Chapter 74: What Is A Normal Life?
Klaus grabbed Martin’s shoulders and said while frowning, "You know how paranoid I am. Without being sure of your safety and everyone else’s, I won’t be able to put down my worries."
"I know that." Martin nodded slightly and raised his gold-trimmed glasses as he asked, "But who is everyone else?"
"Ah..." a sound escaped his lips, and he took just a moment to decide whether to tell him or not.
"I think it would be better to meet them."
"Can you at least tell me how many there are?"
Klaus let go of Martin’s shoulders and said, "Seven, including you."
"Seven..." Martin mumbled and added with a pause, "I thought there would be more."
"There are more, but right now only the seven are important... and it would be better for you all to know each other."
"Okay." Martin nodded and leaned back in his chair. "Let me know when and where you want me."
Klaus nodded, and then his expression changed. He stared at Martin in silence, wondering whether he should tell him or not.
In the end, Martin noticed his gaze and muttered, "What is it?"
"What?"
"You keep staring at me. What is it that you want to say?"
Klaus shrugged. "I already said everything."
Martin furrowed his brows. "Stop being a headache and say it."
Silence descended between them for a few seconds, and then Klaus added after a sigh, "Haah. Carl is one of them."
The instant Martin heard that, his expression darkened and he said, "Carl is just a kid."
"He is far smarter than any kid," Klaus retorted.
Martin’s eyes sharpened, and he said strictly, "No matter how smart, he is still a seventeen-year-old kid."
A tired sigh escaped Klaus’s lips; he knew Martin would react this way, and that was why he was hesitating from telling him.
"He also wants to join me," Klaus argued.
However, no change appeared on Martin’s expression.
He simply shook his head and said, "He isn’t old enough to make such decisions."
"Then who is going to make the decision?"
Martin faintly lowered his head and whispered, "His parents..."
Hearing that, Klaus raised his brows and asked, "And where are they?"
"Dead, most probably."
Klaus frowned deeply. "Then how do you suggest I ask them?"
Martin looked at him with a deadpan expression and said, "I didn’t mean it literally."
"What did you mean then?" Klaus pressed.
Martin fiddled with his fingers in thought and then said, "Four years ago I found Carl standing at my porch with a letter in his hand... it was from Carl’s father and also a friend of mine. We had once traveled together, and he had helped me the same way Carl does..."
A reminiscent smile appeared on his face.
"He would have been proud knowing that his son is already as good as him... or maybe even better."
He looked directly into Klaus’s eyes and added, "His last wish was to give Carl a normal life... he knew how hard it would be, but he wanted me to at least help him see that life."
"I was fine with him becoming one of the founders of Maker Finance... but I cannot allow him to become part of something even bigger and dangerous."
Klaus fell silent. Since the day he had first met Carl, he had wondered how Martin had come to know him, and now the answer was finally laid bare before him.
He didn’t know how to take it or what to say.
Carl’s father had pretty much handed Martin all the responsibility, and he was simply fulfilling it.
Still, Carl wasn’t someone he could just give up on.
Seeing the conflict in Klaus’s eyes, Martin lowered his head and whispered, "I am sorry, Kal."
Klaus snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him.
"I don’t think I can take a step back now," he said.
Martin raised his head and looked at him with a confused expression. "What?"
Klaus’s expression turned serious. "Carl is very important for the plan, for everything."
"Are you being serious?" Martin furrowed his brows.
"Haah!" Klaus inhaled deeply and then let it go before he said flatly, "You cannot give him a normal life."
Martin’s expression hardened. "What are you s—"
"Wait!" Klaus raised a hand toward him and asked, "What is a normal life?"
Martin’s lips parted to answer, but no word came out.
It was a simple answer: a normal life was a flexible routine with stable habits, basic safety, work or school, and supportive relationships.
But as Martin tried to apply that to Carl, he found the answer lacking.
A normal life... what did that even mean for Carl?
Going to school, making friends, having a routine, finding a job, and living without worrying about danger?
But Carl had never lived like that.
"What happened?" Klaus muttered with a mischievous smile on his face.
"What should I do then?" Martin asked somberly.
"Ask him," Klaus suggested. "He is different than us. He perceives the world differently than us, so we cannot force our sense of normality on him."
Martin nodded slowly. "You are right."
Klaus patted his shoulder and said, "Why are you frowning? You tried your best."
A faint smile appeared on his face, and he whispered, "Thanks."
Klaus placed a hand behind his ear and asked while leaning closer, "What did you say? I didn’t hear it."
Martin’s smile deepened, and he repeated, "Thanks."
Klaus leaned a bit more and muttered, "What?"
Seeing his shenanigans, Martin rolled his eyes and said loudly, "Thanks."
A wide smile appeared on Klaus’s face, and he straightened himself as he said, "You should speak clearly."
Martin let out a chuckle and shook his head. "How can you switch between being serious and not serious at all so easily?"
Klaus gripped his chin and thought for a while before he shrugged and responded, "I just can."
Martin stared at his face and added, "You aren’t much different from Carl."
Klaus furrowed his brows and muttered, "What are you talking about? I am a grown-ass man."