Back at the Ashenlocke Estate...

"So..."

Elder Fredricks slowly lowered the crystal wine glass onto the polished glass table before him.

Clink.

The soft sound echoed through the luxurious office.

He leaned back into his chair comfortably, crossing one leg over the other as a smug smile appeared on his aged face.

"Ezra Ashenlocke."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"The genius inventor of the Phantom Rolls."

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

The laugh sounded harmless at first, but the mockery hidden underneath was impossible to miss.

"A Lowline actually managed to grow a brain, huh?"

He took the glass cup and swirled the wine inside the glass.

The red liquid moved slowly along the crystal surface.

His gaze remained fixed on Ezra the entire time.

The contempt in his eyes wasn’t hidden.

In fact, it wasn’t even being concealed.

He wanted Ezra to see it.

Ezra sat calmly across from him.

His hands were locked in restraints, but his posture remained straight.

His black eyes stared at Elder Fredricks without fear and without respect.

Just observation.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

After the two Guards of Ash interrupted his vacation in Northwick, Ezra and Lucy had been forced to leave that very day.

The guards never explained anything.

They simply delivered the order.

After returning to the hotel, both Ezra and Lucy packed their belongings under the supervision of the two Guards of Ash.

The guards were Meister Rank Alchemists.

Experienced and powerful.

The kind of people ordinary nobles wouldn’t dare offend.

Afterward, Ezra returned the BNC Black Finance Card to one of the staff members.

Unfortunately, Park wasn’t present at the Head Office at the time.

The two never got the chance to properly say goodbye.

And like that...

The vacation ended.

They traveled back to Metallica.

Then back to the Ashenlocke Estate.

Only for Ezra to immediately find himself sitting inside Elder Fredricks’ private office wearing restraints.

Funny.

His eyes calmly moved around the room.

The office itself was extravagant.

Expensive paintings decorated the walls.

Golden ornaments rested on shelves.

Several antique weapons were displayed behind glass cases.

Everything screamed wealth.

Everything screamed status.

Yet despite all that luxury...

The room felt filthy.

Not physically, but because of the man sitting inside it.

Fredricks suddenly smiled.

"Do you know why you were brought here?"

He leaned further back into his chair.

Ezra didn’t answer.

Instead, his gaze lowered toward the restraints around his wrists.

Then toward the two young maids standing beside his sofa.

Then toward the two other maids standing beside Fredricks.

His eyes lingered on them briefly.

They all looked uncomfortable.

Nervous and Fearful.

Then Ezra returned his gaze to the old man.

Would you look at this old man.

His expression remained blank.

"I’ll be taking your servant Lowline."

Fredricks spoke casually.

Like he was discussing the weather.

Like Lucy was simply an item.

Not a person.

Not someone with thoughts and feelings.

Just a property.

The old man’s smile widened.

His eyes carried no attempt at hiding his intentions.

Ezra saw it immediately.

The greed.

The possessiveness.

And the disgusting lust hidden underneath.

When Ezra and Lucy arrived at the Estate earlier, Lucy had immediately been taken away by maids belonging to Fredricks’ faction.

At the same time, Ezra had been arrested by Guards of Ash under Fredricks’ authority.

The entire thing had been absurd from the beginning.

But Ezra didn’t resist.

Not because he couldn’t.

But because information always came before action.

He needed to understand the situation first.

Only then could he decide what to do.

Not like there was any need for him to even act himself.

"I’ll even give you one of my maids in exchange."

Snap.

Fredricks snapped his fingers.

The maid standing beside him immediately stepped forward and placed a document onto the table.

Ezra glanced at it.

A Servant Swap Agreement.

His eyes moved across the contents, then he looked away.

"Not interested."

His reply came immediately.

Flat.

Simple and direct.

Fredricks blinked.

"Well, just sign with your blood and then we can discuss the main reason I brought you here."

The Elder continued talking.

Clearly not listening.

"You should be grate..."

Suddenly...

His words stopped.

His brain finally processed Ezra’s response.

"Not interested?"

Fredricks repeated.

The smile vanished.

The veins on his forehead bulged visibly.

"This fucking Lowline."

His voice dropped.

Dangerously low.

The temperature inside the room seemed to fall.

"Do you want to die?"

The air suddenly became heavier.

A terrifying amount of Cognis erupted from Fredricks’ body.

The pressure spread across the office.

The furniture trembled.

The wine inside the glass vibrated.

"You think a little stardom makes you something now?"

His voice exploded through the room.

"You piece of trash."

He pointed directly at Ezra.

"This is why your own parents couldn’t accept you."

His expression twisted.

"They would rather die than acknowledge your existence."

His finger trembled from anger.

"You got lucky once. Once. And now you’re acting like a noble in front of me?"

His eyes became colder.

"You...A Lowline..."

Fredricks slowly shook his head.

The contempt in his expression deepened.

"Choose your next words carefully, Lowline maggot."

Boom.

The Cognis pressure crashed down fully.

Ezra immediately felt the force.

His mind shook violently.

His thoughts became heavier and his body felt like it was carrying a mountain.

The pressure wasn’t simply physical.

It attacked the mind directly.

The soul and consciousness.

His brain felt like it was beginning to overheat.

Like countless needles were being driven into it.

The surrounding maids suffered even more.

Unlike Ezra...

They weren’t Alchemists.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The girls collapsed onto the floor one after another.

Their bodies trembled violently.

They clutched their heads.

Blood began leaking from their eyes.

Their lips.

Their noses.

The pain was so intense they couldn’t even scream properly.

Only broken sounds escaped their mouths.

Ezra could barely raise his head.

His muscles strained.

His bones felt heavier.

Yet despite everything...

He still looked directly at Fredricks.

Then he spoke.

"No..."

The words came slowly.

Painfully.

Yet clearly.

"Not interested."

The exact same answer.

The exact same tone.

The Elder’s eye twitched.

For the first time...

Something resembling disbelief appeared in his face.

Then anger followed.

Far worse than before.

But instead of exploding...

Fredricks suddenly became quiet.

The silence was more dangerous than his shouting.

He stared at Ezra for several moments.

Then sighed.

"Ah."

He stood up.

"Well...It’s not like you have any choice."

He grabbed the metal pen on the table.

Step.

Step.

Step.

The Elder walked around the table.

His intention was obvious.

Force the signature.

Force the contract.

Then claim Lucy.

But just as he reached Ezra...

BOOM!

The office door exploded open.

The impact shook the entire room.

Fredricks immediately turned.

His Cognis surged toward the intruder.

"Who dares..."

His voice stopped.

The pressure disappeared.

His expression froze.

Standing at the doorway was an elderly woman dressed in a maid uniform.

Unlike ordinary maids, her outfit carried subtle distinctions.

Symbols of authority.

Symbols of rank.

Symbols of power.

A Head Maid.

And not just any Head Maid.

One belonging to Elder Portia.

The woman stood calmly.

Unmoved and unaffected.

As though Fredricks’ pressure had never existed.

"Elder Fredricks."

Her voice was polite, but firm.

"My Lady sent me to retrieve the boy you took without proper authorization."

She stepped forward.

"And his maid belongs under my supervision."

Her eyes hardened.

"So why exactly are you touching her?"

The room became silent.

Fredricks clenched his jaw.

"And what if I refuse?"

The Head Maid didn’t hesitate.

"Then Elder Portia said you should prepare yourself for an Akai of Elimination."

The moment those words left her mouth...

Elder Fredricks swallowed hard with his annoyed expression changing.

He knew exactly what would happen if he accepted that challenge.

If he fought Portia...

He would lose.

There wasn’t even a need to think about it.

The answer had already been decided before the battle even began.

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue loudly.

The humiliation burned inside his chest.

His pride screamed at him to refuse.

His anger screamed at him to continue.

Yet reason won in the end.

There was simply nothing he could do.

"Get the brat out of my sight."

His voice came out cold.

The terrifying Cognis pressure that had filled the room finally disappeared.

The invisible mountain weighing down everyone inside instantly lifted.

The maids who had collapsed onto the floor gasped for breath.

Some clutched their chests.

Others held their heads while trembling.

Although the pressure had disappeared and their lives were no longer in immediate danger, none of them possessed the strength to stand up again.

Blood still stained the corners of their lips.

Tears mixed with blood slowly ran down their cheeks.

The Head Maid stepped forward.

She intended to help Ezra up.

After all, even an Alchemist should have suffered considerably under a pressure like that.

However...

Ezra stood up on his own.

His movements were slower than normal.

His body still felt heavy.

A dull pain continued to pulse through his mind.

But despite that, he calmly rose to his feet.

He shook his head lightly once.

Then walked toward the door as though nothing had happened.

Fredricks watched the scene.

Disbelief slowly appeared on his face.

He can still move after taking that pressure?

His eyes narrowed.

For a brief moment, killing intent flashed deep within them.

I should have increased the pressure further.

I should have just crushed his mind completely.

His fists tightened.

The veins on the back of his hands bulged.

Then his gaze shifted toward the maids lying on the floor.

His expression darkened.

Well, if I had increased it any further...

These girls would’ve died first.

He clicked his tongue again.

Finding teenage maids that satisfied his tastes had already become difficult enough.

Especially now that Portia was watching him more closely than before.

Fredricks exhaled heavily.

The irritation in his chest refused to disappear.

"Guards!"

His voice thundered through the room.

Immediately...

The office door opened.

Several Guards of Ash entered and bowed.

"Elder!"

"Take them out of here."

Fredricks waved his hand lazily.

"Send them to the clinic."

The guards bowed once more.

Without hesitation, they carefully lifted the unconscious and injured maids before carrying them out of the office.

The room finally became quiet.

Meanwhile...

Outside the office building.

The Head Maid walked beside Ezra.

The moment they stepped out into the open air; a cool breeze brushed across the courtyard.

The sunlight illuminated the white stone pathways that connected the various buildings within Elder Fredricks’ estate grounds.

The scenery looked peaceful.

Far too peaceful compared to what had just happened inside.

"I apologize for the inconvenience you and your maid had to face immediately after returning to the Estate."

The Head Maid stopped, then she bowed respectfully.

Her apology was sincere.

She wasn’t simply saying the words out of obligation.

"It’s fine."

Ezra replied in his usual flat tone, his expression remaining unchanged.

As though he truly didn’t care.

The Head Maid looked at him for a moment.

Then sighed inwardly.

This child really is difficult to read.

The group continued walking.

Soon...

They exited the office building completely.

The moment they reached the courtyard outside...

"Master!"

A familiar voice called out.

Lucy.

She had been pacing back and forth the entire time.

The moment she saw Ezra appear; relief instantly filled her face.

Her eyes sparkled.

The nervousness she had been carrying disappeared.

For a split second, she even looked ready to throw herself at him.

However...

Lucy immediately remembered something.

Master would dodge.

Definitely.

Without a doubt.

The image of herself hugging empty air while Ezra casually stepped aside flashed through her mind.

She stopped herself.

Barely.

Slash!

Suddenly...

The Head Maid moved.

Her hand flashed through the air.

The restraints around Ezra’s wrists split apart instantly.

The cuts were so clean that it looked as if an invisible blade had passed through them.

The broken restraints fell onto the ground with metallic clinks.

Ezra rotated his wrists slowly.

The slight stiffness disappeared.

"Thank you."

He glanced toward the Head Maid.

Then immediately asked the question that mattered to him.

"So."

His black eyes looked at her calmly.

"Why was I called back?"

The Head Maid smiled.

"About that..."

She folded her hands neatly.

"I think it would be better to explain while we’re on our way to Elder Portia’s Maison."

Soon after...

The three entered a small Steam Carriage.

The vehicle departed from Elder Fredricks’ estate grounds and began moving through the Ashenlocke Estate.

The scenery outside gradually changed.

Large mansions passed by.

Training grounds.

Gardens.

Workshops.

Various estate facilities.

The carriage continued forward smoothly.

Inside...

The atmosphere was considerably calmer.

The Head Maid bowed slightly again.

"Once more, I would like to apologize for the disturbance."

"No, Ma’am!"

Lucy quickly waved both hands.

Her reaction was immediate.

The idea of a Head Maid repeatedly apologizing to her made her nervous.

After all, this woman held considerably higher status than most servants within the Estate.

Meanwhile...

Ezra simply sat beside the window.

His elbow rested lightly against the carriage door.

His gaze remained outside.

The moving scenery reflected faintly in his eyes.

He didn’t say anything, but he was listening.

The Head Maid took a breath.

Then began her explanation.

"A serious argument broke out because of your Phantom Rolls invention."

Her voice carried a trace of helplessness.

"There were many members of the Family, along with several Elders, who believed you should have involved the Family’s craftsmen during the development process."

Lucy immediately frowned.

"But isn’t the Family primarily focused on guns and weapon production?"

She couldn’t understand the logic.

The Phantom Rolls was a Steam Carriage.

Not a firearm.

Not a weapon.

What did the Family craftsmen have to do with it?

"That was exactly Elder Portia’s argument."

The Head Maid nodded.

"As well as several other high-ranking members of the Family."

She sighed.

"But..."

A bitter smile appeared.

"You know how greed works."

Lucy fell silent.

She already knew where this conversation was heading.

"Some of those people have connections to several of the major companies that attended the Auction Event."

The Head Maid continued.

"And in truth..."

Her expression became slightly colder.

"A few of them attempted to convince the Family leadership that control over your decisions should be transferred to the Family."

Lucy immediately looked shocked.

"Control?"

"Yes."

The Head Maid nodded.

"Whether you signed a contract or whether you sold the rights. Who received the invention... They wanted the Family to make those decisions instead of your Master."

Lucy’s brows furrowed deeply.

The more she listened, the more absurd it sounded.

"But everything was settled in the end."

She looked at the Head Maid.

"How?"

The Head Maid smiled.

This time, her expression carried a trace of admiration.

"Lady Vera intervened."

Her gaze shifted toward Ezra.

Then back toward Lucy.

"She revealed that both she and your Master have been preparing another surprise presentation."

Lucy’s eyes widened.

Immediately...

A memory surfaced, during the last time Lady Vera visited them.

The discussions about a hidden gun project, Ezra and Lady Vera had before she left.

The Head Maid continued calmly.

"A completely new innovation related to firearms."

Silence filled the carriage.

Lucy blinked several times.

Then slowly turned toward Ezra.

The person in question still remained seated beside the window.

Expressionless and calm, still looking outside as if none of this concerned him.