STM 52

Unlike before, his voice was commanding and that made several people flinch.

Was he really about to fight the Grand Duke Borhumi…?

But soon they realized Tairok’s gaze wasn’t directed at Zav at all.

Where?

Still seething, Zav turned his head. Then he saw who was standing by the Gold Room entrance, a neatly dressed woman with dark skin.

“Solongo?”

Zav released the power gathered in his hand and called her name, which he had heard a few times before.

Why on earth was Lantuya’s right hand here?

It wasn’t just Zav who recognized her. Everyone did. No one in this room could fail to recognize the second-in-command of the Adeye Trading Company.

Her skill was so widely known that Zav had once tried to recruit her for his own house. But she was as hard to meet as Lantuya herself.

And now that busy woman suddenly came here?

Ignoring the attention on her, Solongo politely bowed and slowly looked around the room.

“What brings you here?”

Her eyes, after scanning the inside, fixed squarely on Zav.

“Greetings, Grand Duke. I came under orders from the Matriarch to find Adeye Lord Lu.”

Zav unconsciously frowned. Solongo herself came to look for that scoundrel? He forced his lips into a twisted grin, pretending it was nothing.

“Adeye Lu’s probably off having fun with some man somewhere. Is there any need to look for him?”

Then he glanced around the room, seeking agreement.

“Right? It’s not the first time Adeye Lu’s disappeared with some man. He’d chase them to the ends of the earth if he could.”

A few people chuckled, but they fell silent when Tairok spoke in a cold voice.

“What happened to Adeye Lu?”

Solongo also bowed politely to him before calmly explaining.

“He disappeared after arriving here.”

“What proof do you have?”

“The defensive artifact attached to his clothes activated. I saw the linked gem shatter before my eyes.”

A defensive artifact?

Gasps and murmurs spread through the room. It was already surprising that Lu wore such a high-class defensive artifact, but one connected to another device?

This wasn’t something money alone could buy. There wasn’t a single mage in Tubain capable of creating such a complex design.

The Adeye family must have obtained an ancient relic, the kind once used only by the imperial house.

“You’re saying Adeye Lu had a top-grade defensive artifact on him? That’s absurd.”

Zav raised his voice in disbelief. Solongo’s expression turned peculiar.

“Is there a reason Lord Lu shouldn’t have one?”

Flinch.

Zav’s reaction was brief but noticeable. His silence lasted only a moment before he smoothed over his face, but a few people noticed. One of them was Solongo.

Zav stared at her with deliberate authority.

“How dare you talk back? Watch your tone.”

“My apologies.” Solongo bowed respectfully, but Zav kept scolding her to cover his slip.

“No matter how successful the Adeye Trading Company is, you’re not a noble. Why are you even here? Who let you in?”

“I was kindly sent an invitation by the club.”

Solongo actually raised the invitation in her hand.

“I know this place doesn’t suit someone like me, but the situation is urgent, so I had no choice but to intrude. Do you happen to know anything about Lord Lu?”

“How would I…I have no way of knowing where Adeye Lu is.”

Zav tried to smile casually again, but the forced curve of his lips trembled slightly, betraying his nervousness. Solongo noticed, and her calm gaze made that fake smile twist into anger.

“You, who said you could look me in the eye like that?”

“I’m sorry. Lady Lantuya is deeply worried about Lord Lu’s situation.”

“The matriarch of the Adeye family?”

Since the matriarch was Borhumi’s greatest sponsor, Zav couldn’t brush her words aside.

But hadn’t the Adeye matriarch always ignored Lu? Everyone knew their relationship was bad, so he’d acted however he wanted around that family. Why suddenly this change?

“I didn’t realize the matriarch of the Adeye family cared so much about her brother.”

“Lord Lu barely survived an encounter with a monster, so she’s been concerned for his recovery.”

“Ah… right.”

Damn it. Zav cursed inwardly and waved a dismissive hand at her.

“Adeye Lu isn’t here, so go.”

But even after his order, Solongo didn’t move, still looking straight at him. Zav raised his voice.

“What are you doing? I said this isn’t your place!”

Only then did Solongo bow her head and step back. But before leaving, she stared at Tairok for a moment, then disappeared.

As soon as she left, Zav let out a loud mocking laugh for everyone to hear.

“The Adeye matriarch’s wasting her time. That one’s probably drunk somewhere, rolling around with some man.”

He stopped speaking and laughed loudly on purpose.

“Haha, even if he got drunk and jumped into a river, I wouldn’t be surprised at a…”

Zav’s laughter ceased the instant his eyes met Tairok’s. The smile that was always on his lips was gone.

Maybe it was because that smiling face was so familiar, Tairok’s expressionless look felt alien, sending an unpleasant shiver down his spine.

Why the hell is he looking at me like that?

“Tairok, do you have something to say? Ah, come to think of it, it’s your turn now. Even if your divine beast family’s just a shell of what it used to be, you’re still a Grand Duke. Shouldn’t you at least try to keep up appearances? Sitting here shamelessly when you’re not even a member…”

“Where’s Adeye Lu?”

“Why are you asking me that….don’t try to change the subject.”

Zav raised his voice as he got flustered. Gritting his teeth, he met those golden eyes.

Those eyes, dark, piercing, looked straight through him, like they could see his thoughts and mock him for it.

“Whatever Adeye Lu’s doing, it has nothing to do with me.”

“I didn’t ask if he had something to do with you. I asked if you knew where he is. Zav, you never change. When you panic, you just raise your voice and insist you’re innocent.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! What am I insisting on…”

Realizing too late that he was shouting, Zav closed his mouth, but he couldn’t hide his frown. Tairok slowly smiled.

“That hasn’t changed either. You still grit your teeth when you can’t control your temper.”

Zav tried to relax his clenched jaw, but it only made him look more awkward. It felt like everyone’s eyes were on his chin. Shame burned up to the top of his head.

“Tairok, you must really want to get kicked out of here by a divine beast’s power.”

Zav raised his hand again, gathering power. Water pooled on his palm, forming beadlike droplets that began to spin. Altan looked at Tairok urgently.

Do something!

But he acted like it was nothing, provoking him instead.

“You don’t even have the skill to drive me out.”

“Hey!” Altan shouted in alarm.

“Tairok! Stop joking around and explain yourself properly! You’re already a member here!”

At the exact moment Altan revealed the truth, the water orb shot toward Tairok.

Whoosh

With the sound of wind cutting through, the small water sphere grew into a huge one and continued toward him.

To everyone watching, it looked like the seated Tairok was about to take the attack head-on, but in that instant, his body vanished as if he had used magic.

A flash of lightning hit in his place, followed by an explosive clash of power.

Boom!!

The building shook, and a huge hole opened in the rear wall. The ceiling cracked, lights and tiles falling down as people screamed and scrambled to escape.

Crackle!

“Ahhh! Get back!”

The chaos only quieted once the thick dust began to settle. And when it cleared…

Most people had fled the Gold Room. Only a few remained, crouched behind tables or lying flat on the floor. The only ones still standing were Tairok and Zav. But everyone’s eyes went straight to Tairok.

He blocked the divine beast’s power with sword aura?!

Everyone in Tubain knew there was nothing that could surpass the power of a divine beast.

Yet even if this was a light-hearted duel, Tairok had repelled Zav’s attack. Moreover anyone could tell Tairok was the one with the most composure.