Tunda's small mansion was on the verge of chaos, with an ominous atmosphere. The staff had been watching Tunda, who had been fuming for hours, holding their breath.
The eyes of the 16-year-old boy gleamed with a fierce intensity, a sight they had never seen before.
"That bastard! I'll kill him! How dare he touch my property?"
Tunda's excitement showed no signs of subsiding.
Gracie, equally agitated, was distracted by Tunda's outburst.
She ordered the staff to leave, and soon only Tunda remained.
"Gracie! What have you been doing until now? You know how much money that building brings in. We need to expand our influence, and for that, we need money!"
The room was empty, but Gracie unleashed her pent-up anger.
Her eyes transformed, resembling those of a wild beast, causing Tunda to hastily cover his mouth.
"Ah... Young Master Tunda, please look at me."
A deep purple mana flowed from Gracie's heart, gathering in her palms.
She grasped Tunda's head, and his eyes began to glaze over, half-closing as if under a hypnotic spell.
"Let's keep quiet for now. You're being too loud, child."
Tunda, now under Gracie's control, apologized meekly.
He looked like a living corpse, devoid of emotion.
For the time being, Tunda would act as Gracie's puppet.
"Let's think this through. How can we kill Zed?"
The mansion fell silent, with Gracie sitting calmly, Tunda standing beside her like a statue.
After a moment of contemplation, Gracie smiled sinisterly.
"We'll need to use some of our secret funds. Of course, you'll provide them."
"Y-yes. If Gracie wants it, I'll give it to you."
"Good. We'll hire expensive mercenaries. And to prevent them from being caught, we'll use hypnotic magic to keep them silent."
"I trust Gracie."
"Since Zed has only opened his mana, it should be sufficient."
"Y-yes. Okay."
Gracie stroked Tunda's head, and he smiled vacantly.
The scene was unsettling, with an air of abnormality in the Arahan mansion.
Meeting Klang
I followed Eddie to find Klang, arriving at a luxurious hotel in the city center.
The doorman bowed deeply upon seeing me.
"It's an honor to serve you. Our hotel, Libera, is one of the best in Neca. We currently have only one VIP suite available."
The staff were well-trained, and the doorman even slightly knelt to greet me.
I explained that I wasn't there for a room but to meet someone.
The doorman gestured politely toward the lobby.
However, when Eddie tried to follow, the doorman blocked him.
"I apologize, but only nobles are allowed entry."
I told Eddie to wait outside.
The doorman's tone was polite but condescending, typical of how nobles treated commoners.
I entered the hotel, noting the extravagant decor with gold-plated walls and high-quality carpets.
The staff bowed in unison as I approached.
I asked to see the guest list, but the receptionist explained that VIP suite information was confidential.
I couldn't force my way in, as the hotel was likely owned by one of my siblings.
I checked the general guest list, but Klang's name wasn't there.
It seemed he was staying in a VIP suite, which made sense given his wealth.
I decided to check the VIP floor personally, but the receptionist refused, citing security.
I left, feeling frustrated.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the lobby.
A disgruntled guest, an elderly man, was shouting about the quality of the beef he had ordered.
The staff rushed to calm him down, accustomed to such outbursts.
I recognized the man as possibly Klang, given his eccentric behavior and appearance.
Eddie confirmed my suspicion, saying that Klang was known for being difficult.
I approached the man, who turned out to be even more abrasive than expected.
"Ah, you again? What a terrible start to the day, seeing an Arahan face so early."
The man's demeanor was harsh, and I was taken aback.
Despite his age, he was feisty and didn't hesitate to insult me.
I tried to speak, but he cut me off.
"What are you doing here? Did someone send you to collect the hotel bill?"
I was about to respond when he stormed out, leaving me speechless.
The staff dispersed, whispering among themselves about the man's notorious behavior.
Eddie chuckled, saying that Klang was indeed eccentric.
I wasn't sure if I wanted such a person as a mentor, but Eddie reassured me that Klang's skills would be worth it.
I decided to meet Klang again, despite his rough demeanor.
As we left the hotel, Eddie pointed out a high-end restaurant, saying that Klang might be there.
The restaurant was famous for its expensive dishes, including the same beef Klang had complained about earlier.
I remembered Torres mentioning that Bahal supplied the finest quality beef, which might be a conversation starter.
However, my attempt at small talk was met with hostility.
The old man spat on the floor and threw his chopsticks, continuing to insult me.
I restrained myself, remembering that I was seeking a mentor.
Just as I was about to try again, I sensed a sudden threat.
"Salgi?!"
"Yes?"
The old man reacted simultaneously, his eyes narrowing as he sensed danger.
Something flew past us, and I dodged instinctively.
Ting! Ting!
Small daggers whizzed by.
Klang moved swiftly to defend me, using a simple yet effective method.
"What's going on here?"
Klang's voice turned serious, unlike his earlier demeanor.
I was more surprised by his agility and quick reflexes.
"You focused mana in your fingers to block them, didn't you? In that brief moment?"
"Ah, you have keen eyesight. You could have dodged them yourself."
"It was you who moved first."
"Ha! Don't misunderstand. I did it because if you die, I'd be in trouble too."
What was even more impressive was that he defended me without looking at the daggers.
The situation was tense, with an air of danger lingering.
"Doesn't seem like we can have a conversation now."
Klang chuckled, and the tension increased.