Conflux System: I Can Merge Anything

Chapter 116: Chosen By None, Followed By All

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is exactly that simple, and it is also that difficult.

Zane had never once thought of himself as a leader.

He just wanted to live.

Survive.

The world didn’t let him do that so he fought for it anyway.

And in his fighting, he didn’t know what he did to other people.

Fulfilling his condition, the Emberlord asked everyone who wanted to join Zane in finding the relic, were free to join.

But before Coin could even finish the question...

"I am with him."

"We are with you."

"Count me in."

People went to stand with him on their own.

Zane Atlas became their leader.

Xavier was the first one to stand up and go beside Zane.

Hena and her bodyguard were already there.

Jammy also stood beside Zane.

The Emberlord watched and before he knew it, all the gutterborns present in the Cathedral were with Zane.

Some commoners also joined him.

No one from the Halocrats moved even their fingers except Hena.

Zane was near the door of the Cathedral and to stand behind him, there was no space.

So they simply stood outside the Cathedral.

Only Xavier, Hena, her bodyguard, Jammy, were near Zane.

Milo was also there but she remained hugging his leg with her head down.

Coin waited to see if anyone else would join the gutterborn but he saw no one moving.

"That’s all then?" He asked the Cathedral.

It had become almost empty.

All because every gutterborn had joined Zane.

No one answered the Emberlord and Coin took it as a yes.

Everyone who wanted to go with Zane, had made their decision.

The Emberlord couldn’t stop them as it was Zane’s condition.

Whoever wants to go with Zane, they shall be allowed to go.

Coin turned to Zane.

"Well, there you have it. Everyone who wanted to go with yo—"

"One man is left." Xavier spoke.

Coin frowned.

Zane also looked at the brave man.

But he didn’t ask him who was left. The Emberlord should ask. If Zane asked, it might offend Xavier because Zane should remember who was left.

"Who?" Coin asked.

Xavier pointed at the stage.

"That not-suicidal guy."

Zane sighed.

"I already counted him."

"You did?" Xavier asked.

Zane nodded.

"He saved my life after all."

Xavier laughed.

The Emberlord shook his head.

"Flamekeeper. Wake him up. He is the last one."

The Priest nodded and dashed towards Tesla.

The man was still sleeping. Soundly at that.

As if the stage was made of cotton and the air was mixed with the smell of rain.

"Is he tired or simply passed out of fear?" Xavier asked.

Zane shrugged.

"Only he can tell."

"Imagine being so scared that you slept right where you were scared."

Xavier laughed.

Zane didn’t understand how the man could laugh.

Hena and her bodyguard also heard him and they showed no reaction.

But Jammy...

"Hahaha. You are a funny one."

The Janitor laughed with Xavier.

Zane rubbed his eyes.

"I thought you were sick. Is your stomach fine now?"

"Oh. Yes. It’s fine."

Zane raised his brows.

"How? You were struggling just a few minutes ago."

Xavier scratched his head. "I will tell you later."

Zane found it strange but dropped the topic.

Xavier would have told him if he wanted to. Him refusing meant he didn’t want to share it.

Zane let it go.

On the stage, the Priest stood above Tesla’s head.

He called him out a few times but the words didn’t help.

So the Priest sat on one knee and did one simple trick.

No skills.

No magic.

He wasn’t an Emberlord who could use Skills inside the Cathedral if he wanted to.

It was crucial for him to follow the rules.

So instead of anything special, he pinched Tesla’s nose.

He held it for a few seconds and in no time...

"Haah!"

Tesla’s eyes shot open.

The Priest let go of the nose right away.

The merchant sat up straight and jerked his head all around.

"Hey!"

Xavier waved his hand at him.

Tesla squinted his eyes and only after seeing Zane did his memory jogged.

And as soon as he recollected the events, only one phrase jumped out of his mouth:

"I am alive!"

Tesla stood up on his feet.

He jumped.

He checked his hands, legs and chest.

Then he jerked his head at Zane and seeing him and his sister alive as well, he beamed.

"Everything over?"

"It’s a long story." Zane said.

Tesla opened his mouth but...

"Let it be. Come here first. We are going somewhere." Xavier called Tesla on the team.

Tesla didn’t know what had happened in the last couple of minutes so he came down the stage and stood closer to Zane as well.

Well, he stood beside Xavier to be precise. There was no space beside Zane anyway.

Xavier was at his right side and Jammy was at his left side.

Hena and her bodyguard stood beside Jammy and Tesla stood beside Xavier.

He saw an unmoving Varikh and injured Kairon.

He wanted to ask about them but he would do that later.

For now, he just wanted to leave the Citadel.

Though, Jammy did stare at Tesla for a few good seconds.

"Are you also a Halocrat?" He asked.

Tesla shook his head.

"Why does everyone ask me that?"

"Your face doesn’t belong in poverty that’s why." Jammy said.

Tesla’s lips twitched.

"I am not in poverty. I am a Commoner. And I am a creator. An artist."

"Artist, eh? Then poverty indeed. Money and artists doesn’t belong in the same sentence."

Tesla looked at Zane.

"Why is this middle aged man going through mid life crisis talking to me?"

"He is a janitor. Don’t mind him. He is nice."

"I bet your mother is also one hell of a woman."

Zane forced a smile. "... Nice from inside."

Tesla clenched his jaw.

Zane glared at Jammy and the man shut his mouth with his cigar again.

Xavier patted Tesla’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry. He is only pulling your leg. There’s no shame in admitting your mother is ugly."

Jammy chuckled and Xavier gave him company.

Tesla gritted his teeth but...

"Alright. Enough."

Zane interrupted the skirmish.

Coin watched the little fight with no expressions.

Zane paid no mind to that and locked eyes with the Emberlord again.

"I have one more question. Something I have been searching for since the moment I arrived here. I know you know the answer."

"I’ll see what I can do."

Zane took a deep breath and asked the question he couldn’t get out of his head.

"Where is Herring Redd?"