Chapter 416: Marked for Death

It didn’t take them long before the gates of Averiona came into view. All thanks to Lovia’s incessant chatter throughout the journey, the trip felt considerably shorter than Ruvian had expected.

Ruvian’s first thought, upon seeing the gates, was that they were far grander and more imposing than the gates of Valcavein City.

The streets leading to them were full of merchants, carriages, and travelers. But the traffic was surprisingly orderly, though congested, and they got into the city with little delay.

"Is it like this all the time?" Ruvian asked.

"Well, the capital is always this busy, but this week it’s been a whole lot busier than normal," Lovia said, looking out at the busy streets.

"Why is that?"

"Oh, there’s a small festival taking place next week," she explained. "Apparently, the capital will be celebrating the anniversary of its founding. It’s an annual tradition, so merchants and visitors from all over the kingdom have already begun arriving for the festivities."

"...For an event like that, are you not going to get involved?"

This was something Ruvian genuinely had to ask. Knowing that Lovia was a princess, surely she had certain royal obligations to attend to, right?

Besides, confirming this was rather crucial for his upcoming plans.

"Me? Nah, my brother and sister can handle all that without me," Lovia replied nonchalantly. "What? Are you worried I won’t be able to accompany you on the dungeon expedition?"

She let out a mischievous smile.

"Of course. This expedition is dangerous, after all. I’ll need all the help I can get."

Following that brief exchange, they didn’t converse much further, choosing instead to admire the magnificent architecture and bustling streets of the capital.

Well, not everyone, perhaps. Lovia and Zian had likely witnessed such sights countless times before.

However, Ruvian and Calyra seemed rather captivated by the grandeur unfolding beyond their carriage windows.

Before long, they finally arrived at their destination.

Golden Fortune Corporation’s New Guild Headquarters.

*****

When they arrived, they all stepped out of the carriage after paying the coachman.

At that moment, a familiar voice called out to them.

Ruvian immediately recognized the owner of the voice, although her tone sounded a little strange. It was almost as if she were trying her best to suppress her anger.

"Well, well, well~ Look who’s finally here."

Turning toward the short flight of steps leading to the building’s entrance, Ruvian saw a woman with short emerald hair and striking viridian eyes standing there.

Her arms were folded across her chest, and a pleasant smile rested on her face.

Ruvian wanted to respond with a joke, but for some reason, he had a feeling that today might not be the best day for it.

Although Silvena was smiling so sweetly, he couldn’t help but feel that an angry demon was hiding behind that innocent expression.

"And hello there, Ruvian~"

’Hmm... I don’t feel good.’

Despite that feeling, Ruvian still kept a neutral smile. But as if she could read his thoughts, Silvena tilted her head slightly.

Her smile grew a little wider.

"Oh, don’t be like that~ You should be happy, you know? It’s your first time visiting my new headquarters, and I even came out here to welcome you personally. Aren’t I such a thoughtful friend?"

For some reason, the sweeter her voice sounded, the more terrifying her smile became.

"Thanks for coming out to greet us," Ruvian replied with a casual smile. "Ah, also... this place looks great. You’ve certainly outdone yourself this time."

Hearing his praise, Silvena smiled even more sweetly.

"Oh, how sweet of you~ I’m glad you like it," she replied cheerfully. "Anyway, where are my manners? I haven’t even greeted our other guests yet."

Turning her attention away from him, Silvena greeted the other three with a much warmer smile.

"Mrs. Joy, Zian, Calyra... It’s good to see you guys again. Go on inside and make yourselves comfortable, Irene will show you around."

Standing near the entrance, Irene gave them a courteous bow before gesturing for them to follow her.

"Oh, but Ruvian~" Silvena suddenly called out, just as he was about to follow the others. "Not you. You stay right here."

Ruvian paused mid-step, his smile stiffening slightly as he slowly turned toward her.

"You see, there’s soooo much I’ve been wanting to talk to you about. And since you’re finally here, we might as well have a nice, long chat, don’t you think?"

’...Ah.’

Before Ruvian could come up with an excuse, Lovia approached him and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Well then, good luck," she said with a mischievous grin. "I’ll be rooting for you from inside."

Following her example, Zian stepped forward and placed a hand on his other shoulder. "Good luck," he said with an unusually serious expression.

As for Calyra, she simply walked past him without saying a word, though she did pause briefly to give him a small, dignified nod.

It was the kind of nod one might give to a soldier about to march off to his death.

’You damned traitors...’

Ruvian’s lips twitched as he watched the three of them casually abandon him to his fate, not one of them even bothering to offer him a way out.

And when he finally turned back toward Silvena, she was still standing there with that same terrifyingly sweet smile.

"Now then, Ruvian~" she said, slowly approaching him.

"Where should we start?"

*****

[Lucifon’s POV]

At the same time...

Tucked away inside a secret castle, behind a pair of massive iron doors, was a cavernous room. The room was dark, lit only by a few dim flames dancing along the cold stone walls.

Lucifon finished his report.

He stood in the middle of it all, his hands clasped behind his back.

"...That is all we have managed to collect so far, My Lord. Belzebor’s mission may have been a failure, but it has allowed me to confirm a suspicion I have long held," Lucifon, he said quietly.

Before him a mass of darkness moved against the far wall, slowly taking on the vague shape of a man’s face.

Two dim crimson eyes glowed from beneath swathes of writhing shadows, its features otherwise lost.

A second later a deep menacing voice echoed through the chamber.

"So, you mean to say he might have the scroll with him?"

The voice was calm, frighteningly so, but carried an oppressive weight that made the flames along the walls flicker violently.

Lucifon raised his gaze toward the shadowy figure, his expression remaining perfectly composed.

He had anticipated that question, although he knew better than to present mere speculation to his master without sufficient grounds.

"That is my suspicion, yes."

Lucifon replied with a slight nod.

"Of course, I have yet to obtain any conclusive evidence, but that was precisely why I decided to dispatch Belzebor to Frostgrave in the first place."

Pausing briefly, Lucifon recalled the intelligence Belzebor had brought back from the failed invasion.

The destruction of the Voidspawns was of little consequence to him, as such creatures could easily be replaced. But what interested him far more was the unexpected involvement of a certain young scholar.

"It’s a little experiment of mine and the results were quite eye-opening," Lucifon continued, a faint sinister smile playing about his mouth. "That boy, Ruvian Castelor, has somehow been at the heart of almost every major setback we’ve suffered so far, and whenever our plans begin to unravel, he invariably seems to be involved."

His smile faded as he turned his attention back toward the shadowy figure.

"Initially I thought of him as a minor variable we just missed, but after what happened at Frostgrave, I’m beginning to reconsider that assumption."

His eyes narrowed a little as Lucifon said.

"My Lord, I do not believe this is a coincidence anymore."

For a moment, the shadowy figure remained silent, its crimson eyes fixed upon Lucifon. The darkness surrounding its face writhed against the stone wall, growing increasingly restless.

"...I see."

A low, sinister chuckle escaped from the shadows, though there was little amusement behind it.

"So, another pest has emerged to interfere with my plans," the Dark Lord muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. "How utterly tiresome."

However, just as Lucifon was about to respond, the shadowy figure suddenly fell silent.

"No... I’ve seen this before."

The crimson eyes narrowed, and the surrounding darkness began to tremble violently.

"That man... Necraz," the Dark Lord hissed, his voice suddenly laced with venom. "He used to move like this as well, always appearing where he shouldn’t, ruining everything when victory was already within my grasp."

At the mention of that name, the shadows twisted into grotesque shapes, while a suffocating pressure descended upon the chamber.

Lucifon remained motionless, although his eyes narrowed at the sudden change in his master’s demeanor.

Beneath that overwhelming hatred, he had noticed something else, something he rarely witnessed from his master.

Fear.

The Dark Lord’s voice dropped into a dreadful whisper, his crimson eyes burning with undisguised malice.

"I no longer believe in mere coincidences, Lucifon. That wretched brat must be eliminated before he becomes another thorn in my side. Place him at the highest level of priority and mobilize every demon at our disposal."

Lucifon lowered his head slightly.

"And the scroll, My Lord?"

"Retrieve it at all costs," the Dark Lord commanded, his voice turning deathly cold. "As for that insect, I want him dead, regardless of what it takes.

"I care not how many lives are sacrificed. Do whatever is necessary, but make absolutely certain that the boy does not survive."

Then, after a brief silence, his voice returned, quieter and far more sinister than before.

"I made the mistake of allowing Necraz to live for far too long..."

The shadows convulsed violently.

"And I will not make the same mistake again..."

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[Chapter 416: Marked for Death]

A/N: Hey everyone, just a small announcement.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be taking a short hiatus of around 2–4 days from TNEW. I need a little time to properly plan and flesh out Volume 5 before we dive into the next arc.

Got some pretty big things planned for this one, so I wanna make sure I do it justice. Trust me, I don’t wanna fumble this arc.

Anyway, click this paragraph for Volume 5 teaser to give you guys a sneak peek at what’s coming next :)