CHAPTER 40: 40. BOUNTY

Liana’s breath catching as she watched her young master slice the guy in half. Flames surged from Leo’s katana, lighting up the dark street.

The brutality didn’t shock her as she had seen his merciless acts before. But the mess, the pooling blood, the smell of burnt flesh, the grisly remains—made her stomach churn. She turned slightly, hearing faint footsteps echo through the night.

"Someone’s running away, Young Master," she said quickly. Her sharp eyes locked onto the last mercenary sprinting down the alley.

Leo followed her gaze, spotting the figure running into the distance.

"Should we let him go?" she asked, her eyes locked at the guy.

Leo’s crimson eyes shifted to her, calm and unreadable. "What do you think?" he asked softly.

Her resolve hardened as she met his gaze. "Kill him, Young Master," she said firmly, her voice steady now. "If they dared to attack you, they need to understand what happens when they do. Let them all know—even wolves can’t touch you now."

Leo smiled faintly, a trace of amusement curling his lips. "Alright," he said simply, handing her his katana.

Liana took the weapon carefully, but struggled to hold its weight. "Wait—are you going after him?" she asked, her voice lifting in surprise. The katana’s weight pulled at her arms, forcing her to adjust her stance.

Leo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he raised his hand, forming his fingers into the shape of a gun. His crimson eyes locked onto the fleeing mercenary, tracking him even as the man faded further into the distance.

Water mana swirled at his fingertip, forming a glowing bubble. He concentrated Mana ehihx it compressed quickly, layer after layer, until it formed a glowing bubble in the air, almost ready to burst.

He kept his hand steady, his eyes focused. In a split second, the bubble shot forward like a bullet, cutting through the air.

The escaping mercenary didn’t make it far. The water bullet hit him right in the chest, going straight through his heart. His body jerked forward, then dropped to the ground face-first. Blood spread out beneath him.

[ALL HOSTILE ELIMINATED!]

[EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE! STATS ENHANCED!]

[STATS UPDATED

[STRENGTH: 39 → 47

ENDURANCE: 33 → 39

DEFENSE: 33 → 38

SPEED: 42 → 46

STAMINA: 38 → 41

MANA CAPACITY: 23 → 25

INTELLIGENCE: 70

BATTLE INTELLIGENCE: 83

SOUL RESONANCE WEAPON: None]

[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED!]

[Mana Surge: Channel mana into a rapid, explosive burst to enhance a single strike or movement, boosting power or speed by 50% for 3 seconds. Can be applied to weapons or body.]

[Limitations: Drains 20% of current stamina per use; max 3 surges in one day; overuse risks muscle strain or mana burnout.]

[ALERT!]

[New Reward Acquired: Speed Enhancer Potion x1]

[Effect: Speed boosted for 10 minutes upon use]

[Speed Enhancer Potion moved to Item Space]

Leo lowered his hand as he turned back to Liana.

He stepped toward her, taking the katana from her trembling hands. As he did, she let out a shaky breath, her knees giving way as she sank to the ground, relief washing over her.

"You scared?" He asked, as he picked up the discarded sheath from the ground. His voice was flat, neither mocking nor comforting—just blunt, as always.

"Yes..." Liana whispered, her voice trembling. Guilt flickered across her face as she gripped the fabric of her dress tightly, her gaze dropping to the bloodied ground. "I’m sorry, Young Master. For... for getting caught." Her shoulders slumped, her words heavy with shame.

He looked at her for a moment, then he unsheathed the katana briefly, sending it into item space. "It’s not your fault," he said simply. "I should’ve kept you hidden better."

"No," she said quickly, her voice shaky but firm. "You shouldn’t have to protect me in situations like this, Young Master. Your life is worth far more than—"

"Stop," he interrupted sharply, his tone cutting through her words. His eyes hardened as he extended a hand toward her. "Get up."

Liana hesitated, guilt and uncertainty flickering in her eyes. Slowly, she placed her hand in his, letting him pull her to her feet.

His voice softened slightly, though his resolve remained unshaken. "I won’t let you die, Liana. Not ever." His crimson gaze locked onto hers, unwavering. " I can’t see any of my people die."

Leo had a bad habit—he didn’t let many people close. He only trusted a few, and those few meant everything to him. In his past life, there had been Grace, the old housekeeper who had been like a mother to him. When she was murdered, Reo’s rage had consumed him.

He had hunted her killers down and burned them in front of her grave. That pain had shaped him, carved into his soul, and it was a lesson he carried into this life. He wouldn’t lose anyone else. Yet, he lost Chloe and almost loose Liana again here.

"I’m sorry," Liana murmured, lowering her gaze. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

"You don’t need to apologize," he replied, his tone firm but calm. His eyes shifted to the bodies scattered across the blood-soaked ground, the stench of blood heavy in the air.

Liana followed his gaze, her stomach twisting at the sight—the lifeless bodies, the pools of blood spreading across the cobblestones.

"Who... Why were they after you?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stepped toward the leader’s severed body, crouching near the mangled torso.

Elynn. he muttered, his voice low and steady. Scan.

[Target Analyzed: Object Detected in Pocket.]

He reached into the blood-soaked fabric, his fingers brushing against something damp and folded. He pulled it free—a piece of paper, its edges stained blood. Carefully, he unfolded it, the paper sticking slightly as the blood dried. Both their gazes narrowed as they studied it.

It was a crude but clear sketch—a portrait of Leonhardt Caulem, his sharp features drawn in bold lines. Beneath the image, bold text written.

LEONHARDT CAULEM

DEAD: 500 GOLD CROWNS

ALIVE: 800 GOLD CROWNS

Liana’s brown eyes widened, her face paling as realization hit her. "A... bounty?" she whispered, her voice trembling.