desperation was genuine.

Lucian straightened, brushing the dust from his hands.

"Fine. I’ll give you a chance."

Jamie’s eyes widened.

"You can sign a contract. From that moment, you’ll be bound to this valley. And I’ll put you on protection duty. If you’re serious about survival, prove it."

Lucian said flatly.

Jamie’s lips trembled, but then she nodded, determination flashing in her gaze.

Lucian extended his hand, threads of mana swirling faintly around it.

"Your new life starts with this choice. Take it, or stay tied."

Jamie’s wrists loosened as the glowing threads of the contract faded into her skin. The binding was complete. For the first time since her capture, she was no longer tied down.

Lucian stepped back, his voice calm and sharp.

"You’re free. From now on, you’re bound by the valley, not by rope. Patrol the grounds. Watch for intruders and keep the beasts at bay. That’s your duty."

Jamie blinked at him, her hands flexing as if still in disbelief. The freedom felt unreal, almost dangerous.

"...You’re really letting me move around? Just like that?"

Lucian gave her a flat look, his attention already half turned back to the furnace parts. "That’s what I said."

She hesitated, then stepped closer.

"How can you trust me this easily? What if I decide to betray you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll stab you in the back the first chance I get?"

Lucian chuckled under his breath, though there was no warmth in it. He glanced at her, eyes glinting coldly.

"You can try."

Jamie stiffened.

"But the moment you do, be prepared to stake your life on it. Betrayal has only one outcome here. You won’t walk away alive."

Lucian continued, his tone low and edged with steel.

Silence stretched between them, heavy with meaning.

Jamie swallowed, but she didn’t look away. For the first time, she understood that this wasn’t just trust—it was a challenge, and a warning.

She gave a small nod.

"...Understood."

Lucian smirked faintly, turning back to his work.

"Good. Then prove you’re worth the freedom you asked for."

With that, Jamie took her first steps as a member of the valley, the weight of her new duty pressing firmly on her shoulders.