— A Talisman's Protection —
On the top floor of the Sixfold Trade Guild, Selene enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
The fragrance of rose tea—once something she couldn't even smell before Eren cured her—floated softly in the air.
Subconsciously, she reached into her bosom, her fingertips brushing against the warm, smooth jade talisman. It was a gift from Eren—given with a grave warning about "an impending blood calamity."
She smiled faintly. A calamity? As the Guild Leader's daughter, surrounded by elite guards, who could possibly harm her?
That thought shattered—
BOOM!
The heavy oak door burst apart. Grandfather Seven staggered in, blood soaking his chest.
"Run... Selene... traitors... they're coming for you..."
Before she could react, several black-clad figures slipped into the room like blades in the dark. Their leader's aura was sharp enough to chill the air.
"A Great Grandmaster...?" Selene's heart tightened.
"Good eyes," the black-clad man said, slowly advancing, his gaze sweeping over her. "I've heard the little princess of the Sixfold is peerlessly beautiful. Today, why not let this Hawthorne see for himself?"
Grandfather Seven threw himself at him.
CRACK!
Hawthorne's kick smashed the old man into the wall.
Selene cried out, eyes burning with fury.
"You dare attack the Guild Leader's daughter?! My father will issue the Pursuit Decree!"
Hawthorne laughed. "Terrifying."
Selene's blood ran cold. That meant he truly feared nothing today.
"Take her."
Hawthorne's palm thundered toward her chest—
RUMBLE—!
A blinding flash erupted from the jade talisman. The shockwave hurled Hawthorne across the room, blood spraying mid-air.
The room froze.
Even Selene blinked in disbelief as her fingers touched the glowing charm.
"Eren... he really saved me..."
Grandfather Seven rasped, "Go... now..." with the last of his breath.
Selene didn't hesitate. She shattered the stained-glass window and fled into the mountain forest.
Just then, her encrypted communicator buzzed urgently.
She answered immediately—
"Selene! Don't come back!" Her father Magnus's voice was fraught with an unprecedented urgency. "Find a place to hide! Don't trust anyone! Remember, any—one!"
Before he could finish, the communication was forcibly cut off. A busy signal greeted her next attempt.
Selene's heart tightened. Was even her father in dire straits?
Had the rebellion within the Sixfold Guild reached such a scale?
Isolation, fear, helplessness—all washed over her. She clenched her fists.
Where could she go? Was anywhere in this city safe?
A moment later, a figure flashed across her mind.
That calm, faintly smiling, yet assured face—Eren.
Yes. Find Eren!
Right now, he was the only one who could save her.
— Prison Gambit —
Eren sat calmly in his luxurious "cell." Seeing him, Selene's panic finally eased.
"You're here?" he asked.
"I'm staying. Problem?"
"Yes. If you're joking, leave."
Selene nearly exploded. "A great beauty offers herself and you refuse?! Are you still a man?!"
Eren's expression remained unchanged. Instead, his tone turned cold. "Let me guess, you're here seeking shelter? Pity. We've only met twice. Why should I involve myself in the Sixfold's troubles? Please leave."
His words shattered Selene's heart completely.
She took another deep breath, suppressing her pride, her voice softening. "Eren... you guessed right. I do need your help. What would it take... for you to aid me?"
Eren's gaze deepened, a glint flashing within. "That depends on what you're willing to pay."
Selene was taken aback, meeting his eyes.
Her mind raced. Suddenly, she gently bit her lip, her voice almost a whisper. "What if... I offer myself?"
As the words left her mouth, she felt her cheeks burn, her heart pounding like a drum.
To be fair... marrying Eren didn't seem like a bad fate.
Eren was momentarily stunned, then raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
Selene bit her lip, her gaze firm. "Naturally. Feelings... can be cultivated over time."
Eren laughed, his expression inscrutable. "In that case—shouldn't you first let me see your true face? If there's a monster under that veil, wouldn't I be at a huge loss?"
"Monster?!" Selene nearly exploded with anger. "You're the monster! If I weren't no match for you, I'd beat your head in!"
Eren remained impassive. "In that case, please leave."
Furious, Selene turned to go.
After three steps, she suddenly stopped, took a deep breath, and slowly turned back.
Her eyes softened, her voice melting into honey.
"...Eren, do you really want to see? Besides my father, no other man has ever seen my face. I swore an oath that the first man to see my true appearance would be the one I marry. You—are you sure you want to see?"
Her jade-like hands lifted slightly, poised to remove the veil.
Eren was almost startled, quickly waving his hands. "Stop! I don't want to see!"
He withdrew his smile, his tone suddenly serious. "You want my help—fine. But I don't want your body."
Selene was stunned, a complex sense of disappointment stirring within her.
"Then what do you want?"
Eren spoke slowly. "For my cultivation, I need century-old medicinal herbs and a type of crystal called 'Spirit Stones.' If you can provide these consistently, I will lend my aid."
Selene thought for a moment, then nodded. "The herbs aren't difficult. I haven't heard of Spirit Stones, but if they exist, I can find them! The Sixfold Trade Guild—is capable of anything!"
Eren smiled slightly. "Then it's settled."
He stood up, his sleeves flowing lightly. "Now, come with me. Let's go meet your... guests."
Selene's face changed. "What? They've already tracked me here—?"
Before she could finish, she followed Eren as he rushed out of the cell door—
Outside the prison, Hawthorne stood waiting with a cold sneer, his killing intent palpable.
— Flick of Death —
"Miss Selene, did you think hiding in this prison would keep me from finding you?"
Hawthorne's face was pale, his severed arm roughly bandaged, his gaze venomous.
"How foolish! Come with us quietly, and you might spare yourself some suffering!"
Eren seemed not to hear his taunts. He merely tilted his head slightly towards Selene.
"Dead or alive?"
The sheer confidence in his casual tone made Selene instinctively grab his arm.
"Alive!"
"You little bastard! How dare you act so arrogant when you're about to die!"
Hawthorne was utterly enraged. Though severely wounded and his cultivation damaged, the dignity of a Great Grandmaster could not be trampled by some young brat!
"Attack! Kill him!"
His black-clad subordinates surged forward at his command, their internal energy erupting as they charged Eren like hungry wolves.
However—the moment they took three steps, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Several heads silently soared into the air. The headless bodies continued forward two more steps by inertia before collapsing heavily to the ground.
Blood gushed forth like a spring, instantly dyeing the ground red.
Hawthorne froze, staring at the nearly invisible, blood-darkened thread in Eren's fingers.
"Y-You... used this to kill them...?"
"Surrender. Cripple your cultivation," Eren said flatly. "Or the next strike takes your head."
Hawthorne roared in wounded pride. "I am a Great Grandmaster!" He hurled his Frigid Ice Palm forward.
Eren stepped once.
THUD!
His kick crushed Hawthorne's dantian.
The man screamed as decades of cultivation shattered.
"M-My... cultivation...!"
— Truth Behind the Coup —
Eren withdrew his foot, no longer looking at him, and said mildly, "He's yours."
Selene, snapping out of her shock from the thunderous strike, looked at Eren with awe and relief. She quickly stepped forward, looking down at the now-crippled Hawthorne, her voice cold as steel.
"Speak! Who sent you? What's the situation at the Guild headquarters? How is my father?!"
Hawthorne gave a wretched laugh. "No harm in telling you... I serve under Vice Leader Kenelm. Your Drax family has controlled the Guild for centuries; it's time for a change of leadership! Lord Kenelm has launched the coup; he's probably already seized control by now. Your father, Magnus Drax—haha, is likely already a prisoner!"
"Vice Leader Kenelm... I should have known it was him!"
Selene gritted her teeth, her chill almost tangible.
"Speak! What happened to Grandfather Seven?!"
"That old fool? Chopped to pieces and fed to the dogs, of course! Hahahaha—!"
The last trace of pity in Selene's eyes vanished completely.
A cold killing intent solidified in her pupils. She raised her palm, internal energy gathering abruptly, and struck down with force—
Thump!
The laughter cut off abruptly. Blood streamed from Hawthorne's seven orifices, his eyes instantly dimming as life left him.
Eren glanced at her with slight surprise, seemingly not expecting such decisiveness from the seemingly delicate noble lady.
Selene turned to Eren, took a deep breath, and said sincerely, "Eren, thank you."
Eren simply waved his hand, his tone as calm as ever. "We each got what we needed. It was just a transaction."
Hearing this, a slight pain pierced Selene's heart, accompanied by an indescribable bitterness.
So, in his eyes, it was all just a cold, calculated trade.
She quickly composed herself and pledged solemnly, "Rest assured. Once the rebellion is quelled, I will spare no effort to gather the herbs and Spirit Stones for you—I won't go back on my word."
Eren nodded, saying no more.
His gaze turned towards the world beyond the prison, his expression calm yet hinting at hidden sharpness.
— It was time to go meet that person.