A dangerous aura suddenly erupted from the attic, surging out like a tidal wave. Fortunately, Smith had been cautious ever since he stepped into the Dusk Auction. The moment he sensed the change in the atmosphere, he instinctively sidestepped.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as a figure smashed through the railings in front of the attic. Debris scattered in every direction.
Smith narrowed his eyes and quickly assessed the attacker's condition. The man was clad in dark golden armor that had clearly seen better days. The armor was battered and scarred, worn down by time and countless battles. Every mark on it seemed to tell a story of war and survival.
The man himself was ancient, with deep wrinkles covering his face and long, disheveled gray hair that draped like a curtain over his features. At a glance, he looked like nothing more than a frail old man, hunched and brittle with age, someone who should be enjoying his twilight years in peace.
But the aura he exuded was anything but peaceful.
Smith immediately felt it — a terrifying and profound pressure, like that of a sleeping lion abruptly awakened. Though the old man appeared physically weak, the spiritual force emanating from him was majestic and suffocating, enough to make even Smith feel uneasy.
"Grandfather!"
A high-pitched voice rang out as the Red Queen and her maid rushed forward from within the attic. They hurriedly restrained the old man, attempting to calm him down.
When the Red Queen finally saw Smith standing nearby, her expression changed drastically.
"You again?! What are you doing here?" she demanded, her petite figure puffing up in indignation. She stood on tiptoe, trying to make herself look taller and more authoritative. "I'm warning you—don't push your luck! I let you off easy last time because I was feeling generous. But don't think I'll tolerate your nonsense again. I, the Red Queen, have my pride!"
Smith rolled his eyes, exasperated. "I haven't even said anything yet."
Was this girl here just to argue with him every time they met?
"Hmph! Whatever it is, I refuse," she declared, folding her arms. "The Dusk Auction doesn't welcome you. You should leave right now."
Smith didn't waste any time. "Where is the base of the Burning Fire Clan? Just tell me, and I'll be on my way."
"The Burning Fire Clan? Never heard of them," she replied with a scoff, clearly lying. "And even if I did know, why would I tell you?"
Before the argument could continue, the old man they had restrained suddenly let out a violent roar.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
A massive spiritual force burst out from his body, so powerful it sent the Red Queen, her maid, and Smith flying backward. All three hit the walls with a heavy thud.
"Level Five?!"
Smith's eyes widened in shock. Now that he felt it more clearly, the old man's power was unmistakable. This was a fifth-class supernatural being!
He hadn't sensed this aura before. It had been hidden—either suppressed or dormant—but now it was fully unleashed.
A fifth-level supernatural being, right here in the Dark City... Could this man be the true force behind the Dusk Auction? The Red Queen's grandfather?
"Grandfather!" the Red Queen cried, panic filling her voice as she staggered to her feet. Both she and her maid were visibly alarmed.
"Go! Get the blood of the Giant Elephant!" she ordered, grabbing onto the old man again.
"Understood!" the maid responded and sprinted toward the attic.
But the old man wouldn't stay still. He thrashed violently, eyes wide and bloodshot. His aura was chaotic, like a storm barely held back by a dam about to burst.
"Grandpa, it's me! Don't be afraid," the Red Queen pleaded, her hands trembling as she tried to calm him. But her voice didn't reach him.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The old man kept repeating the same word, over and over. His once-cloudy eyes now gleamed with a dangerous clarity. Without warning, he shoved the Red Queen aside, drew a rusted longsword from his space ring, and raised it high.
"Those who dare to invade the Holy Empire—will be executed!"
The blade came down in a flash of cold steel.
"Wood Release: Tree Binding and Eternal Burial!"
Just before the sword landed, Smith stepped forward. His hands moved in swift succession, forming seals. In an instant, thick vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the old man's limbs and weapon, restraining him tightly. At the same time, Smith's technique began absorbing the rampant spiritual energy from the old man's body.
He had no intention of letting the Red Queen die here. She hadn't told him where the Fire Clan's base was yet.
"Queen! The medicine is here!"
The maid returned just in time, clutching a small jade kettle filled with a red liquid.
The Red Queen snatched it from her hands and, without hesitation, poured its contents into her grandfather's mouth while Smith kept him immobilized.
The bright red blood trickled down the old man's throat and dripped from the corners of his mouth. Slowly, the fierce aura began to subside. His violent eyes dulled, the wild spiritual pressure receded, and eventually, he closed his eyes and fell silent.
Breathing heavily, the Red Queen and her maid carefully lifted the now-unconscious old man and carried him back into the attic.
Moments later, she returned, facing Smith again.
"Your grandfather's condition seems pretty serious," Smith remarked.
"None of your business," she snapped, her voice frosty. "I already told you—I'm not going to tell you anything about the Burning Fire Clan's base."
Smith didn't flinch. "Everything has a price. Name what you want. Maybe I can give it to you."
"I don't need anything from you," she replied bluntly, clearly unwilling to negotiate.
"In that case, I'll find them myself," Smith said, turning to leave.
Just then, the maid returned again and whispered something in the Red Queen's ear. Her expression shifted slightly.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
Smith halted and turned around, eyebrow raised. "What now?"
"It's not impossible to tell you," she said with a reluctant pout. "I need something. If you can bring it back to me, I'll tell you what you want to know."
She placed her hands on her narrow waist and puffed out her chest, trying once again to appear more confident and authoritative.
"What do you want?"
"The blood of the Earth Dragon Elephant."
"Earth Dragon Elephant?"
She nodded. "It's a higher-level evolution of the Earth Giant Elephant. Bring me its blood, and I'll give you the location of the Burning Fire Clan's stronghold."
Smith's expression darkened. "From what I've learned, every Earth Dragon Elephant discovered so far has been classified as a fifth-level monster. You're asking me to fight one? That's a death sentence."
Back at Huaihai College, the cultural knowledge classes had covered fifth-level monsters in great detail. The Earth Dragon Elephant was one of the fiercest among them, known for its monstrous strength and immense defense.
"That's my request," the Red Queen replied firmly. "If you can't handle it, then that's your problem. Don't expect to get anything from me without effort."
Smith stared at her for a moment, then spoke slowly. "The blood of the Earth Dragon Elephant is known not just for boosting physical strength, but also for calming the mind and repairing spiritual damage. You want it to treat your grandfather's mental condition, don't you?"
From their earlier interaction, it had become clear to Smith that the old man wasn't simply senile — his spiritual consciousness was in disarray, likely from an old trauma or powerful backlash.
"So what?" she snapped. "I've already told you what I need. If you can't deliver, then it just proves you're not up to the task."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the attic, the maid following behind her.
But Smith's voice made her stop once again.
"If you're looking to heal his spiritual damage, why go through so much trouble? What if I told you I could cure him directly—would that be enough for you to share the Fire Clan's location?"
The Red Queen stopped dead in her tracks. Her back stiffened..
"…You can cure my grandfather?"
"I can try."
The room fell silent.
For the first time, the Red Queen didn't have a sharp retort ready.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)