Elwood looked at Talon and let out a slow sigh.
"I'll handle my brother," he said calmly.
"But you… you still have work to do."
Talon raised his head.
"What work, sir?"
Elwood's cane tapped the floor once.
"Find the ones who picked fights in the underworld," he said.
"The ones who caused trouble."
Talon frowned.
"But… those are our members."
Elwood looked at him. His eyes were cold.
"So what?"
"They made mistakes."
He turned his back.
"This time, they'll become human sacrifices."
Talon's body stiffened.
Elwood walked toward the door.
"Clean your mess properly this time or not we both get in trouble."
The door closed behind him, leaving Talon alone in the silent room.
Elwood returned to his carriage and sat down heavily.
He let out a slow sigh.
He was angry.
But more than that—he knew he had messed up this time.
"Norax Duskgale…"
He muttered the name under his breath.
"That kid… why doesn't he just act like a kid? And step away from adults Madam kyra was already our enough problem"
Elwood leaned back, his fingers tapping the handle of his cane.
The rumors had spread.
No one knew where they started.
And now those idiots—those monkeys—had beaten Blue Crescent members like punching bags.
Even thugs needed discipline.
Even violence needed control.
He clenched his teeth.
Elwood pulled out several reports and skimmed through them.
There was a chance. A real chance.
Elwood's hand tightened around the cane.
"I won't lose again…"
He spoke softly, his voice sharp with resentment.
"Not to some mere kid who doesn't even understand how this world works."
His eyes darkened.
The humiliation still clung to his mind and body like a stain.
A cold smile formed.
"…is me."
But deep inside, beneath that confidence, the fear of humiliation refused to disappear.
Norax sat in his office and let out a deep sigh.
His ear twitched.
"…Why does it feel like someone's talking about me?"
Celstia frowned.
"Master, please don't lie down on the table. I just cleaned it."
Norax glanced at her.
"Okay, sorry."
He looked at the piles of documents.
"But why isn't the work ending?"
He rubbed his face.
Celstia crossed her arms.
"We can't help it. A lot of shops and merchants are under you now. You have to check everything and settle the budget"
She picked up a stack of letters.
"And many letters came today."
Norax paused.
"Letters? Why?"
Celstia answered calmly.
"They're asking why Blue Crescent is staying silent when Red Society attacked us."
She sighed.
"At first, they thought you were trying to maintain relationships. But as the situation grew worse, they couldn't stay quiet anymore."
Norax nodded slowly.
"Well, it's obvious."
"But you're handling it well, Celstia, good work" he said.
Norax returned to his paperwork.
Celstia was the face of Blue Crescent in public.
He was the leader, but she handled the outside matters perfectly.
Norax looked up.
"Celstia, if you're going outside to meet people… don't wear a maid dress."
Celstia froze. Then she cracked her knuckles.
"What's wrong with my cute maid dress?"
"I design my own clothes, you know."
She turned away with a huff.
"Idiot."
She walked out.
Norax smiled faintly.
His gaze shifted to two letters on the table.
They were different from the rest.
One carried the noble seal of House Noctis.
The other bore the seal of Marquis verm from Alxie Valestria.
Norax finished his work and flopped onto the couch with a sigh.
"Perhaps I should hire someone before I die buried under paperwork…"
He looked at the two letters on the table.
Neither was meant for Celstia to handle.
The first one was from House Noctis—the blue oracle seal on the envelope glimmered. The paper quality was excellent, and there was even a gemstone embedded in the envelope.
The second came from Marquis Verm, from Alxie Valestria, who was currently working under the marquis. Unlike the Noctis letter, it had a golden wax seal with a red bird crest, and inside was a red sheet of paper, also high-quality.
Norax placed both letters on the table.
"The contents are always different for every powerhouse… but this time, since it was sent personally by the lady, I guess it came faster than normal."
He grabbed the Alxie Valestria letter first.
Norax opened the letter and started reading.
[I don't know what you expect from me… so let's get to the point.]
He paused.
"Why didn't he even greet me like a noble in a letter? Did he forget that "
He continued reading:
[As you told me, I asked the headmaster to allow her to take the exam. Luckily, your guess was right—she was allowed.]
[One of the professors wrote her papers on her behalf, and she attended lectures with the help of some students or maybe servants we sent but someone already volunteered for that and She become good friends with the marquis's daughter, and she smiled a lot and ate cake ]
[I bet you're jealous right now. You're jealous that you can't see my beautiful sister.]
Norax felt a chill run down his spine.
The tone of the letter slowly became creepier as he read.
[The guard you sent was good he is better than any knight i have you really fulfill your promise]
[I didn't expect you to send another dark elf But why didn't you send that girl' Velyra? I thought you'd send her again. That girl was quiet, good though I wanted to talk with her. I also heard about underworld News and House Noctis that she was planning to go to the underworld that means something going on.]
[ I won't ask for details, but if you need my help, just ask. I know this isn't part of our promise, but you're an annoying benefactor, and Valestria never forgets a debt. So tell me when you need my help—I'll do it half-heartedly.]
He skimmed through some other details about Eirys adjusting to her new friends, smiling, and settling in marquis house
"Well… at least they're both settled now."
He leaned back and thought:
He picked up the second letter—the one from the House of Noctis.
As he opened the seal, a soft sound came from the paper breaking open.
Nox opened the letter
< Even at the edge, the royal family crest and her family crest were printed, shining with elegance and authority.>
"How flashy… this is how Noctis shows power and royalty,a bit annoyed for a powerful person i bet this is an empress idea ."
He started reading:
[By Selindra Noctis of House Noctis]
[To Norax Duskgale, I extend greetings steeped in respect and tradition. Pray, consider these words with the solemnity they warrant…]
After the formal greeting, the letter continued:
[So, the youngest of the underworld… I have heard much about you from my husband.]
Norax choked.
"Youngest? What… does that even mean?"
He continued reading.
[I heard there was a problem between you and the Red Society. The broken peace agreement is not good for either side. Therefore, I have announced the third council meeting at the Hall of the Noctis family mansion in the underworld next week. ]
[I hope we can all talk and settle the matter there. If not… the Empress and my husband will scold me.]
Norax paused, feeling a mix of emotions.
He continued reading, skimming through details about the mansion, rules for the meeting, and even some small, playful jokes sprinkled at the end.
"But she was clever it's better to not underestimate it because it's not novel now"
< I don't need to overthink her personality; just don't get involved with her because her daughter was a curse princess she's just helping her family and knows what she's doing is just treat me like a kid i don't mind.>
At the end of the letter:
[Youngest, we do not know each other personally, and I am attending this meeting alone this time. I am excited to meet you because I've heard a lot, and I want to see and speak with you directly. I hope we can create a good relationship between us and the youngest.]
The letter ended.
Norax sat back, blank.
He sighed.
"Well, I have to face her, so thinking about it is useless right now. Ugh… better go meet Celstia."
He put the letter safely aside and moved outside.