Carpathia was led into a cold, undecorated interrogation room. A mirror lined the wall—one-sided and faintly reflective. Behind it stood three men. One bore a long scar down his left eye, another under his lip. That second man wore a full suit of armor and rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. Though he looked relaxed, his readiness to strike was clear to anyone observant.
This was Tiger—the strongest fighter in the county, aside from the Lord himself, a few retired mercenaries, and the Lord's inner circle. Tiger was at the advanced Denkei form.
Beside him stood the gate commander—the man who had escorted Carpathia inside. A third man lounged behind them, feet propped up in nonchalance. Despite the pressure filling the room, he looked entirely at ease. It wasn't arrogance. He was, after all, a direct descendant of Enasto Ransthrol—his grandson, to be exact. Fear, especially in the face of power, was considered disgraceful in his bloodline.
His name was Knull Ransthrol.
"He hasn't said anything else?" Knull asked.
"No, sir," the commander replied nervously. "Other than requesting an audience with the Master. I told him that was out of the question, but… he insists."
"Did he give his name?" Knull asked, stepping toward the glass window.
"Well, yes, sir. He said he was Carpat—"
"Carpathia Lie," both Knull and Tiger finished simultaneously.
The gate commander broke into a cold sweat. He looked between them, confused and frightened by their sudden intensity.
"Do you know who that is?" Knull asked sharply.
"N-No, sir," the commander stammered.
Knull exhaled in disbelief, and Tiger clenched his fists, resisting the urge to slap the man senseless.
"That man is one of the Five Legends," Knull said. "If he wanted to, he could defeat every mercenary in this county—including me."
"The only person who might be able to compete with him… is Grandfather," Knull murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
The gate commander's face drained of color as the weight of realization hit. His thoughts raced to his subordinates at the gate—how they'd threatened and mocked the man now sitting just meters away. If Carpathia had chosen to retaliate…
He had a wife. Three children. He wasn't ready to die. Not like this.
"I'm here for your grandfather," came a voice from the other side of the glass. "Bring me to him."
The three froze. Carpathia was looking directly at them—through the one-way mirror.
Not only could he see them.
He had heard them.
Tiger's hand gripped the hilt of his sword tighter as the tension surged.
"Don't be foolish," Carpathia said calmly. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to see an old friend."
Inwardly, though, he cursed. Blasted Kime. So much for going through the front door. I should have just teleported. I even took the time to rent a horse... KIME!!!
Knull glanced at Tiger and shook his head subtly. Don't provoke him.
"You can hear us from over there?" Knull asked.
"No," Carpathia replied, voice dry as sand. "I just like watching your lips move like idiots behind a one-way mirror. Yes, I can hear you."
"You're looking for my grandfather?" Knull asked, attempting to refocus.
Carpathia stared at him, clearly unamused.
"Well, you're definitely not the brightest. How'd you figure that out?" he said with biting sarcasm.
Tiger snorted. Knull blushed in embarrassment.
"I meant… why are you looking for him?"
"That's between me and him, don't you think?" Carpathia said, standing from his chair. He moved to the mirror, and even though a thick wall of glass separated them, all three men took an involuntary step back.
"I don't have all day. Where is he?"
"He's not around right now, he's—"
Knull didn't finish the sentence.
Carpathia vanished from sight.
And appeared right beside them.
"I should have done this from the start," he muttered.
Before anyone could react, he struck. With two quick taps, he hit Tiger and the gate commander on precise pressure points. Both men froze, paralyzed.
Knull barely had time to blink before Carpathia's hand closed around his shoulder.
"Let's go," Carpathia said flatly.
And they vanished into the shadows.
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