Chapter 28
A Hidden Spy
The three boys heard those chilling words and turned in unison toward the source of the voice.
Their eyes landed directly on Einver, standing with a terrifying presence—his gaze glowing blood-red like two blazing embers, radiating fury and deep-seated malice. A single glance into that light was enough to rattle the soul with fear.
Einver spoke in a low, calm tone, yet his voice was steeped in dread:
"There are many kinds of people I despise in my life… and among them are those wretches who exploit me and try to deceive me."
He took a slow step forward, though he seemed like a mountain advancing upon them. Placing his hand on the first boy's shoulder, he pressed lightly while smiling a cold, merciless smile.
"And another kind… are those who dare to harm my family. You pitiful, worthless cowards… you've done both."
Suddenly, his grip tightened. In a swift, sharp motion, he slid his hand from the boy's shoulder to his throat, slamming him into the ground with such force that the floor itself shuddered.
"Now… you will face death."
His words rang out like the sentence of a judge with no appeal.
Before the second boy could even breathe, Einver seized his arm and yanked him with an inhuman strength that no body could endure. His shoulder popped free of its socket with a grotesque crack, followed by a scream that tore through the air. Einver showed no mercy—his other hand shot forward, smashing into the boy's mouth. His fist sank between his jaws, shattering teeth that flew out mixed with blood.
The third boy trembled, the blood in his veins frozen. He stammered in desperation, voice shaking:
"E-Einver… please… listen to us… we didn't mean it… please forg—"
His begging was cut short by a brutal agony that exploded through his gut when Einver's heavy boot crashed into his stomach. He crumpled to the ground, writhing and screaming, unable to form another word.
Einver towered over them like the shadow of death itself. His gaze pierced each of them before he delivered his threat, voice sharp and final:
"If any of you dare to speak of what happened here, I will return and kill you one by one. I'll tear your souls apart, torture you endlessly… I will erase you from existence, until not a single strand of you remains in this world."
He spoke with a savage smile, then patted one of their heads gently, mockingly—like stroking a child. The gesture carried only lethal scorn. He turned and walked away, leaving behind an air thick with terror.
Even after he was gone, the boy sprawled on the floor stared blankly into the void, as if he still saw the phantom of a killer looming over him.
Astharoth stepped closer hesitantly, his voice frail and worried as he asked:
"Brother… are you okay?"
Lifting his innocent eyes toward Einver, he noticed his brother's hand dripping with blood. But then he realized—the blood wasn't from the three boys. It was from Einver himself, who had barely restrained his own power from destroying them.
Had he unleashed his full strength, that blow into the second boy's mouth would have shattered his skull and burst through the back of his head. That kick to the third boy would have crushed his intestines, fusing his stomach with his spine.
But Einver… was holding back, clinging to the edge of mercy.
He smiled softly at his younger brother, patting his head as he said:
"I'm fine, little one."
Astharoth exhaled in relief, though Arthur caught the flicker of worry in his brother's eyes as he inspected the bruise on Astharoth's mouth.
Arthur quickly interjected to ease the tension:
"He's fine, brother, don't worry."
Einver's lips curved in a faint smile as he replied gently:
"All right. Why don't we go back to my house today? I heard Father will return."
A warm smile spread across his face at the thought. Both Astharoth and Arthur lit up with excitement:
"Sir Kaizen is coming back today?!"
"I want to talk to him about a few things!"
The two raced ahead, laughing and jostling like children competing to see who would speak to their father first.
Einver paused, watching their joy for a moment. Then he smiled warmly and ran after them, chasing their laughter with light steps.
---
At the Present Time
Einver now stood before the princess, fury burning within him at her attempt to deceive him. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to remain composed, then spoke with icy calm:
"Very well. I'll go prepare myself for tomorrow's tournament."
A cold smile touched his lips as he turned his gaze toward the four jesters, adding:
"It was an honor meeting you… and I look forward to fighting you all tomorrow."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out of the royal audience hall with steady steps.
He wandered the streets of the city with a few coins in his pocket—money he had earlier received from the elder, Moon Fai. He decided to buy new clothes, since his old ones had been torn.
He entered a modest clothing shop and chose a black men's kimono, a black cotton shirt, and elegant gray trousers. After changing in the fitting room, he paid the shopkeeper and walked out, feeling at ease in his new attire.
As he strolled through the city, he decided to explore further. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky in golden-orange hues, while cool air swept through the alleys.
Einver noticed how peaceful and lovely the city seemed. The townsfolk smiled warmly, greeting him kindly. He passed by several taverns—some single-storied, neat and well-lit, others larger and handsomely built with two floors. Yet he ignored the decorated ones and instead made his way to an old, weather-worn tavern on the city's outskirts.
Pushing the door open, he found the place nearly empty, with only an old man standing behind the wooden counter.
"Come in," the man said in a deep voice.
Einver glanced around, then calmly sat on a stool beside the barkeep.
The old man approached, polishing a glass as he asked in a flat tone:
"What'll you have, boy?"
Einver placed two silver coins on the counter and replied simply:
"Water."
The man accepted the payment, filled a glass, and slid it toward him.
Taking a sip, Einver said quietly:
"Old man… could you tell me about this city? I'm a traveler. It's my first time here, and I don't know much."
The old man paused in his polishing, an ancient weariness and sorrow flickering across his face—as though he carried a wound that never healed. With a deep breath, he sat back down, realizing this youth sought only information.
He gave a faint smile and said:
"Well… Sunlight City is a beautiful, peaceful place. The people are kind… and the princess, a fair ruler."
He began listing the city's virtues, but Einver sensed something off.
Someone was watching him.
That instinct, honed by years of training, never failed him. There was a presence on the roof, not even bothering to hide properly—as if mocking him. And it wasn't imagination; it was a faint but unmistakable killing intent, just enough for Einver to detect.
Slowly, Einver slipped a silver coin from his pocket, channeling a thread of spiritual energy into it, just as he had done before with arrows.
'If I can infuse spiritual energy into any object and throw it as a weapon… why not a silver coin?'
The coin began to glow faintly in his hand.
Then, in one fluid motion, Einver turned his back to the old man, stepped forward sharply for momentum, and hurled the coin like a spear of light. It tore through the air and struck the tavern's ceiling with tremendous force.
The old man recoiled in alarm, uncertain of what was happening.
Then came the dripping sound of blood. A frail body tumbled from the rafters with a dull thud.
It was a weak, bony figure clad entirely in black, face concealed. But his chest had been pierced clean through, blood pooling across the floor.
The old man stared in horror at the corpse, whose dead eyes still held disbelief and helplessness.
He was a spy. A hidden spy the princess, Sun Mi, had planted to trail Einver and track his movements. Not an assassin, merely a watcher. Yet he had gravely underestimated Einver, thinking a boy at the First Stage of the Earth Realm could not possibly sense him.
But Einver's sharpened senses picked up the killing intent. Had the spy not released even a sliver of it in arrogance, Einver might not have pinpointed him so precisely.
Einver remained calm, as though nothing had happened. He turned back to the old man with a gentle smile and said:
"Well then… go on, my friend."
The old man trembled, his voice breaking as he stammered:
"P-please, sir… I'm just an old man. I have a little girl to care for… please, spare me. I'll tell you anything you want."
Einver sighed softly, giving him a deep look and a strangely warm smile amid the air of death.
"I won't harm you, old man… I'm not a cold-blooded killer."
The barkeep froze in confusion.
Einver continued firmly:
"Now… tell me about this city again."
The man faltered, then submitted:
"Very well… I'll tell you everything I know—about the princess, about the city… and about Princess Sun Mi's father."
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