The Young Master in the Shadows

“Right this way!” Falcon said as he guided Zoe and Kuu down a narrow path in the primal forest until they reached a clearing where they saw an old-looking wooden cottage, built right in front of a cave’s entrance, seemingly blocking it.

Falcon stopped.

“After going in, there will be no going back… Are you sure?’ he turned to look at the two girls.

“I am sure!” Zoe said.

“Me too…” Kuu nodded as she clenched her fist. After going through what happened in the Von Weise archipelago, she realized that this world was really all about strength. So when Zoe gave her the choice between going back to see Victor or catching a rare chance to get stronger with her first, she chose the latter.

She had already learned from everyone on the island that her young master had all kinds of strong and pretty girls around him, so although she longed to see him again and feel his embrace, she wanted to be strong enough to stand by his side! She didn’t want him to leave her again because she would be a burden!

“Good,” Falcon nodded, then knocked on the door. Five knocks, three strong and two weak ones.

The door opened immediately revealing a young woman with only one eye that she used to inspect the newcomers.

“The three of you?” she asked.

“No, just the two of them, I will just spend some time drinking tea with the old man,” Falcon said, showing a metallic badge.

The young woman nodded. “Grandpa is lazing around the lounge, you can see him there… You two follow me to be debriefed! You arrived just in time!” she said as she moved to the side, allowing them to enter.

Kuu followed right behind Zoe into the wooden cottage that was seemingly only a cover, the space inside was huge and seemed to extend inside the cave forming a huge hall with many doors.

“Take care…” Falcon said, then turned and headed through one of the doors to the side, seemingly familiar with this place.

“This way!” the young woman said after she closed the front door, then began walking in one direction.

The two girls followed, crossing one door and one corridor to reach what looked like a huge living room with wooden furniture and a large hearth in its center. 20 young men and women were sitting and standing around, some in groups of two, some alone. Some of them were clearly young masters, others were regular adventurers, and others were clearly bodyguards.

“The last to arrive are here, so let’s begin…” the young woman said. “For those who don't know me, my name is Arva, I will be the leader of this expedition!” she said proudly.

“What will we be exploring exactly?” one guy, a blond young man, asked.

Most of the people looked at him with disdain shaking their heads.

Arva sighed. “Seriously?!“

“My brother only told me that this place will make me a real man…” the young man said with a slight blush, making some people let out a chuckle. This guy probably thought he was going to some brothel.

“It will make you a man… A dead one if not careful!” Arva sighed, not even caring to make fun of the young man. “This place here is a Ruin, and for the next month, we will be mapping a portion of it,” she said.

“A ruin?” the young man asked, making Kuu look at Arva for answers, she only had rudimentary knowledge about this from Uncle Falcon’s explanation on the road.

“Think of it as a dungeon that never closes, you can quit anytime you want by using the exit…” Arva replied.”Our family had been exploring it for decades with the help of volunteers like you.” She said, “The rules inside are simple...Every man for himself. You can either follow me or go on your own, I will not stop you… Just remember that we are not responsible for your life and that half of your loot will be taken by us when you exit! You understand that, right?”

Everyone nodded.

“Good, you guys can take the afternoon to get to know each other and get your things ready! We will be entering right when the Ruin’s barrier is at its weakest, at midnight!”

“Wait… Aren't you going to tell us what it is like inside, what kind of monster or traps we will be facing?” one arrogant young woman asked.

“You can check the booklets by the door and if you have any questions, come ask me… Talking about those things is useless, you will have to see them by yourselves to really know their horrors! ” she said before turning around and heading to one of the side rooms. ř𝙖ΝỒꞖËs

“...” Kuu sighed, feeling a little nervous.

“It will be ok!” Zoe said. “We are strong enough!”

“Um…” Kuu nodded. Zoe really understood her best! If she was not already committed to serving young master Victor her entire life, she would have really liked to serve her.

“Hello there!” someone suddenly called next to them, making Zue and Kuu look to the side.

It was a noble-looking young man in leather armor with dashing red hair and crimson red eyes.

“Hi…” Zoe said as she couldn’t help but notice how good-looking the young man was.

“...” Kuu frowned but said nothing. She had seen Victor’s true looks in bed and this man was nothing! NOTHING!

“My name is Iliad, Iliad Queen,” he said, completely ignoring Kuu after a quick glance. “We might be going to work together for the foreseeable future, so I think it’s not bad to get to know each other!” he said with a dashing smile that was aimed directly at Zoe.

***

“What is this?” Lyra, who was waiting outside the mansion by the dragon-pulled cartridge, asked in shock as she watched Victor walk out through the front door, dressed in what seemed to be a Tiger suit.

“A suit…I bought it with me from my original world!”

“Why does it seem like something only a dandy would wear?” she asked, not sure about the fashion in the other world.

“Pimps wear it too…”

“WHAT? And you plan to wear it to meet her highness?” Lyra was appalled.

“Yup… It highlights my features…” he didn’t deny her.

“...”

“...”

“TAKE IT OFF!” she yelled, making the few guards who stood near the gate shoot her a troubled look.

“Lass, it is not good to hit on your brother-in-law in public…” Victor said. “Let’s leave it until…”

“SAY ONE MORE WORD AND YOU ARE DEAD…” she hissed. “NOW GO CHANGE TO SOMETHING BETTER!”

“This is the best one I have!”

“...”

“...”

“FINE… WHATEVER! IF HER LORDSHIP DECIDES TO KILL YOU IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT!” she spat then climbed to sit with the driver, ashamed to share the carriage with the pervert. Her experience has already warned her that arguing with this bastard was futile.

Victor just chuckled and climbed into the carriage. The moment the door closed, his smiling face became serious again, he needed to play this by ear and was extra nervous before, but with Emira’s last piece of info, he might really be able to pull it off!

***

Tear fell on her knees beneath the great throne, she had mixed feelings, somewhere the final joy of meeting her great, Blood lord, father for the first time, and the other was the fear of him punishing her.

Around her, many young men and women in decorative armors stood watching her with disdain. They were supposed to be her brothers, and sisters, and some were her father's disciples, but none of them were friendly to her. All because her mother refused to follow her father and live deep in this ruin!

Still, the journey was worth it, who could have believed that deep in that abandoned place, there was an otherworldly path that ended up in this magnificent castle!

“You may stand!” the Blood lord said after inspecting her for a moment. “Did you bring the stuff?” he asked her.

“Yeah! Here are the rings I couldn’t open, and here are the cushions....” she said, taking a few boxes from her storage ring.

“Ehm.... “ the blood lord coughed slightly as a few maids hurried to bring the cushions away, no one in the hall dared to laugh.

“Good… You did fine getting here by yourself!” he said with a confident smile, "Now, hand me the ring!” he said, making his pretty assistant fetch the Ring from Tear’s hand and give it to her lord.

“Let’s see what you are hiding…”

Everyone in the hall watched as the blood lord, who held the ring, gave it a quick inspection and…

“...” his face fell and his eyes contracted as he read the lines the system threw at him.

“...”

“Interesting…” he swallowed hard and said as he put the ring in his pocket. His hand was shaking. “I need to check a few things…. You may leave…” he said as he stood up with difficulty then left the hall from the back door without waiting for his assistant to declare the end of today’s hearing, it was as if he was running to the bathroom.

***

Victor had to confess, that the Imperial Palace was really something to behold. It surpassed everything he had seen in his previous life, and even the grand palace that the Von Crone built back then, would look like a pauper’s hatchet if declared to this palace.

Built atop a grand mountain, the palace spanned a few Miles all decorated with golden statues, featuring many different buildings and sections. All of which were floored and yielded with all kinds of colored marbles and neatly arranged gardens.

Some of those sections were normal, and others were floating in midair, with levitating golden stairs reaching into them, like a huge garden that Victor could only get a glimpse of from below.

Above all, this entire palace was built in the eye of a huge storm that slowly revolved in the distance and flashed with thunder every now and then.

“Just how many courtyards does this Palace have?” Victor asked as he popped his head out of the window and looked around frantically like a hillbilly.

“7922,” Lyra replied solemnly.

“What are all of those houses?”

“Some for the guards, others for esteemed guests… Some for parties, others are for the lord’s harem… Forget that last sentence!”

“... Males or Females?”

“The answer would make my sister a widow!” she whispered.

“Oh… Both it is!” he nodded as he pulled his head back into the carriage, just as a sword swiftly descended where it was a second ago.

BAM!

A pair of elegant feet stepped onto the carriage’s roof as 10 guards surrounded the Carriage drawing their swords…

“Lyra…”

“Nega…”

“Who is the fool in the carriage?” Nega asked.

“My brother in law… Her lordship called for him!” she quickly explained.

“That doesn't mean he can say whatever he wants though…”

“Nega… Let it pass this time, he doesn't know the rules, and he needs to testify in front of the lord!” Lyra who was now standing beside the driver said, while keeping to her polite behavior.

“He will need to be punished! Stay out of this!” Nega said then Vanished.

She appeared sitting right opposite Victor who was listening to what was happening outside, her eyes inspecting him from head to toe as if he was a human-sized dildo in the used section of the adult store.

She seemed to have been wanting to say something, but the striped tiger suit took her by surprise. She couldn’t get that someone would come to meet her lord dressed like this.

“Victor, be careful… This bitch is Aerith’s nemesis, watch your tongue and try not to make trouble…” Lyra said in a faint voice that only he could hear. “ She is responsible for the Palace’s security! And she can make your life miserable…”

Hearing her, Victor just smiled as he looked at the woman in a revealing dress and sexy sandals sitting in front of him, carefully inspecting her from head to toe mirroring what she was doing.

; ;

NAME: NEGA TRUEWIND (STORMBRINGER) LEVEL: 189 CLASS: STORM HOLY KNIGHT, SS ABNORMAL STATUS: STORM LORD'S MAJOR BLESSING. SSS AUTHORITY: 18+2 HEALTH: 6732 STAMINA: 7183 MANA: 7910 Strength: 673 Agility: 718 Intelligence: 791 Luck: 5 Charm: 50 Order: 1244 SKILLS: STORM COMMAND, SS STORM RIDE, S WIND BLADE, S RAIN SHADOW, S SWORD ARTS, S SOFT WIND STEP, S HOWLING STEPS, A WIND CASTING, A DRAGON RIDING, A LANCE ARTS, A SWORD ARTS, A CHARM, A ARCHERY, A POLE ARTS, B MARTIAL ARTS, B PAIN TOLERANCE, B COLD RESISTANCE, B STUN RESISTANCE, B MAGIC RESISTANCE, C POISON RESISTANCE, B SHIELD ARTS, C FISHING, F MOON DANCING, F MUSIC ARTS, F Bloodline : MOON ELF, 25% FATE: FATE’S POWER: A DEFINED FATE: BE BURNED TO DEATH BY THE SUN LORD! DESTINY LIST < 10 ORDER POINTS TO UNVEIL>

“What? Am I more beautiful than your little wife?” she finally asked as she noticed Victor’s eyes crawl all over her body. It made her feel a little amused rather than angry. After castrating a few men a few years ago, no one ever dared to do that to her ever again. She had no idea that Aerith felt the same before she fell into Victor’s honey-laid trap!

“About the same in that regard…” Victor told the truth. She was pretty good-looking. “But you are not horny enough for my taste!” he quickly added pointing to his head, to the point where Aerith had her single horn protruding from.

“Oh…” that answer took her by surprise… “HA HA HAHAHAHA…. You are really funny…” she said. “You know that your world earlier would warrant capital punishment, right?” she said as she moved her sword to point at different parts of his body. “Let’s see if you can keep your attitude after losing a few limbs…”

“Would depend on the limbs!” he said calmly as he flicked his finger casually. “Some can be regrown!”

“Now really…” she asked in clear disdain.

“Yes!”

“What if I were the little thing hiding in here?” she asked.

“You mean this?”

“WHA…. HOW CAN IT BE THIS HUGE?”

“Others call theirs their little brother, I call it my big brother!” he said proudly. “Wanna touch it?”

“Bastard you…. Wait… DAMN!”

“Careful… AH…..”

“Bastard…. Let go….”

“No… You were the one who provoked it first…”

“No…”

“It wants you!”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……… Go easier!”

Hearing that last scream of hers, the guards outside wanted to break right in, but hearing the last words, they stopped and looked at Lyra with confused expressions, as if asking her whether what was happening inside was real.

She could only open her mouth like an idiot as she heard the voice of her sister’s nemesis scream in ecstasy!

“What the…”

“AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AH… AH……………………”

Everyone was in shock, but no one dared to trouble the two lovers inside!

…

Of course, none of what the guards and Lyra heard outside was true. Victor was no longer the kind of lowly pervert who would sleep with any girl he could find, he had high standards nowadays or his harem would expand to fill the entire female population!

The moment that Nega pointed her sword at him, Victor saw the death fate thread cut him in half. This bitch was here to kill him!

So he quickly used anesthesia to make her go to sleep, he had been sitting beside her all this time after all!

Looking at her name he could tell that she might buy that guy’s Lizor’s cousin or sister. She might be hiding this fact though for some reason… No matter what, it was clear that the Stormbringer family wanted to retaliate against Aerith by killing him, they might really think that Lizor’s possession was a ploy by her!

Well, this girl’s reason might be something else though… The hate he felt for her was very genuine…. As if she was Lizor’s lover….

Oh… That would be some interesting family drama… But not his business!

He simply took Nega’s ring, and after giving it a quick glance he threw it in his storage space and then got right into business, making sure that the unconscious girl had just gone into the wildest ride of her life.

After making sure she looked natural, he disheveled his hair and opened his pant’s zipper, then kicked the carriage door open.

“Come here and take her!” he commanded.

“What?” Everyone outside looked to see the sorry-looking girl. “What happens? One guard asked after some hesitation and making sure his mistress was breathing.

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to lose more than one part of your body!” Victor said coldly. “Too bad she could only last one round… Very inferior to Aerith…”

“WA…..” the guards didn’t know how to react to hearing that very unnecessary piece of info.

“Just take her… And make sure not to mention any of this when she wakes up!” he said. “I am sure she would be dying in shame remembering her defeat under my big brother!”

“...” The guard’s faces fell, all of them imagining what his ‘Big brother’ might look like, especially one girl whose face was beat red, Lyra.

Victor considered teasing her, but feeling that she was still too young for such jokes, he held his tongue. Her actions earlier, really proved that she was not bad at all! “Go on then…”

The guards slowly held their mistress’s body, making sure not to look at her exposed skin and the red kiss marks that filled her body.

Victor just watched them go away with a smirk… He was sure that the storm Lord was watching this entire fiasco, he could tell from the array around the palace, it was a more complex version of the one he built on his mansion.

That’s why he made it seem as if he was using a stun talisman and a disguise talisman, he wanted the lord to really believe that his master was a talisman master!

This was also why he didn’t dare to use the soul wine to interrogate Naga… The girl had no idea she was being used! the Lord must have known everything about her, and just let it play to test him… That woman was an old fox, someone he would have to be extra careful against!

“So… Are we just gonna wait here?” he turned to Lyra and asked.

“GO!” Lyra turned and told the driver, making sure not to let Victor see her face.

She was in utter shock. No wonder her sister fell for this pervert! Even the Man Killer Nega fell for him! Just what kind of brother did he have?

Despite her willingness, she couldn’t take that question off her mind for the entire trip, nor could the poor driver who for the first time in his life, felt ashamed of being a man!