Shaun sat at the dining table, waiting for his meal. He glanced up and asked, "Rosie, have you found any servants yet?"
Rosie entered, carefully placing dishes on the table one by one. "Yes, Master. I've spoken with a few friends about it. Many candidates will arrive tomorrow for interviews. I assure you, I'll only hire the best—those most suited for the job."
Shaun began serving himself, scooping food onto his plate before taking a bite. "Good. There's something else I need to tell you—I'll be going on a short trip next week with a friend for business. Also, tomorrow morning, I'll be heading out to finalize the hiring of a butler. I've got my eye on two specific candidates. You don't have any objections, do you? They're new, likely inexperienced, but they come highly recommended."
Rosie smiled. "If they are people you trust, Master, why would I have any objections?"
Shaun continued eating, chewing thoughtfully. "Good. Oh, and—can you do me a favor?"
(In his mind) Seeker, tell me the name of the maid who troubled the original Shaun and stole his artifact.
Rosie tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity in her expression. "What is it, Master? Do you need me to bring something?"
A message flashed in front of Shaun's vision—[Seeker: The maid who harassed the original Shaun and stole his artifact was Judith.]
Shaun's expression darkened slightly. "If you come across an applicant named Judith, don't hire her. And don't ask me why."
Rosie hesitated only for a moment before nodding. "Understood, Master. Call me if you need anything else."
She turned and left.
Shaun remained at the table, quietly finishing his meal.
The deal Soren offered me wasn't a bad one—far from it. A wealth of valuable information for free, potential assistance when needed, and someone ready to take on big players if the situation calls for it. He's a formidable one, both in strength and intellect. Even without any prior knowledge, he managed to uncover the true nature of this world and its lurking threats and is already making preparations. That kind of foresight is rare. Keeping someone like him close isn't just beneficial—it's a strategic necessity.
Besides, I'm curious. Where will this alliance lead? What exactly is he planning? If I want to maintain control and reign supreme, there's no reason to refuse this partnership. It's a mutually
beneficial deal, and that makes it all the more appealing. And with the upcoming battle Royal, I can use Soren to secure the high ground. A powerful pawn, if nothing else.
So far, everything is progressing as planned. My investment with Baron is running smoothly, no setbacks. I've solidified an alliance with Soren, who has not only provided crucial intelligence on threats against me but has even dealt with some of them already. But until the root cause is eradicated, these are just temporary solutions.
Beyond that, Rosie is handling the hiring of new servants—an essential task. I've already blocked one problematic element from entering the household, which is a win. Now, I have one week before I leave for the North. In that time, I need to accomplish a few key things: finalize the butler hires and get them stationed here, eliminate that rogue group threatening my territory at its source—I'll send those two to handle it. Once that's settled, I need to shift focus to planning for the next looming threat. That's going to take some serious brainstorming.
And then, the North awaits.
After finishing his meal, Shaun retreated to his study. Hours passed as he sat at his desk, absently doodling symbols and calculations onto sheets of paper. His thoughts swirled with plans, strategies, and the weight of what lay ahead.
Finally, he leaned back, exhaled slowly, and murmured, "Umbra, take me to the Warden's place."
A void-black energy coiled around him, swallowing his form whole. In an instant, he was elsewhere.
The air was thick with power. Massive, ominous halls stretched endlessly, their towering pillars bathed in a dim, eerie glow. Shadows flickered, shifting unnaturally along the marble floors.
Jim was already there, standing in wait, bowing deeply. He had prepared everything—tea, cookies, and whatever else he could think of. He had known Shaun was coming.
"Greetings, Master," Jim said, voice steady.
Shaun studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. Looks like you're well-trained here."
Jim straightened, his expression calm. "It's all thanks to the guidance I've received here."
Shaun moved toward the table and sat down. "Where are the others?"
"Master Warden is training them. I can call for any of them if you need."
Shaun tapped his index finger against the polished wood. "I'll do it myself."
He raised a hand, flicked his fingers, and commanded, "Firecracker. Blight Griffin. Here at once."
A pulse of energy rippled through the air.
Within seconds, both creatures materialized before him.
The Blight Griffin—unchanged in its grotesque majesty—held back the corrosive malice of its aura, keeping its presence contained.
The dragon, however, had taken on a smaller, more compact form—a slight inconvenience, but a necessary one in such a confined space.
Shaun smirked. "Oh? So you can shapeshift, Firecracker."
The dragon snorted, its molten eyes narrowing. "If I didn't, this room would have been rubble. You knew that already. So, tell me—why summon me to a place this cramped?"
Shaun waved off the irritation. "Let it be. I have a job for you."
Jim silently poured Shaun's tea, while in the background, the Blight Griffin's hungry eyes lingered on the plate of cookies—only for Jim to subtly shift to block its view.
The dragon let out a low, rumbling laugh. "Seriously? Finally! I was beginning to think you'd never give me an assignment." It stretched its wings slightly before settling down. "So, what's the mission? Destroy a country? Fight another dragon? Conquer an empire?"
Shaun chuckled, shaking his head. "Calm down, calm down. Don't get too ambitious. It's nothing that grand—just a simple task. All you need to do is launch a single destructive roar at a designated location. One shot. One massive, sustained attack. Wipe out the estate, wreck the surroundings, sever any connectivity to the region."
The dragon blinked. "…That's it?"
Shaun nodded. "Yeah. Ignis will take you there, drop Umbra's feather to set the coordinates, and once you unleash your attack, Umbra will teleport you back instantly."
The dragon grinned, sharp teeth glinting. "Got it. Who's the poor fool you want wiped off the map?"
Shaun's expression darkened. "My maternal uncle. He thinks he can make me disappear. This will serve as… a distraction. I don't want any casualties—yet. Just make sure he has bigger things to worry about than me."
The dragon let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll hold back. But while we're at it—are you actually going to give me a proper name? Or am I stuck being called Firecracker forever?"
Shaun raised an eyebrow. "You want a name? Why?"
The dragon shrugged. "It makes things easier. Besides, the three birds have names. Only me and this ugly griffin don't. I'm strong—I deserve a good name, don't I?"
Shaun leaned forward, scrutinizing the dragon as if analyzing its very essence. "Very well. Naming you will make things easier for me, too. I had something in mind, but I wasn't sure if you'd like it. Since you're asking…" He paused, then spoke with finality. "Aziel."
The dragon mulled it over, tasting the name in its mind. "Aziel… Hmm. Not bad. It suits an apex predator like me."He grinned, already satisfied. "Alright, I'm off. I've got a sparring match with the Warden. Call me when it's time for destruction."
With a powerful beat of his wings, he vanished, gone as swiftly as he had come.
Shaun exhaled, shaking his head. "He's fast as hell. Does he want to flaunt his new name that badly?"
His gaze then shifted to the Blight Griffin. It stood silently, awaiting its turn.
"You want a name too, don't you?"
The creature gave no response, only an eerie, knowing stare.
Shaun smirked. "Before that, show me the results of the aura I implanted in you last time."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then—
A pulse of green energy erupted from the Blight Griffin, its form twisting, distorting, writhing as though tearing itself apart. Its feathers melted into viscous sludge before reforming, jagged and razor-sharp. Its wings snapped inward, folding into itself as its body convulsed. The air thickened with a suffocating pressure, reeking of death and decay.
Then—transformation.
The grotesque avian horror morphed, its body reshaping, elongating. Where once stood the Blight Griffin, now loomed something far more chilling—a humanoid figure, shrouded in a sickly green aura.
It had long, wild green hair, its strands coiling and shifting like sentient vines. Its frame was broad, its muscles grotesquely defined, as if carved from raw power itself. Its skin—eerily fair—was marred by a jagged burn scar running down the right side of its forehead.
Shaun's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Interesting its worked just fine can you talk"
"Ha… hu… ya… e… yo… yesss… M-Mossstyer…"
Shaun arched an eyebrow. "You can understand me, but speaking is still a challenge, huh? Still learning, maybe. Well, that's fine—it'll work itself out in time."
He studied the creature for a moment, considering. Then, with a slow nod, he said, "Let's see… what name would suit you best? Perditius. Yes, that'll do just fine. What do you think?"
The creature's glowing, blood-red eyes flickered with something unreadable. Its mouth moved with deliberate effort as it growled out, "Iii… loked… iitt… vory… much… M-Mastorrrr…"
Shaun: "Good. Then from now on, you are Perditius."
Jim stood silently, watching the entire scene unfold. His expression remained composed, but deep within his eyes lingered a shadow of understanding. He had been through this transformation himself. He knew exactly how gruesome the experience was.
"I've been there," Jim murmured, voice low. "I know how it feels… how it tears you apart."
Shaun turned to him, curiosity flickering across his face. "And how do you remember it?"
Jim hesitated, his lips parting slightly before he finally found the words. "Like a nightmare… and a dream."
Shaun let the words settle between them for a moment before waving a hand dismissively. "Well, let the past stay in the past. I gave you another chance, didn't I?" He leaned forward, his gaze sharpening. "Now tell me, Jim—do you want to go outside with me? I have a job for you."
Jim straightened, nodding immediately. "Of course, Master. What do you need me to do?"
A smirk played at the corner of Shaun's lips. "I want you to work as my butler. Alongside Perditius."
Jim's breath hitched. His entire body stiffened as if the words themselves had struck him. He was speechless.
Meanwhile, Perditius let out a slow, lazy yawn, stretching his grotesquely muscular arms. His crimson eyes flickered with mild boredom as he shook his head, clearly uninterested in whatever human drama was unfolding.
Jim finally found his voice, though it was barely more than a whisper. "What… do you mean, sir?"
Shaun took a slow sip of his tea, his gaze steady as he looked at Jim. "What exactly did you hear?"
Jim stood straight, hands clasped behind his back. "That you, sir, want us to work as your butlers."
Shaun nodded. "And that's exactly what I mean. Got a problem with it?"
Jim quickly shook his head. "Of course not, Master. It would be my greatest pleasure. I just… thought our job was that of a killer, that's all."
Shaun smirked. "And that still holds true. Your job will be to stay stationed at my mansion, protect it from any threats, remove any undesirable elements from my town—quietly—and, of course, handle my dirty work. For that, I need you close. Understand?"
Jim gave a sharp nod. "Understood, Master."
He turned to Perditius, raising an eyebrow. "And you? Got that?"
Perditius blinked slowly, his voice a distorted rasp. "Ookk… I do the saaame jooob… weaat you siide…"
Jim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Never mind."
Shaun leaned back, placing his cup down. "Good. I'll take you both to my place tonight. Your first task? Slaughter a nearby thug group that's been forming trouble, wipe out a small mercenary guild, and clean up some spies while you're at it."
Jim's expression sharpened, his usual composure shifting into something more lethal. "Understood, sir."
Perditius gave a slow nod, his eerie eyes flickering.
Shaun glanced at Jim. "Oh, and get him some proper clothes."
Jim gave a slight smirk. "I'll see to it, Master."