The Deceitful One

Friday, 25th February 1581.

The factory district of Damascus was much less lively than it used to be. Earlier, there used to be a flurry of people that congregated in this area as they went about their days working at the various factories. However, now not so much.

Inside an office in one of the relatively larger factories, Dele was sitting behind his desk as he massaged his temple. He was currently looking at a few documents kept on the table.

This was the report for the employee turnover rate at his factory for the past two months. Over the past month, the low-class workers had been making things difficult not just for him but for almost every factory owner in the area.

Every other day, there would be some scuffle or the other. And in a few instances, a small mob of workers would even attack the factory owners.

Being a man of color, it was even harder for Dele to deal with all these issues that were currently going on. But fortunately, he had a few policemen stationed at his factory to calm things down and bring order.

Every year, Dele would provide donations to the Damascus Police Station, hence, in this time of need, they provided him with timely assistance.

As he read through the employee turnover report, he couldn't help but sigh in disappointment. The majority of Dele's employees had quit their jobs in the past two months. And now, only a handful of them was left working at the factory.

As a result, he was running a massive deficit because he couldn't get the minimum production of steam cars done.

Ever since Dele made that contract with the steam car manufacturing company in the Hephaestus Kingdom, he thought that his profits would skyrocket. However, contrary to his expectations, life had dealt him a heavy blow.

The low-class workers had been riled up at the loss of their jobs ever since the steam car was introduced to the various cities and kingdoms on the Western Continent.

And now, all of a sudden there was a bizarre rumor floating around that machines would soon replace working humans!

Dele found this to be absolutely absurd! He didn't even know when or how this rumor started or what this machine that they were talking about was.

Of course, for a man of his stature--someone who was not a Transcendent in a high position--it was impossible to know about the automatons!

Hence, he thought that the rumor was bogus. And that someone was instigating the low-class workers.

Well, he was both right and wrong about that. Someone was indeed instigating the low-class workers. However, the rumor was very much true.

As Dele was worrying about the future of his business, he heard someone knock on his office door. He looked up and spoke in a tired voice, "Come in."

Elijah opened the door and walked in. He looked at his father and smiled, "Father, let's go home."

Looking at his son's smile greatly eased the worries in Dele's heart, "Give me a few minutes, son."

Dele gathered all the documents and books on the table and kept them in his black briefcase. He then got up from his chair as he walked towards Elijah and patted him on the shoulder, "Let's go!"

The duo exited the office and walked through the factory, where at different places different parts of the steam car were being assembled.

Compared to the size of this humongous factory, the number of workers currently present was measly. The workers directed resentful looks at Dele as they saw him come out of the office.

Seeing this, Dele could only sigh and wonder inwardly, 'One must adapt to the current trend of the world or they are bound to be left behind. Such is life...'

Dele and Elijah got inside their car as the latter instructed the chauffeur to drive to their house on Augustus street.

As the car started to move, Dele asked his son with a warm smile, "Are you done with your work for the day? Or do you have to work overtime tonight as well?"

Elijah shook his head, "No overtime today. I'll be staying at home."

Dele nodded but then he asked in puzzlement, "I still don't understand something. If you're learning to be a mechanic at that library, which is very weird in the first place, why would they need you to work overtime? It's not like you're saving lives or something right?"

Dele's eyebrows twitched as he thought inwardly, 'Father, you have no idea about the number of lives I'm trying to save.'

He then quickly tried to think of an excuse. He couldn't tell his father that he was actually a Transcendent and that he was going out on night patrols most nights to investigate cultists from the evil organizations.

After a moment, he looked at his father and replied awkwardly, "You see, father, there's an esteemed guest from Strinver City who has visited Damascus.

And he spends most of his time at the library. So, the owner of the library had asked him to give a few pointers every night to the people who were trying to become mechanics."

Dele count help but scoff at Elijah's excuse that was full of loopholes. He rolled his eyes and replied, "Just be honest, did you find some girl and have been secretly visiting her every night?"

Elijah was dumbfounded. But in the end, he decided to bite the bullet as he awkwardly replied, "Ah, haha! Umm...I guess you're right."

The duo continued to chat as the car finally reached its destination. As soon as the duo got out of the car, Dele was hit by a rock all of a sudden and he profusely started to bleed from his forehead.

"Ughh!" Dele grabbed his head as he bent over from the immense pain he was feeling.

Alarmed, Elijah supported Dele's shoulders as he asked, "Father! Are you all right?"

He then looked at the person who had thrown a rock and couldn't help but scream in anger, "Are you fucking crazy!? What do you think you're doing, you bastard!?"