After she dashed out, I didn't chase after her.
But her reaction told me everything.
The pocket watch must be defective.
I picked it up, turning it over in my hands.
The second hand ticked along smoothly. A minute passed, and the minute hand moved as it should. Even the hour hand was correct.
So what's wrong with it?
Shrugging, I slipped the watch into my pocket.
If customers don't want it, I'll just use it myself.
Grabbing ten silver coins and stashing the rest away, I made my way to the market zone.
It had been a while since I'd last seen this much money.
"Luthian, still trying to spend those gold coins of yours? I already said it doesn't work around here."
I glanced over to see a familiar butcher grinning at me.
"Nope." I smirked, jingling the pouch. "This time, I've got real money—silver."
The butcher—my favorite, by far—chuckled. He worked fast, cutting pork with a precision most chefs would envy. The meat from his shop was always good, and honestly, he wasn't just a butcher. He was a damn good cook, too.
I handed over two silver coins in exchange for four kilograms of pork.
After picking up the pork, I made my way toward a quiet corner of the street.
Though my shop was also tucked away in a deserted area, I still had customers from time to time.
But this place—the alchemist's shop—I had never seen a single person walk in or out. Not once.
Cutting through an alley, I soon arrived at the shop's entrance.
An old bearded man sat hunched over his workbench inside, muttering to himself as he ground ingredients into powder.
I stood outside, watching him for a moment before giving a light knock on the door.
No response.
I knocked again—this time, a girl answered instead.
She barely reached my shoulders and had the scowl of someone who really didn't want to be here.
"Can't you see Master is busy?" she snapped.
I raised a brow.
"Hey, kid, can you tell your master that his friend, Luthian, is here to visit?"
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Kid? You're a kid! Your whole family is a bunch of kids! I'm twenty-two!"
I straightened up, coughing into my fist to hide my amusement.
"Ahem. And I'm seventy-nine." Lowering my voice, I threw in a raspy cough for effect. "Dear, would you be so kind as to call your master for me?"
A hearty laugh rumbled through the shop as old man Kaido finally noticed me.
"Mary, this gentleman here is my friend. Give your greetings."
Mary let out an exaggerated sigh before muttering a forced "Hello."
I smirked, pulling a small candy from my pocket and handing it to her.
"Here, kid. Keep up the good work, and I'll give you more." I kept up my raspy old-man act, throwing in a dramatic cough for good measure.
Mary shot me a look that said she wasn't buying it, but she still took the candy, reluctantly.
.....
.....
Kaido led me to his lab, while Mary busied herself with odd jobs around the shop.
I took a seat, glancing around the cluttered space. Bottles filled with mysterious liquids lined the shelves, some glowing faintly, others swirling ominously. It was the same as always—organized chaos.
"Old man Kaido, I didn't know you had a granddaughter."
Kaido let out a deep chuckle.
"Hoho! She's already twenty-two, you know. Don't tell me you're interested in her?"
I nearly choked on my own breath.
"Huh?! How did me asking if she was your granddaughter turn into that?"
Kaido just kept laughing, stroking his long beard as if he'd uncovered some great secret.
I shook my head.
"She's too young for my taste."
Then, realizing how that sounded, I quickly added,
"I mean, she's too small despite her age!"
The atmosphere shifted.
Kaido squinted at me.
I coughed, deciding it was best to change the subject entirely.
"Old man, can you visit my garden tomorrow? That green plant you wanted is dying, and I have no idea how to take care of it."
Kaido's expression darkened.
"Tomorrow? Are you stupid?! Pack up! Help me pack up—we're going now!"
"Ah—okay, okay!"
______
Out at sea, the storm raged on. Thunder cracked across the sky, and rain lashed against the decks of two ships sailing side by side.
A sharp knock echoed through the wooden cabin of one vessel.
"Boss, the seller is here."
A gruff voice responded. "Good. Proceed according to plan."
Inside, seated on a grand chair, was a bearded man radiating sheer arrogance. It wasn't the arrogance of a fool—it was the confidence of a man who had earned it. A demi-god, one who had clawed his way to power and answered to no one… except his benefactor.
Lucas stood, stretching lazily before grabbing a half-empty bottle of rum. He made his way to the deck, where the sea still churned angrily beneath the storm.
The other ship, the one carrying the seller, sailed closely alongside his.
Without hesitation, Lucas smashed the bottle against the deck. As the glass shattered, he whispered something under his breath.
The effect was immediate.
The storm above them stilled. Clouds parted, revealing a sudden and unnatural stretch of clear sky. The sea beneath them calmed, as if bowing to his presence.
This was the power of a demi-god.
Lucas smirked, tilting his head slightly as he watched the figures on the opposing ship react.
– Now that I've displayed my strength, let's see how they try to negotiate.
His smirk was short lived, vanishing the moment he registered another presence on the opposing ship.
Another demi-god.
"Pirate King Lucas~"
A sultry voice called his name, but he had no time to admire the beauty behind it. His focus was locked on the figure standing before him—a woman draped in elegance and danger.
His grip on the railing tightened.
He had recently ascended to Rank 5 Demi-God, a feat that placed him among legends. Yet even among those legends, there were tales—whispers of a woman who could bring even the most ruthless men to their knees.
The Seductress.
No man had ever walked away unscathed from her clutches. Some lost their wealth. Others lost their minds. A few… lost their very souls.
Rumors claimed she had once ensnared a Rank 5 Demi-God, bending him to her will before discarding him like a broken toy.
Lucas had thought himself lucky when he was contacted by the seller. A lucrative trade, an easy deal.
But now, standing face to face with her, he realized—
This wasn't fortune calling.
This whole thing had been the devil's invitation.