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Needless to say, it was Caelius Lionfang.

Caelius continued, his voice calm yet commanding, "Apologies for my rudeness. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Caelius, and your Guild Master is a dear friend of mine. You must be Lizno."

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Lizno simply nodded, not denying his identity. Since this man was his young master's friend, he could finally allow himself to relax.

The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, though his sharp eyes remained vigilant.@@novelbin@@

Initially, he had sensed the presence of many powerful individuals amongst the Lionfang Clan members.

Their auras were dense, their movements precise—each one a seasoned warrior.

If a battle were to break out, Lizno was certain that even if their numbers were similar, the Lionfang Clan would far surpass them in strength.

It was understandable. The Lionfang Clan wasn't some nameless, insignificant group. They were a force to be reckoned with, their reputation preceding them.

At this moment, Lizno finally realized who they had come to meet. However, the purpose of their mission still eluded him. Vincent had been cryptic, withholding his true intentions.

At the same time, Caelius was observing Lizno and the rest of the Umbra members with a subtle, confused expression. His sharp eyes scanned the group, taking in their demeanor, their equipment, and their overall strength.

Vincent had called him two days ago, mentioning that he would send reinforcements to aid in the fight against the Blackthorn.

Caelius had been looking forward to it, expecting a group of seasoned experts to arrive.

But now, after a careful observation, he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Vincent had sent him a group of... cannon fodder.

What could this group of 104 individuals possibly do? Most of them were only at Tier 1, and even the strongest among them barely reached the Early Stage of Tier 2.

Against a single Peak Tier 2 opponent, this group would be wiped out in moments. Caelius couldn't fathom why someone as shrewd as Vincent would send such a group.

Still, he appreciated the gesture. Vincent had gone out of his way to offer help, and for that, Caelius was grateful.

Thus, he welcomed Lizno and the others with his usual relaxed smile, masking his doubts. "Welcome. Did Vinc— I mean, did your Guild Master notify you of your purpose here?"

Lizno's smile turned awkward at the question.

He scratched the back of his head, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"To be honest, I'm still in the dark. The Young Master only ordered me to lead the group here. So... could you clarify, Young Master Caelius? What exactly are we supposed to do here?"

Caelius studied Lizno's expression and immediately realized that the man was completely clueless.

He let out a soft sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. Vincent's intentions were as enigmatic as ever.

First, Caelius had thought Vincent genuinely wanted to help. But now, seeing that these reinforcements were unaware of their mission, he was left even more confused.

Still, he decided to set his doubts aside for the time being. "Follow me," he said, gesturing for them to move. "I'll explain on the way."

Lizno hesitated for a moment before nodding and ordering the Umbra members to follow.

The group fell into step behind Caelius, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor as they moved deeper into the Lionfang Clan's territory.

Umbra Guild Territory, Vincent's Manor.

Vincent had just appeared in his office when, in the next second, a black blur rushed toward him, pouncing with surprising speed.

Vincent didn't react, standing perfectly still as the blur collided with his chest.

Thanks to his high stats and the sturdy armor he wore, the impact was nothing more than a faint pressure.

Instead, the black blur let out a high-pitched cry, followed by the unmistakable sound of a young girl's sobs.

Vincent's hands moved instinctively, catching the soft, black mass. It was Mochi, his plump, black-furred rabbit companion. Her fur was as soft as cotton, and her large, tear-filled eyes glared up at him accusingly.

"Waaaaah! Where have you been? Why did you leave me? You said you wouldn't abandon me!" Mochi's voice was a mix of anger and desperation, her small body trembling in his hands.

Vincent didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gently caressed her fur, his touch soothing as he listened to her cries.

After a while, Mochi's sobs subsided, though her eyes still held a trace of resentment.

Her soft, child-like voice echoed in his mind, "Why are you only coming back now?"

Vincent sighed inwardly. He knew Mochi had abandonment trauma, and he had thought she would be fine without him, especially since she had been left in Clauny's care.

But Clauny, like him, had limited time in the Origin World. She couldn't stay indefinitely, and Mochi had been left alone for longer than he had intended.

"I'm sorry," Vincent said softly, his voice filled with genuine regret.

"Are you hungry?"

Mochi's eyes narrowed, but she nodded reluctantly, her small nose twitching. Vincent flicked his hand, and a mid-grade Origin Crystal appeared in his palm.

The moment Mochi saw it, her attention was immediately captured. Before Vincent could say another word, she flashed forward, snatching the crystal from his hand with lightning speed.

She reappeared on the couch, clutching the crystal tightly. Her glare softened slightly as she muttered, "I'll accept this, but I still don't forgive you!"

With that, she began munching on the Origin Crystal, her small teeth crunching through the hard surface with ease.

Despite her words, Vincent noticed the way she kept stealing glances at him, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. She was afraid he would leave her again.

Vincent's heart softened. He reached out, gently stroking her head.

Since everything was going according to his plans, Vincent decided it was time to increase his strength.

Having a guild was beneficial for long-term strategies, but it would all be for naught if he didn't grow stronger himself.

He was the backbone of the Umbra Guild, and if he faltered, the entire structure would crumble.

He looked down at Mochi, who was still nibbling on the crystal. "I'm going out," he said. "Are you coming?"

Mochi sent him a glare, but without a word, she leaped onto his shoulder, her small body settling comfortably against him. Vincent couldn't help but smile. Despite her anger, she still chose to stay by his side.

At the same time, Caelius led Lizno and the others into a Tier 2 Labyrinth. Initially, he had expected the group Vincent sent to struggle within the labyrinth's treacherous corridors.

But to his surprise, they moved with a confidence and skill that caught him off guard.

Every single one of them possessed uncommon-grade skills—and not just one. Each member had multiple uncommon skills at their disposal.

And if Caelius's assumption was correct, Lizno and the other three guild members even had rare-grade skills.

Caelius's mind raced. Did Vincent truly have access to such an immense amount of resources? Where had he obtained all of this? The questions swirled in his mind, but for now,

Caelius couldn't help but feel a flicker of respect. Perhaps Vincent's reinforcements weren't as useless as he had initially thought.