Even with the black silk covering his eyes, Vincent’s gaze landed unerringly on the small fruit perched atop Yuel’s head.
A faint note of confusion threaded through his low voice.
The question had co too abruptly—he hadn’t imdiately understood it.
"Little Fruit... what did you an just now, saying Daddy Vincent isn’t capable?"
The mont those words fell, the entire living room went deathly silent.
Nix was the first to react. He let out an awkward cough, scrambling to smooth things over.
"Ahem... well... Vincent, he’s just a child, talking nonsense, don’t—"
"I wasn’t asking you. Be quiet." Vincent cut him off coldly, then continued, voice steady but unmistakably sharper, "Little Fruit. Tell —what did you an?"
Nix nearly despaired.
He shot Yuel a frantic look for help.
Yuel, however, remained perfectly composed on the surface—calm, refined, as though none of this concerned him in the slightest.
In reality... even he was at a loss.
The little fruit was at that stage—curious about everything.
Anything he didn’t understand, he would ask out loud.
And Yuel couldn’t just silence him outright.
If Rory found out, he’d be the one in trouble.
anwhile, the tiny troublemaker at the center of it all was completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around him.
He swayed slightly, the small leaf atop his head bobbing as he spoke in a soft, innocent voice, "But Daddy said it!"
"They all said Vincent Daddy bonded with Mother, and Mother was fine, but Vincent Daddy got so tired he couldn’t even get up."
Then, with pure curiosity, he asked, "Vincent Daddy... why does not being able to get up an you’re not capable?"
Vincent: "..."
The air in the room seed to freeze solid.
A vein pulsed faintly at his temple.
"...I’m not capable?"
Though his eyes were covered, his presence sharpened—like a blade unsheathed—as his gaze swept across every man in the room.
"Who said that? Step forward."
Nix imdiately took a step back, waving both hands frantically.
"Not ! I didn’t say anything!"
Jasper followed without hesitation. "Not either."
Yuel added smoothly, "Certainly not . Vincent, after everything we’ve been through, you trust ... don’t you?"
Xarion leaned back lazily, expression unchanged.
"I never speak ill of others."
Vincent listened to their denials, then let out a low, icy laugh.
"Heh."
That single sound seed to drop the temperature of the entire room.
Even blindfolded, he felt as though he could see straight through every ounce of their guilt.
"Very well. None of you admits it?"
A dangerous smile curved at his lips.
"No matter."
His voice turned calm again—but far more ominous.
"I’ll deal with each of you... one by one, after I’m done."
With that, he turned and walked toward the stairs.
His steps were steady, his back straight and imposing.
Only the black silk tied behind his head swayed lightly with each movent—a quiet, almost ironic contrast to the storm brewing beneath.
It wasn’t until his figure disappeared around the corner that the frozen tension in the living room finally began to thaw.
Nix’s legs nearly gave out beneath him.
"...We’re dead."
His face drained of color, despair written all over him.
"I’m finished. Absolutely finished."
The last ti Vincent had co to "settle accounts" with him, he’d taken an entire batch of the latest ch models—along with a fleet of interstellar warships.
The blueprints and material lists were still piled on his workbench, untouched.
Every ti he looked at them, his scalp prickled.
And this ti...?
This ti, he was afraid he’d have to hand over his entire research lab.
Jasper didn’t look any better.
Leaning against the wall, he let out a long, helpless sigh.
Vincent wanted to expand his forces—and had demanded a group of high-Rank beastn from him.
But high-Rank fighters were already rare.
And ones that t Vincent’s absurdly strict standards?
Almost nonexistent.
Where was he supposed to find them?
Now, with this added offense... That price was definitely going up.
Xarion, who had been sprawled across the sofa pretending to be dead, slowly sat up.
Seeing the utter despair on Nix and Jasper’s faces, a thought flickered through his mind... Would Vincent... go complain to the Female Master?
Xarion rubbed his chin, his gaze sharpening.
How could he stop Vincent from reporting this?
Offer him a batch of high-Rank beast cores?
...No.
The Female Master had already forbidden him from taking more from the dragon clan.
So what now?
...Maybe a trip to the insect territories?
"Daddies... what’s wrong with all of you?"
The little fruit perched atop Yuel’s head looked around, utterly puzzled.
At Nix and Jasper’s lifeless expressions...
At Xarion slumped beside his own father...
His soft, childish voice was full of innocent curiosity.
"You still dare to ask?"
Yuel pressed his fingers to his temple, clearly exasperated.
"Because of your curiosity, you’ve caused quite a bit of trouble—for , for your Nix, your Jasper, and your Xarion."
Last ti, just for eavesdropping, Vincent had already co after them.
He’d made outrageous demands—taking piles of Yuel’s leaves and flowers.
Yuel had already paid part of the debt.
He still owed a mountain more.
At this rate... he’d pluck himself bald.
Nix stepped forward and gently patted the little fruit.
"Terry, next ti you’re curious about sothing, don’t ask it out loud in front of everyone."
"Wait until it’s private—then ask your dad, or . That’s fine!"
Just... please don’t sabotage us again.
"Okay! Terry understands!"
The answer ca quick and bright.
Nix instantly relaxed, letting out a breath. "Good. What a well-behaved little one."
Yuel silently rolled his eyes.
He’d said the exact sa thing to Terry countless tis.
Every ti, the child agreed just as readily.
And every ti... when the mont ca, he still asked anyway.
Yuel rose to his feet, gently touching the fruit on his head.
"Rembering isn’t enough. This ti, your mistake cost dearly. Even if we’re father and son, accounts must be settled clearly. If Vincent cos asking for more leaves and flowers... They’ll co from you."
Terry froze in shock.
"Daddy... I can’t even grow leaves or flowers yet!"
"Then consider it a debt," Yuel replied calmly. "You’ll repay it when you can."
His tone was final—no room for negotiation.
"Daddy... I’m still just a baby..." He tried one last ti, appealing to paternal affection.
"Even babies must learn responsibility." Yuel remained unmoved.
"Hey, Yuel—why not have Terry cover my losses too?" Nix chid in opportunistically. "My chs and warships—he can reimburse those as well."
Yuel: "..."
Terry: "..."
Leaning against the wall, Jasper hesitated.
Should he... also pass his losses onto Terry?
The kid was small, sure. But his father had authority over him.
Just as Jasper was about to speak, his communicator chid.
He glanced down. His pupils shrank sharply.
"Enough." Jasper’s voice cut through the room.
He forwarded the ssage to the group. "Take a look."
The others imdiately opened their devices.
Nix’s eyes widened as he read.
"The Golden-Winged Roc clan... found a human female?!"
Yuel’s expression darkened, turning serious.
"And Sylas has already bonded with her... and is about to break into Rank Eleven."
"For news this critical to surface only now... The Golden-Winged Roc clan has hidden it well."
Xarion glanced at them, unimpressed. "Why are you all so tense? That human female belongs to Sylas. What does it have to do with us?"
What did it matter if a human female appeared?
They didn’t need one to advance.
And more importantly, they already had a Female Master. Other people’s affairs ant nothing to him.
Nix frowned, looking at Xarion. "You’re not shocked at all? That’s a human female."
The Empire hadn’t seen one in... a very long ti.
Xarion shrugged lazily.
"Oh. Not shocked."
If it had nothing to do with him, he simply didn’t care.
User Comments
0 comments from readers