Sai had secured a room for now. His plan was to use the noble to his advantage. However, he remained the target of a mysterious organization that constantly observed him. The Duke's house offered protection, reducing the intensity of that probing. With this temporary relief, Sai needed to plan his next move.

  The next day, Sai was summoned by the Duke once again.

  The Duke studied him for a moment, taking in his youthful appearance, which suggested he was around twenty-two. Sai, in turn, remained silent, observing the Duke with equal intensity. A quiet yet heavy tension filled the room as neither spoke.

  After what felt like a brief staring contest, the Duke finally broke the silence.

  "Thank you for protecting my daughter and my grandchildren," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "As an adventurer, you must have certain needs. If there is anything you require, speak freely."

  Sai remained composed, his expression unreadable. The Duke's offer was expected, but that didn’t mean he would jump at it without consideration. Everything had a price, especially when dealing with nobles.

  He met the Duke’s gaze and responded, “I only did what was necessary at the time. As for what I need… that depends. What are you willing to offer?”

  The Duke raised an eyebrow, amused by Sai’s cautious approach. “A wise answer. Resources, equipment, connections—whatever is within reason, I can provide. You are under my household’s protection now, after all.”

  Sai nodded slightly, processing the information. He could use this opportunity to secure valuable items or information, but he had to be careful not to make himself too dependent on the Duke’s generosity.

  After a brief pause, he spoke. “I know you've already done a background check on me, so I'll be straightforward. Provide me with knowledge—at the very least, I need to withstand the power of the organization targeting me.”

  Hearing this, the Duke sighed. “I know what you're dealing with, so I'll give you a suggestion. For now, I can offer you some help. Once you complete this, you'll receive what you want. Consider this a settled debt for saving my family.”

  Sai thought for a moment and nodded before leaving the room.

  After he left, the Duke muttered, “You can come out now.”

  From the shadows, a figure emerged. “Tell me everything you've gathered about him—every minor detail.”

  The figure stepped forward, their presence barely making a sound. Cloaked in darkness, their voice was calm yet firm.

  “He is cautious but not paranoid. He assesses every situation before acting and holds back more than he reveals. His combat skills suggest prior training, though his style is unorthodox. It’s as if he has knowledge beyond his apparent background.”

  The Duke narrowed his eyes. “And his origins?”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The figure hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding. “Unclear. There are gaps in his history, places where no records exist. It’s as if he appeared from nowhere. However, his knowledge, mannerisms, and reactions suggest he has lived through experiences that would break ordinary men.”

  The Duke leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the armrest. “Interesting... That kind of man is either a great ally or a dangerous enemy.”

  A heavy silence filled the room before the Duke finally spoke again. “For now, continue observing him. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary.”

  The shadowed figure bowed slightly before vanishing into the darkness, leaving the Duke alone with his thoughts.

  Sai stepped out of the grand mansion, the cool morning breeze brushing against his face. He took a deep breath, his sharp eyes scanning the bustling city before him. Unlike the dusty, chaotic streets of Dunewood, this place was well-structured, with clean roads, sturdy stone buildings, and an air of order that felt refreshing.

  He had thought about returning to Dunewood, but there was no real reason to. This place was better. Safer.

  He had initially considered visiting the Adventurer’s Guild, but something held him back. There was no rush. Instead, he decided to wander, to familiarize himself with the city. The Duke hadn’t given him any orders or restrictions—at least, none that he knew of—so he was free to move as he pleased.

  Sai had never truly unleashed his full power—not in the way a warrior honed by battle would. The only time he came close was during his fight with that vampire thrall, and even then, he had fumbled. His strength was undeniable, but strength without control was like a blade without a hilt—dangerous to wield and unreliable when it mattered most.

  His past life had been one of isolation, intellect, and calculated moves, but never of desperate, life-and-death combat. He lacked the instincts of a warrior who had survived on the battlefield. He could think, he could analyze, but when the moment of crisis came, his body didn’t always follow through the way he envisioned.

  Sai never revealed his magic, not because he lacked the ability, but because something was wrong. When he trained under Sylvester and Selena in the Dragon Realm, they quickly noticed an odd limitation—he could use basic magic with ease, but anything beyond that, whether advanced or expert-level spells, eluded him. No matter how much he tried, something was blocking his progress.

  It wasn’t a lack of talent. His understanding of magic was sharp, his control over mana precise, but whenever he attempted more complex spells, his magic simply refused to respond. It was as if there was an invisible barrier shackling him, restricting him to the most fundamental level.

  Frustrating as it was, he didn't let it stop him. Instead of dwelling on what he couldn't do, he refined what he could. He honed his basic magic to near perfection, trained tirelessly in elemental manipulation, and built his combat prowess around quick adaptability.

  For now, Sai focused on developing his body. He searched for training methods to temper himself but found nothing useful. Still, he didn’t neglect magic—he continued honing his senses, sharpening his perception, and casting basic spells in the shortest time possible.

  From what he had read in the Dragon Library, there were natural treasures capable of enhancing both the body and magic. However, up until now, he had only consumed low-level herbs—nothing truly magical. Even the dragons, despite their vast resources, never gave him anything valuable.

  They were, without a doubt, the stingiest dragons he had ever met. Except for the Dragon Emperor, the rest were, without a doubt, the stingiest dragons he had ever met.

  After returning to the mansion, Sai was guided by the servants to an outhouse where he was free to do as he pleased. He was also informed that he could use any facility within the estate as he wished.

  Hearing this, Sai's eyes lit up with excitement, and he began exploring the facilities one by one. Among them, two things caught his interest the most—the access to the library and the challenge arena.

  The latter was an exclusive training ground where the Duke’s personal army sparred, restricted to internal members only. However, Sai was granted a rare exception.