Pear remained silent. She did not respond to Thom’s words at all, even though they still echoed in her ears. Her body was still tightly entangled in the thick ropes, soaked by the morning water that had been poured over her, but her mind was now filled with the whispers of the three men beside her. Vigo, speaking in a low but confident voice, leaned close to Pear’s ear and whispered, “Don’t listen to him, Pear. You’re on the right path. The Golden Circle is an official organization of the elite. Not everyone can join us. Only the chosen ones, those who have worth. And you, Pear… you have already been welcomed as part of the Golden Circle. Remember that promise.” “Our mission is to capture monsters like Thom and killers like him. He’s the one who destroys everything, not us.” Rhen and Kael joined in, their voices muffled but urgent. “Luxury, power, true honor. All of it awaits you in Eunosia. Don’t let this filthy village blind you, Pear.” Pear bit her lip. Their words were like anc

For the moment, Thom felt frozen.His entire body was rigid. His face was blank, devoid of expression, like a mask that could no longer display any emotion. His eyes stared straight at Amay Lug, but his gaze was empty.Red Dragon, standing right beside him, began to grow uneasy. He had never seen Thom like this before. Their leader, who was usually calm and calculating, had fallen silent for far too long. The air around them felt heavy."King..." Red Dragon whispered softly, barely audible. "Are you alright?"There was no answer.Red Dragon glanced toward Eclad, who was standing some distance away. Eclad merely shrugged, equally confused."King?" Red Dragon repeated, a little louder.Thom blinked.Like someone waking from a long sleep, Thom let out a slow breath. His body, which had been stiff moments ago, began to move—slightly shaking his head, slightly relaxing his tense shoulders."Yes," Thom finally answered, his voice hoarse but still flat. "I'm fine."Red Dragon did not fully b

The atmosphere inside Amay Lug's private chamber after returning from Valemoor felt unbearably tense, even though the air conditioning was running at full capacity. The crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast a cold light across the room, illuminating every corner of the secret chamber on the top floor of the Golden Circle headquarters. Standing before her was an elderly man leaning on a golden cane. His body was no longer as strong as it had once been, but his eyes—his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle hunting its prey. The man was Baba Lug, Amay's husband. The founder of the Golden Circle. A powerful businessman and billionaire whose ambition was to move the world and ultimately rule it. To him, power belonged exclusively to the global elite. Anyone who stood in the way—or even had the potential to stand in the way—was nothing more than trash that needed to be eliminated. "You simply let him go?" Baba Lug's voice was heavy, echoing through the room despite not being l

Bullets whistled overhead like mad bees that had lost their hive. The smell of gunpowder began to fill the once-fresh morning air, turning the Valemoor Valley into a miniature hell that echoed with screams and the roar of gunfire. Thom rolled behind the stone wall of the gate, pulling Pear and Elias with him. His breathing remained steady, but his eyes moved rapidly, assessing the situation. The two Nameless Army soldiers who had been dragging the three hostages were dead. Vigo, Rhen, and Kael—all three lay on the ground with holes in their heads, blood spreading across the soil that had only yesterday been drenched in happiness. Behind him, the gunfire grew heavier. And even more horrifying—the screams of the villagers. Thom turned toward the village. His eyes widened. The attacking force was not only surrounding the gate. They had entered from three sides, shooting at anyone who moved. Women ran while carrying their children. An elderly man collapsed in the middle of the r

A mercenary stood at the corner of the street, leaning against a wall while smoking. He did not notice the shadow behind him. A heated iron arrow shot out from the darkness, piercing his throat. There was no scream. Only a faint hissing sound as the hot metal burned through flesh. His body collapsed gently to the ground, caught by unseen hands to prevent any noise. Two other soldiers sat on the porch of a house. They were laughing. Divo emerged from behind the bushes with a machete drawn. One slash—the first man's throat opened in silence. Before the second man could react, Eclad's blade had already plunged into his chest. Not a single sound was heard. Inside Thom's house, the mercenary commander was still laughing as he poured himself some wine. He had no idea that outside, his two guards were already dead without a sound—their throats slit from behind, their bodies hidden among the bushes. Thom stood in the doorway. His machete was stained with blood. He knocked soft