As it turned out, allowing Elomont and his retinue to accompany them had been the right choice.

With that artifact shielding their wills, no reverent had been able to detect them, even when they used their wills.

This way, their speed increased significantly, allowing them to cover vast swathes of land.

Regardless, Atticus maintained his caution throughout the journey. Every attempt Elomont made to get close to them was shut down, and he made sure no information about them slipped through.

Though he had chosen to follow them for the benefits, it did not change the fact that they were far from allies.

The fact that Elomont had attempted to kill Gladious over something so trivial spoke clearly of his nature.

Still, no matter how much time passed, Atticus had not sensed even the slightest trace of ill intent directed his way.

Ordinarily, with his ability to control wills, he could glean insight into a person’s state with ease.

But from Elomont, Atticus felt an even stronger presence of Crown’s will. He had not needed Gladious to confirm it, its potency was high. He was clearly a trueblood.

Unfortunately, that made it far harder to glean anything.

’I have to find a way around this.’

The thought passed through Atticus’ mind as his gaze remained cold.

These truebloods were undoubtedly the rulers of the First Crown, and from past experience, he was not one to coexist smoothly with any authority.

A clash could occur at any moment, and he needed every advantage he could get.

With that in mind, Atticus set the thought aside for now, choosing to revisit it once they reached the stronghold.

...

The First Crown stretched out like a wasteland beneath the scarlet sky. The trees stood shriveled, like their life had long since been drained.

The ground lay cracked and barren. Entire forests looked as though they had been swept through by fire, leaving nothing but hollow remains.

Atticus passed the time with light conversation among his people. He was glad to note that his earlier words had steadied Anorah. And now, her demeanor now carried a quiet resolve.

Eventually, a bright flash of light drew their attention toward the horizon. As they crested a hill, the sight before them came into full view.

A vast metropolis sprawled below, encased entirely within a golden dome.

A river of golden light flowed around the city, forming a radiant boundary. Beyond it, patches of grass and blooming flowers spread across the land, vibrant and alive, a stark contrast to the bleak wasteland surrounding it.

Beside him, Ozeroth watched with a wide grin, nodding in clear approval. Ozerra mirrored his reaction. Both siblings were visibly drawn to the city’s blinding brilliance.

In contrast, Whisker regarded it with a deep scowl, casting them an odd look before shaking his head and muttering under his breath that it wasn’t worth it.

"...this is Mosan City, supreme ruler, one of the three major strongholds in the First Crown."

Gladious spoke as he stared at the city, his expression layered with something difficult to place. Whether it stemmed from his stronghold being destroyed by a Momont, or from his own past experiences with the city, he could not tell.

Eventually, they made their way down the hill, crossing a long bridge until they arrived at the grand gates. There, a long line of people stretched outward, all waiting to enter the city.

Atticus’ eyes were cold as he regarded each of them.

The majority bore gleaming crowns upon their heads, making it clear they were hunters. Gods.

The requirement of killing other gods to gather crown fragments remained fresh in his mind.

In any case, these gods were his enemies.

Still, there was a bright side to encountering them. As gods who had ascended from the Span, none of them could use Crown will.

Atticus could feel every one of their wills, laid bare before him. Without effort, he knew instinctively that he could control them.

It was good news. It meant his ability to influence others’ wills had not been restricted by the plane’s will.

With Elomont’s presence, their entry had been smooth. After drawing a wave of dirty looks from those in the queue, along with murmurs of shock from those who clearly recognized him, they passed through and entered the city.

Then, Elomont approached, a faint smile on his face.

"It’s been a pleasure meeting you. I’d hate for it to end so soon. Why don’t you all come with me to my family’s estate? I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of."

"No."

Elomont’s expression tightened slightly, caught off guard by the blunt refusal. His people behind him were far less restrained, each of them glaring at Atticus.

Faced with their stares, Atticus remained unmoved.

"Then—"

"Thank you for your help so far."

Elomont paused, momentarily thrown off as Atticus gave a small nod before turning away. His people followed without hesitation, not sparing him a glance. Even that insect, Gladious.

As they left, Elomont let out a low chuckle, a cold, dangerous look settling over his face.

"Haa... this insect..." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"...my lord, why do you let him get away with that?"

Beside him, his ward, Kass, spoke through gritted teeth. Even now, his murderous gaze remained fixed in the direction Atticus and the others had disappeared.

Elomont merely smiled.

"...you’ll see soon enough. Jonk."

One of the subordinates stepped forward at once and bowed.

"Have the chairman of the Hunter Association come see me. Now."

"...as you wish."

...

Moments later, within his estate, Elomont tapped his finger idly against the desk as he waited.

As the seconds stretched on, the door swung open and a man entered.

The chairman of the Hunter Association was a portly man of imposing stature, with dirty blonde hair, bald at the crown, and heavy cheeks.

He was Konsa Mosan, the chairman of the Hunter Association, in charge of all hunter activities across the city.

Konsa’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Elomont.

"Cousin! It’s been so long. How have you been? Honestly, I didn’t expect you to call me, I—"

"Save it." Elomont waved a hand dismissively. "I want you to do something for me."

Konsa stiffened.

Though they were both direct descendants of the Mosan family, Elomont held a far higher status due to his overwhelming talent.

It was to the extent that he stood among those considered for the position of the next Patriarch.

In a world ruled by power and influence, Konsa had long sought his favor, yet had always been brushed aside. Now that an opportunity had finally appeared before him, there was no way he would let it slip.

"...ah—of course! Just say the word, I’ll handle it immediately!"

"Urgh..." Elomont shot Konsa a look of open disgust, shaking his head slightly. If not for the situation, he wouldn’t have even considered using this pig.

"A new hunter will be registering soon. About nine feet tall, white hair. Atticus Ravenstein."

"...Atticus... Ravenstein..."

Standing behind him, Kass’s eyes narrowed. That name... he recognized it. His gaze widened in realization, but a brief glance from Elomont stilled him at once.

"...for his assessment, send only him here."

Elomont pushed a map of the wilderness across the table. The moment Konsa saw the marked location, a frown creased his face.

It wasn’t a danger zone, nor was it safe, just a standard area. The only unusual factor was its large distance from the city.

"This... I don’t quite understand why—"

"Can you do it?"

Konsa froze as he met Elomont’s cold gaze. Those eyes alone made it clear; don’t ask any questions.

"...alright."

As the chairman left the office, Kass turned to Elomont instantly.

"My lord... are you certain that’s really him...?"

"I’m sure."

A cold smile stretched across Elomont’s lips. White hair. A katana. Prideful to a fault. Every detail aligned with the one they were searching for.

Kass’s eyes narrowed further.

"Then... should we inform the family?"

"There’s no need. We’ll take the rewards ourselves."

"Understood."

Elomont tapped his finger against the desk, his thoughts moving rapidly.

"Reach out to them. Let them know he’ll be at this location."

Kass nodded at once, already stepping out, only to halt as Elomont spoke again.

"Also... those women of his that I marked..."

Elomont’s tongue brushed lightly across his lips, a dangerous gleam settling in his eyes.

"...monitor them. Once he leaves the city, I want their exact location."

"As you wish."