"Somlei…"
The name that came from Nal's mouth made Lynn frown, and a flicker of fear appeared in Giggs's eyes beside him.
"Did that man say anything else?" Lynn pressed.
"N-no… nothing else, Lord Lynn."
Just then, the rumble of carriage wheels echoed from the street corner, mingled with the hurried patter of feet.
The group turned to look.
A black carriage, marked with the Blood Mark Society's insignia, was approaching.
Around it ran several strange figures shrouded in black robes.
They moved on all fours with startling speed. If not for the pale human heads on their shoulders, one might have mistaken them for beasts.
"I-it's… It's that man in black!"
Nal's trembling voice pointed to the driver seated at the front.
Giggs's face paled as well. He recognized the carriage Somlei's. Not long ago, this very carriage had blocked Lynn's own.
Clip-clop, clip-clop
The carriage halted at Lynn's doorstep.
The black-robed man dismounted and opened the carriage door for Somlei.
Even before he appeared, a chilling voice floated out.
"Lynn, such an important event as your birthday banquet… why didn't you invite me?
"I've prepared a grand gift just for you!"
Thud!
As Somlei spoke, he tossed something from the carriage.
A pale head rolled across the ground.
It was severed cleanly at the neck, as if carefully treated; no blood seeped out. Other than the gouged-out eyes, the features remained intact.
"Ah! K-Kewen!!" Nal shrieked in terror, stumbling back and falling to the ground.
Beside him, grief flashed in Giggs's eyes.
Kewen had been his most trusted subordinate, calm, loyal, dependable. Giggs had even considered leaving Kewen in charge once his debts were repaid.
And now… Kewen was gone.
"By doing this, are you declaring war between the Blood Mark Society and the Golden Shadow Society?"
Lynn's voice rang cold and steady.
Inside, anger burned. No one could endure such provocation on their birthday and remain pleased.
Members of the Golden Shadow Society at the banquet began to notice the commotion and gathered toward the gate.
Somlei did not answer. Sitting in the carriage, he fixed his frigid gaze on Lynn and sneered.
"Lynn, do you think that dodging the Autumn Hunt means you're safe?
"Do you think the Golden Shadow Society can protect you for life?"
He slowly shut the carriage door and gestured for his servant to drive on. His final words drifted faintly from within:
"This head… is only the beginning."
Lynn heard the footsteps of his Society peers rushing up behind him. His eyes narrowed. Quietly, he chanted a spell.
Whoosh!
A fireball shot from his hand, streaking toward Somlei's carriage.
But the enemy was prepared. A white glow flared, forming a pale shield around the carriage.
Boom!
The fireball slammed into it, exploding with a deafening blast.
The shield only shuddered, dimming slightly, but held firm.
It was a potent defensive spell of the Zero-Ring Intermediate level.
Lynn readied another strike, hoping to delay Somlei until reinforcements arrived.
But then the pale beasts around the carriage suddenly flared with crimson eyes and leapt at him!
Buzz!
The Silver-Wrist Sword shimmered into his hand. He slashed at the lead creature!
A sharp current of air coiled around the blade, silver-white light flashing. The beast was cleaved cleanly in two mid-air.
Before he could strike again, several other spells erupted from behind him; his allies had arrived.
In the next instant, the remaining creatures dropped lifeless to the ground.
It was obvious they had been little more than disposable puppets, meant only to buy Somlei time to escape.
"What happened here, Lord Lynn?"
A Second-Class apprentice stepped forward, demanding an explanation.
By now, Somlei's carriage had vanished down the street. Lynn withdrew his gaze and calmly recounted the events.
"The Blood Mark Society's Second-Class member, Somlei?"
"What a fool, Ruso's death had nothing to do with Lord Lynn!"
"How dare Somlei act this way?"
"To choose such timing, crashing a birthday banquet with provocation… is he not afraid of igniting war between the Blood Mark and the Golden Shadow?"
"…"
"This has gone too far, Lynn. I'll personally bring this to the Society's upper council."
At last, the highest-ranking Second-Rank apprentice at the banquet spoke up.
"Thank you, Lord Santos." Lynn bowed his head in calm gratitude, though his mind was deep in thought.
Ever since the day Somlei had stopped him on the road, Lynn had been preparing countermeasures against him.
From all the information he had gathered, Somlei was a twisted and deranged individual. Much like Ruso before him, years of indulging in grotesque experiments on human bodies had left his mind warped and unstable.
To put it bluntly, it wasn't wrong to treat him as a lunatic.
Thus, Lynn had never relaxed his guard and had been quietly making plans in the background.
Yet he had not expected Somlei to go so far into such madness.
Tonight's provocation, at best, could be called a personal vendetta. At worst, it could be used as justification for the Golden Shadow Society to openly strike against the Blood Mark Society.
If Somlei dared to act this recklessly, was he not afraid of his Society holding him accountable?
Around Lynn, fellow members were still talking animatedly, their discussion drifting from sympathy for him to the broader enmity between the two Societies.
But as Lynn lifted his gaze to the darkening indigo sky, a vague unease stirred in his chest.
He could sense keenly that something was happening behind all this, something he did not yet know.
Far away, within the Blood Mark Society's stronghold, inside a hidden chamber…
A First-Rank apprentice was reporting to the man before him.
"Lord Buden, under my guidance, Somlei has already gone to the Golden Shadow Society to provoke them."
The man had a high-bridged nose, middle-aged features, and wore a crimson wizard.
Were any First-Rank wizards of the Golden Shadow Society present, they would have cried out in shock.
For this man was none other than the First-Rank wizard rumored to have vanished during the Black Rose incident!
"Somlei did not suspect your guidance?"
"No, my lord. He is someone far too easy to manipulate."
"I see." Buden nodded slightly, dismissing the apprentice with a wave.
When the apprentice had left, another figure emerged from the shadows.
His skin was deathly pale, and his exposed neck and arms were covered with intricate crimson sigils.
Buden immediately bowed with respect.
"Lord Bloodmark."
This was none other than Rowich Nolan, the founder of the Blood Mark Society and a High First-Rank wizard.
"I have asked before, but Buden, you are certain that you saw Golden Shadow himself in Black Rose City? And that he was fleeing in disgrace, badly injured?"
"I am certain, my lord.
"That golden, mist-like silhouette is his signature form; I could never mistake it. And he revealed his face as well. It was Lyman.
"As for his condition… I saw blood and pieces of viscera pouring from his mouth, spattering the ground. He looked gravely wounded."
Rowich nodded, his expression lit with anticipation.
"Then we shall see how the Golden Shadow Society responds.
"If they show weakness, it will confirm that old fox Lyman is indeed gravely hurt…
"And that will be our chance to rise the moment the Blood Mark Society seizes supremacy over Emeraldwood City!"
He sat back into a wooden chair, eyes gleaming with hope. After a pause, he asked again:
"On your way back from Black Rose territory, did you see or hear anything else of value?"
Buden thought carefully, then shook his head. "Nothing else of note, Lord Bloodmark.
"But the war in Black Rose is far from over. I suspect the outside world will remain in turmoil for some time."
"No rush. A year or two at most."
Buden nodded, then hesitated before asking:
"During my two months away… has anything unusual happened in Emeraldwood City, Lord Bloodmark?"
"You mean the Emerald Shadow?" Rowich shook his head. "With the Hossens School present, such matters are not ours to worry about.
"Our focus must remain on the Golden Shadow Society."
Buden bowed once more in acknowledgment.
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