Who was the true ruler of Sunset City?

On the surface, there was only one answer—

Lord Stanford Count.

As long as he didn't cooperate with cults or do anything that harmed the interests of the Kingdom of Anlaine, the Queen herself would remain his strongest backing.

And when it came to rare treasures like Celestial Beast meat, Celestial Beast blood, or Celestial Beast bones, the amount Stanford Count could access far exceeded any other faction in Sunset City.

"That's right. The Count has a huge number of Arcane Power alchemy weapons. Naturally, he needs a massive supply of Celestial Beast blood. Even if he casually throws out a bit of it, people would fight each other to death for it," Tursos explained slowly.

In Sunset City, any faction might run short of Celestial Beast resources—

all except Stanford Count.

Even if one shipment got robbed this month, he still had mountains stored away.

"Also," Tursos continued, "if you perform well in the underground arena and show enough potential, you can receive a noble title personally granted by Stanford Count. Only a Baron, but that's more than enough for you."

"Every Baron gets a small monthly share of Celestial Beast resources. It isn't much, but still enough to make countless people desperate to obtain it."

Bruno's eyes widened instantly.

Because he was a Baron.

He had only traded the title away through the Book of All Things, and there were still more than two months left on that trade.

But the important part was—

he had never received any Celestial Beast resources at all!

Did someone think the Hornes family had declined and quietly pocketed the Celestial Beast resources that belonged to them?

Damn it.

Every month… for so many years…

That would add up to an enormous amount of Celestial Beast resources!

Bruno felt anger rising in his chest.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Tursos, if I'm a Baron now, where do I collect my monthly Celestial Beast resources?"

"For nobles in District Eight, their resources are handled by Viscount Herdman. Philip—the one who caused trouble for you earlier—is the illegitimate son of Jake Herdman, the Viscount," Tursos replied.

Bruno silently engraved the name Jake Herdman in his mind.

If he got the chance, he would definitely investigate why the Hornes family had never received any Celestial Beast resources in all these years.

Then, Tursos continued explaining the details about the underground arena.

It was located in District Seven and only opened at night.

To earn Stanford Count's reward, one had to defeat three opponents of the same rank in a row.

The prize started at 20 grams of Celestial Beast meat, and for each additional opponent defeated at the same level, the reward would rise by another 20 grams.

If one fought above their rank, defeating a single opponent would earn 30 grams of Celestial Beast meat, and each additional victory would add another 30 grams.

A single portion of the martial hall's special meal used about 6 grams of Celestial Beast meat.

Which meant its original price was around 10 gold coins per gram—

though now, that price was definitely no longer valid.

"Right now, it's probably around 20 gold coins per gram, and as for Celestial Beast blood… you can't buy it at all," Tursos said.

Bruno wanted to curse.

20 gold coins per gram?

That price was almost the same as what Celestial Beast blood used to cost!

Those bastards who robbed the shipment of Celestial Beast materials—

they deserved to die!

Wait…

He still didn't know how things were progressing on Tarnison's side.

Bruno remembered the conversation he overheard in the morgue.

Those cultists had agreed to Tarnison's request.

If things went as expected, Tarnison should contact him very soon.

"Tursos, is there a way to kill a 7-stage Warlock-Warrior?"

Bruno looked at Tursos.

"Tarnison?" Tursos asked.

Bruno nodded.

Right now, his only true enemy was Tarnison.

At that moment, the communicator Bruno had taken from the assassin suddenly vibrated.

He opened it and saw a message from Tarnison.

Tarnison:

[The mission is canceled. The 2,000 gold coins, the alchemy handgun, and the alchemy bullets—return them to me.]

Return your ass.

If Tarnison canceled the mission, it definitely meant the Heavenly Gang was preparing to attack the martial hall.

That man must think he could personally avenge his son now, so he didn't need Bruno anymore.

The alchemy handgun had already been sold, and most of the 2,000 gold coins were spent.

Besides…

Bruno was still eyeing Tarnison's Celestial Beast meat and Celestial Beast blood.

How could he return anything?

Bruno:

[I'm already preparing to act—tonight. If all goes well, I can capture that Bruno alive and hand him over to you personally.]

Tarnison:

[Before midnight. Otherwise, I'll take action myself.]

Bruno:

[Fine. Once I capture Bruno, I'll place him somewhere hidden. Bring the Celestial Beast meat and blood with you.]

Tarnison:

[The mission reward—2,000 gold coins—is already enough. Don't be too greedy.]

Bruno:

[The request was to kill Bruno. Capturing him alive is much harder than that.]

Tarnison:

[Fine. But I don't want to wait even one second longer. Before midnight—otherwise you get nothing.]

Bruno let out a breath of relief.

He raised his head and looked at Tursos, saying:

"The Heavenly Gang is going to act. The time should be around midnight."

Tursos' eyes widened instantly.

He stared at the communicator in Bruno's hand with confusion and asked:

"How do you know that? Do you have a spy inside the Heavenly Gang?"

Bruno smiled and replied:

"Yes. You should know him well—Tarnison."

"Ah? Ah! You must be joking."

Tursos looked completely shocked.

Bruno briefly explained the situation.

Tursos was silent for a long while before finally muttering:

"Killing the body is nothing… this is killing the heart."

To kill someone's son, then force that same person to provide gold, Celestial Beast meat, and Celestial Beast blood—

it was simply too cruel.

Tursos could easily imagine it:

Once Tarnison learned the truth, he would absolutely collapse.

Poor fool.

Becoming an enemy of someone like Bruno…

that was truly tragic luck.

Tursos patted Bruno's shoulder and said:

"I'll have Britney assist you."

"Her?"

Bruno felt uncertain—after all, Tarnison was a 7-stage Warlock-Warrior.

Tursos didn't explain much.

He only said slowly:

"Give Britney time to prepare. Even I would die at her hands."

At night, in the outskirts of District Eight, near an abandoned factory.

Bruno slowly wiped the blade of his alchemy long sword.

The polished surface reflected the moonlight—

and a small figure crouched on the rooftop.

"Britney… are you really confident?"

Bruno still felt uneasy.

Bean-sprout-sized Britney opened a box and was carefully assembling some kind of Arcane Power alchemy weapon.

"The Seventh-Generation Arcane Power Alchemy Sniper System.

Black market price: 150,000 gold coins.

One special Warlock-Warrior killer bullet: 2,000 gold coins each.

Do you think a mere 7-stage Tarnison can survive that?"

Britney said calmly.

Bruno's jaw almost dropped.

One hundred fifty thousand gold coins—

So this… was the power of money?

"Britney… is Arcane Power alchemy tech really that strong?" Bruno asked.

Britney finished assembling the seventh-generation sniper system.

She carefully adjusted its precision without lifting her head and replied:

"Of course. Most Celestial Beasts are killed by Arcane Power alchemy technology.

When the Federation colonizes other planets, the power they rely on—besides Warlock-Warriors—is this."

"Then why does it feel like I barely see any high-end tech in Sunset City?" Bruno asked.

To him, the world's technological level seemed almost the same as the one he came from.

Britney rolled her eyes at Bruno and replied:

"That's because truly powerful Arcane Power alchemy tech consumes too much energy. It's not suitable for civilian use."

"Stanford Count's personal strength is only at 12 stage, yet he rules all of Sunset City.

Do you think he does that with his own fists?"

"Alchemy firearms.

Arcane Power alchemy puppets.

Those are his real trump cards."

Bruno nodded.

This mysterious world became a little clearer in his mind.

The starry universe, the Federation, the Kingdom of Anlaine, Warlock-Warriors, Arcane Power alchemy tech, true gods and evil gods…

Compared to extreme sports in his previous life,

this world was far more thrilling.

Bruno had always possessed an adventurous nature in his bones—

a desire to grow stronger.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have died pushing himself in extreme sports.

"You don't have to worry too much about Arcane Power alchemy tech," Britney said calmly.

"You've already perfected your Meditation Technique. The spiritual power needed to manifest the God Realm is enough to alert you to danger in advance."

She was right.

Regular Arcane Power alchemy weapons struggled to exert full power against someone at the Junior Elder level.

But against a mere 7-stage Tarnison, they were more than enough.

Soon, after Britney finished calibrating the seventh-generation Arcane Power sniper device, she pulled out several alchemy bombs and buried them along Tarnison's only path.

When she was done, she gave Bruno a small nod.

Bruno understood—

the rest of the performance was his.

He took out the communicator and first sent a message to Tursos, asking him to create some chaos inside the martial hall.

Only then did Bruno send a message to Tarnison, telling him that the target had already been captured.

Bruno:

[District Eight, outskirts. Hurry. He's badly injured—he won't last long.]

Tarnison:

[You really caught him? Wait for me—I'm coming now!]

Tarnison clenched the communicator tightly.

He had just received word that something had happened at the Gaston Martial Hall.

This time…

it shouldn't be a trick.

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