The Epitome of Humanity

Book excerpt: Jean De La Cruz is a man who, on the surface, appears to be no more than an ordinary man. However, underneath his docile and easygoing demeanor lies a life story rife with conflict and pain. Abducted at birth, Jean had spent a majority of his life as a member of an association of assassins. Known only as an operative of "The Guild", Jean is successfully cultivated into a cold-hearted, cynically tactical killer. Despite his cynicism, however: Jean is still intent on discovering the truth behind the meaning of the very essence of humanity. Upon discovering three orphaned children, he takes it upon himself to care for them and abandons his organization. In return for providing for them: He eventually learns from the children the value of the lives of the people of the world, his own, as well as the absolute importance of the essence of the human race which is so callously thrown away. As the subjugation of the outside world comes to bear down on him and his new found family: Jean takes up arms once more.