Chapter 255: Showdown
Vanessa's Fears
The conversation lasted for a long time—a full hour passed before Vanessa saw the three men emerge from the meeting room. Judging by their expressions, it seemed they had reached some sort of agreement.
The word "agreement" suddenly reminded Vanessa of her mother's warning: The man you like is no ordinary person. He's the heir to the world-famous criminal organization, the Hongmen Society. He went out on his own at eleven and became Coast City's crime boss in just a few years. His hands are stained with the blood of innocent people. He is a cruel and ruthless man, and he must have an ulterior motive for approaching you.
Recalling these words, Vanessa suddenly felt a chill.
After several days together, she sensed it, too. Luke lacked the excited enthusiasm young couples typically show when they fall in love. He was aloof, casual, like a wisp of wind drifting everywhere, impossible to grasp.
Vanessa still didn't know his true feelings. Perhaps, just as her mother said, he wasn't genuinely fond of her.
After seeing the two old Generals off, Luke returned to Vanessa's side.
"Old men can ramble forever. My apologies for keeping you waiting."
"It's... it's fine!"
Vanessa managed a strained smile. "I'm a little tired. I want to go back."
Luke glanced at the concluding dance and nodded.
"That's probably best."
The Truth Comes Out
Back in the room, Vanessa confided her doubts to her best friend, Eve, who, in turn, informed Luke. Sensing the growing distance from the girl, Luke knew it was time for a showdown—the time to lay all his cards on the table.
At ten o'clock that night, after a romantic candlelight dinner, the two engaged in a particularly passionate session of post-dinner "exercise." Under the bright moonlight, the sounds of intense pleasure echoed and then slowly subsided after a long while.
In the bedroom, Luke, thoroughly satisfied, held the girl's slender waist and spoke slowly.
"There's something I need to tell you. The encounter at the Red Flame bar wasn't an accident. I meticulously planned it."
The still-flushed Vanessa instantly stiffened, her eyes wide with astonishment. After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"Those three thugs were your men."
"No. I was simply waiting for an opportunity; they delivered it right to my door."
"So, you played the hero to win my affection."
She was hidden in the darkness, but the turmoil in her heart was clear.
"That's one way to put it."
"Why... why did you approach me? Because of my father?"
"Yes."
Feeling the tremor running through the body in his arms, Luke sighed helplessly.
The girl clenched her fists and hissed, "You're my father's enemy. You wanted to use me against him, to coerce the President of the United States?"
"No. I have no prior relationship with him, no feud, no grudge."
"Then why?"
Vanessa was utterly confused, desperately seeking the answer.
Luke was silent for a few seconds, then whispered, "If I told you your father has been possessed by a demon, would you believe me?"
"That's impossible!"
"Believe it or not, it's the truth. The demon possessing your father is named Ghast, the ancient ruler of the galaxy. He was defeated by the Timeless Ones Family and sealed within the Klytus Red Jar. A few years ago, the jar's seal broke, and Ghast's soul escaped. He selected two hosts: one was the leader of the Serpent Society, and the other is your father."
"The real reason your father, Joel Nash, won the election four years ago despite extremely low polling numbers is the demon Ghast. He used magic to manipulate the entire outcome."
"Lies. You're lying. It can't be true."
Vanessa wrenched herself free from Luke's embrace. Ignoring her exposed body, she rushed toward the door, only to find it tightly locked. She couldn't turn the handle even with all her strength.
Luke's voice was low and powerful. "Jack Harvey, the Director of the FBI, accidentally discovered your father's secret. He secretly investigated for four years and finally located the Serpent Society hidden in the Swamp Forest. The demon Ghast's power is immense; the FBI couldn't handle it alone, so they came to me."
Luke snapped his fingers. A blue-glowing virtual screen appeared in the dark bedroom, clearly showing the battle scene in the Swamp Forest.
Seeing the venomous snakes, the towering Swamp Thing, and Luke's battered team in the downpour, Vanessa froze. She stared blankly at the video. After a long time, she finally asked hesitantly,
"Is all of this... real?"
Luke nodded slightly. "For that battle, the FBI committed thirty elite agents and several super-powered individuals. In the end, only three survived: FBI Director Jack Harvey, and the agents Stavros and Maeve. Of course, besides them, there was me. The Serpent Society leader died by my hand."
Vanessa's eyes widened, shocked beyond belief. After all this time, she never knew the man she loved was a superhuman.
Luke continued, "We seized many things from the Serpent Society's lair, including the Klytus Red Jar. The script on the jar documented Ghast's life and holds unique significance for him. I used the jar to set a trap, which revealed the truth about the host—your father. Then, Jack Harvey died, officially from a sudden heart attack."
Luke sighed. "That incident created a severe impact and changed everything that followed."
Vanessa remained silent, her mind spinning wildly. Her most revered father, a demon! How could that be? It was impossible to believe. He's lying, they must all be deceiving me.
She tried to reassure herself, but her face was deadly pale.
Luke picked up the sheet and covered the girl's trembling body.
"Our original plan was to use you and your mother to force the demon Ghast to reveal himself. However, with Jack Harvey's death, that plan was canceled. Now it's no longer needed. The Department of Defense and the Senate know your father's true identity, and they have adopted a more aggressive approach." He paused, then continued,
"Barring any accidents, the operation will begin tonight. If they succeed, your father will be freed from the demon's control and return to normal. If they fail..."
He let the sentence hang. Vanessa slowly raised her head, her voice strained.
"My father will die, won't he?"
"Or perhaps we will. After all, the entity possessing your father is an ancient demon. No one knows how many fail-safes he has hidden. I want you to stay safe in Hawaii for the next few days. After everything is over, I will send someone to bring you home."
With that, Luke unlocked the door handle and walked out of the bedroom. Vanessa seized the opportunity and rushed out, but the moment her foot lifted, an inexplicable dread—the Aura of Ill-Omen—swept over her. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the floor.
Luke instructed Eve in the living room,
"Watch over her. Make sure nothing happens to her."
Eve said with a complex expression, "Honestly, you didn't have to tell her the truth."
"Some things are better made clear. Not telling her would only have created more trouble later."
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