["No," you say coldly, your voice as calm as a blade. "I caught you."]
In the simulation, the "driver" froze mid-smirk.
The monster's ferocious grin faltered slightly, its twisted features tightening as realization dawned.
This wasn't a panicked prey.
This was a hunter waiting for the perfect moment.
[Tear!]
A black, clawed hand burst forth from the leather back seat, clawing desperately for your spine, eager to tear the Supreme Emperor Bone from your body.
But you remained utterly composed.
["Get started," you commanded without emotion.]
Boom!
The earth itself seemed to tremble.
Suddenly, golden flames erupted from beneath the car, incinerating the black hand instantly.
[From the shadows, Shawn—your protector and seventh-level Saint—appeared like an avenging god.]
His body radiated golden light.
One giant flaming hand reached forward and seized the "driver" by the head.
The monster shrieked in terror as Shawn tore it from the seat like a rag doll.
[The so-called "mastermind" realized—too late—that everything had been a setup.
Lu Zhong's absence, the staged pursuit of Luke, the feigned vulnerability—
All part of your trap.]
["NOOO!!!"]
The black-hand figure's screams echoed uselessly in the night.
You simply stood there, smiling coldly, watching the once-proud "mastermind" being torn apart piece by piece.
This was justice.
If the enemy was willing to play dirty, so was Grayson Grierson.
[Though the "mastermind" was strong, it was clear he couldn't truly compete against a Saint-level warrior.
His reliance on tricks, illusions, and stealth revealed his weakness.]
Still, he nearly escaped.
[The black-hand entity twisted and warped his form, transforming into shadows in a desperate attempt to flee.]
But Shawn was faster.
[The protector revealed his true strength, transforming into a gigantic golden ape bathed in divine flames.
A single earth-shaking punch suppressed the shadows completely.]
Soon, the battle ended.
The black-hand creature lay broken, a mangled ruin of flesh and bone, dragged before you like a trophy.
Shawn knelt respectfully, bloody trophy in hand.
["Mr. Grayson," he reported solemnly, "this creature practices a lost evil art—the Thousand Shadow Magic Skill.
It allows him to control shadows, change appearances, and evade capture.
However, I could not identify his origins."]
Grayson narrowed his eyes.
Thousand Shadow Magic Skill.
It sounded impressive—but ultimately, the creature was expendable.
The true mastermind had hidden deeper still.
Grayson wasn't surprised.
The planning behind tonight's trap had been meticulous.
They wouldn't leave such an obvious trail.
He folded his arms behind his back and spoke calmly:
"Soul search him."
[After reaching the seventh level of sainthood, one could condense their soul into substance, gaining abilities like 'Soul Search.'
However, such a process was brutal—often leaving the victim either dead or permanently crippled.]
But Grayson had no mercy to spare.
The black-hand monster had killed him once in the previous simulation.
Tonight, Grayson would return the favor.
Without hesitation, Shawn began the soul search.
The creature convulsed violently.
Blood oozed from every orifice.
Its limbs twitched grotesquely.
Within moments, it was dead.
[Shawn finished the search, looking grim.]
["Mr. Grayson... his memory was tampered with. Large portions were wiped clean.
I could only learn that he was an orphan, picked up and trained in the Thousand Shadow Magic Skill.
Beyond that... nothing."]
Grayson exhaled softly through his nose.
He wasn't disappointed.
He had already anticipated this outcome.
Memory tampering.
Professional.
Watertight.
The mastermind behind all this wasn't just cautious—they were experienced in manipulating killers.
Grayson mulled over what he had learned.
Collecting orphans.
Teaching them secret arts.
Turning them into loyal disposable assassins.
This wasn't new to him.
In fact, it was a common method among powerful clans.
The Grierson family itself trained their own death warriors the same way.
It only reinforced Grayson's suspicion:
The Gu family of the Ironwood Empire's capital was deeply involved.
And here in Demonic City, the Zhao family might be tangled in the conspiracy too.
Of course, the simulation didn't give him "evidence" in the legal sense.
But Grayson Grierson didn't need evidence.
He had power.
[You remained calm after Shawn's report, radiating a serene ruthlessness.]
[You understood: when small people are bullied, they beg for justice.
But when someone from a powerful family is wronged... they raise hell.]
And Grayson wasn't going to sit still.
[You reached into your storage ring and retrieved the Grierson family's internal blood communicator—an item reserved for urgent situations.]
The blood-stained jade lit up instantly as Grayson injected his spiritual energy into it.
He composed a single, chilling message:
"Assassination attempt confirmed.
Suspected culprit: Gu family.(Grey family shortly called as Gu family)
Requesting elder brother's intervention.
Authorization for retaliation."
In reality, Grayson's elder brother—Leon Grierson—was no ordinary figure.
Leon was the Ironwood Empire's top young genius, heir to the Grierson legacy, a powerhouse whose words carried enormous weight.
He had always doted on Grayson.
When Grayson was younger, Leon would stand up for him, defend him, spoil him without reservation.
If Leon took action now…
The entire capital would tremble.
As for the Zhao family's involvement?
Grayson intended to handle that more subtly.
[The Li family(Laurier family shortly calledasLi family) —one of Demonic City's Four Great Families—was an ally of the Griersons.
The Li family head had married into the Griersons, making them blood relatives.]
[When Grayson first arrived at Demonic City, the Li family had arranged his residence, his protection, and many of his conveniences.]
Grayson planned to leverage that connection.
If the Zhao family truly dared collude against him—
They would be crushed.
[After finishing your communication, you asked Shawn to transcribe the core principles of the Thousand Shadow Magic Skill.]
Despite its sinister origins, Grayson recognized its value.
If refined properly, it could become a terrifying tool.
Shawn hesitated slightly.
["Mr. Grayson," he said carefully, "with all due respect...
Do you really plan to practice this technique?"]
Grayson smiled faintly.
In the simulation, he had already transmitted sound with spiritual energy earlier—revealing he had secretly begun cultivating again.
There was no point in hiding it from Shawn any longer.
"I trust you," Grayson said simply.
"But I need you to keep my awakening a secret."
The awakening of the Supreme Emperor Bone was a trump card too valuable to reveal casually.
Only by hiding in the shadows could he move freely.
Only by pretending to be weak could he launch killing blows when his enemies least expected it.
Shawn, after a long moment of silence, bowed deeply.
["Understood, Mr. Grayson.
I swear upon my soul, I will not reveal your secrets."]
Grayson nodded approvingly.
Another piece had fallen neatly into place.
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