Snap!
The heavy gates creaked open.
Towering over three meters tall, the figure that entered cast a shadow like a living wall of green over the courtyard. White, beard-like tendrils swayed with each breath, and tusks protruded from the sides of his mouth. His pale, pupil-less eyes radiated silent, suffocating pressure that could break the will of an ordinary man.
"War King Ge Jin."
Minori instinctively looked up. The figure standing before him seemed bulky at first glance, but he knew better—every inch of that mass was coiled power.
He hadn't expected to meet the so-called 'War King' of the Imperial Arena—especially not here, uninvited.
How did he even find this residence?
...Not important. That was never a mystery worth wasting thought on in this world.
Boom!
The ground trembled beneath the steps of the massive troll. Ge Jin's cold eyes swept over Minori without a word, then turned away as if he were beneath notice. Without hesitation, the green-skinned titan strode into the courtyard.
Minori's eyes narrowed. He turned toward the gate just as a small crowd began forming beyond it—onlookers drawn by the oppressive presence. Among them, he spotted armored figures. Soldiers. Or perhaps arena officials.
He shut the gate firmly, blocking their gazes. His expression was flat, yet his mind moved fast.
Thud. Thud.
Each of Ge Jin's steps sent small tremors across the ground. He didn't so much as glance at Minori, the legal owner of this noble courtyard. Instead, he walked with purpose toward the center of the yard.
Minori followed his gaze—and understood.
So that's it.
"That ogre is valuable research material," Minori said coolly. "I consider it my property, Lord Ge Jin."
The towering troll didn't stop walking. The red mark across his nose wrinkled, and he growled without turning around:
"I don't like human prattle, alchemist."
The words were low and guttural, but filled with loathing.
There, in the center of the courtyard, bound in enchanted ropes, was a frail, malnourished ogre—barely two meters tall. Compared to Ge Jin, he was childlike.
"Mmmf—mmhh—"
The ogre whimpered and struggled, eyes wild with fear. It tried to speak, but with its mouth gagged, the sounds came out distorted.
Ge Jin's pale eyes were blank with contempt.
"Weak. Pathetic."
With a casual motion, he grabbed the ogre by the skull and lifted it single-handedly. The enchanted ropes strained and then snapped under his strength.
Crack!
With a crunching twist of his arm, Ge Jin crushed the ogre's skull like an overripe melon. Blood and milky brain matter sprayed across his muscled torso.
Thud!
The headless corpse collapsed onto the stone tiles, twitching in the aftershocks of death.
Boom!
The War King raised a foot and stomped down. With a sickening squelch, the ogre's chest cavity burst, spraying gore as the stone cracked beneath the force.
Only after this crude execution did Ge Jin turn and begin striding back toward the gate, blood clinging to his green skin, his gaze untouched by emotion.
Throughout the entire act, he had not once acknowledged Minori.
The scent of blood drifted through the air, drowning the fragrance of flowers from the courtyard's well-tended beds.
Minori let out a faint sigh. "That was a research subject. Aren't even champions of the arena bound by law, Lord Ge Jin?"
The troll paused. Rings of bronze hanging from his ears clinked faintly as he turned his head just slightly.
"You're not afraid of me, human alchemist."
His tone had changed. Less dismissive now—perhaps curious.
"Is it because you can turn ogre blood into those... 'miracle' potions?"
Ge Jin sneered.
"Compensation will be delivered tomorrow. But know this—no more ogres will be sold to you. Not in this city. Not in this empire."
"Leave. That is your best option."
"You should be grateful I don't waste strength on insects."
He turned fully, speaking the words with disdain carved into his every feature.
Minori stood still, eyes calm as they followed Ge Jin's retreating back.
So that's it, huh?
This wasn't random. It was a statement. A warning. And above all... pride.
Minori now understood. Ge Jin wasn't like Gu Tian, the battle-ogre of Tob Forest—feral, instinct-driven. No, this one was something else.
A warrior. And a thinking one.
Intelligence. Discipline. Even conviction.
"What a shame," Minori said softly.
Then he raised his voice. "Weakling? Are you describing yourself?"
Ge Jin hesitated at the threshold but did not look back.
Minori stepped forward, crossing his arms. "Do you think I'm angry because you killed that ogre?"
"Is that your idea of strength, King of War?"
His voice dropped cold.
"You've been in the Imperial Arena for six years. Six years of beating down half-trained fodder in gilded cages while nobles cheer."
"Aren't you the strongest warrior in the empire, second only to Fluder Paradine, the Triple Magic Chanter?"
"And yet, here you are—still dancing to the humans' applause."
Minori's tone turned biting.
"Living inside the illusions spun by human society. You stopped growing long ago."
"You've become what you hate, Lord Ge Jin. You've become weak."
He could see the tension in Ge Jin's shoulders—but the ogre didn't turn around.
Because he couldn't.
Because he knew some part of it was true.
Minori watched the War King go, his eyes gleaming with thought.
Ge Jin's level, based on [Tracking], hovered around 30. But Minori could tell: it was built mostly on racial growth—Troll, Battle Troll. His class levels were lacking.
That meant his potential was massive.
He could reach level 50. Maybe even beyond, given the right trigger.
Unlike most humans, trolls had no ceiling to their growth. But Ge Jin... had caged himself.
What a waste.
Minori let out a slow breath.
The scent of blood still lingered.