The carriage dropped Leonardo on a deserted sandy road not too far nor too close to a human settlement. Well, to be more accurate, a small town.
She said that this location was a checkpoint and that the officer he impersonated originated from this small town. The Black Market had done extensive research on this officer's human relationships, and the interrelationships of those connected to him, not to mention his habits.
This day coincides with the last day of his annual off-field break, and the procession of soldiers occupying a flying ship headed in the direction of the Judicial Sector would arrive very quickly.
Leonardo skimmed through the information on Officer Carlio very quickly, and this young man's temperament wasn't something difficult to adjust to. Doesn't talk much, difficult to build relationships, but also quite passionate about friends and family when the need arises.
Very loyal, obedient, and staunch in his support of military affairs.
"Hubby!"
"Dad!"
"Papa!"
Leonardo froze. Then, he stiffly turned around to see a middle-aged woman rushing over while carrying two young children in her arms. This was the Jin Prefecture, and the protective formations weren't limited to towns and cities within the jurisdiction of a province or their teleportation halls.
In the Jin Prefecture, everyone can leave home and go about without worry of being subjected to the erosion of chaotic ether. Suddenly, Leonardo's eyes shone as he contemplated; could the chaotic ether be a result of the imperfect laws of this plane?
Did the damaged vitality of the Core Mainland result in this phenomenon? If that was the case, then, hadn't anyone tried to find the root of the issue throughout all these years?
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him.
"Where have you been?!"
Leonardo's thoughts were interrupted as the woman lowered her two children to the ground and rushed into his arms, carrying a dense fragrance even as her shoulders shook and tears drenched Leonardo's military uniform.
Leonardo paused, his arms stiffly stretched to the sides, not daring to lay hands on this woman. She didn't know where her husband had been, but how couldn't he know?
Obviously, the Black Market people assassinated him to provide Leonardo with this opportunity. Thinking about it, he felt a little guilty, sighing as he held onto the woman's shoulders and spoke softly, "I won't keep it from you; this mission of mine… sigh…"
The woman's body shuddered, it seemed as though her 3rd-tier cultivation base was no more than thin paper as her body shook uncontrollably. For the last few months, she had a bad premonition that left her restless all night. She knew something was off, but what can a woman like herself do?
Her husband was very opinionated about his firm loyalty to the Jin Military. If a higher-ranking officer asked him to jump head first off the Cliff of No Return, the most dangerous zone known throughout the Jin Dynasty, he would do it without blinking.
"So… So… You were planning to leave just like that? No last words or goodbye? How can you… How can you be so cruel?"
She looked up from his firm chest and into his distant yet resolute eyes. Her voice was in whispers, not wanting the children who got themselves busy chasing insects and digging holes in the ground to hear the conversation.
Leonardo looked past her weeping eyes to the clueless children going about their joys, unaware of the sorrows fate has in store. He sighed.
Thinking about it, he said, "I was gone all these months with you guys in mind; I've found a good opportunity for you and our young ones."
As he spoke, he brought out a communication bracelet with a storage ring and rested them in the woman's hands, though he made sure not to touch her skin inappropriately as he lightly said, "These rations should keep you well fed until the mission reports come knocking on the door. If I was to be reported dead, use the communication bracelet to contact the person on the other end, you only need to mention one name."
The woman froze.
Why does this sound like someone's last words? It seemed like she forgot about how dissatisfied she was with her husband leaving without one final goodbye. Now, she didn't want to hear any of it; she didn't want this goodbye.
She frantically shook her head. "I don't want an opportunity! I don't want your kindness and last wishes! I… I just want my husband back! I want a father to my children…"
She was finding it even more difficult to contain her emotions, let alone her voice.
Leonardo felt a buzzing headache as he clenched her shoulders tightly, the pain jolting some calm and rationality into her head as she looked up, gaze as pitiful as could be.
Leonardo pursed his lips and after some hesitation, he gave the woman yet another storage ring and said, "Fine… Since you don't want to rely on someone else's help, this one here has an opportunity for our daughter. You'll know what to do when you return home and open it…"
Leonardo knew that as long as he, or rather, Carlio wasn't reported dead, no one would touch this woman and her children. However, the time dilation between the Core Mainland and the stellar worlds is quite the rift. They could spend up to ten or twenty years there and it would only constitute five years in the Core Mainland.
Five years is plenty of time for a woman with two children, hence, he left behind some medicine that would bolster the little girl's preexisting talent as she had yet to start cultivating.
However, the talent and power of one person can only do so much, and the rest would rely on that lass and her luck in the future. Even though Leonardo felt a little guilty, this is the harsh reality of this world.
As she noticed the changes in her husband's eyes, the woman bit her bottom lip tightly and hesitated about something. Eventually, though, she helplessly shook her head and looked down at the two storage rings and communication bracelet.
Leonardo said, "Even if you don't contact anyone with the bracelet, just keep it around as I can't guarantee that no one would attempt and reach out to you."
Leonardo didn't give the woman much more of his time and skipped past her to the two playing children, crouching down to their level as he smiled. "What are you two little guys doing, hm?"
As he spoke, he reached over and stroked their heads playfully.
The two laughed, holding onto Leonardo's hands as they attempted their best to wrestle them down, but they could barely budge his arms away. The two knew that their father is a powerful superhuman, so they weren't discouraged in the least. On the contrary, they laughed and wrestled his arms some more.
Little did the two know that Leonardo's eyes, albeit always pitch-black, were a little different from usual at the moment. Leonardo left a trace of his aura on these two, and if fate wills it and they reunite, he might provide them with yet a bigger opportunity. As his spiritual energy branded their spirits, they quickly fell asleep while entangling his arms.
Leonardo sighed and stood up. As the timing had it, he could spot the flying ship coming from a distance.
He spoke up to the woman, "Take the children and leave this instant. Remember, you're not alone, even if everything all around you indicates so."
As the kids fell unconscious, she could no longer hold the reigns on her emotions.
Once again, she rushed into her husband's embrace and began to cry her heart out, deep resentment festering in her heart toward this nation and its military. Leonardo didn't know this yet, but he might have just planted yet another seed just like he had with Emily, and he has the Black Market to thank for this.
Moments later, the middle-aged woman held her two children in her arms as she watched the flying ship shooting away, the crimson sunset in its backdrop. Even as she held onto her two children, her palm subconsciously reached over to caress her lower abdomen, murmuring to herself, "I'll make the best of that opportunity, hubby…"
…
"She's a good woman," spoke another officer as he stood on the deck of the flying ship, watching the sunset together with Leonardo. As for Leonardo, he didn't respond to the sudden comment since it wasn't worth a reply.
After some thought, as if thinking about something, he said, "Just a friendly reminder; she's not easy prey."
The officer's eyes constricted lightly, but he chuckled and didn't say anything in response.
Leonardo didn't need to hear any response either, not like he was waiting for one.
As the two of them watched the sunset silently, moments trickled by. Eventually, Leonardo turned his back and left the deck, venturing into the chambers reserved for officers.
Behind him, the officer remained silent for a few moments. Then, a gust of wind brushed by and carried him away. Well, the winds carried bits of decayed ash.
Soundless and traceless.
No one noticed a thing.
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