Young Master Sirius might have maintained a smile the entire time in the Administration Building, but the truth was far different.
He was furious.
Extremely furious.
Yet, he never allowed that fury to surface.
From the moment they left the Administration Building, the atmosphere around him had turned unbearably heavy. Derek walked several steps behind him, his head lowered, not daring to utter a single word. The other followers were even more cautious. No one spoke. No one even breathed loudly.
They all knew one thing very clearly—Young Master Sirius was in a dangerous mood.
After a while, the group arrived at Young Master Sirius's mansion.
The mansion was vast, luxurious, and extravagant—fully befitting the status of the son of a Deputy Patriarch of the Union. Under normal circumstances, the place was always lively. Laughter echoed through its halls, servants moved busily, and beautiful women could be seen everywhere.
Young Master Sirius was well known for his indulgent lifestyle.
Women, wine, music—he never lacked any of it.
But today, the mansion was eerily silent.
Not a single servant dared to speak. Not a single girl appeared in the hall. It was as if the entire estate had sensed its master's suppressed rage and instinctively retreated into silence.
The news of what had occurred in the Administration Building had already spread faster than wildfire. By the time Young Master Sirius returned, even his own mansion was already aware of the humiliation he had suffered.
None of this surprised him.
After entering the main hall, Young Master Sirius sat down slowly on his seat. His posture was relaxed, but those who knew him well could tell—this calm was far more terrifying than open anger.
Derek and the others stood at a distance, not daring to approach.
Time passed in silence.
Then, footsteps echoed softly.
A young woman, around twenty years old, entered the hall.
She was breathtakingly beautiful—elegant yet dangerous, gentle yet sharp. Her presence alone seemed to ease the suffocating pressure in the room.
She walked straight toward Young Master Sirius and sat beside him without hesitation.
When Derek and the others saw her, they almost sighed in relief.
To them, this woman was an angel.
Whenever Young Master Sirius was angry—truly angry—she was the only one capable of calming him down. She was also the only person who dared to sit beside him without fear.
Her name was Billie.
No one knew her origin.
One day, years ago, Young Master Sirius had traveled to the Royal Empire with his father. When he returned, Billie came with them. No one knew where she came from, who she was, or what her background was.
And no one dared to ask.
Young Master Sirius treated her differently from everyone else.
Warmly.
Protectively.
As if she was the only person in the world who mattered to him.
Even more terrifying was her strength.
Young Master Sirius himself was already a genius—8th Level of the Elementary Stage at just sixteen.
Yet Billie was stronger.
She stood at the peak of the Elementary Stage—9th Level, one step away from the Physique Strengthening Stage. That final step was a terrifying barrier that countless cultivators failed to cross in their lifetime.
Even within Phoenix Feather City, very few could breach it.
Billie had been standing at that threshold for quite some time.
"I heard the news," Billie said calmly.
Her voice was soft, yet it immediately drew everyone's attention.
Young Master Sirius did not waste words.
"What is your opinion?" he asked directly.
The gravity of the situation was clear. This was no longer a simple matter of personal humiliation. What happened in the Administration Building threatened the very foundation of how authority operated in Phoenix Feather City.
Everyone turned toward Billie.
They might not know her origin, but they knew one thing very well—Billie was frighteningly intelligent.
Even Young Master Sirius's father occasionally sought her advice when facing complicated political issues inside the Union.
Billie did not disappoint.
"First of all," she said calmly, "our power does not come from laws. It comes from fear."
No one objected.
This was the unspoken truth.
"Public fear toward our authority—and our families' authority—is what allows us to operate freely," Billie continued. "But this Sherlock directly attacked that foundation. He injected hope into the hearts of the people."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hope is dangerous."
She continued, "Now, people will flock to the Union Library. They will start reading about laws. They will believe they can stand up to authority."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"This is unacceptable."
Everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
"The first thing we must do," Billie said, "is kill that hope."
Silence followed.
They all agreed with her—but no one knew how to do it.
Billie, however, clearly did.
"We need to do something big," she continued, "something brutal enough to completely shatter the illusion that laws can protect common people."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"And public hope has a fatal weakness."
She paused deliberately.
"Family."
The realization struck instantly.
Eyes lit up.
No matter how courageous a person was, they all shared one weakness—their loved ones. A person could risk their own life, but risking the lives of their family was an entirely different matter.
Fear would return instantly.
"At the same time," Billie continued, "we must also deal with Sherlock."
Derek's eyes flashed.
"This bastard is the root of everything!" he burst out. "Why don't we just kill him and end this once and for all?"
His killing intent was undisguised.
Young Master Sirius instinctively turned toward Billie, waiting for her judgment.
She shook her head slowly.
"That would be the worst possible move," she said.
Derek was stunned.
Billie continued calmly, "Sherlock has already angered not just us, but every noble family and authority figure in the city. Right now, many of them are undoubtedly discussing this incident."
She glanced at Young Master Sirius.
"If we kill him now, public perception will turn completely against us. That alone is manageable—but the real issue is the Old Master."
Her gaze sharpened.
"This is a critical time. The Patriarch is nearing retirement. The competition among Deputy Patriarchs is fierce. Any stain on Old Master's reputation will be exploited mercilessly by his rivals."
The hall fell into deep silence.
No one dared to argue.
"Sherlock must not die yet," Billie concluded. "Instead—he must disappear slowly."
Her lips curved into a faint, chilling smile.
"And while he disappears," she added softly, "we will make an example out of others."
Fear would return.
Hope would die.
And authority would be restored.
Young Master Sirius finally exhaled slowly.
His rage did not disappear—but it became sharper, colder, and far more dangerous.
"Good," he said quietly. "Proceed."
Far away, completely unaware…
A certain man named Sherlock Holmes was unlocking the door to his newly registered clinic.
And a storm was already gathering around him.