They all call me Great Master

Under Fujin's gaze, Arthur quickly learned the origins of Joe, Yula, and Lucius—

Among them, Joe was the fourteenth son of the president of the Reepra. Qiao Commerce Guild, with no hope of inheriting the family business, nor did he possess a diligent spirit, epitomizing the typical prodigal son.

Yula's background, however, was much richer.

Born in Old Town, Yula had eleven names and initially seduced others, engaging in minor extortion before, with age, she grew bolder, setting her sights on the middle class.

After three successful exploits, Ms. Yula's ambitions expanded further as she began collaborating with the 'Inland River Cult.'

Or, to put it accurately...

Back then, it was called 'Inland Waterway Mutual Aid Association'!

Initially, it was a small organization founded by commoners living along the Inland River to better survive together.

Similar organizations were plentiful everywhere and went completely unnoticed.

Because these kinds of organizations were very loosely structured, essentially breaking at the first blow.

As for when it transformed from 'Inland Waterway Mutual Aid Association' to 'Inland River Cult'?

The records didn't specify.

Clearly, it was a covert transformation.

About this, Arthur was a bit curious.

But what made Arthur more curious, was Lucius.

Lucius came from a middle-class family, both of his parents were tutors, his father excelled in literature and his mother in music and was proficient in playing the violin. Initially, Lucius should have had a promising future, but it changed when his father met with an accident—being a tutor for the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth sons of the president of Reepra. Qiao Commerce Guild, Lucius's father drowned by accident.

The sudden misfortune rendered Lucius's mother unable to accept the reality, turning her into a daze and continuously going to the shores of the Inland River.

And then...

She became a member of the 'Inland River Cult.'

Moreover, she donated her house and savings entirely to the 'Inland River Cult.'

Of course, it was still officially a 'trade.'

Then, Lucius's mother also drowned to death.

In less than half a year, Lucius lost his parents, house, and became penniless, only able to rely on his knowledge to teach children literacy as a way to make a living.

However, these weren't important.

What was important was that Lucius became Joe's friend.

And also, he joined the 'Inland River Cult.'

'Avenger, huh?'

Arthur thought to himself, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the chair.

Tap, tap!

In the distinctive sound of the solid wood handle, Arthur's mouth slightly curled upwards, he lifted his hand and embraced Pendragon into his arms, whispering—

"Pendragon, never become an Avenger.

Otherwise...

You will definitely be exploited."

After saying this, Pendragon was tossed by the "Hand of Void" onto the walking deck, and Pendragon looked bewildered.

Meow meow meow?

…

Lucius was washing his face in the public restroom.

The first-class cabins had private restrooms.

However, those were currently occupied by Joe and Yula, so Lucius thoughtfully chose to go to the public restroom—a space within the same first-class level that was completely deserted due to the existence of private restrooms, which slightly relieved Lucius.

When alone, this young man's face revealed sadness.

"Father, Mother."

The young man murmured softly.

Almost instantly, the young man plunged into memories of the past.

Back then, every Sunday, his father would take him and his mother to a small theater in Shire District to watch performances, afterwards they would dine at a restaurant on West Mok Avenue, and in the afternoon, the family of three would go to the library in Shire District to participate in reading salons.

Back then, the world was colorful.

Back then, what he felt was love.

But then...

Lucius thought about his father's body being brought back.

In that moment, the world dimmed.

And when his mother's body was brought back as well, his whole world shattered.

Standing in front of the washstand, the young man stared at himself in the mirror.

His face was pale, his eyes no longer held their usual warmth, and his lips were tightly pursed.

'So ugly!'

Lucius thought silently to himself.

At that time—

"So handsome!

Although I have said this more than once, do you know, Lucius? Right now, your appearance truly gives me an unprecedented shiver.

I really want to hold you and sink into the water with you!"

In her crisp voice, Yula suddenly appeared in the bathroom and then, just like that, hugged Lucius, greedily sniffing the scent on his body.

Tobacco mixed with a scent unique to a man after washing up.

This scent made Yula addicted.

Without realizing it, Yula hugged Lucius tighter.

As for Lucius, his already tense body resisted even more, his arms tensed up, and he crouched down to break free from Yula.

But...

It was futile.

Before Lucius could fully crouch down, Yula tightly imprisoned him, pressing her face against the back of Lucius's head.

An adult man's strength was unable to break free from a seemingly weaker woman.

Moreover, this man had even utilized some combat techniques.

This was unbelievable to anyone.

But for Lucius himself, it was commonplace.

However, being accustomed to it did not stop Lucius from struggling.

Clang!

The heel of Lucius's shoe lightly tapped the side, and a blade the size of a dagger sprang from the tip of his shoe, and then Lucius turned his head and kicked backwards.

But this sudden attack still missed.

Yula not only dodged it easily, but she also buried her face even deeper into the back of Lucius's hair, inhaling deeply. Compared to her earlier greed, the excitement in Yula's eyes almost reached its peak now.

It was a hunger.

However, the woman was still holding back.

The unripe fruit wasn't ready.

She must endure.

Yula reminded herself while giggling lightly—

"The combat techniques are what I taught you, and those little tricks you also learned from me. Thinking you can defeat me with these is absolutely impossible.

However, if you agree to my terms...

I can teach you some special skills."

In the crisp tone of her voice, there was a full sense of temptation.

Lucius's face showed his struggle.

He needed power.

Only with power could he avenge his father and mother.

But the woman behind him made him wary.

There was no tangible evidence.

It was just an instinct.

The moment she appeared, he instinctively felt she was dangerous.

Even if she brought the true facts about the death of his father and mother, it was the same.

Yula relished Lucius's struggle.

She felt pleased.

However, the next moment, the woman slightly furrowed her brow—

"You woke up so soon?"