STM 53

Zav clenched his jaw again, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t managed to overpower Tairok.

“You got lucky this time, but do you think that’ll happen again?”

He raised his hand once more, but froze when Tairok spoke.

“Your hand’s shaking.”

“Hah, stop changing the subject, bastard.”

“It was shaking even worse before you attacked. Ah, you can’t fully control your power? Or has it weakened?”

“That, that’s ridiculous…”

Zav barely said a word before Tairok’s laugh cut him off.

“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been holding back on monster hunts? Even while buying up every black mana stone on the market.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Then attack again. I’ll show you what a real beating looks like.”

Now it wasn’t just Tairok watching, every gaze in the room turned toward Zav’s hand.

He tried not to hide it, but the more he resisted, the harder his hand trembled. Someone in the room muttered under their breath.

“It’s actually shaking.”

Flinch. Zav quickly pulled his hand behind his back, but that only proved Tairok right.

“Tairok, if you’re so eager for a fight, I’ll grant your wish.”

“As if I’d wish for something that stupid.”

Tairok let out a short laugh and turned to leave. Zav shouted after his back.

“You think provoking me like that will cover your lies?!”

He brushed his hair back, pretending to be calm, and looked around the room.

“Ha, who’d have thought I’d see Tairok run away with his tail between his legs. Even if his family’s ruined, I thought he’d have some dignity left. Don’t you agree? If he’d just begged me to accept him as a member, I would’ve graciously allowed it.”

“Tairok doesn’t need permission. He’s already a member.”

Altan stood up, brushing dust off her clothes. Zav’s eyes slowly turned toward her, but the strong alpha didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze head-on.

“When Tairok became the dethroned crown prince, his membership was revoked.”

“No. The late Grand Duke Borhumi took no such action. In fact, she defended him, saying he was more than qualified. It’s written in the club records.”

Even at Altan’s explanation, Zav only sneered.

“Records can be forged. The Kun family’s desperate to keep up their divine beast’s prestige, they’d stoop to anything.”

“Grand Duke, the club’s records…”

“So you’re saying I’m lying? About my own mother?”

“……”

“Go on. Say it. Say I’m lying. Well?”

“……No, I’m not.”

Altan finally bowed her head and stepped back. Zav gave the others a condescending look before leaving the room, but once outside, his jaw clenched so tight it trembled. The late Grand Duke of Borhumi, she’d betrayed him again.

Even in death, that woman still managed to spite him.

Since the day he was born, she’d compared him endlessly to the rival family’s child, belittling him.

Even after death, she was still trampling on his pride. Humiliation and rage tangled inside him, and his hatred for Tairok sharpened like thorns.

I have to crush that bastard as soon as possible.

To do that, he needed to claim the Sword of Silence and make himself emperor. He turned to the subordinate following him and gave a quick order.

“Tell Torida: I don’t care what happens to Adeye Lu. Make him talk before midnight. If you fail, tear down that damned Owik estate and find the secret room yourselves.”

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Beep, beep, beep…

A constant mechanical noise echoed loudly inside my head. I was deep in unconsciousness, but the sound slowly pulled me awake.

The alarm was familiar. During monster hunts, when I slept outdoors, I used to leave my hearing to the nanobots so they could wake me if danger approached.

That sound was an alarm to wake up when danger was detected.

Huh? A monster?

The thought came instinctively as I barely opened my eyes.

I tried to lift my hand, like I always did, normally, my weapon was close enough to grab instantly. But this time, my hand wouldn’t move.

Huh? What’s going on?

I finally realized that my wrists were tied behind my back. I was lying on a filthy floor that stank of damp and mold.

Since my mind still wasn’t clear, Mo kindly summarized it for me.

[You lost consciousness after a chemical attack in the back garden of the club. It’s been six hours and seventeen minutes since.]

Ah, right. And the one who sprayed that stuff at me was probably Torida, Baron Owik’s bonded partner.

He must’ve thought I kidnapped the Baron from the resort and dragged me here because of it…

“Ugh…”

I pushed myself up, but a sudden wave of nausea almost sent me rolling over again. I didn’t know what drug Torida used, but it had done a number on my body.

I couldn’t properly muster my strength. But I gritted my teeth and looked around. It looked exactly like a basement cell.

Shit, there is nothing here I can use to cut the ropes?

I scanned the area, but aside from a few huge bugs crawling around, there was nothing useful in sight.

And where the hell am I?

[There’s not enough information yet to determine that.]

‘What do you mean you don’t know? Didn’t you keep the hearing sensors on while I was out?’

[That wasn’t possible due to a shortage of processing robots.]

‘Mo, you sound awfully confident saying that.’

[Because it’s true.]

…Well, fair enough. I stopped myself from arguing. Otherwise, I’d sound like some boss who pays minimum wage but expects a CEO’s workload. And honestly, I didn’t even need to ask.

Clang.

The metal door opened, and two big guys walked in. One look at their faces, and “thug” might as well have been tattooed on their foreheads. One of them met my eyes and clicked his tongue.

“What, already awake? Tch, I was planning to wake you up by giving that plump ass a little fun.”

What the hell did you just say, you bastard?

I instinctively clenched my tied hands over my butt, but before I could do anything, they grabbed my arms and dragged me out. Fortunately the one waiting for me wasn’t interested in my ass.

“Adeye Lu, be honest. Did you took Baron Owik from the resort?”

The man who had knocked me out asked, and I looked at him.

“Are you Torida?”

His answer wasn’t words, it was the slap that hit me across the face.

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“What happened?”

As soon as Tairok climbed into the carriage, he asked Rick, who was waiting inside. Earlier, when he left the Gold Room, he had ordered someone to follow a certain person.

Normally, Rick got those kinds of orders all the time, but this time his face was stern as he spoke.

“Solongo went missing after leaving the club.”

Maybe embarrassed about failing, Rick quickly added, “I immediately sent Enya after her as you ordered, but it seems a skilled mage teleported her away.”

When Tairok didn’t answer, Rick cautiously glanced at him again.

“But Solongo getting involved… isn’t she Adeye Lantuya’s most trusted aide? I doubt she’d make such a fuss just because Adeye Lu’s missing.”

“They’re siblings.”

“Even so, it’s strange. If Lu’s probably drunk and passed out somewhere, why send Solongo of all people?”

“She said she cares because Lu came back from the brink of death. What else do you expect?”

The irritated tone made Rick raise an eyebrow. Why did that sound like Tairok was defending Lu?

“I thought you didn’t believe Lu had really changed.”

Tairok didn’t answer. He turned his gaze toward the window instead, but the look in his eyes made it clear he was annoyed, as if he was frustrated with himself for not being able to give an answer.

“Put someone on Zav.”

“Is there something specific bothering you?”

“There is. Adeye Lu.”

Rick stiffened and glanced at his lord in disbelief. Tairok had never once shown interest in anyone, no matter how beautiful, so why was he talking about Adeye Lu like he was special?

As Rick silently panicked, Tairok’s eyebrow twitched.

“Zav reacted sensitively to Lu’s disappearance. If he took him, he has a reason.”

“Ah, right. The Grand Duke Borhumi wouldn’t touch Lu without cause. After all, he’s an Adeye. That ruthless money-devil Lantuya’s only brother. Considering the extravagant gift she sent us, she probably values him more than we thought.”

Rick hummed thoughtfully.

“But if the Grand Duke Borhumi really is behind it, then Lu must have something he wants…”