“Mr. Lucas, can I ask you something off the record?”

The reporter switched off the recorder she was holding. Pocketing it, she bit her lip, holding Luke’s gaze while he tapped his knuckles.

Many had said that the coldness in his eyes was enough to crack even the most hardened criminal. He just stared back unblinkingly without his expression changing one bit, but sweat started to form on her face.

He laughed suddenly, and she jerked her head back, as if escaping the jaws of a prehistoric predator. Luke nodded, and she took in a deep, shuddering breath.

The bravest reporter in California. Tcheh. What a joke. And here I thought this sudden interview would be fun.

She was wearing a bright red cocktail dress with a plunging neckline and a slit that exposed her left leg. While he waited for her to gather herself, he idly wondered whether he should consider taking her out to dinner, but he discarded the idea quickly.

She’ll try to dig out information from everything I say. Not worth it. Better to look for Nancy tonight…she’s always down for an after-party, and I have just the right place in mind.

The sounds of a party in full swing drifted through the partly-open door, along with a cold breeze and the scents of sizzling meat. The massive hall was well-lit but mostly empty; he had just moved in, and a few companions had gotten the idea to throw a housewarming party/25th birthday celebration.

They were fools. But they were useful fools, so he had to oblige them.

Feeling an anticipatory tingle in his spine as he recalled the private spot beneath an oak tree right at the very edge of the three-acre property, Luke smiled and got up, buttoning his suit.

“I’ve been fascinated by you ever since your file came to my desk. Everyone knows about your past. You were a beggar on the streets of Mexico. Your father took you on a trip and abandoned you. Most kids your age would have sought out help. Instead, you worked your way up, committing petty crimes until you took control of those same streets in three years. Since then, your rise has been meteoric. Money laundering, extortion, murder, kidnapping…you’ve dabbled in them all. You came back to the U.S and invested your money in the right companies. Rumors say that you already have experience in politics, that you helped three senators and four congressmen win. Now, at just the age of twenty-five, you are all set to start a political campaign that will propel you to the White House. A poll has already begun on facebook, pitting you against a few others for the title of ‘Most Dashing Contender in California’.”

She ticked off the facts on an imaginary notepad, all while looking straight at Luke without an ounce of the fear she had shown before.

Hmm. Interesting.

Her bravery had earned her the right to some of his time, so Luke sat back down. A lazy smile played on his lips. He studied the reporter’s face, looking for a hint of any hidden motive behind her curiosity, but he found nothing.

Under his scrutiny, a lovely blush entered her cheeks. In his mind, her face replaced Nancy’s the moment he identified the mix of emotions in her eyes.

“If someone read just these parts, they would be convinced you’re just a gang leader turned white-collar criminal. But you’re not that simple. You fund numerous charities liberally. You are regularly seen helping the needy. You have initiated funds to help rehabilitate children with troubled backgrounds. My question is…who are you? Are you just someone with a good heart who was pushed into the wrong side of the world? Or is all the philanthropy a farce, and you’re rotten to the core?”

The last words shot out of her mouth. She had obviously meant to phrase that part differently, but she had spoken her mind. She raised her hands to her lips, eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to gauge Luke’s reaction, but his smile just widened.

I like some fire in my woman. And if it’s too much…what’s more fun than what comes after it’s been doused?

“If I answer, will you have dinner with me tonight? There’s this spot in front of a lake on the property that I’ve been told is just perfect for a picnic. The view should be mesmerizing…especially if you get down on all fours.”

She caught the hint, and the blush deepened while she nodded, a sultry smile quirking up one corner of her full lips. For a moment, Luke wondered whether she was saying ‘yes’ just to get the answer, but that flare of heat in her eyes had been too genuine.

He stretched back, resting on the sofa while he gathered his thoughts. He wrestled with the idea of holding back and being careful even if this was off the record, but in the end, he found no way in which she could use what he was about to say. Besides, he hadn’t really had much success in the past whenever he tried not be cocky in front of women.

“My dear, I’m the biggest villain in the world, and I’m going to be president. It may take five years, it may take ten, but eventually, I will reach my goal. You know why? Because I never. Give. Up. And I’m always ready to do anything necessary to win. Anything. All that charity is just a way to rehabilitate myself. The truth is that I’m the perfect bad boy, and you know what they say about the effect we have on women…”

She didn’t respond to the suggestiveness in his tone or words, this time. Instead, she frowned, as if she was confused.

“I thought the same thing. But something doesn’t add up. You give away every penny you don’t need to the charities. You actively spend time to check whether your money is being spent well. I did some digging, and it turns out that even in your past life, you only ever went after cruel opposing leaders or rich criminals. You searched for your family for a long time, and only found them a month back. All this tells me that you’re either lying to me, or youself.”

Her tone was perfectly flat. Luke heard a roaring in his ears. His jaw clenched, his fists tightened, and a vein bulged on his forehead.

She’s been playing me. She was acting afraid to make me underestimate her. She’s not interested in me; she just wanted to distract me and make me answer. Can’t believe I fell for it.

He shot to his feet. “You’re wrong. Softness only brings death in the world I was forced into when I was just twelve. But that world molded me into the person I am, and that person has no weakness. And definitely no stupid penchant for kindness. I wanted to know if I should take precautionary steps for any genetic diseases I might inherit, so I looked for my family. That’s all. I need no one. No one.”

He breathed hard, stopping the torrent of words that had spilled from his mouth. The reporter’s lips stretched into a knowing smile, as if she had found her answer.

“So that is the reason for an eighteen-year-old to begin the search, and to keep pouring money into it even when he fell on hard times? You’ve been looking for people you can really form bonds with for a long time, Mr. Lucas, and it looks like it’s finally time for that wish of yours to come true. Congratulations!” she drawled, and Luke raised a shaking finger, ready to defend himself even further.

He stopped himself at the last moment, recognizing the glint in her eyes as that of victory. She had provoked him to make him speak in anger, and although she had succeeded, he wasn’t going to give her any more material to add to his expose.

“This interview is over. Get off my property.” He growled, turning away.

She’s dangerous. Better to keep an eye on her. She can be a very troublesome opponent…or a very useful ally.

Plans formed in his head as he started to walk away. Just as he was about to open the door and return to the party, his body froze.

“Lucas Haldoff. You have been chosen. Your target is Crodale City, Bloodmagic Empire. Rule or die.”

A disembodied voice spoke in his mind, echoing through his body, reverberating through his very soul. His surroundings shimmered, then disappeared. For a few seconds, he heard nothing, saw nothing, and felt nothing. He wanted to scream, but he had no mouth. He wanted to run, but he had no body.

Finally, like a blindfold had been removed suddenly, a field strewn with dead bodies entered his vision. Agony burst to life in the body he could suddenly feel, and a frantic voice shouted in his ears.

“Luke, get up! My Blood’s running out! We have to get out of here! We lost! The captain has called the retreat!”