CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137- SNAKE

Glain’s voice wavered for the first time, his composure slipping as old wounds reopened.

"After that... the city grew. We welcomed more survivors, forged alliances with wandering groups, and for a while, it seemed as though we were building something meaningful. Something worth the pain..."

He paused, swallowing hard. "But not long after, my friend... he was gone. He took his own life...."

His eyes lowered, shadowed with grief. "All I could do was stand there, staring at his lifeless body. I couldn’t believe it. The man who dreamed of this city, who gave everything to keep it alive, was suddenly gone. And I... I wasn’t there for him in the end. I wasn’t beside him when he needed me most."

The night pressed in around them, heavy with unspoken sorrow. For a long moment, only the faint whisper of the wind moved between them.

Finally, Glain straightened his shoulders, forcing his voice steady again. "But I can’t let myself be trapped in that regret forever. I have a duty, to him, to the survivors, to everyone who still breathes within these walls. I must keep building. I must ensure this city is worthy of the dream we started together. That’s the only way I can honor him now."

Julian folded his arms, his gaze never leaving Glain. The man’s words carried conviction, but to Julian, there was something beneath them, something left unsaid.

"You speak as if the city itself can erase regret," Julian said quietly, almost testing the weight of his own thoughts. "But I wonder... is this city truly the dream you built together, or is it just a monument to your guilt?"

Glain’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t respond immediately. His silence made Julian press further.

"You keep telling yourself you’re honoring him by moving forward. But if the foundation of this city rests on compromises, on secrets, on blueprints handed over to men like Darwin, then tell me, City lord... are we building a sanctuary, or just another cage?"

Glain finally straightened, his jaw tightening as if Julian’s words had cut too deep to ignore.

"You think I don’t ask myself that every day?" His voice was sharp, almost trembling with restrained emotion. "Do you think I haven’t replayed that moment a thousand times in my head, when I handed over the blueprint? When I let my friend walk toward his own grave while I stood by and did nothing?"

He stepped closer, his eyes burning with a mix of defiance and pain.

"This city isn’t just a monument to guilt, Julian. It’s proof that his death wasn’t meaningless. Every brick, every wall, every street filled with people who can sleep without fear, it all exists because I didn’t crumble. If I had given in to regret, Meltdown would be nothing but ruins right now. Do you understand that?"

Glain’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice lowering but steady.

"I may have failed him... but I will not fail this city. So call it compromise, call it hypocrisy if you want. but to me, it’s survival. And survival is the only way I can honor the promise we once made."

Julian didn’t reply right away. He stood there, staring at Glain, watching the old man’s trembling fists and the stubborn fire in his eyes. For the first time, Julian realized that beneath Glain’s calm authority was someone who had been carrying a mountain of regret, yet still refused to bend under it.

The words struck deeper than he expected. ’Survival is the only way I can honor the promise we once made’. There was a sincerity in Glain’s voice that couldn’t be faked.

Julian exhaled slowly, his rigid stance softening just a fraction.

"...I understand," he said, almost reluctantly. "I can see why you chose the path you did. And maybe... you’re right. Maybe the city wouldn’t even stand if you had broken back then."

Julian turned back to face Glain, his eyes narrowing as if trying to peel away the man’s layers. His voice was low, steady, but there was a sharp edge hidden within it.

"So, what you’re really afraid of... is that this man, Darwin, will come here and crush the city, isn’t it?"

Glain’s lips curved into a bitter smile, a faint acknowledgment of the truth. "You’re quick at piecing things together... yes. That’s exactly what keeps me awake at night."

For a moment, the weight of his admission seemed to press down on them both. Then Glain continued, his tone dropping even lower, as though revealing something he’d only just unearthed himself.

"Leo... he’s one of Darwin’s men. I only discovered that recently."

Julian’s brows furrowed, thoughts racing back to the council chamber, to Leo’s dismissive gaze when Glain had presented his designs. "That explains it," Julian muttered. "During the meeting, Leo wasn’t the least bit interested in your blueprint. What caught his attention was the Sky Whale."

Glain nodded grimly. "Exactly. That’s what worries me most. If Leo truly acts on Darwin’s behalf, then whatever he’s planning... it won’t just put me in danger. It could drag this entire city into ruin."

Julian crossed his arms, his gaze fixed sharply on Glain. His voice came slow, deliberate, carrying both doubt and challenge.

"So you’ve known... and yet you let Leo walk around freely inside these walls? You call him a threat, a man tied to Darwin himself, but you still keep him close instead of cutting him down. Tell me, Glain... are you protecting the city, or protecting yourself?"

The question hung heavy in the night air. Glain’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away.

"You think I haven’t asked myself the same thing? Every day I wonder if letting Leo live is a mistake that could cost us everything. But killing him outright would be like sounding a horn, Darwin would know immediately, and then it wouldn’t just be Leo. It would be an army knocking at our gates."

Julian narrowed his eyes further, scrutinizing every word. "So instead of risking open war, you’d rather gamble with a snake inside your own house. Is that it?"

Glain exhaled sharply, almost in frustration. "It’s not a gamble, it’s a delay. Time, Julian. Time is the only thing I can buy for this city. If we strike too early, we lose everything. But if we endure just a little longer, perhaps we’ll have the chance to turn the tide when it matters most."

Julian just stared at him for a moment, his expression sharp, almost cold. "That’s no different from a foolish gamble," he said finally, his voice low but heavy with conviction.

He allowed himself a brief pause, thinking about the precarious situation. All of their carefully laid plans... ruined by someone like Leo. One reckless man, and everything could collapse. The thought made his chest tighten.

Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he turned back to Glain. "So... do you even have a plan to turn this situation around?" he asked, his tone carrying both curiosity and skepticism.

Glain straightened, meeting Julian’s gaze with a calm determination, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. "I already have a plan for that," he said firmly. "You just have to trust me."

Julian tilted his head slightly, unconvinced. "A plan... what plan is that? And why me? You have people in your faction, and Kevin’s willing to help you. Why do I have to be involved in this?"

The air between them thickened, tension coiling around their words. Julian’s mind raced, analyzing every possibility. Was Glain hiding something? Or was he truly desperate enough to need Julian’s involvement?

Glain’s jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "Because, Julian... I can’t afford failure. I need someone who can see the bigger picture, someone I can trust to act precisely when the time comes. That’s why it has to be you."

Glain spoke, his voice calm but firm, "And it’s precisely because of your cautious nature, Julian, because you rarely trust others, that makes you the right person for this."

Julian crossed his arms, a shadow of frustration in his eyes. "I’ve already told you, I don’t want to deal with anything more troublesome than this," he said sharply, his tone carrying both annoyance and warning.

Glain inclined his head slightly, acknowledging Julian’s words. "I know. And I also know you’re frustrated with Leo’s behavior... the way he’s been going after the women around you."

Julian’s eyes narrowed, his patience thinning. "What exactly are you trying to say?" he asked, his voice sharp, cautious, like a blade poised to strike.

Glain met his gaze steadily, his expression serious. "I just want to make sure you don’t act rashly. Don’t go killing him the moment you get the chance," he said, his words deliberate, carrying both warning and reason.

Julian’s gaze hardened, his voice low and sharp. "That’s my choice," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Glain nodded, keeping his tone measured. "Leo is a dangerous man. We need to handle him carefully, strike only when the time is right. And we must be cautious with Darwin’s temper as well."

Julian’s eyes narrowed, a faint frost in his expression. "Hey," he said coldly, "you think I’m afraid of someone named Darwin? I don’t care about him. Anyone who threatens those around me... I’ll deal with them myself."

Glain held up his hands slightly, not wanting to escalate the tension. "I didn’t mean it that way. I only want you to act carefully, so you don’t provoke Leo before we finish dealing with the Sky Whale."

Julian let out a quiet, almost amused scoff, his lips curling slightly. "Do you think I’m stupid enough to duel Leo right now? Do you think that when I hear Leo going after my women, I wouldn’t get angry? Of course I do, but anger alone won’t win battles. I know when to act... and when to wait."

Glain took a deep breath, his tone calm but sincere. "I’m sorry if I offended you, but what you said... it’s true. We need to think before we act. I just want you to trust me. When the time comes, we’ll take him down together."