Lucius moved quietly through the estate. Lucius had avoided some of the guards eyes, but he needed to do something so he could move more freely.

    He then stopped and turned to his system. He then smiled as he said, "Hack me for invisibility. I want to ensure no one below a 7-Star rank can detect me."

    ---

    [Hack Initiation: Self-Invisibility Enhancement]

    [Effect: Complete Invisibility to 6-Star Tamers and Below]

    [Duration: 12 Hours]

    [Cost Required: 1000 Hack Points]

    [Execute?]

    [YES] [NO]

    ---

    Lucius frowned a bit after seeing the cost of the hack. "Are you kidding me? A thousand Hack Points!"He was really surprised, as he never thought about the high cost. "That''s equivalent to evolving a 3-Star beast to 4-Star with full D-Tier stats."He tapped his fingers against the wall, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed and muttered. "Even though it was expensive, I need it very much now for my own mission. Execute it"

    Lucius knew the system had hacked his body from seeing the reduced points, but he could not see if it changed or not, so he tried to test it.

    Lucius looked around and found some guards so he stepped in front of them immediately to see what their reactions were.

    But none of the guards seemed to notice or even glance at him. He tested it even further by touching them, but the guards seemed to think that it was some insects that touched them.

    Lucius smirked as he knew that he was now invincible. "Perfect. It''s time to see what secrets this estate holds."

    Lucius wandered around the halls in the Garran Estate. He observed some of the details in the estate, but none of them interested them.

    As he turned around, he suddenly found someone that he knew very well, Dorian Garran.

    The patriarch of the family was moving through the halls with an unusual air of caution.

    His footsteps were light, and his head turned around so much, ensuring that he was not being followed.

    Lucius immediately became curious and murmured. "Interesting. Let me see what you are hiding, Dorian."

    "Master Kaltrik, I apologize for disturbing you, but I have some urgent news I need to report."

    Kaltrik glanced at Dorian and said, "Spit it out. I don''t have time for any pleasantries."

    Dorian hesitated but still reported it. "It''s Lucius. He... he''s still alive."

    Kaltrik was surprised, hearing it. "What? How is that possible? I sent two of my best—4-Star assassins. Are you telling me they failed?"

    Dorian nodded. "Yes, Master. Lucius is not only alive but has come to my estate to complete his mission. I thought you should know."

    Kaltrik was in disbelief and angry. He paced back and forward and looked back at Dorian.

    "Damn it. This isn''t the time for more problems. The family is already dealing with a disaster."

    Dorian''s brows furrowed. "A disaster, Master? What do you mean?"

    Kaltrik glared at him and snapped. "You don''t need to know. Just handle your estate and let me worry about the rest. Now, what do you want me to do about Lucius?"

    Dorian then said, "Master, I thought it best to seek your guidance. Should I eliminate him?"

    Kaltrik let out a bitter laugh. "Eliminate him? Do you have any idea who you''re dealing with? Lucius isn''t some low-level nobody. His evolist capabilities are already beyond what my brother Kaelix could achieve."

    Dorian''s jaw tightened. "But, Master—"

    "No buts," Kaltrik interrupted. "Ignore him for now. If you act recklessly, Astra Academy will come down on you—and, by extension, the Kryndal family. Is that what you want?"

    Dorian''s face twisted in frustration. "No, Master. But..."

    "Enough!" Kaltrik barked. "Do as I say. Let him complete the mission and return to the Academy. Do not provoke him further. Remember, you''re just a count in this empire. Your position is not invincible."

    Dorian clenched his fists as his pride was hurt. He gritted his teeth and said. "Yes, Master."

    Kaltrik''s hologram flickered as he leaned closer. "Good. Don''t call me again unless it''s truly urgent. I have bigger problems to deal with."

    Witht that, the crystal was turned off, and Kaltrik''s image vanished. Dorian stood silently and suddenly snapped. "Damn it. Damn that Lucius. Damn Kaltrik."

    From the shadows, Lucius watched the exchange with a satisfied smirk. "How delightful. The mighty Garrans and Kryndals tied up in their own knots."

    Lucius then kept looking at Dorian, waiting to see what he would do now and Lucius planned to find all of his secrets.