Shelly's breath came in ragged bursts, sheer determination burning in her eyes though her body barely holding itself together. Her body ached, exhaustion weighing down her limbs Still, she forced herself to rise, one shaky step at a time her every muscle screamed in protest still swaying slightly but keeping her stance firm.
"You're not going anywhere," she declared, voice sharp despite her bettered condition. There was no flattering, no resistance "I'm going to arrest you."
The white-haired man took a step forward. His movements were unhurried almost lazy, deliberate—like a beast that knew its prey couldn't escape. He traced his fingers along her cheek, light as a whisper, shivering down her spine.
"You have a good face," he murmured, his voice calm, almost gentle. "It would be a shame to ruin it." His gaze bore into hers. "But if you push me, I will."
The weight of his words crushed the air between them. As if it wasn't a threat —it was a fact The knights behind her tensed, hands tightening on their weapons. Yet none dared to move.
Alex's eyes flicked toward Crown Prince Luck, who had remained stayed still.
"Besides," he continued, voice smooth but his words dense, "your dear prince's life is in my hands. Try anything reckless, and we'll see if royal blood spills the same as ordinary person."
Shelly's lips curled into a thin line. The frustration burned, but she wasn't reckless. Not anymore.
"…Tch. Bad luck."
Behind her, Luck exhaled, and let out a slowed measure sigh as if relieved she wasn't going to fight to the death. But his face remained grim.
"Shelly, don't," he said. "You've felt it too, haven't you? This man… I mean senior…. he isn't someone we can handle."
Shelly's jaw clenched she hated this feeling of being powerless hated she couldn't read the intention of that man. "If not for the king's blood in you, I would've cut down all three of you myself."
Still, swallowing her pride she stepped back. Not out of submission—but out of necessity.
Turning to the knights of Leventha, she commanded, "The life of our king's son is in our hands. Report back to the hall that we are conducting an investigation, and it will take time. Do not—I repeat, do not—lower your pride as knights. Tell no one. Not even the king."
A ripple of unease passed through the knights, but Shelly's glare silenced their doubts. One by one, they knelt.
"As you command, Captain Grevelia," a knight said firmly.
The man observed the exchange with mild amusement. She knew how to control them. A leader, then. But even leaders had their limits.
As the last knight disappeared into the shadows, Shelly folded her arms. "So, what do you want?"
The man wasted no time. "Entry into the Dragon Kingdom."
Luck and Lars stiffened, exchanging their glances their expression telling the same thought — is this man serious?
Shelly narrowed her eyes. "Do you really think it's that simple?"
The man smirked faintly, tilting his head his eyes sharp. "That depends on how simply I can take your lives."
The air grew cold.
Luck swallowed, breaking the silence first. "Senior… I can help." His voice was tight with hesitation, but he continued. "I have a friend in the Dragon Kingdom. Normally, humans—aside from the proprietor and merchants—are forbidden from entering. But because of my father, the king, we can enter easily."
He hesitated, then looked him in the eye. "But… don't harm innocent people."
The man leaned his head slightly. "That depends."
Luck flinched.
"…On whether they get in my way or not."
Lars and Luck exchanged uneasy glances.
Shelly scoffed. "Tch. Do whatever you want. But once we're inside, I'm taking these two and reporting everything to the king."
"Do as you wish," the man said indifferently.
He turned slightly, his gaze drifting past them—toward a lone tree in the distance.
Its branches drooped, heavy with time, bowing under an invisible weight. The same tree. The place where he had buried her.
A flicker of something—too brief to name—crossed his expression.
He bowed his head. Just slightly.
The air around him stilled for a moment it felt as if even the wind held its breath.
Then, without looking back, he asked, "Where do we get a carriage?"
Luck frowned. "Firion—the Dragon Kingdom—is at least a seven-day journey from here. The roads are infested with mana beasts, and dungeon breaks are frequent."
"Hiring a guild would be safest," Lars added.
Alex raised a brow. "And what do we need for that?"
Shelly sighed. "Hiring a guild is easy. But normal guild members won't cut it. We need at least a Guild Master for a safe journey. Even though we're strong, the burden would be too much. Regular carriage drivers won't take the risk either."
"So we need a Guild Master," Luck summarized.
Shelly nodded. "Exactly. And for that, we need a guild pass. Only guild members can request the assistance of a Guild Master for a critical journey. Even then, it depends on the Guild Master's willingness to take the request."
Alex listened in silence.
So that's how it worked.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small token. The symbol of the Rose Guild gleamed faintly in the light.
Shelly's breath hitched.
That token—
A fragile guild pass. Yet one that bore the crest of the most ruthless and uncompromising guild in the region.
Her fingers curled into fists.
This man… Just who the hell is he?
Her mind raced, Rose Guild…. How does he have that pass? Even the king couldn't get in without proving his worth.
Besides Luck and Lars exchanged a glance, their eyes narrowing in curiosity. They were still processing the situation.
Lars, unable to contain his shock, stepped forward hesitantly. His voice was laced with both awe and confusion. "Sir… how do you… How do you possess that guild pass? I mean, you're an ascended being, and yet—"
Luck, equally astonished cutting Lars's words, I have heard…. "People say that the Guild Master of the Rose Guild is like a roaring beast. Once the gods tremble before him. They say even If the Gods don't show him their worth, they won't get any recognition. And yet, you… you just pulled out that token as if it were nothing."
The white-haired man remained unfazed, his gaze distant, as if lost in his thoughts.
Luck continued, his voice filled with a mix of reverence and pride. Also "I've heard stories, sir… that the Guild Master is one of the most powerful people in our kingdom—he also fought alongside with my ancestors… his tone flattered with gleaming eyes. Agniverta.. have you heard senior about my family… what I am even asking who does not know about us haa haa..
The white-haired man's lips twitched as he heard him, he took deliberate steps toward the edge of the tree. Luck, Lars, and Shelly followed behind him, their eyes trained on his every move. His gaze remained cold, calculating. "Reputation can serve many purposes—pouring drinks, satisfying appetites, or making one kneel," the man muttered, his voice barely audible. "But in the end, the truth is simple: as long as this lowly human body draws breath, feels any emotion, or endures pain, power is the only thing that truly matters." he paused for a moment. Everything else is just a hindrance to the true path.