Chapter 16: Chapter 16- Ambition
Chapter 16- Ambition
The car moved through the lit-up capital. The streets were bustling with movement as everyone was going about the rest of their day. The capital was famous for its bustling nightlife and the countless ways people could be entertained at night.
Especially in the richer parts of the capital, where the lights were the brightest, it was easy to find countless clubs, bars, luxurious restaurants, cinemas, theatres, and all kinds of shops and malls where people could go and enjoy themselves after a hard day of work.
Zen stared through the window at the glamorous streets, massive buildings, and the kinds of people walking through the streets. They all looked wealthy, clad in clothes he could never afford, even if he worked for several months. Yet, for them, these clothes were the casual attire they wore every day.
Remembering the days he spent, hungry in his stomach, sleeping in a cold, humid room with no warmth... All alone against the world. It was scary.
’I used to cry so much when I was alone. It wasn’t easy...’ He sighed inwardly. Yet, even with that suffering, Zen would never wish to become one of these people. He hated them and hated how they lived. Most of them were corrupted, evil, or both. Especially the Hunters, it was almost baffling how evil they were.
’I guess that’s what happens when people revere you as a God, and you have the power of one. You can’t really tame that kind of ego boost. Some even started their own cults and religions.’ Zen thought to himself with a wry smile as he lost himself in the sights outside.
"Have you ever been to this side of the city before?" Cipha noticed the look on his face and decided to ask curiously.
"Hm? No..." Zen replied. "It is all new to me... It will always be." His tone a bit mysterious.
"I see," Cipha said. "Do you not like it?"
"Ummm, no, not really. I feel like everyone here looks so fake. They have enough money to build such a glamorous city and wear those expensive clothes and eat those expensive meals, but don’t have enough money to help those in need." Zen replied coldly. "I don’t think that’s right."
"..."
"The contrast between this and where I used to live... I could never like that difference even if I become wealthy."
Cipha’s eyes widened slightly, not expecting that reply at all. In her head, she expected Zen to simply be happy that his life was finally going to change for the better. After all, being poor all his life and then finally becoming wealthy and famous, how could anyone not enjoy that and want it?
Yet, Zen seemed almost disgusted by the sights outside rather than fascinated. Something that only made her even more curious about him.
"I agree." She replied. "The reality that people don’t know is that this place isn’t as perfect as many think it is. I never liked it either."
"Really? Why?" Zen asked.
"I don’t like people whose only truth is lies. I hate lies." She said as her face subtly frowned. Zen stared at her silently. The thing his wife hated the most was lies, and it wasn’t even close. For her, lies are akin to betrayal.
’She’s a very truthful person, so she never hides anything. She doesn’t even know how to lie.’ He thought to himself with a faint smile. ’It seems she had this quality from when she was a small kid.’
"I’m glad we agree on that, then." He said.
After several minutes of driving, the car finally came to a halt in front of a particular restaurant. It wasn’t a luxurious one, nor was it on the main street, so the activity around it was very slow and quiet. The two got out of the car, and Zen stared at the building, getting hit with strong nostalgia almost immediately as he stared at the sign.
"Let’s go in."
"Yeah..."
Walking through the door, they were welcomed with a cozy interior, with a few seats and a nice counter where the chef was working in silence. There were a few customers, but the place was completely quiet.
"Hm? Oh, if it isn’t the young lady! Welcome back!" The chef said as his eyes lit up seeing Cipha. "The usual?"
"Yeah, thank you. Make it two servings."
"Roger that."
The two walked to a quiet seat under the few shocked eyes of the people in the restaurant. The last thing they expected to see there was Cipha.
"Wait... Is that..."
"Shhhh, I think it is..."
"What... is she doing here?"
"I think I drank too much alcohol?" Another person said as he rubbed his eyes.
"This place is really nice," Zen said as he looked around him. "I see why it’s your favorite place."
"Yeah, it’s my favorite place to go when I need some quiet time to think or plan." She said. "You will love the food too, I’m sure."
"Yeah..."
With that, the two sat in silence for a while. It wasn’t particularly awkward, but neither seemed to know what to talk about.
Eventually, Cipha cleared her throat and looked at Zen. "Well, we might as well get down to the main topic since we are here."
"Of course, yeah."
"You asked me today what exactly I need your help with, and while it is a bit complicated to explain, I can tell you my three main goals that I want to achieve," Cipha said as her expression turned dead serious.
"Three goals?" Zen raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised to hear that.
"Yes, three and the first one is... I want to be the strongest Hunter in the world." She said.
"The strongest... huh?" Zen muttered. "That sounds very ambitious. But I’m not surprised you want to do that. You have the potential to achieve it, after all."
"Yeah, but it won’t be easy. I am not going to take what I have for granted, and I don’t plan to slow down either. I need power... A lot of it."
"I see. But that doesn’t explain why you scouted me." Zen replied.
"That brings us to the second goal. I want to create the strongest group of Hunters in the world. I want to scout individuals with endless potential and help them grow as much as possible."
"I see... And you see that I deserve to be in this very special group?" Zen asked with a calm smile.
"Yes. When I felt your awakening earlier today... I can only say that I have never seen anything like it before. Your energy is completely different and almost... chaotic." Cipha said as she recalled the sheer feeling of terror Zen’s aura brought upon her. It was as if a raging storm of blades and fire swept through her body. Something like that was completely alien to her, and she doubted anyone had seen it before.
"Ehhh... I will take that as a compliment." Zen replied with a shrug as he crossed his arms. "And the third goal. Why do you need this strong group of Hunters?"
"My third goal is... My third goal is..." Cipha clasped her hands together before she looked directly into Zen’s eyes. "I want to take down all four pillar clans and eradicate them from existence."
