We all survived the underground water tunnel, but the price paid was quite steep. We lost many supplies. Fortunately, the most crucial items—money, waterproof staple foods, and the parchment contracts—were still saved.

  "Master, are you alright?" asked the one-horned slave. She looked fit, as if she had just taken a leisurely walk in the park, while I was still gasping and shivering from cold.

  "Yes... but why don't you look tired at all?" I asked curiously.

  "Perhaps because I can control mana, Master."

  "Mana? Did you study magic?"

  "Actually, I am a slave from the Western Region. I used to work in the Colosseum until I was sold here because I was considered too weak compared to other fighters."

  "Then, are your horns also an effect of Colosseum magic?"

  "No, Master. These have been with me since birth," she replied, touching her small, broken horn.

  "Do you have a name?"

  She shook her head softly. "No. I don't have one, Master."

  I thought for a moment. "Alright. From now on, I'll call you Isvana."

  Her differently colored eyes widened, then welled up with tears. She bowed deeply. "Thank you... Thank you for giving me a name, Master."

  After the atmosphere calmed slightly, I returned to questioning to satisfy my curiosity.

  "Isvana, who is stronger between you and my other slaves?"

  Isvana gazed at the slaves standing guard with a look of awe mixed with horror.

  "They might be many times stronger than me, Master. From my estimation, they might be at the Fighter stage."

  "What's that?"

  "It's a system of power levels, Master. Back when I was in the Colosseum, many talked about it. As far as I know, there are 6 levels: Beginner, Student, Fighter, Keeper, Master, and Grandmaster."

  She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "And I think... Master is at the Beginner level, while I am at the Student level."

  I smiled wryly. So even this "weak" slave was one level above me.

  Two Days Earlier...

  In the Forest near the destroyed Bandit Hideout, where the Titan carcass lay.

  Four figures in blood-red robes stood surrounding the bandit boss's corpse. They were Palace Inquisitors—elite cleansing units under the direct command of the Crown Prince.

  "Senior, we've finished everything," one Inquisitor reported.

  "Has Code Name 'B' not returned yet?" asked Inquisitor A, the team leader, lounging comfortably atop a pile of bandit corpses as if it were a throne.

  "Not yet. But Senior, what's the point of all this anyway?" asked Inquisitor C, complaining slightly. "Cleaning up trash like this?"

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  "This is a direct order from the Crown Prince," Inquisitor A replied coldly. "But it seems we won't be going home empty-handed."

  He pointed toward the Espinas Mortals (Titan) corpse with its head neatly split open.

  "This Titan is still a juvenile," commented Inquisitor D, examining the carcass.

  "I doubt it could even use its natural electrical abilities to full capacity."

  "But its two hearts are still useful. Titan hearts must have crystallized into Mana Crystals by now," Inquisitor A replied.

  "Here it is!" shouted Inquisitor E. He tore open the monster's chest and pulled out a heart pulsating with blue light. Sure enough, it was a Super Quality Mana Crystal.

  Suddenly, a shadow flickered. Inquisitor B, the scout, had returned from Villa del Río Alto city.

  "What's the situation there?" asked Inquisitor A.

  "It seems that Gier didn't place spies along the roads leading to the city," B reported.

  "What? Someone as cunning as Gier didn't place spies?" Inquisitor C was surprised.

  "Yes. It seems he's very distracted. He's too obsessed with the Palace slaves given to that 'Experiment Material'."

  "Ohh... So that's how it is," Inquisitor A grinned cruelly. "This is our golden opportunity to execute His Highness the Crown Prince's orders."

  "Well, Gier has been too arbitrary anyway. Time to be 'cleaned up'," added Inquisitor D.

  "Have you scouted inside the city as well?" asked Inquisitor A again.

  "Yes. I think he's only focusing his surveillance on that 'Experiment Material'. Many guards are stalking that kid. But don't underestimate Gier—he himself is protected by 20 Master-Tier individuals at his residence."

  "20 Masters? Not bad," Inquisitor A stood up, brushing dust from his red robe. "Alright, let's move before that 'Experiment Material' actually gets completely crushed by Gier. And you, E, bring that heart."

  They moved. Their speed was extraordinary because they were all at the Master level.

  There were only 5 of them—Inquisitors and 2 Special Slaves with striking features: one had a tail, horns, and scales, and the other had a giant muscular body. These two slaves were also at the Master Tier.

  They ran nonstop for nearly a full day and night, yet their breathing remained steady, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.

  Upon arriving at Villa del Río Alto city, they didn't enter through the gate. They circled toward the north, where the city wall was closest to the square and the Baron's palace.

  Whoosh!

  They leaped over that ten-meter-high city wall with ease, as if gravity didn't apply to them. Moving like ghosts across the rooftops, they headed straight for Baron Gier's residence.

  That afternoon, Baron Gier's residence appeared calm. Not a single guard realized that the angel of death was already inside their home.

  The Inquisitors went directly to the special room where Gier usually stayed—that place was Baron Gier's torture chamber and private collection room.

  Without knocking, without greeting, the door was smoothly forced open. Five short swords were drawn.

  "Gier... Gier... Your time is up," Inquisitor A said in a bored tone.

  Baron Gier, who was sitting in his chair, jumped in shock. "H-how did you get here?!"

  Despite panicking, Gier tried not to appear afraid. He still had an ace up his sleeve.

  "Don't you dare! If I die, the riverhead dam will close! You'll destroy the kingdom!"

  The Inquisitors laughed softly. A dismissive laugh.

  "Gier, you think we're afraid of your empty threats? Ridiculous," mocked Inquisitor C. They knew the dam's mechanism had either been secured by another team or wasn't as automatic as Gier claimed.

  Realizing his threats weren't working, Baron Gier opened his mouth wide, trying to shout for his 20 Master guards.

  However, no sound came out.

  Inquisitor E had placed a Silence spell throughout the room the moment they entered.

  "Hey, Warlord slave," Inquisitor A ordered his slave. "Crush Gier's heart with your telekinesis. And remember, don't damage the exterior. We need a death that looks natural."

  The Warlord slave raised his hand toward Gier. His fingers slowly clenched in the air.

  Baron Gier's eyes bulged, his hands clutching his own chest, his mouth gaping in silent agony.

  BOOM! (Muffled sound from inside the body).

  Gier's heart exploded inside his chest cavity. No blood spilled, no external wounds. Baron Gier's body crumpled to the floor, dead instantly without uttering a single last word.

  That night.

  The main task was complete, but the Inquisitors hadn't left yet. They slipped into another part of the residence. They forcibly opened the door to a luxurious yet tightly locked room.

  Inside sat a man in his 30s. His face was flat, cold, yet his eyes held smoldering fire. He was Baron Gier's son, the successor.

  "Hello. How are you, Little Child?" greeted Inquisitor A.

  "Who are you?" the man asked coldly, not surprised to see armed strangers in his room.

  "We are Angels of Death, kid."

  "What do you want?" His flat expression didn't change at all.

  "We've come to give a warning. So you don't become the next Gier. And I think... you really wanted to kill that old geezer Gier, didn't you?"

  The man's flat face instantly cracked.

  His face flushed red, his breath quickened from overwhelming emotion upon hearing his father's name mentioned.

  "What... what have you done?" his voice trembled.

  "We've done what you desperately wanted to do."

  A moment of silence.

  "I... I could have taken my revenge myself!" the man hissed, his hands clenching until white.

  "We don't care about your personal revenge, kid. We're only here to warn you to be an obedient dog, unlike your father," Inquisitor A said coldly.

  After that message was delivered, they vanished as quickly as they had come, leaving the man alone in the dark room.

  "Why..." The man slumped to the floor, his shoulders shaking violently. The sobs he had held back for so long finally broke free.

  "I can't even take revenge with my own hands..."

  He punched the floor in frustration. "I was so close... I had found all the evidence that he poisoned and killed my mother... Why did you take my right away?!"

  That night, chaos erupted at the Baron's residence. All soldiers and spies Gier had sent to surveil the city—including those watching Aister's inn—were suddenly pulled back to stabilize the situation following the Baron's death.

  Everyone in the city knew Baron Gier died suddenly of a heart attack. Natural for an old man prone to fits of rage.

  Only one person knew the truth. Gier's Heir knew precisely that his father was killed by the Palace. And that fear now gripped his throat, forcing him into submission.