Chapter Twelve: Confrontation

Staring at the lifeless bodies sprawled across the ground, their blood staining the earth a glaring, violent red, Bill’s face turned deathly pale. Yet, one thing did bring Vir a measure of satisfaction: this boy named Bill didn't faint outright nor lose his composure entirely. Swallowing with difficulty, he pushed himself up from the ground with trembling hands.

"You killed people from the Babir Merchant Guild. If they find out, even as a mage protected by the Empire, the Babir Guild will not let this go. So before they discover what happened, you should leave this place at once."

“Oh?”

Vir glanced at Bill, a touch of curiosity in his gaze. The boy’s face was still etched with terror, though he struggled valiantly to suppress it. Perhaps it was from having just witnessed Vir slaughter several men with his own hands, but now, when Bill looked at him, his eyes were unmistakably tinged with fear.

"If I were to kill you, no one would know what happened here. You ought to understand—only the dead never tell secrets."

Vir’s lips curled into a cold, disdainful smile, but his eyes never left Bill, watching intently for his next move.

"I—I understand, of course!"

Bill froze for a second, clearly not expecting Vir to contemplate killing him. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady himself, but even so his voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Sir Cyathea, please allow me to address you thus." Bill bowed in a manner perfectly befitting a noble, his tone respectful yet urgent—as if he dared not risk waiting for a reply. He knew, in this moment, that unless he offered Vir something of true value, he might well die here.

"You are a mage, sir. I believe you know what the Los Yiziger Staff is, and what a treasure it represents, do you not?"

When Bill mentioned the Los Yiziger Staff, Vir's mouth twitched involuntarily, though the expression vanished in an instant, hidden beneath a cold snort. "Get to the point. I have no time for idle chatter."

"Yes, Sir Cyathea!"

Despite his filthy, disheveled state, Bill’s posture and words were those of a noble, lending a strange contrast to his appearance. But his mind was too preoccupied for such details, and Vir’s concern lay elsewhere as well.

"I know everything about the Los Yiziger Staff. I offer this information in exchange for my life, Sir Cyathea."

"Is that so? Information known even to a child like you—surely, if I wandered the streets for a day or two, I could learn all there is to know about the Los Yiziger Staff. So, your offer doesn’t seem particularly valuable to me."

Vir spoke with casual indifference, taking a single step forward—frightening Bill so badly that his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the ground.

Indeed, Bill had never met such a formidable youth. In his experience—among nobles, the military, even the royal family—he had never heard of anyone so young and yet so shrewd, so decisive, so ruthless.

This young man before him, only a few years his senior, felt more like an adult of thirty—cold, calculating, with a mind sharp as a blade.

"Wait! Sir Cyathea, there is one thing you must understand first: the source of the information I possess!"

“Oh?”

Vir grunted, tipping his head for Bill to continue.

"Lister! I learned this information from the Countess Lister herself. Sir Cyathea, I swear to you—aside from the royal family, there are no more than four people in all the nobility, even the military, who know of this. I am certain!"

At Bill’s words, a strange light flickered in Vir’s eyes. He considered for a moment, then a satisfied smile crept onto his lips as he asked Bill, "How old are you?"

"Fourteen!" Bill blurted out, but when Vir’s gaze seemed to pierce straight through him, he quickly dropped his head and muttered, "Actually…only twelve…"

"Very well. Two days from now, meet me here."

Vir nodded, then waved Bill away with a sudden, commanding gesture. "Now, go. As you said, this place is unsafe."

"Ah?" Bill was clearly taken aback by this abrupt conclusion, but, though his mind was still reeling, he wisely nodded and hurried out of the alley through another exit.

Watching Bill's retreating figure, Vir allowed himself a small smile before turning away and looking ahead.

At some point, Yst, Wei Ling’s bodyguard, had arrived nearby. Though some distance remained between them, Vir knew that, given Yst’s skills, such a gap was meaningless.

"If I see you make a single suspicious move, I will kill you on the spot."

Though Yst’s words were quiet, the murderous intent in them was unmistakable.

Vir offered no reply, simply walking past. As he drew level with Yst, Vir suddenly asked, "What about the bodies?"

"I will take care of them." Yst seemed surprised by the question, but answered quickly.

Vir nodded, finally lifting his gaze to meet Yst’s. "I hope you won’t trouble that boy."

"Is that a threat?" Yst’s face darkened, the air thickening with killing intent. He clearly believed Vir was threatening Wei Ling’s safety to manipulate him.

"Of course not. I only guessed you wouldn’t stoop to hurting a child, would you?"

Vir could feel the murderous pressure, but he knew full well he was in no position to challenge someone of Yst’s caliber. With those words, he said nothing further, stepping out of the alley as though nothing had happened.

Once around the corner, Vir finally let out a heavy breath. The tension that had gripped him loosened, and only now did he realize that even a brief conversation with Yst had left his back drenched in cold sweat. The night breeze brought a chill that cut to the bone.

"Are you all right?"

Seeing Vir emerge from the alley, Wei Ling hurried over, carefully surveying him from head to toe. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she finally relax.

"I'm fine—just a bit tired, that's all."

Vir could see the genuine concern in her eyes, and a warmth bloomed in his heart. He smiled softly and said, "Come on, let’s go home."