Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 188

Upon arriving at the banquet hall, Yan couldn’t help but click his tongue at the sight of the numerous nobles who had already gathered.

“So many moths drawn to the flame of power,” he muttered.

Kasa, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. “Indeed, all lured by the promise of influence.”

The memory of the once-glorious Ifrain family cast a cold shadow in his eyes.

As they entered the hall, Yan felt the weight of the nobility’s gaze upon him. Even amidst conversation, their eyes quickly scanned him, assessing.

“It seems Kasa’s words weren’t far from the truth,” Yan thought.

From a distance, a familiar face waved.

“It’s been a while,” greeted the Knight of Scorching Heat, Merriott.

Yan had expected hostility from Merriott, having recently poached a number of his trainees, but instead, he was met with a surprisingly friendly demeanor.

Had he not been reprimanded by the Sun Duke?

Yan smiled and shook hands with Merriott.

Crack!

“The back of my head still tingles from your blow,” Merriott said, his grip firm but not unfriendly.

Yan returned the grip with a slight smile.

Crack!

“Ha, a blow to the head? Such words wound me,” Yan jested, to which Merriott seemed pleasantly surprised.

Their conversation flowed easily, though it was hardly substantial—merely pleasantries and inquiries about the trainees Yan had taken under his wing.

After a few minutes, Yan introduced the reticent Kasa standing behind him.

“This is Kasa Ifrain. You’re well acquainted, I presume?”

Merriott’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded. “Of course, I’ve had a few conversations with the head of the Ifrain family in the past.”

He extended his hand to Kasa with a grin. “It’s been a long time. You were but five years old when I last saw you, and now you’ve grown into a sturdy man.”

Kasa swallowed hard and shook Merriott’s hand. Despite his youthful appearance, thanks to his vast mana and high realm, Merriott was clearly of his father’s generation.

Before the Ifrain family was branded as traitors, they had shared a light camaraderie.

‘It’s only the beginning!’ Kasa thought, gripping Merriott’s hand with renewed determination.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Sir Merriott. I’m Kasa Ifrain!”

Merriott laughed heartily at Kasa’s obviously nervous demeanor.

“I had hoped you would visit our domain. It might have helped restore some honor to the Ifrain name.”

Though branded as traitors, honor was not entirely lost. If the Sun Duke, wielding significant influence in the south, were to take action, the narrative could change, perhaps even clearing their family’s name.

As a hint of regret flashed in Kasa’s eyes, Yan interjected.

“Ha, if you speak like that, what does that make me? And besides, there’s not even three years left on our contract.”

Merriott’s eyes sparkled. A talent like Kasa Ifrain was worth looking forward to even after three years.

Yan whispered into Merriott’s ear, “If he finds what he seeks here, perhaps he’ll pledge his loyalty to the Sun Duke in three years’ time?”

Merriott chuckled at Yan’s transparent ploy, but he couldn’t deny the logic in his words.

“Ha, I intended to feign ignorance, but recalling your father makes it difficult. Come, let me introduce you to some other nobles.”

Caught off guard by Merriott’s sudden proposal, Kasa’s eyes widened.

Merriott led Kasa towards a group of influential nobles from the south.

Left alone, Yan sensed someone approaching.

A newly minted fourth-tier talent, the nobleman sported curly hair and a lavish suit—a distinctive look, yet Yan couldn’t quite place him.

Considering Yan had memorized all the influential nobles of the future, this one’s absence from his memory suggested a lack of political clout.

The curly-haired noble stood before Yan, declaring arrogantly, “I am Evan Morris, lord of the southern Morris domain.”

Yan tilted his head, puzzled.

The noble frowned deeply. “I hear you’re a baron, yet you fail to introduce yourself promptly!”

“Ah, yes. I am Yan. My surname has yet to be decided,” Yan replied nonchalantly.

Viscount Morris, ranted about disrespect and insult, drawing the attention of nearby nobles.

Pleased by the reaction, Morris’s face flushed with excitement.

“Hmph! How did a mere baron gain entry here? This isn’t a banquet open to just anyone, you know?”

Yan let out a chuckle.

How indeed? He had entered with an invitation, of course.

Yan understood immediately—Viscount Morris sought to crush him to assert his own authority.

But did he not know about the invitation?

Morris’s words had made no mention of being invited, after all.

Yan remained silent, and Viscount Morris, mistaking his quiet for an opportunity, began to spew insults.

“Your silence suggests you’ve sneaked in through nefarious means. Did you offer your pretty face and body to the gatekeeper?”

The severity of his words shocked the surrounding nobility, especially those with Kasa and Merriott, who were astounded to realize the target of Morris’s venom was Yan.

While rural lords like Morris might be ignorant, the central nobles knew well of Yan’s influence—a baron by title but a maverick who rose from commoner to hereditary nobility.

Moreover, he held the unprecedented position of ‘Executor,’ enjoying fervent support from the Crown Prince and the current Special Task Force Commander.

But Morris, oblivious to this, reveled in the attention from the high society he dared not even look at before.

Yan’s retort was not gentle.

“Is that inferiority I sense?”

“What?”

“Well, it’s understandable for someone like Viscount Morris.”

Yan’s words, accompanied by a once-over of Morris, elicited snickers from the crowd. Morris’s face turned a shade of red that threatened to burst, his complex about his unattractive face well-known.

Just as the flustered Viscount reached for his handkerchief, possibly to challenge Yan to a duel, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

“The Sun of the South, Duke Juda Caballan, has arrived!”

The herald’s booming announcement thwarted Morris’s desire to crush Yan in a duel.

Yet, Morris didn’t ponder deeply. In his mind, gaining the Sun Duke’s favor meant everything.

‘Heh, a smooth road ahead if I play my cards right!’

And perhaps, if he played them very well, he might even inherit Merriott’s position.

To Morris, Yan was nothing more than an insect, unworthy of his concern.

With a scoff, Morris turned away from Yan, clapping enthusiastically as the Sun Duke entered.

Meanwhile, Yan wondered if Morris was mentally unwell.

Shifting his attention from the petty Viscount, Yan observed the Sun Duke, clad in a harmonious blend of gold and red, strolling through the hall with an imperial air.

‘Royalty through and through,’ Yan mused, noting the Duke’s platinum hair and handsome features—a true noble unlike the emperor of his past life, loyal to the empire and caring for his people.

‘It’s hard to believe they share the same blood.’

As Yan pondered the Sun Duke’s character…

Kasa nudged him, glancing worriedly at Morris, who was still clapping fervently.

“Are you alright? That man, I heard he’s a rising noble and a newly minted fourth-tier knight, not to be underestimated.”

Yan stared back at Kasa, who averted his gaze, feeling the pressure.

Yan clicked his tongue.

“To clear our family’s name, we must tread over such fools with a smile. How will you restore our house if you’re so fearful?”

Kasa’s face flushed with embarrassment and indignation.

“Only worried you’d get dragged into my troubles!”

Kasa’s protest was met with Yan’s laughter.

“Don’t worry about the likes of him. He’ll fall on his own, with or without my intervention.”

Kasa’s anxiety lingered despite Yan’s reassurance.

Yan ended their conversation and turned towards the entrance where the Sun Duke had appeared.

A group of knights followed, carrying a heavy-looking chest.

Upon reaching the highest seat, the Sun Duke waited for the knights to place the chest down before sitting.

Thud!

The chest landed with a heavy sound, indicating its significant contents.

The Sun Duke dismissed the knights and addressed the assembly.

“I thank you all for attending this hastily arranged banquet.”

As the nobles bowed in response, the Duke continued.

“For today’s unity among the southern nobility, I shall unveil something I’ve kept hidden.”

He kicked open the chest, revealing a sword with a crimson blade, ornate decorations, and intricate patterns—clearly no ordinary weapon.

Yan’s eyes widened in recognition.

“What is that?” Kasa inquired, along with the curious nobles.

“That,” the Sun Duke revealed, “is a magic sword engraved with five superior fire spells. I will gift it to whoever passes a simple test.”

The crowd erupted in cheers at the Duke’s generous offer—a sword imbued with area-of-effect fire spells would be immensely valuable.

But Yan shook his head.

‘That’s no mere magic sword.’

The weapon’s true identity was linked to the now-extinct Order of Fire.

It was the relic ‘Ifrit,’ said to be bestowed by the Fire God Hestia.

And Yan wondered,

‘Why is Ifrit, one of the emperor’s beloved swords, here?’

It was one of the swords the emperor cherished in his past life, alongside the Dragon Sword Nailing.