That face… not completely the same, yet almost identical.
Livia's pupils contracted sharply, as if some long-dormant memory had suddenly surged awake from the depths of her consciousness, rushing to the surface in a flash of lightning. In that instant, she understood everything. That twisted visage she had only ever seen after the use of the Bone Morphing Technique—the terrifying face she once glimpsed in a puddle on a rainy night but never dared speak of—had now appeared right before her eyes.
It was him.
The one who had never truly revealed his identity.
The man who had taught her the art of disguise, stealth, and traps—yet had always remained outside the realm of trust: her master.
The "third force" that she, Elias, and Marcellus had been tracking all this time—this deeply embedded, long-concealed puppet master who seemed to know everything—was not some unknown enemy.
It was him.
The name that had long echoed in her ears, the one he had deliberately adopted as a false identity: Eryx.
Her master from a previous life.
And now, this enigmatic man whose identity remained a mystery to all… was the person she once knew best—and feared most.
At this very moment, that face—the one revealed only after using the Bone Morphing Technique—was right in front of her, squeezing through the narrow opening of the cave. Shadows spilled in with him, thick and oppressive, making the very air within the space grow heavy.
Eryx smiled.
That smile was laced with a familiar mockery, a cold arrogance that looked down on everything. He stared at the "terrified" Livia, his voice dripping with undisguised sarcasm and amusement:
"Didn't expect this… What a pleasant surprise."
His gaze scraped across her face like a blade before he slowly asked,
"Where's the other one?"
Livia's nerves instantly tensed. She knew he meant Emma. The markings they had left along the way were indeed Eryx's signature design—a secret method he had personally taught both her and Emma. She hadn't expected him to notice the anomaly so quickly.
But no matter what, she couldn't let Emma be exposed.
She answered as calmly and naturally as she could, "It's just me."
Eryx narrowed his eyes and let out a short, scornful laugh.
"Impossible. The markers you used outside—only I and my disciples know that method. And you…"
He sneered. "You clearly aren't one of them."
"But I am," Livia thought silently, though aloud she coolly retorted,
"Someone from Elias's side taught me."
She knew Eryx was familiar with Elias—the kind of man who mingled with all sorts of shady characters. This explanation was plausible enough, and even if Eryx was suspicious, he couldn't disprove it right away. It would at least buy her some time.
Eryx fell silent for a moment, clearly assessing the truth of her claim. But soon, his focus returned to her. His gaze sharpened like a hook as he said coldly,
"Forget it. You and the artifact are both here—those details don't matter anymore."
He stepped forward. The shadows seemed to deepen, and he said in a low voice,
"Hand it over."
Livia put on a look of confusion, feigning ignorance. "This? Is it really that important?"
She knew she couldn't hand over anything easily—nor could she reveal her identity too soon. She still didn't know whether Eryx had fully recognized her. Even if he was her former master, she couldn't afford to lower her guard.
But then Eryx suddenly gave a chilling laugh, his voice dark and laced with menace:
"Still trying to stall? Edgar's eldest daughter. Marcellus's wife. The one in charge of the current expansion plan… Lady Livia. You think I'm blind?"
Hearing her identity laid out so plainly, Livia knew—she could no longer pretend.
She paused for a brief moment, then slowly straightened up. The panic on her face faded, replaced by a calm, sobering clarity.
Her identity exposed, there was no need to keep acting. What's more, she could feel sensation returning to her limbs—the effects of whatever drug or spell had paralyzed her were fading, her blood flowing again, nerves reawakening.
But even so, she didn't dare make a move.
Standing before her wasn't just any ordinary enemy.
It was Eryx, her master from her previous life. And she knew exactly how terrifying this man was.
He possessed extraordinary control and cruelty, excelled at manipulation and deception, and was a master of silent kills. Under his command, even she—once a top-tier infiltrator—had never won a direct confrontation.
In this narrow cave, the slightest wrong move could bring swift and fatal retaliation.
And yet, because she knew him so well… she found herself calming down.
She understood this man—his habits, his nature, his deepest obsessions. Everything about him revolved around calculation. He was too rational, too strategic. Every decision he made was driven by maximizing gain. And precisely because of that, he often hesitated when decisions required emotional clarity or instinct.
In Eryx's world, there was only useful and useless, only cost and return.
He trusted no one—not even her, his once-closest disciple. She had always been just another tool to him.
If he had been a stranger, Livia might still be fearful. But because he was Eryx—her master—she found herself thinking tactically, even beginning to glimpse a thread of hope.
Plans were already forming in her mind.
Perhaps she could exploit this flaw in his character.
Perhaps… she could even turn the situation around.
The wind howled outside the cave, but inside, it was as if time had frozen. The only sound was the rhythm of their breaths.
Livia's gaze sharpened.
And slowly, silently, her fingers curled inward—tightening against the inner lining of her coat.