​"Wow, that is some insane plan you came up with, you cold-blooded trash. I will have to tell my brother about it," Abel said, clearly amused by Alarick’s ruthless idea. "But for your plan to work, the Thorne family would have to be gathered in one place to be wiped out all at once. And then there are the costs. The Eden Guild will ask for a hefty price to massacre a noble family. Even if the Thornes are trash, they are still nobles," Abel continued, his expression turning serious.

​"You don’t have to worry about gathering them," Alarick replied with a dark look. "My wife told me this morning that the Family Head is planning to hold a small private banquet for his son in exactly one month at the main house. That will be our chance to strike while the whole family is in one room."

​"I guess you thought everything through. But you didn’t answer my other question about what it will cost..." Abel was cut off before he could even finish his sentence.

​"That is a really stupid question, cousin. I know hiring the entire Eden Guild will put a lot of financial strain on the barony, but the reward will be immense once the Thornes are entirely out of the picture," Alarick said smoothly.

​"I guess there is nothing to add. You really thought this through to the bitter end, huh?" Abel chuckled.

​"Is this the only reason you called me out here in the freezing cold? We could have just discussed this over a communication crystal," Alarick said, frowning deeply.

​"Actually, no. That is not the only reason. I have some good news for you," Abel said, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Don’t make that face! It really is good news this time, I swear. In fact, it is wonderful news for the whole main family." Alarick frowned when he heard Abel say good news because Abel’s good news would usually be bad news to him.

​"Just say it already. I don’t have time to waste," Alarick spat.

​"Impatient, are we? Anyway, it is about Adrian," Abel said softly.

​When Alarick heard his sister’s name, he completely lost his cool.

​"WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?! TELL ME!" Alarick roared. He rushed forward and violently grabbed Abel by the collar of his shirt.

​The heavily armored guard behind Abel instantly reached for the hilt of his sword, but Abel raised a hand with a calm, amused expression, signaling the guard to stand down.

​"Young Master, you have to keep your voice down. You will attract demonic beasts out here," Edward warned, stepping forward to calm him.

​"SHUT THE HELL UP! CAN’T YOU SEE WE ARE TALKING?!" Alarick snapped aggressively. Edward immediately fell silent, stepping back into the shadows.

​"Wow, you are even shouting at your own serv—"

​"Bastard!" Alarick cut Abel off, his eyes burning with rage. "Tell me what you did to my sister."

​"As I told you, it’s good news. Your sister is getting married soon," Abel said, his smirk widening.

​"Who is she marrying?" Alarick asked in a dangerously low voice, still holding Abel tightly by the collar.

​"She is marrying Count David Comberton," Abel stated casually.

​The moment Alarick heard that name, hot tears welled up in his eyes, but they were absolutely not tears of joy.

​"I would have killed myself the day you broke my magic circles. The only reason I stayed alive was that I thought of my sister... what would she do without me?" Alarick said in a low voice, tears spilling down his cheeks. "You promised me that if I took this job and married into the Thorne family, you would take care of her! YOU PROMISED TO KEEP HER SAFE!" he screamed, looking Abel dead in the eye.

​"OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE KINGDOM, WHY HIM?! WHY WOULD YOU MARRY HER TO— Ugh!"

​Before Alarick could finish his sentence, Abel delivered a brutal, lightning-fast punch to his stomach. Alarick collapsed to his knees, clutching his gut and groaning in agony.

​"Young Master!" Edward shouted, preparing to dash forward to protect him.

​But before Edward could take a single step, Abel glared at him. A suffocating, terrifying wave of bloodlust crashed over Edward, sending violent shivers down his spine.

​"If you move, you are a dead man," Abel said coldly.

​That bloodlust... it scares me. Is he a fourth-stage or fifth-stage aura user?! Edward thought, frozen in sheer terror.

​"You know, your sister actually came to me. She said she wanted to do a great service for the main family so that you could finally be allowed to come back home," Abel said. He reached down, grabbed a fistful of Alarick’s brown hair, and violently yanked his head up so they were making eye contact. "She genuinely thought you were out here suffering with that trash family, but she doesn’t even know that you are living a comfortable life as a noble, or that you even have a son. I guess you didn’t talk to her that much through your communication crystal, huh? It seems you took the mission very seriously since you were forbidden from communicating with her."

​"When she told me that, my heart was just so touched. I felt I had to do something to help her," Abel mocked. "So, I talked to some friends, and it led me right to Count David. Don’t worry, the Count promised me he wouldn’t hurt her... unless she does something stupid, of course."

​Abel leaned in closer, his smirk turning cruel. "I did warn your sweet sister about his past wives. Three went missing, four committed suicide, and two divorced him with severe, crippling injuries. Tsk, tsk. The Count really does have a bad temper. But what do you expect from a brutal Fourth-Class Mage? With Adrian’s tender and submissive personality, I’m sure they will go together like bread and butter."

​Alarick could do nothing but kneel in the dirt, glaring up at him with pure hatred.

​Abel let go of Alarick’s hair, stood up straight, and looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.

​"I should get going now, cousin. It was so nice seeing you," Abel said cheerfully. He looked back down at Alarick shivering on his knees. "Seeing you like this really brings back fond memories of when we were kids. Do you remember those days? Sigh, childhood time really flies, doesn’t it? Look at us now," he added with a twisted, crazy smile.

​"Also, do not forget about that brilliant plan you just suggested. And a fair warning: don’t do anything stupid to double-cross us. Never forget that your sister is still with us in the territory," Abel threw the threat over his shoulder as he turned and walked away into the darkness, his guards following closely behind.

​Alarick remained on the frozen ground until Abel completely disappeared from his sight. Edward didn’t know what to say to comfort him. Eventually, Alarick silently forced himself to stand up and limped toward his horse.

​"We should leave too," Alarick muttered, his voice hollow and dead.

​Edward just nodded silently, and the two of them rode out of the freezing forest.