The door opened, revealing a young man with black hair, dark eyes, and red lips.
He was about 1.8 meters tall. His face was the perfect example of what one would call handsome—sharp jawline, smooth skin, and intense, calculating eyes. However, there was a sheen of sweat on his exposed body, making it obvious what he had been doing moments before.
His father chose to stay silent and let the boy do what he wanted; it's not like he himself hadn't been wayward at that same age.
The scent of cigarette smoke drifted out of the room, sharp and pungent.
"Won't you let me in?! Hmph!" the Baron scoffed, stepping in without even waiting for an answer. He made himself comfortable in the armchair in the sitting area, settling in like he owned the place.
His son was dumbfounded by the action.
Shout! Scold me! Do something! He wanted a reaction—either good or bad—anything would do, but Nux got nothing.
"So how are you doing?" Baron Eric asked, his eyes studying his son's reaction closely.
"I am obviously doing fine, Dad. It's not like you don't know," Nux rolled his eyes in defiance.
Eric understood what his son was implying—he wanted him to get straight to the point and stop circling around with pointless questions.
"So, there is this test that I set up. Pass it and you'll ask me anything, and I will provide it for you... no matter what it is."
"..."
What met his question was silence, as his son processed it all carefully. He didn't know why, but it always made him feel strange whenever his son behaved with such maturity. A blend of pride, irritation, and perhaps jealousy.
After a few seconds, Nux's voice echoed through the room.
"You got me! You sure know how to ask me to do something! As expected of my wise father, you have thought everything through," Nux said, his tone laced in sarcasm.
At this point, the Baron gritted his teeth in anger.
'Who does this boy think he is? How can he be respectful and disrespectful at the same time? Don't worry, once we are done with Leon, I'll give you an unforgettable experience. Just you wait!'
"So what's the deal, Father..." asked Nux, sitting up on the sofa.
"It's simple. You have to go and kill a thief in the act of stealing tonight. Got it?"
"..."
"You'll update me when you confirm if the person is Leon or not. If it turns out that it's not Leon, then you will assassinate him as well after killing the thief. I'll handle the rest."
"Leon... the 'No-Talent'? Why would he steal when he's weak?"
"You don't understand—he's in the same realm as you are."
"What! That's impossible! He's just sixteen years old for goodness' sake!"
"That's why he must die! Or he might be chosen to be a Baron, Viscount, or even an Earl by the Emperor instead of you!"
"...Okay."
It was then that Nux finally understood the gravity of the situation. His playful attitude faded as a more serious expression took over.
'Either that Leon is dead… or I don't come back from the mission,' he promised himself.
He just didn't know how that promise would play out.
'But how was he able to reach that stage at such a young age? Isn't he a "No-Talent" after all? If I'm a genius and a prodigy, then he… he's the king of geniuses and prodigies for sure! He should die before he becomes a pain in the ass.'
Nux couldn't help but feel that something was off. Like a piece was missing from this puzzle—but he didn't know what. He didn't think too deeply about it for now, but one thing was certain:
He would get all the information he could about Leon before tonight.
---
Present Time
Leon soon walked out of the forest. His body felt heavy, each step dragging with the weight of exhaustion. He knew he needed to sleep.
When he arrived at his house, he took care of a few things before heading straight to bed.
It was about 1 AM when he woke up for the 'Operation.'
After preparing some things, he took his father's dagger—the very same dagger his father used during his rise to power, before he became an Earl and married Leon's mother.
The owner of the store with the Alchemy pill was a woman named Alex. She was in her late thirties or early forties, and her store was unlike any other in the village.
Her shelves held rare items. Things that couldn't be found anywhere else. For instance, she had a camera—yes, a camera—with its functionality boosted by Array Masters.
Arrays were symbols joined together to form a formation, barrier, or restriction of some kind. They were cast by Array Masters, those who had learned the craft from the NPCs in the game #SURVIVAL ONLINE!#—and who later brought the art into the real world after the Qi Sensing Era.
Pills were made through a careful combination of herbs inside a cauldron, using the right temperature and timing. Those who practiced this rare art were called Alchemists.
These two professions held enormous esteem in the Empire. It wasn't just about talent—it was about resources, time, and unshakable patience. Learning either craft required a mountain of investment and risk.
Many would waste precious materials before even creating their first proper product. That's how difficult it was.
The ranking of these professions ranged from E to SSS. The higher the rank, the greater the respect. A high-rank Alchemist or Array Master would be famous and constantly sought after by nobles and commoners alike.
Leon wore his mask, just in case he ran into someone on the way. But even with the mask, he preferred to avoid people altogether. He would hide, duck, and disappear into the shadows if needed.
Unlike in the previous era, this era was more lively—even at night.
People still walked the streets, chatting, trading, or just enjoying the cooler night air. That's because everyone now lived inside a city or a village. It was the only safe way to survive. Being outside… meant exposure to powerful beasts.
Beast ranks started from 1-Star to 11-Star. Each star represented a known Cultivation Realm.
A 1-Star beast had the strength equivalent to the Qi Absorption Realm, and then some.
A 4-Star beast, one that stood in the Qi Solidification Realm, could form its own Dao Shell or Qi Core—and even use elemental attacks.