Unedited*

A week later.

On the rooftop of a mansion in Lor City.

Edward made his way through the sparse furnishings on the rooftop. "I never imagined that the largest mansion in Lor City belonged to you, Elder Owen. I thought you didn’t care about this sort of luxury."

He sat down at a round table where Gideon and Owen were waiting for him.

"I don’t care about them, to be honest," Owen replied. "This mansion was a gift I received 25 years ago. It’s my duty to keep it in good condition. Although no one knows it’s mine."

Edward laughed. "A gift, huh. It would be great to receive a gift that costs so much."

Owen burst out laughing. "If you ask me, I can give it to you. After all... the one who gave me this gift so many years ago was your father."

Edward frowned. "My father?" He stared at him. "That reminds me, you acted strangely when I asked you that question in the cells the other day."

"Well, during your father’s golden age, no one had more money than he did. The greatest toolmaker the world has ever seen, since the fall of the Lux Empire. He created so many impressive tools that everyone rushed to buy whatever he sold. He had so much money that even the Dukes were ashamed."

"But now none of that remains."

Owen smiled slightly. "That’s the price of betrayal, Edward. Or should I say... Agent 07?"

Edward stared at him intently for a long time. There were many questions in his mind, but in the end he shrugged and took out a briefcase to set it on the table.

"The mission was successfully completed. Although I have a lot of questions, I’ve been busy trying to get stronger lately. So I don’t have much time," he replied.

Owen grabbed the briefcase and opened it. Inside was a camouflage uniform, several weapons, and some additional items like scrolls, evidence from a crime, etc.

"Just as expected from Agent 07." Owen smiled and put everything away.

"I have questions for you. It’s been a week—how are you feeling?"

Edward shrugged. "Nothing’s changed. I’m making more money now, I go to the academy less often, but my coursework and missions are getting done without a hitch. I have to say I like my life better now—I have more freedom and less contact with the idiots at the academy."

"Hahaha. Well, you’ve also been working with Gideon and your dear friends—it’s hard for things to go wrong. Although I think you’ll want to come back to the academy next month, right? The tournament was moved up a few weeks; I let you know."

Edward smiled. "Of course I will. I have a few things to take care of outside, but I’ll be back next month. It’s just that I want you to help me sign up for the students who’ll be taking the test to increase their star ratings."

"Oh?" Owen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Are you going to move up to 4 Stars?"

"No. I want you to sign me up to become a 5-Star student. I’m interested in missions at that level."

"Five stars?" Even Owen was surprised.

Gideon, who had remained silent the whole time, smiled. "It seems you finally want to show your true ability. But be careful, Edward. Remember who you are."

"I’m sure I know who I am. But I still need to meet with you to talk about what happened last time. I have a lot of questions about it."

"If you want, we can go talk right now. I don’t have anything to do all day."

"No." Edward shook his head in refusal, with a hint of helplessness. "Even though you don’t have anything to do because you’re the Leader, they’ve now named me Agent 07—almost like something out of a fantasy story from a distant world." He scoffed at his new nickname.

When he decided to join the 101st Regiment, he didn’t think they’d give him this one. He didn’t even understand what it meant yet, because he hadn’t had time to go to the new 101st Regiment Headquarters, mainly because it’s in the capital.

In the end, he had to accept it and complete a few missions.

The good thing is that he gets double pay. One as a member of the 101st Regiment at the Academy, and the other as a member of the Special Forces, Agent 07.

"Sigh. I’d better stop making references they don’t understand." He shook his head at the look of confusion on both their faces.

"The thing is, I’m pretty busy right now. I have to take care of an important matter, so the meeting will have to be postponed." As if to confirm his own words, his pocket watch chimed with a small alarm.

"I have to go," he said after checking the time.

Owen had been watching the exchange between the two. "I’ll take care of things for you, Edward. Just remember to keep your status a secret. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with the trouble."

Edward nodded. "I’m sure I wouldn’t." He joked, before giving each of them a military salute and then leaving.

When he finally stepped out of the mansion, Owen spoke up.

"He’s an interesting kid. No wonder you wanted him to be Agent 07."

Gideon nodded. "Master, you know my true identity."

"I do, little Lux."

"He’s not like me."

"Oh, really?" Owen smiled.

"He’s a pure Lux."

"I’ve heard about the purity of the Lux. Abraham wasn’t a pure Lux either, was he?"

"Yes. Abraham... was just like me. So my end might be the same as his."

"That would be disastrous. Anyone who dares to touch my student won’t meet a good end."

"Haha. I’m well aware of that, Master."

Owen sighed. "What’s the difference between a pure Lux and you? You’re so talented that you put anyone in this kingdom to shame. Your name is famous in both the Empire and the Republic."

Gideon sighed. "There’s a huge difference, Master. It’s like the difference between any of the 1-star students and you... or even more."

"Or even more, huh." Owen smiled and stretched lazily. "Then you’re a good Agent 07. Go do your thing. Since you have the day off."

"All right, Master."

---

"Ed, are you going to a Cursed Land?" In a room at Aurora’s mansion in Lor City, Edward was packing a rather large suitcase.

But it wasn’t a suitcase for travel; it was for magical tools.

Edward nodded. "I’ve had something pending for a while. It’s a small mission I have to complete."

"As an agent?" Aurora asked.

"No, it has nothing to do with the Regiment. It’s more of a situation outside the academy. It’s just something personal."

Aurora nodded. "I see. The Cursed Lands are never what they seem, Ed. So be careful."

"I know. By the way, what happened to the uncle? Did they take him to the capital yet?"

Aurora shook her head. "No. He’s here in Lor. But they’ve imprisoned him. They plan to take him to the capital in two weeks."

"Two weeks..." Edward frowned.

That’s quite a long time, but considering he’s a count with royal blood, it makes sense. It’s not easy to bring them to trial.

Especially a duke like Duke Vire has to be careful when dealing with them, because if he makes a mistake, he’d be in trouble with the king.

Now, the problem the Ashfords face is Hazzard’s advance and the uselessness of Aurora’s older brother.

’In such a short time, Hazzard managed to establish that organization the nobles were talking about back then, with the vampires,’ he thought.

Although Aurora’s older brother claimed that the Ashfords had established that organization and that it was for the benefit and prosperity of the Ashford region, it is exactly the same organization—with the same structure and similar leaders—that the vampires were talking about.

Aurora took part in that mission, so she won’t be fooled by it. But there’s not much she can do. By law, she wasn’t named heir. She can’t control her family.

That’s why they needed to find a way to free Theodore.

However, that’s where the problem lies. It’s not easy to get information these days regarding Theodore. He’s being held by Duke Vire’s forces.

Fortunately, the entire 101st Regiment is focused on the same mission: finding the traitors and gathering information that will allow them to be brought to trial or killed.

So everything is going well.

Edward noticed the unease on Aurora’s face, so he stepped closer to her and stroked her hair. "We’ll find a way to rescue him, Aurora. Don’t worry."

She smiled. "I hope so. But my father told me you need to be careful."

"Were you able to talk to him?" Edward asked, surprised.

"He sent me letters," Aurora replied. "They’re encrypted, since they won’t let him send relevant information from inside."

"I see," Edward nodded. "And did he mention me?"

"Yes," Aurora replied affirmatively.

Edward sighed. ’My last name is really problematic, and I still don’t even understand the whole story.’ He shook his head helplessly.

"All right. I’ll be careful." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Aurora walked toward him and stood just inches away, looking up at him. "Are you leaving already?"

Edward smiled slightly and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I think you’ve been getting spoiled lately," he joked, pressing his lips to hers.

The two shared an intimate moment that night before Edward left.

He hailed a carriage to take him to the outskirts of the city and got off at the village in the Cursed Land of the Undead.

His first foray into a Cursed Land and Dungeon. The start of his leveling up.

’It feels like a long time has passed because my little caterpillars have been constantly evolving, but hardly any time has actually passed.’

In his hand, the Key to the Desolate Temple seemed to glow in the white light of the Cursed Land.