Matthew smiled. “So? Do you want me to hand over the sword?”
The man froze for a moment, then smiled. “If I wanted the sword, I wouldn't have said so much to you just now.”
Matthew didn't entirely believe him, but he didn't dismiss it either. “Then what is your purpose?”
The man fell silent. After a moment, he said, “To warn you. Do not go near the truth of ten years ago.”
These words made Matthew laugh instead. “Why?”
The man looked at him. “Because many of those who knew the truth are no longer around.”
“Does that include you?” Matthew asked.
The man did not answer. This silence was already an answer in itself.
Just then, the voices of patrol knights echoed from the distance, their footsteps drawing closer.
The man glanced in that direction. “That's all for today,” he said. “We will meet again.”
Matthew frowned. “What is your name?”
The man paused for a moment, then said, “Eli.”
With that, his body backed away slightly. In the next second, his figure dissolved into the nearby shadow. When Matthew looked again, there was already no one there.
Aidan walked over quickly and examined the spot closely. “How did he disappear?”
Matthew did not answer, simply staring at that patch of shadow. It wasn't speed, nor was it an ordinary technique. Rather, it was... a sensation similar to magic.
This was the first time since arriving in the Royal Capital that Matthew had truly come into contact with power suspected to be on the level of a wizard.
He looked down and opened his panel. Sure enough, a new prompt appeared.
【Detected residual anomalous energy】
【Type: Unknown】
【Suspected connection to Spirit/Space】
Matthew stared at those words, not moving for a long time. So that was it. Wizards didn't simply not exist; they just never stood in the center of the crowd. They hid behind the ordinary world—observing, researching, waiting. And today, he had finally seen the first shadow of them.
On the way back to the inn, Aidan remained silent. Only when they were almost back did he finally ask, “Brother Matthew... is that Eli guy... a wizard?”
Matthew looked at the Royal Capital in the night and said, “I don't know. But at the very least, he isn't an ordinary person. And...” Matthew paused. “Our previous direction wasn't wrong.”
Aidan understood. What they had been looking for wasn't someone wearing a wizard robe and holding a staff. It was someone like this—hidden among the crowd, yet possessing power that transcended the mundane.
Returning to his room, Matthew drew the Blood-Veined Rapier once more, looking at the dark red patterns on the blade. This time, his state of mind was completely different.
Before, he had thought he had simply acquired a powerful piece of equipment. Now, he knew that what he held might be a key to unlocking some massive secret. And behind that key, what awaited him might be power, might be danger, or perhaps... the truth that the entire Royal Capital had hidden for many years.
After returning to the inn, Matthew did not rest immediately. Only a single oil lamp was lit in the room, its dim yellow glow falling on the table. The Blood-Veined Rapier lay there quietly—making no sound, showing no change, looking just like an ordinary weapon. But Matthew knew it was absolutely anything but ordinary.
He sat in his chair, fingers lightly tapping the tabletop as his mind repeatedly replayed everything that had happened today. From the Class Holder Plaza to the Auction House, then to the Old District, and finally to the man named Eli.
There was too much information, but Matthew slowly organized the key points.
First, the Blood-Veined Rapier possessed an unknown power. Not only could it improve one's Sword-type talent, but it could also affect the user's Spirit.
Second, ten years ago, someone had lost control because of using it and ultimately died.
Third, the Blood-Veined Rapier had once appeared in the southwest Old District of the Royal Capital, and might even be related to the underground ruins.
Fourth, someone was constantly watching this sword, and they knew of its danger.
Matthew leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and exhaled softly. Things were starting to get troublesome.
If he had only obtained a powerful piece of equipment, then the problem would be simple: improve his strength, research its attributes, control the side effects, and then continue using it.
But now, this sword was connected to a hidden organization, an area where a major event had occurred ten years ago, and... wizards who might exist in the shadows of this world.
However, Matthew did not regret it. On the contrary, his gaze gradually grew firm. Because he knew very well what his greatest advantage was upon coming to this world.
It wasn't strength, it wasn't background, and it wasn't even luck. It was information.
His experiences from his past life let him know that any danger, as long as it was known in advance, had a way to be dealt with. The most terrifying thing was always not knowing that danger existed.
And now, at least he knew this sword had issues. He knew someone was paying attention, and he knew which direction to go. This was already far better than what most people had.
Just then, a knock sounded from outside the door. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Matthew opened his eyes. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Aidan walked in holding a document, his expression somewhat complicated. “Brother Matthew, there's more news.”
Matthew looked at him. “About what?”
Aidan walked to the table and set the document down. “About that blood-veined fragment.”
Matthew's eyes shifted slightly. “Where did it come from?”
“I went and asked some mercenaries,” Aidan said. “They don't know the specifics, but someone knows why the Auction House accepted this item.”
“Go on.”
Aidan sat down and said seriously, “Three months ago, an exploration team entered the underground area of the southwest Old District.”
“An exploration team?”
“Yes.”
“Not mercenaries.”
“No, they are a squad of Class holders specializing in searching for ruins.”
Matthew frowned. “The result?”
Aidan fell silent for a moment. “Only two people came back.”
The room went quiet. “What about the others?” Matthew asked.
Aidan shook his head. “I don't know. After they returned, one went mad, and the other left the Royal Capital the very next day.”
Matthew's gaze grew cold. “Went mad?”
“Yes,” Aidan said. “I heard that after he came back, he kept repeating a single sentence.”
“What was it?”
Aidan looked at Matthew and said slowly, “Something underground has awakened.”
The air seemed to freeze, the flame of the oil lamp flickering gently. Matthew didn't speak, simply staring at the Blood-Veined Rapier on the table.
Something underground has awakened. This statement sounded like the ravings of a madman, but combined with the information obtained today, it could not be easily dismissed.
“Where is the madman now?” Matthew asked.
Aidan said, “He's still in the Royal Capital. He was sent to the Church for treatment.”
The Church. Matthew noted down this piece of information.
“Is there anything else?”
Aidan nodded. “There is one more piece of news.”
“What is it?”
“Before that exploration team entered the underground, they had purchased a certain piece of special equipment.”
Matthew looked up. “What kind of equipment?”
Aidan said, “A sword.”
Silence. Matthew's eyes shifted slightly. “What sword?”
Aidan shook his head. “I don't know. All I know is that the person who sold it to them said it was a weapon that had flowed out from an ancient ruin.”
“And then?”
“And then, that sword disappeared as well.”
Matthew slowly leaned back in his chair. All the clues seemed to be forming a loop.
Ten years ago, someone holding the Blood-Veined Rapier entered the underground ruins, lost control, and died. Three months ago, a new exploration team entered, took some relic, and met with another accident. Now, he had obtained the Blood-Veined Rapier. What did this mean?
Matthew suddenly thought of a possibility. This sword might not have been abandoned. Instead... it might have been intentionally released by someone.
Thinking of this, his expression turned solemn. If someone had deliberately allowed the Blood-Veined Rapier to flow into the market, what was their purpose? To find a new holder? To test something? Or... to wait for a certain person to appear?
Just then, a slight fluctuation suddenly came from his storage ring. Matthew immediately opened it and took out the Blood-Veined Rapier.
In the next instant, the dark red patterns on the blade actually became even more pronounced than before. Buzz— An extremely weak force rippled outward, and his panel emerged.
【Detected special resonance】
【Trigger condition: Unknown】
【Source: Underground southwest Old District】
【Distance: Approximately three kilometers】
Matthew stared at the prompt, not moving for a long time. Aidan also noticed something was off. “Again?”
Matthew nodded. “Yes.”
“What do we do?”
This time, Matthew did not say to wait like before. Because he knew that for some things, the longer they waited, the more dangerous it became.
However, he wouldn't act rashly either. After a brief moment, Matthew put away the rapier and said, “Tomorrow, we go to the Church.”
Aidan was taken aback. “Not to the underground ruins?”
Matthew shook his head. “No. What we lack right now isn't an entrance, but the truth. A mad explorer might know far more than an underground ruin.”
Aidan nodded.
Meanwhile, just as the two of them were preparing to rest, in another part of the Royal Capital, inside a dim room, Eli stood by the window looking at the distant lights. Behind him, someone asked in a low voice, “Did you meet him?”
Eli nodded. “Yes.”
“And?”
After a moment of silence, Eli said, “He is very strange.”
“What's strange about him?”
“He wasn't affected by the sword.”
Several people in the room fell silent at the same time. “Impossible,” someone whispered. “Those people in the past lasted seven days at most.”
Eli shook his head. “That is why it is strange.” He looked out the window, his voice deep. “Moreover, I suspect... he might not be the person this sword is truly waiting for. He is just the first one who can hold it.”
The candlelight in the room flickered gently. “Then who is the person it is truly waiting for?”
Eli did not answer. Because even he did not know the answer to this question.
But he knew that the secrets sealed ten years ago had already begun to awaken once more. And Matthew was merely the first person to be swept into this storm.
The next morning, the bell toll of the Royal Capital rang out once more. Matthew opened his eyes. He didn't get up immediately, but lay in bed, quietly staring at the ceiling.
Since arriving in the Royal Capital, the feeling of waking up each day was different.
At the very beginning, it was novelty, observation, and looking for opportunities. Later, it was discovering the secrets hidden behind the prosperity. And now, he had gradually adapted.
This city still seemed peaceful on the surface. People still bought and sold on the streets, merchants still bargained over gold coins, mercenaries still argued over missions, nobles still hosted banquets, and ordinary people still bustled about for their livelihoods.
Yet beneath this ordinary daily life, another world was slowly emerging.
Wizards. Ruins. An unknown organization. The Blood-Veined Rapier. The disappearance event ten years ago.
Matthew sat up, walked to the window, and drew the curtains. The morning sunlight spilled into the room.
If it had been before, he might have found it troublesome, thinking he only wanted to grow stronger and didn't want to get involved in these matters. But now, his thoughts had changed. Because he had discovered that the truly precious things in this world were often hidden within these anomalies.
Ordinary weapons, ordinary missions, and ordinary cultivation could only make him a stronger Class holder. But these hidden secrets might allow him to come into contact with a higher level of power. Of course, the prerequisite was surviving.
“Brother Matthew,” a voice came from outside. Aidan had already arrived. “Come in.”
The door pushed open, and Aidan walked in carrying some breakfast.
“I asked around,” Aidan said. “The Church's healing district is open today. We can head over.”
Matthew nodded. “Very well.”
The two of them quickly ate breakfast and left the inn. The Royal Capital in the morning had more character than during the day.
Shops were just opening, shop assistants were moving goods, street vendors were setting out fresh fruit, and a queue was forming outside the bakery, with hot steam drifting out from the window. All of this seemed completely unrelated to any secrets.
But Matthew knew that the larger a city was, the easier it was to hide things.
They did not go directly to the Church, but took a detour first. Aidan was puzzled. “Why not go straight there?”
Matthew said, “Because we don't know if that explorer is being watched. If he truly knows something, then those paying attention to him might be far more numerous than us.”
Aidan nodded. “So we observe first?” “Yes.”
The two of them passed by the vicinity of the Church. Instead of drawing close, they observed from a distance.
The Central Church of the Royal Capital was a massive white building. It had towering spires and giant stained-glass windows, looking holy and solemn. This place was different from the Class Holder Plaza; that place represented power, while this place represented order.
A large number of ordinary people prayed here, the injured received treatment here, and knights received blessings here. On the surface, everything seemed perfectly normal.
Matthew watched for a while, then suddenly said, “Interesting.”
Aidan asked, “What is it?”
“The guards here are more numerous than in other parts of the Royal Capital.”
Aidan took a glance. “Isn't that normal?”
Matthew shook his head. “No. The Church isn't protecting the building. It's protecting what's inside.”
Aidan frowned. “You think that explorer...”
“Might not be so simple.”
The two of them waited for a while before entering the Church. The healing district was located in the side wing. Unlike the main hall, it wasn't magnificent, but rather extremely quiet.
There were many injured people here. Some had broken arms, some had suffered severe internal injuries, and some were in a daze. Matthew noticed that they didn't just treat physical ailments here, but mental issues as well.
This made him even more certain that the explorer must have indeed suffered from some sort of mental influence.
A young priest in charge of reception greeted them. “What business do you two have?”
Rate on N.U.
