Chapter 2301

"I have no one to blame but myself," Fred said as he got into the car and removed his hat. He looked terribly drawn, his clothes were grimy, and he reeked. "I seriously regret everything now. I should've never heeded my grandfather's call to rebellion. I mean, if I had stayed bedridden in the hospital for the rest of my life, I would've been revered as a national hero in Xancent. I'm nothing more than a vermin now, a creature of the underground, scuttling in the darkness—unseen and unwanted." "I get it already, okay? Can you stop beating yourself up for a moment? How the hell did you end up like this?" Perseus furrowed his brow and continued, "I spared you back in Ebrea, right? I thought you left with Nancy. How come you look like you've hit rock bottom now?" I brought it all on myself, I guess," Fred said with a wry smile, shrugging helplessly. He spotted a pack of cigarettes in the car, grabbed one, and lit it, his once striking face now etched with weariness and remorse. "Havin