Chapter 7 : The Fragile and Depressed Young Master Has Disappeared!

Crasis wasn’t just the rising star of their family — she was the rising star of the entire Empire!

A woman of her caliber naturally had to climb toward a more powerful man!

Letting her marry Ron would be an utter waste — a loss too great for their family to bear!

Besides…While an assassination might risk exposure, it wasn’t guaranteed to fail.

As long as they hired a strong enough assassin — someone who could eliminate that maid beside Ron…

They still had a chance to preserve their family’s honor!

“Fine then. You are the future of the Phinip family, after all.”

“Even if this blows up and the old man holds me responsible — I’ll take the blame!”

Jon said, voice dripping with malice.

Hearing this, Crasis’s eyes widened, her gloom swept away in an instant.

“Really?!”

“What’s the plan?”

“Lure him out — then get rid of him!”

“How do we lure him? Who’s going to do it?”

“Even if he leaves the Castrellero estate, he’s still got that powerful maid with him!”

“She’s not someone your average assassin can handle!”

“We don’t have a solid lure yet, but… I already have someone in mind who can pull this off.”

“Who?”

“Heh… someone very dangerous…”

Just as the two were plotting Ron’s murder in detail—

BANG BANG BANG!

The lounge door was knocked on — hard.

The knocks felt like hammers slamming into their chests!

“Who is it?!”

Crasis asked in terror, clearly shaken.

The first time she asked, there was no reply.

It wasn’t until she couldn’t bear it and asked a second time—

That a man’s voice came from outside.

“Miss Crasis.”

“Your fiancé, Young Master Ron, requests your presence.”

“He wishes to speak with you privately at the observation deck.”

Upon hearing this—

Crasis tensed up.

She stood nervously, eyes filled with panic as she looked at her uncle.

“Ron’s looking for me?”

“Uncle…”

“You don’t think our conversation was overheard, do you?”

“Otherwise how would that useless wreck dare to approach us directly?”

“And at this timing, no less!”

That thought popped into Crasis’s mind — and the more she thought about it, the more sense it made!

They were on Castrellero territory, after all.

What if this lounge had surveillance magic?

The idea made Crasis frustrated.

Why had they been so careless — discussing such filthy matters right on their enemy’s turf?

Seeing Crasis flustered and unraveling—

Jon could only sigh in exasperation.

“You may be panicking, but I’m not.”

“I activated a soundproof barrier the moment we came in.”

“Not a single word of our conversation could’ve leaked out.”

After hearing Jon’s explanation, Crasis finally noticed that the ring on his hand was faintly glowing!

“As expected of Uncle!”

Realizing Ron hadn’t caught any incriminating evidence, Crasis let out a long sigh of relief.

Now more at ease, she frowned again in confusion.

“If he doesn’t have anything on us… Then why is he looking for me?”

In response to her doubt, Jon scoffed.

“Why he’s looking for you? Just go meet him and find out.”

“You’re a seasoned magic user — what, are you afraid a powerless cripple is going to eat you alive?”

That made Crasis feel even more reassured.

She stood up, opened the door, and gave a cold glare to the silver-haired butler who’d delivered the message.

“The observation deck, right?”

“Just me and him?”

“Can my mentor come with me?”

Faced with her stream of questions, The male butler hesitated for a moment.

“Well… Young Master Ron didn’t say Lord Jon couldn’t come along.”

“So I suppose it should be fine?”

With that confirmation, Jon signaled with his eyes for them to lead the way.

“Ron, I’d like to see just what trick you think you’re playing!”

At the same time—

Ron, who had moments ago felt confident about this confrontation, was now drenched in cold sweat, pacing back and forth restlessly!

“They really want to kill me no matter what?”

“Damn it…”

The conversation he’d secretly overheard had thrown him — a freshly graduated high schooler — into a terrifying survival crisis.

This meeting was no longer a test—it had instantly escalated into a life-or-death negotiation!

Crasis and Jon were on their way up.

But now, Ron found himself wavering.

In this high-stakes, zero-error environment, he couldn’t help but want to stall for time — to prepare more, just in case.

He had transmigrated… but hadn’t received any kind of cheat power or golden finger.

Was it even worth fighting this out?

What’s the point of continuing a life like this?

As that despairing thought began to dominate Ron’s mind—

The fear and anxiety on his face suddenly vanished.

No. 

Wait.

Why was he treating this new life like some kind of power fantasy?

Is a “golden finger” the only way to survive?

Hadn’t he made it through the first eighteen years of life without one?

Ron slowly regained his composure.

Screw it.

He’d fight with everything he had—Just like he always had before.

Even overwhelming power or cheat abilities mean nothing without the will to use them.

Man can overcome fate.

Ron had lived by that belief for all eighteen years of his former life.

With a firm gaze, he looked toward the entrance to the observation deck.

“You, all of you,” he said, voice cold and commanding.

“Until I give the order, no one is allowed to come out—no matter what happens!”

“Understood!?”

The hidden guards dropped to one knee and nodded heavily.

“Yes, sir!”

Ensuring that his bodyguards wouldn’t interfere out of concern for his safety,

Ron waved them off and turned his attention to the evening breeze—

Relishing this fleeting calm before the coming storm.

“Come on then.”

Creak—The wooden door to the observation deck swung open.

In a world without skyscrapers,even five stories high was enough to overlook the beautiful medieval capital.

Leaning casually against the stone wall, Ron enjoyed the cool midsummer night wind with a smile, watching the two people approaching, brimming with hostility.

Gone was the earlier panic and cowardice from his face.

As for Jon and Crasis:

Jon wore an expression full of contempt, clearly itching to shove Ron off the edge right here and now— anything to end this damn engagement on the spot.

Crasis, though from the opposing side, showed a rare flicker of admiration.

To think Ron really dared to meet them alone.

“Gutsy move, Ron,” she said with a smirk.

“You know full well we’d love nothing more than for you to ‘accidentally’ die right now…”

“Yet you still came to see us alone.”

“Should I call you brave… or just stupid?”

While speaking, Jon subtly activated a magic barrier to block eavesdropping.

The last thing he wanted was their murder plot getting exposed.

Even if the Castrellero family didn’t kill him for it, the elders of the Phinip family would break his damn legs.

As the negotiation began, Jon gestured for Crasis to step back.

They may all be eighteen, but judging from their previous exchanges, Ron was clearly no match for Crasis in terms of scheming.

And so, Jon would take control of this talk— letting the more experienced adult run the show.

Jon’s tone turned mocking and full of threat:

“I’m surprised you even showed up.”

“You think I wouldn’t dare kill you?”

Ron didn’t respond right away.

Instead, he slowly poured himself a bit of red wine.

As he let the wine breathe, he spoke calmly.

“I figured… you wouldn’t dare.”

That arrogance made Jon snort with laughter.

“Wouldn’t dare?”

“You think everyone’s as spineless and pathetic as you?”

“I could snap my fingers right now and snuff out your useless, powerless life!”

As he spoke, a searing flame danced in Jon’s palm.

From Jon’s perspective, Ron had only stayed alive out of fear— which is why he now mocked him as a coward.

Since persuasion hadn’t worked, he’d now use brute force— pressure Ron into suicide through sheer terror.

But what Jon didn’t know was:

The boy standing before him… had already died once.

Ron cast only a passing glance at the flames in Jon’s hand, before returning his attention to the red wine in his cup.

“What?” he asked flatly.

“Want me to pin you to the floor too?”

“Or are you planning to stain your hands and become your niece’s executioner?”

The words hit Jon like a slap.

He froze, momentarily stunned.

Why couldn’t he rattle this kid?

How had Ron’s mental state evolved so drastically, so quickly?

He used to be a fragile, broken shell— someone who’d shatter from even a glance or whisper of mockery!