Meanwhile in Zareth's room, Gao had already returned with everything that was requested at that moment, laying the procurement out across the wooden desk.Arranged neatly on the surface was a small pile of twenty low-grade Aether Stones, their faint crystalline surfaces glinting under the dim indoor light, along with Zareth's custom-forged weapons, which were carefully wrapped in thick, protective leather sheaths.Zareth walked over to the desk and stared down at the modest pile of glowing stones, his expression hardening. "Gao... only twenty stones? How much does a single one of these cost?"He shook his head in bitter disappointment, thoroughly unimpressed by the meager purchasing power of his official earnings."Young brother, one low-rank Aether Stone costs fifty copper coins, and your official base salary is ten silver taels," Gao explained with a calm, uncharacteristically serious expression. There was no trace of his usual mocking giggle as he continued. "The Treasury Hall Mas

Later that night...Gao leaned casually against the wooden desk, resting his heavy forearms on the surface as he looked down at the vibrant night life unfolding around the Divine Damsel pleasure house.Down in the illuminated alleyway below, heavily painted women dressed in silks fluttered their fans, purring enticements toward passing patrons to charm them into the establishment. A hired musician sat on an elevated wooden stool near the entrance, plucking smooth, hypnotic melodies from a zither to entice those who strolled by in the cool night air.Gao watched the spectacle from his high vantage point on the upper floor of Zareth's private chamber. He had pulled the wooden shutters wide open, having realized earlier in the day that Zareth possessed an astounding capacity for absolute mental concentration. Despite the loud, chaotic noise of the pleasure district echoing up from below, Zareth remained entirely unaffected. Gao had conducted various tasks throughout the room, pacing ac

"Zareth!"Gao’s mind spiraled into a storm of sheer panic as he tried to process what was unfolding before his eyes. "Zareth... Zareth just killed them! He actually slaughtered them!"Gao thought in absolute disbelief, his muscles stiffening in shock. Just as he lunged forward, preparing to vault out over the wooden window sill to chase down the attackers outside—Shoosh!The two remaining thugs from the alleyway vaulted directly into Zareth's chamber!Their boots hit the floorboards with a wet, heavy thud, landing squarely in a widening pool of fresh blood. The crimson liquid shimmered under the dim, unwavering glow of the room's candle lanterns, a quiet flame that had somehow remained steadily lit amidst the visceral, horrific carnage taking place within the room.!!!The two incoming thugs instantly ducked into low combat stances, their guards slamming up as they drew their heavy, iron-forged broadswords.Having vaulted straight past Gao, who was still standing near the window fram

Then without wasting any time—Gao snatched up his own broadsword off the floorboards along with Zareth’s short sword, his fingers wrapping around the hilts with desperate urgency. At the same moment, Zareth swiftly clipped his specialized twin weapon holsters around his waist, securing his lethal steel rods firmly against his hip. Outside, the sound of heavy, rushing footsteps grew louder and louder with every passing second, echoing furiously through the narrow, creaking stairwell.In the space of just a few frantic breaths—THUD!The heavy wooden door was violently kicked off its hinges, slamming open against the wall!About five members of Squad Nine burst straight into the chamber, their crude broadswords raised and primed for immediate bloodshed. But the moment their boots cleared the threshold, their eyes widened in absolute horror. The room was a grisly, horrific bloodbath, five of their fellow squad members lay butchered in widening pools of dark crimson, while two faint sh

"Jada!" Hu Jia barked suddenly, his face flushing dark red with embarrassment and mounting rage. He felt as if she were deliberately throwing him under the bus in front of their superior, especially after he had just reported with absolute certainty that Gao was the sole culprit responsible for the massacre."You cannot simply come to such a ridiculous conclusion just by glancing around the room, as if you were actually present when it all took place!" Hu Jia spat, visibly pierced by her sharp deductions. "You were busy gambling all evening, drinking and flaunting your body around the floor instead of doing any actual work!"He took a sharp step toward her, his breathing heavy. "So what if they weren't killed by a standard, heavy broadsword? A person can easily purchase their own custom weapons on the dark market! People change their fighting styles all the time, and we don't know everything about Gao. Who else could have killed them if not him? There was no one else in this room! Ar