The moment those words left Relict's mouth, the room quietly fell into silence once again.
"I cannot enter the Inner World."
For the people of the current era, the Inner World was not merely another place.
It was the origin of all dragon essence.
The foundation upon which every draconian built their strength.
From the moment a child first established contact with that mysterious dimension, they would gradually learn to perceive the dragon essence sleeping within their own body, nurture it, and eventually use it to strengthen themselves.
It was the first step toward cultivation.
The first step toward becoming a true draconian.
However, only Relict truly understood what that place actually was.
To the people who had once lived during the Heaven's Alignment Era, the Inner World had another name.
The Substrate.
The higher-dimensional layer where all yuan energy originated.
A realm that could not be touched through ordinary means, but only reached through consciousness itself.
Aton's condition meant that he could not establish that connection.
He could not perceive the Substrate.
And because of that, he could not even sense the dragon essence naturally existing inside his own body.
For the current civilization, such a condition was almost unimaginable.
A person born with weak limbs could still cultivate.
Someone who had lost an arm or a leg could still rely on dragon essence to strengthen themselves.
Even those born blind could still perceive the world through their aura after entering the Inner World.
But someone who could never establish that first connection...
Someone who could not even feel the dragon essence within themselves...
Such a person was, in many ways, even more unfortunate than the disabled.
That was also the reason why the Lyn Family had never made Aton's true condition public.
A family that stood among the three great houses of Abarrus having an heir incapable of entering the Inner World would naturally become the subject of endless ridicule and speculation.
Inside the room, it was Leon who first fully understood the implications.
The old man quietly looked at the liquor inside his glass for several moments before slowly nodding.
"Hmmm..."
"I understand now."
His gaze gradually shifted toward Relict.
"So even if the bloodline transfusion succeeds..."
"Even if your body receives stronger dragon essence..."
"It would not change anything."
Relict quietly remained silent.
Leon calmly continued.
"Because you still cannot control the dragon essence inside your own body."
The old man lightly sighed.
Then, in a voice neither mocking nor sympathetic, he simply stated the truth.
"Aton."
"You truly are an unfortunate person."
The words sounded somewhat harsh.
However, no one inside the room could honestly refute them.
Frisca quietly lowered her eyes.
She wanted to say something.
To comfort him.
To tell him that there had to be another way.
Yet after hearing the entire explanation, she realized that any shallow words of encouragement would only make the situation seem lighter than it truly was.
In the end, she simply looked at him silently.
Meanwhile, Seila, who had been quietly standing beside Relict all this time, suddenly took a small step forward.
She hugged the catalog she was holding against her chest and looked toward Leon.
"Lord Leon."
Her voice remained respectful.
"I cannot deny what you have said."
She lowered her eyes for a brief moment.
Then slowly looked toward Relict.
"But there is also something that I know."
The young maid unconsciously tightened her grip on the catalog.
"No matter how difficult the circumstances become..."
"I believe that my young master will overcome them."
Her words were not loud.
Nor were they filled with overwhelming emotion.
They were simply spoken with absolute certainty.
"I know..."
"Because I have seen it with my own eyes."
She looked directly at Relict.
"And because of that..."
"I will always believe in my young master's strength."
The room quietly fell silent once more.
Even Leon did not immediately respond.
Frisca simply looked at Seila for several moments before shifting her gaze toward the young man sitting quietly beside her.
As for Relict himself, he merely looked at the young maid with a calm expression.
Then, ever so slightly, the corners of his lips rose into a faint smile.
For a brief moment, the room became quiet after Seila's declaration.
Even Leon, who usually carried himself leisurely, did not immediately respond. The old man simply stared at the young maid for a few seconds before a faint smile gradually appeared on his face. Then, without warning, he casually spoke.
"You have quite the lively maid, lad."
His gaze shifted toward Relict.
"Do you intend to take her as your concubine?"
The moment those words entered her ears, Seila's entire body visibly stiffened.
The confidence she had displayed only moments ago instantly vanished. Her face rapidly turned red as she tightened her grip around the catalog and lowered her head. If possible, she wanted nothing more than to find a hole somewhere and hide herself inside it.
Meanwhile, Frisca silently watched the scene unfold.
Truthfully, she was happy that Aton had someone like Seila supporting him. After hearing about his condition, she could not help but admire the maid's unwavering faith. However, the moment her grandfather brought up the topic of concubines, an unfamiliar irritation surfaced inside her.
Without realizing it, she crossed her arms.
Before Seila could completely collapse from embarrassment, Relict finally intervened.
"Grandpa Leon."
His tone remained calm.
"Stop teasing Seila."
Frisca blinked.
Then blinked again.
The words themselves were not important.
What caught her attention was something else entirely.
Slowly, she turned her head toward Relict.
Then toward Leon.
Then back toward Relict.
"Grandpa... Leon?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
A few moments later, she slowly turned toward her grandfather while still keeping her arms crossed.
"...Grandpa!?"
This time, Leon was the one caught off guard.
The old man immediately shifted his gaze toward Relict.
"Lad."
His expression became somewhat unpleasant.
"Do not call me Grandpa again."
Relict merely smiled.
Seeing that smile only made Leon more certain that the boy had done it intentionally.
Before Frisca could continue questioning him, Leon immediately coughed and changed the topic.
"So."
His gaze settled on Relict.
"What exactly happened during the past few weeks?"
"Why did your family close the manor so tightly?"
Relict leaned slightly against his chair and quietly adjusted his sitting posture.
Naturally, he understood what Leon was doing.
The old man was clearly trying to escape from Frisca's questioning.
The thought amused him somewhat.
Still, he answered.
"My condition worsened considerably during the past few weeks."
"Physician Wang had to monitor me almost constantly."
He lightly shrugged.
"Father also restricted most visitors and allowed many of our servants to take leave during that period."
"That is why the manor remained closed."
Leon listened quietly.
At first glance, the explanation appeared reasonable.
However, after living for so many years and handling countless people, he could immediately tell that the boy was leaving out several details.
Fortunately, Leon had no intention of prying into matters Relict clearly did not wish to discuss.
He simply nodded.
"I see."
Then he returned his attention toward the auction hall below.
Coincidentally, the next item being brought onto the stage happened to be something that interested him.
As for Frisca, she also became quiet.
However, unlike her grandfather, she was not particularly interested in the ongoing auction.
Instead, she remained seated beside Relict while silently staring toward the stage below.
Her lips were slightly pouted.
Even she was no longer sure what exactly was bothering her.
Was it because her grandfather kept teasing everyone?
Because Relict had somehow started calling Leon "Grandpa"?
Or because Seila had almost become the subject of a concubine discussion?
Frisca honestly did not know.
All she knew was that the more she thought about it, the less she wanted to think about it.
So in the end, she simply continued watching the auction in silence while maintaining her small pout, causing Leon to occasionally glance at her with amusement before quickly pretending not to notice.
In the end, nothing particularly interesting happened inside the private room anymore.
The earlier conversation regarding Relict's condition gradually came to an end, and everyone's attention naturally returned to the auction below. One item after another was brought onto the stage as merchants, nobles, and influential figures competed for ownership. Leon occasionally participated whenever something managed to catch his interest, while Frisca also joined the bidding several times for a few items she fancied.
As for Relict, he remained largely uninterested.
The items being auctioned were simply unable to attract his attention, so he spent most of his time quietly resting while listening to the conversations happening around him. Seila occasionally looked through the catalog and watched the auction below out of curiosity, while Winston remained standing silently behind Relict's chair throughout the entire event.
Before long, the afternoon gradually passed.
By the time the final item was sold, the sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon.
The auction officially came to an end.
Since Relict and his group had not purchased anything, they left the Auctionarium together with the majority of the guests who had either failed to secure their desired items or had only attended to observe the event.
Meanwhile, the Hall Family and the other successful bidders remained inside the building to settle payments and complete the necessary arrangements regarding their purchases.
Outside, the city had already entered the evening.
Lanterns illuminated the streets while the cool night breeze gradually replaced the heat of the day.
Relict quietly lifted his head and looked toward the dark sky above as Winston led the group toward the waiting carriage. Beside him, Seila lightly supported his arm while several guards surrounded them from a respectful distance.
The return journey was uneventful.
After the failed assassination attempt and his subsequent appearance beside the Hall Family, no one dared to make another move against him. Even if some of the assassins were still hiding within the city, attempting another attack while Winston and several guards were escorting him would be no different from suicide.
Several hours later, the carriage finally entered the Lyn Manor.
At the same time, inside the patriarch's office, a maidservant gently knocked on the door before entering.
"Master."
She respectfully bowed.
"The young master has returned."
Augustus immediately stopped writing.
He quietly placed his ink pen upon the desk and nodded once.
"I understand."
The maidservant bowed again before leaving the room.
Only after the door had closed did Augustus stand up from his seat and walk out of his office.
Meanwhile, Relict, Seila, Winston, and the accompanying guards had already arrived at one of the living halls inside the manor and were waiting for his arrival.
Not long afterward, Augustus entered.
His gaze immediately swept across the room.
Relict.
Seila.
Winston.
Seeing that all three had returned safely, a trace of relief quietly surfaced within his heart. However, none of it appeared on his face.
Instead, he calmly walked toward them and spoke.
"It's good that you're all back."
His gaze settled on Relict.
"Aton, how is your condition?"
Relict had already noticed his father's arrival.
With Seila's assistance, he slowly rose from his seat before answering.
"I'm fine, Father."
"The assassins likely abandoned further attempts after learning that I had taken shelter with the Hall Family."
Augustus silently listened before nodding.
"The next time you leave the manor, bring Winston or Alfonso with you."
His tone left little room for discussion.
"I don't want another incident like this happening again."
Relict obediently nodded.
"Understood, Father."
Then he paused briefly before adding.
"However, I don't think they would dare to attempt another attack so soon."
Augustus immediately understood the implication behind those words.
The enemy had already failed once.
Whoever was supporting them from the shadows would likely become much more cautious moving forward.
"Then that's good."
He nodded once.
Afterward, he turned toward Winston.
"Winston."
The old servant immediately straightened his posture.
"Yes, Master."
"Double the security around our premises."
"You can count on me for that, Master."
After receiving the order, Winston bowed and immediately began making preparations. The accompanying servants and guards also departed shortly afterward, leaving only Augustus, Relict, and Seila inside the hall.
"Come."
Augustus looked toward his son.
"I'll walk with you to your room."
Relict nodded.
Together, the three left the living hall and proceeded toward Aton's bedchamber.
The manor had already become much quieter due to the late hour. Only the occasional footsteps of servants and the distant glow of lanterns illuminated the corridors as they walked.
Augustus remained silent for several minutes.
Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he finally speak.
"Do you have something in mind, Aton?"
Relict lightly nodded.
"I believe Father has already noticed it as well."
His voice remained calm.
"Some of our people are betraying us in secret."
The words immediately startled Seila.
A small gasp escaped her lips before she could stop herself.
Fortunately, neither Augustus nor Relict commented on her reaction.
The possibility was already obvious to both of them.
Augustus simply placed both hands behind his back and continued walking.
"Aton."
His voice remained steady.
"Tell me everything that happened after you left the library."
Relict nodded.
Then, as they continued walking through the quiet corridors of the manor, he began recounting the events of the day.
He spoke about leaving the library.
About the journey home.
About the ambush.
About their escape.
About taking shelter with the Hall Family.
He even recounted portions of his conversations with Leon and Frisca.
However, several details were quietly omitted.
He never explained exactly how he and Seila had escaped their pursuers.
Nor did he mention the techniques he had used during the ambush.
Most importantly, he said nothing about the assassin who had already died by his hands.
And so, while the three continued walking toward Aton's bedchamber beneath the soft glow of the manor's lanterns, Augustus silently listened to every word his son chose to tell him.
...