"Are… are you out of your mind? Didn't Miss Ashley order me to serve this punishment?" Jason asked, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Ethan kept walking toward him. Each step made Jason move backward in panic.

His heart pounded as if it would burst out of his ribs, and every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run.

Yet his legs refused to cooperate, frozen between fear and disbelief.

There was no sign Ethan intended to stop. He continued forward, his hand wrapped tightly around the Bloodblade Ashura.

The eerie crimson sheen of the weapon made Jason's skin crawl, as if the blade itself was hungry.

Jason didn't want to die. He clutched his magic staff with both hands, gripping it so tight his knuckles turned white.

His breath shook as he pointed the staff straight at Ethan.

A rune circle flared to life at the tip, cracking with magic. A large fireball erupted forward, roaring like a beast as it flew straight at Ethan with enough force to tear apart a stone wall.

But Ethan didn't flinch. He swung his blade upward in a smooth, almost casual motion.

From that single swing, three crescent-shaped claw slashes burst out and shot forward at high speed.

The two attacks collided. Jason's spell shattered first, breaking apart like glass struck with a hammer.

Ethan's claw slashes continued tearing forward, still intact, still deadly.

Jason panicked. He desperately thrust his staff again and conjured a magic barrier, thicker and stronger than the last one.

The translucent shield rose in front of him, shimmering with layered sigils. This time, the barrier managed to withstand Ethan's lingering attack.

"You're insane, Ethan!" Jason shouted.

"Until the moment you die, I'll keep coming for you."

Ethan dashed forward, closing the distance with terrifying speed, and swung at Jason from close range.

Jason barely had time to raise his staff when a burst of shadow struck Ethan's side.

Ethan staggered back from the sudden impact.

"A soul servant?" Ethan muttered.

"Lyodra! Neryss!" Jason called out desperately.

Two system panels appeared in front of Ethan, glowing with red and blue light.

[Soul Servant Aggressive Mode:]

[Lyodra Vulkanis || Lv. 10 || S-R Rank || Passive → Aggressive || 1000 MP]

[Neryss Abyssborn || Lv. 10 || S-R Rank || Passive → Aggressive || 1000 MP]

Ethan commanded both of his soul servants to charge. Lyodra and Neryss surged forward, their aggressive mode flaring to life.

They slammed into Jason's soul servant with overwhelming power.

Jason didn't want to keep fighting. He wasn't interested in dying over this.

He turned around and bolted into the forest, crashing through bushes as he ran for his life.

But even in the dense forest, Ethan could clearly see Jason's path.

Ethan sprinted after him, barely making any sound as he weaved through branches like a shadow. Within seconds, he caught up.

Jason grew even more frantic. His breaths were ragged and wild, each inhale filled with terror.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Jason screamed, unleashing another spell.

Ethan lifted his sword with one hand, then swung it horizontally. A crimson slash burst from the blade, tearing through the air like a red comet.

Jason countered with a phoenix fire spell, summoning a blazing bird of flame. But Ethan's attack tore through it, crushing Jason's spell completely.

The force pushed Jason backward, sending him tumbling deeper into the forest.

The backlash of his destroyed spell sent a painful shock through Jason's body. His legs weakened, and he felt himself losing strength rapidly.

His soul servant had been defeated and forced back into chibi mode, which only worsened his state. His mana was nearly depleted. His breathing was unstable.

Ethan walked closer through the forest, step by step. Each footfall echoed like a death knell. His eyes were fixed on Jason.

Jason no longer had any strength to fight. He looked up at Ethan, exhausted and trembling, his face pale and hopeless.

"Are you really going to kill me?" Jason asked, his voice barely audible.

Ethan didn't answer right away. Instead, he exhaled slowly. He tightened his grip on his sword and swung it sideways.

The crimson slash exploded the moment it hit Jason's body, tearing him apart instantly.

Jason died on the spot, his body scattered across the forest floor.

The deed was done. Ethan had completed what he came here to do.

With nothing left to keep him, he turned around and began walking through the forest, heading toward the teleportation crystal in Mavelard.

When Leon and Darcy saw the crystal glow brightly, they both looked forward with attention.

Magic particles formed around the crystal, materializing Ethan's body from his feet upward. He had already deactivated Ashura Mode.

One of them immediately noticed bloodstains on Ethan's uniform and cloak. Darcy suggested Ethan clean himself up before entering the LionArk headquarters.

Ethan agreed. He pulled out an HP potion and drank it slowly.

Not only did the potion restore his health, but it also cleaned his clothes, removing every trace of blood.

Once everything looked normal again, they left the teleportation area.

Along the way, Ethan saw guild members from Twin Sun and several other guilds working together to keep the city secure.

It was good news. Ashley had been trying to recruit many former LionArk members to return, especially those she previously expelled.

Before reaching headquarters, Ethan spotted Ashley giving orders to Bagas and several guild members assigned to the city's security authority.

Ashley noticed Ethan, Leon, and Darcy approaching.

She immediately pointed at Leon, appointing him as the oversight committee representative for the City Security Authority.

Ethan and Darcy both reflexively turned to Leon. The newly appointed members also turned, causing Leon to freeze awkwardly.

Leon looked slowly toward Ethan. Ethan gave him a nod of encouragement, while Darcy simply watched.

Ashley asked Leon to give a speech in front of all the new recruits. Ethan kept smiling as he watched Leon struggle through the moment.

Eventually, the meeting ended, and everyone went to their assigned posts. Leon exhaled in relief and walked side-by-side with Ashley and Jill.

"What about Jason?" Ashley asked.

"He served his punishment," Ethan replied. "Darcy and Leon saw it themselves."

Darcy and Leon remained silent. They actually agreed with Ethan's idea of executing corrupt individuals. But Ashley's decision had spared Jason from immediate death.

Ethan, however, didn't hesitate. He went into the Tower and executed Jason by his own hand.

If Ashley learned Jason died, she would likely think it was due to the Tower's dangers. But she would still feel sad at losing a talented member.

"What about those new recruits?" Ethan asked.

"They're working well together. In two or three weeks, they'll be ready to send into the Tower," Ashley answered.

"Make sure their skills are above level ten. Check their equipment. Pay attention to party composition."

"I've arranged everything. Don't worry, Ethan."

Hearing that eased Ethan's mind.

A member of the Law Authority approached Darcy, apparently asking for his help with an interrogation. Darcy excused himself and left with the man.

Leon also excused himself. He and Jill were scheduled to begin their first patrol overseeing the City Security Authority.

Ethan and Ashley let them go. Now only the two of them remained standing at the entrance gate to LionArk's headquarters.

The busiest days had finally passed. The city's systems were functioning properly. Every day, Ethan noticed guilds showing up to buy land.

Most developed their businesses in the north and east. The south had fewer buyers, and the west remained almost empty.

It had only been two weeks since the new Mavelard City concept launched.

There were no major results yet, but both Ethan and Ashley were patient. They believed this new direction would bring great profit to LionArk.

"Should we start the territorial expansion phase?" Ashley asked.

Ethan shook his head. Their funds weren't enough yet, and most land outside Mavelard was already occupied.

To expand a city, they needed five million in funds and an empty region that didn't overlap with another city. Only then could the expansion be approved.

But the regions around Mavelard were packed with small towns established by small guilds. The only way to expand would be to buy out those towns… or attack them.

"For now, let's focus on improving public facilities," Ethan said.

"Understood."

They entered headquarters and went to Ethan's office. Ashley followed him in since there were no large piles of paperwork waiting today.

She always used Ethan's office as her personal lounge, where she often drank wine.

Because Ethan had Toxic Resistance, he could drink as much wine as he wanted without getting drunk. Ashley, however, did not have the same luxury.

She got drunk easily. That was why Ethan always limited her drinks. He didn't want her knocked out and abandoning her responsibilities.

They were chatting casually when a sudden knock on the door shifted their attention.

Ethan put away the wine bottle and walked to the door. When he opened it, a staff member stood outside.

"What is it?"

"Pardon me, Vice Leader. Envoys from the Trident Sea Guild have arrived."

"Trident Sea? Noah?" Ethan asked.

The moment she heard the name Noah, Ashley's expression sharpened.

Before Ethan could invite them to his office, Ashley rushed forward and told the staff member to escort Noah and the others to the guild's main hall instead.

Ethan blinked, baffled. The staff member clearly listened to Ashley more than to him.

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"I haven't told you how they treated LionArk in the past three months. I'll explain everything so you understand why I told them to go to the hall," Ashley said firmly.

Ethan fell silent and listened.

He hadn't expected Noah and the Trident Sea officers to treat LionArk that way, as if they ignored all the help LionArk had once given them.

Ashley wasn't lying. Her gaze stayed fixed on Ethan the entire time. He believed her completely.

"Now I understand," Ethan said.

"Good."

"Come on. Let's not keep them waiting."

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