Under his teammates' gazes, Reyn slowly stood.
"I'm truly sorry about what happened to Milton," Reyn said sincerely. "The events of that night were beyond my control. I wanted to fight side by side with you, but it seems that chance won't come again."
With that, he took off his communication watch and placed it on the table.
"Reyn!" Pollock burst out.
The others' faces changed too. No one expected Reyn to be so decisive and leave without the slightest hesitation.
"Reyn, don't rush!" Pollock said hastily. "I believe you didn't dodge on purpose, and I never thought of kicking you out."
"I know." Reyn nodded but had no intention of changing his mind. "I value my place in the squad," he added with a note of regret, "but I have too many personal matters keeping me from fulfilling my duties properly. If I stay, I'll just be wasting a spot."
Pollock smiled bitterly, regretting his words. Reyn had indeed rarely shown up at the squad base, seeing teammates only a few times, but there was no question of neglecting duties. Destroying the Abyss Gates alone had benefited Longsand more than their entire department combined. Even if Reyn just stayed on payroll doing nothing for a hundred years, he'd have earned it.
He wanted to explain more, try to keep Reyn.
But Reyn shook his head firmly and said with a smile:
"Captain, and everyone else, see you around."
With that, he turned and left the assembly room.
Pollock and the others exchanged glances.
After a long silence, the usually quiet and sweet-faced Frida suddenly snorted and, with an icy expression, swiftly left the room. Hargrove watched her go, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Reyn left the Public Safety Bureau with a light heart. He got on his bicycle and headed back to Silverstar Academy to continue moving books.
He hadn't gone halfway when a black car caught up from behind. It pulled alongside, and the rear window rolled down, revealing the head of the Bureau—Felion.
The legendary magical swordsman, exuding aristocratic dignity, looked as composed and calm as ever.
"Reyn, get in the car. Let's talk."
The car pulled over smoothly. Reyn didn't refuse. He stowed his bicycle in the trunk, got in, and greeted first:
"Sir Chief."
"I've already received Pollock's report. You want to leave the squad?" Felion asked directly.
"Yes."
Felion looked slightly disappointed but not surprised.
"With your strength, you'd leave the squad sooner or later," he noted calmly. "I just didn't expect it so soon."
Reyn smirked. Felion was one of the Silver Star Duchess's trusted aides and knew the events of that day well, so he didn't pry into reasons.
"That night, you told the Duchess there might be a traitor in the squad," Felion changed the subject, his face turning serious. "Over the last few days, I've conducted a thorough secret investigation. No traitor found. The Bureau's communication watches weren't tapped either. Maybe you were mistaken?"
"Not found?" Reyn doubted.
He doubted not the traitor's existence, but the reliability of Felion's secret check.
When he'd contacted Pollock from the underground fortress, the Duchess had just arrived at the Oath Sword, and the Shadow Blade immediately unleashed the earthquake. Such quick reaction suggested the Shadow Blade had received a warning.
Of course, it could be coincidence. Maybe the Shadow Blade just accelerated their plan, and the earthquake would have happened anyway.
But based on that lead, there was definitely a Shadow Blade spy in the Bureau.
Reyn desperately wanted to uncover that traitor. Because of them, his identity could be exposed, and if not eliminated, he'd risk Shadow Blade revenge.
Now Felion claimed no one was found, stirring a sense of danger in Reyn.
It was worth remembering that Harkon had lost only a few avatars; his main body was still alive.
Moreover, Sofman, previously hiding in Silverstar Academy, had vanished too. The Academy listed him as missing—presumed killed by the Shadow Blade that night.
Clearly, Sofman sensed trouble and fled.
So at least two Loxi followers survived. Possibly more, but they wouldn't dare show in Longsand soon.
Reyn's head even ached a bit. Truly endless troubles!
Felion understood his concern but, with the check yielding nothing, could only quietly advise:
"Be careful."
"Thanks, Chief," Reyn smirked wryly.
They talked a bit more. The car dropped Reyn at Silverstar Academy gates and drove off.
After spending most of the day in the Great Library, Reyn emerged only in the evening.
"Sir Reyn."
At the academy gates, a man resembling a steward awaited. He stepped forward and addressed Reyn respectfully.
Reyn stopped. He looked at the man, certain he didn't know him.
"Sir Reyn," the man continued, "Viscount Perry would like to invite you into his carriage for a talk. Would that be convenient?"
As he spoke, he pointed to a luxurious carriage across the street. It bore a noble crest on the door and was drawn by four stately black horses—a very conspicuous sight.
"Viscount Perry?"
Reyn recalled immediately: father of Dris, the one who'd initially blocked his squad entry. Rumor had it he was one of Longsand's richest men and deputy head of the Tax Bureau—an influential figure with money and power.
What could he want?
The Dris incident was nearly two months ago. Wasn't it too late to show up now?
Reyn's gaze swept the carriage. Nothing unusual, just a coach. One person inside, ordinary-looking—presumably Viscount Perry himself.
He nodded to the steward and headed to the carriage.
The steward hurried after, opened the door, and invited Reyn in.
"Sir Reyn." The lean man in the carriage half-rose. A courteous smile played on his face. His complexion was healthy, clearly well-maintained; he wore an expensive, perfectly tailored suit. But his gaze was slightly clouded, and crow's feet betrayed his age—over fifty at least.
Ordinary people past fifty rapidly declined physically due to the Blood Soul Curse's torments.
He extended a hand:
"I'm Perry Liansel. Pleased to meet you."
Reyn shook it.
"Viscount Perry."
Simultaneously, he scanned with the Eye of the Soul. Indeed, the viscount's soul was somewhat weak, far less stable than an ordinary person's—a sign of age and frailty.
Reyn skipped pleasantries. This man could be considered an enemy, so politeness was unnecessary.
"What do you want from me?" he asked directly.
Viscount Perry wasn't offended and got straight to the point.
"Sir Reyn, don't misunderstand—I have no ill intentions. I'm here today only to propose a deal."
"What deal?"
"I've heard Sir Reyn is seeking a demonic soul with Lightning Affinity?" Viscount Perry asked cautiously, noticing Reyn's gaze shift, and quickly explained: "Yesterday you bought a Swift Thunder Shadow Leopard soul in my shop. The shopkeeper reported it to me—that's how I knew."
"So that demon souls shop belongs to you, Viscount."
Reyn's expression softened slightly. He'd heard from Pollock that the Liansel family owned Longsand's largest demon soul farm.
"Do you have leads on Lightning Affinity?" he asked.
"Yes," Viscount Perry replied confidently. "Sir Reyn may have heard I own a sizable demon souls farm. We breed over ten species, and the Swift Thunder Shadow Leopard is one. The specimen you bought came from our farm."
Reyn nodded; now it all made sense.
"Swift Thunder Shadow Leopards are hard to tame, with long maturation periods," Viscount Perry said, "so we have few. No more than a hundred on the whole farm."
"These leopards serve as mounts or ranger companions. Each is very valuable."
"Several years ago, the farm raised an exceptionally strong Thunder Leopard. Its power equaled a third-level superhuman, with high chance of reaching mid-rank demonic beast."
Viscount Perry paused deliberately, but seeing no impatience on Reyn's face, continued somewhat embarrassedly:
"Sir Reyn surely knows a mid-rank Thunder Leopard has a chance to develop Lightning Affinity. It happened with this one."
"The farm's Soul Appraiser examined it. At least fifty percent chance the Lightning Affinity would manifest."
Reyn remained unmoved.
"And then?" he asked indifferently.
"Uh..." Viscount Perry hesitated before answering: "Its power grew faster than expected. Exploiting a guard's lapse, it killed several kin and escaped."
Reyn was momentarily speechless.
"When did this happen? And where did it flee?"
"The year before last."
Viscount Perry gave only the time, not the location—clearly not ready to show all cards.
Reyn saw his calculation. After a few seconds' pause, he smirked:
"You said you want to propose a deal. And you're offering me this information?"
"Of course not just that," Viscount Perry said confidently. "If Sir Reyn agrees to the deal, I can provide more details."
"Fine, what do you want in return?" Reyn asked patiently.
"Sir Reyn's friendship," the viscount replied unexpectedly, his gaze sincere. Reyn smirked mockingly:
"The Viscount has a sense of humor."
"No, I'm serious."
"I know there was conflict between Dris and Sir Reyn, enmity arose," Viscount Perry said gravely. "But it's trivial. I've already reprimanded Dris. He's still recovering. Once healed, he'll personally apologize to you."
"I'm afraid Dris won't be so compliant," Reyn smirked.
"He must obey me." A hard glint flashed in Viscount Perry's eyes. "Last month, I arranged his marriage. Wedding after New Year. I absolutely won't let him bother Lady Viola again."
Reyn still looked unconvinced.
"And what benefit do you get from my friendship?"
Viscount Perry was momentarily speechless.
In truth, until now, he harbored no warm feelings toward Reyn, who'd maimed his son—rather some resentment. But due to Reyn's ties to Viola and rumors in the Bureau of his acquaintance with a legendary demon hunter, two months ago he hadn't dared revenge and could only swallow it.
When the shopkeeper reported yesterday, he decided on a little investigation.
It turned out Reyn had bought demon souls on the market three times in recent months. Meaning in that short time, Reyn reached third-level mage!
What terrifying talent!
Even at first level, Reyn defeated fourth-level Dris. Now at third, he must be many times stronger.
Viscount Perry feared Dris, once recovered, provoking Reyn again and meeting death.
To his eldest son, the family's sole superhuman on whom he pinned great hopes as the Liansel future, Viscount Perry couldn't be negligent and sought to avert disaster beforehand.
For that, he'd specially disciplined Dris last night, warning him to stay away from Reyn.
Viscount Perry didn't fear Reyn per se but saw opportunity to gain advantage by mending ties.
Yet now Reyn seemed unimpressed by the gesture.
Reyn's Eye of the Soul clearly saw Viscount Perry's emotions. Clearly, he wasn't telling the full truth. Even without soul color, Reyn didn't buy this "gaining friendship" nonsense.
Merchants always seek profit; how could he offer service for free?
He smirked and stood.
"Viscount Perry, if that's all, I'll be going."
"Please wait."
Viscount Perry gritted his teeth and pulled a stack of gold bills from a hidden compartment under the seat.
Reyn glanced: ten bills, each a thousand gold shields. Ten thousand total—a fortune an ordinary man wouldn't earn in a lifetime.
"After New Year, Lady Carol retires," Viscount Perry said in a low voice. "I hope Lady Viola can put in a good word for me with Chief Carol."
Reyn smirked.
"So that's it," he thought.
The Lady Carol mentioned was Longsand's Tax Bureau chief, his direct superior. This woman controlling Longsand's finances also belonged to the ducal line. An ordinary human over sixty, her strength and health no longer sufficed for such a key post, so she prepared to retire.
When Lady Carol left, who knew how many would vie for the juicy position.
Carol had great sway over successor choice.
The Silver Star Duchess also stated she'd honor Carol's pick in gratitude for decades of service.
For months, Carol refused all visitors, giving no hints. Never married, no children. The only one who could talk to her truly close was Viola, also ducal kin.
Carol was Viola's father's only sister—her aunt.
Clearly, Viscount Perry eyed the chief position too.
Reyn shook his head.
"It's useless to appeal to me. If you want Viola to put in a good word for you, why not meet her in person?"
"Lady Viola refuses to see me."
Viscount Perry gave a crooked smirk. He knew full well about the relationship between Reyn and Viola and understood that the refusal stemmed from Dris insulting Reyn.
"If Lord Reyn can convey my request to Lady Viola to meet me at least once, these gold notes are your reward. I'll also share the information about the Thunder Leopard with you regardless of the outcome." Viscount Perry spoke with sincere earnestness, extending the money.
Reyn pondered for a moment, then nodded:
"Very well, wait for word."
He didn't take the money right away and stepped out of the carriage.