Chapter 115: The Warmth of Possession
Old Darrin observed with his sunken eyes the expressions of anxiety and tension that began to visibly surface among the faces of those present, whether they were the journalists who descended from their helicopters so their cameras could capture a larger shot of him... He had anticipated that those exact expressions would appear upon many individuals behind the screens...
He wished, if only for a single moment, to behold the expressions of those specific people, their faces as he uttered those words that would force them to bow...
Furthermore, he was granted insufficient time to contemplate the faint features of horror that began creeping onto the faces of those individuals before him...
Unfortunately, his time was interrupted...
He was forcibly transported while seated in his wheelchair, alongside that second chair bearing the cotton doll, which was removed from his proximity so that a team of technicians could undertake a more precise and rigorous examination of it.
Naturally, the primary goal of the government was to destroy that doll immediately to eliminate the control device for the explosives and bombs. However, the robotic siege commander issued a definitive command prohibiting its destruction, fearing that after its destruction, it might prove to be stuffed with a magical fabric that would trigger detonations automatically the moment it sustained damage.
Darrin was loaded inside the armored military helicopter, and prior to his final entry into the copter—heavily outfitted with gear and soldiers—the journalists and soldiers could behold his face, which appeared as though he were thoroughly indifferent.
Those journalists and human soldiers—who streamed in the darkness of the night toward that remote island—wore heavy coats to shield their bodies from the biting cold.
At that moment, everyone noticed that a sudden, brutal ice storm was rapidly approaching the island’s horizon, compelling everyone to evacuate swiftly and clear the entire site before the snow trapped them.
The following morning...
Cain was sound asleep beside Lucy since yesterday evening, sharing a single large bed in the primary bedroom throughout the entire night.
This was genuinely the very first time Cain and Lucy slept together as a true married couple upon a comfortable bed; for previous rounds of pleasure and rest within the realm of "The Paradise of Pleasure" possessed no bed designed with such softness and secrecy... Rather, they were mostly conducted atop the grass and small vegetation growing upon the ground, which were by no means comfortable!
Therefore, Cain felt that the experience of sleeping upon a modern, comfortable bed in Lucy’s company was something legendary and supremely grand... Perhaps this feeling of comfort and serenity surpassed even the ecstasy of achieving all the major victories and battles of his life!
Although thinking of this made him appear like a fool to himself, he felt that no other sensation matched this...
Furthermore, perhaps reaching the true peak lay not in sovereignty and influence, but within these warm moments... the moment when one whispers to himself that the entire world is no longer worth all that anger and fighting...
Perhaps... and perhaps...
In those warm morning moments, Cain began turning his heavy head with relaxation to the side; he felt something warm and soft wrapping entirely around his body, like a silk blanket or a carefully woven quilt.
Extremely comfortable... so comfortable... he thought to himself.
The warmth crept into the fibers of his body, and he initially presumed that Lucy was the one embracing him in that affectionate manner and smothering him with her warmth... Perhaps, too... she had learned better things than merely offering the plants present within the Pleasure Realm... He finally presumed she had learned that a normal hug could prove superior to anything... And when he opened his eyes quietly, desiring to turn around to look at her...
He froze in place, muttering in astonishment:
"What?! What is this thing?!"
He raised his neck with difficulty to tilt his head downward and gaze at his body... only to find himself completely encased inside what resembled a magical cocoon or a firm crystal egg!
Cain attempted to break free and channel his energy to shatter those bindings while lying upon the bed, yet the restraint was absolute and comprehensive, binding his fully reclined body; for those magical restraints were vastly more formidable and powerful than his current capacity to destroy them!
For Lucy—by her very nature—surpassed him by vast margins in pure Mana strength in this field, her potent magic capable of binding him and repressing his attempts with ease.
Lucy was not present within the room at that moment; and Cain knew with absolute certainty that this move was merely one of Lucy’s many innovative tricks that she loved practicing and refining!
Cain knew for a certainty that for Lucy—following her infatuated devotion to him—nothing satisfied her pride or granted her ecstasy save for hearing and touching his explicit need for her and his desire for her presence beside him.
Although this possessive behavior might appear unhealthy in ordinary relationships, that girl who adored absolute control never missed an opportunity to tell him through her actions and magic: "You are mine alone!"
Even though Cain always went along with her with patience and love to render her happy and joyful... he—as a man possessing his own pride and influence—by no means enjoyed being controlled in such an overt fashion! He found no taste in the notion of being dominated or having his freedom restrained... And the glaring problem was that he possessed zero option to react or deliver a harsh rejection, so long as Lucy remained the stronger party possessing absolute magical power in this domain.
Cain cursed the System in his heart... and cursed himself as well, given the rage smoldering within him. Had he not grown greedy and decided to rapidly reclaim his power through the Jewel of Michael...
He would not be in this humiliating position right now.
Why... why can I not reclaim my Level rapidly...
When he attempted once more to resist, yet found himself unable to break free...
He wanted to curse out loud.