"Are you an idiot? Master and your stupid father made a blood contract. Do you think it will work with your cremated father?" Aleshia sneered.


    A dagger appeared in her hand, and she swung it at the air in front of her.


    "A-Ah-Aghhh…"


    Vernon grabbed his neck and stared at Aleshia with disbelief. Blood started pouring out of it like a broken pipeline.


    "Don''t worry. You aren''t dying yet," Aleshia said.


    She stopped a foot in front of Vernon and started chanting a spell.


    A minuteter, ck tendrils shot out from her hand and wrapped around Vernon''s body. It seeped into his bleeding neck and invaded his blood. It started corrupting it and causing him great amounts of pain.


    Vernon tried to scream in pain, but his broken vocal cord muffled him. He then started coughing ck blood.


    On those ck blood, tiny mushrooms started growing.


    "I intentionally slowed down the effect of that spell. It will slowly turn you into a mushroom''s food," Aleshia said with a sinister smile on her face.


    It was a long time since she tortured someone. It felt exhrating doing it in front of her beloved Master.


    "Master, do you like it?" Aleshia turned around and asked him.


    "Good. Make him suffer for taking advantage of you," Lawrend said and stood up.


    His face was as cold as ice. He hated this n. If possible, he would kill all of them, but he won''t until he gets to talk with his father. He will give the decision to him.


    After all, he was the one that suffered.


    "Let''s go. Ignore him. Let him die in silence," Lawrend said and beckoned them.


    They left that building and headed out as if nothing had happened. The only one outside was Vernon. They didn''t have anyone else. Everyone was too afraid to associate themselves with Lawrend.


    Only after a few minutes passed did Vernon''s body fully dpose. A giant mushroom grew on him before the ground slowly sucked Vernon''s decaying body through the gap in the tiles.


    Except for the ashes and ssh of blood, no one would see any other evidence of what happened here.


    …


    Lawrend''s group immediately returned to the Royal Castle. He couldn''t wait to go find his father, but he had to wait for news first.


    The various cities in the kingdom had long heard about the news. The new king was an unbeatable prodigy. Even the envoys from the empire were not able to stop him.


    As a result of this surprising news, every city that was hesitant to pledge its allegiance immediately pledged. They reasoned that it wouldn''t be bad to be under a prodigy king''s rule. They were a part of the kingdom anyways.


    Once Lawrend heard of this news the next day, he immediately set off to Star Tail City. He would retrieve Elena and go around the kingdom to find his father.


    He needed answers.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He realized that the n Head never exined what happened to his mother afterward. He was desperate. He hoped that she survived. Knowing what his father did, he must have done something to save her.


    ''Definitely,'' Lawrend repeated that to himself throughout their journey.


    He brought everyone with him this time as he would need a lot of eyes to search the various cities in the kingdom.


    As for the envoys from the empire, they didn''t care that he left. Instead, they secretly followed them. They were curious where he would go. It might reveal that he was actually plotting something.


    They shortly arrived at the city after a few hours. Lawrend''s group entered the city with solemn faces. Whoever faced them would move away in fear of angering them.


    A quarter of an hourter, they arrived at the Mage Guild.


    "Master!"


    Elena immediately jumped into his arms. The sadness on Lawrend''s face was slightly washed away as he smiled at her.


    The two of them embraced each other for a while. Elena quickly sensed the heavy atmosphere around the group.


    "What happened to Master?" Elena asked solemnly.


    Aleshia walked to her and pulled her to the side. She then whispered to her what happened yesterday.


    "W-What…"


    Elena was shocked and heartbroken. Her heart became heavy and sad, simr to all of her sisters.


    "Master, where are we going next?" Elena asked.


    "First, I want to search this city," Lawrend replied.


    Since they were here, he might as well start here first. He already knew that his father couldn''t be in the capital city. Otherwise, he would be viting his exile.


    "I understand, Master. I will go send everyone I can to inquire information," Elena replied.


    And so, Lawrend returned to the inn they stayed at before and got another two rooms. He entered Elena''s room with Aezel and Humility. The four of them would be staying in the same room again.


    "Master, it''s okay. We will find your father soon," Aezel said and rubbed his back while he sat on the side of the bed.


    "I know… He can''t have left the kingdom."


    Lawrend closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was so stressed. It was like he was reading a very interesting book that ended with a cliffhanger.


    Lawrend lied on the bed and stared at the ceiling in a daze.


    The envoys from the empire entered the city and quickly learned that Lawrend was looking for his father. They became curious, and they rented an inn on the other side of the street.


    …


    The next day, a piece of important news came.


    *Knock* *Knock* *Knock*


    A mage from the Mage Guild repeatedly knocked on the door anxiously.


    "Who is it?" Aezel opened the door angrily.


    "News! There is news for the man we''re looking for!"


    "Master, wake up! There''s news!"


    Lawrend woke up and immediately listened to the mage''s words.


    "We saw someone that might fit your description. He is a very secretive man, and he always walks around the city with his maids," the mage said.


    "Let''s go then!" Lawrend said.. Even if it turned out to be a wrong lead, he was too impatient to care about it.