“Now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes, let’s talk about the work in earnest.”

The Count, who had been muttering hurriedly, suddenly turned around when he heard a voice from behind him.

Vincent was looking at him with a grin.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I made this mistake… I got distracted by the huge object.”

“It’s okay. I understand. It’s nice to see you being so passionate, and the one who made the mistake was not you, Count.”

“…?”

When Count Stadler made a puzzled expression, Vincent shrugged and turned around. His gaze landed on Marquis Grieg, who was standing there blankly.

Marquis Grieg blinked as he locked eyes with the masked man.

And after a while… his face turned pale.

“It was he who made the mistake. Wasn’t it, Marquis?”

Vincent’s tone as he spoke was quite affectionate. However, Marquis Grieg hesitated and took a step back as if he had been sentenced to death.

“Ah, Vincent…”

“Because of your stupid actions, most of my investors left, and you lost the popularity you had built up over time, no matter how shallow it was… If this isn’t a mistake, then what is?”

The Marquis’ face turned even paler as Vincent continued humming.

“I’m sorry! I have committed a mortal sin! Please forgive me just this once!”

“Well, I guess that can be forgiven somehow since you brought Count Stadler here.”

For a moment, color returned to the Marquis’ face, which had been covered in cold sweat.

But the next moment, a voice spoke, “At that age, you shouldn’t fall for that brat’s tricks.”

Crunch.

Marquis Grieg stared down blankly as a burning pain spread across his chest. Blood was slowly seeping out from his heavily cut upper body.

He couldn’t scream or protest anymore.

When he raised his head, the last thing he saw was Vincent absentmindedly shaking off his sword.

Swish, thud.

The Marquis’s body, lifeless, fell to the floor with a heavy sound.

“Ahhh…”

Blood flowed from the large wound, forming a puddle.

A pungent smell stung his nose.

Vincent stepped over the Marquis’ body and approached Count Stadler without any hesitation.

“I’m sorry about this. I must have shown you a rough appearance when we’ve just met.”

Even though he had just cut down a man, Vincent looked unfazed.

The Count instinctively hesitated and took a step back.

“Hey, don’t come any closer!”

“You don’t have to be afraid. The Count is an important person, so I can’t harm him easily, but only if you answer just a few questions.”

Crunch.

Vincent smiled and aimed his sword just below the Count’s neck.

“Recently, there seems to be a rat in the castle trying to sabotage our cause… Do you happen to know who it is, Count? I think you can probably guess.”

“Yes?”

“You must know about the East Safe. I heard it’s the hottest topic in the palace right now.”

Count Stadler, who had been asking confusedly, was left speechless by the next words.

“At that time, there was someone who passed information to the Imperial Knights. One of our precious treasures that was in the vault was stolen. That treasure is something that only our comrades would be able to recognize. That is to say…”

The blood-stained blade of Marquis Grieg pressed down on Count Stadler’s neck.

“It means there is a traitor within us.”

If anyone provided information to the Imperial Knights in the East Safe incident, it was Arendt.

Count Stadler’s lips were dry with tension.

“And not long after, one of our talented men went missing. Upon investigation, he was found to have been killed by a young knight from the Third Imperial Knights. It seems that the treasure he was carrying was also taken.”

Thud.

Vincent took a step closer to the Count.

“The person who recently humiliated Marquis Grieg in the palace was also an apprentice knight of the Third Knights. Coincidentally, that apprentice knight was arrested and released before the East Safe incident. So.”

His eyes, whose color was unknown beyond the mask, completely captivated the Count.

“Do you know a person named Arendt von Eckhart?”

Gulp.

A dry cough passed.

Cold sweat ran down his chin and fell to the floor.

Over Vincent’s shoulder, he saw Marquis Grieg lying motionless on the floor.

If he didn’t answer now, he would die.

He had such a strong intuition.

‘If he answered?’

If he did, he could no longer return to the palace. His life has already been pledged to the Crown Prince. Lies wouldn’t work either.

The Count bit his lips without realizing it.

He remembered Arendt sitting in the garden of the Imperial Palace, bathed in moonlight, wind gently ruffling through his hair.

Then his mouth opened naturally.

“…I.”

The Count paused for a moment to calm his trembling voice.

After a while, a much calmer voice came out.

“I do not know.”

“Hmm?”

“All I know is that he is a young and reckless knight. I heard he causes trouble here and there.”

Count Stadler opened his eyes straight ahead and looked at Vincent.

Vincent tilted his head for a moment, then took a step back.

“If that is the Count’s answer.”

And the very next moment, “It’s a shame.”

Clink, Vincent readjusted his grip on his sword.

Before the Count could even react, a blood-stained blade flew in. The Count shut his eyes tightly, anticipating the pain that would follow.

At that moment, a strong hand pushed hard at the Count’s chest.

Almost at the same time.

Chae-ae-aeng!

The loud sound of swords clashing with each other tore through the heavy air of the underground space.

Boom!

Count Stadler, who had been thrown to the floor, looked up in a daze.

The long hem of his robe fluttered, revealing the uniform of an apprentice knight. The next thing that caught his eye was his slightly disheveled silver hair.

“It’s me, you little shit.”

Arendt blurted out nonchalantly, blocking Count Stadler’s way. The straight tip of his sword was aimed straight at Vincent’s neck.

Vincent burst into laughter.

“Oh my, I didn’t think you’d escape already.”

“Why couldn’t I? Did you think you could stop me with something like a clay doll?”

“You crazy bastard, I told you not to go out alone!”

Vincent stopped as he heard another voice. Arthur and Richt had approached him and were pointing their swords at Vincent’s back.

Count Stadler muttered in a dazed tone.

“Uh, how…?”

“Forgive us for being late.”

Richt, who apologized in a stiff tone, looked like a mess. His usually neat hair was disheveled and his clothes were covered in dirt.

Arthur and Arendt also looked tattered.

Arendt tilted his head and blurted out, “Are you going to lower your sword?”

“I don’t really feel like it.”

Even though his life was in immediate danger, Vincent smiled brightly without caring about the swords pointed at him.

“As expected, you have taken the Frosty Touch, Lord Arendt. The Shadow of the Strong must have also gone into your hands. Because of this, not only have we become like dogs chasing chickens, but we have also lost many valuable talents. What should we do about this?”

“What talent? What kind of talent is someone who falls into a trap set by a mere apprentice knight?”

Arendt also raised the corners of his lips slightly.

Their gazes met in midair.

“What a shameless brat.”

“I don’t want to hear that from a masked pervert.”

Vincent paused at the unexpected remark.

The remaining two took advantage of the gap and swung their swords.

Vincent spun around and kicked away Richt and Arthur’s swords.

At the moment when the two men staggered from the strong force, he kicked the ground and ran towards Arendt.

“Arendt!”

“Take care of the Count!”

Arendt responded irritably to Arthur’s urgent cries.

Kwaaang!

The entire mine shook as the two men’s swords clashed.

Vincent’s eyes widened as he saw the sword that had been struck frozen white.

“You seem to have learned how to use it already? It must have been quite tricky.”

“Because I’m a bit better.”

Arendt responded briefly and drew his sword.

Kang, kaang!

There were several sharp noises as the two exchanged swords. Meanwhile, Arthur was still helping Count Stadler to his feet.

“You know the way out, right? Run away first.”

“Oh, I understand.”

Count Stadler nodded hastily and started running outside.

Vincent didn’t miss the sight and pushed Arendt away with force, then swung his bright red sword at Count Stadler, who was running away.

But Richt, who moved one step first, defended against the swing.

Kwaaang!

His wrist became numb after colliding head-on with a strong force.

‘Strong.’

Richt’s eyes widened slightly.

In the meantime, Arthur and Arendt simultaneously rushed towards Vincent.

A pure white aura swept through the surroundings, and cold frost settled on the ground.

For a moment, Vincent’s vision was obscured by icy fog. Taking advantage of the gap, Arthur suddenly appeared, aiming for Vincent’s side.

Kwaaang!

Vincent immediately twisted his sword and blocked Arthur.

“Interesting. I didn’t think you could handle something like a golem, but I thought it would at least buy me some time.”

Vincent pushed Arthur away without much effort and tripped him.

Boom!

Just as Vincent’s sword was about to plunge into Arthur’s heart, Arendt’s sword suddenly intervened and blocked the attack.

Chae-ae-aeng!

Vincent clicked his tongue in annoyance as his sword bounced away.

Arthur took advantage of the gap and rolled over to get out of the way.

Arendt, confronted by Vincent again, snickered.

“It’s a shame that the trap you prepared with so much effort was destroyed.”

“That’s right. I was hoping that maybe I could get my Frosty Touch back.”

Vincent pursed his lips.

“Why’s it yours? Trash that was rolling around on the floor originally belongs to the first person to pick it up.”

“You really don’t lose a word.”

Vincent hummed happily and took a step forward, and the next moment, his silhouette suddenly appeared right in front of Arendt.

“…!”

As Arendt reflexively raised his sword, Vincent’s sword fell from above.

Kwaaaaang!

The sword engulfed in a bright red aura was blocked by a pure white frosty sword.

At the moment when Arendt staggered from the shock to his entire body, Vincent jumped back.

“No matter what, 3 vs 1 is disadvantageous to me.”

“Where are you running away to!”

As Arthur shouted, Vincent started running down the hallway, kicking the ground as if he was going to die.

The knights pursued him without delay.

As they reached the open cave, the three people’s footsteps gradually slowed down.

Vincent stood tall in front of a tunnel that was close to the ceiling.

Arthur growled fiercely.

“Get down, you son of a bitch.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll wait until next time. I don’t want to waste any more time here.”

Vincent, who was slowly scanning the knights, met Arendt’s eyes and smiled broadly. The pupils behind his mask curved into a crescent shape.

“Arendt von Eckhart.”

“What.”

“Are you a traitor?”

“Then what are you going to do?”

Arendt responded bluntly.

Their eyes met in midair, and soon Vincent burst into laughter.

“I’ll remember that face clearly.”

“I’ll remember you too, masked pervert.”

For a moment, Vincent’s expression behind the mask seemed to crumple subtly, but he soon shook his head twice and disappeared into the tunnel.

Arthur kicked the ground and stepped forward.

“That kid…!”

“Let him go. We won’t be able to catch him anyway.”

The voice of the junior that suddenly popped out stopped his steps. Arthur, who was looking back and forth between the tunnel where Vincent had disappeared and Arendt, soon clicked his tongue and sighed.

“What an unlucky kid.”

In fact, it was impossible for them to fight any longer. All three of them were on the verge of running out of stamina from having to fight their way through the golems.

Arthur grumbled and wiped his face.

“I’ll never work with this guy again. He must have been cursed with something. Everywhere he goes, there’s a major accident.”

“I want to do that too, but it’s not something we can do on our own.”

Richt muttered in a weak voice.