Chapter 155 –

Blackmail was the one thing that controlled him. It was revolting that he was put on a leash because of that. He could not blame them. It was true that he made chaos. Every evil must be repaid. It was repentance for those who have been killed by him.

He could never stomach killing children and innocent. But he had done it out of cold fury. He was oblivious and that floating word above him made him into a single-minded person with a grim determination to take revenge against a friend.

Still, he thought that it was just right. But working for the very person who made his first days in this world a living hell? The person who broke him and trampled upon his dignity and pride as a person? It was so absurd and that he should kill her.

Yet...here he was. Facing her inside the skyship with both of his fist readied. In front of him was her looking so devilishly smug that his firm heart was being bothered. He did a straight jab. She used the back of her hand to repel his fist. She raised her leg. She hit him right in the ankle. He was too late to dodge it. He tried moving in her guard. But, she grabs his collar and threw him on the ground.

He rolled left to avoid her incoming kick. He stood up. He raised his arms and took a step forward with his right leg. He tried a feint but she was able to knock on his chest. He squirmed back. He tried kicking her. She merely jolted back and parried his attack with a push of her palm.

Joshua had toughened up in the months. He had grown muscles. His face was sharper than ever. He was getting used to pain. Yet, he was getting beaten up by the devilish woman in front of him. She had used what he did to keep him around. She blackmailed him into working under her. She has the permission of the King of the Maltius La Fende and escaping would only end up in his death.

Joshua was no coward. But he has no intention of dying. He simply didn’t want two nations from hunting him down. Not to mention that he had people he needed to protect. He didn’t want to put a burden on them. So he agreed to work for Dolce, who clearly was amused by him.

At first, he tried isolating himself inside his cabin. But Dolce would barge in and watch him sleep. He would wake with her just grinning on a stool. He knew that she must be trying to get a reaction out of him. He has been trying his hardest not to crack. And thanks to the objective that was floating above him. He was able to resist due to that alone.

But he was slowly cracking. He has a great mental resistance. But she was his trauma. And because of that, there were parts of him that quivers in fear at the sight of her. She seemed to have taken a hint. And oddly she proposed to spar with him.

Joshua agreed mainly for the thought of being able to punch her face without the whole skyship turning their guns at him. That was his intention yet...he found himself being beaten up by her. He has been training with her for the past days. But he never expected the frilly skirt damsel to be able to beat him up. He tried everything he knew but she was absurdly good.

According to Dolce, she has been trained by masters in order to defend herself from those that might to hurt her. And thus she could kick his ass every time they spar. It was quite frustrating. It was extra frustrating simply because of the way she smugly looked at him. He was trying to be stoic as possible. But that mask was slowly cracking.

And the face she was making as she looks over him wasn’t helping at all. “Need a hand again?” she snickered with utmost amusement. She was having fun at the sight of Joshua lying flat on the floor.

Joshua’s face twitched. He stood up without a word and raised his fist again. He wanted to hit her at least once. He couldn’t stand losing to her at all.

“I think that is enough for today,” she said, waving her hand. “I am all sweaty all over. Or perhaps do you like seeing me like this? Is this to your liking?” she looked down at Joshua’s lower body and grinned.

“Can you please stop with that?” he said. “Do you not get sick of trying to sound perverted all the time?”

“Oh please,” she said while pulling her shirt, sweat trailing down her clavicle and collarbone. “Most men would have jumped at the thought of that remark as a sign. But I guess it won’t work on someone that’s itching to hurt me all over.”

“Try not being you and try being a modest woman,” he said blandly.

She snorted. “Oh my, do you really assume that just because I am a woman. It doesn't mean that I won’t have any preferences or the wanting for pleasure. Why do you men assume that we are different creatures? We are just human beings. No need to think that we are a mystery.”

Joshua had no reply to that. He inhaled. “Are we done here? Can I go now?”

“We are,” she said calmly. “But if you want to intrude while I am taking a shower. It would be fine by me. Or would you like to rape me and strangle my neck here? Would that satisfy you?”

“No, I am not going to step on your level. If you want to do it that badly then ask someone who wants to.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I am not that perverted. Besides, you are the only person that I’ve slept with. You are my first and I am keeping it that way. Aren’t you lucky?”

Joshua’s face twitched. He gritted his teeth and replied. “Go fuck yourself.”

“I will,” Dolce said while smiling. “You can freely watch me if you want to.”

With that, she left while showing off her sweaty back. Joshua admits that Dolce is a beautiful woman with fine curves. But out of pride, feelings, and hatred, he could not agree to whatever she was implying. He was sane. He was not asexual either. But giving in would mean that she won again. And he didn’t want to lose to her. He would rather lose to someone other than her. He couldn’t stomach letting her win.