2nd Encounter (Escaping Marriage)
1177 Words
The three remained silent. If Melina were to be chosen as a disciple by the War God, their family's predicament would be solved. However, they knew nothing about him.
Anyone even remotely connected to the War God would gain tremendous prestige, but earning his favor was no easy task.
Finally, Jenni sighed and said, "Someone from the military gave me his contact information, but I don’t know how to approach him."
Visco and Jerrad were surprised by her words. Their hope for survival suddenly grew brighter. If they could invite the War God, their problems might be resolved.
Jerrad fell into deep thought before saying, "Let's talk about it tomorrow. It's already late; you two should rest."
Visco and Jenni hesitated. Their daughter's fate was in turmoil, but at this moment, there was nothing they could do.
As they left, Jerrad mumbled, "If only we knew what he looked like or where he lived."
He sighed. "The world is truly a cruel place."
---
The Next Day
Ruth woke up early, but a voice kept echoing in his ears.
For the first time in his life, he felt something surreal. He didn’t understand why, but he wanted to meet that girl again.
Clicking his tongue, he muttered, "Tch, the invincible War God troubled by a girl? If the soldiers on the battlefield heard about this, they’d probably die laughing."
Not that they would ever find out.
After enjoying his morning tea, he began cooking his meal. Years of war had made him an excellent cook—he had prepared his own food countless times on the battlefield.
As he indulged in his meal, his phone suddenly rang.
Curious, he checked the caller ID. It was an unknown number. After a brief hesitation, he answered.
A sweet voice came from the other end.
"Am I speaking to the War God?"
It was a short inquiry, yet it startled him.
The voice was unfamiliar. Intrigued, he responded, "Hmm, why don’t you introduce yourself before asking about me?"
The woman hesitated for a moment before politely replying, "Oh, I apologize for my rudeness. My name is Jenni Rosario. I was once a soldier under your command, War God."
Ruth replied casually, "So, what do you want? There were hundreds of thousands of soldiers under my command. Do you expect me to remember each one of you?"
Jenni froze but quickly responded, "That’s not it. You once granted me a favor, promising to help me if I ever needed it."
Ruth’s eyes narrowed as he recalled the incident.
"Ah, so it's you, Sergeant. I remember now. But I believe your family is well-off. What trouble could you possibly need my help with?"
Without hesitation, Jenni said, "I need you to help my daughter escape her arranged marriage."
Ruth, in the middle of savoring his meal, frowned.
"You want me to meddle in your family affairs? You know I despise being in the spotlight, right?"
Jenni felt a chill run down her spine. She could tell the War God was getting irritated. Panicking, she quickly tried to explain, "Please, sir! I don’t mean it that way. I know you prefer to keep a low profile. You don’t have to show yourself. If you agree, I will send my daughter to your place."
Ruth scoffed. "Then what? Your family will have a falling-out with others, and they’ll come after your daughter. I’ll be dragged into the conflict and forced to make my move."
"You’re still as sharp as ever, Sergeant. You should know what happens if you anger me further."
Jenni stiffened. But she had no other choice. Mustering her courage, she pleaded, "Please, sir, I beg you. I don’t want to force my daughter into this marriage of convenience."
"Her name is Melina Lynden. I’m sure you’ll be able to find information about her easily."
Ruth, who was already irritated, froze at the name.
‘Is this for real? That girl… didn’t she introduce herself as Melina? Could it be a different girl with the same name? No… how could there be such a coincidence?’
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
"Hmm. I’ll send you an address. Send her there, and I’ll help her hide. But if I get dragged into your family’s matters, I’ll reduce it to dust."
Jenni felt immense relief and repeatedly expressed her gratitude. "Yes, yes! I understand, sir. Thank you so much!"
The call ended.
Ruth sat in silence for a moment before regaining his composure. Then, he dialed another number.
The call connected immediately.
"What can I do for you, esteemed sir?" a hoarse voice asked.
Clicking his tongue, Ruth ordered, "Find all details on Melina Lynden. Send me her biodata."
The person on the other end was surprised but didn’t show it. "It will be done, sir."
An old man in his late sixties smirked as he hung up.
"I hope you’ve finally found someone to cherish," he mused.
This man was known as the Sage—his vast knowledge far surpassed others.
Ruth clicked his tongue in annoyance. "That cunning old man… Did he already figure something out?"
"Doesn't matter to me."
Soon, a new email arrived on his laptop. Clicking it open, Ruth’s eyes widened.
It really was the girl he had met the other day.
As he skimmed through her information, he realized she was a strong-willed woman. Her dream was to become a martial arts master.
‘Now, how should I approach her? I can’t exactly say I’m the War God, can I?’
---
Meanwhile…
Jenni, feeling somewhat relieved, went to check on her daughter. To her surprise, Melina had already escaped.
She felt both relieved and uneasy. "I hope the Lord finds you before anyone else does."
At the same time, Melina, now on the run, found herself in a dilemma.
She wanted to stay at a friend’s house but knew they would likely betray her for a small sum of money.
"I can’t use my bank account, I can’t stay at a hotel, I can’t buy a property, and I can’t leave the city. I need to find a secluded place."
After wandering for a while, she reached the outskirts of the city.
‘They would never believe I’d be hiding somewhere like this.’
Venturing into a nearby forest on the hillside, she came across an old house. It wasn’t too shabby, nor was it grand.
‘Does someone live here? Could it be a criminal?’
"What should I do? I can’t afford to get caught and risk my family finding out."
Just then, the door creaked open.
A man in his mid-twenties stepped out, smoking a cigar. He was dressed simply, exuding a calm yet dangerous aura.
Melina’s eyes widened in recognition.
It was the man she had saved the other day.
Ruth, having spent decades on the battlefield, had a keen sense of presence. He had noticed her immediately but chose to act naturally.
As he casually glanced around, their eyes met.
And for the first time in a long while… Ruth was genuinely shocked.
- Writer
