"It would've been cleaner if we handled him ourselves."
"No. We'd have been exposed the moment we acted. Using a mortal method was the only choice."
"Indeed, Azura Harbour isn't some unknown tample."
There was a brief silence before one of them spoke again.
"Then we leave quietly?"
"Yes. Our work here is finished."
The four figures vanished into the rain without another word.
A few days later—
Two figures in white and blue robes cut across the clouds, flying toward the ruined temple.
One of them descended quickly and landed in front of a house that was burned far more severely than the rest.
Asha stood there, silently staring at the ruined home with a trembling breath.
"Father… Mother… Atem…"
She muttered under her breath as tears fell freely down her face.
"Who…?!"
Her expression twisted in an instant. A sharp killing intent burst out from her body, making the burned air around her feel heavier. Even the lingering smoke seemed to recoil.
"Calm down," the man still hovering in the sky said with a weary sigh. "We don't know the full story yet."
"You want me to calm down?" Asha turned toward him, her eyes burning with fury. "My entire family was killed. The Pearlroot Temple is gone. And you tell me to calm down?"
The man opened his mouth, then swallowed whatever he was about to say. Her killing intent alone made his skin prickle.
"We've been investigating these past few days," he said after a moment. "This wasn't done by mortals. The traces—what little is left—point to cultivators."
"Cultivators?" Asha's eyes narrowed. "Why would cultivators attack a small mortal temple?"
As she thought it over, her expression stiffened. "Could it be the people from the Dark Water Palace?"
The man shook his head. "We're still unsure. But don't worry—the sect has already assigned many people to look into this. Whoever did this won't stay hidden for long."
Asha let out a long heavy breath, she clearly didn't look convinced.
Without another word, she lifted into the air and flew away, not even sparing him a final glance.
The man watched her disappear into the clouds, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What a terrifying woman… I'd hate to be the one who angered her."
He frowned slightly as he looked over the ruins again."But who would dare to do something like this?"
"There's something off… even for rogue cultivators," he muttered to himself before turning and disappearing into the clouds.
---
Back in Azure Harbor—
Atem awoke on his underground champer with a headache throbbing behind his eyes.
The room was dim, lit only by a small oil lamp on the stone shelf beside him.
"Urgh… still alive."
He slowly pushed himself upright. His left arm felt heavy, and his chest remained sore from the earlier blast.
He glanced toward the corner where the Aetherline saber rested against the wall.
A long sigh escaped him.
"That thing almost drained my whole life away. If I hadn't used that poison, I'd be a corpse right now."
He rubbed his forehead and stood, stretching his stiff muscles.
"I should check the shop. If I don't open today, the old ladies next door will start spreading nonsense again."
After a moment, he stood and made his way upstairs.
As usual, he prepared a pot of tea first. The water slowly came to a boil, steam curling upward as he poured it into the teapot.
He drank in silence, letting the warmth settle in his body. This routine had not changed for years, and he had no intention of breaking it now.
After finishing the tea, he straightened his clothes and opened the shop.
Morning passed.
Yet the shop remained completely silent.
Not a single customer entered.
At first, Atem did not think much of it. Mornings after a storm were often slow. He continued working behind the counter, sorting tools and checking the remaining stock.
An hour passed.
Then another.
By noon, the street outside had grown lively. Dock workers moved in groups, merchants shouted over prices, and the noise of the harbor returned to normal. Yet not a single person stepped into Twin Shores.
Twin Shores was located along a busy stretch of Azure Harbor. Even on slow days, at least a few curious customers would wander in.
"…This is unusual," he muttered.
When evening came and the shop remained untouched, he closed early. The absence still felt strange, but not yet alarming.
---
The second day followed the same pattern.
No customers.
Not even the regulars came. The fishermen who always stopped by to check new spearheads were nowhere to be seen. Even the old customers who rarely bought anything but enjoyed lingering in the shop did not appear.
Atem stood by the entrance and looked out.
People passed by. Some slowed down when they reached his storefront, hesitated briefly, then turned away as if remembering something unpleasant.
"Hm… how are they doing this?" he thought.
He stepped outside several times under the pretense of tidying the front. Nothing seemed out of place.
By nightfall, Atem's expression had grown noticeably darker.
---
The third day confirmed his suspicions.
The shop remained empty from morning until evening.
By now, irritation had crept into his heart. He closed early and walked to the neighboring stores, casually striking up conversations as he always had. However, most shopkeepers became evasive the moment he mentioned business. A few forced awkward smiles and quickly changed the subject.
No one was willing to speak plainly.
When Atem returned, he sat behind the counter with a dark expression.
"It's not the customers' decision," he thought. "Someone is guiding this."
If this continued, there would be no need to shut his shop by force. It would die on its own.
"…Should I ask the people at the docks directly?"
Before he could decide, the shop door opened.
The sound startled him.
Atem lifted his head, a flicker of expectation rising unconsciously.
Perhaps I was overthinking it.
That thought vanished the moment he saw the visitor.
"You?" he said.
"Shopkeeper Atem," the man replied calmly. "It's been a while."
"Officer Merlin," Atem said with a hint of annoyance. "I didn't expect you to visit again."
He had been expecting a customer.
Merlin's lips curved slightly. "I've taken on some additional duties lately. I thought I'd start by checking on you."
Atem sneered inwardly.
"If you're here to inspect accounts or inventory," he said flatly, "you won't find anything worth your time."
Merlin shook his head. "I know your shop has had almost no customers for several days now. I'm not here to inspect anything."
"You know?" Atem narrowed his eyes, although he wasn't that much surprised.
"Do you really think this is a coincidence?" Merlin replied, his tone faintly mocking.
"How so?" Atem asked, already feeling angry inside his heart
"Oh?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. "You haven't received the list?"
Atem's heart tightened.
"What list?"
"Three days ago," Merlin looked at him with strange expression, "the Authority circulated a blacklist of shops. Twin Shores is on it."