Antonio's crimson eyes scanned the glowing runic panel, every rune reflecting a faint light across his cold, sharp features. Without a word, he summoned Tiffany.
She appeared instantly, silent as a shadow, her gentle and beautiful appearance, with long black hair and piercing black eyes, belying the lethal efficiency hidden beneath. Nineteen years old, only four years older than Antonio, she carried herself with a calm discipline shaped by years of silent duty.
Even when she herself was still a child, Tiffany had been far more mature and composed than others her age. It was that quiet steadiness that had made Antonio's mother entrust her with a task far heavier than her years—to look after Antonio.
Tiffany had always viewed him as a little brother, someone who deserved safety, warmth, and a future untouched by cruelty. In her mind, he remained the small, fragile boy she had cared for since he was five years old, following her with silent trust.
She had not always been strong.Years earlier, Antonio's maternal grandmother and mother had rescued Tiffany from a girls' trafficking ring, pulling her from a fate she refused to remember. From that day on, Tiffany was brought into the Crimson household and quietly assigned to Antonio. At first, she was only his caretaker, watching over him during his earliest years. Later, after receiving proper training, Antonio's mother gave her an additional role—his personal bodyguard. Since then, Tiffany had become more than just a servant. She was his shadow, his shield, and the blade that would move without hesitation if anyone dared threaten him.
"Arrange a B-grade mana gem," he said, his voice calm, almost casual, yet carrying the weight of command. "Black market. Immediate acquisition. No official channels."
Antonio gave the order without hesitation. A B-grade mana gem, sourced from the black market, bypassing all official channels. For the Crimson family—the strongest and wealthiest of the master families—money was not a limitation but a weapon.
Auction houses existed for those who needed recognition and legitimacy. Antonio needed neither. Every official transaction was watched by rival master families and government authorities, but the black market answered only to power and payment. And in that world, wealth erased trails, bought silence, and buried curiosity. What mattered was speed, secrecy, and control.
He had no intention of leaving a trace through auction houses or registered dealers. Money could replace risk, and silence could be bought. In his view, the black market was not a gamble but a tool—one perfectly suited to someone who understood how to use power properly.
Tiffany's sharp eyes flickered briefly. "For mana awakening, Young Master?"
"Yes," Antonio replied, unshaken. "The auction house is monitored, and other master families and government officials are watching every transaction. I cannot afford for anyone to know I'm awakening—not yet. The black market is the safest option; transactions there leave no official trail and cannot be easily tracked. Do not inform my mom or dad about the mana gem."
Tiffany's lips pressed into a thin line, already calculating risks. "Anonymous buyer, secure routes, no traces. Understood. I'll handle it personally."
Antonio inclined his head slightly, expression unreadable. "If the gem is flawed, destroy it. I do not gamble on someone else's greed. Speed and efficiency are absolute. No mistakes."
She nodded subtly, already disappearing into the shadows of the estate, moving like a phantom as she prepared to navigate the treacherous black-market network—a world of masked buyers, secret passwords, and hidden traps.
Antonio's gaze returned to the runic panel. Every tick of the glowing symbols reminded him of time slipping away.
This time, he thought, I control my awakening. No delays. No mistakes. No one will even know I exist until it is too late.
In my previous life, apathy delayed my awakening, he thought. This time, I will force the world to keep up with me.
Night had fallen over the city, the moon a thin silver sliver in the sky. Tiffany moved through the shadowed alleys like a predator, every step measured, every breath controlled. Her gentle and beautiful appearance masked a lethal hunter's instincts—she was A-rank, trained to survive and eliminate threats that would crush ordinary men.
In her hand, she carried a satchel lined with gold and encrypted tokens, the payment for a B-grade mana gem. The black market was alive tonight, filled with masked figures, whispered codes, and hidden traps. Most assumed she was a harmless courier. Few would guess she could take down multiple armed opponents without leaving a scratch.
She approached the agreed meeting point, a dimly lit doorway tucked into a narrow alley. A hooded man emerged, his movements cautious. Tiffany's eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the surroundings. Every shadow could hide an ambush; every step was a potential trap.
"The gem?" she asked, her voice soft yet carrying the authority of someone who had faced death countless times.
The man's gloved hand extended, holding the faintly glowing crystal. Tiffany's gaze assessed it instantly—runes, stability, impurities. Everything had to be perfect.
"Payment," she said, tossing the encrypted tokens to him. He caught them, hesitated for a fraction of a second—enough to realize she was no ordinary girl—and then vanished into the shadows. Tiffany's hand never left the dagger hidden beneath her cloak, a silent warning that she could strike in an instant if needed.
With the gem secured, Tiffany retraced her path through the darkened streets, every sense alert. Other hunters, lurking criminals, and black-market operatives could have been tracking her. Yet she moved like a ghost—leaving no trace, no sound, no clue. Her A-rank instincts guided every step.
By the time she returned to the estate, the first light of dawn brushed the sky. Antonio stood by the window, watching the pale glow spread across the horizon in silence. The world felt distant, muted.
Tiffany entered without a sound and placed the gem carefully on the table beside him. He did not turn immediately. Only after a moment did he lift his crimson eyes—calm, piercing—and examine the gem, the faint light reflecting in his gaze.
"Good," he said softly, his voice flat yet approving. "No mistakes. As always."
Tiffany inclined her head. "It is secure, Young Master. No one saw me, no one can trace this transaction. And if anyone had interfered… they would not have survived."
After a brief pause, she turned and left just as quietly, the door closing without a sound behind her.
Antonio's lips curved slightly—not a smile, but the quiet certainty of what was to come. The world would witness the awakening it had never expected—soon.