My smile stayed in place as I excused myself from the last group and drifted toward the edge of the hall.

To anyone watching, it looked casual. Just the host moving around.

He didn't move at all, allowing me to fully observe his appearance.

Short blond hair. Blue eyes that stood out under the lights. Tall. Clean-cut. The type people trusted at first glance. The type who looked like he belonged on a poster more than behind a weapon.

What an annoying face.

He wasn't hiding it. He wanted to be seen. Wanted me to clock him, to feel him standing there. Confidence like that only came from two places—real power, or arrogance so deep it didn't know fear.

That wasn't the only thing that made me a little bit wary of his presence.

Despite his looks, no one seemed to notice him.

Guests drifted past. Laughter swelled and faded. Conversations brushed riInboxght by him like he wasn't there at all.

No double takes. No lingering glances. Not even the instinctive awareness people had when someone new entered their space.

Only me.

Whatever he was doing, it wasn't invisibility. It was control. He chose who perceived him.

I stopped a few steps away. Hands loose at my sides. Posture relaxed, like I hadn't already measured the distance between my fist and his face.

"Enjoying the event?" I inquired, maintaining my polite expression.

His lips curved into a half smile

"You handled it well. I'm impressed, Mr. Mercer. You really don't look—or act—like what's in your file." He took a casual sip of champagne. "Seeing you in person almost made me wonder if another identity swap places with you."

"My file?" I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering, he handed me a card—pure black. Not a word, not a symbol, nothing. Just a smooth, dark rectangle.

"I work for the same organization your father worked for , and I'm here to ask if you're willing to continue his legacy with us."

I stared at him, trying to keep the calm mask in place. That explained the irritation I felt the moment I saw him.

He wasn't Dark Rock. Not Mythical either. This went higher—far higher.

Directly under DARKNESS, the hidden monarch of the country. Maybe the world. The fact that they sent someone like him meant one thing.

My movements had crossed a line.

I closed my fingers around the card, then pushed it back into his hand.

"I'm sorry," I said lightly. "But I want nothing to do with my father's past."

His smile didn't fade.

"I'm building my own guild," I continued. "That's it. Whatever ties the Mercer family had to your organization ended when he died."

The space between us tightened.

He studied me for a long second.

Then he chuckled—soft, like he found my answer amusing rather than disappointing.

"Legacy has a way of catching up," he said. "Even when you run from it."

I met his gaze, smile finally slipping.

"Then it'll have to keep chasing."

He didn't say another word, choosing instead to finish his drink.

A waiter passed by, tray balanced on one hand. He just casually set the empty glass on it.

What stunned me wasn't that the waiter accepted it.

It was that he never looked at either of us.

Someone who could bend perception this smoothly were made for killing.

"Mr. Mercer. I can't promise my organization will leave you alone."

He paused, just long enough to let his words settle.

"For now, you're not a threat to us. I'd like it to stay that way. Because if you don't…" He trailed off. "Let's just say, you wouldn't like seeing me again."

He turned and walked away before I could even get a word out.

I kept my focus on him, tracking every step, every shift of movement. I didn't blink.

Someone passed between us—just a guest crossing the hall.

And he was gone.

No distortion. No residual presence. Nothing for my senses to latch onto. He didn't teleport, didn't blur, didn't phase out.

He simply… wasn't there.

"See you again?" A grin spread across my face, and I nearly burst out laughing.

They sent him to threaten me—to make sure I understood that my life was something they could snuff out whenever they pleased.

What they didn't realize—

—was that they'd also given me a chance.

I released my Qi into the air and closed my eyes.

Just as I expected, I found him.

He was already moving toward the exit. His trick wasn't teleportation—it was distortion. A cognitive veil that bent how others perceived him, sliding their attention away. An overpowered misdirection.

Which meant the cameras would still catch him. Cold lenses didn't think. They just recorded.

Qi was also different.

It moved beyond sight, beyond sound—beyond the limits of ordinary sensation. Where human awareness failed, energy didn't.

Actually, it wouldn't be wrong to say his ability was inferior to the fan user.

That guy's power was super annoying—so distracting it made focusing impossible, like trying to think in the middle of a severe motion sickness. I only won because he underestimated me too much.

Still, the presence of a representative of DARKNESS wasn't a good sign. I needed to gain more power—and fast. Enough to protect myself and the people I cared about.

"Are you okay?" Alexa stood beside me.

I turned toward her. "I'm fine. Did you see the person I was speaking with?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm very sensitive to space, and my field of vision is 360 degrees."

"Wow? Really?"

I wasn't being sarcastic. That was genuinely impressive. Not even I have a 360-degree view of my surroundings.

There was no doubt that her teleportation ability ranked among the strongest in the A Ranks.

If she learned how to cultivate properly and obtained a Celestial weapon, she would become an unstoppable force—one that not even an S Rank with the same gear could hope to match.

"Do you know that guy?" I inquired, keeping my voice low.

She shook her head.

"I don't think he's originally from the city. If you want more information, you'd better ask Master Tang. He has more access to the Order's intelligence department. I'm just a foot soldier."

"No, you're not," I flashed her a reassuring smile. "You're my guild member now—and I see you as an important part of my circle."

She raised her eyebrow "This is just temporary."

Trying to be gentle was the wrong move. I adjusted my approach right away.

"Temporary or not, it doesn't change the fact that I'm your guild leader now. Besides, is it really smart for you to be so stubborn? Don't you want to learn martial arts?"

Her independent woman facade faltered. "I… I just don't-- "

"Relax, I'm just messing with you. You take things too seriously sometimes, Alexa. Learn to chill—you would look even prettier."

She shot me a look that could have cut steel, but the faint curve of her lips told a different story.

"Just the two of us, you're actually my favorite of the ten. You've got the most potential, and I heard from Master Tang that you're the most dedicated. I'm easily impressed by a woman who knows her worth."

Her face flushed red at the compliment, and before she could respond, I waved my hand.

"Talk later. I've got other guests to deal with."

And just like that, I left her hanging, my words replaying in her mind. Classic strategy—straight out of the Francis Handbook on How to Conquer a Woman.

I could see her strong personality shining through—confident, capable, and not the type to be easily impressed. That's why I played it like this Women like her like being seen for what they are capable of.

The event continued, and I kept my guard up for any potential danger. Fortunately, it seemed that DARKNESS wasn't looking for trouble, and the whole thing ended without incident.

By the time I got back to my room, I immediately began cultivating to reach my optimal condition.

Once that was done, I started making calls to ensure the guild could function without me.

I appointed Alexa as my Vice Guild Leader—she was already used to commanding her own team back in the Order, so she was the perfect choice.

Also, it wasn't like we would be heading for tower raids anytime soon.

Next, I connected to Master Tang through the secure app.

"About the man tonight," I began, my fingers hovering over the screen "What did you find about him?"

(I dug through old files. I've sent you everything you need. Review it carefully.")

A stream of data poured in. Names, locations, missions, performance reviews, notes from former superiors. I scrolled, scanning each line.

Retired Seeker. Stuck at A Rank for years. Eventually quit.

I muttered under my breath as I pieced it together.

'He can erase his presence… but without a Celestial weapon, he'll never fully capitalize on it. No wonder he plateaued at A Rank.'

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