Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 197

Descending to the lower floor, the Sun Duke inquired, “How much longer shall you linger here?”

Yan, with a face of dilemma, scratched his cheek. Having achieved his goal, there was no reason to stay, and he yearned to revive his father as swiftly as possible.

The Sun Duke gazed intently at Yan. “It seems you plan to depart forthwith.”

Yan offered a bitter smile and nodded. “My apologies.”

“No need for that. You’re far better than these nobles, engaging in pointless camaraderie. But…”

“…?”

A hint of regret flickered in the Sun Duke’s eyes. “Have you truly no desire to join my ranks? If you wish, I promise you the successor’s position to Merriott.”

Merriott’s official title was the Grand Commander of the Cavalrian Duke’s Knights. He wielded authority over the Sun Duke’s five knightly orders and, when necessary, could even command naval forces—a position of remarkable stature.

As the second-in-command of the Cavalrian Dukedom, such authority might seem natural, but the influence of this position was significant. At this banquet, even viscounts were at Merriott’s mercy, which said it all.

The Sun Duke held Yan in high esteem, offering him the role of Grand Commander, a position befitting someone beyond his mere twenty years.

The Sun Duke continued, “As astute as you are, you must realize the exceptional nature of my offer.”

Should he accept, it would stir more controversy than when Yan secured the position of Executor. Such was the magnitude of being the right hand of the Sun Duke.

However,

“I must decline.”

Yan expressed his refusal politely yet firmly, and a shadow of disappointment crossed the Sun Duke’s eyes. “Is that so? A pity.”

But he did not press further. For Yan to reject such a grand proposal meant he had an unwavering goal of his own. A man with such a firm objective would not be distracted.

Then, Yan, with a sly smile, spoke up, “However, I can recommend someone suitable. The judgment, of course, lies with Your Majesty.”

“A recommendation?”

The Sun Duke asked, intrigued.

Yan pointed to Kasa, who was mingling with other nobles in the lobby. Once frozen stiff upon arrival, he now fluttered about with ease.

“He is the fallen heir of the Ifrain House.”

“I am aware. I’ve occasionally conversed with the former Ifrain family Head. I’ve heard of his sharpness since youth.”

The Sun Duke stroked his chin, observing Kasa. While superior to his fellow knights, he paled in comparison to Yan.

And the Sun Duke knew he could attract such talent whenever he wished.

Just as he was about to feel a twinge of disappointment,

Yan added, “If Your Majesty takes a closer look, you’ll find him lacking nothing to serve as your trusted aide. He may not be the strongest, but he understands every word spoken to him.”

A person of the Sun Duke’s stature always needed reliable subordinates.

“And it would place him in my debt.”

“Why go to such lengths?”

The Sun Duke asked, puzzled.

Yan had swept up all the talents from the training academy, but as he understood, these were bound by contracts forged with artificial elixirs. In a few years, they could all depart.

Each talent was crucial to him, yet Yan seemed intent on releasing Kasa.

“I promised from the start. I’d resolve the secret woes he carries if he invested three years with me.”

The Sun Duke chuckled, “So you’re using me.”

“You seem like someone who can resolve a subordinate’s troubles well.”

At Yan’s words, the Sun Duke frowned slightly. He never hesitated to help his subordinates ascend to higher positions, be it personal or financial, and always discreetly.

But for Yan to notice that meant,

‘Is he quick-witted, or does he understand his opponent well?’

No wonder he was a man to be coveted.

The Sun Duke’s lips curled into a smile, “Very well. Send him to me in three years.”

It sounded like he was suggesting to exploit Kasa for three years. But underlying that was the intent to nurture him well before sending him over.

Yan grinned, “You won’t regret it.”

“Don’t ask for him back.”

“Of course.”

The Sun Duke glanced at Kasa and smiled, “Haha, then I shall delve into the secrets of the Ifrain House.”

“You might find something more intriguing than expected.”

For the Ifrain House’s hidden history held many fascinating tales.

* * *

Kasa concluded his conversation with the nobles and promptly headed towards the main gate in response to Yan’s call.

There, ready to return to Armenia, Yan awaited him.

“What’s this? You’re leaving already? You should’ve said something. Wait a moment; I’ll quickly fetch my things.”

Kasa showed no sign of regret, although it was an opportunity to forge closer ties with the other nobles.

‘After all, it was Yan who created this opportunity.’

Especially since the number of nobles seeking him out had surged after Yan conversed as an equal with the Envoys.

With the Envoys and the Sun Duke keeping Yan occupied, there was no chance for direct dialogue.

Thus, they deemed it more beneficial to converse with Kasa, a knight under Yan’s command, than to wait idly.

It was a case of settling for the next best thing, but Kasa was unfazed.

He believed the connections formed would prove invaluable someday.

As Kasa hurried to gather his belongings,

Yan shook his head.

“You’ll stay here for another week.”

“…What?”

The banquet would end in four days.

Yet he was to stay a whole week longer?

As Kasa sent a questioning glance, Yan smirked.

“If you came here just to socialize with the ordinary nobility, you might as well leave.”

Kasa was sharp-witted.

He grasped the implication of Yan’s words immediately.

His eyes began to widen.

“You, you can’t mean!”

“The Sun Duke himself will seek you out.”

“Hey!”

“Don’t regret it later; do well. And once it’s all over, return to your domain at your leisure.”

Yan patted the shoulder of Kasa, who stared back in a daze.

“Get a grip. I’m off.”

As Yan turned and left the estate, Kasa finally snapped back to reality.

He then shouted towards Yan, now a distant figure.

“Yan, thank you!”

Tears welled up in his eyes.

The goal that had seemed so vague and distant was now coming into sharp focus.

* * *

“Why has she been acting so oddly lately?”

“Hmm, has she lost something?”

Cruel and Roman exchanged words as they observed Lorena’s recent strange behavior. Her face had grown pale as she wandered the village, seemingly searching for something, even distancing herself from Charles, who was usually inseparable from her.

“It seems she’s been shocked by something, but it’s frustrating not knowing what it is.”

“Yikes!”

Startled by Charles, who approached like a ghost without a sound, Cruel stumbled backward.

“What a fool.”

Roman scoffed at Cruel’s reaction. Amid their bickering, Charles looked on at Lorena with a forlorn expression.

Lorena recalled the enigmatic man she had encountered in the forest of beasts, specifically the words he had spoken.

“Isn’t this the noble lady of the Beowulf family?”

“This is private property of the Armenian domain. Identify yourself.”

“Skip the boring talk. I’m here to give you a hint about something you’ve been searching for all your life.”

“What?”

Initially, she thought him an intruder and intended to capture and interrogate him. But his next words made Lorena’s eyes widen in shock.

“Why are you doing this? Because of the revolutionaries who killed your brother?”

“How could you possibly…!”

And then, the stranger dropped a bombshell.

“Your brother is very much alive. And he’s an officer among the revolutionaries.”

At that moment, Lorena felt her head spinning. She had come this far driven by the sole purpose of annihilating the revolutionaries who had killed her beloved brother. And now, to learn that her brother was one of them!

The stranger pointed towards the village with a sly grin.

“He’s hiding in there right now. Seems like he’s avoiding you, but have a good look around.”

With those words, the stranger vanished. Lorena tried to seize him with her mana, but he was far too skilled, evading her grasp entirely.

Returning to the village, she began searching every corner for her brother. Believing the stranger’s words felt foolish, yet Lorena couldn’t dismiss them.

She thought of the people Yan had brought recently: the Chief Instructor from the Dragon Knight training days, a patient with a severed right arm, an unusually short old man, and a person wearing a mask.

The patient with the severed arm was entirely different from her brother. She knew the Chief Instructor’s face from the training days, and the short old man’s physique was nothing like her brother’s.

But the masked person…

‘I’ve never seen his face, and he always watched me whenever we crossed paths.’

At first, she thought him odd, but if he was her brother, Theo Beowulf…

Lorena scanned her surroundings with fierce eyes. Noticing she was searching for him, the masked man hadn’t shown himself since.

Her eyes filled with venom.

‘If it’s really my brother…’

With that thought, she suddenly sprinted towards the forest of beasts. The knights, Cruel, Roman, and Charles, watched her dash with wide eyes, but Lorena didn’t care and ran into the forest at incredible speed.

As she ran, she glanced back, but there was no sign of pursuit.

Lorena bit her lip hard.

Then, a steep cliff came into view.

‘If it’s really my brother…’

He would find a way to save her, no matter what.

With a leap, Lorena threw herself off the cliff.

Her body soared for a moment before plummeting rapidly. Without summoning her mana, the fall would surely injure her, but she clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.

‘Better to be hurt.’

After all, with her nearly superhuman physique, she wouldn’t die from such a fall. A few months of rest would heal her completely.

Just as Lorena’s slender form was about to crash into the ground…

“What a foolish thing to do…”

Something tightly embraced her, slowing the fall dramatically.

When they finally reached the ground…

Lorena slowly opened her eyes to see the figure holding her tightly. The clothes were the same as the masked man’s, but in his haste, he hadn’t even had time to put on his mask.

The face that had been hidden behind the mask was now exposed to the world.

Short silver hair framed a gentle face, marred by a large scar across the cheek, a stark contrast to his otherwise docile appearance.

Lorena’s eyes widened, then filled with tears.

“How could you…”

Despite the changes, she recognized him instantly.

The man gave a bitter smile and bowed his head.

“…I’m sorry.”

“How could you do this!!”

Lorena pounded on the shoulders of the person holding her.

“All this time, I’ve been…”

Unable to finish her sentence, she burst into tears, pouring out her emotions.

“It’s been so hard… I wanted to die…!”

The person holding her was her brother, Theo Beowulf, whom she had thought dead for over a decade.

“I’m sorry.”

Theo couldn’t lift his head in front of Lorena, who was unleashing her intense emotions.

All he could offer was an apology.