The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 110 The First Young Master's Grief

Everstone Clan, Internal Affairs Hall

Aria sat at her desk, her face pale with shock as she processed the news.

"You're telling me that one of the Second Young Master's warriors was found pinned to a tree at the base of Mount Eternity?"

"Yes, Lady of Internal Affairs," replied the kneeling figure in pale robes.

The man was no warrior. He was a tactician, a member of the Everstone Clan's Strategist Division, responsible for serving as the "brain" of the clan.

"...I didn't think the two brothers were on such bad terms," she muttered, brows furrowed in thought.

"That is correct. It seemed to be nothing more than a healthy rivalry..."

There were only three possibilities:

The First Young Master perceived the Second Young Master as a threat and acted against him.The Second Young Master orchestrated the event as a ploy to discredit his brother.A third party had intervened.

But who would benefit from interfering in the Everstone Clan's succession?

Aria leaned back, the weight of the situation pressing on her mind. As the overseer of all finances and resources for the Everstone Clan, she knew every transaction and contract passed through her.

'Who could stand to profit from this? The clan's supply chains are tightly controlled. Switching suppliers or benefactors is virtually impossible without breaching our stringent requirements for high-quality materials suited to our formations.'

The Everstone Clan's strength lay not just in its martial power but also in its strategic minds and mechanical formations. Every aspect of their infrastructure was intricately managed, leaving little room for external manipulation.

Even so, the implications of such an incident within the Five Great Clans were severe.

Aria sighed deeply and gave her orders.

"Strengthen the patrols around the estate. Activate all defensive formations, even those normally left dormant. Restrict the entry of outsiders. If any visitors arrive to see me, inform me directly. I will visit the leader myself."

"The leader? But, my lady, he is in seclusion..." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"True," she replied with another sigh, "but if this escalates, we may have no choice but to bring him into this mess."

She paused before continuing, her tone grim.

"If we're not careful, this could end with the First Young Master and Second Young Master shedding blood over the leader's seat."

A Few Days Earlier – Akrest Clan, leader's Study

Ebon Akrest stood face-to-face with a frail old man, his expression tense.

The elder before him was no ordinary man.

He was the former leader of Bloodshadow Pavilion, a shadowy assassin organization. Known as The Dark Emperor, he had once been feared across the martial world before vanishing into obscurity.

"I don't doubt that you are the Dark Emperor," Ebon Akrest said cautiously.

"A wise deduction," the old man replied with a sinister chuckle.

"And you wish to avenge your disciple?"

"A rare opportunity to find justification for killing, wouldn't you agree?"

A chill ran down Ebon Akrest's spine. The old man's presence was anything but normal.

To reach such heights as an assassin, one had to forgo things like humanity or common sense.

"Who is the target?"

"I don't know for certain. I've only heard rumors."

"Not certain?"

The Dark Emperor sneered, slowly rising from his seat.

Then, without warning, a suffocating pressure filled the room.

"Ugh...! Kugh!"

Ebon Akrest gasped for air as the overwhelming killing intent pinned him to his chair.

Even as a warrior at the mid-stage of Supreme Mastery, he was utterly helpless before this man.

The Dark Emperor, a mid-stage Kingdom of Harmony Master, was a force beyond reckoning.

His emaciated frame and skeletal limbs belied a terrifying power.

"What brings you here? Everstone Clan is restricting access to outsiders."

"I heard at the base of Mount Eternity that someone was killed."

"...And how exactly did you hear of that?"

"I'm here to meet the Lady of Internal Affairs."

"I see."

The guard hesitated briefly before continuing, "The Lady instructed us to report any visitors requesting an audience directly to her. May I have your name?"

"Aiden, second disciple of Suncrest Sect. This is my disciple, Vera."

"Understood. Please wait here while I relay your message."

The guard saluted and bowed before turning to hurry into the estate. He would likely return soon, leaving them to wait at the gate.

It was a simple task—stand still and wait. Nothing more, nothing less.

Or so they thought.

That was until a man strode out from the gates, his face shadowed by sorrow and his voice tinged with hostility.

"Who are you?"

It was less a question and more an accusation—a natural reaction born of grief and suspicion.

Aiden narrowed his eyes but chose to forgo formalities or pleasantries.

"I am Aiden, second disciple of Suncrest Sect. I've come to see Aria, the Lady of Internal Affairs."

"My youngest sister? Why?"

"That is a matter I wish to discuss with her directly."

The First Young Master, Crescent Everstone, scowled deeply.

Though normally a composed and logical man, today he was but a grieving brother—a man who had lost his closest childhood friend and personal guard.

"And why can't you tell me?"

He stepped forward, blocking the entrance.

"Do you think I'd let suspicious strangers into my clan without explanation? Tell me, or I won't let you through."

"The Lady of Internal Affairs is not under your jurisdiction. This matter concerns her directly—"

"Enough!"

His voice thundered, echoing across the gates.

It was unreasonable, but grief had driven him to this point.

Still, Aiden remained calm, observing Everstone Crescent with an almost amused expression.

'He's trying to protect Aria. That means he doesn't suspect her of foul play.'

If he had, he wouldn't care about barring an outsider. His defensiveness suggested he believed the threat came from beyond the clan, not within.

That's when Crescent turned his gaze to Vera, pointing sharply at her.

"And this little girl—what business does she have here? If this matter involves Everstone Clan, why should a child know before I do?"

"She is..."

Before Aiden could respond, Vera stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.

"This is not a matter of the Everstone Clan."

"...What?"

"It concerns me. My master has come to speak with the Lady of Internal Affairs on my behalf."

Her words reframed the entire conversation, catching Crescent off guard.

Then, with his own phrasing, she delivered the final blow:

"...Or is the First Young Master of Everstone Clan truly so desperate as to pry into the secrets of a mere girl?"

It was checkmate.