NOVEL NEXT Chapter 245: Meeting Rovert and Threats
Inside a dimly lit room, a tall man sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
He wore a black cloak, and two lines of black paint stretched backward across his cheeks.
His face was far from handsome, yet his presence made anyone uneasy in his company.
He was Rovert Castellan, head of the Castellan family. Unlike his usual glamorous appearance, he now resembled more of a mage than a nobleman.
Beneath him, the floor bore a star-shaped symbol that extended across the entire room. Rovert sat at its center, as if performing a ritual.
"Huh… completely useless," he muttered, opening his eyes. "That demon died at the hands of an outsider. How annoying…"
A flicker of hatred and irritation crossed his pupils. That demon was the sole success of years of experimentation—a survivor unlike any other.
Its strength had far exceeded that of an ordinary demon, and Rovert had hoped it could annihilate the Valmire family's soldiers. But those hopes had been in vain.
Instead of slaughtering the enemy, the demon had died—killed by a complete stranger.
"By the way, I'm really curious about the one who could kill that demon," he whispered, rubbing his chin. "Who are they? Why are they interfering?"
Within the city of Gardian and the surrounding ten miles, he had placed a magical circle designed to spy on any strangers who dared disturb his peace.
Yet he sensed no mana fluctuations or fighting spirit from the side that had slain the demon. Only one explanation remained—their power was extraordinary.
"Well…" Rovert grinned faintly. "No matter how strong they are, it won't bother me at all. As long as they remain within my domain, no one can escape. Hehehe…"
He slowly opened his right palm, and a massive black magic circle appeared, spreading across Gardian City and the surrounding ten miles, emitting a faint, eerie glow.
…
Aston and his troops entered the Gardian city. The city was large and prosperous, home to around four hundred thousand people, with a thriving economy.
The city center was bustling with pedestrians, but the atmosphere shifted the moment Rovert ordered his soldiers to the gates.
The once lively city fell silent. People hurried back to their homes, fear evident in their eyes.
Never before had Rovert deployed an entire army to guard the frontline. This was a first, and it was natural for the citizens to assume an attack was imminent.
"Gardian City feels more like a ghost town," one of Aston's soldiers remarked, scanning the area.
Only ten to fifty people remained on the streets, and when they saw Aston and his troops, they froze in fear and quickly disappeared from view.
"That's only natural. After all, it looks like we're here to invade," Aston said casually, his tone indifferent.
Of course, he had no intention of killing innocent people. His goal was to hold the Castellan family accountable—especially Rovert.
All this time, he had stayed silent, retaliating only when his family was directly attacked. But the assault on one of his weapons factories a few days ago had pushed him beyond patience.
If he remained idle, people would begin to doubt his authority as head of the Marquis Valmire family.
They continued through Gardian city until they reached a massive gate at the city's end.
Beyond it lay the Castellan family residence. The mansion was vast, with a large courtyard and a statue of Rovert at its center, complete with a fountain.
The estate was eerily quiet, not a single soldier in sight. This was hardly surprising—his troops had already held the entire Gardian city army at bay outside the walls.
Aston signaled his soldiers to open the gates, and they rode inside. But barely a few steps in, a chill crawled up his spine.
He glanced at the sky. It was dark, with black clouds appearing from nowhere, rumbling with distant thunder.
His eyes narrowed as he muttered under his breath, "Something's wrong… I have a bad feeling."
His instincts screamed for him to stop. Moving forward could bring disaster unlike any he had faced.
Nevertheless, he pushed the feeling aside and stepped forward, the soldiers following close behind.
Reaching the grand mansion, Aston slowly dismounted from his horse.
"Ten soldiers will come with me," he ordered. "The rest stay here on guard. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord!" they replied in unison.
Ten soldiers were selected, and together with Aston, they ascended the stairs toward the entrance hall.
Before they could reach the top step, the mansion doors suddenly swung open. Rovert appeared, stepping out with an air of calm authority.
Aston's eyes widened in shock. "Rovert…"
His voice shook with anger and hatred. He had expected Rovert to be hiding—or even fleeing—but here he was, bold enough to appear in person.
Still, this worked to Aston's advantage. He and his men no longer had to search the entire eastern region for him.
Rovert strolled forward with calm deliberation and stopped about two meters from the stairs. His gaze swept downward, cold and piercing, fixing on Aston and his soldiers.
"Aston Valmire, I didn't expect you to defeat my soldiers. It seems the rumors about your fighting ability weren't exaggerated," he said, his tone playful.
Aston said nothing, instead studying Rovert warily from head to toe.
Is he really Rovert? Aston wondered silently.
The Rovert standing before him was nothing like the man he remembered. Back then, Rovert had loved to flaunt his glamorous side to outsiders—arrogant, annoying, and insufferable.
His presence had always made people uneasy, forcing them to keep their distance.
But now, Rovert seemed cold and indifferent. The aura surrounding him pressed against Aston's chest, filling him with a sense of fear.
Even his appearance had changed completely, resembling that of a mage: a black cloak draped over his body from head to toe.
Aston took a deep breath and set a stern expression. "I've come to hold you accountable for what happened to my factory. I demand compensation, both material and non-material. If you refuse, don't be surprised when I arrest you and bring you to trial under the laws of the eastern region."
In the Great Velmora Empire, there were two sets of laws: regional laws and Imperial Palace laws.
Regional laws applied to each territory—east, west, south, and north. Of all regions, the eastern region was infamous for having the strictest and most complex laws.
Based on this, Aston could have pressed numerous charges against Rovert, charges that would have cost him a fortune.
Yet instead of showing fear, Rovert let out a small chuckle, fixing Aston with a playful, mocking gaze.
"Is that so? Wow! I'm really shaking in my boots!"