The towering mansion gradually crumbled, dust rising in all directions, blanketing the vast courtyard with a swirling layer of brown particles.

Viktor stood behind Jace Reiser, his cold gaze fixed upon him.

His coat fluttered in the dusty wind, its white runes faintly glowing, repelling all approaching dust.

Hearing that all-too-familiar voice, Jace's heart skipped a beat.

It felt as if a massive stone had suddenly lodged in his throat.

He hadn't even noticed when Viktor had appeared.

It was as if a gust of wind had suddenly placed him there.

Jace's face stiffened, as if several steel nails had pierced his muscles, but he still tried to maintain a calm facade as he said:

"Vick... Councilor Kravina."

"I don't understand what you mean."

Viktor's eyes showed not a ripple of emotion.

"You don't understand?"

A magical array emerged from behind Viktor, rapidly rotating.

A flash of white light enveloped Cindy, who was lying on the ground. She floated up and drifted in front of Jace.

"You should recognize this person, right?"

"I'm the one who beat her."

Hearing Viktor's words, Jace shuddered violently.

He had thought the bear-man had inflicted such severe injuries on Cindy.

But to his surprise, it was Viktor who had done it!

His face remained tense, his eyes darting around, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

But... what about that bear-man?

Jace found it hard to connect the giant bear-man with Viktor.

How could a creature like a bear-man possibly obey a human's commands?

But what he saw next completely overturned his understanding.

Viktor called out to the rising dust cloud:

"Helnersen."

As soon as the words fell, a burly bear-man gradually walked out from the dust.

His body was unscathed, only his clothes were slightly torn.

A powerful aura constantly emanated from his every breath, the sound of his heartbeat like the beating of giant drums, reaching Jace's ears.

As his completely muscular body stood in the sunlight, the thick dust gradually dispersed.

The huge ruins behind him were exposed to everyone's eyes, with debris constantly falling, crashing into the walls that had been pulverized into sand and stone.

The remaining fragments of the building seemed to sway precariously in mid-air.

The fountain pool that had been bubbling moments ago was now split in two.

The water was still gushing out, but now flowed towards the ruins.

The twisted giant iron gate was also hanging on the ruins, creaking ominously.

As for those family knights and maids? There was no trace of them anymore.

In the wake of the battle, they had almost all disappeared under that attack.

This huge courtyard was now completely buried under broken stones and shattered wood.

Only Helnersen, with his tall figure, stood naturally with his back to the collapsed ruins.

Seeing this scene, Jace's mind went blank.

"Wh... why?"

He looked at the magic cannon he was struggling to hold, trembling uncontrollably.

That shot just now had clearly hit the bear-man's body.

Under that blinding white light, no creature should have been able to survive.

Even if it was a bear-man...

But... what was going on with this bear-man?

Jace's eyes trembled in their sockets, feeling a sense of despair as he released his grip on the magic cannon.

He slowly lowered his head, looking at his own hands.

Those hands were constantly shaking with fear and shock.

Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of terror spreading throughout his body, but he felt his vision darken, his body becoming unsteady, and he fell on his bottom onto the cracked floor.

"Surprised?" Viktor said calmly.

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Helnersen took heavy steps, moving closer to Jace Reiser step by step.

A strong sense of crisis surged in Jace's heart.

He raised his head, trembling as he looked directly at the terrifying bear-man.

The giant bear-man placed his thick arm on his chest, standing steadily in front of Viktor, and gave a slight bow.

"Master."

Jace's mind went blank instantly.

Ma... Master?

This bear-man... was actually Viktor's man!?

How on earth did he manage that!?

Jace's body shook even more as he asked Viktor:

"Is he... a demi-human slave?"

Hearing this, Helnersen lowered his head, looking down at Jace:

"Allow me to introduce myself, Mr. Reiser."

"I am the butler of the Kravina family, Helnersen."

His words were filled with politeness and respect that seemed at odds with his physical appearance.

But Helnersen's muscular body beneath that refined demeanor gave Jace an extremely ominous feeling.

It was as if he was being warned.

Just one punch.

Yes, one punch from this bear-man in front of him.

Could kill him.

Jace's eyes widened, his mouth agape.

"Bu... butler?"

The Kravina family actually allowed a demi-human to serve as their butler?

And it was a bear-man at that!

How was this possible?

The level of ferocity of bear-men was unimaginable to ordinary people.

In the impression of all humans who had seen bear-men, they were simply incapable of communicating with humans.

They were like true beasts, with strength even greater than that of actual giant bears.

And, even more ferocious and brutal than that.

But the bear-man before him truly subverted his understanding.

However, Viktor's voice soon sounded above his head.

"Just a reminder, I'm not here to chat about household matters with you."

Jace shuddered again.

He only now realized that he was already sandwiched between the two.

Even if he wanted to call for help, there was no possibility of getting a message out.

Escape?

He couldn't possibly escape in front of such a bear-man.

He needed to save himself, he needed to save himself!

Jace Reiser's brain was working at high speed. He looked up at Viktor and hurriedly said:

"Councilor Kravina... there might be some misunderstanding between us."

"Misunderstanding?"

Viktor looked at Jace, then his body leaned back towards the ground behind him.

As he tilted back, it was as if ink suddenly formed on the ground, quickly structuring into a black chair that supported Viktor's body.

He rested one elbow on the armrest, propping up his face, looking at Jace with great interest.

"Go on."

After rapid thinking, Jace suddenly thought of a way to save himself:

"As you can see, Councilor... Cindy was sent out by our main family to carry out the task of capturing demi-humans and elves."

"We did indeed break the law, and for that, I'm willing to go to prison."

Jace's meaning was very clear.

Cindy had nothing to do with him personally, He was sent by the Reiser family's main branch.

He knew nothing about it.

But as the heir of the Reiser family, he couldn't completely avoid responsibility.

So, Jace chose to go to prison.

Most importantly, it was Cindy who intended to kill on Kravina family territory.

And Cindy had already been beaten to a pulp by Viktor.

As for the crime committed by the Reiser family, it was merely capturing demi-humans and luring elves.

This matter had nothing to do with the Kravina family.

Jace's reasoning was flawless.

And as long as he could go to prison, he would be safe.

Jace wasn't afraid of prison at all.

With the family's network of relationships, he would be released very soon.

Moreover, even in prison, those jailers wouldn't dare to do anything to him.

After all, he was the young master of the Reiser family, Jace.

These jailers would only keep trying to curry favor with him.

Having said this much, Jace was very confident.

Because if this continued, Viktor would already be committing a crime.

Thinking of this perfect reason, even Jace's trembling body calmed down.

His eyes also gradually regained some clarity.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Suddenly, Viktor's voice sounded.

As if with a hint of mockery, the corners of his mouth curved upwards slightly.

A contract suddenly appeared in the air, slapping down on the floor in front of Jace.

Jace lowered his head, looking at the contents of the contract, completely bewildered.

He could only hear Viktor's indifferent voice continuing:

"That elf you captured is my employee."

"Now, I should have a reason, right?"

As soon as the words fell, Jace froze in place.

He felt his body become extremely rigid.

It was as if a huge black hand had firmly restrained his body.

In Jace's view, behind Viktor, terrifyingly violent flames suddenly ignited.

The flames spread rapidly, completely engulfing the only intact and luxurious mansion.

Thick smoke billowed, fierce fire raged.

The fire devoured the last surviving wall, completely becoming fuel for the flames.

In the midst of the raging fire, Viktor's expression remained as calm as ever.

"Since you say Cindy was sent by your main family,"

"Then, let's have someone from your main family come in person."

Instantly, a gust of black wind suddenly erupted, whipping up rubble and stones, raising dust.

It was as if the night had turned into a gale, constantly sweeping under the blazing sun.

As the wind died down, Jace gradually couldn't keep his eyes open.

He could only see everything in front of him become extremely blurry.

Jace coughed while tightly closing his eyes, using his arms to shield his face.

Then, the black wind gradually subsided.

Jace and Viktor, who were originally amidst the raging fire,

Disappeared simultaneously.

Only Helnersen, this giant bear-man, stood in the roaring flames.

He picked up the giant cannon that Jace had left embedded in the floor, and walked towards the flaming mansion.