Chapter 115: A Ray of Hope

Evelyn stepped out from behind the hidden partition, a broad, toothy smile gracing her sharp features.

"Hey, kid... How did you find out?" Evelyn asked, striving to maintain her usual, unbothered composure.

She never expected Ethan to sense her presence. Once she consciously chose to conceal her presence, bypassing her stealth typically required a high-level detection spell from an Archmage or the enhanced aura perception of a Heaven Knight.

Ethan gave a nonchalant shrug. "Let’s just say I have very sharp senses, Guild Leader."

This kid isn’t lying... Evelyn stared into his clear eyes. Finding not the slightest flicker of hesitation or deceit, she let out a quiet, defeated sigh, choosing not to pry into his secrets any further.

"Okay, kid... Even though I don’t have the faintest clue why you are so obsessed with the Four Great Evils’ movements, I’ll answer two of your questions, on the condition that you don’t reveal to the Commander that I pried into your background." Evelyn’s gaze turned deadly serious as her eyes locked onto his. "Deal?"

"Deal," Ethan replied calmly.

"Then go ahead. What do you want to know?"

"Which of the Four Great Evils has been active recently?" Ethan asked without missing a beat.

"Hmm... It’s the Abyssal Pact."

Not the Eclipse Conclave...? Ethan mused, his mind drifting back to the research of Vael’s. The words formed a whisper barely audible in his own throat.

In his past life, Vael’s research on forcibly awakening Dormant Dungeon’s had been one of the Conclave’s most significant things which affected the Empire. Ethan had fully expected them to dispatch more agents to investigate and reclaim the research even though it’s incomplete. Yet, after dispatching those cultists weeks ago, he hadn’t found a single trace of them anywhere on his return journey to Northwatch.

What is going on? Those cockroach-like bastards are usually relentless... Did something happen?

"Where are they active?" Ethan asked immediately.

A mischievous glint sparkled in Evelyn’s eyes. "Is that your second question?"

"Tch..."

Ethan clicked his tongue in mild annoyance. He had fallen right into her trap. He had naturally assumed she would include their location along with who is active, but he hadn’t expected to be played by her word games. Resigning himself, Ethan nodded, knowing he should have been more careful in choosing his words.

"Yes," he said.

"They’ve been spotted near the Celestine Duchy," Evelyn revealed cleanly. "Alright kid, your two questions are finished, and I expect you to keep your word."

"Of course, Guild Leader..." Ethan turned toward the heavy wooden exit, reaching for the door handle. Just before opening it, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Ah—there is just one more thing."

"What is it?"

"It seems you forgot something," Ethan said, a brilliant, teasing smile spreading across his face. "Why on earth would you need to explain yourself for being in your own archives? You could have simply denied spying on me from the very beginning."

"Hey—!"

"See you again!"

Ethan snapped the door shut before the words fully registered in her mind, his footfalls already echoing lightly down the stairwell.

Inside the archive, Evelyn and Merin stood frozen, staring blankly at the closed door. In the sudden panic of being exposed, the simple, obvious defence had completely slipped their minds.

"Hahaha!" Evelyn burst into a sudden, genuine laugh, shaking her head. "That brat completely played us while walking away with exactly what he wanted."

Merin let out a long breath, adjusting her spectacles. "He is certainly a sharp one, Lady Evelyn..."

Isn’t he a mischievous one... I really hope he isn’t who I think he is...

Stepping outside the Guild building, Ethan couldn’t help the but smile. Watching the usually unshakeable Evelyn get caught off guard was always entertaining, given how she usually got her way with words.

Still, why is she so obsessed with my identity? Ethan pondered as he walked.

Ethan couldn’t understand her curiosity. She had watched thousands of rising prodigies throughout her life and she herself was a recognized powerhouse in the Empire, an early-stage Heaven Knight possessing a legendary Warrior Core and an SSS-rank talent. He couldn’t understand why she was behaving this way at all.

And why was she so afraid of Uncle Marcus finding out? He wouldn’t even care that much if she looked into my information... Ethan shook his head softly. His threat to inform the Commander had been a complete bluff to test their reaction, and he certainly hadn’t expected her to answer his questions so easily.

Then, his thoughts returned to the Abyssal Pact, and the smile vanished from his face, his jaw tightening.

The Abyssal Pact...

Those bastards were even more of a headache than the rest.

After being nearly eradicated by his grandfather decades ago, the survivors had scattered into the deepest shadows of the continent, hidden well enough that even Imperial Intelligence had struggled to find any clues of them. They operated by recruiting depraved rogue mages and criminals who had committed atrocities across the Empire.

If the Eclipse Conclave were crazed fanatics obsessed with forbidden magic, ancient beasts, inhuman experimentation, the Abyssal Pact were fundamentally inhuman — worse even among the Four Great Evils. They were willing to go to any length for their objectives without hesitation or remorse. Most importantly, they were driven overwhelmingly by revenge.

In his previous life, they hadn’t dared launch a direct assault on House Ravencrest while Adrian was present, but they had constantly sown bloodshed and chaos throughout the Northern Frontier.

With their emergence earlier this time, combined with the existing influence of them, there’s no telling what will happen... Ethan analyzed.

Still their Supreme Leader didn’t emerge until much later in his previous life as he was critically wounded by Severus and still must be recovering. His thoughts then shifted to the Vice-Leader of Abyssal Pact who is cautious and calculating man.

He certainly won’t act for now...

Shifting his focus, Ethan navigated through the bustling streets toward the Merchant District to collect the rare herbs he had ordered weeks ago. As he strolled past the crowded stalls, snippets of conversation caught his attention.

"...did you hear? House Bluemoon officially pledged their alliance to House Ravencrest!" an elderly merchant remarked to a fellow shopkeeper.

"Aye, The Grand Mage Tower also announced House Bluemoon successfully refined high-tier elixir! Bluewind City is going to reclaim its former glory in no time!" The other replied enthusiastically.

"A grand day for the North, truly," the merchant smiled.

Ethan hadn’t been paying close attention, but his senses picked up every word regardless.

The news is already causing quite a storm... he thought. It seems mother handled the official process quite fast. I just hope Uncle Marcus toned down his reports to her... otherwise, she’s probably worrying herself sick over me.

Arriving at the herbalist’s stall, the old merchant recognized Ethan instantly, waving him over with a warm smile. Several store hands quickly brought out wooden crates packed with the exact high-grade herbs Ethan had requested. After a swift exchange of coins and pleasantries, Ethan swept his hand across the crates, seamlessly storing them into his Inventory.

"Visit again, young man!" the old merchant called out.

"I will," Ethan replied politely, turning to head back to the Inner District.

He had walked barely a dozen paces down the avenue when two familiar voices caught his attention from a nearby herbal stall.

"These herbs were worth two gold coins when we sold them last time!" Sepharina’s voice carried a sharp, defensive edge.

"I can’t offer that today, little girl," the shopkeeper replied, waving a dismissive hand. "The trade caravans brought in massive shipments from the south this week."

"Please... at least give us one gold coin," Anna pleaded, her voice trembling. "We urgently need the money..."

"I’m sorry, but I’d be taking a loss," the merchant grunted, turning back to his ledger.

Ethan approached from behind, his footsteps silent. The moment he caught sight of the two sisters, his heart sank. Though their physical strength had clearly grown from the elixirs he had left them, their faces were pale, their eyes red-rimmed and hollow, surrounded by dark circles that betrayed days of sleepless agony.

"What’s going on here?" Ethan’s voice cut through the air.

Both sisters turned sharply. Catching sight of Ethan standing before them, the words caught in their throats.

"Come with me," Ethan said quietly, turning toward a quiet, narrow alleyway off the main street.

Unsure of what to do, Sepharina threw a desperate, pleading look at her older sister. Anna nodded quickly, and both girls hurried after him into the secluded lane.

"Tell me what happened," Ethan asked gently.

The moment the question was asked, the sisters’ remaining composure finally shattered. Tears broke through their eyes as they spilled everything, how their mother’s condition had drastically collapsed over the past week, how they had come here seeking the healers, and how they are short on the funds required for further divine blessings.

"Please, Young Master..." Anna sobbed, wiping her eyes with trembling sleeves. "Can you... can you please give her that same medicine again? We will do anything for you! Anything!"

"We’ll work for you for the rest of our lives!" Sepharina added, her voice cracking.

Hearing those desperate words tore at Ethan’s heart. His hands clenched into tight fists, his nails digging so deeply into his palms that tiny drops of blood trickled out, dripping onto the cobblestones below.

Seeing his bleeding hand and tight expression, the sisters gasped, assuming he was angry at their shameless request and was about to refuse.

Flick! Flick!

Ethan leaned forward, flicking both girls gently on their foreheads.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ethan said, his eyes stern as he looked down at them. "If I ever hear you say something like that again... I will never give you the cure."

The sisters froze, their tear-filled eyes widening in shock.

Neither William nor Elene had told them that Ethan had promised to find a cure. They had assumed that acquiring something capable of treating Silveravyn was simply impossible, and telling them otherwise would only give them false hope.

"C-Cure...?" Sepharina stammered, her breath catching. "Young Master... you have a cure?!"

"Can... can our mother really be cured?!" Anna gasped, hope reigniting instantly in her eyes. "Please, Young Master! We’ll—!"

"There you go again," Ethan said, letting out a tired sigh and rubbing his temples. "Okay, then. You’ll do anything I say, right?"

The two sisters quickly nodded, taking a nervous gulp as they waited for his words.

"I’ll tell you what you need to do later," Ethan said, his tone softening as he looked at them. "First... take me to Lady Elene."