[Ashford Empire-Mistwood Province-Bridgeport City]
Ian walked along the empty road of Bridgeport City, which seemed deserted with no one around except for the asional patrol team.
However, the thick smell of blood throughout the city, the absolute silence, and the tense atmosphere indicated that the situation wasn''t good.
However, Ian ignored everything, used the Phantom Veil technique, and made a beeline for Thomas''s mansion.
After eating something and getting some rest, he arrived in the city when the Crimson Legion had alreadypleted their mission and were on their way to the capital.
He was right on time.
The path Ian walked to get to the Lord''s Mansion was full of patrolling soldiers, but they couldn''t detect him even as he passed close by.
So, once he was near thergest and most luxurious mansion in the city center, he canceled his technique and entered the luxurious gate.
"Young Master!"
As he entered the gate, a young knight covered in ck cloth from head to toe, much like Ian, stepped forward and saluted.
"Um! Did you find it?"
Ian nodded, didn''t waste words, and wasn''t surprised that he was recognized.
With no one in the mansion and the outside heavily secured, it could only be him. Moreover, he didn''t hide his breath to stop misunderstanding.
"Yes, young master. Although we didn''t find any items hidden elsewhere, we did find a secret room. I was assigned to wait for you before checking inside."
"Oh? Where is it?"
"In the basement."
"Okay, show the way."
Ian was pleased, as the location they were heading to was most likely a secret vault.
It didn''t take long for them to walk through the mansion and arrive at the basement.
Being the Lord''s residence, it wasn''t the damp and dirty basement Ian had imagined.
However, the thick smell of blood and signs of struggle strongly suggested there had been a fight earlier.
"Young master! This is the secret room we found."
The young knight led him to the wine cer and down an inconspicuousdder to an unremarkable wooden door.
Seeing Ian inspecting the wooden door, the knight quickly exined,
"This looks like a simple wooden door, but there''s a strong iron door embedded within. When we discovered this ce, multiple powerful knights were guarding it."
"Um."
Ian nodded, not because of his words but trusting Morgrave''s expertise implicitly.
"Okay, go outside and wait for me."
"Yes, young master."
The soldier gave a knightly salute, climbed thedder, and left to stand guard.
Once alone, Ian turned around, took out the Spellde, and swung it lightly at the wooden door.@@novelbin@@
"ng!"
Suddenly, a loud sound echoed throughout the basement. However, Ian did not see the door open.
While the wooden door was cut like tofu, the iron door behind it bore only deep scratches.
"It''s quite a thick door."
Ian mused, then poured both his mental power and life energy into the de, producing a sizzling sound.
He then raised his hand and swung the de again; this time in full power.
"ng!"
"Thud!"
This time, he split the door cleanly, and it fell with a thud under its weight.
''Quite useful.''
Feeling satisfied, he stored the de back in his mana ring and slowly entered the room.
The secret room was essentially a fortified basement made of special iron for added safety. There were no traps or poisons as Ian had expected.
The room was dimly lit by arge candle, and rows of cabs lined the walls, filled with ledgers and books.
Ian browsed through them and discovered records of secret dealings, contracts, and shady activities.
''Well, it makes sense.''
After perusing the books for a while, he quickly lost interest, deciding to hand them over to his father to deal with.
After rummaging through all the stuff, aside from arge wooden chest in the corner, there was nothing else of value.
So, he dragged the chest to the center of the room and used his sword to break the lock.
Suddenly, as soon as he opened the lid, the room was filled with the refreshing mana of the Hearthstone.
After briefly looking inside, the chest contained severalrge Runestones, a blood-red book, and a ck pouch.
Just as he opened the chest, a series of system prompts appeared in his mind.
[Ding!]
[You killed 5,000 soldiers in cold blood.]
[You killed your uncle Thomas, who was blood-rted, with your own hands.]
[You discovered what Thomas had hidden.]
[Congrattions! You havepleted the Intermediate Quest: Are you cold enough to kill your blood rtive?]
[Your destiny path has been further solidified.]
[Destiny: Passerby Viin (?)]
[Congrattions! You received a reward: A Chance for Bloodline Awakening.]
[Note: Simr rewards can be earned bypleting simr quests, but be cautious as your greed can be your downfall.]
The system remained as cryptic as ever, offering only brief prompts without further exnation.
"Just as I expected."
Ian was thrilled to havepleted another Quest; that too intermediate one.
"What do you mean, just as you expected? Do you think Thomas is stupid enough to leave his wealth in such a ce?"
Just as Ian was about to examine his reward, a sweet but discordant voice filled the room, breaking his concentration and making him instantly alert.
The voice was seductive yet tinged with grievance, as though Ian''s words had offended her.
"Who?"
He swiftly drew his Spellde, turned around, and regted his breathing and mental power, prepared for a fight.
It shocked him that someone had been able to sneak up on him despite his high mental power. Someone that capable couldn''t be a weak person.
"Oh? Good de but too tacky."
However, the woman across from him didn''t seem to care about his hostility and instead eyed the de in his hand with interest.
She also didn''t forget to give her opinion by the way.
"Aunt Margaret?"
After Ian clearly looked at the figure in front of him, he was stunned to see a mature woman resembling his aunt Margaret but with apletely different demeanor.
If his aunt Margaret at the party was docile, timid, and pure, this woman was herplete opposite.