Chapter 125: Meeting the Duke.

Moving away from the sight of his siblings, Malrik walked alongside Cedric through the spacious marble corridors of the mansion.

He was not walking with that feigned hunch he had put on a moment earlier to escape Velrosa’s terrifying training; rather, his back was rigidly straight, and his steps were calm and composed, ready for the next stop in this turbulent day.

In the main corridor, a number of guards and servants who happened to cross their path stopped immediately. Each of them placed his right hand firmly over his chest, bowing deeply and silently until they had passed them.

"So, Cedric..." Malrik began in a calm, steady voice, trying to probe during their walk. "I am sure the Lord Duke is a very busy man. Did he give you any hint as to why he wants to see me with such urgency?"

Cedric did not stop, nor did he turn his head. He continued walking with wide, steady strides.

"The will of his Lordship the Duke belongs to him alone, Young Master. You will know everything when we arrive," Cedric replied in a polite, cold tone. "My duty is simply to deliver you to him."

Malrik sighed silently, fully aware of the futility of trying to extract information from this stubborn old fox.

About two minutes later, they stopped in front of two giant black ebony doors in the private wing. There were no guards in front of them. In fact, there was no one in this entire floor at all.

And that was not strange. Simply reaching this floor required resisting a hidden pressure that weighed down the air, but the real reason was much simpler.

If there was someone capable of threatening Duke Valerith Vesperion—who was one of the strongest humans in the world—what could a handful of guards possibly do against him?

Their presence here would not have brought reassurance; rather, it would have seemed suspicious.

Cedric knocked on the door twice before opening it silently and motioning for Malrik to enter. Then, the door closed firmly behind him.

The office was spacious and luxurious, combining furniture made of dark wood with elegant details befitting a Duke’s residence. Dozens of magical lamps suspended from the ceiling illuminated the room, casting a warm, calm glow over the furniture and the scattered papers on the tables.

In one corner of the room sat a massive stone fireplace, and in the middle of the room, behind a dark wooden desk, sat Duke Valerith Vesperion.

The Duke’s black hair fell quietly behind him, and his face was carved with cold, expressionless features resembling ice, while his sharp emerald eyes carried the weight of long years of rule and experience, despite looking rather young.

Malrik stood in his place and took a deep breath.

Although he had seen the Duke countless times within Malrik’s memories, seeing him in memories was one thing, and standing face-to-face with him in reality was an entirely different matter altogether.

For the first time since his transmigration and return to life, he was standing before the man supposed to be his father in this body.

"I greet his Lordship the Duke," Malrik said, bowing respectfully.

Valerith raised his eyes from the documents in his hands, fixing his sharp gaze on his younger son for moments before speaking calmly:

"Before the family, your trial ended when you killed the Fallen Bull. As for what happened after that, it has been concealed... as well as your other, new identity."

When Malrik heard the Duke’s words, his suspicions were confirmed.

Just as I expected, he was behind all of this.

"Concealed?" Malrik asked cautiously, knitting his brows. "Do you mean no one knows about the Black Reaper’s identity now?"

The Duke raised his gaze to him, his cold eyes resting on him for moments before nodding slowly.

"It has been dealt with."

He said it in his deep voice, then continued:

"The memories of your siblings, the elders, and everyone who witnessed those events were altered, and the details concerning you and the Black Reaper were erased. To them, everything that happened in Blackthorn was the result of the Faceless Organization’s interference, and there is no longer any connection between you and that mask."

He paused for a moment, then added:

"And by now, your maid has been dealt with as well."

Malrik’s features stiffened, and he quickly protested, "Even Eliza? I don’t think she would ever betray me."

The Duke looked at him with a cool, calm gaze.

"Neither your siblings nor the elders would have disclosed that identity to the world too. But there are many ways to access such information that you cannot imagine. This is the safest option."

He paused for a moment, then added:

"The only ones who know the full truth are myself and the three Great Elders, and they are the safest."

"And it is better for this matter to remain a secret in such a turbulent time. If the powerful families discover that your undead grow stronger with time, and that you might be able to alter their calculations and plans, you better prepare yourself."

He paused for a moment, then said in a decisive tone:

"Because you will find countless assassins knocking on your door every single day."

Valerith raised his gaze, fixing his emerald eyes on Malrik with an intensity that immediately made the air in the room heavy.

"We do not fear anyone, and House Vesperion does not cower before their threats. But drawing attention early on is not bravery; it is foolishness. If a member of our family is killed, no revenge will ever bring them back to life. Understand that well."

Malrik maintained the calmness of his expression, his face remaining rigid on the outside, but his mind was boiling on the inside.

Damn it... damn it.

He knew that House Vesperion did not fear the rest of the families. If a conflict broke out, they wouldn’t be the losing side in the end.

But that wasn’t what mattered.

If a family member was killed, no revenge could bring them back to life. Even if the family responsible for it was completely destroyed, Vesperion would still have lost a member forever.

However, the Duke’s words put things into their true perspective.

It wasn’t about fear; it was about responsibility. Valerith wasn’t reckless; rather, he had changed greatly after the death of his wife under mysterious circumstances, becoming a wise ruler and father who bitterly understood that his decisions alone were what protected his family’s blood from destruction.

"I understand, sir. I will be much more careful in my actions from now on," Malrik said in a steady, measured voice.

The Duke nodded with a faint sign of satisfaction before returning his talk to the practical side:

"As for your performance, it was exceptional, youngest. For that, you will receive a special reward."

The Duke waved his hand, and in a flash of silver light, a massive pile of coins appeared on the wooden desk, glittering under the light of the magical lamps.

The Duke said calmly, "Five thousand platinum coins that you can use however you wish."

Malrik’s eyes widened for a second, while his inner voice screamed with childish, overwhelming joy

Haha, I’m rich!

The Duke tossed a small metal coin lightly toward Malrik. "You can enter the vault once again to choose one item. This time, you are permitted to access sections up to the Ascendant rank. And if there is anything else specific you need, you can let me know."

Malrik thought for a brief moment, then said with firmness: "Currently, I have nothing specific... I will think about it carefully before telling you, sir."

"And do not forget your promise to reward the people in Blackthorn," the Duke added as he picked up his pen once again. "House Vesperion always keeps its word."

Malrik froze in his place for a moment. The Duke’s knowledge of the promise he had made in that remote fortress meant that even the smallest details were known to him.

Malrik replied, "Don’t worry, sir. I intend to reward them well for their effort."

The Duke stopped his pen and raised his eyes to him again. The harsh coldness in his gaze eased slightly.

"You may address me as ’Father’ when we are alone," the Duke said in a softer voice. "There is no need for such formalities between a father and his son."

Hearing the Duke’s words, Malrik felt his heart beat strangely fast, a warmth he couldn’t quite explain spreading through his chest.

Throughout his previous life, he had no one. He lived as an orphan, carving his path through dark alleys relying entirely on himself, with no father to ask about him or family waiting for his return.

But now...

He had siblings who came to check on him when he was injured, and a father who didn’t just protect him, but moved an entire organization and wiped the memories of those around him just so his strength wouldn’t be exposed too early and make his life more dangerous.

Malrik wasn’t used to this kind of attention. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. But he felt something warm settling in the depths of his chest, something he had never known in his previous life at all.

The feeling of truly having a family.

"I understand... Father," Malrik said sincerely.

The Duke smiled subtly, saying in a businesslike tone: "Good. Do you have any other inquiry?"

"Actually, yes... I have a request."