Winter had come, and the imperial capital of Muchen was blanketed in pure white snow. Cold gusts of wind blew the snow across the streets. It was so cold that people didn’t want to step outside. The bustling, lively atmosphere of the capital had faded, replaced by a rare sense of tranquility. Most people stayed inside, warming themselves by the fire, watching the snow fall, and enjoying the cozy warmth of being with their families. On the main roads, only a few figures could be seen—none other than mercenaries. Mercenaries don’t get days off. Like diligent bees, they continued taking on missions to earn their livelihood.But the Bonaparte residence was different. The place was bustling with people coming and going, and brightly lit. Everywhere you looked, nobles dressed in splendid garments filled the scene. Even the servants were dressed in their finest clothes. Today was the coming-of-age ceremony for the Bonaparte family’s eldest son—Franz Bonaparte.According to the traditions of
Franz respectfully received the imperial decree. For a great family like the Bonaparte family, the reward was merely a formality; it was the title that truly mattered, as it reflected the royal family's recognition of their status. This was a political strategy often used by the royal family to reassure their loyal factions. More than anyone else, Emperor Nikolai understood that the most crucial task for the ruler of an empire was to balance the power among the great families within the court, ensuring they opposed and weakened one another without feeling ostracized by the royal family. It was no coincidence that in the capital, the Carlos family always opposed the Bonaparte family.But to Franz, this imperial decree was like a sweet cake falling from the sky. Not only was the reward of 100,000 gold coins a significant sum, but more importantly, the title. According to the law, only nobles had the right to form private armies, and anyone secretly raising a private army would be charge
“Run... faster... faster.”In the magical beast forest, a group of mercenaries frantically fled through the woods. Each of them was covered in injuries, but no one dared to stop. They knew that the moment their legs stopped, "Death" would come to claim their lives."Death" was a mysterious assassin organization that had emerged over the past year. They never accepted commissions and never killed innocents. They only targeted sinful mercenaries, wanted criminals, bandits... However, every time "Death" acted, they were ruthless, leaving no survivors. As a result, no one had ever seen their true faces. After each mission, the assassins would leave behind the word "Death," so everyone referred to them by that name. No one knew if "Death" was a single individual or an organization; all the information was passed around by word of mouth from mercenaries.“Have you run enough yet?”Suddenly, a voice appeared ahead, stopping the mercenarie
In the outskirts of Muchen, the spring rains bring vitality to the sprawling grasslands. Stretching to the horizon is a lush green expanse of fresh grass, with sunlight gently filtering through a thin mist, creating a stunning seven-colored rainbow, making the scene appear like a magical paradise.Scattered across the vast plains, amidst small patches of forest, are various villages, with smoke lazily rising from the chimneys under the soft morning light. The village of Ionia also lies on the grasslands outside Muchen, but unlike the others, it is unique. Ionia is, in fact, an estate owned by Viscount Franz Bonaparte. Two years ago, Franz purchased this land, recruiting displaced villagers and orphans to establish the Ionia Estate as it is today.The estate lies by the Sen River, which flows past the capital of Muchen, covering an area of more than ten square kilometers, though only about 500 people live there. Apart from a small residential area, the rest is farmland for the peasants
Woof… woof…Suddenly, Lucky barked, his tail curled on his back, wagging slightly. From the void behind Franz, eight figures appeared. Each of them wore an animal-shaped mask. These were the Reapers."Young Master."All the Reapers removed their masks and respectfully saluted him. To them, Franz was not only their benefactor but also the only family they had left in the world. Franz, in turn, treated them like brothers, though he was strict during training. Outside of training, however, the atmosphere was harmonious. Franz had once considered swearing brotherhood with them, but Salah had tactfully refused, as they all preferred to serve Franz as a sharp sword. Thus, they unanimously addressed him as Young Master."Has the mission been completed?" Franz asked with a smile. Salah stepped forward to report."Everything is done. There were no survivors.""Well done. Gillam, tomorrow, you, Rhuk, and Rose will head to Aden City
The small forest had lost its usual tranquility. Instead, it was now filled with the chaotic sounds of battle, screams, and cries of agony reverberating incessantly. Birds scattered from their nests, fleeing the fierce battlefield. As Natasha had mentioned, more than a dozen guards were now encircling a horse carriage in a clearing within the forest. Inside was a beautiful young girl with blue hair, dressed in a light blue mage robe, continuously chanting supportive spells for the guards. However, the situation looked grim. More than ten guards had already fallen, lying motionless on the ground.The bandits seemed in no hurry. Relying on their overwhelming numbers, they formed a circular formation around the carriage, continuously maneuvering to exhaust the guards. Archers had taken positions on high points in the forest, shooting arrows to suppress the young mage, forcing the guards to not only fend off the swordsmen but also protect her from getting hit by arrows.&l
The bandits rushed forward, but in the eyes of the four guards, a fierce determination blazed, showing their resolve to fight to the death. In their hearts, there was only one thought: to protect the young lady. Even with arrows piercing their bodies like porcupine quills, they continued fighting. When their swords broke, they used their teeth to tear at the enemies’ throats. A tragic and heroic scene unfolded before their eyes, with red blood vessels visible in their gazes intensifying. Only a minute—just one more minute—yet for Elena, it felt like an eternity. Tears streamed down her face, but her mouth did not stop chanting. Her ears seemed numb, and the gathering magic made her chest tighten. Something sweet and metallic rose up her throat, but she persisted and endured. When the final incantation was complete, Elena softly shouted:"Ice Cloud Heaven's Rain!"Boom! Dark gray clouds gathered in the sky. Terror filled the bandits’ eyes, while
Franz felt confused, his heart stirring like waves crashing against the shore, unable to calm down. He gently placed Elena down on the grassy ground and looked at her like an angel—a holy beauty that made his heart pound uncontrollably.After a quick inspection, Franz realized that Elena had suffered serious internal injuries. What are mages most afraid of? It’s the backlash from magic. It not only shatters all their meridians and destroys their magic, but it could also take their life. At the very least, it would leave them gravely wounded and unable to recover for half a year. Fortunately, Elena was only an Advanced Mage, and the spell she cast wasn’t too high-level, so the backlash merely affected her organs slightly, though her meridians were still damaged.Without thinking, Franz took out a bottle of intermediate healing potion. Shamelessly, he thought: “She’s unconscious now, her mouth won’t open… should I use my mouth to…”“W-water… water…”Suddenly, Elena murmured faintly, her