Evolution of the Ruined Heir

Malakai felt as though he were getting crushed.

The massive mass of a man had just hugged him. His large arms felt like steel pipes squeezing him from both directions.

His face pressing against the man’s rock hard chest only made things worse.

Malakai had always hated making contact with people he wasn’t close with.

Nyx was one exception. And most recently, Renlo had also come to be an exception.

However, if there was one thing Malakai was sure of, it was that the millisecond the large man pulled him into a hug, he knew right away, there was nowhere he would rather be than away.

His hand found the gun on his utility belt, eyes flashing cold.

The gazes of Rhett and Laila narrowed as his killing intent flooded the space. But before they could act, the large man suddenly let go, stepping back two steps.

“I’m sorry, little bro.” He scratched his head awkwardly. “I was just excited to finally meet you!”

Malakai’s gaze was glacial, and his killing intent was still very much present.

He sent a glance towards Nyx, who instantly bowed in apology. But Malakai didn’t bother asking her why she hadn’t interfered. The large man hadn’t shown any ill intent.

“Are you okay?” he heard Renlo say from behind him. He nodded, but Renlo still looked visibly worried. He couldn’t help but gulp when he took in the sheer size of the man and his steel like muscles.

‘He’d crush me!’

One hug from the man and he was a goner.

Malakai took in a deep breath and calmed his nerves. His eyes settled on the large man.

“Never do that again.” His voice sounded exactly like what it was meant to be; a threat.

But the large man didn’t seem to take it that way.

“No, little bro.” He looked disturbed. “A hug is how we show the world that we’re bros!”

Malakai’s gaze only became colder. The man quickly added, as though he truly didn’t want to lose his hug privileges,

“I do it all the time with big bro. You look just like him.”

‘Father.’

Malakai’s expression almost cracked. Somehow, he knew the man was talking about his father.

The mood instantly grew somber as everyone fell silent. The large man sent a glance around the room, unsure of what was going on.

“Did I say anything wrong?” he asked, but no one answered, even after several seconds passed.

“Where are you going to, Captain?”

Laila’s sharp voice snapped them out of their thoughts. They all turned to see Rhett sneaking away.

Rhett sent Laila a glare and cleared his throat. “I was just giving y’all a moment of peace. I could feel the mood was heavy,” he lied.

“Liar.”

Rhett sent another glare towards Laila.

“Tomorrow,” Malakai’s voice cut into their conversation. “What are they coming to fix?”

“Em, just to patch up a few holes around the manor. So we’ll at least be able to prevent the building from flooding when the rain comes.”

“That’s not enough.” Malakai shook his head. “How much did you win?”

“One—” Rhett felt Laila’s glare and paused. His mouth twitched as he corrected himself. “25 thousand credits.”

Malakai frowned. That was a lot of money. For context, one credit was worth a dollar before society collapsed.

“That should be enough to fix everything. What happened?”

Rhett cleared his throat, looking away.

“He used part of the money to gamble in Vitaemora.” It was Laila who finally said it.

“How much is left?”

“Five,” Rhett said in a low tone.

“Five thousand,” Malakai repeated, and Rhett nodded, scratching his chin.

Malakai took in a deep breath. ‘What the hell did I get myself into.’ He sighed.

‘There’s no helping it. A way forward.’ Those last three words had more than become his mantra.

“Tell me about the place you gamble.”

Of all their reactions, it was Laila’s expression that changed.

She couldn’t explain it, but something about this gave her a very bad feeling.

…

The distant rumble of a crowd and the clanging of metal reached two figures perched high up in a tree.

“This is the place?” the first figure asked. He was smaller, with pure black hair and eyes to match. His face was average in every way, but his physique was athletic, brimming with power.

His cold gaze fixed itself on the ordinary looking cottage far ahead, where two men sat playing a game of cards.

“Yeah,” the second figure replied. “Doesn’t look like much, but wait till we get inside. Plus, I’m well known around here. This is where I make most of my money.” His messy crimson hair and relaxed demeanor made him instantly recognizable. It was Captain Rhett.

“You don’t look like you have any money.”

“Harsh.” Rhett turned to the boy beside him, no older than fourteen. “I see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Valerian was always this harsh with his words,” he said with a small smile, his voice filled with nostalgia. It was like stepping back into another time, side by side, them against the world.

He sighed. “Listen, Malakai. I know you’ve heard a lot about your father, but this is coming from someone who truly knew him. He was a good man.”

Malakai was quiet for a moment before replying. “Thank you.”

Rhett nodded. “Alright. Let’s go get rich.”

After hearing everything Rhett said about his terrible gambling problem, Malakai had immediately come up with a plan of action, one that would involve what caused this problem in the first place. Gambling.

Now, they were on top of a tall tree, looking down at one of the secret gambling dens in the Kaer Thorn district, with every intention of going in.

While Rhett kept his usual appearance, Malakai had completely changed his own, right down to his face. He looked more like a Sylvastein local than the Ninth Vein of the great Sanguine Clan.

Tonight, Malakai was determined to win enough money to fix that dump he’d been forced to live in.

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