You don't even want to call me godfather

"A cardinal of the Lateran Church?"

Koshe's face was full of confusion and puzzlement. He didn't know what the intention of this woman named Outcast was. Although this identity was extremely sensitive to Syracuse, who often smuggled guns, she did not show any malice.

"Don't worry, Father Syracuse. I no longer belong to the Lateran." Outcast explained, as if he had seen Koshe's worry. "I just want to warn you. Having too many guns is not a good thing, especially for an entire country. If the Lateran Church finds out, the consequences will be disastrous."

"... Outcast... right?" Koshe pondered for a moment. He looked at the eyes of Outcast under his cowboy hat and said, "I'm curious, why did you come to remind me of this? To gain more bargaining chips for Rhodes Island? Or for some other reason?"

"Just think of it as a temporary idea from a person who has experienced it for over 50 years," Outcast smiled relaxedly, but there was an indescribable vicissitude in her eyes. "It has been more than ten years since I left Lateran. I have also seen the city-states destroyed by Lateran. Perhaps, I just don't want to see the tragedy happen again."

"Is that so..." Koshei closed his eyes for a long time, then opened them and said, "Thank you very much for your reminder, Outcast, but don't worry, I can assure you that Syracuse will not fall into the hands of any force."

After just a few words of conversation, Koshei began to have some affection for the old Sakota with a story, and he was willing to treat Outcast as a friend like everyone else.

"I don't know where your confidence comes from, but since you said so, it's not easy for me, an outsider, to say anything." Outcast nodded and continued, "However, I think you should also know that Syracuse cannot defeat Lateran based on its current situation."

"Syracuse's development and prosperity are not just based on guns and swords, Outcast," Koshei refuted Outcast's words without any hesitation, "We rely on people."

"But if Syracuse is not internally stable and united, it will have no chance of winning," Outcast said. "It may sound a bit harsh, but looking at Syracuse now, who do you think is qualified to fight against the outside world?"

"..."

Koshe was silent. Outcast was right. Syracuse was unstable and disunited now. If faced with external threats, the family and the government might not stand on the same side. What's more, the two forces now wanted to completely eradicate each other from Syracuse.

"Can you tell me, Godfather, what do you want to do most now?"

"…maintain the peace and unity of Syracuse and eradicate the government." Koshei's answer to Outcast's question became a little unsure. "The tranquility of Syracuse has come to an end. I can't sit and wait for others to take away everything I have."

"But if we want to maintain it, how can we talk about change?" Outcast shook his head helplessly, perhaps feeling sad for Koshei. "I can see that you are now doubting even the goals you insist on. With such a mentality, how can you accomplish anything?"

"No, you don't understand, Outcast," Koshe denied Outcast's point of view. He defended himself, "The madman thinks he is righteous and captures fugitives and exposes things that are not allowed to see the light. Under the cover of the Cascade family, the government is the despicable fugitive, and I don't care whether I am the madman or not. As long as I can wipe out this group of fugitives, then..."

So...what can we do?

Koshe paused suddenly. He realized that he had always been thinking about what would happen if he lost the arm wrestling with the government, and what he should do, but he had never thought about -

What if you win?

"Protecting is often more difficult than killing, Godfather, I think you should understand this. You actually always have the right to choose," Outcast said, pressing down his cowboy hat. "But I think there must be a reason why a person is different from others, and this is also related to the choice you made."

"No... You are wrong about one thing, Outcast." Koshei was a little conflicted, but he still corrected her. "This is not a choice, but a responsibility, a responsibility that a godfather must bear. I have witnessed the departure of many people, right next to me. I have also turned against my closest friends because of irreconcilable conflicts, but I survived."

"Because of a sense of responsibility?" Outcast seemed to sneer at the idea of ​​responsibility. "In fact, in some ways, you and Kal'tsit are really similar. In the meeting just now, you hinted to us that if we want to implement the contract as soon as possible, Rhodes Island will have to help you secretly to fight against the Syracuse government. And now I am standing in front of you, just the two of us, no one else. You can rest assured to ask me for help. Whether it is for Rhodes Island or for the friendship we have just established, I will not refuse. You know this very well."

"Will Ms. Kal'tsit agree with your self-determination, Outcast?" Koshe said, "Besides, I don't want you to help me for any reason other than cooperation. Syracuse people believe in friendship, and I don't want to take advantage of this friendship."

"Since Kal'tsit agreed to my private meeting with you, she also acquiesced to my self-assertion," Outcast said with a smile, "Everyone needs help, my friend, even the godfather."

"..."

Everyone needs help.

Koshe was speechless. He looked like he was thinking about something. After a long time, he spoke.

"Sorry, I'm a little confused. To be honest, I don't know what to do now."

"Then start with the most difficult part. Don't doubt yourself. Now that you have decided on something, you should follow through on it, right?" Outcast no longer had any respect for Koshei. Instead, he taught the younger generation like an elder. "I have done terrible things. Because of my negligence, a city-state was completely wiped off the map. I left the church and Lateran because of this. But I have never regretted it, because now I have my own ideas and the path I want to take."

"Why...are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want to see my friends being bound by a sense of responsibility. I also hope that there will be no more gunshots in Syracuse," Outcast said in a trance, "for my last bit of thought for Lateran."

Chapter 75: Hunter's Duty

After Outcast left, Koshei held his forehead with both hands, rested his elbows on the desk, looked at the table, and thought about something.

The Church in the Lateran... is indeed a difficult problem.

Outcast's words were straightforward but full of meaning. He knew that in the next crackdown on the government, there would definitely be an invisible friend helping them in secret.

But at the same time, outcast also triggered another thought in him.

Is what he has done so far really right?

If his father were still alive, would he approve of his current behavior?

Koshe couldn't figure it out, and didn't want to think about it anymore.

He blew away the cigarette ash scattered on the table, stood up and left the study.

"Destiny?"

As soon as he walked out of the study, Koshe saw a figure standing in the living room. It was none other than Destiny.

Rarely, she was not wrapped in a blanket, but changed into casual clothes and smiled weakly.

"Shh..." Destiny raised his index finger in front of his lips and made a gesture of silence. "Hong fell asleep upstairs. She looked exhausted. It seemed that I was the patient."

"Destiny..."

Seeing that his sister seemed to have regained her spirit, Koshei was about to say something, but swallowed the words back.

Matters between family members are self-evident.

"Well... this is also my fault. Maybe I shouldn't have put so much pressure on them."

Koshe smiled and said.

"In the future, take me with you," Destiny walked up to Koshei, looked up at him, and said, "Don't worry about my health, brother. People of the Cascade family will not be defeated by anything."

"...Well..." Koshe looked into Destiny's eyes and suggested, "Want to go out for a walk? A lot of things have happened in Syracuse recently."

"No need, brother. Hong chats with me every day." Destiny was about to refuse, but when he saw Koshe's disappointed expression, he suddenly changed his mind and said, "No... I'd better go out and take a look. I haven't been active for a while."

……

In Syracuse, a peaceful and honest city with simple folk customs, you can sometimes see government officials being chased by people who support their families, family members being chased by people who support the government, and even the beautiful scene of the government and family members getting along well with each other.

But today, none of this has anything to do with Kosh'e.

Rhodes Island's arrival also brought some things, medicine, and help from outcast.

and Destiny’s turnaround.

It seems like everything is going in the right direction.

"That's right, brother."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Walking on the road covered with light snow, Destiny suddenly called out to Koshe. He turned his head, looked at his sister, and asked.

"Well... I want to take you to meet some people," Destiny said hesitantly, "It was those people who saved me when I was on the verge of death. I originally thought that I would thank them after I got better, but I didn't expect..."

"The people who saved you back then..." Koshe thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. I can go meet them today and thank them in person."

The woods on the border of Syracuse.

Various events, big and small, have taken place here.

The wreckage of the transport plane is still in the woods. After Skadi rescued Destiny, the fire went out and the transport plane did not explode. No one has ever found the wreckage since then.

Similarly, the mercenary team was still stationed in the outer woods, waiting for something.

"So why are we still here, Captain?"

In the woods, the mercenary teams gathered around several bonfires. The snow had fallen suddenly, and they had not made adequate preparations for keeping warm in advance. They had to rely on the bonfires for warmth, even though it was daytime.

"Ah... Skadi kept saying that she wanted to investigate the monster she saw that day, so she stayed. We can only... can only stay here."

The team leader squatted by the campfire, answering Zoya's questions with a trembling voice.

"We can't spoil her like this," Zoya sat next to the team leader and complained unhappily, "The whole team will suffer with her. It's freezing cold and we don't have any way to keep warm. If this continues, someone might get into trouble. What's she talking about? I think she's just talking nonsense."

"But you also know, Zoya," the captain was used to Zoya's attitude, and he spoke for Skadi, "Skadi never lies."

"..." Zoya was silent. The leader was right, but for her, this was not a reason to let everyone accompany Skadi's willfulness. "Forget it, I've had enough!"

Zoya stood up from the ground and, in the gazes of others, walked straight towards Skadi, who was taking a nap under a tree not far away.

"Hey! Skadi!"

"Hmm?" Sensing someone standing in front of her, Skadi raised her head slightly, revealing the pair of bright red eyes under her hunter's hat. "What's wrong?"

"..." Seeing Skadi's ignorant look, Zoya's words got stuck in her throat. She calmed herself down before speaking, "I heard from the captain that you are investigating the 'monster'?"

"um, yes."

It was still a short answer, but it made Zoya feel a little uncomfortable.

"But do you know that your current behavior will make everyone in the group suffer for you?" Zoya and Skadi looked at each other and said unkindly, "Maybe you don't feel the cold, but other people in the group are different. Do you want them to freeze to death like those infected people on the Ursus snowfield?"

"But that monster gives me a familiar feeling. It's very similar to Haisi... and the twisted creatures I encountered before I left my hometown." Skadi was stunned for a moment, then explained, "I can't let them go. This is my duty as a 'hunter' and the responsibility I should bear."

"Wake up, Skadi!" Zoya couldn't help it. She yelled at Skadi, "This is Syracuse, a country with cities of all sizes. There is no way there are any monsters here. I've been going to the city to purchase supplies every day, and I haven't heard any news about monsters. Even if there are monsters, they should have left long ago!"

When Zoya opened her voice, not only Skadi, but everyone else in the group was stunned.

They understood Zoya's feelings, but they didn't know what to do and could only wait for what would happen next.

"..." Skadi lowered her head, thinking about something. Her voice was ethereal, with a hint of helplessness and sadness. "I once had a place that could be called my hometown, but it was destroyed by those monsters. Syracuse is your hometown. I don't want those monsters to exist here, even if there is a tiny possibility."

"..."

Zoya opened her lips slightly. She was unable to refute Skadi's words and had never thought that Skadi would have such an idea.

The scene fell into an awkward state until a somewhat weak voice broke the silence.

"Zoya."

Zoya turned around and looked in the direction where her name was called, and saw two figures walking towards her.

"Ms. Destiny?" Zoya's complicated mood disappeared in an instant, but the next moment, she became nervous again, "And the God... the Godfather?!"

"godfather?"

Hearing this address, the captain suddenly stood up from the ground, perked up, and looked at the young Rupert.

But at this moment, something unexpected happened.

Zoya heard the sound of Skadi standing up behind her, and before she had time to turn around, she saw a swift shadow passing by her.

"Wait, Skadi!"

Zoya thought to herself that something was wrong and she ran quickly towards Koshe and Destiny, but it was too late.

At this time, Skadi had appeared in front of Koshe. She raised the long sword that was as long as a person high up, her eyes full of murderous intent.

"The breath of Hai Si..."

Chapter 76: Old People, New Things

"Skadi! Stop it!"

Following the captain's angry shout, Skadi's sword stopped in front of Koshe, only a few centimeters away from taking his life.

She stopped, but not because of the captain's shout, but because...

The man in front of her had an aura similar to Hai Si, but he also had a human aura. The two auras mixed together, making it difficult for her to tell what this person, or creature, was.

Koshe was caught off guard by Skadi's sudden attack. He took a step back and protected Destiny behind him.

An unnoticed black shadow disappeared on the ground beneath Skadi's feet. It was Koshe who interrupted the call to the hound cubs.

"Ah... Is this the mercenary group you mentioned, Destiny?" Koshei was still a little scared. Even he almost couldn't react to the speed of Skadi's attack just now, but he still pretended to be calm and said, "It seems that they don't welcome us very much."

"Skadi, what are you doing!" The captain hurried to Skadi's side and was about to get angry, but when he saw Koshei beside him, he just shouted to Zoya, "Zoya! Take Skadi aside, she looks like she needs some rest."

"Skadi, the woman who appeared that night," Msisha suddenly reminded Koshei in his mind at this time, "can repel my follower Tindalos. You'd better pay attention to her."

"Ah... Now I have to be on guard against her without you telling me."

After Msissa's reminder, Koshe finally remembered.

The night when Tomsisha attacked Lappland on his behalf, it was this woman wearing a hunter's hat that looked like a fish fin who disrupted the situation and allowed Lappland to escape.

It was also because Lappland escaped that the Cascade family lost three wolf hunters and almost lost Destiny. Now Destiny's mineralogy cannot be said to have nothing to do with her.

Thinking of this, Koshe's feeling towards Skadi instantly became worse.