It itched, as if countless worms were crawling on the bones of his chest, wriggling and climbing.

Bruno felt an unbearable discomfort. The bone closest to his heart was undergoing some kind of unknown change, enveloped by a strong, oppressive death energy.

Soon, as the unbearable itching grew stronger, the bone in his chest began to emit a faint, black hue.

After about half an hour, the itching finally faded away.

Bruno meditated, focusing on the bone closest to his heart. It had turned an eerie black.

When Arcane Power touched the Bone of the Dead, a wave of death energy swept over Bruno's body. His 3rd-stage Warlock-Warrior aura rapidly dissipated, leaving him feeling like a corpse. His heartbeat and breathing became so faint they were nearly inaudible.

"Is this the Bone of the Dead?" Bruno murmured. "It's incredible. I feel like I could be a silent assassin now."

Tursos nodded, then exhaled softly. Immediately, his entire presence shifted. Although he stood right in front of Bruno, Bruno couldn't sense his breath, heartbeat, or aura at all.

However, with a simple push of his spiritual energy, Bruno could easily detect Tursos's presence.

"The Bone of the Dead not only speeds up your cultivation, but it also hides your aura. But you should be cautious, Junior Brother. If you encounter someone with a stronger Meditation Technique, it'll be easier for them to detect you," Tursos added, after a moment of thought.

Even in his mind, there were very few in Sunset City who could surpass Bruno in Meditation Technique.

Upon hearing this, Bruno's eyes immediately lit up.

Bone of the Dead + God Realm—wouldn't that allow him to completely disguise himself as a powerful Elder?

As long as he didn't take action, he could intimidate enemies to the fullest.

That would make it even safer to go collect the two thousand gold coins from Tarnison. With God Realm active and the Bone of the Dead in effect, Tarnison, who only had the strength of a 7th-stage Warlock-Warrior, wouldn't notice a thing.

"Senior Brother, I heard from the cafeteria staff that there haven't been any special supplements lately?" Bruno asked, voicing his main concern.

Tursos nodded and replied, "It's not just the martial arts hall. The Celestial Beast materials from other factions have been affected as well."

All the legal Celestial Beast materials—such as meat, blood, and bones—used in Sunset City were transported from the capital.

Just yesterday, a group of unknown powerful individuals appeared and stole the Celestial Beast materials for this month.

The remaining Celestial Beast materials in Sunset City had naturally become even more valuable, and acquiring them was now far more difficult than before.

Bruno sighed inwardly. He only had ten special Celestial Beast supplements left. However, when Tarnison had issued his assassination mission, he'd offered Celestial Beast blood as a reward.

If Bruno could find a way to deal with Tarnison... then...

Bruno followed Tursos out of the underground area and back to his room.

He first ate four of the special supplements, only to find that the Book of All Things still hadn't finished its cooldown.

He ate another supplement, and only then did the Book of All Things glow faintly once again.

"Sigh... now it takes five special Celestial Beast meats just to reduce the cooldown by one month."

To trade The Fire of Prometheus from Elise's heart, Bruno would need one use. The same goes for saving Elise's mother, plus the Warlock-Warrior combat experience and new identity—all of those would require the Book of All Things.

And now, Bruno only had five special supplements left.

"Paul's 4,000 gold for renting the Baron identity—I left 1,000 for Fabian, and the martial arts hall registration cost 300..." Bruno did a quick mental calculation.

After subtracting daily expenses, he had 2,500 gold left, but 1,000 of that was meant for Edward Shaw's grandson.

So, in reality, Bruno only had 1,500 gold coins he could use.

He absolutely needed to get his hands on those 2,000 gold coins from Tarnison.

As for Nidhogg's Breath, there was no need to rush using it.

After thinking things through, Bruno used Bolantie's identity, made a quick disguise, and left the room.

...

In District 8, on a bustling street, Bruno stood before a quiet bookstore in the distance and took a deep breath.

This was the meeting spot for his transaction with Tarnison. The 2,000 gold coins had already been placed inside the bookstore by Tarnison.

Bruno slowly lowered the brim of his hat, walking toward the bookstore entrance. He extended his spiritual energy and silently activated God Realm.

God Realm was the manifestation of Bruno's spiritual world in reality. He could control it, disguising it to blend with the surroundings, making it seem like a normal bookstore.

What had once appeared to be a normal bookstore was now entirely enveloped by Bruno's God Realm.

With confidence, he strode inside, looking around until he found a black box and took it.

As soon as God Realm vanished, the bookstore returned to normal. The only thing out of place was the black box—gone without a trace.

The next moment, Bruno, standing at the corner of the street, saw several people rush into the bookstore.

At the same time, the assassin's communicator began to vibrate.

Tarnison: [Nice move, my friend. You managed to take the gold so quietly. I'm impressed.]

Bruno replied: [According to reliable information, Bruno has reached 3rd-stage Warlock-Warrior, and his Thunderclap Breathing Method has been perfected.]

Tarnison: [Perfected Thunderclap Breathing Method?]

[Are you trying to fool me to get more out of this?]

Bruno: [Looks like your sources aren't as good as you thought. My chances of killing Bruno right now are less than fifty percent. The Gaston martial arts hall is very dangerous.]

Tarnison: [You actually plan to assassinate Bruno inside the Gaston martial arts hall?]

[Alright, what else do you need?]

Bruno: [Celestial Beast meat, Celestial Beast blood, the more the better.]

After a long pause, Tarnison finally replied: [Give me two days to prepare. Bruno must die.]

Seeing Tarnison's reply, Bruno smiled. He knew that Tarnison had just been confirming if the information he gave was real or not.

Taking the 2,000 gold coins from the bookstore, along with the useful intel, Tarnison must have thought Bruno had some special means.

The feeling of taking resources from an enemy was... addictive.

Bruno couldn't help but wonder—if Tarnison ever found out the truth, would he collapse?

Just thinking about it made Bruno chuckle.

He grabbed the 2,000 gold coins and walked away confidently.

...

In District 3, at the best hospital.

Elise looked at her mother lying on the bed, took a deep breath, and without a hint of hesitation, she brought a basin of water and gently began to clean the rotting areas.

"I know my condition, Elise. Let's go home," her mother's voice came slowly, weak but clear.

Elise paused in her movements, forcing a smile as she responded:

"There's hope, Mom. It's not an incurable disease. You'll be fine. Don't worry."

The rotting flesh on the bed twitched, and a pained voice emerged: "I just can't bear to leave you. The daily treatment costs, all the medical expenses... you're only eighteen. How can you possibly afford all that?"

"Let's go, we'll go home. No more treatment."

Elise gritted her teeth and replied seriously, "You're all I have, Mom. Don't leave me, please."

There was silence. The woman on the bed no longer insisted. She just sighed deeply, her eyes filled with sorrow and guilt.

If it weren't for her mother's illness, her daughter wouldn't have to suffer so much.

Elise took a deep breath, picked up the basin filled with blood-soaked water, and walked to the bathroom.

She watched her mother's blood flow into the sink, taking another deep breath. She no longer had much money left and couldn't afford the painkillers that might ease her mother's suffering.

Elise pulled out her communicator, wanting to contact Bruno.

"Mr. Hornes, please, I beg you, lend me some gold. I'll definitely pay you back!"

"Really, if I can't repay you, you can do whatever you want with me, including... my body."

After saying this, Elise covered her mouth. All she wanted now was to extend her mother's life and ease her pain.

Soon, Bruno's voice came through the communicator: "Money, I don't have any."

Elise shut her eyes in despair.

"There's a patient at the District 8 Tumor Hospital, named Henry Borg," Bruno's voice came again.

Elise quickly asked, "Henry Borg? Can he lend me some gold?"

"I cured him." The communicator clicked off, and Bruno's voice was the last thing she heard.

Elise's hands trembled. Bruno had cured a patient named Henry Borg?

Could it be that this man, like her mother, was suffering from the rotting disease?

Elise didn't dare to continue imagining. She was afraid that the truth might be different from what she hoped.

Without hesitation, Elise headed straight for the Tumor Hospital in District 8. When she found the medical staff, she received this answer:

"Henry Borg? He passed away. Just this morning."

At that moment, the hope in Elise's heart was extinguished once again.

"How did he die? Was it because of the rotting disease?" Elise asked urgently.

The medical staff replied, "No, it wasn't. He committed suicide. It's strange, though—when Henry Borg died, there were no signs of the rotting disease on him."

Not the rotting disease? But suicide?

The signs of the rotting disease were gone?

Elise's eyes immediately lit up. She quickly pulled out her communicator.

On the other side, Bruno, who had just handed 1,000 gold coins to Edward Shaw's grandson, had not even had a chance to rest when his communicator vibrated again.

Elise's voice came through: "Mr. Hornes, Henry committed suicide."

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