Chapter 178: Leave No Witnesses

?For that single second, it felt as though an invisible leviathan had clamped its jaws around their throats.

Their physical bodies had recognized the existential threat before their minds could process it, leaving them utterly paralyzed.

?The physical sensation was already fading, but the lingering terror remained burned into their minds.

?One of the older guards slowly turned toward Julian, his voice trembling slightly. "Young Master... that man is not normal."

?Julian shot him a sharp, furious glare.

?’Of course he’s not normal!’

?He had been the one standing closest to Cassian when it happened. Even now, his heart was hammering against his ribs at a terrifying pace.

?The strangest part was that he had barely sensed Cassian’s mana fluctuate. Whatever skill he had used, it occurred too quickly to comprehend.

If not for the primal terror that had seized his limbs, Julian might have written the entire experience off as a hallucination.

?But his survival instincts had never lied to him.

?He recalled Cassian’s deadpan expression, the effortless way he had dismissed them, and the complete lack of concern in Nyxara’s eyes.

’?She wasn’t threatening us because she believed someone would protect her.’

?The realization sent an icy chill down his spine.

’?She was threatening us because she knew she could kill us herself.’

?Julian clenched his jaw, desperately trying to pull his scattered composure together. His family had taught him that cultivation was not the only metric that mattered in the Lord’s Domain.

Connections, political leverage, information networks, and decisive ruthlessness could crush opponents with far higher cultivation.

?But those principles only applied when one understood the opponent standing before them.

?And Julian had just realized he understood absolutely nothing about Cassian Voss.

?"Find out who he is," Julian ordered in a low, harsh whisper, his earlier arrogance replaced by cold caution. "I want his full profile, his background, his family line, and how he got first-class transit to the Orion Rift."

?His two guards nodded instantly without a word of pushback.

?"And whatever you do," Julian added, casting a final, wary glance toward the corridor where Cassian had vanished, "do not provoke him again until we know exactly what we’re dealing with."

?For the first time since boarding the Astral Voyager, Julian Ashford felt genuine dread about the journey ahead.

?A Tier II Established Lord should not have been capable of making him feel that way.

?Yet something about Cassian Voss had forced him to accept a terrifying possibility he could no longer ignore.

?That the man’s cultivation rank was the least dangerous thing about him.

....

After finishing their meal, Cassian and Nyxara left the refreshment lounge and headed toward their private quarters.

The journey to the Orion Rift would take some time, and with little else to do aboard the Astral Voyager, Cassian intended to use the opportunity to rest.

?Nyxara walked beside him, her expression thoughtful. She remained silent until they had nearly reached their room, then finally voiced the question that had been on her mind.

?"My Lord... may I ask why you spared those three?"

?Cassian glanced at her. "Why wouldn’t I?"

?"They insulted you, threatened me, and attempted to intimidate us despite knowing nothing about our true strength." Nyxara’s violet eyes narrowed slightly. "At the very least, one of them should have been executed as an example. That way, the next fool who considers disrespecting you will think twice before opening his mouth."

?Cassian slowed his steps.

?For a moment, he simply stared at her.

’?What a lovely thing to hear from someone who acts like a sweetheart around my family.’

?He had always known Nyxara could be ruthless. Her performance during battle had made that abundantly clear, and her attitude toward her enemies left zero room for doubt.

Still, hearing her casually suggest executing a noble heir over a minor insult was a different experience altogether.

?Then again, perhaps he had been looking at things from the wrong perspective.

?Nyxara’s gentler side was primarily reserved for him and his family. She was perfectly capable of showing affection, offering thoughtful advice, and behaving like an ordinary, charming young woman when she felt comfortable.

?Outside that small circle, however, her demeanor shifted drastically.

?She barely interacted with the other soldiers unless strictly necessary. Her dynamic with Morghanna was practically a cold war of its own, and when dealing with enemies, Nyxara rarely displayed anything resembling mercy.

?Now that he thought about it, his Champion wasn’t merely an undead with a questionable attitude toward other races.

’?Did I accidentally recruit a secret murder hobo?’

?Cassian coughed lightly into his fist, suppressing the thought before it could show on his face.

?"Nyxara, we can’t simply kill people because they look at us strangely or say something we dislike. There needs to be a valid, strategic reason."

?Nyxara frowned slightly.

?She appeared to process his words before giving a slow, deliberate nod. "I understand, my Lord."

?Cassian resumed walking, satisfied that he had managed to steer the conversation in a reasonable direction.

?"And even when killing is the only viable option," he added casually, "you need to be thorough about how you execute it."

?Nyxara tilted her head, her long elf ears twitching slightly.

?Cassian continued toward their quarters, speaking as though he were explaining a standard matter of etiquette.

?"If a situation can be resolved without unnecessary bloodshed, then there’s no need to make things complicated. But if someone truly crosses the line and deserves to die, you must ensure the problem is dealt with cleanly."

?He paused briefly before adding, "Which means leaving zero witnesses."

?Nyxara stopped dead in her tracks.

?Cassian took two more steps before noticing the absence of footsteps behind him. He turned his head, finding his Champion staring at him with a deeply contemplative look.

?For several seconds, she remained completely silent.

?Then, her violet eyes brightened with absolute realization.

?"I see."

?She caught up to him in a quick, elegant stride, her expression returning to its usual serene composure.

?"I fully understand, my Lord."

?Cassian nodded approvingly and turned back toward their door. ’Good. At least she’s learning.’

?Behind him, Nyxara followed with a quiet, analytical focus.

?Her Lord had just passed down a critical directive regarding how to handle troublesome pests. She would make sure to memorize it carefully.

?After all, the next time someone dared to threaten Cassian, she now had a crystal-clear understanding of how he expected her to erase them.

?Neither of them said another word as they reached their private suite.

?And Cassian, blissfully unaware of the terrifying conclusions his Champion had just drawn, unlocked the door and stepped inside.