The Presidential Suite's balcony at three in the morning was a different place from the same balcony in daylight.No more sound of the busy city, just lights that never went dark, the occasional sound of a vehicle passing on the street below, and air that had dropped several degrees since the sun had been out.Caelan sat cross-legged there.Not a fully calm meditation. His body settled into the rhythm of meditation, but one part of his senses stayed open outward, monitoring the radius he could reach, reading air pressure and energy vibrations that might indicate something that shouldn't be there.Sleep wasn't a wise choice tonight.Three people from the mysterious sect were in the bedroom inside. The old man was very likely still at the Sterne family residence. And he was already experienced enough to understand that a night that felt calm didn't mean it was a safe one.Inside the suite, Rex had already fallen asleep on the sofa in a way that had nothing to do with the tension of the

Five minutes passed.Sweat began soaking Xiao's forehead—not just from physical exhaustion, but from the frustration of someone who had already deployed every technique she had and still failed to land a single graze on an opponent whose size should have made him far easier to catch.Lu had also started panting. His breathing irregular, his arms already feeling heavy from swinging that heavy sword repeatedly with no result.Rex, on the other hand, showed no sign of fatigue whatsoever."You two have tried very hard." He said while dodging one more combined attack, jumping to a higher point on the roof. "But it's all useless.""SHUT UP!" Xiao attacked again, this time with anger already replacing the precision of her technique.Rex dodged it easily—too easily, in a way that made that attack look like slow motion compared to his own speed.He landed in the middle of the rooftop, looking at both Elders who now stood with breathing no longer steady, their swords still raised but the hands

At that point, Caelan was already at Rex's side before the wind on top of this building had time to carry the remains of what had just happened any further.Two piles of ash. Two empty black robes. Two sword blades that now had no owner."So that's how you get spiritual energy, Rex?" Caelan looked at the spot where Lu had been standing. "Absorbing it directly from someone's body?""Yes, papa." Rex looked at the result of his own work in a way that held no regret—pure evaluation. "But don't worry about that. I won't absorb from just anyone." His bright blue eyes looked up at Caelan. "Only those who come with the intent to kill you—or me.""That's fair enough." Caelan nodded. Then his gaze moved to the two swords lying on the roof. "Can you also absorb energy from objects like these?"Rex looked at both blades, then furrowed his brow in a way that looked funny on a face that size but felt very serious."From dead objects?" His head shook slowly. "No, papa. Dead objects do store spiritua

After the second milk carton was finished and Caelan's breakfast plate was clean, Rex turned toward him in the manner that had already become his habit—head slightly tilted, blue eyes that never looked like they belonged to a four-year-old."What are we doing after this, papa?""Waiting." Caelan set his napkin on the table. "That old man will come to collect the three of them. I'm certain he won't leave them here too long."Rex nodded. Brief, understanding.And they didn't have to wait long.Twenty-three minutes later, the phone in Caelan's pocket vibrated."Doctor Voss." Layla's voice at the other end sounded professional as always, but there was something very controlled beneath it. "The Sterne family wishes to see you, along with their guests.""Please bring them up, Layla. Thank you.""Of course, Doctor Voss."---The bell rang once.Caelan opened the door.Aldrus entered first. His black wooden cane touched the suite's marble floor with the same quiet sound as the night before, h

Silence settled in the suite for a moment before Rex finally looked at Caelan and asked, "Now that this problem is resolved—what do we do, papa?""I have to work." Caelan stood from the sofa, walking toward the wardrobe to get his doctor's coat. "You stay here. Do whatever you want."Rex furrowed his brow. "Just stay here?""There's a TV to keep you company." Caelan picked up the remote and placed it on the table in front of the sofa, then wrote a number on a small piece of paper and stuck it to the side of the suite phone. "This is Layla's number. If you need milk, call her—she'll bring it here. And I'll teach you how to make calls, turn on the TV, change channels, everything right now before I go." He turned to Rex. "You're a genius, so this won't take long."Rex didn't argue with that part."But papa—" He tilted his head. "Why do you still work? You're already wealthy. You live in a place this large." A pause that felt very serious from a face that size. "And you're strong. Far str