“Is it true… my family isn’t dead?”Ardhana nodded calmly and took out his identification plate.“In a moment, someone in a black robe with a dragon insignia will come here. Just tell them this is my token, and they will show you the way to where your family is.”“B-but what if they don’t believe me?”“The plate in your hand is equivalent to a direct order from the State of Amerta. After hearing the news of this victory, they will know that I personally gave it to you.”“Alright… thank you.”Ardhana did not respond. He picked up several boxes, then carried the two heads of his grandfather’s killers out of the underground chamber of the Sacred Lotus Pavilion.His steps were calm, but it did not mean the hatred in his heart had ended. This was only a new beginning—one where he understood that the world would use any means necessary for the sake of self-interest.*At the Heroes’ Cemetery of the State of Amerta.Ardhana bowed his head, holding back his tears in front of his grandfather’s

Ardhana stared at the warm tea in front of him, its steam rising slowly, forming thin swirls in the air. His gloved fingers touched the cup, but he didn’t drink yet.“Afraid?” His voice was low but firm. “There’s only one thing I fear in this world—when someone who can act chooses to be blind to injustice.”Kiana fell silent. His words were simple, yet carried a heavy weight, as if they came from someone who had witnessed far too much death.“Y-you… you’re not an ordinary person, are you?” she asked softly. “The way you move, your gaze… it’s not like a normal citizen’s.”Ardhana didn’t answer right away. He simply looked out the window, where dust swirled along the dirty border road. Two poorly dressed men were seen running in a hurry—likely going to report to their superiors.“An ordinary person…” he murmured quietly.Kiana lowered her head. She wanted to ask more, but something behind the masked man’s gaze made her hold back. That feeling reminded her of the one person she respected

Ardhana gave a faint smile.“Before I tell you my identity… how about you be honest with me first?”Kiana took a slow breath. She picked up the cup of tea and sipped it gently.“I’m just a small-time healer. By chance, I once opened a clinic in a major city of the Spirit Nation… This tea was given by a few officials whose illnesses I managed to cure. Now, what about your identity?”*Seems like she still wants to hide who she is…* Ardhana thought, then nodded.“As it happens, my mother is also a small-time healer… She somewhat follows the treatment methods of the legendary Goddess Medist of this nation.”“Y-you…”“Hahaha! It’s already late. It wouldn’t be proper for a young man like me to keep staying in the house of a girl as beautiful as you… Kiana, I’ll see you tomorrow.”Kiana’s face flushed red on its own. She could only watch as Ardhana walked away into the distance.“Uncle…” Kiana spoke softly.A middle-aged man stepped out from a hidden room.“Your Highness, if there is an orde

“Aaarrgh?! M-my hand...!”Stepping on the arm that held the dagger, the sound of bones cracking rang out clearly. Rengo Kobra kept screaming.“De-defeated?! The boss lost... Wh-what do we do...”Ardhana sneered coldly, his foot still pressing down on the arm. Then he knelt and said,“With skills as low as yours, it’s impossible for you to paralyze the law... Rengo, who is the person behind you...? Perhaps I might forgive your mistake this time...”Rengo Kobra clenched his jaw tightly.“Who do you think you are? Even if the Dragon King himself asked who stands behind me, I would never—”Plaaaaaak!A single slap cut off Rengo Kobra’s words.“Answer.”Plaaaaaak!A second slap.Plaaaaaak!A third slap.Until—“W-wait... I’ll tell you...”Ardhana gave a faint smile. He stood up, then shifted his foot so Rengo Kobra could sit up.“Speak.”“Aiya, young master... p-please, I don’t dare to say it. Maybe you’ll let me go, but what if after escaping you, I fall into the torture of the one behind

Gulp!A pinch of powder entered his mouth. His throat instantly burned, the heat spreading throughout his body. His blood felt as if it were boiling—tingling, then cramping through every bone. The poison was so intense that even an SSS-class assassin could only widen his eyes in terror.“W-what did you give me…?”“AAARGH?!” the injured man screamed in agony.Ardhana turned with a cold grin toward the other assassin, who was now swallowing nervously.“Tell me who the powerful figure behind you is… or you’ll suffer more than your friend,” he said, forcing the masked man’s mouth open.The man immediately shook his head.“D-don’t make me suffer like that… I-it was the Rahwana family who hired us!”“The ancient family that has risen again…” the Ruler of the Southern Province muttered, swallowing hard.Hearing the confession, Ardhana smirked coldly. But Kiana, realizing everything was now under the control of the young heir, took her leave.“Ardhana, it seems you can handle everything here…