Chapter 189: Kind Until Proven Otherwise
Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them.
But where did clothes come from what Zane intended to do?
They were going to invade the church where he had first seen Horum.
After donning their masks, Xavier asked the next step.
Everyone expected the next step would obviously be to go to the church.
But in all seriousness, Zane said:
"We will go buy some clothes."
"Motherfuc—"
Xavier clenched his hair.
"Why do you always say the weirdest shit? What does clothes have to do with anything right now?"
"Yes." Hena sided with Xavier.
"I can use some more long coats." Jammy was in.
Draxus and Tesla said nothing.
They didn’t need to.
Xavier was doing the reactions for all of them.
Zane expected such a thing so he didn’t panic.
"It’s all about status." He said.
"What?" Everyone asked.
"You will know soon enough. Just humor me."
Zane didn’t explain.
He started walking out of the house.
"And do repair this house. People might get suspicious if the wall stayed like that." He said while walking.
"Sure."
Xavier agreed and since they had already decided to follow Zane, they humored him just like he asked.
They left the house and Zane asked Jammy about a shop for clothes.
The closest one.
Jammy wasted no time and took many names.
Zane asked for only one and Jammy picked the best one which was also the closest.
In fact, Jammy was the most excited one in the group. More than Zane.
"By the way, I was thinking something." Draxus spoke.
"What?" Zane asked.
"What if there is a traitor among us?"
Zane turned his head around.
He stared at Draxus.
"Wait. Not me. And not in this group. I meant it could be someone who followed you from the citadel."
Zane smiled.
"I was never doubting you anyway."
He turned his head ahead again.
But said nothing about Draxus’ question.
"... So you will just ignore my question. Great."
Zane sighed.
He looked in the sky.
"There might be a traitor, yes. After all, some Commoners had joined me too. Heck a gutterborn could betray me if someone offered them a lot of money."
"How will you deal with it?" Draxus asked.
"We kill them." Xavier answered in one breath.
Draxus rolled his eyes.
"You always say the wrong answer."
"No." Zane replied. "Xavier is right."
He turned to Draxus.
"We kill them."
Draxus raised his brows.
That was the first time he saw Zane’s cold eyes.
"I-I- I see. I thought you were kind." Draxus said.
Zane turned his gaze ahead once more.
"I am."
"Then why kill them?" Draxus asked.
"Because betraying me means betraying Milo too. If I get caught then the same will happen with Milo. So not only will I kill those who will catch Milo, I will also kill those who made it possible for her to be captured. My kindness dies if Milo is harmed."
Draxus gulped.
Hena watched Zane’s back and she believed she got to know him better.
"No wonder you made an enemy of the Emberlord for your sister. I hope she knows there is someone for her who can die and kill." Draxus remarked.
"She knows." Zane added. "She is just not old enough to know what it means."
Draxus said nothing.
The others stayed silent as well.
But Zane still had something to say.
"About the possible traitor though," He looked over his shoulder. "Why do you think I divided the people into two groups?"
Draxus frowned. "To find Horum?"
Zane nodded. "Yes. But that’s not the only reason."
"What’s the other?" Hena asked this time.
Jammy smiled.
He said nothing though.
But Zane did answer Hena.
"There might be one traitor, two or three or five at most. But the groups I divided contain at least five hundred people. Even if there is a traitor among them, it would be hard for them to act. They might feel afraid of being seen. And if they become hasty, then they will be known and be captured. That’s what I hope at least."
"Yes. You can only hope. Because you never told them that the group should stay together. Maybe each person is doing things in their own way, separate from the group." Draxus said.
Zane gave a slow nod.
"I just believe that they won’t work separately. Having a group gives reassurance and a sense of safety. So I think they would want to stay close. And those who will oppose this idea will be called suspicious. Because who would not want to have a group with them on such a dangerous mission? If the traitor is smart, he or she will play along with the group, if not then the traitor will die one day or another by their own mistake."
Everyone said Oh.
"I didn’t know you had such brains." Tesla said.
Zane chuckled. "Neither did I."
They laughed and before they knew it, they were standing outside a shop named Seb’s.
It was almost evening and the sun was close to setting.
The time for the last prayer of the day would happen soon.
We might enter the church to pray it seems. Forceful entry might not be required.
Zane thought and entered the shop.
Everyone followed.
Jammy’s eyes sparkled seeing the clothes but he brought nothing as he didn’t know what Zane was here for.
"Um... sir, it’s our closing time. So can you come tomo-"
"Bring us the flashiest, shiniest, clothes you have. Money is no issue. But we should glitter. We should shine."
Zane interrupted the shopkeeper and straight out ordered him what to bring.
And it worked.
The tired shopkeeper beamed.
"Yes. Yes. My name is Seb. I will bring all of you the best of them all. Just wait a second."
Seb went deep inside the shop.
"What are you doing?" Hena asked, whispering beside his ear.
Too close.
Zane shifted a little away from her.
"Answer me." Hena pressed.
Zane let out a sigh and moved closer to her ears.
Then in a low voice and hot breath, he revealed his purpose.
"We are here to become gilded trash."
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