Relying on Benjamin's agility, he managed only to sidestep its full force, but not without consequence. A deep gash now marred his left shoulder.A sharp pain shot through him, compelling Benjamin to draw a deep breath involuntarily.Twisting around to gauge the threat, he was met with a horrifying sight. Behind him stood a humanoid monster. Its left hand raised, dripping with fresh blood.Clearly, this very creature had just launched that covert strike.But wait, wasn't this monster supposedly detained by his father-in-law?This thought barely settled when Benjamin's eyes darted around frantically.Yet, upon taking in the scene, his face turned deathly pale.Because now, his father-in-law was nowhere to be seen, and the mysterious masked elder of the church had vanished too.There could only be one chilling conclusion.His father-in-law had been defeated and was now being pursued relentlessly.But why hadn’t this humanoid monster followed suit, choosing instead to ambush him?As this
As the thought crossed his mind, a sharp pain throbbed in Benjamin's temples.Simultaneously, he silently cursed Bahjat under his breath.However, before Benjamin could devise a strategy, sudden footsteps echoed from outside.Immediately after, the young woman's movements froze.At the same time, she subtly turned her head towards the door.Yet, as her gaze flickered to a corner of the room, her complexion turned ghostly pale. Her expression was one of sheer disbelief and terror, as she let out a shrill scream."Ah!!!""Who... who are you? How did you get in here?!"After a brief moment of panic, Ernesta Mentos regained her composure.With a guarded glance, she looked directly at Benjamin.This mansion of the Mentos family, after all, was guarded with utmost rigor.Moreover, surveillance cameras adorned every corner.For an ordinary person, even trying to scale the walls and sneak into the yard seemed an impossible task.And yet, here was Benjamin, boldly intruding her bedroom.Benjam
"Grandfather... Why are you standing here?"Ernesta's face drained of color the moment she stepped out and saw Master Mentos. Right behind her, Benjamin's eyes narrowed, feeling the overwhelming aura directed menacingly at him."What's this? Why can't I stand here?"The elderly Lord Mentos didn't answer his granddaughter's inquiry.Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly, a mischievous smile playing on the corner of his lips.Seeing his demeanor, Ernesta's cheeks flushed with even more vigor, her countenance becoming utterly flustered."Grandfather, I... I..."Caught off guard, Ernesta was at a loss for how to respond to him.Moments before, having seen this young lady exuding such confidence in the room, Benjamin had thought her to be a formidable spirit.Yet now, seeing her awkward state, Benjamin had to suppress the urge to chuckle.However, before he could bask in that amusing sight for long, the patriarch's gaze had shifted back to him."My dear, aren't you going to introduce this yo
Fortune favored him. At that exact moment, Ernesta's gaze shifted backward. There was a tinge of impatience in her demeanor as she waved her hand dismissively and remarked: "Why are you lagging so behind? Hurry up!"The countenance of the middle-aged man instantly softened, a stark contrast to the menacing expression he wore just moments before.And Benjamin, sensing a reprieve, hurriedly distanced himself from the somewhat peculiar man.Upon departing the Mentos' residence, Ernesta took him on a tour around the city of Kistna. This city stood over a hundred kilometers to the northeast of the capital. Interestingly, it was located on a peninsula, separated by a wide sea channel spanning fifty to sixty miles.How did he end up in such a remote place, especially in the young lady’s room of the Mentos family? The Mentos clan held more than half of the city's assets, and the family's wealth was unimaginably vast. Even though Ernesta never disclosed the exact figures, Benjamin's guesstimat
Before Walter could craft a response, the old lady's wrathful voice thundered once again, which seemed rather surprising to Benjamin, who had always thought of her as a gentle, approachable soul. However, witnessing this confrontation, a stiff expression gradually settled on his face."Grandmother, please, calm your anger!" he attempted to mediate: "We spoke yesterday of our concerns for your health. If you wish to walk outside, Linda can accompany you. She even mentioned some delightful places in the city!"Yet, as the young girl named Linda tried to calm the waters, her words only seemed to pacify the old lady slightly, her gaze still bitterly cold as it landed on her son."Hmph, what do you know, child? I've frequented those places you speak of. What truly captivates me is wandering the world, admiring its wonders, and witnessing humanity's marvels. Not the cheap amusements you think can appease me. And most of all, I relish observing the fates of others. Their life's ups and downs
"Enough, enough! If the boy is destined for the relic, let him keep it for now. I'm tired and wish to rest." the old lady declared, waving her hand dismissively, disappearing even more mysteriously than Mr. Jackson."Leon, Ernesta, let's end today's affairs here. We'll meet again if fate allows. Linda, see the guests out."Noticing the elders' departure, Walter's face was shadowed with concern.He witnessed a reluctant smile flicker across the old man's face, followed by a casual wave, signaling his daughter to escort the three, including Benjamin, out.The old man, left to his own devices, carefully sealed the chamber's door, leaving it a mystery as to what he was planning to do in such solitude.Stepping out into the palpable tension of the outdoors, it was Ernesta who finally broke the silence: "Linda, thank you. Escorting us this far is enough. Should the winds favor it, I'll return to visit once more.""Of course." was the reply.Only upon hearing Ernesta's voice did young Linda
"Grandfather, come quickly! Has he practiced his martial arts to the point of madness? His entire body feels like it's on fire, and he looks like he's on death's doorstep."Ernesta's voice and her grandfather’s echoed from outside. The urgency in their steps was palpable."Wasn't everything fine just yesterday? You even said he had a bright future!"The old man, Mr. Mentos, chimed in, his tone mocking, as if mimicking his granddaughter's previous words. Ernesta's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and indignation: "Are you teasing me again, Grandfather?"Seeing Ernesta's reaction, the old man chuckled heartily. But their laughter was short-lived. As soon as they laid eyes on Benjamin, Mr. Mentos's face paled with shock."What's happened to him?" Ernesta's voice quivered with worry.After checking Benjamin's pulse, the old man sighed deeply: "It's too late, my dear. Remember the marriage proposal we discussed? Perhaps you should consider it. I'm afraid your friend here won't be with us
The room's temperature was bone-chilling, causing Ernesta's teeth to chatter slightly.She didn't dare to linger in Benjamin's room and quickly took her leave.Watching the retreating silhouette of the Mentos heiress disappearing down the corridor, Benjamin swiftly recentered his emotions.He securely closed the door behind him, casting his gaze about the room."It seems their family has invested quite some effort into this." he mused, looking at the state of the bedroom. Benjamin silently clicked his tongue in disapproval, shaking his head.However, he didn't dwell on it for long. On the contrary, the current conditions were rather conducive to his meditation, suppressing the fiery energy within him.Thus, after a brief inspection, Benjamin once again settled on the bed to meditate.Time's passage seemed monotonous and dull during his meditation. But for Benjamin, this period granted him much-needed tranquility.Every day, young mistress Ernesta would visit him. Mostly, she checked t