Chapter 410: World Cruise
The Burden of Power
Before practicing The Thirteen Apostles, Luke never imagined the negative side effects would be this severe.
His head felt like it was stuffed with a bomb, his ears constantly ringing. A profound weariness hung over him like an inescapable shadow, compounded by negative emotions like slaughter, bloodlust, and madness.
He was a nuclear bomb waiting to explode, and he even found himself entertaining thoughts of mass carnage.
The Green Flame also began to spiral out of control, occasionally bursting from within his body. Just last night, if he hadn't forced himself back to consciousness at the very last moment, those two girls would likely have ended up as corpses.
The continuous chain of accidents made him realize he couldn't go on like this. He had to find a solution.
That same afternoon, Luke left Metropolis and headed to Coast City, where he found Carol Ferris working.
After months apart, Carol was even more captivating. Her professional suit showcased her graceful figure, and her light makeup gave her a look of refined elegance that made people want to take a second look.
"Mr. Sh—Mr. Shaw!"
"Shh!"
Luke signaled for Angie to be quiet, took a coffee, and walked into the office.
The office décor reflected its owner's personality. She used to love javelins and aircraft, and that was still the case.
Luke walked to her desk and gently set the coffee down.
"Security told me you were working late again last night."
The familiar voice made Carol's hand tremble. She slowly looked up, and upon seeing the figure right in front of her, she couldn't help but rush into his arms.
"When... when did you get out?"
"Two days ago."
Luke held her tight, feeling the familiar scent that enveloped his senses. His mind and body both relaxed.
"Come for a walk with me."
"Where to?"
"The sea. The Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean. A world cruise. Just the two of us."
"Now?"
"Yes, right now."
"Okay. I'll arrange my work. We'll leave this afternoon."
Ferris Aircraft was a Fortune 500 company. As an executive, Carol had countless tasks to handle every day, leaving her almost no free time. Yet, when Luke suggested a world cruise, she didn't hesitate to agree. This was what made her unique.
If there was one woman in the world Luke could trust without reservation, it was undoubtedly Carol Ferris.
Her feelings were almost entirely without impurities.
Finding Calm at Sea
The ocean was bathed in bright sunlight. A luxuriously decorated private yacht departed the harbor and sailed toward the vast, boundless sea.
It was currently January, not the usual season for sailing.
But the two were happy, leaning against each other and watching the sunset slowly dip below the horizon.
"Luke, is it really just the two of us on this boat?"
"Yes."
"No chef? No helmsman?"
"None."
"We'll get lost."
"No, I have other help."
"Help?"
Carol blinked, a little confused. "You said it was only the two of us."
"They're not people."
Luke clapped his hands. The cabin door opened, and four silver-white figures emerged. They had metallic skeletons, eyes flashing with blue light, and circuit boards faintly visible beneath their rubber-plastic skins.
"Robots?"
Carol was stunned. "You actually invented robots!"
The four robots stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Madam. We are pleased to serve you."
Luke pulled the girl into his embrace and smiled.
"What would you like for dinner tonight?"
"They can cook?"
"Anything that can be found online, they can make."
"Alright, then!"
Carol suppressed her surprise. Having been with Luke for a while, she was constantly introduced to new things, and she had grown used to it.
"Italian food, then. How about you?"
"Having you is enough."
Over the next period, Luke enjoyed a tranquility he had never experienced before.
He woke up every morning to the bright, sunny ocean and could lie on the deck, sleeping for hours.
Carol gradually sensed that something was wrong with her boyfriend. He was always tired, a weariness that wasn't physical but spiritual. Furthermore, there were fleeting moments of anger, violence, and killing intent that flashed in his eyes.
The yacht sailed south from the north. The closer they got to the equator, the higher the temperature rose.
By the time they reached the Southern Hemisphere, the temperature had climbed to thirty degrees Celsius.
Luke finally shed the constraints of his winter clothes, lounging comfortably in shorts and soaking up the sun.
Carol also changed into a bikini, revealing her tempting physique.
"Luke, what exactly is wrong?"
"Nothing. I've been busy for a few months, just a little tired."
"That's not right."
Carol cupped his face and said, word for word, "Star Sapphire's power tells me your mind is very chaotic. You need treatment."
"Can you give me a shot, beautiful nurse?"
"Stop joking. I'm serious. I can feel it. You need help."
Luke tugged at the corner of his mouth, his smile strained.
"I'll be fine after resting for a while."
Carol flipped over and straddled Luke. The soft sensation instantly made his breathing quicken, his eyes flickering and occasionally revealing a bestial violence.
"Stop it. Now is not the time."
"I don't care about that."
The girl had no intention of stopping. She took off her top and tossed it aside.
"When we were kids, you told me a joke: Eastern couples have a tradition—'handing over the public grain.' If you don't hand it over, someone else will. Do you want someone else to do it for you?"
Luke's eyes instantly reddened, and he began to breathe heavily. He immediately lunged at her.
"You asked for this."
Sunlight, seawater, a beautiful woman, a yacht, and things best left unsaid. The man and woman wrestled together on the deck.
In the cockpit, Butler No. 2 stared blankly ahead, only retracting its gaze when night fell.
Dinner that night was exceptionally lavish—a huge table filled with Chinese, French, Japanese, and Indian cuisine. After eating their fill, the two leaned on the balcony, gazing quietly at the sea.
"How do you feel now?"
Luke gave a bitter smile and shook his head. For half an hour that afternoon, he had been in a state of loss of control, like a wild animal, completely disregarding the person beneath him.
Carol smiled brightly, gently tapping his chest.
"I hope you still have this much energy twenty years from now."
"Does it still hurt?"
The girl rolled her eyes at him.
"That's what I should be asking you. Don't forget, I'm the Queen of Zamaron, and you're just a normal human. Your stamina can't keep up with mine."
Luke's eyes reddened again. Bestial instinct took over. He picked up the girl and rushed towards the bedroom.
Her soft laughter quickly turned into muffled gasps.
Butler No. 1 put down the utensils, walked to the door, and listened intently to the sounds inside. A fleeting look of human-like confusion crossed its blue pupils, seemingly pondering what the people inside were doing.
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