In the early morning, Jamie sat cross-legged in the center of his room, bare-chested, breathing calmly as threads of mana wrapped around his body. With closed eyes and stern features, he had finally succeeded in stabilizing his energy after breaking through to the First Magic Circle and advancing to the rank of "Low-tier Swordsman." He opened his eyes slowly, speaking to himself in a low voice and a tone firm as rock.
In the training grounds, soldiers watched him in astonishment as he demonstrated his skills. His strikes moved with terrifying speed, sharp and precise, as if the sword were an extension of his soul. The soldiers whispered in admiration: "This boy... is a genius!" and "What a performance! I haven't seen anything like this in years..." He finished his exercise and left the arena quietly to sit in a shaded corner of the castle, deep in thought.
Images of the surrounding organizations flashed through his mind:
The Dove Association: A charitable organization caring for the poor and talented, though their true intentions remain unconfirmed.
The Scorpion Gang: Underworld traffickers who control illicit goods and slaves.
The Blood Fang Gang: The most dangerous group—a mixture of thieves and degenerates who brought terror and filth to the heart of the barony.
Jamie suddenly stood up and shouted: "Silvie! Come here immediately!" Emilia Wilton entered with an anxious look. He asked her: "Did you do as I asked?" She replied: "Yes, Master... I dumped all the bodies near the perimeter of the Blood Fang Gang's headquarters. Close together... to make it look like their doing." She confirmed that rumors had spread claiming the gang killed the Silver family servants and threatened his life.
Emilia asked hesitantly: "Master... is that why you killed the old head butler? I gave you seven names... they were the real culprits, but you... killed everyone!" Jamie looked at her directly with cold, soulless eyes. A chill ran down her spine, and she realized this being was not normal. She whispered: "I... understand, Master."
Meanwhile, in a filthy tavern belonging to the Blood Fang Gang, men were celebrating with liquor and gambling. Upstairs, Ghalib, the gang leader, was laughing while reading the newspaper: "Oh, this is good! Rumors say we killed Baron Jamie's servants and threatened him... This is excellent! It will boost our reputation!" He laughed loudly, considering the previous poisoning attempt a badge of respect among the gangs.
Suddenly, a scream from below shattered the tavern walls: "Ghalib! Ghalib!!" Ghalib leaped to his feet, demanding to know what was happening. A guard entered, pale-faced and drenched in blood: "Boss... someone... is killing our men!" Ghalib's eyes widened in terror, and the answer came not in words, but in the sound of choking and the heavy thud of the guard's corpse falling to the floor right before his eyes.