Chapter 26: Emotions

"The Clown Gang..."

"Don’t tell me you’re a member of those bastards!"

Pinching his fork so hard it bent, Ethan’s mind filled with fury.

That symbol, the joker with the K, belonged to one of the fastest-growing factions back when the world had just ended.

’The Clown Gang or later known as the Clown King Gang, those bastards made me suffer for the first two years in the apocalypse.’

’Taking advantage of the surrounding chaos when the end came, they used their weapons to gather up massive amounts of weapons and supplies.’

’Not only that, but their leader, the Clown King, seemed to have awakened a very powerful ability.’

’An ability so strong that even future S-classes like Victoria could only hide and wait as he continued to develop wantonly.’

Scrolling through his memory, Ethan knew just what kind of guys they were.

With connections with the rich and powerful, the Clown Gang were people who would do anything for a moment of pleasure or money.

Kidnapping, arson, killing, theft, there was no crime they hadn’t done in the book.

It was even to the point that long before any of them awakened abilities, their names were enough to make most people afraid.

’Also the ability he awakened, I have no idea what it was.’

’The only thing I remember is there being a rumor one day that he fought against twenty B-ranks and died together with them.’

’Otherwise he would have been an invincible figure in the later years.’

Recalling the past, Ethan remembered how without the Smith family to back him, he was forced to work for the Clown Gang for the first few years as they fancied his managerial skills.

There, he was slashed, tortured, and beaten every day all to meet their unreasonable demands.

In fact, he had planned to eliminate them from Emerald City if he had the opportunity.

At least with them gone when the apocalypse arrived, there would be one less unstable factor for him to worry about.

So seeing their symbol now he couldn’t help but be surprised.

In all his years in the apocalypse, he had never heard of any connection between the two.

So why now?

’Could it be another butterfly effect?’ he thought.

However, shaking his head Ethan soon dismissed those thoughts.

He didn’t think anything he had done so far could lead to such a change, especially considering he was reborn not long ago.

If anything, it would just mean Victoria as a person had more of a story to her.

"Ethan..." Calling out to Ethan who still held the sleeve of her shirt, Victoria was stunned.

Biting her lip as he mentioned the name Clown Gang, looks of hesitation, anger, and dread ran across her face.

Emotions that even when faced with her bullies or him she didn’t show on her face.

Struggling for a few minutes, gritting her teeth, her next words seemed to drain the strength out of her.

"Yes, you’re right, I’m part of the Clown Gang."

Regardless of Ethan’s murderous intent, even if it got her killed, with her tattoo exposed, Victoria knew there was nothing she could do.

............

"Yes, you’re right, I’m part of the Clown Gang."

Saying these words, Victoria sat down, strength completely leaving her body.

"Yes I’m part of the notorious Clown Gang, people who kill and steal for fun."

"Let me guess you aren’t going to need my so-called ’talents’ anymore?"

"After all, in the eyes of the mighty Smith family, I’m but a criminal."

"Ha~"

Knowing she was exposed, Victoria just sighed.

With things as they are, she knew that she would either be arrested, killed, tortured for information on the gang, or all three.

However just like before, when she thought of the kids in the orphanage, she was unwilling to go out like this.

If she could even play with them one more time.

Unknowingly, perhaps it was due to piled-up emotions, or frustration from everything that had happened today.

Tears began to fall from her eyes, as a choked sob escaped her lips.

*sob* *sob*

"Hey, do you really think I wanted to join on purpose?"

"Especially for me, every day I’ve been called a wench, a seductress for my looks."

"Do you think I would want to join a gang like that where they violate women for fun on purpose?"

"Even now I bear this mark on my neck knowing that every day could be my last."

"But what choice do I have!"

"Not everyone can be born into a rich home."

"Not everyone can have the money to solve all problems."

"You talked about how you came here with your family and they died."

"But I have never known what family is; the aunty at the orphanage told me I was delivered at their doorstep with only a name tag on my neck."

"It’s how I got this lousy name Victoria Sinclair!"

Cursing out loud, Victoria had lost it.

For a split second, the surrounding temperature dropped and her eyes turned blue.

A bit of frost even began to escape from the sides of her mouth as she spoke.

’This mana!’

’This is-!’

Sensing the mana gathering towards her, Ethan didn’t know what to say.

Did her sudden emotional spike trigger an early awakening?

If that’s the case, could he induce artificial awakenings by manipulating others’ emotions?

In a trance, his max-level comprehension began to act, as mana unknowingly gathered in his eyes allowing him to study the way mana flowed through the air and moved towards Victoria.

Perhaps with this, he could use this knowledge to artificially awaken those around him.

In this way, he would have an army of mages and awakeners to help him deal with threats in the future.

’Also if I help others awaken? Can that trigger a ten-thousand-fold increase?’

Thinking about this, his gaze at Victoria became more intense.

A scene that made the person in front of him even angrier.

"Answer me, Ethan! Tell me what talent I have! Tell me exactly why you brought me here today!"

"Although I have a lot to lose, I’m sure you as a Smith have much more to lose than me."

"I’m tired of running, I’m tired of being forced to do things I don’t want to do!"

"If you don’t tell me now and still try to make me work for you, even if I die I won’t mind dragging you down with me!"

With frost gathering around the tips of her eyebrows, Victoria took a stance.