EPISODE 6

"Was there something about the blessing ceremony that I didn't know?" I asked Kayan, unsure about what he meant for a moment.

Then I realized something.

Did this old man mistakenly believe I'd been hiding my talent all along?

It was absurd, but in hindsight, it wasn't such a far-fetched idea.

This was the year I was banished to the outskirts.

While this amount of time could be seen as either short or long, it was still difficult to completely change a person in just one year.

Kayan understood this from experience. It was natural for him to assume that I had been hiding my talent all along.

In the end, the misunderstanding worked in my favor. There was no need to set the record straight.

As such, I replied, "You figured it out."

"Yes." Kayan bowed his head without another word.

I looked at his face and once again reflected on how strange this situation was.

I could still remember his facial expression as he had tried to sever my tendons.

"Young Master Luan, about the report..." Kayan said cautiously.

Oh, the report...

As I mentioned earlier, it was up to the family higher-ups—the Council of Elders—to decide whether to send a collector. Even if I sent Kayan back today, a second or even a third collector could still come if the elders weren't satisfied.

Maintaining his favorable attitude toward me, Kayan continued his explanation, his expression solemn, "I intend to submit a straightforward account of everything that happened today."

These words weren't surprising to me in the slightest.

It wasn't a major disappointment, but there was a sense of regret. I didn't know much about the elders' tendencies, but it was clear that they didn't think much of me, the black sheep of the Badniker family.

Would they be convinced by a report stating that Kayan, the Iron-Blooded Collector, hadn't collected anything from Luan Badniker?

I don't think so.

In all likelihood, they would send another collector to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.

With that in mind, I hoped Kayan would write a report that concealed some of today's events.

Of course, this was highly unlikely. I recalled the sense of distance that Kayan had shown just before he spoke about writing the report.

Should I try probing him?

"Sir Kayan, I am curious about your personal opinion. How do you think the Council of Elders will react when you submit your report?"

"A mere collector like me can't guess on the stance of the Council of Elders—"

"That's why I asked for your personal opinion," I interrupted him.

Kayan thought for a moment before replying, "I don't think they will blindly trust it."

It was just as expected.

However, the credibility of even the most unlikely statements depended on the person making them. This was why I was looking at Kayan with a slightly expectant gaze.

"You think they'll doubt even a report from Kayan, the Iron-Blooded Collector?"

Kayan remained unmoved by my nonsense. "Such empty titles don't provide any guarantees."

"Then if the Council of Elders becomes suspicious, they will decide to..."

"They will try to eliminate their doubts," Kayan finished my sentence.

"You mean that they will send another collector?"

"Yes."

"Who do you think will come?"

"At the very least, they won't send anyone weaker than me," Kayan replied.

Shit.

I resisted cursing aloud. Instead, I said, "It is such a waste of manpower against a child."

"No way. Regardless of the world's opinion, Young Master Luan, you are the family head's biological son. That makes this the most important issue within the family.

It was a reasonable point.

Come to think of it, Kayan was the first collector they had sent. If they truly considered me a nobody, they would've dispatched a lower-ranking collector.

What a headache.

What should I do about the next collector? Would it be someone who could be reasoned with like Kayan?

Kayan had been staring at me blankly, but now said, "Young Master Luan, it is getting late. I will take my leave for tonight."

"What? Then what about the White Sun Eclipse?"

"I still have a mission. It is something that must be completed before dawn, so I don't think it will be too late if I leave right now."

A hint of regret lingered in his voice, but he had no intention of reconsidering. His attitude reflected faithfulness to the mission rather than indulgence in his own curiosity. He deserved to be called the epitome of a collector.

Well, I at least got a clue about his Hidden Steps.

Now that I had a general idea, I shouldn't have any trouble learning it on my own.

It felt strange as if I were the only one benefiting. It wasn't bad, just weird.

"May I come looking for you again in the future?" Kayan asked.

"You can come anytime as long as it isn't for collection."

"Thank you."

I asked, "But do you have time for that? Sir Kayan, you always look busy."

"Who knows..." Kayan gave a vague answer before looking at me. "Young Master Luan, as an old man, may I make a comment?"

"What is it?"

"Collectors have various personalities," Kayan stated calmly, "If there are a hundred collectors, there are a hundred ways of collecting debts. Some don't bother to speak to their targets. It is rare, but sometimes they complete their mission without even exchanging a single word."

It didn't sound like a big deal, but it was terrifying when one's life depended on collecting.

Didn't this mean that they could kill the target without the target even realizing it?

"You need to complete the White Sun Eclipse," Kayan urged.

I remained silent.

"No matter what type of collector comes in the future, that is the only way to make them back down," he emphasized.

"I will keep it in mind."

"I hope I haven't said anything unnecessary," Kayan added.

"Not at all. I am grateful."

In fact, it felt more like a favor from Kayan than advice. It made me feel somewhat thrilled that someone I had never dared to look at in my past life, a person of such talent, was displaying this attitude.

"Then I'll be on my way," Kayan said.

"Yes. It is dark, so be careful on the hills. You are at that age where your eyesight isn't what it used to be."

"Thank you for your consideration. I wish you peace until I see you again."

It was disappointing that I got no response when I made a joke.

Kayan left the room in a dignified manner.

The figure that had appeared as a collector shone briefly as a martial artist before disappearing as the collector once again.

He was an old man with a lot of presence.

It felt like the air lightened the moment he disappeared from my sight.

Nevertheless, I didn't relax after Kayan left. I stared at the door for a while—ten seconds, thirty seconds, then a full minute.

How many minutes passed like this?

"Is he gone?" I murmured, staring at the door that remained closed.

"He is gone."

I was finally convinced that the Iron-Blooded Collector had left for good.

Suddenly, my pent-up tension was released in a deep sigh.

I collapsed onto the bed like a doll with broken threads. "Somehow, I made it through."

I achieved the best result possible given the circumstances.

I was more relieved than satisfied by this outcome. Once that relief set in, fatigue quickly followed.

Come to think of it, I had just woken up when all of this unfolded.

Maybe I should get some sleep.

There were more than a few scattered issues, but catching up on sleep came first.

I soon fell asleep on the uncomfortable bed.

***

Kayan left the mansion and headed down the hill.

"Yes. It is dark, so be careful on the hills. You are at that age where your eyesight isn't what it used to be."

He couldn't help laughing. It had been a while since anyone had treated him like an old man.

A short distance away, he could see the city's night view. It was also the location of his next collection target.

Before Kayan could reach the city walls, he came to a stop.

His gaze was fixed on a forest shrouded in darkness.

On a night when even the moonlight was hidden behind the clouds, the forest beyond the dark hills appeared as black as a monster's throat.

A glimmer of surprise crossed Kayan's face as he stared into the darkness.

He paused before slowly uttering, "Lord?"

The figure in the darkness didn't respond, but Kayan was convinced that his guess was correct.

"What brings you here...?" Kayan asked.

"A mission," the other party replied.

It was a mission for the Iron-Blooded Lord.

It must be an assignment from the imperial family. Kayan gulped. This wasn't a topic he could delve into.

Kayan regretted asking an unnecessary question, but the the Iron-Blooded Lord's dry voice echoed again. "How about you?"

"It was a collection."

"I see. Have you completed it?"

Kayan hesitated for a moment before answering, "I couldn't do it."

"What do you mean?"

"I've postponed the collection. Once my next collection is completed, I will submit my formal report to the Council of Elders," Kayan elaborated.

"You postponed the collection? On your own judgment?"

"That's correct."

There was a moment of silence before the Iron-Blooded Lord spoke again. "There is no need to report it to the Council of Elders. Just tell me what happened."

It was a remark that disregarded the existing reporting system, yet it came from none other than the Iron-Blooded Lord, whose words were law—an ironclad rule—for any Badniker.

Kayan bowed and said, "The target of this collection was Young Master Luan, your son, My Lord."

"Luan," he murmured.

"Yes. Your youngest son," Kayan explained.

The Iron-Blooded Lord remained silent.

"The Council of Elders ordered me to retrieve the family swordsmanship that Young Master Luan had learned. They decided that severing the tendons in the right arm was the appropriate punishment," Kayan continued.

"Get to the point."

Kayan explained, "Young Master Luan has created his own martial art."

The Iron-Blooded Lord didn't speak.

"The degree of completion was considerable, so I put the judgment on hold."

"Specifically?"

"If he completes it without any problems, it will be a great joy to you, My Lord."

The Iron-Blooded Lord closed his mouth.

Some time passed before his muffled voice sounded again. "This is really surprising."

"Yes," Kayan agreed.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yeah. In fact, this was something I was going to tell you after I returned home..." Kayan hesitated.

"Speak."

"Will you allow me to retire?"

A light breeze blew, and the rustling of grass echoed.

A much longer silence followed before the Iron-Blooded Lord asked, "Have the elders been talking nonsense to you again?"

"No."

"Then why? You are the one who said it would be easy for another thirty years."

Kayan smiled slightly at the family head's words. "I simply had something I always wanted to confirm."

A short silence ensued. Nevertheless, it didn't take long for him to receive a response. "I will respect your wish, old friend. I will inform the Council of Elders."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for your long service," the Iron-Blooded Lord said.

"Yes." Kayan bowed before heading toward the Iron-Blooded Lord.

After Kayan's silhouette completely disappeared down the hill, the clouds parted, revealing the Iron-Blooded Lord in the grass. His crimson gaze shifted toward the mansion on the hill.