Lucius leaned back slightly and started. "For an unknown reason, I was sent to the Garran family for one of my academy missions."

    Lucius then looked at his hand and smirked. "But I can guess that the reason I was sent there was because I cut the hand off a noble."

    Savra wasn''t surprised and smirked. She leaned forward slightly. "I see. Which foolish noble was brave enough to offend you?"

    Lucius chuckled softly as he tried to remember his name. "If I remember correctly. His name was Kaelix Kryndal."

    Savra was surprised after hearing the name. She calmed herself before turning to Lucius. "Wait a minute. Did you just say Kryndal?"@@@@

    Lucius nodded and didn''t change his expression. "Yes, it is. Is that noble important?"

    Savra leaned back in her chair and let out a soft laugh. She was amused by him. "Important? The Kryndals are also a dukedom."

    Savra then put her chin on her hand and smirked. "But don''t worry, Lucius. The Volcarias are a dukedom as well, and far more powerful. They wouldn''t dare pick a fight with us."

    Lucius smirked. "Good to know. Though, to be fair, I didn''t really leave them much choice in the matter."

    Savra was curious about it now. She leaned forward. "Still, how exactly did Kaelix Kryndal offend you to the point that you cut off his hand?"

    Lucius chuckled softly. "It''s quite simple, actually. He was furious that I, a genius, took over his residence. His pride couldn''t handle it, so he tried to kill me."

    Savra raised an eyebrow. "And?"

    Lucius shrugged nonchalantly. "So I fought back, but I never thought that he was weaker and stupider. After one too many attempts on my life, I decided I''d had enough and took his hand as a lesson."

    Savra chuckled softly and shook her head. "I believe it. The Kryndals have always been arrogant—typical of an Evolist family that thinks too highly of itself."

    Her expression shifted slightly. "But that still doesn''t explain why you think the Garran mission is connected to them."

    Savra nodded slowly. "I see. But I''m still not convinced. How does all of this connect to the mysterious group you mentioned earlier?"

    Lucius only smirked. "I''m just getting started, Matriarch. What I uncovered during that mission is only the tip of the iceberg."

    Savra leaned forward slightly as she was curious. "Then don''t keep me waiting. Continue."

    Lucius smirked as he continued. "As I mentioned earlier, Luna is a former Garran. So, let''s just say there''s no good atmosphere between us and that family."

    Savra arched an eyebrow. She looked briefly at Luna before returning to Lucius. "I can imagine that. Continue."

    Lucius gestured toward Luna with a faint nod. "When we heard the news that the Garran family was being destroyed, Luna was... excited."

    Lucius then smirked. "She wanted to see the destruction with her own eyes, and I admit, so did I."

    Savra tilted her head slightly. She could understand that. "I see. So, you went to witness the aftermath?"

    Lucius nodded. "Yes. And in that moment, we saw something unexpected. A group of strangers that seemed to be part of the mysterious organization I mentioned earlier."

    Savra leaned forward slightly. "What were they doing there?"

    Lucius became colder. "We saw one of them fighting with the Garran Patriarch himself. He overhelmed him and defeated him. They also looted the Garran treasury."

    Savra glared at Lucius even more. "Did you see what they took?"

    Lucius nodded and leaned forward slightly. "Yes. They took something that looked like a large red scale."

    Savra''s gaze flicked to the vial on the table between them. She began to piece it together. "It seems that what you''re saying is true. They''re collecting materials connected to the Red Dragon."

    Lucius smirked, gesturing toward the vial. "Exactly. The scale they took from the Garrans was just one piece of the puzzle. This vial of Red Dragon Blood Essence is another."

    Savra leaned back in her chair. Her expression was unreadable as she looked at Lucius. "If what you''ve uncovered is true, then this group isn''t just any ordinary group."