"Of course sothing is going to go wrong," said Mathias, the head of the Helflick family, coldly. "A talentless, ordinary person attempting to learn sothing beyond them—it's suicide."
"Forgive !" The butler bowed, his head slamming against the ground.
By now, the fire had already attracted other maids and butlers, their whispers filling the air.
"You are aware that under my house, on my property, no one is allowed to learn Cultivation or Battle Techniques unless proven to have the talent and capability to walk the Way of Cultivation, correct?" Mathias asked, towering over the man, his eyes like daggers.
"Y-yes, Master Mathias!" the butler answered, pressing his head harder to the ground. "I will take full responsibility and face the consequences!"
Mathias nodded, glancing at the book near the burned house before turning to the gathered maids and butlers. "Those who have learned Techniques behind my back, step forward, and don't even think of hiding it."
After his words fell, silence lingered until three people stepped forward—two butlers and a maid.
"Who succeeded?" Mathias asked. One of the butlers raised his hand. "I see… each of you will face punishnt. Any objections?"
"No, Master!" they answered in unison, kneeling and pressing their heads to the ground.
Mathias nodded before addressing the one who started the fire. "Tell , where did you get the technique?"
The butler didn't dare lie. "When I was outside, soone gave it to . He said it was a gift and that many people were already learning it, so I shouldn't be afraid if I did the sa."
"Oh?" Mathias raised an eyebrow. He asked the sa question of the others and received the sa answer, though the two butlers shared the sa technique. "This is concerning."
He waved his hand, and the ash-covered book floated toward him before disappearing inside his space ring. "Soone will co for you to carry out your punishnts." With that, his body blurred, and he disappeared from sight.
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But the matter was far from over. The mont Mathias arrived at his study, he summoned an assistant and issued an order. Sitting in his chair behind the desk, he gazed at his assistant. "I want you to investigate all our maids, butlers, guards, chefs—everyone working here—to find out if any of them are cultivating in secret. Confiscate their techniques and issue punishnt."
"Understood, Master Mathias," his assistant replied, then left the room.
Mathias placed a hand under his chin, his eyes glinting in thought, though he felt as if the reason was just at the tip of his tongue. "What is your plan, Klown?" he muttered before shaking his head. Taking out papers, he began writing. Soon, two birds flew from the Helflick mansion—one headed for the Great Serpent Headmaster and the other for the Kleinford family head.
…
Apollo had just finished begging at his usual spot. Opening his eyes, he saw the three bronze coins in his hands. His Alm points returned to forty-five.
"This is really slow," the beggar muttered with a sigh. Shaking his head, he stood up and noticed his lunch in the corner. Taking it with him, he returned to his beggar spot, his gaze landing on the pile of books. Pushing them aside, he started eating spaghetti, fried chicken, and so at from monsters he didn't recognize.
The pile of books beside him ca from the first-floor library of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. After he activated the Red Energy Burner, causing it and the ground where the man he killed had poured red liquid to ignite in crimson flas, he returned to the Great Serpent—though not without first reducing the man to ashes to erase the evidence.
He handed the lamp to Headmaster Axton, who was visibly shaken upon seeing it. They remained silent for a while as the Headmaster prepared to contact the main branch with the lamp as proof. This matter required imdiate action. Afterward, Apollo decided to read as many books on Demons as possible from the library's first floor, taking so with him to continue reading at his beggar spot as it grew late.
After finishing his al, he picked up the last book and opened it to the page where he had left off. The books covered the history of demons, stories of their evil deeds, and interesting details he often debunked. The last book he held focused on the ritual.
Unlike what Array Masters or Inscription Masters do, performing a ritual doesn't require Qi. There are all kinds of rituals and thods, but what they have in common is that they all summon Demons and require a sacrifice. A heart in exchange for the Demon's ergence.
Different rituals demand different sacrifices: so need only one person, others a child, so an unborn life, and so a mass sacrifice of hundreds, if not thousands, of people to make the summoning work. To Apollo, this was the true essence of Demon Summoning.
The book in his hand offered no detailed descriptions, only speculation and theory. There wasn't even an example of what these rituals looked like. Yet Apollo believed every word. From what he had witnessed so far, he was certain there was a ritual in the city that would cost human lives.
"So why is Klown making the techniques public?" Apollo muttered, resting his chin on his hand. He glanced at the open book, and it only took a mont for realization to strike. With all he had learned from reading about Demons—and combining that with his knowledge from his previous life—a thought crystallized in his mind. "This whole city is a farm… a farm waiting to be harvested."
Suddenly, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. The more he followed this line of thought, the more convinced he beca. Klown wanted to fatten up all his cattle with nutrients before his client arrived!
In the next mont, his eyes widened as the System interface materialized before him.
"Second Mission Completed!"
"Mission completed..." Apollo muttered as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
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