Avinash was walking while recalling how Victoria had informed him about a theft that occurred here at night. However, she assured him that there was no need to worry, as the thieves had been caught soon after.


    But Avinash didn''t believe her words at all. The explosion sound during the night had disturbed everyone''s sleep. People claimed that the thieves couldn''t escape because the palace was surrounded by barriers.


    Descending the stairs, Avinash was heading toward the training ground when he noticed someone below. It was Princess Isabella. The moment he saw her, he changed his path and began climbing back up the stairs, thinking, That psycho vampire is back!


    Avinash didn''t want to confront her at any cost. But fate had other plans for him. While rushing up the stairs, his foot slipped accidentally.


    He began falling downward, straight toward Isabella, who was climbing up the stairs. The clear implication in his mind was: I want to be dead!


    Without wasting a moment, Avinash used his Dash. Air from the surrounding gathered with a swirl, and in a single thrust, he landed on the floor below. Fortunately, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    Isabella glanced at his actions with astonishment but continued climbing the stairs.


    From the other side, Aniket was descending, completely engrossed in his special mobile that he had created earlier today.


    Due to the disturbance caused by Avinash''s Dash, the fabric laid on the stairs had gotten slightly displaced. Aniket, unaware and distracted, stepped on it, losing his balance, and began falling directly toward Isabella.


    Realizing he was falling, Aniket instinctively extended his hands forward. But as he noticed Isabella below him, his eyes widened in horror, realizing that his hands were about to land in a very wrong place—right on Isabella''s chest.


    But before that could happen...


    With a calm expression, Isabella caught his hands, which were advancing toward her chest, and effortlessly tossed him aside like a toy. Then she walked away without another word.


    Aniket landed on the ground with a thud, screaming in pain. He was convinced that at least 4-5 of his bones were definitely broken.


    Slowly, he composed himself and looked at his special mobile, only to find it completely destroyed. The screen was shattered.


    Avinash approached him and helped him up. Aniket, groaning like an old man, exclaimed, "Oh, my back! Kid, thank you so much. God bless you my child."


    Then, brushing off Avinash''s hand, he said, "I''m fine," and stood up, attempting to straighten his back.


    Aniket mumbled, "Thank goodness I managed to create wind pressure below me before falling. Otherwise, I''d have been done for."


    He added angrily, "Who was that crazy girl? I won''t let her go!"


    Avinash responded calmly, "Keeping your distance from her is a wise choice. She''s the princess here."


    Aniket, fuming, retorted, "She may be a princess in her own home!"


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Avinash replied, "This is her home. The farther you keep from her, the better. She''s extremely dangerous."


    "Forget that," he added. "Did they check your hands as well?"


    Aniket responded, "Yeah, it was strange. While distributing mana water, they kept staring at everyone''s hands."


    "Listen, you haven''t used mana water yet, have you?" Avinash asked.


    "No," Avinash replied.


    Aniket said, "Then, how about trading it?"


    "Trading?" Avinash asked, confused.


    Aniket explained, "Anything—weapons, food, medicine—whatever you can think of."


    Avinash began walking away, saying, "No, I''m not interested. I think I''ll drink it after a week. Anyway, I believe I''m about to achieve F+. To reach E rank, I''ll need 200 mana."


    Aniket sighed deeply as he watched Avinash walk away. "Didn''t even glance at my offers… fool!"


    From behind, Alice teased, "Are you still trying to scam people? I doubt anyone would be interested in your stuff in exchange for mana water."


    Alice tossed a Desert Eagle toward Aniket, saying, "As you requested, it''s been enhanced three times."


    Aniket caught it, grinning. "Now, this is going to be fun."


    A soft voice called from behind, "Excuse me. Can I trade with you?"


    Aniket turned around with a sly smile, muttering, Gotcha, another sucker. "Of course!"


    But as soon as he saw Akira''s swollen face, he said, "Don''t tell me someone forced you to get this stuff."


    Aniket smiled again and said, "Let''s talk in my room first."


    A little while later...


    Akira, nervous and fidgeting, said, "Cigarettes... a solar mobile charger..."


    Aniket interrupted, "Wait! Wait, buddy wait! So, you''re being made to bring stuff for someone? Who is it? In my rule, thugs running amok without us knowing—unacceptable. Tell me their names!"


    Akira stammered, "No one''s making me get these things. Actually, it''s..."


    Before he could finish, Aniket interrupted again, "You''re really a coward, huh? Forget all that. You need this!" He handed Akira a gun.


    Akira hesitated, sweating as he held the gun with trembling hands. He quickly handed it back, saying, "I can''t take this."


    Aniket asked, "Are you sure? Look, if you keep being this scared, people will only suppress you more."


    Fuming, Akira snapped, "Shut up and do what I asked! Here''s the mana water. If you don''t want it, I''m leaving."


    As Akira turned to go, Aniket called after him, "Wait! The charger will come later. My mana is still recovering."


    In the Garden


    Park Seo said, "Welcome our new member, Li Mei."


    Several people sitting in front muttered, "Another one? Is Park Seo she''s really that strong?"


    Park Seo smiled and replied, "Why don''t you try and find out?"


    A boy sitting in front scoffed, "I don''t hit girls."


    Li Mei also smiled and said, "I don''t hit weaklings either."


    The boy, Min-Jun, retorted, "Look, you''re a girl, so I''ll let it slide, otherwise…"


    Before he could finish, he noticed someone offering him a cigarette box. Akira,"here''s your secret box, sir," the person said.


    Min-Jun was startled for a moment. "What?" he exclaimed.


    Park Seo''s expression darkened, and he asked, "Did you threaten him?"


    Min-Jun quickly defended himself, "No, I didn''t! I''m meeting him for the first time."


    From behind, a voice called out, "Oh, so it''s you! What was your name again… ah yes, Seo Parking! Back then, you were preaching about peace, and now you''re threatening kids?"


    Park Seo turned around and said calmly, "It''s not what it looks like."


    Aniket sarcastically chimed in, "Oh! So he must''ve hit his head on a coconut tree if he''s trading mana water for useless junk. And look at the bruises on his face; it tells the whole story."


    Park Seo, now a bit irritated, replied, "Look, we don''t owe you any explanations. This doesn''t concern you, so stay out of it. We''ll handle our matters ourselves."


    He added firmly, "No one else needs to interfere. As for Akira, we don''t know anything about that.Why we do this?"


    Aniket stared at him and replied, "Because mana water is useless to you. Everyone knows that consuming too much mana water without ability rank+ is pointless."


    Min-Jun, now visibly stressed, pleaded, "Park Seo, you know me. I didn''t do anything like that. This is all that kid''s doing!" He grabbed Akira by the collar and shouted, "Tell the truth! Did I ever ask you to bring anything? Speak up, or else—"


    Aniket, angered, said, "Let go of his collar, or I''ll show you what ''or else'' really means."


    Park Seo interjected, "You''re overstepping your boundaries. This is our matter; we''ll resolve it ourselves. Leave now."


    Aniket shot back, "And what if I don''t?"


    Park Seo, still composed, said, "Then we''ll have to use force."


    Aniket pointed his Desert Eagle at Park Seo''s forehead and said, "Then Try."


    Park Seo, unflinching, replied, "You''ve never killed anyone before, so you''re not going to pull the trigger. You''re a sheep in wolf''s clothing, trying to look strong but nothing without your ability."


    He continued, "It''s better for you to leave now. You can''t take all of us on anyway."


    Aniket hesitated and stepped back, which made Park Seo and his companions smirk.


    Just then, there was a loud bang! Aniket, with a bitter smile, fired his gun. The bullet grazed Park Seo''s ear and hit the wall behind him, causing a massive explosion. The wall, 52 cm thick, was completely destroyed, leaving a 90-meter-wide hole.


    In his mind, Aniket thought, What a powerful shot, but the mana battery''s dead after one shot. This needs more work.


    He smiled at Park Seo and said, "You were saying something about sheep and wolves?"


    Park Seo stood frozen in place.


    Aniket smirked and added, "Did you really think your empty threats would scare me? Now, apologize to him quietly if you want to keep your arms and legs intact."


    Turning to the boy holding Akira''s collar, Aniket said, "You still holding his collar?"


    Min-Jun, panicking, immediately released Akira''s collar.


    Akira, stunned by everything, quietly slipped away.


    Aniket smiled and said, "Looks like you''ve learned your lesson. I''ll take my leave now."


    Park Seo, furious, shouted, "Stop!"