Chapter 222 — A Familiar Sight

Chapter 222: Chapter 222 — A Familiar Sight

Chapter 222 — A Familiar Sight

Victor rounded the corner on his way back toward the den, his thoughts still occupied by everything he’d learned.

After a few moments, though, he pushed it all to the back of his mind.

There wasn’t much he could do with the information right now.

Sooner or later, he was probably going to have to speak with Elder Benton.

The more Victor learned about the three prominent families, the more obvious it became that people were going to start trying to pull him toward one side or another.

The Graveborn family had been the first.

They probably wouldn’t be the last.

Having Elder Benton’s name hanging over him might be more useful than Victor had originally thought. He might actually need the elder’s protective wing until he became strong enough that these families couldn’t pressure him so easily.

Victor continued forward.

Just as he was about to round the final corner and enter the den, voices reached him from inside.

Daniel and Zack.

Victor slowed.

"My father wants to speak to you the moment we’re done here," Zack said.

His tone made Victor pause.

There was an authority behind it that he wasn’t used to hearing from Zack.

"Do not delay."

Daniel nodded.

"Yes. I’ll see your father once we’re finished."

"Good," Zack replied. "Don’t make my father wait. You know how he is."

Victor’s eyebrows drew together.

Something about the exchange felt completely wrong.

Daniel’s usual charisma was gone.

There was no laughter in his voice. No easygoing smile or playful response.

For a brief moment, there was something almost subservient in the way he responded to Zack.

Maybe even a trace of fear.

Victor couldn’t understand it.

Zack might be the Brightshield heir, but Daniel was Gravius’s brother. A powerful cultivator from one of the three prominent families.

Why was he speaking to Zack like that?

Then both of them seemed to sense his Spiritual Energy approaching.

The conversation immediately stopped.

Victor rounded the corner.

Daniel’s entire demeanor changed.

"Come now, Zacky. Don’t be so serious."

Zack gave him a slightly annoyed look.

"You know I hate when you call me that, right?"

Daniel laughed.

"But it’s necessary. You’re like my sweet little nephew."

Victor walked into the room without saying anything.

For half a second, he almost wondered whether he’d imagined the conversation he’d just heard.

The way Zack had spoken.

The way Daniel had responded.

It was completely different from how either of them normally acted.

Victor glanced around.

Gravius was gone.

So was Alex.

He didn’t ask where they’d gone.

Daniel rose from his seat.

"It seems our time here has come to an end. I have some things I need to handle."

He looked at Victor.

"And I assume you’re satisfied with the answers you got today?"

Victor nodded.

"Thank you for today, Daniel. I really appreciate it."

Daniel started toward the door, but before leaving, he stopped.

His expression became noticeably more serious.

"Just so you know..."

Victor looked at him.

"You should watch the questions you ask from now on. And be careful about the things you talk about."

Daniel’s voice had lost nearly all of its usual playfulness.

"If you snoop too deeply into things that aren’t your concern, you may wake up six feet under."

Victor remained quiet.

"People who stick their noses into things that aren’t their business—especially things like this—they don’t tend to last very long."

Daniel stared at him for a moment.

"I’ve come to enjoy your presence, Victor. You seem like a suitable person. And if nobody wipes out that fire of yours before you truly grow, you may very well become a powerhouse among cultivators."

His eyes sharpened.

"But first, you need to learn when to watch what you say."

Victor nodded.

"I’ll take that as a lesson learned. Thank you."

He gave Daniel a small smile.

"I’ll try my best to stay out of business I shouldn’t be in."

"Good."

Just like that, some of Daniel’s usual ease returned.

"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your company, though, Victor. Do come by again sometime."

He looked toward Zack.

"And Zacky, you as well. You’re always welcome."

Zack rolled his eyes.

Daniel laughed before walking out of the room.

Victor watched him disappear down the hallway.

Then he looked toward Zack.

Zack met his eyes.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

"Well," Zack finally said. "What do you say? You ready to go?"

He stretched slightly.

"We’ve had a long, eventful day here. And a lot of tension, it seems."

"Yeah," Victor said. "That’ll be good."

The two left the den.

Victor hadn’t forgotten what he’d overheard.

For those few seconds, Zack had seemed like a completely different person.

And Daniel’s reaction had been even stranger.

Whatever that conversation had been about, he didn’t have enough information to make sense of it.

And considering the warning he’d just received about sticking his nose where it didn’t belong, now probably was the best time to start.

They continued through the mansion.

The halls had grown quieter since dinner. Most of the family had gone their separate ways, leaving only the occasional servant or guard moving through the enormous estate.

Their footsteps echoed lightly across the polished stone.

Victor glanced toward Zack.

The boy walked through the mansion without hesitation, turning through halls as naturally as if he lived there.

Considering what Berithea had said during dinner, he practically had at one point.

They rounded another corner.

Alex was walking through the hallway ahead.

Victor’s expression immediately froze.

Two figures followed several steps behind him.

Slaves.

Victor almost kept walking.

Then he noticed the ears.

His steps slowed.

Both figures had pointed fox ears rising through their dark hair.

Victor stared.

One was male.

The other female.

Their hair was almost completely black, but beneath the light it carried the faintest purple sheen. Their ears were covered in the same dark fur, tapering into sharp points above their heads.

Behind them hung long, thick fox tails.

Black at first glance.

But as they moved, traces of deep violet appeared through the fur.

Victor’s eyes narrowed.

Their skin was pale, making the darker features stand out even more sharply.

Then the woman glanced slightly to the side.

Victor saw her eyes.

Purple.

Deep, unmistakable purple.

The same color he’d seen countless times before.

Victor stopped walking.

He knew those features.

He’d seen them on Lyra.

And through their Soul Bond, he’d seen fragments of the people she’d spent years searching for.

Her parents.

Both figures wore plain slave uniforms, rough and worn against the elegance of the Graveborn estate.

And they were following Alex.

Victor stared at them.

His mind went blank for half a second.

Then the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Shadow Foxes..."