"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Aluyra barked and a viscous spit escaped from her mouth. She wriggled around and tried to escape from the surrounding bindings. However, her attempt failed and instead, she fell onto the floor, still stuck in her chair.

"Sheesh," Aleister scratched his neck. "At least you're still alive! Doesn't it feel good to have your life back and you're a Weaver? I know you're thankful, but you can keep the volume down."

Panry looked at Aleister and smiled. "I understand. This was what Lilith planned for me. Thank you for showing me death and revealing the purpose of my life. I will get started on sorting the applicant list right away, but could you please put me in a separate room from her? Being in the same room as such an aggressor is unsettling."

Aleister smiled wryly. Panry's words may have been pleasant, but there was still a feeling of disdain and contempt buried within. Not that he could find any fault with that.

"What do you mean, aggressor? How are you not fucking pissed after the stunt he pulled?"

"Lilith ordained this task and set it into motion, so, of course, I cannot be angry. After all, Master Aleister is correct, we are still alive in the end."

Aleister sighed. "Look, I know you're angry, so how about I get you some food. I'm sure that will cheer you up."

"You better not undue this rope, or else I'll mangle your face until it's unrecognizable."

"Oh, really?" Aleister yawned as he undid the surrounding ropes. "I'm all for it. Just be warned that I won't spare your life a second time."

Aluyra went silent as she stood up next to Panry. There was still some residue of fear from both him and of death in her. Besides, she knew that what she said was just words at the end of the day. There was no way she would dare to attack him in any fashion when she had no true understanding of the power she now held. "Where are the other two?"

"Dead or else they would have been here."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. I may have scared both of them a bit too much. Tragic really."

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"This isn't funny."

"I kindly disagree, but fine, they're in the other room as stuff happens to them. You know magic, anima, all that good stuff."

"I didn't know that, but I'm glad that they're safe at least."

"Speaking of not knowing, you really need to tell me more about yourself. Oh, and show me those super rare artifacts. Don't worry, I'm not going to sell them, I just want to see them."

"In your dreams."

"Fine, don't. I'll know all whenever I get your full report from Mirror Mountain."

"Tch." Aluyra rubbed her wrists where the roped had been bound and turned her head. "What was about food again?"

"Well, I don't think you two are ever going to trust any food or drinks I give you ever again, so..." Aleister took out two gold pouches and tossed one to each. "There's about twenty or so gold in there. Go eat—whatever. I have other important stuff to take care of. When you're satisfied, or whenever it reaches midday, come back to the dojo and ask Luo Yun where the storage closet is. Like I said, your first task is to sort through the applicants."

Panry's hands shook as if the weight of the gold was too much for him to bear, even though it couldn't weigh any more than a tenth of a pound. Even Aluyra looked at it with suspicion.

Aleister didn't wait for them to move and instead, he left and entered the room with Malozar and Stronvun. Kyoko had managed to get her hands on two white-onyx crystals and delivered them to him this morning.

I wonder how much power Aunt Emi has to make Aunt Lavinia bend to her whims like that. Unless, of course, they conducted a trade of some sorts which is no doubt more likely. Even still, I wonder what was traded. Well, whatever it was, I'm better off not thinking about it or its value.

Both of them were still tied to their chairs and asleep. The first thing he did upon arriving at the dojo this morning was to force them to drink a sleeping potion. He ran out of the fast-acting sleeping pills and didn't want to create any more due to their expensive costs and low returns.

"Well, now that I know the white-onyx crystal overwrites your bloodline, it's a good thing I chose the nice way of using it with you," Syn said, hovering right behind Aleister. He had no idea what to do, so she was the guiding hand here. "At least now we know why you didn't become a Weaver from it back then."

Aleister nodded. Since the process was voluntary, my bloodline must have crushed the white-onyx crystals. Or maybe even if it was forced upon him, the same result would occur. He didn't know, but he had a feeling that due to time, the effects of the white-onyx crystals were not as strong as they used to be.

"Ready?" Syn asked.

"Yup." Aleister took in a deep breath and removed the tops of both Malozar and Stronvun. When he wanted to absorb it, he simply let it melt into his mouth. However, now that Syn gained a better understanding and knew this would be a forceful takeover, the method in which the white-onyx crystal was absorbed was different.

"It's a shame I was never interested in the physical and bodily aspects of alchemy and medicine or else this would be less tense for you."

"Well, don't delay it any further for me. You're just making it worse."

"Start with the half-orc first. His body is larger and his skin is thicker. That should make it easier for your first attempt."