The Last Bloodline; The Tale of the Master’s Revenge

CHAPTER 006

After a while of silence, the car slowed to a stop in front of a towering boutique, its windows filled with displays of designer suits, polished shoes, and elegant mannequins. The clothes looked very expensive and were worlds apart from Marcus’s wrinkled shirt and scuffed shoes.

He stared up at the building in front of him with awe in his eyes; he had never been in a place like this in his life.

“Here,” she said simply, stepping out gracefully.

Marcus hesitated, his chest tightening with unease, but when the chauffeur opened his door, he slowly followed behind her. Another thing he noticed was that the necklace was temporarily dormant and didn't make any sign of life for a while now, making him wonder what was happening next.

The moment they entered, the air itself seemed different, cool, and had this quiet exclusivity to it.

The marble floor reflected the soft glow of chandelier lights, and attendants in crisp black suits straightened the moment they saw her, bowing politely.

“Good afternoon, Miss Evelyn,” one greeted.

Evelyn. The name fitted her perfectly.

“This way,” she said, guiding Marcus further inside. The attendants just gave him bare glances and wondered who it was that was beside Miss Evelyn, but they didn't let their eyes rest on him that much and just glanced away, taking him as Miss Evelyn’s attendant.

One of the sales attendants approached her with a broad smile on her face. The attendant that approached her had a uniform that was slightly different from others, signifying a higher rank. “How can I help you, ma’am?” she said politely.

“Oh, take me to the men's clothes,” Miss Evelyn said, and the attendant guided her down the hall to them with surprise on her face. “Oh, Miss Evelyn, you're shopping to give a man a gift?” the sales attendant asked with a sheepish smile on her face, and Miss Evelyn only blushed and didn't say anything.

The sales attendant smiled and led them to the male section. She guessed already that Miss Evelyn was probably seeing someone. “I'll show you some good stuff for your man,” the sales attendant said cheekily as she took them to a part of the male section.

His throat went dry as she moved to the racks, her slender fingers brushing over fabrics worth more than he’d earn in months. She picked a few pieces and handed them to an attendant. “He’ll try these.”

Marcus raised a hand. “Wait, I… this isn’t necessary.”

Evelyn tilted her head, her dazzling smile both gentle and firm. “It is. You saved my life. The least I can do is make sure you’re treated like the man you are, not like the world has made you.”

The words stung him in ways he couldn’t explain. For the first time in a long time, someone wasn’t looking at him like he was a burden.

Minutes later, he stood in the fitting room, staring at himself in the mirror. The suit hugged his frame perfectly—deep navy, sharp lines, crisp white shirt beneath. His reflection was almost unrecognizable. He looked presentable, and his looks seemed to have transformed.

Evelyn’s eyes lit up when he stepped out. “There,” she said softly, in awe. “You look beautiful in them.”

Marcus lowered his gaze, uncomfortable with the admiration in her tone, but he couldn’t deny the warmth in his chest. For the first time in years, he felt like he mattered. But he also followed the thought process of the sales attendant and felt she was just checking out the clothes with him to see if they would fit who she was purchasing them for.

Suddenly, the necklace that was dormant since pulsed faintly against Marcus’s chest, the cool metal suddenly warming as if it had a heartbeat of its own. He froze, one hand brushing against it beneath his shirt. The boutique was alive with soft music and attendants bustling about, but in that moment, all of it faded into the background.

A faint whisper echoed in his mind, suddenly giving him a mission.

“Mission: Retrieve the stolen diamond bracelet from the thief disguised among the patrons.

Reward: Enhanced strength and perception.

Bonus: $1000.”

Marcus’s eyes sharpened instinctively. He glanced around casually, pretending to admire the rows of silk ties and glittering cufflinks. His gaze locked onto a young man in an oversized jacket slipping a diamond bracelet into his pocket, just beyond the gaze of the clerks.

He thought no one noticed him, but Marcus had seen him, and he moved swiftly but with ease, as if he belonged. He approached the man, his steps light, and with a calculated set of movements, he brushed shoulders with him as his hand dipped into the jacket and retrieved the bracelet in one smooth motion.

By the time the thief realized, Marcus had already handed it back to the saleslady with a polite smile, pretending he had found it on the floor.

When the thief slipped out of the shop thinking he had been successful, he dipped his hands in his pocket and realized that the bracelet wasn't there anymore. He was at a loss for what exactly happened, so he just left pale-faced and defeated.

The necklace pulsed again, this time filling Marcus with a sudden surge of vitality. His senses sharpened, and he felt a burst of energy in his muscles.

Beside him, the young woman looked at him with a thrill in her eyes. That was when Marcus realized that she had also seen what happened. “You… you just…” she trailed off, clearly awed. “That was incredible.”

Marcus only offered a small, almost sheepish smile. “Oh, thank you.” He smiled as he shrugged his shoulders.

She studied him, her eyes filled with curiosity, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she led him to the counter where his new suits, shirts, and polished shoes were packed into glossy bags.

“All these are for you,” she said, handing them to him.

As they stepped outside, sunlight glinting off the boutique’s glass walls, she tilted her head toward him. “Where should I drop these off for you?” she asked kindly.

Marcus froze. His lips parted, but no words came out.