As dawn broke, Lester activated his Specter abilities, shrouding himself in an eerie, almost ethereal darkness.
His body blurred, and with a silent flicker, he teleported—crossing vast distances in mere moments.
The air rippled where he once stood, and in the blink of an eye, he reappeared miles away.
After three consecutive teleportations, he emerged at the periphery of the capital of the Stoneheart Empire.
The sheer grandeur of the city before him made even someone like him pause in mild appreciation.
The capital was an architectural marvel, far surpassing the Daemon and Maxwell Duchies.
Towering structures of enchanted obsidian and ethereal silver gleamed under the morning light.
Floating islands hovered above parts of the city, supported by intricate arrays of ancient formations, acting as noble residences, arcane academies, and secret vaults of the imperial family.
Massive spirit energy veins ran beneath the streets, making the entire city pulse with an unnatural vibrancy.
Colossal statues of former emperors and legendary figures stood at major intersections, each radiating an aura that made commoners bow instinctively in reverence.
The streets bustled with activity—merchants selling rare artifacts, warriors in gleaming armor, and scholars discussing arcane theories.
The capital had a sense of power, wealth, and history—a city where only the strongest thrived.
Lester's features twisted and shifted, his hair morphing into a deep crimson, his eyes glowing faintly red, and his face sharpening into an angular, aristocratic handsomeness.
His aura subtly shifted—exuding a sinister yet noble presence.
This was his identity as Red.
His second alibi.
Red walked through the bustling streets with an air of detached arrogance.
The crowd instinctively parted before him—whether it was due to his otherworldly appearance or the oppressive aura he emitted, none dared to block his path.
Whispers filled the air.
"Who is he?"
"His presence alone is suffocating... Is he a hidden expert?"
"No one with that kind of aura is a nobody. Best not to get involved."
Red ignored them.
He had business to attend to.
Within minutes, he reached the most famous branch of Dark Moon, a vast building with dark obsidian walls and ancient formation seals humming with power.
The golden insignia of a crescent moon on the entrance signified its status as a premier establishment in the underground trade network.
Without hesitation, Red walked in.
The interior was luxurious, lined with mystic runes and high-grade spirit artifacts, exuding an aura of exclusivity.
Dark-robed figures conducted business discreetly, and the air was thick with spirit energy, wealth, and veiled hostility.
Despite the hushed conversations, all eyes turned toward Red the moment he stepped inside.
His very presence exuded danger and power—an existence above ordinary cultivators.
Ignoring the stares, he walked straight to the counter and said coldly, "I wish to conduct a high-level transaction. Inform the branch master."
The receptionist, an elderly man with sharp eyes, trembled slightly but quickly nodded and disappeared upstairs.
Moments later, a powerful aura descended—the branch master himself came down, his expression respectful yet cautious.
"Honored guest, please, this way."
Seated in a private VIP chamber, Red flicked his fingers, and thirty monster cores of Energy Accumulation Realm monsters appeared on the table.
The branch master's eyes widened.
"So many! This level of slaughter... was it truly the work of one man?"
The 4 core building realm figures within the establishment all felt their breath hitch in shock.
Even powerful hunting squads struggled to gather such numbers.
The branch master, controlling his emotions, quickly appraised the items and, without hesitation, offered 42,000 spirit stones—a generous price.
By offering such an amount, the Dark Moon branch was showing goodwill—a silent acknowledgment that Red was someone worth befriending.
Red smirked slightly and accepted the deal.
With the transaction complete, he stood up and, before leaving, teleported away within the branch itself.
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
"Teleportation...!"
"He's at least in the Core Building Realm!"
This confirmed all their suspicions.
The moment he vanished from the capital's outskirts, the rumors solidified—Red was a powerhouse in hiding.
Reappearing at the periphery of the city, Red's form shifted once more.
His crimson hair turned black, his sinister aura receded, and his face returned to the striking, mysterious appearance of Lester d Raizel.
Now blending into the crowd once more, Lester adjusted his cloak and walked calmly toward his next destination.
The meeting place was a secluded royal pavilion within the noble district.
Alia Stoneheart, the prodigious princess of the empire, had chosen it as the rendezvous point before departing for the Cave Heaven expedition.
As Lester walked, he pondered the letter she had sent him.
The Cave Heaven...
A place that opened once every 1,000 years, a realm filled with treasures and unknown dangers.
The qualification to enter was strict—only those from royal families, duchies, and select sects of the three great empires bordering the Cave Heaven had access.
More importantly, only cultivators under the age of 30 could enter, ensuring that it became a battlefield of young prodigies.
Alia had specifically invited him.
Lester smirked. He knew why.
The last time she had seen him fight, he had only used mid-Energy Accumulation Realm strength—barely revealing his true capabilities.
Yet, that alone was enough for her to recognize his value.
"If only she knew the truth..."
His actual strength was far beyond what he had shown.
And in the Cave Heaven, he would finally have a stage worthy of his abilities.
More importantly, this would be the perfect opportunity to infiltrate another empire and exchange the three monster cores of the Dark Forest rulers without linking them to Lester d Raizel's identity.
He had carefully planned everything.
After the Cave Heaven expedition, he would slip into another empire's territory, exchange the monster cores in Dark Moon branches under a different alias, and disappear without a trace.
By the time anyone realized what had happened, he would be long gone.
With these thoughts in mind, Lester finally arrived at the meeting place.
After presenting the royal letter from Alia Stoneheart to the royal guards, they carefully examined its authenticity.
Upon confirmation, their expressions shifted to respect, and they promptly arranged a private residence for Lester within the noble district.
The accommodations were lavish, befitting someone personally invited by the empire's prodigious princess.
Now, all he had to do was wait for Alia's arrival.
The expedition to the Cave Heaven would depart in one month.
He settled into his temporary residence, preparing himself for the challenges ahead.