Cursed With Loneliness(2)

"Lex, how much do you know about this world's geography and political powers?" Rio asked.

"Not much, just the basics."

"I see. Let me explain it to you then."

Rio launched into a geography and political lesson, informing Lex about the human continent.

As it was previously know, each continent in this world is dominated by one race. 

The human continent possessed a centralized structure. It was divided into three different regions, starting from the central region Lunaria.

The capital of the human region, Lumina was present there. Lumina was the home of humanity's powerhouses as well as the people who ran the human government. All diplomatic events took place in Lumina.

Surrounding Lumina and covering 50% of the remaining land is the Wuxia region. Humans and those from other races coexist peacefully in this region.

The remaining land came under the Ataria region. Since it was situated far from the center, the regulation of the Ataria region was quite lax.

Though most of the cities had government officials, they weren't strong enough to handle all the crimes taking place.

Slavery, gang wars, capturing small cities and villages, etc were common events that took place in many locations under the Ataria.

The government did put efforts to cleanse the Ataria region but its location prevented them from being successful. In the end, the government stopped making new plans to improve the Ataria region.

Lex and Rio lived in one city which was closer to the Wuxia region and was free of most crime. Or at least that was how it was in the past.

"Allen rose to power by conquering nearby villages and towns. He was a threat recognized by the government but they only sent rank 7 or lower ability users to deal with him."

"If he was a threat, why didn't they send stronger ability users?" Lex asked in a confused tone.

"Allen's ability, 'Instinct Manipulation', is marked as a rank 6 ability. Everyone thinks that it is a weak power but that is far from the truth. He managed to master it in a way that allows him to take complete control over his opponent's instincts."

"He can make your own body turn against you." Lex realized why the government officials failed to deal with Allen.

"Yes, you are correct. Three years ago, when I was nineteen, Allen came into this city. The black market from your memories is quite famous and he wanted to gain control over it."

"Judging from how Mahiru got kidnapped, I take it that he was not able to take control of the black market."

"The black markets in the Ataria region are under the control of someone from the Lunaria region. Allen decided to take control of the gangs instead. Our city is quite close to the Wuxia border.

Gaining control of the city would allow him to keep an eye on the border as well. The government realized this and they ordered my parents to take care of him…"

"They seriously did that knowing that their power levels were the same as Allen's?" 

"The government didn't know the true extent of his powers. My parents clashed with Allen in a slum region of the city. He defeated them easily and sent them back with injuries."

"Sent them back?" Lex asked in confusion.

"Naturally, killing them would have been the smartest move but Allen learned two things. He found out that my parents were the government officials overseeing this city and its nearby villages and towns.

If he could threaten them, he could indirectly interact with the government and also take over the entire region that was under their jurisdiction. To advance with his plans, he sent my parents a letter."

Lex had a vague feeling that the contents of the letter were related to Rio.

"It was a marriage proposal. If Allen married me, he would hold a leverage over my parents, accomplishing his goal of gaining control of the reason. However, there was another that made him interested in marrying me. Wanna guess?"

"It was your beauty." Lex replied instantly.

"Yes, you are correct. Allen told me that when he saw me for the first time, he was attracted to me. He wanted me to be his woman, willingly or unwillingly."

"He sounds like a psycho…"

"He is a smart psycho. Getting me and control over the entire region was his goal and he would have gotten both of these things. My parents agreed to the marriage proposal in a heartbeat.

My parents believed that Allen would remain under the government's control if they handed me over to him. I immediately refused due to obvious reasons. Victor was the only one stood by my side." Rio's eyes darkened.

The duo now stood inside the mansion's main hall. Rio and her brother, now grown teenagers, were arguing with two older people.

For some reason, their faces were blurred. Lex assumed that the two people were Rio's parents. 

[ She doesn't want to remember them. That's why their faces are blurred. ]

"My brother asked me to leave the mansion with him. He convinced me that our parents would allow Allen to enter the house and capture me forcefully. So one night, we sneaked out.

Victor dealt with the guards and we ran away. Both of us felt free from the responsibilities and pressure our parents put on us. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a few hours…"

The scenery changed again. Lex and Rio now stood in a region of the city that the former was familiar with.

"My old house was close to this area. We are in the slum region." Lex muttered.

"Yes, this is the place where my life started to become a living hell."

Teenage Rio and Victor ran on the roads of the city, panic clearly visible on their faces. Several people dressed in gray clothes were chasing them.

"All those working for Allen wear this gray uniform. Victor and I didn't know that they were Allen's men but we knew that they were after us. They chased us to the slum region, a place that we should have avoided."

The gray uniformed people managed to corner the two teenagers in an alley. With gritted teeth, Victor hurled every single metallic object in his sight at his opponents.

Broken umbrellas, wires, screws, etc flew through the air. However, all of the objects stopped mid air.

Lex turned his gaze to see a familiar face standing in front of the gray clothed crowd.

"Theo." Lex said the name of the person who he fought before.

"His ability completely negated Victor's ability. Allen had done his research on my family. Now comes the most dreadful part." Rio inhaled sharply.

Walking out from the back of the crowd was a bald man in a black suit. A viper tattoo was present on the back of his head. His black eyes eyed Rio's body lustfully.

"That is Allen…" Rio body began shivering. 

Allen walked to the front of the group, a humorous smile present on his face.

"I think I was pretty clear that I would make you my wife. Running would get you no where, Rio. I already have this city's underworld under my control." Allen announced.

"I will not become your wife." Teenage Rio replied boldly.

Despite the situation they were in, Rio and Victor stood straight. No fear was present in their eyes. After facing many assassination attempts, they were used to such situations.

"You won't marry me no matter what I do?" Allen tilted his head.

"No, I won't!" 

"Even if I kill your brother?"

"…" Teenage Rio fell silent after hearing those words. She exchanged a glance with Victor, who nodded his head. Despite that, she remained silent.

"Seems like I have struck a chord." Allen grinned. "Kill that boy!"