Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

The King turned to Veyron again and spoke.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Veyron remained bowing as he answered.

"It is about a man from Ormolio, Your Majesty."

Azarion’s expression did not change much, but his eyes remained on Veyron.

Veyron continued carefully.

"There was an incident in Ormolio a month ago. An S-Rank Crowbeast emerged from a mutated Abyss-Rank Ruin, and after the Outbreak continued, that ruin evolved into Cataclysm-Rank. The Boss killed the Guildmaster of that branch, and most explorers were either dead or heavily injured. Mark appeared after some time and defeated the Crowbeast."

The King listened without interrupting.

That part was already known to him.

Ormolio’s Outbreak had reached the Royal side quickly because a Cataclysm-Rank Ruin was not something a branch city could hide. A Guildmaster dying, A-Rank monsters appearing, and Mark being forced to move were already enough to make it enter the Palace reports.

But Veyron had not brought this up just to repeat old information.

Veyron lifted his head slightly and continued.

"But what caught Mark’s attention was not the Crowbeast, Your Majesty. It was an explorer. A low-rank explorer at that."

Azarion narrowed his eyes.

’Mark was intrigued by someone?’

That alone was enough to make him pay attention.

Mark was not a person who became interested in ordinary people. He had fought too many battles, seen too many noble heirs, and has seen many talented youths as well. If someone had caught his attention after a Cataclysm-Rank Outbreak, then there had to be a reason.

Azarion spoke.

"Speak further."

Veyron nodded.

"Mark first saw this explorer after the commotion settled and the night after the battle passed. This explorer wanted to quit being a Guild member and travel the world. Mark noticed him and offered him a position among the Revenants."

Azarion’s eyes moved slightly.

"And?"

"The explorer refused."

Veyron paused for a moment before continuing.

"He said he was a coward, weak, and that he would bring shame to the Royal banner if he joined. After that, he left the continent itself."

Azarion looked at Veyron with a confused glance.

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

Then he spoke.

"Hmm? So what did Mark see in him to be intrigued by this explorer?"

Veyron bowed again.

"As you already know, Your Majesty, Mark is a special S-Rank. He does not get intrigued by someone ordinary, and he is also one of our important pawns in the upcoming Operation for exactly that reason."

Azarion waited.

Veyron continued.

"Mark has an ability known as Potential Gaping. With this ability, he can see someone’s potential, and not only that, he can see the gaps inside that individual’s potential. In a serious fight, he can alter or interfere with those gaps, which can cause a small weakness in the opponent’s path. Mark then exploits that weakness during combat."

The King’s eyes sharpened slightly.

This ability was one of the reasons Mark was valuable.

It was not just simple battle talent. It was an ability that could affect someone’s future fighting path during battle. Against an opponent close to him in rank, even a small weakness created at the right moment could decide the result.

Veyron’s voice became more serious.

"But when he looked into that man’s potential, he found none, Your Majesty."

Azarion became silent.

He processed the whole explanation for a long moment.

Then he spoke slowly.

"So you are saying that explorer had no gaps in his potential?"

Veyron nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He continued after a short pause.

"As you know, Mark’s ability works even if the individual’s rank is high. According to what he told me, he has even seen Commander Velmira’s potential before. Even she had gaps."

Azarion’s expression changed slightly at that.

Velmira had gaps.

That was expected in theory, but still not something people would casually say. Velmira was far above ordinary ranks. If Mark could see gaps even in her potential, then his ability could not be dismissed.

Veyron lowered his voice.

"But this man had none, according to Mark."

Azarion looked at him without speaking.

Veyron continued.

"Mark did not force that man to join because the explorer said he would no longer continue Guild work and wanted to travel instead. So Mark left him alone at first. But later, when Mark searched his information, what he found and told me left me completely baffled, Your Majesty."

Azarion became slightly wary now.

"Hmm?... Is that right?"

Veyron nodded again.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Mark told me that this explorer’s name is Atlas Crosswood."

The King remained quiet.

Veyron continued.

"And coincidentally, his first name is the same as the commoner we sent into the Eternal-Class Ruin."

The dark chamber became quiet after that.

Azarion did not speak immediately.

The Bloodline Crucible continued letting out faint sounds from the white liquid and red liquid flowing through the pipes. The black creature inside remained curled in the chamber, unmoving.

After a long pause, Azarion sighed.

"Sigh, you are thinking too much."

Veyron lowered his head further.

Azarion spoke again.

"That commoner had no Spirit veins to begin with, so he could not possibly become an explorer. This one’s surname is also different."

Veyron nodded, but he did not stop there.

"I thought the same too, Your Majesty."

Azarion’s gaze returned to him.

Veyron continued carefully.

"But I started speculating something. What if, hypothetically, the same commoner managed to stay alive inside that ruin and got his hands on a relic that could awaken Spirit veins? And after that, what if he changed his surname to remain hidden?"

Azarion paused.

He had been about to turn around and leave the chamber, but after hearing Veyron’s words, he turned back again.

His eyes narrowed.

For a moment, he processed the possibility.

A commoner with no Spirit veins surviving inside an Eternal-Class Ruin should have been impossible.

A commoner obtaining a relic that could awaken Spirit veins should also have been almost impossible.

But the word impossible did not mean much when an Eternal-Class Ruin was involved.

Those places were unknown even to the Royal Family.

No one truly knew what was hidden inside them.

Azarion thought for a few seconds, mixing Veyron’s speculation with his own possibilities.

Then he replied.

"Hmm, good speculation, Veyron."

Veyron lowered his head.

"But you should not dirty your hands for one commoner explorer. You have Project X at hand, and that matter is more important than chasing a possibility."

Veyron stayed silent.

Azarion continued.

"Send some pests from your side and deal with this."

Veyron looked up slightly.

Azarion’s voice remained calm.

"Even if that explorer is innocent or someone completely different, kill him. We do not want any variable when we start this Operation."

Veyron understood immediately.

It did not matter whether Atlas Crosswood was truly the same Atlas who had been thrown into the Eternal-Class Ruin.

If there was even a small possibility, then he was better removed.

Veyron bowed deeply.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will send some assassins to cleanly do the job."

Azarion turned away.

"Do it without noise. The Operation begins in twenty days, and I do not want this small matter becoming something larger."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Veyron stayed bowed for a few more seconds.

Then he slowly retreated into the darkness of the chamber.

His footsteps faded little by little.

Azarion also vanished from his position the next moment, leaving the Bloodline Crucible alone inside the dark chamber.

The white liquid continued moving inside the glass tube.

The red liquid continued entering through the transparent pipe.

And inside the chamber, Project X remained curled in silence, while only twenty days remained before its activation.