Inside the cave, Mark, the little brother, walked in arrogantly. His eyes scanned the surroundings. After a second, he scoffed.

"I still don’t understand how a small Verth Seeker could have this large a bounty. Are the Blackmarket motherfuckers so desperate now?"

His aura just fell a bit short compared to his Elder Brother—Darak. Stage Two Verth Wielder.

’Now let’s see where that rat is being kept," he muttered, just as he was about to turn around.

A light flashed in front of him in the darkness, and a flash zapped past him. Mark was stunned for a moment.

PUFFFF!!!

Suddenly, a gush of blood rushed outside like a fountain. Mark froze, looking down at his hands—or what they previously were. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

There was nothing...his two hands had dropped on the floor.

And finally, the shock ended as endless pain coursed through his body, causing him to...

"ARGHHHHH!!!!!!"

A feral shout tore from his throat, veins popped all over his body as he began rolling on the ground, unable to bear the pain.

"IT HURTS!!!! I-I’M DYING!! BIG BROOO!!!!!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs, but there was no reply. But...

Step. Step. Step.

Whatever sanity he had left was enough to hear the footsteps echoing; he barely twisted his head and saw a black-robed man walking towards him, in his hand, there was a glowing sword.

"Y-You!!?"

He was horrified when he saw the cold face of Emperal, and seeing this, Emperal nodded.

"Yes, I am the Verth Seeking rat you were searching for. I see you liked my welcome gift."

"Hufff...b-bastard! Big bro will kill you!!"

He snorted, despite the pain. He still managed to squeeze those words out. Hearing this, a cold smile spread on Emperal’s face.

Step. Step. Step.

Just in time, a pair of footsteps echoed across the cave. Mark widened his eyes, just in time to hear Emperal’s cold voice.

"You mean...this?"

Emperal threw something on the floor...it rolled and landed beside Mark.

"B-BIG BROO!!! NO!!"

Mark was horrified when he saw the head of Darak. He tried to slither towards him. But, Emperal’s blade blocked his path.

"Who sent you guys? And think twice before you open your mouth, I will torture and feed your big bro’s head to the dogs, if you dare answer otherwise."

"Hiieee!!!"

Mark whimpered and hurriedly nodded, his entire body trembling because of fear and pain. But the psychological pressure of seeing his big bro’s head and the threat of torture shut him up.

"I-It was from the Blazefang’s funding, they hired many people for information collection and sent them to various border towns. Ours just happened to...cough cough!! Be Dawnreach."

"Oh? Those musclebrains? No way, they are not smart enough or have the patience to pull this off. Someone else is pulling the strings from behind."

And strings, if not Voidclaws...then who rings the red bells?

Emperal massaged his forehead, turning towards the Firebird, who was smirking and eagerly rubbing his hands. Emperal smiled.

"Go kill that man, our contract is over, and I’ll pay you," Emperal gestured, further scaring the creature writhing in blood.

"N-No! Don’t kill me, I-I-!!"

"Heh, boss. Leave it to me."

The Firebird smirked and stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. But he had barely taken a step past Emperal as the corner of his eyes blackened.

"Hmm? My body? Why is it over there?"

This was the last thing that occurred in his mind before darkness enveloped him. Emperal swung his sword, washing the blood on it.

"Hmph, blame your subordinates for insulting my Soleine in the forest, and I...hate those who betray."

With the spark of his Draconic flame, he burned three bodies into ashes and left the cave with a satisfied look.

...

That night, Emperal returned to his mansion with a dark expression. Putting his groceries on the table, he pulled out a chair to open the sea-facing window and sat.

The coastal wind blew gently against his hair, making it wave. From his pocket, he took a small pouch, which was a brownish dried tobacco leaf, a premium one. The kind you’ll only get from connections.

"Mhm, this smells good." Emperal nodded repeatedly. He tore a thin strip of paper from the pouch’s lining and infused a bit of Verth in that, just to cover the holes and make it more malleable.

Placing the tobacco in the paper’s center, a copious amount. He rolled it once...twice and then sealed the edge.

He repeated this for two more papers; it was the motion of someone who had already done this plenty of times.

Holding it above, he lit it with a spark of Draconic flames from his fingertips. Bringing his mouth closer, he drew a long puff.

"Ah~ This feels better."

Emperal sighed as he watched the smoke go around the window. The second exhale followed the wind towards the sea.

"Blazefang...it seems I have to teach you a lesson."

He took another puff and exhaled gently, "Giving me trouble even outside the Draventhar. You guys surely must pay back a bit, right?"

His darkened face slowly loosened up as he repeatedly puffed the smoke.

"Infernal Dragon, what is the next item we need? I think we already have two, and if we are being optimistic, I’ll count to three."

Emperal spoke, his eyes lingering on the smoke.

"You have acquired these items with surprising efficiency, Emperal. I have to give you that. But, unfortunately. The last two are not going to be that easy."

The Infernal Dragon’s usual arrogant voice echoed, making Emperal nod.

"I know, mind telling me what they are?"

"A small branch of Everheart wood alongside the virgin blood of a Royal-blooded Elf."

The Infernal Dragon chuckled, freezing Emperal.

"This...better be a joke, Infernal Dragon, because, honey. This...really is not funny."

Emperal barely managed to breathe and squeeze those words out. This Dragon...what the heck does he think Emperal was?

He would be chewed out in Aelvorn if he dared utter those words out loud. Let alone the Everheart Tree...just obtaining the virgin blood of a Royal-blooded Elf? Yeah sure. Puffing another round of smoke, he slouched behind his chair and closed his eyes.

"Say..."

"Hmm...?"

"Does this virgin blood also grow on trees?"

...

(A/N: The first volume ends here, hope you guys have enjoyed the Chapters so far:)