Conflux System: I Can Merge Anything-Chapter 49: Chains Fear Courage

An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.

The mother in front of Zane had only worry in her eyes and worry for only one person.

Her son.

Just after knowing that Zane had gone to Citadel today, she didn’t even let him finish and came crashing to his feet.

In her lips only one name rested and when Zane asked it, the name fell off like a rolling stone on the edge.

"Herring. His name is Herring Redd."

Zane flinched.

He didn’t expect to hear the name again.

But he felt glad that he would be able to help the woman.

"He is fine, ma’am. He had awakened one Ember tier skill and instead of coming back here, he accepted the Priest’s offer to help them. He has a job now and he will send money for sure."

Hearing Zane’s words, the woman exhaled a breath she held for too long.

Zane saw her yellow grown with patches of different clothes all around it to keep it working and wearable.

His heart panged at the sight of seeing a mother like that.

This is what becomes of women who don’t choose prostitution here.

"I don’t care whether he will send money or not. I just want him to be safe."

Zane smiled. "Yes. He is safe. You can go back and rest."

The woman returned the smile and stood up.

Zane did the same and instead of going back home, the woman stood among the crowd as well.

Zane didn’t mind that and finally paid attention to the overly dressed Janitor.

Both men stood face to face and taking one last drag of his cigar, Jammy broke the ice:

"You were saying something about your day today."

"I know."

"Then start blabbing."

Jammy let go of his cigar, stretched his neck as he looked around with a tired look. As if he did a favor to everyone with his each move.

Zane did not understand this man and he hadn’t seen him that much either. He had only heard about him. It was his first time meeting him and talking to him.

The people also stayed silent around him and Zane somewhat knew the reason for that.

Jammy was the slum stewart, the one responsible for collecting the rent from them every year and submitting it to the Aristocrats that handled the local economic power.

People believed he had ties with higher authorities so they didn’t really bother with him and never in their dreams did they even think about not paying the rent on time.

The rent was only one bronze Lumen too.

People here had sold their children for two silver lumens so the rent didn’t really bother them. For rent and alcohol they always managed to make money one way or another.

One Silver Lumen was equal to a hundred Bronze Lumens so they could survive for months on 2 Silver Lumens easily. And Gold and Paper Lumens... they have only heard in their dreams.

Zane ignored the carefree tone of the man and the fact that he was asking him to speak, meant he also wanted to know what he could do.

But Zane won’t try to impress Jammy or anyone and deliberately speak something he doesn’t believe in. He would only say the truth and only what he did.

"Yes. Today I went to the Citadel for the awakening ceremony. And as a Gutterborn, my turn came very late but as i said, I got the admission. Where do you think I got the admission in?"

Zane stared at Jammy and then at the crowd.

Jammy rested his hand around a man’s shoulder as if he was a friend and stroked his chin.

"Hmm..." He stared in the dark sky, thinking, but then his expressions changed.

"What makes you think I am here to answer your questions?"

Zane’s fingers twitched.

The man wasn’t playing any games.

He wanted serious words from Zane.

Fine.

Zane controlled his beating heart and said clearly what he wanted to say.

"At most, gutterborns never awaken something higher than Ember. And the luckiest ones, awaken two Gleams and get admitted in the Commoner’s batch. But me,"

Zane looked at everyone.

"I awakened three Gleam tier skills and got the admission in the batch of the Halocrats."

Gasps escaped the moment Zane revealed that and Jammy also put out his hand from his pocket.

"By my admission, I will get many benefits. I even have the chance to rise up to a prominent position if I work hard. What was the last time a Gutterborn did what I did? If anything, this is the reason you all should believe in me."

Murmurs spread around the area and by now the whole Cinder Row was present near the commotion. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

All of them heard him and they had to admit that Zane really accomplished something no one from their kind ever did.

It was safe to believe in hi—

"If we believe in you, what are the chances you won’t turn out to be another tyrant?" Jammy’s voice cut through.

Zane wasted no time.

"I will never do the same thing to someone that I am trying to break free from."

"Empty words."

Zane smiled. "You are simply afraid of the thought of my words carrying weight."

Jammy stepped forward.

He looked down on Zane’s eyes and Zane kept his head high, locking eyes with Jammy as well.

"Forget everything," Jammy said, wafting the scent of smoke on Zane’s face. "Tell me one good reason we should believe that you have what it takes to change our fate."

Zane didn’t reply.

He couldn’t answer in haste.

Zane took a step back and roamed his eyes.

The Gutterborns wanted change but they wanted certainty of it as well.

They did not want to die for a losing battle when they were fine with surviving all these years.

They needed something that could stamp Zane as someone whom they could trust and hope.

Zane raced his mind to think of something like that and soon, his eyes fell on an object he had placed on the ground before taking the stick and the tire in his hand.

He walked towards it and picked it up.

Everyone frowned including Jammy but they waited for Zane to explain.

And he did.

"You want to know why you should believe me? You want to know why I said what I said? You want to know if I have what it takes? Alright. See this in my hand..."

Zane raised the object high in the air.

"This is the idol of the First Flame. The idol whom everyone prays to and worships. The idol that could summon war if someone did something to it in front of its believers. If someone harmed it, they won’t live to tell the tale. Such is the magnitude of the idol I am holding right now. However, I, a slum rat like all of you, is standing in front of you, alive, even after..."

Zane peered inside each eye.

"Dropping the idol right beside the church in front of ardent believers. And the best part..."

Zane turned to Jammy as his lips curled up.

"I dropped it deliberately."