Though Jasper was surprised, his thoughts were too tangled for him to dwell on


    Dexter''s words. He replied offhandedly, "Oh? Let me know when you''ll be arriving. If you''ve got time, I''ll treat you to a meal."


    "Of course we''re meeting. I''ll make time even if I have to crawl through trenches or jump out of a ne to do it!"


    "No need to go that far."


    Jasper fell silent for a moment before asking, "What brings you to Sna City?"


    In a lowered, mysterious tone, Dexter replied, "If I tell you, it''s for your ears only."


    "Then maybe it''s better you don''t. I''m not good at keeping secrets."


    Dexter snorted. "Forget it, then. We''ve fought side by side-we''re practically brothers. I know you well enough. You''d probably spill secrets even from the grave."


    Jasper was left speechless.


    "Well, truth is, I''m here on an escort mission with the king of Kontina."


    "The king?"


    "I''ll tell you the rest when we meet. It involves the royal bloodline-long story."


    Jasper had no interest in another country''s royal affairs. "Fine. We''ll talk when you get here."


    In the early hours of the morning, Justin lounged on a dark red velvet couch in the manor''s opulent yet deste living room. One leg crossed over the other, he sipped his wine with leisurely ease.


    The vintage record yer red at full volume, its soprano filling every corner of the dim, suffocating space-drowning out the desperate cries and muffled sobs of a woman from upstairs.


    It had gone on for two hours.


    Standing beside him, Eden could barely endure it. The sounds alone were torment —a grim reminder of the cruelty unfolding above.


    Yet Justin remained utterly at ease, even curling his pale lips into a faint, satisfied smile.


    When the noise upstairs suddenly stopped, Eden swallowed hard and leaned in, his voice tense. "Mr. Justin, could she have..."


    "Perhaps," Justin said lightly. "But what''s so frightening about that?"


    d his eyes and took


    He narrowed


    het


    another sip of wine. His pallidplexion only sharpened his resemnce to a refined yet bloodthirsty demon Do you know how many people have died in this manor? Who''s to say their spirits aren''t wandering around when


    you''re not looking?"


    Eden inhaled sharply, a chill running down his spine.


    Justin smirked. "Just kidding."


    A whileter, Zachary descended the spiral staircase, looking thoroughly satisfied, nked by two burly bodyguards.


    "Uncle Zachary."


    Justin quickly poured him a ss of wine and approached with a ttering smile. "How was it? Is everything to your liking?"


    Zachary took the ss and drained it in one go, then licked his lips, still smeared with a woman''s lipstick.


    "She''s a bitcking-t, no real


    curves. But young and delicate, I''ll give her that. I barely touched her


    before she hit hermit,


    sneered.


    She''s defiant too. And those


    sounds? Grating. You''ve done a poor job training her."


    "It was my fault for not training her properly. When youe again—"


    "I don''t touch the same toy twice." Zachary shot him a dismissive nce. "Unlike


    you, I can have any woman I want."


    A cold, vicious glint flickered in


    Justin''s eyes, though his smile never wavered. "You''re right. Forgive my.. inexperience. That was foolish of me."