"And here I thought those were banned inside Varis... silly me," Lucius muttered dryly, approaching Mercy, who stood lounging under the shade of a medium-sized tree. A cigarette dangled loosely from Mercy's fingers, thin trails of smoke curling into the afternoon air. The tree itself was significant — one that Rartar and Sia had planted years ago when they first bought the place. A quiet, living witness to countless shared memories.
Inside, the soft clatter of dishes and muffled laughter floated from the house as the women handled the clean-up, their chatter light and easy. Out here, though, a different mood was settling.
Lucius congratulated Mercy first, clasping his forearm in a firm but brief gesture of respect. Edward followed soon after, a warm smile on his face. Unlike Lucius, Edward didn't mind the smell of cigarettes. There was a strange sense of calm he felt breathing in the familiar scent, even though he was no smoker himself.
They made small talk at first — about the future, about marriage. Edward, ever the polite one, asked directly. Mercy just chuckled, assuring them that nothing was set in stone. No grand plans yet. They were taking it one step at a time. Lucius thought it was smart. Rushing milestones never ended well.
But the casualness faded quickly. Edward's expression hardened almost imperceptibly. He caught Lucius's eye, nodding once. Lucius immediately swept his gaze around, searching for any lingering ears or watching eyes. A practised move. After a moment, he shook his head sideways, a silent confirmation that they were clear.
Still, Edward didn't take chances. A soft pulse of mana extended from him, almost invisible to the eye, encasing the small patch where the three men stood. It muted their voices from any eavesdroppers. Only then did Edward speak, his voice low, serious.
"You remember that son of a bastard, Adith, right?"
Lucius's face remained impassive, but his eyes narrowed slightly. Of course, he remembered — how could he forget the spy he'd hunted down and eliminated, the man Edward had so graciously taken the public credit for.
Mercy shifted slightly, flicking ash off his cigarette. "Were you able to track down his so-called master? Beckman?" he asked.
Edward exhaled slowly, his features darkening.
"Through the investigations, I've managed to figure out a few details. I think I have a solid lead," he said. He hesitated, then added grimly, "But... the person this trail is leading toward isn't just another name on a list. This isn't someone we can afford to make an enemy of."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Mercy's stance subtly shifted, a tilt of the shoulders, a minute tightening around the eyes — calculation taking over. He was already running the scenarios in his head. Lucius, on the other hand, didn't move. His instincts screamed something different: caution, wariness, a gut-deep unease he couldn't ignore. Even Edward's usual calm was cracked, and that set Lucius's nerves on edge.
"Go on," Mercy urged quietly. Lucius simply nodded, his eyes never leaving Edward.
Edward looked them both in the eye before delivering the blow.
"I firmly believe Beckman is none other than the Guild Association's manager — Mr. Goodman."
The world seemed to pause for a few heartbeats. No words. No sounds. Even the breeze held its breath.
Lucius felt the burn of adrenaline sharpen his senses. Mercy's cigarette stilled midway to his mouth.
Mr. Goodman.
The outsider from the Central Empire who had somehow slithered his way up to power, snatching the manager's seat even when the guild had a perfectly capable predecessor. Goodman, who had wrapped the adventurers' guild around his fingers with charm, charisma, and a creeping influence that few even noticed until it was too late.
Lucius had distrusted him from the very beginning. Edward had too, though he rarely acted on just gut feelings alone. Lavya, Sara, even Dargan himself had noticed something—oddness—in the way Goodman interacted, especially around Sia. Lucius could never shake the feeling of being a target whenever Goodman was near.
Mercy finally broke the silence, scoffing.
"That scrawny-looking guy? I would've never imagined he had the balls to pull something this reckless... and this expensive."
There was disbelief in his voice, but not dismissal. He trusted Edward's judgment too much for that.
"Well, I don't. He's a fucking creep. And a weirdo," Lucius said bluntly, folding his arms across his chest.
"A powerful and rich weirdo," Edward corrected, lips twitching into a grim almost-smile.
That was the problem. Goodman wasn't just dangerous because of his hidden strength, though it was obvious to anyone paying close attention that the man downplayed his abilities. Officially, he was a low S-rank. Unofficially? No one really knew, and that made him a wild card.
Mercy exhaled, flicking the dying cigarette into a stone dish nearby. He dusted his fingers off and turned back to them with a rare, serious look.
"Alright, good news first or bad news first?" he asked.
Lucius and Edward exchanged a glance, then both gestured: "Bad news first."
Mercy grinned — that damn playful grin — and said, "Good news it is."
Lucius cursed him under his breath. Edward just sighed and rolled his eyes. They knew Mercy too well.
"The good news," Mercy said, holding up a finger, "is that Goodman isn't after Lucius because he suspects your abilities. He's obsessed with Sia. That's the real reason he's poking around you. So, for now, your secrets are still safe."
Lucius's jaw tightened. He hated the idea of being a pawn—even unknowingly—in someone else's twisted obsession.
Mercy's expression sobered immediately as he continued.
"The bad news, however..." he said, voice dropping lower, "is tied to what Adith said when Lucius caught him. If I recall correctly, his orders were to 'spy on Lucius and uncover his true nature and abilities.'"
Edward nodded grimly.
"Even if Goodman's starting point was Sia," Mercy went on, "it doesn't mean he won't uncover more the longer he watches."
A heavy silence settled again. The implications were clear. Goodman had resources, influence, and patience. If he discovered what Lucius truly was, it would change everything.
And not for the better.
Edward finally broke the silence, his voice low and grim.
"We need to be ready."
Lucius said nothing. But his mind was already racing, calculating, preparing.
One step at a time, just like Mercy said.
Only now... the steps would have to be even sharper, faster, and deadlier.
***
Mercy, Edward, and Lucius kept their conversation going, a calm, easy rhythm between old friends, despite the sort of topic they were discussing — until the steady sound of footsteps cut through the air. Rebecca and Adrianna marched toward them with determined expressions, forcing the three men to quickly shift their discussion.
The topic naturally veered onto Edward and his limited appearances lately. Edward was quick to apologise, offering a wry smile as he cited the reason — the noble houses of Wal-kins, the ones overseeing Varis, had personally requested increased military operations around the Lunar Walls and its surrounding region.
Mercy confirmed it, nodding without much surprise. As Captain of the Lunarknights, it was part of his role to coordinate those patrol schedules. Even their last meeting with Lucius hadn't been guaranteed; it was a rare opportunity they'd fought for, right after Lucius had avenged the fallen knights by killing a hundred ninety-five and a half Knightcrawlers. Edward and Mercy had worked together behind the scenes to make that meeting happen.
Of course, the real purpose of that meeting had been more dangerous: to lure out Adith... and silence him. That part had been a success.
Adrianna, sharp-eyed as always, pressed Edward for more details about Adith. Edward, without missing a beat, weaved a mostly truthful story, claiming he had stumbled across the criminal in a restaurant famed for its heavenly food and drinks. The lie slid easily off his tongue, his posture casual, even as Lucius noticed the faint tension in his jaw.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Sia was alone. Lucius, ever protective, excused himself and entered quietly to check on her.
She was resting on the couch, her legs carefully crossed at the ankles — the same elegant, instinctive pose both she and Mercy adopted when relaxing. A small smile touched Lucius's lips at the familiar sight.
Without thinking twice, Lucius took a seat right beside her, gently lifting her legs and placing them over his lap. His hands moved with practised ease, massaging the tired muscles in her calves, his thumb pressing into the right spots. Sia's eyes remained closed, but her breathing eased almost immediately.
And then, her voice—soft but unmistakably firm—broke the quiet.
"How strong was it?" she asked.
Lucius's hands froze. He knew exactly what she meant. Still, he tried to deflect, forcing a chuckle. "What do you mean?"
Sia didn't even open her eyes. Her voice remained calm, but carried a certain dangerous weight — a reminder that despite her exhaustion, she was still Sia Machangel.
"...The only thing I hate more than lying," she murmured, "is you acting dumb, little one. You know exactly what I mean."
Lucius sighed, his facade crumbling. She always saw through him. Always.
"It was strong," he admitted quietly. "Strong enough to overwhelm me... easily. Mercy saved my life. And your weapon—" he paused, squeezing her foot gently, "—your weapon let me walk away with all my limbs intact."
He didn't hide the truth anymore. He told her everything about the mission, about the Valgura, every detail he could afford to reveal.
He did leave out Sonic... and he stayed silent about Telekinesis. Some things, he wasn't ready to explain yet.
Sia listened silently, her face unreadable.
Eventually, she asked — in that same even tone — about Adith. Clearly, Adrianna had mentioned something to her while they were outside.
Lucius hesitated. Then, realising he owed her the truth, confessed everything: how he had killed Adith, how Edward had covered for him. His voice was low, almost guilty when he slipped, mentioning the possibility of Goodman's involvement.
The second he said it, he saw Sia's entire presence change.
The room chilled.
Not physically — no frost or mist — but in her mana, in her aura, in the heavy silence that swallowed up all the warmth. Sia didn't raise her voice. She didn't move. She just grew... cold.
Lucius's chest tightened. He hated seeing her like this.
She finally spoke, her voice almost too soft to hear. "Carry me to my room," she said. "I... need some time. Some space."
Lucius rose immediately, gathering her into his arms. He tried to shoulder-carry her like a soldier, thinking it would be faster, but Sia frowned, a subtle wrinkle between her brows.
Understanding, Lucius shifted, adjusting his hold into a princess carry — more gentle, more respectful. Sia, still light as ever in his arms, leaned her head against his shoulder without a word.
At her bedroom door, he paused.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, not sure if it was enough. "Please don't overthink it... I'll handle it. Whatever the truth is behind all of this... I promise. Nothing bad will happen. Not under my watch."
Sia gave a slight nod, eyes still closed, her expression unreadable.
Lucius closed the door softly behind him, the click sounding far too loud in the heavy air.
He stood there for a second, hand lingering on the wood. Then, forcing himself to breathe, he turned back toward the living room, where his guests were still waiting.
Today wasn't over yet.