Edward, calm down and explain what happened." Vern's voice was steady but laced with worry as his eyes lingered on Edward, who sat slumped forward, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Edward's shoulders quivered, a storm raging silently inside him. His lips parted, but no words came. Instead, his jaw locked tighter, molars grinding until a faint trickle of red stained the corner of his mouth. He hadn't even realized he was biting down so hard that his gums bled.
Vern's brows furrowed. He leaned closer, lowering his tone as though speaking to a wounded beast that might lash out at any moment. "Edward…"
Still no answer. Only the sound of Edward's ragged breathing filled the space, heavy and uneven, like a man barely keeping himself from exploding.
"Haa…" Vern let out a long breath, rubbing his forehead before forcing a small, assuring smile. "Alright, fine. Don't hold it all in. We'll beat him up if that's what it takes. Just tell me…" He paused, his gaze softening as he thought of Salena's pale, trembling face earlier. "Why was she so distressed whenever she saw him? What did he do to her?"
The question hung in the air, pressing down like a weight. Edward's fists trembled harder, his nails digging so deep into his palms that thin crescents of blood formed. His eyes, once downcast, slowly lifted—burning with a fury that barely hid the anguish underneath.
"That… son of a bitch—he's blackmailing her." Edward finally spat out, his teeth still clenched, the words dripping with venom. His whole body shook as if forcing those words out had ripped something raw inside him.
"What?" Vern blurted, his eyes widening in disbelief. His voice cracked, a mix of shock and anger. "How can he blackmail her? Salena has a higher status and lineage than his entire damned family combined!" He leaned forward, his confusion plain, his hands tightening into fists on his knees as if ready to tear the answer out of Edward.
Edward's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his voice faltering when he spoke again. "She… she told me once—when she was young, she attended a ball." His tone wavered, eyes clouded with both anger and helplessness. "It was there… that bastard whispered to her… he said he would kill everyone she held dear if she didn't listen to him."
The air between them grew heavy, suffocating. Vern froze, his mind reeling. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe. The words felt unreal, absurd, yet Edward's trembling voice and haunted expression left no room for doubt.
"What the hell…?? Is she an idiot?" Vern finally managed to blurt out, his voice sharp with disbelief. His chest rose and fell quickly, his astonishment barely containable. "It's absurd—threatening the beloved daughter of the Draken house? And worse, it's the Nathans of all people! The Draken household could squash them like a bug without even lifting a finger!"
His words echoed with incredulity, but beneath the surface was nothing but calmness.
Edward let out a quiet sigh, lifting his gaze to meet Vern's. "Ahem…" He cleared his throat, sensing the storm of confusion building inside his friend. "You don't understand. Since childhood… Salena was always shy, timid. She would believe whatever anyone said without questioning it."
His tone softened, though his fists remained clenched. "She was a bit… how should I put it…?" Edward hesitated, his jaw tightening before he forced the word out with bitterness. "An idiot."
Vern's eyes narrowed, but Edward pressed on, his voice heavy with regret. "So when she was a child, Kazik whispered that he'd kill her mother and father if she disobeyed… She believed him. Completely. And she didn't tell anyone—because to her, it was real. That threat dug itself into her heart and stayed there, festering, turning into trauma."
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling shakily as if the weight of saying it out loud drained the strength from his body. "Even now, whenever she sees him, that fear from childhood resurfaces… and she becomes that same helpless little girl all over again."
Hehe… so I was right, huh?Vern's lips curled, a dangerous light flickering in his eyes. I knew that guy wasn't just some shallow dog chasing after beauties. No… he's filth, hiding his rot beneath a mask,but he lacks experience unlike me and it's a pity that he caught my attention.
The thought made his blood stir with anticipation, and he leaned forward with a predatory grin. "Now this is perfect," he muttered under his breath before speaking aloud. "But tell me, Edward—what about the consequences after we beat him up? We could try hiding our appearances, but… it'll be hard to avoid suspicion."
Edward didn't hesitate. His gaze was sharp, steady, and unyielding. "You don't have to think about that."
Vern raised an eyebrow, curious.
"I've already spoken to Father," Edward continued, his voice low but firm. "He said we can beat him half-dead if we want to. He's just as enraged as we are. And he promised—he won't interfere. Neither will the instructors of the institute."
"So, let's go then," Vern said, his voice low, sharp with anticipation. He pushed himself off the edge of the bed, eyes narrowing. "He isn't in this dorm… have you discovered where his dorm is? And what about the sounds—won't people hear?"
Edward's lips curved into a cold smile. "I've already taken care of that." He reached into his robe and pulled out a small round orb, its surface gleaming faintly with a sinister red hue. Holding it up, the crimson light flickered across his knuckles. "His dorm is in Lodgings Five, room number six. And as for the sounds…" Edward's smirk deepened. "This will do."
The orb pulsed once, a low thrum vibrating in the air, before dimming again. It was as if the object itself was hungry—ready to swallow whatever chaos they unleashed.
Vern's grin widened, sharp and eager. "Perfect." His tone was almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of something far more dangerous. Without hesitation, he stood, the chair scraping against the floor. The excitement in his eyes burned hotter than fire.
Edward rose as well, sliding the orb back into his robe. His expression was grim, but his movements held a quiet decisiveness, as though he had already rehearsed this moment in his mind a hundred times.
The two of them stood side by side in the dimly lit room, silent for a brief moment—two shadows bound by shared purpose, ready to unleash their fury.
"Let's go," Vern muttered, his voice almost a growl.
*****
"Sigh… what should I do?" Kazik muttered under his breath, his expression twisting with unease as he paced inside his room. His hand ran through his hair, tugging at it in frustration. "Those two—Edward and Vern—they're already suspicious of me. If they ever find out about what I did… they'll kill me. Especially that Edward."
A shiver ran down his spine as the memory surfaced—Edward's glare, sharp as a blade, cold enough to pierce bone.
"Monstrous bastards…" he hissed, his voice trembling. "Despite being so young, that Edward has already reached Second Severance. His strength… his aura—it's terrifying. And Vern…" His throat tightened, the words faltering as his mind recalled the suffocating presence that boy carried. "Vern doesn't even have that much talent, yet his bloodlust—it's so concentrated, so raw—that even my father can't emit such pressure."
Kazik's knees weakened for a moment, his breath uneven as he imagined locking eyes with either of them. The thought alone made him stutter, his chest tightening with a fear he despised.
"No… no, I can't falter now." He clenched his fists, forcing the trembling to stop. His gaze hardened, burning with ambition. "To achieve what I want, I must control Salena first. Her fear is my chain, and through her, I'll secure my hold. Then… once I ascend the throne of the Nathans, I can proceed further. One step at a time… until everything is within my grasp."
His lips curled into a twisted grin, though his eyes still darted to the door, as if expecting Edward or Vern to burst in at any moment.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Just as Kazik was drowning in his fantasies of power and dominance, a sudden rapping against the door shattered his thoughts.
"Hmm?" His brows furrowed, his expression twisting with annoyance. "Who could this be at this hour? I don't remember scheduling any appointments…"
He stood frozen in place for a moment, unease crawling up his spine.
Knock. Knock. Another set of knocks echoed, louder this time, reverberating through the silence of his room.
Kazik clenched his jaw and slowly approached the door, each step heavy. He paused just before reaching it, closing his eyes as he released his mana perception. Invisible waves spread out from him, brushing against the walls, the air, the door itself—yet nothing. No presence, no aura, nothing to indicate who was waiting on the other side.
There were two possibilities, Kazik reasoned quickly. Either the person behind the door was an ordinary individual without a mana core… or they were skilled enough to completely conceal their presence from him. Both options unsettled him in different ways.
So he decided to ask again, his voice edged with caution. "Who is this?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then a reply came, muffled through the wood—
"Excuse me, sir. Forgive me for bothering you at this hour, but… could you please open the door? I'm the receptionist."
It was a female voice, soft yet oddly hoarse, like someone who had strained their throat recently. The tone was polite, almost formal—but something about it carried a faint rasp that prickled at his nerves.
"Haa…" Kazik let out a long exhale, tension bleeding from his shoulders. He felt foolish for being so on edge. A receptionist. That explains why I couldn't sense anything—she must be a normal woman without a core.
Muttering under his breath, he reached for the handle and unlatched the lock. The hinges creaked softly as he pulled the door open—
—and the dim corridor light spilled into his room.
Ahh… the relief he felt only a heartbeat earlier vanished like mist under the sun the moment his eyes focused on the figures standing beyond the doorway.
Two shadows loomed in the dim corridor light—Edward and Vern.
Kazik's breath caught in his throat, his mind stuttering to a halt. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. He was flabbergasted, utterly blindsided, his body frozen in place.
Edward leaned casually against the doorframe, his grin sharp enough to cut. "Hello, motherfucker," he drawled, voice low and mocking. "How have you been?"
Before Kazik could even process the words—
Bang!