Karma?

"Y-you just killed them?" The girl stuttered fearfully as she watched Lucius wipe off the blood on his body.

"Of course. They have killed Innocent people. As such, they deserve to die." Lucius shrugged, paying her little to no attention.

His gaze was on the elderly man, who seemed to have passed out of shock due to the brutal killings that took place. 

He could hear the beating heart of the man, and he could see signs of breathing, so he didn't see the need to make a big fuss about it.

Thud!

Suddenly hurried footsteps entered the scene and before Lucius could react he heard the sound of a heavy slap and the pained scream of the girl 

Bam!

Lucius' eyes remained blank as he turned to see the girl on the ground, her hand placed on the reddened left cheek.

Standing over her was a 5'10 ft man whose face was covered in a Mexican wrestler mask. He wore no shirt, had a yellow scarf tied around his neck, and completed the weird dressing with white pants and boots.

"You caused so much trouble for me. Now you dare cause trouble for Viscount Blackwater? I will not spare you this time." He growled as he spat on her and stomped on her violently.

Aah!

Aaah!

Ah!

Lucius watched blankly as he completely wiped off the blood on his shoulders before speaking.

"That's enough." He said, causing the masked man to freeze in his tracks.

"Identify yourself." Lucius acted as if the girl didn't exist, completely focusing his attention on the man.

Seeing he had been noticed, the man smiled sheepishly and bowed politely.

"I am Baron Martinez Cortez. Also known as El Fenix, guardian of the slums." Baron Martinez smiled.

His title alone made Lucius understand the man's intentions.

Lucius was far more famous than most low-rated guardians, especially because of his potential. He naturally stood out where ever he went, so it was safe to say the Baron noticed him and felt beating down this girl for his sake would impress him.

Beyond that, ever since he began dealing with the villains in the residential district, Lucius had noticed the Baron, who seemed to be at every crime scene but always a bit late.

He would arrive as soon as the crime was over, call in the police, and cook up a story. Attention was all this failed D-rated guardian wanted since he lacked the skill to move up the guardian ladder.

"You, who are you and why are you here by this time of the night?" Lucius turned the girl on the floor.

She was a student, so why was she working with a guardian outside academy internship weekends?

"I-i am Lia…" the girl struggled to speak while holding her belly as she sat up.

Buzz.

Lucius's eyes narrowed, but he restrained himself.

"Just Lia?" He asked with a straight face, but his heart was pounding, wondering why she had the same name as his dead sister.

"Y-yes… I'm from a family of commoners, so we can't have a last name." She said while struggling to get on her feet.

The ruthless attacks of the guardian badly hurt her, but Lucius did not attempt to help her, nor did he show emotions.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"My parents died in the mines just a while before I awakened my ability. I only had my grandpa and little brother with me." Lia's eyes reddened as she told her story. "With that, I moved them from the mines to the residential area, since my potential wasn't enough to be made a noble." 

"While I focused on school, my grandpa was able to get a shop in the commercial area where he sold masks and antique items, but he was killed a few months ago by Black Death. Since I need money to fend for myself and my little brother, I work as an assistant to Lord Cortez." Lia said with a sad face, but she never cried.

It was clear she was fighting back the tears with all of her being.

Buzz!

Her words shook Lucius's heart, and for the first time, he broke character. His eyes widened in shock as if he had seen a ghost, and his hands shivered.

"D-did you just say Black Death killed your grandfather?" he stuttered.

To this question, Lia nodded slowly.

"You dare nod to the question of a noble?! You wench, have you no knowledge of courtesy!" Baron Cortez growled, hoping to score more points in Lucius's good books.

He lunged at Lia, his open palm, aiming for her face.

Pa!

Baron Cortez felt a strong grip on his arm, causing him to freeze. Not only was the grip strong, but it was tightening with each passing moment.

"Lord Blackwater?" He muttered, his instincts screaming danger.

Pa!

Lucius placed his second hand on Lord Cortez's shoulder and with a pull, he tore the man's arm off his shoulder.

"Aaaaaaah!" Lord Cortez cried, staggering back while blood squirted out of his wounds. His eyes widened with shock and confusion as he saw Lucius's face burning with rage.

"Since you cannot keep that hand to yourself. I will take it from you!" Lucius hissed.

"D-d-did y-you just…."

Lia stood there with her hands covering her mouth. She felt disturbed by the bloody scene, but what she felt more shocking was Lucius' abrupt reaction.

She had known Lucius since the day he joined the academy, and never had he been moved to react this way by anyone. In fact, he barely reacted to anything, he was always indifferent.

Lord Cortez fell to the ground, screaming as he watched Lucius approach with a murderous gaze and blazing purple eyes.

"You have served our country well, Mr. Cortez. Now rest easy."

Pa!

A single slap was all Lucius needed to knock off the head of Baron Cortez from his shoulder.

Lia saw the headless corpse of Mr Cortez twitching while blood squirted out from his neck and collapsed, passing out on the spot.