The Mind-Reading Mate Why Is the Lycan King So Obsessed With Me novel Chapter 480

Chapter 480: One Step Toward Freedom

Then his voice turned colder, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Besides..." Salem continued, "how could someone who once lived as a slave... ever want to become a master who owns slaves?"

The children looked at him with questioning eyes. From his words, it was clear that Salem had once been a slave too. He had been hinting at it since earlier, almost like he was trying to make them understand.

But how could children who had been tricked so many times by their master trust a stranger so easily?

As if Salem could read their thoughts, he spoke again. "Alright," he said calmly. "I know you won’t believe me just because of my words. But what if I show you proof?"

"W-What... proof?" the boy asked, his curiosity stronger than his fear.

Salem slowly unfastened his coat and pulled it down, not too far, but enough to show his bare chest. "The scar from the hot iron brand," he said. "I bet you have one on your body too."

The boy and the other children gasped when they saw the circular scar on Salem’s chest, the mark left by slave branding.

Every time a new child arrived, their master would immediately press a hot iron onto their body, marking them as if they were nothing more than cattle. Some of them had the slave brand on their chest, while others had it on their shoulder.

But no matter where it was, the mark stayed forever. A scar they could never erase for the rest of their lives.

"Do you believe me now?" Salem asked as he covered himself again with his coat. "I was also a slave, just like you. That’s why, as someone who once stood in the same position you’re in now, I want to save you."

"You don’t have to trust me completely," he added. "But you can still take advantage of my kindness."

Salem gave them a small smile. "I’m usually not this kind of person, you know," he muttered. "So... go on. Use me. Take advantage of me, and use me to reach your freedom."

It was such a strange thing to say. But in front of children who had been hurt too many times—children who didn’t know how to trust anymore—it was better to say it clearly like that, instead of demanding belief.

And for some reason, it worked.

After Salem showed them his brand and revealed a little about his past, even without explaining too much, the children slowly began to feel something familiar from him.

It wasn’t a complete trust, but something close to it.

Salem then called the soldiers to open the cage with their magical weapons. The moment the cage door creaked open, the oldest boy didn’t move right away.

Instead, he asked in a small, careful voice, "If I step out of this place... are you sure no one will drag me back in?"

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