Humphrey of the Cancer Faction was a prominent figure, even among the Twelve Families. He was one of the Elders who was known to have destroyed two bases of Aria’s Rebel Army.

His face carried the sharp lines of nobility. He was already reaching the age of 50, but his appearance remained that of a man in his twenties.

He had a strong jaw, a narrow chin, and blue eyes that seemed to look a little lazy.

His blonde hair was kept neatly combed back, a deliberate style that emphasized the unusual feature hidden beneath his brow...

Well, on his forehead lay the mark of his lineage... a third eye, the product of the Cancer Faction’s unique gene mutation.

It was not always visible. Normally, it was concealed beneath a scarf or visor when he walked the streets.

The eye was rarely revealed outside of combat, for it was both a weapon and a symbol of his family’s power.

Those who had seen it in battle knew that it could pierce illusions, sense hostile intent, and even overwhelm weaker minds.

"Ahhh... I’ll enter the Perfect World later for 9 hours. Let’s finish that matter with old man Francis." Humphrey muttered as he recalled his task for today.

His daily life reflected the privilege of his station. He rose early, attended to faction duties, and oversaw the training of younger initiates.

His mornings were often spent reviewing reports from the faction’s merchants and smiths, ensuring that their trade remained profitable and their weapons were superior.

Afternoons were reserved for sparring and honing his combat skills, though he rarely revealed the full extent of his mutation as he would instead enter the VR World.

Despite the rigid structure of his life, Humphrey liked this a lot since he no longer had to go to the frontlines to fight against the A.I. Army, especially the Ascendant Units and other powerful machines that were controlled by Anima...

Still, he was ambitious, eager to prove himself worthy of the Cancer name, and constantly sought opportunities to expand his influence within the city walls...

One such opportunity lay in the smithy he had commissioned... a place where the finest weapons were forged under the faction’s patronage.

On this particular day, Humphrey left the mansion to visit Francis in the smithy. He had ordered a custom blade, one designed to channel his unique mutation more effectively. His steps were purposeful, his scarf drawn low to conceal the third eye, his guards trailing behind at a respectful distance.

But as he approached the gates, something caught his attention.

There, just beyond the iron bars, stood a small group of outsiders.

Among them was a woman whose beauty struck him like a sudden blow.

He could not mistake it!

He was a Level 50 Survivor, and this much distance was nothing to him!

He could clearly see that it wasn’t just made up! It was her bare face!

Considering how she didn’t seem to be part of the 12 Zodiacs, it must not be a face reconstruction as well.

"This... She’s mine!"

Her presence was unassuming, yet her gaze lingered on the mansion with curiosity. Humphrey froze mid‑stride, his breath catching.

For a moment, the smithy and his commission were forgotten.

He watched as the group began to turn away, clearly intending to leave.

He didn’t expect this but panic surged through him... the thought of letting her walk away without a word was unbearable.

His instincts urged him to act.

"Miss! Stop right there!" Humphrey’s voice rang out.

At the same time, the iron gates creaked open, pushed wide by the guards.

The sound echoed across the quiet street, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Humphrey stepped forward, his eyes locked on the woman.

His scarf concealed the third eye, but beneath it, the mutation pulsed with awareness, sensing her presence as something more than ordinary.

Meanwhile, the air grew tense as Kai’s group halted, caught between caution and curiosity.

Soon, Humphrey’s guards stood ready as they could already guess this Elder’s antics.

"Hmm?" Kai and the others glanced at the man from the Cancer Faction’s mansion.

"You there... Miss. What is your name? Which faction have you joined? If you haven’t reached Level 30 yet, I can help you. I’ll take care of you."

His tone was filled with entitlement, completely ignoring the rest of Kai’s group as if they didn’t exist.

The guards behind him stood at attention, ready to enforce his will, but his gaze never left Mei.

Mei’s stomach turned.

The way he spoke, as if she were some fragile ornament to be claimed, filled her with disgust. Still, she tried to remain civil since this wasn’t their territory...

She slightly forced herself to answer politely. "I don’t need—"

But Humphrey cut her off...

"I am Humphrey of the Cancer Faction. One of the Twelve Zodiac Families. You should feel honored that I am speaking to you. Under my care, you’ll rise quickly. You won’t have to struggle like the rest of these... outsiders."

At this point, each word grated against her patience.

She was on the verge of letting loose some words that could wound more than any weapon.

But before she could, Kai’s hand rested firmly on her shoulder.

The simple gesture was enough to calm her. He stepped forward, calmly looking at the man who called himself Humphrey and the guards around him.

"That’s enough," Kai said evenly. "We’ll be leaving now."

The words were simple, but the weight behind them silenced the tension.

Mei glanced at Kai, her anger subsided a little thanks to that.

Farrah then shifted closer, ready to support her, while Xian looked nervously between the guards and the Elder, realizing how dangerous this encounter could become.

Humphrey’s eyes squinted... He was clearly displeased at being dismissed so casually.

For a moment, it seemed a fight was about to break out right there in the street as his hands started turning red due to his Gene Skill.

But then, more and more people began to gather.

Locals stopped to watch, whispering among themselves. The sight of an Elder from the Cancer Faction confronting outsiders was enough to draw attention, and soon the quiet street was filled with curious eyes.

Humphrey immediately paused. He could not afford a public spectacle, especially when they had just suppressed the Beast-Class units of the A.I. Army...

His third eye pulsed beneath the scarf, itching to be revealed, but he restrained himself.

He took a step back and looked at Kai coldly...

"You may leave... for now. But remember this, I’ll be back for you."

His gaze then lingered on Mei before he turned away.