After recovering enough to walk, Yun Jin and Merlin made their way to the dining hall of Altheron Mansion.

  The room was massive, a grand hall with high ceilings and an impossibly long table stretching down its center. Yet, despite the space, only one plate was set.

  Ardent Altheron sat alone at the head of the table, calmly eating his breakfast.

  Yun Jin raised a brow at the sight. His first words came with a teasing smirk.

  "So, you do have breakfast. Then why did I have to walk all the way to Hagan’s place yesterday?"

  Ardent didn’t react at first, simply setting his fork down on his plate before meeting Yun Jin’s gaze.

  "To show you our situation, of course."

  Yun Jin scoffed, shaking his head in mild amusement. "You sure are bolder than I thought."

  At first, he had only meant to take a jab at Ardent’s blatant attempt to manipulate him—sending him to Hagan’s place to force him into empathizing with his side.

  But for Ardent to openly admit it was intentional?

  That was unexpected.

  Ardent smiled back, gesturing with a casual wave. "Take a seat. The maids will accompany you shortly."

  Yun Jin and Merlin nodded politely, taking their places at the table. Merlin, however, could feel it—the tension between the two men.

  Ardent leaned forward slightly. "So, is there anything you'd like to discuss before the food arrives?"

  Then, without pause, he added—"Was it worth more than Elara’s life?"

  The words dropped into the air like a weight.

  Merlin stiffened. Yun Jin’s expression remained neutral, but his fingers subtly curled against the table.

  Ardent continued. "The first round of the tournament—you scared those people away. Every single one of them ended up going to Elara instead."

  A slight pause.

  "Among them was one of Veyra’s elite guards. His name was Gret. He tortured Elara in the basement cell, trying to get information out of her… but he already paid the price."

  Yun Jin’s gaze sharpened. "...You mean the monsters under your control?" His voice was cold. "Like Selene?"

  He had known Elara wasn’t human—she was one of the disguised monsters, just like Selene. He might not have known the full extent of what she was, but at the time, he made the best choice available.

  Because once he understood how dangerous his mission truly was, he knew that if something happened to him, Elara wouldn’t be able to help him.

  Which meant he had to force Ardent’s hand—to send Selene instead.

  Ardent let out a slow breath, an exhale laced with something between amusement and resignation. "So you knew."

  For the briefest moment, Ardent’s expression wavered, like a mask cracking just enough to reveal the man beneath.

  But in the next breath, it was gone—replaced by composed curiosity.

  A hint of impressed flickered in his eyes.

  Yun Jin smirked. "Once I saw the veil break, I knew I could see through it again."

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  Ardent tilted his head slightly, considering Yun Jin’s words. "Interesting. You’re colder than I thought."

  Merlin shifted uncomfortably, watching the exchange.

  Yun Jin spoke without hesitation. "Everyone with a level over their head is either an enemy or an invader."

  Ardent nodded slightly, then prompted, "Except?"

  Merlin hesitated before answering. "In special cases—pacts with demons, tamed beasts… or forced contracts." His voice dipped slightly. "Sorry, I should’ve explained everything upfront."

  Yun Jin’s expression hardened. "So what was Elara’s situation?"

  Ardent answered without hesitation. "A demon under my pact. Same as Selene. And a few others." He met Yun Jin’s gaze evenly. "I know you come from far away, so you might not be familiar with how our magic works."

  Yun Jin stilled.

  Then, without a word, he closed his eyes and focused.

  In his battles, he had sensed Selene, but never detected her—as if she were a shadow beyond perception. But now, within this very room, among every flickering shadow, he felt countless traces of mana.

  This place was crawling with them.

  Ardent spoke again, unfazed. "Still, you killed Kravtsov, and with only Elara’s sacrifice. I count that as a profit."

  Yun Jin exhaled through his nose, unwilling to agree or disagree. He simply listened.

  Ardent then turned to Merlin. "And about your friend. I heard something unexpected happened? Mind elaborating?"

  Merlin flinched slightly at the direct question but nodded, explaining what had transpired during his capture.

  "Veyra told me her side of the story," Merlin began.

  "She was the daughter of a wealthy noble in the Imperial City. But due to internal conflicts, her family was ruined. She had to flee to this town. Seeing its potential, she decided to take control of its underworld, raising the funds she needed to exact her revenge."

  Yun Jin’s brows furrowed. "Wait—so all of this... is because of some personal vendetta?"

  He couldn’t believe it. More than that—he couldn’t believe she actually told Merlin this.

  Merlin nodded. "She said that her goal simply aligned with the town’s best interests. Even if she failed her revenge, the town would already be prospering under her rule."

  Ardent, leaning back in his chair, confirmed it.

  Yun Jin and Merlin both turned to him, surprised.

  Ardent exhaled. "It’s true."

  A heavy silence.

  Then—"I’ve known that girl since she was little," Ardent admitted. His voice was calm, but there was something deeper buried beneath it—regret.

  "I was the one who helped her escape. But her vision for this town is different from mine. So, she did what she wanted, and I have to do what’s necessary."

  Yun Jin watched him carefully.

  He saw it. The regret. The sadness. The burden of choices already made.

  But he also saw something else.

  Determination.

  Ardent had already accepted the cost of his decisions.

  Ardent suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the heavy mood. "Enough of this somber talk."

  A faint smirk played on his lips. "The doctor already told me your body has an incredible healing rate. You’ll be back on your feet within a week."

  As if on cue, the maids entered, setting plates of fresh food before them. The scent of grilled meat filled the air.

  "I hope your homeland has steak."

  Yun Jin took a bite. The texture was a bit chewy, but the flavor was strong, rich, and satisfying. He nodded in approval.

  "If you fed me like this every day, I’d recover in three days."

  Ardent let out a genuine laugh. "Good to hear."

  But then, his eyes flicked toward Merlin, who was still quiet.

  "Why the long face, little one?" Ardent mused. Then, after a pause—"She said something else, didn’t she?"

  Merlin hesitated, glancing toward Yun Jin.

  "I want to discuss it with Yun Jin first before telling you. Can I?"

  Ardent’s response was immediate. "Of course. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions."

  Merlin’s face lit up slightly, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. He nodded, shaking off his doubts.

  Then, at last, he picked up his fork and began to eat.

  For now, at least, they could afford a moment of peace—to eat, to rest, and to recover.