Noan, of course, had no idea what Zhisse was thinking. Seeing Zhisse happily weaving fabric, he assumed that this must be what it loved the most.

    Looking at Zhisse at this moment, he couldn''t associate it with the name "Assassin Spider" that the System had displayed.

    Noan smiled gently, patted Zhisse''s head, and signaled Vylyss to hide.

    He didn''t let her open the door; instead, he had Skeleton Shielder do it.

    Standing outside was Caleb, his eyes shadowed like a panda''s, his expression filled with worry and exhaustion.

    He was no longer as composed as before.

    Beside him stood a creature resembling a block of stone but shaped like a human.

    For some reason, an uneasy feeling stirred in Caleb''s heart.

    It should be known that he was an E+ rank lord, and the hero accompanying him was D+ rank.

    In this region, it wouldn''t be wrong to say that he was practically the king—so long as Noan did not appear or challenge him for the throne.

    Of course, Caleb had no idea how powerful Noan truly was. He only felt a vague sense of anxiety about coming here.

    Shaking his head, Caleb tried to dismiss that emotion. He refused to believe that a mere F-rank lord like Noan could pose any threat to his safety.

    Especially when he brought his D+ rank hero along.

    Krit!

    The wooden door creaked open, and the sight inside startled Caleb.

    The one who opened the door was not Noan, but a skeleton—or more precisely, a Skeleton monster.

    However, this Skeleton was different from ordinary ones. It wore light armor, and in its hand, it held a massive shield crafted from the bones of some unknown beast.

    Its eye sockets burned with two blue flames, and Caleb could even sense the danger emanating from its gaze.

    Caleb instinctively stepped back as his intuition warned him that the creature before him posed a threat to his life.

    The Golem standing behind him immediately moved forward, shielding him as if to protect him.

    However, the Skeleton Shielder seemed indifferent to Caleb''s reaction.

    It simply stepped aside and extended a hand, gesturing for Caleb to enter.

    Caleb found the scene both perplexing and unsettling. He couldn''t believe that a Skeleton existed in this place, which could make him feel fear.

    It should be known that most Skeletons were only rank F, with the occasional mutated ones reaching rank F+.

    Yet, never before had Caleb heard of a Skeleton that could wear armor, wield a shield, and, most strikingly, exude such a terrifying aura.

    This was the first time he had ever experienced such a feeling.

    "Could this Skeleton be a Mutant that has surpassed rank F+ and reached rank E?" Caleb thought.

    But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea as soon as it surfaced.

    "Leave your hero outside. You may enter."

    Noan''s voice rang out from inside the house.

    Caleb gritted his teeth. He was deeply unsettled.

    His hero had just been knocked down by the Skeleton Shielder, and now he was being restrained by a Skeleton wielding a sword.

    If he obeyed Noan''s command, there was a chance he wouldn''t make it out alive—especially after everything he had done to Noan.

    As Caleb hesitated, the Skeleton Swordsman pressed its blade slightly deeper, just enough to slice a small cut on his neck, causing fresh blood to trickle down.

    A shiver ran down Caleb''s spine. Panicked, he shouted, "I understand! Stop! Stop!"

    He exhaled in relief when he felt the blade ease back slightly.

    "You—wait outside!" Caleb immediately ordered his Stone Golem.

    Naturally, the Golem possessed little intelligence and could only follow commands.

    Upon receiving Caleb''s order, it stood up and remained motionless, like an ordinary rock.

    "Is that enough for you now?" Caleb frowned, his voice laced with irritation.

    Noan did not reply, but the Skeleton Swordsman lowered its blade and gestured for Caleb to enter.

    Caleb rubbed his neck. The cut still bled, still stung—but he dared not complain or show his anger.

    Everything he had witnessed today had completely overturned his understanding of the world.

    Taking a deep breath, Caleb glared at the Skeleton Swordsman. However, like the Stone Golem, it remained frozen in place.

    He swallowed hard, attempting to steady himself, then stepped inside.

    As he pushed open the door, he first saw Noan, arms crossed over his chest, leaning back comfortably on a plush white sofa.

    Caleb was genuinely surprised. He hadn''t expected to see such a lavishly furnished room, pure white and exuding luxury, in this place.

    However, he had more pressing matters and quickly ignored his curiosity.

    He moved toward the seat across from Noan, about to sit down—

    But Noan''s voice cut through the air. "Did I give you permission to sit?"

    Caleb stiffened, his expression darkening with anger as he glared at Noan. "What do you mean by that?"

    Noan let out a mocking chuckle. Of course, he already knew why Caleb had come looking for him.

    He had his Mutant Skeletons "welcome" Caleb precisely to send a warning—to make it clear that he was not the weak little lamb Caleb had thought him to be.

    His sharp gaze pierced into Caleb like twin blades as he spoke, his voice ice-cold.

    "You came here to beg me for something. Then act like someone who''s begging."

    "Don''t stand before me with that arrogant attitude."