After the departure of the Light Wind division.
"Are you alright?"
Juan looked at the torn cheek of Bells with a worried expression.
"It's just a scratch. Don't worry."
Bells wiped the blood flowing from his cheek and shook his head.
"If it wasn't for this, they wouldn't have been fooled."
He sighed briefly as he looked down at the empty carpet.
"Yes. Fortunately, it seems they were deceived."
Juan nodded softly, as if the fierce momentum he had shown earlier was gone.
"We can't relax yet."
Bells frowned as he grabbed his left wrist.
"Raon Zieghart and Miss Rakshasa knew right away that it wasn't the White Blood Religion when they saw the bodies at the Sinigen Branch. They are very perceptive and must still be suspicious of us."
"Indeed. But they will ultimately find nothing."
Juan and Bells spoke calmly, as if they had anticipated that the Light Wind division would realize it wasn't the White Blood Religion that attacked the Sinigen Branch.
"There are no clues. They will doubt us and the Five Demons, and eventually, thinking of new enemies, they will fall into a swamp of thoughts and become our prey."
"Prey…"
Bells tilted his head, not understanding the meaning of the prey.
"I hear the Light Wind division has arrived, so he said he would come personally."
Juan leaned back in his chair, forming a smile with his lips.
"I thought the plan I made for decades was ruined because of Siuelen, but it turned out well. It's better to get rid of the humiliating title of a vassal family."
"I respect Father's decision. However, it's a bit regretful."
Bells clicked his tongue briefly as he looked up at the sky.
"It's true that our preparations are not perfect. But we can't wait forever. Now is the best time while Zieghart is being checked by the Five Demons."
"That's not what I meant."
He slowly shook his head, looking at Juan.
"If this was going to happen anyway, we should have prevented the bodies at Sinigen from being moved to Zieghart."
"Hm?"
"If we had fed those bodies to Criatus, it would have filled its belly quite well."
"Kuhahahaha!"
Juan burst into loud laughter and patted Bells on the back.
"Yes. That's my son, the heir of Lakion!"
He genuinely seemed pleased with Bells, showing a warm smile that didn't match his appearance.
"But even if you fed Criatus with the blood of those worms, it wouldn't grow significantly. Soon, it will tear and drink the flesh and blood of the Light Wind and the Dragon Slayer, so don't worry."
Juan waved his hand, telling him to look forward to it.
"When will it start?"
"He said he would come right away, so by tomorrow evening, everything will be over."
He drummed his fingers on the armrest of the throne, drawing a sinister smile.
"Until then, keep an eye on Siuelen so she doesn't cause any trouble."
"I've sent Basion, so she won't escape."
"The second one is too extreme. Who knows what he's doing?"
"I'll go check on him."
"Good. The heir to Lakion should always know everything."
Juan looked out the window at the lone moon in the night sky, forming a cold smile.
"The day Lakion rises alone is not far."
Raon turned his gaze after putting on a mask.
"Oh…"
Dorian, who shared the room, blinked blankly.
"I'm going out for a while. Take care."
"Don't worry."
Dorian pulled out a life-sized doll with a golden wig from his pouch.
He placed the doll in Raon's bed and covered it with a blanket, then gave a thumbs up.
"Done?"
"Y-Yes, but why do you have such a doll?"
"It's essential…"
"Never mind."
Who knows where his essential items end.
Raon shook his head quickly, opened the window slightly, and slipped through the small gap.
-Doesn't that guy have all the things you've been looking for in his pouch?
Wrath blew out a breath as if he couldn't believe it.
'Probably.'
Raon nodded with a faint smile. He thought if he asked for a Dragon Heart, Dorian might pull it out, calling it an essential item.
Raon stood on the roof of the annex and narrowed his eyes as he looked at the house on the opposite side.
'They are watching.'
He felt the presence of people watching the annex from the house's windows.
Since he left the window using the moment their gazes wavered, no one noticed his presence.
Raon headed towards Juan's manor, hiding in the shadows of the night.
Since it was dawn, Juan and Bells were not visible, only the guards stood alert with stern expressions.
'Shall we start?'
With his presence minimized and the Snow Flower's Veil activated, he began searching the Lakion family.
After investigating how many guards were present, where they stood, and which areas were heavily guarded, he returned to the front of the manor.
'It's strange.'
He thoroughly searched the Lakion family but didn't feel any demonic energy, bloody energy, or special auras. It was an ordinary martial arts family, only strong in combat.
Raon leaned against a wall that the moonlight didn't reach and bit his lip.
'I wasn't mistaken about the demonic energy…'
The foul stench of corrupted demonic energy emanating from Bells was real. Something that caused demonic energy was definitely inside this family, just not detectable.
'Should I wait until tomorrow?'
In a few hours, it would be dawn. It seemed best to stop here and resume at dawn.
'No.'
I can't delay when I don't know what Lakion is planning.
I haven't discovered the relationship between Juan and Bells, their thoughts, or who attacked the Sinigen Branch.
In a situation where nothing can be predicted, it's best to gather information as quickly as possible.
Raon climbed up the high, straight pillar of the manor. From the highest point, he overlooked the entire Lakion family.
'Not in the buildings, garden, lake, or facilities. Then where…?'
He turned his gaze and saw a small mountain adjacent to the Lakion family.
'A mountain? Is it private property?'
Then it's the best location…
Since it's right next to the family, with no people living around, it's the best place to hide something.
It would take a lot of time to search the entire mountain, but if he moved quickly, he could return by dawn.
Raon made up his mind and crossed the wall, heading towards the unnamed mountain.
'Hm?'
As he reached the foot of the mountain, a dreadful stench, like that of sewage, stimulated his soul.
'This stench…'
Though lighter, it was similar to the stench he felt from Bells yesterday. It was definitely corrupted demonic energy.
'Wrath.'
-...
He called Wrath, but there was no response. It seemed he was sleeping. He is never helpful when needed.
Raon frowned at the stench and climbed the mountain. The scent of corrupted demonic energy started from a rock in the middle of the mountain.
'This place…'
Raon narrowed his eyes at the rock. Despite the endless stench, he couldn't feel any mana.
However, there was something noticeable to his assassin-trained eyes.
'The color of the soil is slightly different.'
The soil around the rock was a mix of dark and light colors.
The rock must have moved, pushing the light-colored soil underneath to the outside.
'So, it's a mechanism.'
Judging by the lack of any mana, it seemed to be a purely mechanical device.
'Should I enter?'
Carefully examining the rock, he figured out where to touch it to make it move.
But opening the door might alert those inside, so he couldn't enter recklessly.
Raon moved away from the rock and climbed a nearby tree. Someone would definitely come in, so it seemed best to wait.
After waiting in the tree for about an hour, he felt a presence coming from above, not below.
Although the person almost perfectly erased their presence, they couldn't escape the senses of Raon using the Perception of the Snow Flower.
As he waited with his breath held low, a large man in a robe silently descended the mountain and stood before the rock.
Raon frowned as he looked at the man's back.
'Bells Lakion?'
The man, covered in a robe, was Bells. Having met him just yesterday, he couldn't be mistaken even with his presence hidden.
Swoosh.
Bells, noticing the difference in the color of the soil, carefully mixed it with his hand and then inserted his finger into a hole at the edge of the rock.
Swoosh!
The rock moved smoothly, revealing an entrance. As expected, it was a purely mechanical device with no mana involved.
Raon followed Bells into the hole like a shadow.
'How foul…'
Inside, the stench was even worse. It seemed they used machinery outside and spells or magic to block the demonic energy inside.
'Thorough bastards.'
To install such a secret mechanism in a place that is practically their home, they were certainly not ordinary people.
Following Bells, stepping only on the same stairs, he saw a cave illuminated by yellow light.
There were many rooms connected to the cave, from which the sound of breathing and the stench of corrupted demonic energy leaked out.
'What are they doing?'
Curious about what they were doing with corrupted demonic energy and how they were using it, Raon followed Bells.
Bells, without interest in other places, approached the largest door in the center of the cave.
Thud.
When he opened the door, a space splattered with red paint was revealed.
In a dusty corner, a young girl in tattered clothes was chained, and in the center of the room, a middle-aged woman was suspended in the air, tied to thin strings like a wooden puppet.
"Oh? Brother, you're here?"
A young man, who had been tearing off the woman's flesh, raised his chin.
"Ugh…"
The middle-aged woman, whose flesh was torn, bit her lips to the point of bleeding, possibly because of the girl in the corner, swallowing her screams.
"Basion. What are you doing?"
"It's boring just taking care of the girl. I was playing a bit because I was bored."
The young man, called Basion, flicked his finger, sending a piece of flesh and blood flying. The piece of flesh fell at the girl's feet.
"I told you to watch Siuelen, didn't I?"
Bells frowned as he looked at the whimpering girl.
"I let you see blood yesterday. Understand this much."
Basion shrugged, looking aggrieved.
"..."
Bells looked at Basion for a moment, then approached Siuelen, who was chained in the corner.
"O, older brother. Please! Save my nanny!"
Ignoring her own condition, Siuelen knelt before Bells, pleading for the nanny tied to the strings.
"I won't do it again! I'll stay still. Please!"
"Actions have consequences."
Bells shook his head with a calm gaze.
"If you hadn't gone to the Sinigen Branch, the people there wouldn't have died, and your nanny wouldn't be in this state. It's all your fault."
"O, older brother…"
Siuelen trembled in fear at Bells' dry eyes.
"That's right. If you had stayed still, I wouldn't have had to waste time here."
Basion waved his hand, annoyed.
"But you're lucky. If you weren't my sister, I would have cut your head off already."
He made a gesture of cutting his throat, looking disappointed.
"Basion."
Bells turned his back and looked down at Basion.
"The Zieghart bastards are moving, so stay here for a while."
"I'm not a mole. Why should I stay hidden? It's boring!"
"Just endure a little longer. What you want will happen soon."
"Oh? Really?"
"Father has made up his mind. He said he would come personally."
"Finally! Getting rid of the filthy title of a vassal family?"
Basion laughed bizarrely, looking forward to that day.
"Stay quiet if you understand."
Leaving those words, Bells grabbed the doorknob. He glanced back at Siuelen briefly, then opened the door and left the room.
"What should I do?"
Basion approached Siuelen with plodding steps.
"Our little one. You were waiting for the Zieghart bastards, but it seems Father plans to offer them as sacrifices?"
He stroked Siuelen's cheek, curling his lips.
"It's all over. Soon, you will become like me."
Basion licked his lips as he looked at Siuelen with eyes filled with madness.
"You should get used to it. There's no family left as you know it."
He sneered at his sister and went out.
"I'm sorry…"
Siuelen bowed her head, shedding the tears she had held back.
"It's okay, miss."
Her nanny, tied to the strings, moved her parched lips.
"You were trying to do the right thing. I'm fine, so be strong."
The nanny forced a smile as she looked at Siuelen.
"I'm really sorry."
Siuelen's hands trembled. The chains on her wrists clanked softly.
'If only I had stayed still…'
Because she went to the Sinigen Branch, all the people who helped her died, and her nanny was being tortured.
She felt so guilty for the deaths of those at Sinigen that she wanted to end her life.
"Sniff…"
As Siuelen scratched the floor with her bleeding nails, a man in a black mask emerged from the shadow behind the door. He placed his finger to his lips, revealing his resolute eyes.
Raon cast a thin aura barrier to ensure Basion outside couldn't hear, then approached the two.
"Ah…"
"Who are you?"
Siuelen only groaned, while her nanny barely opened her lips.
"I am from Zieghart."
Raon pulled out a badge engraved with Zieghart's emblem and showed it to the two.
"Ah, ah…"
The nanny, who had held back her tears for the girl's sake, let out a desperate breath, tears streaming down.
"Please, save my lady!"
Raon looked at the chained girl as he listened to the nanny's plea.
'So this girl was the one who tried to inform the Sinigen Branch?'
From the conversation between Bells and Basion, he gathered a lot of information.
It seemed that this girl, Siuelen, tried to inform the Sinigen Branch about Lakion's misdeeds.
"Tell me what happened."
Raon knelt on one knee, making eye contact with Siuelen.
"Ugh…"
Siuelen's shoulders trembled, overwhelmed by emotions, but knowing there was no time, she nodded immediately.
"R-Right now, our family is working with the Holy Sword Alliance."
"Holy Sword Alliance?"
Raon frowned, looking at Siuelen.
'The Holy Sword Alliance is involved?'
Because of the demonic energy filling this space, he had assumed the Black Tower was behind it, but the mention of the Holy Sword Alliance was unexpected.
"Yes. It's definitely the Holy Sword Alliance. Since a swordsman from there came and gave a sword to my father, the family has changed."
"What do you mean by changed?"
"The swordsmen, who couldn't easily wield their swords against people, started killing without reason. They only focus on becoming stronger, looking only at the sword, and show no interest in anything else."
Siuelen spoke with trembling lips.
"People who didn't change disappeared overnight, replaced by strangers. Our house has been changing into a place I don't recognize…"
"So you went to the Sinigen Branch?"
"I wanted to inform them about the Holy Sword Alliance being behind it, but… they all died…"
She mentioned how Bells personally destroyed Sinigen, bowing her head. She couldn't even scream and cried out in her heart.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, those people…"
"No."
Raon shook his head as he held Siuelen's shoulder, which was trembling with fear.
"You did nothing wrong."
Saying that, he sensed the demonic energy emanating from the other rooms.
'The demonic energy is from that sword?'
A sword creating corrupted demonic energy. It could be called a cursed sword.
'But why give such a sword?'
The Holy Sword Alliance, a group of sword fanatics who sought only powerful swordsmanship, having such a sword wasn't surprising.
But giving it to the Lakion family made no sense.
'Judging by the fact that he said he would come, it might be a deal.'
While he discovered what was behind the Lakion family and what they were doing, solving it wouldn't be easy.
'No, there is a simple way to solve this.'
According to Bells, Juan planned to hand over the Light Wind division to the Holy Sword Alliance.
In that case, the best course would be to take over the family quickly, set a trap, and ambush the Holy Sword Alliance when they arrived, ensuring the best outcome with minimal damage.
"Where is the sword the Holy Sword Alliance gave?"
"I don't know. It disappeared after I saw it. I'm sorry…"
"It's okay."
Raon smiled as he placed his hand on Siuelen's head.
"I'm sorry, but I can't save you right now. I'll come back tomorrow morning. Can you hold on until then?"
Since the Light Wind division wasn't aware of the situation, moving now wasn't the best choice.
Preparing perfectly on their side and moving when the enemy was unprepared was the best option now.
"I'm okay, but…"
Siuelen bit her lip as she looked at her nanny.
"I'm fine. I can hold on."
The nanny forced a smile and nodded.
"I'll be back soon. Please hold on."
Raon nodded to the two and disappeared into the darkness. As he left the room filled with demonic energy, a red gleam shone in his eyes.
'I have a lot to do.'
The next day.
Juan Lakion frowned as he sat on his throne.
'What's going on?'
Rimmer had suddenly called for a gathering of everyone in the family, so most of the family's warriors had gathered in the audience chamber early in the morning.
"If it's Rimmer and not Raon Zieghart, it shouldn't be a big deal."
Bells calmly shook his head.
"Although he repaired his energy center, he's still living like a madman. He'll probably spout nonsense as he did yesterday."
"The Mad Dog is cunning, second to none. Be cautious. Have you checked on Siuelen and Basion?"
"Yes. They are both in place."
"Phew."
Juan narrowed his eyes as he lightly sipped the tea on the table.
"The grand plan is near. Just a little longer. Be mindful of your actions."
"I will."
As Bells nodded, there was a knock at the door of the audience chamber.
"Come in."
At Juan's nod, the door opened, and Rimmer and the Light Wind division entered. The warriors' eyes gleamed like those of generals ready for battle.
'Hm?'
Although Rimmer and most of the Light Wind warriors were present, Raon Zieghart and one other person were missing.
"You called everyone together, yet why are there people missing on your side…"
"We found the culprits."
Rimmer interrupted Juan's words with a bright smile.
"Culprits?"
"Culprits?"
"We found the culprits who attacked the Sinigen Branch and killed many people."
He walked confidently down the central aisle, as if he had already grasped the truth.
"Who are they?"
Juan suppressed his rising anger and asked.
"They are…"
Just as Rimmer, wearing an even broader smile, was about to speak, a massive tremor erupted from the mountain to the east of the Lakion family.
Boom!
Everyone in the audience chamber turned their gaze towards the source of the deafening explosion.
"What is that?"
"I released a Mad Dog."
Rimmer bared his white teeth, looking up at Juan.
"He'll bring the culprits soon. Of course…"
They might already be dead.