"Um... Boss? We don't actually have a dedicated range for axes," Kira said, raising his hand like a student in class, as if he needed permission just to speak.Alexander closed his eyes and gave a slow, satisfied nod, quietly savoring the moment. Kira—Kira of all people—was calling Mark “boss” without sarcasm or a nickname attached. If there was ever a sign that things change, this was it."Huh? What do you mean?" Mark asked, his face falling into a mask of pure disappointment."Well... nobody really trains for the Viking age around here," Kira responded, his tone now scrubbed of its earlier mockery. "We don't have the backstops for heavy blades. But we can skip right to the firearms if you don't mind, sir."That “sir” didn’t go unnoticed. Billy and Jax exchanged a quick glance, both equally stunned. Kira hadn't even shown that kind of respect to the previous owner—a man with enough social standing to buy and sell half the province. To Kira,

[Ding! SharpShooter has leveled to 15!] [Ding! Sub-skill Ricochet Insight has reached Level 2] The notifications flashed right as Mark finished a move that didn’t just impress, but outright broke whatever expectations anyone still had of him. Three axes left his hands almost at the same time. In mid-air, the heavy blades had collided with a metallic tang, ricocheting off each other to curve around thick trunks and strike targets that were completely obscured from Mark’s line of sight. Mark turned around, wiping a smudge of dirt from his palm with a casual grin. "Alrighty! I think that’s enough training for one afternoon. What’s next?" Kira’s knees buckled. He hit the dirt, his entire frame vibrating with a mix of shock and adrenaline. Mark blinked, confused. "Kira? You alright, man?" Without a word, Kira pressed his forehead into the earth, bowing so low he was practically eating dust. "Master... I

After the dairy excitement, Alexander led the group through the rest of the livestock sectors. They passed the enclosures for goats and sheep—docile creatures that huddled together as the trucks rolled by—and finally reached the stables with a few well-kept horses that the workers relied on when checking the cattle or making trips between the ranch and the nearby village."We also use them for hunting," Kira said, a sharp glint in his eye as he ran a brush over a powerful white stallion. "There's nothing like the rush of tracking game from the back of a horse."Mark’s eyes gleamed with instant interest. 'Hunting?' he thought. 'If I can practice my Shooting skills on moving targets from a galloping horse, the EXP gain would be insane. My SharpShooter level would skyrocket!'"Damn it! I want to try hunting like that so badly!" Mark exclaimed."Well, if you're that eager, we can head out at dawn tomorrow morn—""Nope!" Rita cut Kir

While the moon cast a silver glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows of a skyscraper miles away, the atmosphere in a certain executive office was far from tranquil. Mr. Brownstone sat enveloped in a shroud of expensive cigar smoke, his silhouette a dark blotch against the city lights.The office heavy door suddenly slammed against the stopper with a violent crack."Father!" Jong, a man whose tailored suit couldn't hide his panicked trembling, gasped for air."Can't you knock like a civilized human, Jong?" Brownstone didn't even turn his chair. He simply exhaled a grey cloud of smoke."Forget that! Tell me what I heard is a lie! You sold the Ranch Estate?"His father remained unnervingly still. "Yes, I did. For a little over four hundred million."Jong felt the air leave his lungs. He was sweating despite the AC. "Only the ranch, right? Just the land? Not everything inside!""Everything, Jong."Jong r

{Mark’s POV}I sat stiffly in the velvet-lined chair, the silence of the dining room pressing in on me as we waited for Mr. Brisco. Across the table, Lilith reached out, her fingers brushing against mine."Why are you so stressed, hun? It’s just art. Don't overthink it."She was right. Objectively, it was just a canvas with some old paint on it. But my gut was screaming. There was something deeper here, something that didn't meet the eye, and if there was one thing I’d learned in this life, it was to never ignore that feeling.A few moments later, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway. Lilith’s father swept into the room wearing a vibrant, colorful gown, looking as radiant and eccentric as ever."Sweetheart!" he half-bellowed before he even reached the table. "Where have you been hiding all day?"Lilith frowned, pulling her hand back. "I told you I’d be with my fiancé, Dad."He turned his gaze toward