The Beast Tamer Clan's Monster Overlord

Inside the workshop, Axelius stood near the table where the blueprints were spread out. He looked at Millie beside him and said, "Call Tarn. I need to talk to him."

Millie nodded and quickly stepped outside.

As the door opened, Lyrielle—who had been waiting nearby—tried to follow her in. "Nyahh! Is it my turn to help now?" she said with a wide smile, stepping forward.

But Axelius raised a hand without looking at her. "No. You stay outside."

"Huh? But why nyah?" she pouted.

Millie, now at the door again, stood firmly and blocked Lyrielle's way. "Please wait outside, Miss Lyrielle. This is private."

Lyrielle's ears drooped, and she puffed her cheeks with a small growl. "Hmph. What a meanie boss nyah…" she muttered, stepping back in disappointment.

Then Tarn entered, his usual calm face unreadable. He walked silently toward Axelius, standing tall with his arms crossed.

Axelius turned to him and took out a folded document from his coat. He laid it flat on the table and pressed it with his hand.

"This is a contract," Axelius said. "If you're going to work under me, I want loyalty. No spreading secrets. Especially with the kind of things I'll be building."

Tarn looked down at the document, reading quickly.

"I'm offering more than a fair deal," Axelius added. "You'll have full access to any material we gather. Unlimited wages, your own team if needed, protection from the guild, and—" He paused, his voice lowering. "I might not have a mana core, but… there's more you can gain from me than just money--"

Before he could finish, Tarn suddenly pulled a dagger from his belt.

Without a word, Tarn sliced his palm, letting the blood drip, and pressed it firmly onto the corner of the contract, leaving a red handprint. The contract then glow.

Axelius blinked, surprised.

Tarn looked up and spoke calmly, "No need to explain more, young lord. From the moment we met... I already decided to follow you."

"Why?" Axelius asked, serious.

Tarn gave a small smile. "Because… even if you try to hide it, I can tell. You're someone who carries good intentions. I can feel it. And that's enough for me."

Axelius stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly grinned.

Axelius stood in front of Tarn with the contract now folded and tucked away in his coat. He gave Tarn a nod and lightly patted his shoulder. "Looks like we'll get along just fine," he said with a small grin.

From outside the window, Lyrielle was peeking in, her eyes wide, tail flicking quickly from side to side. Then she suddenly shouted, "Nyahhh! I want to sign a contract too!"

Axelius sighed, turned toward the door, and said without emotion, "Go home, Lyrielle. Your work here is done."

Lyrielle's eyes widened like she had just been hit with a thunderbolt. "EHH?!"

Before Millie could stop her, Lyrielle darted inside with surprising speed, slipping past Millie and kneeling in front of Axelius on both knees.

"Please nyah! Let me work under you more, young lord!" she cried out, real tears forming in her eyes. "My shop is basically dead! I can't compete with the huge noble-owned estate agency across from me! And I'm bored! I want to do something exciting! I want to serve under you nyah!"

She kept talking and talking, her ears low, looking truly desperate as she bowed her head But Axelius simply turned and started walking, ignoring her.

That didn't stop Lyrielle. She grabbed onto his leg tightly. "W-Wait nyah! Please!"

So now, as Axelius walked, she was being dragged along the ground, still holding his leg tightly. "I said no," Axelius said firmly. "And when I say no… I mean it."

Tarn watched quietly but then stepped forward. "Young lord," he said calmly, "We might actually need a hand. She's loud, yes, but she's fast And we have a lot of material sorting to do."

Lyrielle's ears perked up. Her tail stood tall like a flag. "Really nyah?! I can help!"

Axelius frowned, looking at her still hugging his leg. "How… can someone as clumsy and loud as you be useful?" and then Axelius remember how cat is in Earth, 'Cats are cute but they're lazy."

Millie, who was standing near the wall, stepped forward and spoke with a soft voice, "Young master, actually… Miss Lyrielle is from the Felyssara Clan."

Axelius raised an eyebrow. "Felyssara?"

Millie nodded. "Yes. The Felyssara are known for their loyalty and strong instincts. Most of them are fast learners and naturally hardworking.Their clan might be few now but their reputation is still strong."

Axelius looked back at Lyrielle, who was still clinging to his leg, her face hopeful and her eyes full of determination about to say something when, Lyrielle instantly jumped up, fists raised in victory.

"YAY NYAHH! I WON'T LET YOU DOWN BOSS!"

Axelius rubbed his forehead. "Regret… is already knocking."

He held it in the air and said, "I was actually planning to walk around town to find more people, but I guess it saves me time if you're already here."

Lyrielle's eyes sparkled like stars. She grabbed the paper with both hands and excitedly ran to the table. She didn't even ask questions—she just signed it.

"Yay! I finally have a master nyah!" she cheered, spinning in her heels, raising the contract high into the air as if it was a grand prize. Her tail swished wildly behind her, full of excitement.

Then she turned to look at Axelius with wide, hopeful eyes, but her cheerful face quickly turned into a frown.

She looked down at his hands and then grabbed one of them tightly. "What?! Why don't you have the mark nyah?!"

Axelius blinked, confused. "What mark?"

She tried flipping his hand over, inspecting the back of his palm like she was searching for something. But when she found nothing, her ears drooped.

Axelius quickly pulled his hand back and tried to hide the contract in his coat again. "What are you talking about?" he asked, slightly wary.