The Coldness of the Human World

Velosia Kingdom, ancient castle hall.

Dim light fell across the soft velvet sofa. A man sat quietly, pinching a porcelain cup between his fingers as he slowly sipped warm black coffee. His expression was calm, without the slightest ripple.

At one side of the hall stood a defiant figure.

The man wore a vintage captain's hat, with three messy dreadlocks hanging from beneath it. His rugged outfit radiated brutish savagery.

He suddenly lifted his foot and brutally ground his heavy leather boot down onto the maid beside him, pinning her firmly beneath it.

The maid trembled all over, not daring to make a sound. She could only keep her head lowered.

The captain-hatted man glared fiercely, his voice brimming with violence and contempt.

"Do you fucking know who I am? You dare laugh at me?"

He sneered, and the air around them instantly tightened.

The man seated beside him, drinking coffee, finally spoke slowly. His voice was calm but restrained. "Isn't that enough?"

"Enough? My ass!"

The captain-hatted man abruptly raised his brows, his arrogance flaring even further without the slightest sign of restraint.

"I'm nowhere near done! Your servants are all this fucking pathetic, and they dare look at me like that?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and sharply drew the flintlock pistol from his waist.

The metal gun gleamed coldly in the dark hall. He casually fiddled with it, its muzzle vaguely aimed at the trembling maid beneath his foot.

The man on the sofa darkened slightly, his tone turning colder. "Aren't you going too far? This is my territory. Do you intend to kill someone here?"

The captain-hatted man turned to look at him, his face filled with arrogance and utterly devoid of fear.

"What? You got a problem with that?"

Holding the gun, he lifted his chin slightly, his tone openly provocative.

"What, are you planning to call the Marines to arrest me? Don't forget, it's because of me that your pirate crew can come and go freely in the Velocia Kingdom!"

After saying that, he burst into wild, unrestrained laughter.

"Hahahaha, this is killing me. You don't really think your country's pathetic little strength can stop our pirate crew, do you?"

Duke Ain's fingers tightened slightly as he gently set the teacup in his hand on the solid wooden table.

He raised his eyes and coldly looked at the arrogant pirate.

"Are you looking down on the Velocia Kingdom?"

The pirate looked entirely unconcerned, his attitude outrageously arrogant.

"So what if I am? What can you do about it?"

Just as the two sides stood locked in confrontation, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

The butler, dressed in a tailcoat, rushed into the hall with a deathly pale face. His voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Something terrible has happened! Duke Ain! Earl Baron has been killed at the harbor!"

"What did you say?"

Duke Ain's expression changed drastically, and a bone-chilling coldness instantly surged from him.

Seeing this, the pirate across from him gave a mocking snort, his eyes full of ridicule.

"Hmph, one of your own got killed at the harbor. Tsk tsk, you're pretty useless too."

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

The pirate casually picked up an apple from the table, took a huge bite, and asked absentmindedly.

"Who did it?"

The butler's body shook, his voice dry and urgent.

"It... it was the Celestial Dragons."

Crack.

The apple slipped from the pirate's suddenly slackened hand, crashing heavily onto the floor and rolling several times.

All the mockery and arrogance vanished from his face, leaving only stunned disbelief in his eyes.

"What did you say? The Celestial Dragons did it?"

Duke Ain coldly stared at the pirate, who had suddenly lost his composure, with a trace of mockery in his voice.

"What's wrong? Scared stiff?"

The pirate no longer had any of his previous brutality. He swiftly shoved the flintlock pistol back into his waist and wiped the juice from the corner of his mouth with a hurried hand.

His expression was rushed, and he no longer dared remain even a moment longer.

"Duke Ain, I'm not discussing this deal anymore. I'm leaving first. Goodbye."

He turned to leave.

"Stop! I told you to stop!"

Duke Ain shouted sharply.

But the pirate did not turn around at all, much less heed his rebuke. With hurried strides, he rushed straight out of the hall and quickly left the ancient castle.

On the deck of the luxurious ship, the sea wind howled past.

Rukia held her waist, let out a long sigh, and slowly spoke.

"This ship is way too big. I'm exhausted."

Charlos took a sip of juice. "No rush. Clean it slowly."

"Hey, speaking of which, why did I have to get on this ship with you?"

"If you hadn't boarded this ship, wouldn't you have been sold off?"

"Who said that? Couldn't I have just gone home?"

"Fine, no problem. Then go."

Rukia turned toward Amira beside her, her gaze pleading.

"Big sister, can you come home with me?"

Amina was briefly at a loss for words.

"Uh... Charlos, I..."

Charlos waved his hand, his tone casual.

"Go on, go on. Accompany her there."

Amina curled her lips into a mischievous smile and teased her.

"Big sister, then hurry up and go. Don't disturb Charlos and me while we enjoy some alone time."

Upon hearing that, Charlos reached out and grabbed Amina's ear.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Amira's expression was gentle as she slowly reminded her.

"Amina, protect Charlos. I'll go with her."

"Got it, big sister!"

Amina immediately gave in, covering her tugged ear as she softly begged for mercy.

"Ow, Lord Charlos, I was wrong. It hurts!"

Charlos applied a little pressure with his fingers, and Amina suddenly shuddered.

He raised his brows, amusement in his voice.

"Hm? Say that again."

Amina blinked her watery eyes and softened her voice.

"Big brother, it hurts."

Dust swirled through the remote little village. The surroundings were so quiet that only the wind rustling through the weeds could be heard.

Under an old tree at the village entrance, a disheveled drunk slumped on the ground. He lifted the wine jar beside him and tipped back a large mouthful of strong liquor.

As the fragrance of alcohol slid down his throat, he narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.

"Mmm, fragrant. So fragrant. Ah, that hits the spot."

At that moment, two figures slowly approached the village.

Amira walked beside Rukia, accompanying her step by step toward the village entrance.

Rukia's eyes were full of anticipation, her tone light and excited.

"Big sister, my home is just up ahead."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, big sister! When we get to my house, I'll treat you to the tastiest dried meat, okay?"

The drunk beneath the tree rubbed his cloudy eyes and drunkenly looked toward the two approaching women.

He stared at Rukia's face for a long while, mumbling to himself.

"Hey, isn't that Rukia? Didn't I sell her already?"

Rukia spotted someone beneath the distant tree.

Her footsteps abruptly stopped. Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice trembled with uncontrollable excitement.

"Dad! Dad!"

The drunk's head swayed back and forth, the stench of alcohol rolling off him. He was already too drunk to think clearly.

Rukia could no longer hold herself back. She rushed over, stood before him, and spoke urgently and aggrievedly.

"Dad, it's me! I'm Rukia!"

The drunk raised the jar again and took another mouthful of liquor. His head swayed from side to side, his gaze unfocused.

He blankly looked at the girl before him, shaking his head as he muttered.

"Rukia... mm, impossible, impossible... That money-losing bitch, I sold her off long ago."

"W-what?"

Rukia's entire body stiffened, and her pupils abruptly contracted.

All the anticipation and excitement in her eyes shattered completely in an instant.

She stared blankly at her cold-hearted biological father, who lived only for drink.

The drunk was completely unaware of her distress. He took another huge gulp of liquor, tilted sideways, and slumped against the old tree's roots.

He smacked his lips, full of impatience and irritation.

"Seriously, how can I dream about that money-losing bitch even in my sleep?"

Amira had heard every word. Seeing Rukia's rigid body and pale face, she silently reached out and gently supported her as she swayed on the verge of collapse.