Chapter 335

As Theo moved through the mansion, he suddenly slowed his pace and lowered his posture.

It wasn’t because he had spotted anything suspicious, nor because he doubted his ability to move undetected even at a faster pace.

The issue lay elsewhere.

"Something feels off."

The mansion’s interior was unnervingly quiet.

"The upkeep is meticulous, though."

The window frames were spotless, and the floors were immaculately clean.

For a mansion of this size, it would be normal to expect a large number of servants bustling about.

But so far, Theo hadn’t encountered a single person.

The eerie silence only heightened his sense of unease.

"Should I retreat?"

The warning bells ringing in Theo’s mind stemmed from his experience as the Black Snow.

It was a voice of caution born from countless missions where one misstep could mean death.

He hesitated, considering his options.

"Did they know they were being tailed?"

He was confident he hadn’t been detected.

Between his own skills and Lodbrok’s magic, it was virtually impossible for anyone to notice him.

But…

"What if they anticipated being followed from the moment we met?"

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

Unless only the fourth floor was deliberately left unstaffed, the situation was deeply suspicious.

Theo placed a hand against the wall and closed his eyes, focusing his senses.

He strained to pick up the faintest sounds—footsteps, casual conversations between servants.

Anything that would confirm the mansion’s activity.

"Nothing."

The silence was absolute.

So much so that Theo could clearly hear the faint scratching of a pen as Phanryong wrote something on the floor above.

Was this an extraordinary coincidence, or a carefully laid trap?

"If it’s the latter…"

Theo’s mind raced.

"Does this mean he’s already decided to turn against me? Or does he simply not care if I discover him?"

He hadn’t expected it to be this difficult to gauge Phanryong’s intentions.

Theo had certainly not anticipated such cunning tactics from him.

"I’ll need to adjust my approach."

Deciding to continue his reconnaissance, Theo carefully reconsidered his strategy.

He would make his next move after observing the situation further.

Theo’s shadow slipped silently into the third floor, moving cautiously to avoid detection.

***

Phanryong was furiously scribbling with his pen, his mood visibly uplifted.

Even the rhythm of the scratching pen on paper felt lively and upbeat, turning a mundane task into an oddly joyful experience.

"I can’t stop smiling."

A broad grin spread across his face.

He hadn’t expected anything beyond battle to elevate his emotions this much.

"It doesn’t matter which option I choose."

For Phanryong, neither option was a poor choice.

Both were equally enticing and held no disadvantage for him.

The only decision to be made was whom he would designate as an enemy.

And that, in itself, was a thrilling game.

"By now, he’s probably scurrying around in frustration."

Phanryong chuckled at the thought of Theo.

He was certain Theo would have a hard time navigating the mansion.

It wasn’t just a prediction but a certainty.

He had deliberately evacuated the staff to avoid potential casualties, fully aware Theo would notice and grow suspicious.

"How amusing it is to toy with someone who considers themselves above me."

Given the stakes and the opponent, watching someone like Theo play right into his hands brought Phanryong an odd sense of pleasure.

Enjoying this fleeting satisfaction, Phanryong set his pen down.

"This path is far more enjoyable."

He folded the letter he had just written and tucked it into his chest pocket.

His decision was made.

The choice of which side to align with was finalized.

* * *

Upon entering the third floor, Theo’s suspicions solidified into certainty.

"The entire mansion is empty."

The only presence in the building was Phanryong’s.

Then—

"He’s on the move."

A dull creak followed by the sound of footsteps echoed as Phanryong rose from his chair.

Creeeeak.

Phanryong left his room without hesitation, walking in the direction opposite from where Theo was hiding.

Bang!

The sound of the mansion’s front door shutting reverberated through the building.

Looking out the window, Theo saw Phanryong calmly blend into the crowd outside.

"Hmm."

For a moment, Theo hesitated, debating whether to follow him.

Instead, he focused, scanning for unnatural concentrations of mana.

When he confirmed there were none, he shifted his attention to the study.

The room exuded a menacing atmosphere, fitting for someone like Phanryong.

Metal gauntlets and various weapons adorned the walls, reinforcing the oppressive air of the space.

A faint scent of melted wax lingered, suggesting candles had recently been lit.

Theo began rifling through the study meticulously, even activating Nirvana to quickly analyze stacks of documents.

Eventually, his attention fell on an envelope bearing an insignia—a wolf holding a sword in its mouth.

"The emblem of the Wolf Fang Faction."

The design was striking and easy to recognize, an ideal symbol for political purposes.

Examining the envelope more closely, Theo’s expression hardened.

[Skill: Dragon Sync activated. Reading the thoughts imbued in the object.]

Theo focused on the object’s residual aura, attempting to trace its origins.

He needed to identify the Wolf Fang Faction’s secret meeting location and understand the contents of the letter.

But as the visions unfolded in his mind—images of the faction’s meetings and the letter’s initial point of origin—Theo’s expression darkened further.

A sharp glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

"This bastard."

Crack!

Theo clenched the envelope, black sparks erupting from his grip as the envelope ignited in flames.

The black fire consumed the letter violently, mirroring the storm of emotions in Theo’s mind.

As the flames died down, the cold fury etched into Theo’s face remained.

Before leaving the study, Theo glanced back.

"I’d love to destroy everything here…"

But causing a commotion in the capital would draw too much attention.

Theo barely restrained himself, knowing full well that Phanryong had crossed a line.

Learning this truth in such an absurd way only fueled his anger.

"I’ll strip that smug mask off your face soon enough."

Theo clenched his fists, forcing his emotions under control, and swiftly exited the mansion.

Returning to the imperial villa, Theo was immediately greeted by the steward.

“Are you just coming back, sir?”

“I had some errands to run. Oh, and summon Sir Felix for me—I’ll be heading out again shortly.”

The steward’s expression twitched slightly at the mention of Felix’s name before he hurried off to fulfill Theo’s request.

Entering his room, Theo found Lodbrok waiting.

“Looks like you’ve stumbled onto something interesting.”

Lodbrok grinned as he spoke, his gaze sharp and discerning.

He could see it—the subtle signs of battle in Theo’s demeanor.

The tension in his stance, the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

“Yes, it seems there’s going to be a commotion soon. I’ll explain later, but for now, I must act quickly.”

Though Phanryong’s ultimate choice remained unknown, Theo was certain the man would take the option that best satisfied his insatiable thirst for power.

Still, the true purpose of their earlier meeting remained unclear—whether it was mere manipulation or an attempt to confirm something deeper.

Knock, knock.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

When Theo allowed entry, Felix stepped in.

“You called for me, my lord.”

Clad in full armor, Felix’s demeanor exuded excitement, as if pleased by Theo’s summons.

“Yes. I’d like to see something.”

Nodding toward the invisible Lodbrok, Theo brushed past Felix and exited the villa.

“Where are we headed, sir?”

Even Felix, despite knowing Theo’s enigmatic tendencies, couldn’t hide his curiosity about their destination.

“I’m going to visit His Majesty, the Emperor.”

“...!?”

Felix froze mid-step, momentarily stunned by Theo’s abrupt declaration before hurrying to keep up.

Glancing around warily, Felix spoke cautiously.

“Does this mean you’re accepting our proposal?”

His voice carried a hopeful tone, betraying how desperately he wanted Theo to agree.

“Just follow me.”

Theo sidestepped the question, offering no clear answer.

His priorities lay elsewhere.

"The Emperor’s life is in danger."

The situation could already be spiraling out of control, with events accelerating toward a critical point.

And the spark for it all would undoubtedly be the Emperor’s death.

Theo’s determined strides left Felix scrambling to keep up.

“You’ll need permission for an audience. Shouldn’t we send a formal request first?”

“Forgive me, but I’ll be bypassing protocol. I trust you’ll understand.”

Even without seeing the Emperor, Theo knew that simply attempting to visit him would yield critical answers.

“Halt! This is the sacred residence of His Majesty! No one may enter without proper authorization!”

As they approached the palace, two guards crossed their halberds to block their path.

“This man is Duke Theo Ragnar of the North. Surely you recognize me as well?” Felix stepped forward, his tone sharp.

The guards exchanged nervous glances, unsure how to proceed.

“Step aside! As the Captain of the First Order, I have urgent matters to discuss with His Majesty!”

“B-but the Court Duke issued orders barring anyone from entering—”

At that moment, Felix’s aura surged with ferocity, the sheer intensity of it creating a whirlwind.

“Insolent fools! Since when does the Court Duke hold authority over the Emperor’s palace guards?!”

“S-sorry, sir!”

The guards quickly relented, trembling under Felix’s wrath.

“Fools,” Felix muttered under his breath, his fists trembling with barely contained rage as he marched forward.

Theo followed, noting how the capital’s corruption was becoming increasingly blatant.

"It’s rotting faster than I expected."

The guards’ behavior was a clear provocation, evidence that the Court Duke’s preparations were nearly complete.

At the final barrier, Felix turned to Theo.

“This is as far as I go.”

“Thank you.”

Theo stepped past him, stopping at the grand doors.

“It is I, Duke Theo Ragnar! I’ve come to speak with His Majesty on urgent matters. Open the door!”

Theo’s powerful voice echoed, striking the doors like a thunderclap.