'She will kill all of you and bring shame to the Hood Family.'
Farida walked alone in a pitch-black world.
There, she couldn't hear any sounds from outside.
"Where is this...?" She turned her head to look around, feeling an empty unfamiliarity.
The world suddenly brightened.
It was the sky of Abyss Port.
The beauty of the azure sky made her can't help but widen her eyes slightly to admire it.
But soon, the smile on her face froze.
Above the beautiful sky, countless shuttles, like a meteor shower streaking across the sky, trailed long black smoke and tail flames as they fell to the ground.
"Mom..." She couldn't help but cover her mouth, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes like a dam breaking.
She clearly saw the shuttle, specifically marked PW-001 for the Governor and Cabinet members, engulfed in raging flames, igniting from friction in the atmosphere, setting the air ablaze.
She saw the scene she least wanted to see in her life: a charred wasteland and a sea of fire.
Everything was unrecognizable, including her beloved mother.
A large hand suddenly blocked her vision, and she turned her head.
It was her father, Alexander Hood, the iron hand military man, who maintained a resolute expression even in extreme sorrow.
He held her hand, turned her around, and walked towards a world called the future.
Suddenly, the warm hand holding hers also vanished.
Just as Farida was bewilderedly searching, what lay before her was a charred corpse, its gruesomeness even more severe than her mother's.
Farida retreated in horror and helplessness.
She covered her mouth, feeling suffocated and at a loss.
The successive tragedies had left the 17-year-old girl physically and mentally exhausted.
She was on the verge of losing all hope for life.
"How am I supposed to know where to go...?"
She collapsed to her knees.
"Farida, you still have me."
A familiar, pleasant voice came from behind her.
Like grasping a lifeline, she eagerly turned her head.
"Horatio..." She looked at the young man, who was smiling gently and extending his hand to her, and wept tears of joy.
Her hollow heart found warm solace, filling the void.
She wiped her beautiful face, which was already streaked with tears.
Just as she reached out to take Horatio's gloved hand, grateful for his appearance in her life when she needed him most.
She saw a sinister dark shadow smirking behind the young man.
"Horatio, be careful!"
She shouted.
Before the young man in front of her could turn around.
A black blade unexpectedly pierced through his chest from behind, impaling him.
The young man in front of her, his hat falling to the ground.
A mouthful of fresh blood gushed from the corner of his mouth.
His azure eyes stared in shock at the sword tip protruding from his chest.
The light in his eyes vanished.
"Ugh..." He feebly exhaled his last breath, and with a thud, collapsed beside the kneeling girl.
Countless terrifying and sinister cackles echoed in her ears.
"Horatio... Horatio..."
She sobbed uncontrollably, cradling the young man's body, which was starting to grow cold, her tears already dried up.
Blood gushed from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto the young man's pale face.
She was utterly disheartened, having lost the will to live.
Helplessly, she fumbled for his pistol from the young man's holster.
The girl took a deep breath, trembling, and aimed the gun at her temple.
—
When the birds nesting on the treetops outside the house on the planet Abyss Port chirped clearly.
Horatio slowly opened his eyes.
He blinked his somewhat dry eyelids and suddenly sat up.
He saw that the sunlight from the star had already illuminated the sofa and chairs; it was probably nearing noon.
The sky was hazy, with burning dust from yesterday's great riot in Abyss Port floating in the atmosphere, making it look like it was about to rain acid.
After going through so much yesterday, he was too tired.
He finally went to bed past three in the morning, completely losing track of time.
[Damn, I was supposed to meet the Inquisitor today...]
He slowly turned his head and saw the girl lying on her side on the messy bedding.
He also saw the small black-red bloodstains on his crotch on the bed.
The original dreamlike unreality suddenly became real again.
[What have I done...? Lieutenant General Hood's fate is unknown, yet I slept with his precious daughter???] He held his head, a strong sense of immorality sweeping over him.
He looked at his body, his arms; everywhere were bruises from Farida's fingertips.
A faint stinging sensation of cracking and dryness came from his lips, and a casual touch revealed faint bloodstains.
Farida's condition was not much better.
Anyone who didn't know would think they had fought.
Well, perhaps being mistaken for a fight would be better.
Otherwise, with Lieutenant General Hood's fate unknown, for something like this to happen between them.
It would make him seem like a scoundrel, taking advantage when someone else's heart was empty, lonely, and cold.
But honestly, that night was unforgettable for him.
He hadn't expected his first time in this world to be so tumultuous.
Suddenly, he heard sobbing beside him.
He turned his face and saw Farida, still asleep, sobbing.
Two lines of hot tears flowed from her closed eyes, though she was unaware.
Although naked, her pitiful appearance left him with no other thoughts.
It only reminded him of what he had said to Farida.
He furrowed his brows and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Wait for me, I will bring you the head of the mastermind behind this, and let that damned fellow experience the most extreme pain."
Horatio bit his lower lip and said to Farida indignantly.
He quickly got up and out of bed, swiftly rinsing off the bloodstains and sweat in the place where he had first bathed.
Then he picked up his clothes from the floor and put them on, the entire sequence of actions resolute and determined.
A majestic aura emanated from the young man's brows, and a warm, ardent power slowly burned in his heart.
As if giving him motivation, giving him guidance.
He solemnly placed his bicorne hat on his head.
His gaze, firm and resolute, looked out the window at the hazy, blurred sky of Abyss Port.
He then turned to glance at the sleeping beauty who was still in her dreams.
He silently swore in his heart:
From today onwards, Farida's matters were his matters.
Any fellow who dared to make her cry, he would personally crush that fellow's head with his iron hand.
Swish!
He slid his sword back into its belt.
Horatio did not want to disturb Farida's rest.
Before leaving, he left a handwritten letter on the coffee table.
Saying that he needed to see an Inquisitor today and would come back to her later.
Then he strode out.
Two rows of maids stood on either side of the main door, all maintaining professional smiles, respectfully clasping their hands together and bowing to Horatio as he descended the stairs.
The elegant and dignified old butler dutifully bowed to Horatio.
"Sir, would you like to have a meal?" The old butler respectfully asked the Naval Officer on the first floor, who had visited here more than once and was almost designated by the master as the future son-in-law.
But though his voice was respectful, it carried a hint of coldness, even vigilance.
Needless to say, from the commotion and intensity of last night, everyone in the mansion probably knew what had happened in the young lady's room.
Pretending nothing had happened would be too embarrassing.
At this moment, the more composed and dignified he appeared, the more he could demonstrate his identity and determination.
"I don't need any, Farida is still sleeping, make a portion for her."
Given the current situation, for the people of this mansion, his direct address of Farida's name would show more responsibility.
Proving that he was not a cad who would just leave after sleeping with someone.
The old butler's eyes lit up as he looked at the young Naval Officer before him.
"Yes, Sir." His tone immediately became serious.
The stone weighing on his heart regarding the young lady's future gradually settled.
"I will arrange it immediately, please rest assured."