"What are you doing?!" one of the n near the granny gasped, wide-eyed. He darted his eyes between their group and the small group that had just switched sides.
"Just re words and you’re pointing those weapons at us?!" he shouted angrily. "Are you out of your mind?!"
One of the n who was now pointing his rifle at their comrades grimaced. "I apologize, but I believe him. Madam, you are in the way."
"My husband is still in that mansion," another one breathed out. "Madam, the Order has taught us to listen to orders, but at the sa ti, not mindlessly. And I cannot just allow fate to decide tonight. Walter needs ."
The rest were quiet, but their silence spoke volus.
"You—" the other man, who was just as horrified at how their comrades had jumped ship, stopped when the one beside him suddenly pressed his gun from Atlas to his side.
Slowly, the man looked back, only to see his comrade change his mind.
"I’m sorry," the other man said, "but I do believe it is ti for the Order to welco its new leader."
On the other side of the clearing, a voice was heard.
"Captain! What are you—are you going to side with that guy?!"
The man, the person referred to as the captain, just lowered his rifle. He didn’t point it at either Atlas or Sybil. He cast them a look and said,
"Madam, all these years you’ve taken care of the Order, but I do think if this is fate, then you should also allow fate to decide in this matter." His voice was loud so others could hear him. "Please, accept his challenge."
Hearing one of the Shadow Order captains filled the others with shock and disbelief. Atlas may not have known this, but the captain who had just spoken was known for his unbending loyalty and devotion to the madam.
Atlas raised his brows briefly before he looked at the others. At the sa ti, the bulky man who was assisting the granny gazed down at her.
"Madam, whatever your decision may be—be it to accept his challenge or deny it, I will honor it," said the bulky man, lifting his eyes to everyone. "It also applies to all of you. Whatever your decision may be, I will honor it. Be it siding with us, or fighting ... I will not hold back."
Everyone gazed at the bulky guy, but none of those who were moved by Atlas’s remarks showed any sign of fear. Not because they didn’t recognize the bulky man’s capabilities, but because they had decided.
Fate would not be the one to decide tonight.
As the tension in the clearing slowly rose, the granny’s laughter was heard. It wasn’t a laugh of mockery or confidence, but rather, delight and appreciation.
When she raised her head, a smile turned up on her face, eyes scanning every single face around.
"It’s true that I ordered not to ddle tonight, and that I want fate to decide what would happen to the Zorken and the Shadow Order," she expressed, her eyes softening. "However, it is not my intention to divide the Order."
She wanted to say she had made that decision for a few reasons. If Nathalie had erged victorious, then she could consider it the end between the Shadow Order and the Zorken Family. Hence, she had already sent out an order to those mbers stationed all across the globe to end—no, erase the Zorken Legacy if that happened.
After all, she believed that the Shadow Order would never forget what Nathalie Zorken had done to their people. And thus, this alliance between the two would never be established.
The other reason was that, if fate allowed it, soone would stop the inevitable.
And by that, she was hopeful that Zoren—the last Zorken that wasn’t Nathalie—would claim it. That he would replace her and lead these people, just like every head of the Zorken Family had done in the past. Hence, she had told her people to hold back, let that anger simr, for when Zoren claid the Order, he would easily convince them.
Life, however, seed to have a different plan.
Instead of Zoren, it gave her this one, Atlas. A man who simply spoke the truth—no heroic speech or drama, just bluntness and honesty. And Atlas, speaking of what every single person here had been denying just because of her, was the last straw.
"I know all of you are angry," she continued. "She took our people—our family—and yet, you had to deny what should be our natural course of action because I said so."
A bitter smile crept on her face. "Fool," she laughed. "The Order binds us in vow, but also frees us of our will."
She shook her head and then set her eyes on Atlas. "I am too old to win your challenge, so I accept it and concede." She nodded at him, still smiling, opening her arms slightly. "You may shoot down and claim victory."
No one reacted to her remarks as if that was sothing normal to say. Instead, everyone turned to Atlas as if waiting for him to do or say anything.
"Hand him the gun." She ordered, and without a second’s hesitation, the man nearest Atlas took out a handgun from his side.
He wordlessly handed it, but Atlas didn’t take it imdiately. He gazed at the handgun, then t the man’s eyes. The latter wasn’t reacting, so Atlas set his eyes back on the granny. But instead of clarity, his brows knitted, and slowly, his expression twisted into an ugly frown.
"Do you... do you just kill your boss when you hire replacents?" He asked, earning a loud ’Huh’ from everyone. Had he known, he would’ve coveted William Pierson’s position.
"If you are... resigning from your job, you have to train the one who will replace you," he said in a knowing tone, just in case she didn’t know that. "I’ve never heard I had to kill the person I’d need to replace to get the job."
Everyone: "???"
"Keep that away from ," he said to the person giving him the gun. "Next ti, I’d like you to disinfect it thoroughly before handing anything."
Everyone: "??????"
"If I am hired, I know I should start my training as soon as possible, but my little brother is heading to that mansion," he continued, as if they had all just moved on from this "job interview," just like him. "Just for today, lend your help. I desperately need it."
The old madam blinked before a burst of laughter escaped her.
"I owe that young lady her winning prize for winning this bet."
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