“No… it’s not like that.” Ivor immediately realized what he had just said.

Fortunately, the dining area of the inn was quiet without any visitors. Coupled with the two of them using shadow magic, whisper of Shadow, not a single sound could be heard.

Ivor immediately saw his hand crushing the wooden table in front of him. The atmosphere immediately changed which added to the feeling of pressure in Ivor’s heart.

Especially when Ivo looked at him with those terrifying eyes. The figure of his father that he wanted to forget so much, for some reason he could see it in Ivo’s eyes.

Ivor hurriedly explained. “I-I don’t have the Heart of Pure Shadow.”

“Stop. I know you’re lying but seeing you like this, I’m really disappointed.” Ivo interrupted Ivor’s words. He looked at Ivor with indifference.

“If you really don’t want to exchange information with me, then you don’t need to come here. I respect the agreement and I don’t really like breaking it.”

Ivo stood up and brushed his clothes from the scattered pieces of wood. He raised his hand and was about to reach towards Ivor. It was a casual movement without any particular intention.

But for Ivor, he was scared to death and immediately took a few steps back. His hand held the dagger tightly and pointed it towards Ivo.

“Are you afraid, pitiful Rat?” Ivo said in a mocking tone. “I didn’t do anything, so… why are you so afraid.”

Ivo spread his arms and allowed his entire body to be attacked. In his heart, there was not the slightest fear or anxiety. But not a single attack came. Ivor just stood there nervously and alertly as he looked at Ivo in front of him.

Ivor Ashen. You are truly a lousy Assassin. It’s a pity that you are the only son of the shadow king. If not for this fact, you might have been killed by the shadow king himself.

He calmly and casually said to Ivor.

“I have already warned you. But seeing you like this, then we can forget about this transaction. You can keep that information and don’t expect that what I said earlier will be carried out.”

“W-wait. I didn’t mean it like that.” Ivor panicked when he heard Ivo’s threat. He immediately threw away the dagger in his hand and returned the black shadow that enveloped his body.

Raven was now in a very dangerous position. So dangerous that he could be chased by the Court of The Dead right now. And the cause of all that was the person in front of him.

Could one word from this person move the entire Court of The Dead?

If it was someone else who said it, then Ivor would not believe it. He would rather believe that a horse could go through the eye of a needle than believe those nonsense words. But if Ivo said that, he believed that this person could do it.

The mastermind behind Veibel's move was the person in front of him right now. He was the one who made Veibel move and thwarted Raven's plan to convince the Zombie.

Veibel Ernest was a special person. He was born in Ernest City and was a descendant of the founder of Ernest City. One strange thing about the Ernest family that made them special was that they were so sensitive to everything that happened throughout this island.

Raven had initially explained that the Ernest family was not involved in this and Veibel, who was a Shaman, would not be able to feel anything outside the cemetery of Ernest City as long as he stayed there.

But the reality? Veibel suddenly appeared and messed everything up. Because of that, the Court of The Dead would definitely put Raven on their List. The people who helped in the death violation were not free from the perpetrator himself.

If Ivo leaked something else sensitive to the Court of the Dead, even Ivor was not sure Raven would be safe.

“I have no intention of violating what you have warned me. It’s just that, the Heart of Pure Shadow is only owned and made by the House of Shadow where I came from. I can’t go back there and force them to make a new heart.” Ivor explained nervously. He didn’t lie at all and his intentions were so clear.

It’s just that, he was afraid that what Ivo meant was not that. Because of that, he tried to avoid it but seeing Ivo smiling, he felt his world slowly collapse.

Ivo pointed right at Ivor’s heart. “Don’t you have one there?”

“No way!! If I give you my heart, I will die.” Ivor stepped back while holding his chest. The longer this conversation went on, the deeper the fear on his face became.

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Cold sweat began to pour from his forehead as he looked at Ivo. The previously cool air felt so suffocating. The fear of what Ivo would say had sunk deep into his heart.

‘No! I have to change the direction of this conversation immediately. If he asks me to submit to him…’ Ivor thought quickly.

‘And that’s what you’re thinking, right?’ Ivo guessed exactly what was on this person’s mind. Seeing Ivor so nervous and scared in front of him, he really wanted to laugh at the irony.

The person who had traumatized him during the game was now as scared as an abandoned cat. It was quite amazing how fate worked even after so much time had passed.

Ivor immediately said. “I’ll give you something that’s enough to replace that heart. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you. Is it a weapon? Or a magic tool? If it’s a scroll, I can give you a few intermediate magic scrolls. But the Heart of Pure Shadow… I really don’t have it.”

Ivo laughed when he heard that. It wasn’t a mocking laugh or a laugh that insulted Ivor. But he was truly laughing at the irony.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to do this. The sooner, the better I can train and start preparing to enter the White Snow academy.

“Enough of these useless words. You know what I mean and there’s no need to evade. Now choose, either you follow my request or you can forget about this exchange of information.”

Ivo issued an ultimatum. When Ivor heard it, his heart dropped and his body fell to his knees. Ivor’s eyes were blank and filled with anger but he couldn’t channel it.

His hands were shaking violently and he was gritting his teeth. Ivo could clearly see the anger deep in his eyes as Ivo asked him to hand over the Heart of Pure Shadow.

I really hate this guy. I really hate him.

I really hate him to the point where I want to tear him in half and drag him to the city. This cunning bastard…

I…I…My Lord. Forgive me.

Forgive me for not being able to share my burden with you. Forgive me for not being able to understand you. I want to help you, I want to be useful to you.

I don’t want to give this loyalty to anyone else but you. But…if I keep doing that, then I will never be of use to you. You carry a heavy burden in your heart and never tell us.

You have so many talented and reliable people but you are always alone. If it’s like this, you’ll always be alone, My Lord.

Forgive me for my inability to understand you. You saved me in the past when I ran away from home. You saved me from my father and had to go through my father’s test.

You’ve always been like the sun while we’re just stars far away from you. At least, I’ll be the moon that accompanies you and shines your light even when I’m on the opposite side of you.

I’m… sorry.

With a heavy heart, Ivor lowered his head to Ivo. The effect of the Whisper of Shadow had worn off so his voice was so clear. With his lips trembling, his eyes slightly showing anger towards Ivo, he slowly said.

“I’ll accept it. On the condition that you don’t bother Raven and don’t hurt him.”

“Eh? What happened?” Masha was surprised by what she saw in front of her. In her hands, she was carrying chocolate pudding, Cakeroll, and Milkshake that both of them had ordered.

Her gaze was directed at the destroyed table. After that, she looked back at the two of them.

“Did I bother you guys?” Masha asked while tilting her head. The atmosphere between the two was so tense that she didn’t know whether to get involved in this or not.

“No. You came just in time. Let me help you carry it.” Ivo greeted Masha with a smile as he hurriedly took the Dessert that Masha brought.

“Eeee… what actually happened? Did you two fight?”

“Fight? No… no. You misunderstood.” Ivo answered while stuffing a piece of Cakeroll into his mouth. “We just had a little argument, and Ivor disagreed a little with my view. Isn’t that right, Ivor?”

“R-right. We just had a little argument.” Ivor answered in a low voice.

“But…” Masha looked at the dagger lying on the floor and Ivor who was kneeling. She was glad that no one was hurt or that the defense magic that her father had made was not activated.

“Don’t worry Masha. Everything is fine. We really weren’t fighting. Besides, I apologize for the table. But don’t worry, he will replace it.” Ivo said while pointing at the destroyed table.

“Ah, that’s not necessary. I can buy a new table with the money I have. You guys just continue with what you wanted to talk about.” Masha slowly stepped back while looking at the two people. She continued. “Just tell me if you need anything. I’ll be right out front.” Masha walked away leaving the two of them.

Ivo just looked at Masha while enjoying another Cakeroll in his mouth. Although he didn't show it, he was a little surprised. Masha's appearance and expression were a little different from what he often saw outside.

She was too calm. Was it because she was from the Rumanoff family?

If this was an ordinary place, the owner would definitely contact the person in charge right away. If not, they would just be afraid and hope that there would not be too much damage.

The battle between two Mana holders could not be underestimated. Even for the first awakening, the damage caused could destroy the entire inn and its surroundings. What could ordinary humans do at that time?

Stop them? Impossible.

They would even be grateful if they were still alive.

"Am I thinking too much?" Ivo looked up at the wooden ceiling that had the fragrance of Rosewood. Although this place was a little simple without many ornaments or splendor, the security in this place was guaranteed.

Ivo sat down and leaned against another table and Ivor followed behind him. His gaze was still the same but now, he didn't dare to act rashly.

“If you have something to say, just say it now. If not, you can sit down and continue what we were doing. If there’s nothing else…”

Pointing towards the exit, Ivo said casually “You can leave this place immediately.”

Hearing that, Ivor sat back down in front of the person he hated. Holding back his anger, Ivor slowly said.

“About me working for you…”

“Yeah… yeah… I know. You don’t want me to order you to hurt Raven, right? I know that so you don’t have to keep saying it anymore.” Ivo replied while waving his hand.

Ivor let out a sigh of relief when he heard Ivo’s last words.

“But one thing you should know, if what I want is at odds with Raven and He decides to bother me, think carefully about which side you’re going to stand on.”

“Because when you stand on the other side, don’t blame me if Raven suffers. I know more than you can imagine and I know a lot of secrets that person has.”

“I understand,” Ivor said softly.