Chapter 29: Recruitment (2)

The day Kevin received Roman's summons.

Kevin's family, having escaped the threat of the Blood Gang, tidied up their home, which had been turned into a mess.

"Damn bastards. They completely wrecked our home."

"At least we're back home. If it weren't for Young Master Roman, we wouldn't know what might have happened to us."

In response to her husband Clark's words, his wife Michelle replied.

At that time.

The Clark family had endured hellish days.

They had lost all their assets due to usury, and every day, menacing men would come, shouting and turning their home into chaos.

Clark's face was bruised from constant violence, and Michelle would sit on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Even in such a situation, she gritted her teeth and endured the pain, determined to protect her daughter.

A single transaction.

The farmer's dream of cultivating his own land had turned into a nightmare when he encountered a vicious criminal gang.

"…But is it true that Young Master Roman has eradicated the Blood Gang? The Young Master Roman we know isn't capable of such a feat. Kevin was very excited and told us that Young Master Roman is an extraordinary man, but I find it hard to believe based on what I've seen and heard."

Over the past few days.

For Clark, it was an unbelievable time.

Not only did Roman Demetri save Kevin, but he also went to Lawrence and eradicated the Blood Gang.

The nightmare was over.

Hans, Roman's agent, came to take care of the Clark family, allowing them to return home.

To them, Roman was a savior. Yet, the reason for their doubt was that their only son had left home to follow Roman.

A fool of the Demetris.

Knowing how such a reputation was formed, he was worried whether his son's life was worth dedicating to it.

Michelle said,

"The truth isn't important to us."

Michelle squatted on the floor, cleaning up the scattered pieces of broken dishes.

The shattered fragments clearly showed how much suffering they had endured.

"It might be that the Demetris manipulated the situation to manage Young Master Roman's reputation, as people say. But the important fact is that we received help from the Young Master. If Young Master Roman hadn't helped us, we wouldn't know what might have happened to us at the hands of the Blood Gang. So the truth isn't important. We owe Young Master Roman a great debt, and no matter what people say, we must live our lives with gratitude to Young Master Roman."

She trusted Roman.

Just the fact that they had received his help made Michelle cautious when mentioning his name.

The person her son would follow.

The basis for trust was sufficient.

Michelle, too, could do anything for Roman.

At that moment.

Knock knock.

"Is anyone there?"

A man's voice came from outside.

The Clark family immediately tensed up.

The memory of the menacing men storming into their home resurfaced, and they feared that something similar might happen again.

However.

When the door opened, they were greeted with a warm smile.

Hans smiled and said,

"Young Master Roman has given an order. I will now guide you to your new home where you will be living from now on."

Hans' words.

They were like a lifeline from heaven.

* * *

It was overwhelming.

The scene before them left Kevin's family speechless.

"…Are you really saying we will live here from now on?"

Their voices trembled.

It was different from the shacks they had lived in before.

The beautifully constructed wooden house. Hans smiled and added,

"Of course. Young Master Roman's gifts don't end here. He plans to lease some of his land to Mr. Clark. There will be no rent. Young Master Roman promised Kevin to take care of his family, and the house and land are a reward to fulfill that promise."

The house and the land.

A lifelong dream.

Clark, overwhelmed with emotion, carefully asked,

"We are already deeply grateful for the eradication of the Blood Gang. May I ask why you are bestowing such a great favor? If it's a price paid at the cost of my son's sacrifice, I cannot accept it, no matter how valuable it might be. Please tell me the truth."

Roman's gift.

It was excessive.

Kevin was just an ordinary boy, and he knew he didn't have the qualities to deserve such a grand reward.

Why.

He couldn't understand why he was being treated so well.

Hans smiled.

"I can't fully understand Young Master Roman's intentions either. But what is certain is that Young Master Roman plans to raise Kevin as one of his own. The reason for the reward is just that. Because he is one of his own, Young Master Roman has ordered that his family should live in peace."

"…I see."

Still.

It was hard to understand.

But Hans' smile.

And the words that he would raise Kevin as one of his own, helped to calm his anxious heart.

Hans soon left.

Kevin's family, who had been staring at the house for a while, sat down and burst into tears without a word.

A proper home.

How much they had struggled to have one.

At the moment it became a reality, Clark hugged his wife and daughter and sobbed.

For a while.

Their tears did not stop.

And their story began to spread throughout the Demetri region.

* * *

Rumors spread.

That the Clark family from the slums had successfully entered the city.

"Did you hear the rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"The Clark family. The one that got into trouble with the Blood Gang due to usury, has been summoned by Roman Demetri and entered the city. According to the rumor, they even received land for free."

"Really?!"

The man was shocked.

Entering the city.

It was a symbol of social advancement.

People without special assets had to live in the slums outside the city, but the Clark family, who had been in a worse situation than them until recently, had successfully entered the city.

At first, they didn't believe it.

They thought there was no reason for Roman Demetri to treat the Clark family so well, but as time passed, stories of seeing the Clark family inside the city began to emerge.

"The rumor is true. The Clark family not only lives in a beautiful wooden house on the outskirts of the city but also cultivates the land they have been leased. I saw it with my own eyes, so you can believe it."

"Life is unpredictable. The Clark family, who were on the verge of ruin due to usury, achieved a life turnaround in an unexpected way. Still, Roman's recent actions are surprising. In the past, we only heard rumors of his misdeeds, but now he has eradicated the Blood Gang and brought the Clark family into the city as his own. He has definitely changed."

Roman.

He was the protagonist of the rumor once again.

The fact that following Roman led to social advancement changed how people viewed him.

Kevin is an ordinary boy.

If an ordinary boy received a house and land just for pledging loyalty, it could be interpreted as an opportunity for others as well.

That's why, as the Clark family's story spread throughout the Demetri region, people began to say that becoming Roman Demetri's person could lead to a life-changing event.

It wasn't a false rumor.

The results were real.

However, some people still expressed negative opinions, hindered by the reputation of "Demetri's fool."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, foolish people. Living in Demetri for decades and getting excited by false rumors. Does Roman Demetri look like someone who would treat someone as his own? The eradication of the Blood Gang and everything else are just the Demetris' schemes. Just wait and see what happens next. I guarantee that Kevin will soon appear before us with a dead look on his face."

At that time.

The negative comments still had some weight.

And a short while later.

An event that put the finishing touch on the rumors and completely changed Roman Demetri's reputation occurred.

* * *

After the Barco social party ended.

Upon returning to the estate, Roman said,

"Take a three-day vacation."

"…A vacation?"

Kevin blinked.

A vacation.

For three whole days.

He couldn't readily accept it.

There were no vacations for the poor.

On sunny days, they had to go out to work, and they could only rest at home when there was no work or the weather was bad.

So the word "vacation" was very unfamiliar to him.

Looking at Roman with a blank face, not knowing what to do, Roman said in a tone that suggested it was nothing special,

"Resting well is also part of training. You've worked hard, so spend some good time with your family and come back."

"…Understood."

Thus.

Kevin was given a vacation.

It was overwhelming.

Having been cut off from the outside world and focused solely on training, the idea of returning to his family was unfamiliar.

It was a funny thing to think about. Kevin had lived with his family all his life.

Yet, after spending time with Roman, Roman's shadow had become a significant part of his life.

'What is the real Young Master Roman like?'

Roman Demetri.

A man like an onion.

He showed a merciless and cruel side when dealing with enemies like the Blood Gang, but he showed excessive care for his own people.

That didn't mean he was always warm.

He had clear boundaries, and when he had a specific purpose, he didn't show favoritism just because someone was his own.

A man with clear lines.

That was Roman.

While he didn't know which side was the real Roman, Kevin had a clear realization.

Before leaving for the vacation.

Hans approached and said,

"Are you going to see your family in such a state after so long? Young Master Roman has prepared clean clothes for you, so put these on before meeting your family. And if you want to buy gifts for your family, you'll need money, right? From now on, you will receive 30 silver coins as a monthly salary, so use that to buy gifts or indulge yourself and have a good time."

Clean clothes and money.

They were Roman's gifts.

He was moved.

Indeed.

Roman was a meticulous person.

Even though he often showed a cold face, he always knew what Kevin needed.

'The real side doesn't matter. My lord values me. That's enough reason to follow him.'

A smile appeared on his face.

Kevin went to the shower to clean himself and changed into the clothes Roman had prepared.

The material was different from the rough clothes he usually wore.

The soft feeling that enveloped his body was almost euphoric, and the sound of silver coins jingling in his pocket made him excited about seeing his family in a new light.

At that moment, Kevin still didn't know what had happened to his family.

Just as he had changed into clean clothes, his family was living a different life from before.