"This would be the third wave of assassins," Anastasha looked out the window of the carriage and saw dead bodies stacked next to a big tree. "Poor things, thinking they're going to make it out alive," she chuckled as she looked at the bodies that were sucked dry, leaving only skin and bones.

"Your highness, if your brothers realized that assassins couldn't stop you, they might bring masters in this field," Anastasha's personal maid, Lutfia pointed out as she looked at Anastasha with fear and concern.

"What can they do against Count Blackheart and his people? Figures who could defeat a True Dragon against figures who were bestowed celestial beasts, I don't think the latter could win against the former," Anastasha pointed out, but her gaze showed a slight uncertainty. "Well, if that happened, the future that awaits would be grim and pointless..." She sighed as she crossed her legs, her elbow rested on her thigh and her chin rested on the back of her hand.

On the other hand, Rasmus and Rullein hunted the assassins since they knew where they were located thanks to Rullein's ability to absorb memories of the assassins. They already knew how the assassins would act by taking their own lives when they found met powerful opponents if they couldn't escape. With his ability to manipulate living beings, Rullein could gather as much information as she could, especially about Zayn, Zeke, and Zoran.

"They're so slippery and it's so annoying to see them all try to kill themselves instead of fighting us," Rullein muttered and tossed the dead body to the pile. "I tried to look weak, and yet they still avoided me. Are they cowards?" She sighed and stared at the pile of dead bodies.

"They were not stupid to think you were weak when they realized the previous assassins gone missing and Anastasha still safe. Their positions were exposed, the previous assassins went missing, and Anastasha unharmed, that three reasons why they immediately ran away when you appeared," Rasmus answered as he checked the mouths of the assassins, but he didn't found any of them had their tongues cut off or engravings on the crowns of their teeth. "The assassins that disappeared from this group, I think they were the ones belonged to Anastasha's father. They realized something wasn't feel right and immediately bailed. They might have left to report this to him," he muttered and brushed his fingers on the dirt to clean it.

Rullein pursed her lips and didn't care about whatever that Rasmus was intrigued with. She wasn't the one who did the thinking, she was the one who act when necessary.

"Well, so there's no point in playing hide and seek anymore, right? Let's just erase them now?" Rullein glanced at Rasmus with her brows raised.

"Eddenvilla..." Rasmus stood up and looked at the distance. "What a coincidence that the remaining assassins are in the same place where we are headed," he furrowed his brows as he slowly turned into cold mist. "Let's do that," he nodded before he completely disappeared into thin air.

Rullein puffed into black smoke and disappeared into thin air as well, leaving the scene.

The assassins were hiding in the area where it used to be the hiding place for pirates. They were hiding inside a cave, readying themselves to blend in with the townspeople after they grabbed clothing from the shop. They were ready to leave when suddenly they all stopped moving in awkward positions. One was in the middle of standing up, one was bending down to fix his shoes. All of them couldn't move, not even their eyes, but they all had the same thoughts, they realized their bodies were frozen still for unknown reasons. That was when they heard footsteps coming from the cave's mouth.

"This is the last one?" Rasmus asked.

"Let me check..." Rullein gently brushed her fingers against the temples of the assassins' heads. She took all their memories just like that, and then slowly turned around to look at Rasmus, "Yes, they're the last one. Also, a few of them are missing here as well, so I'm assuming they're the assassins that belong to Anastasha's father."

Rasmus hummed, realizing that the assassins that belonged to Zechariah weren't just simple-minded assassins who only did what they were told. The assassins noticed the danger from miles away and bailed.

"They're yours..." Rasmus muttered as he sat down on the barrel and looked at the equipment of the assassins around him.

Rullein released black smoke and let the smoke enter the assassins' nostrils and ears. She consumed their lives until they all became thin and lifeless while at the same time frozen still. They couldn't scream or move a muscle until their eyes lost the life in them, and Rasmus watched them without showing any reaction.

Once Rullein had her fill, Rasmus stood up and let go of his thoughts of controlling the assassins' bodies. The moment the bodies collapsed, both Ramsus and Rullein had disappeared into thin air, no trace, no sound, nothing.

When the carriages entered Eddenvilla, Rasmus wanted to be left alone and walked to the harbor. He looked at dozens of trading ships and the labors of people carrying spices and goods to the trading posts. He remembered what he had done in that place and saw everything went as he had expected.

He walked into one of the trading posts, crowded with people bargaining for prices. When he saw a familiar face, he smiled at the man and simply used his thought to make the man glance at him. The moment the man glanced at him, the man was in disbelief and slowly a huge smile appeared on his face.

"Count! It has been a while!" Eduard said loudly as he opened his arms and walked toward Rasmus.

Rasmus opened his arms slightly and Eduard immediately hugged him tightly while everyone in the building looked at Rasmus and noticed his white hair. The figure who had saved South Neva from the demons, the one they had decided to call a hero.

"I came by to check how things are going here," Rasmus said as soon as Eduard pulled away. "Look at you, wearing something expensive and owned a mansion. Looks like life has been treating you well," he smirked as he stared into Eduard's eyes.

"Hah! Look who's talking. It's all thanks you, Count," Eduard patted Rasmus' upper arm with a huge grin on his face. He didn't want to reveal that Rasmus was the one who owned almost every trading company and shipping company in South Neva, the companies that had been well-known in all continents.

"You helped me when I was struggling, this much isn't enough. You want a crown on your head?" Rasmus raised his brows.

Eduard's eyes widened and immediately shook his head and hands repeatedly. He knew that Rasmus was capable, and he knew that if he agreed to it, he would be sitting on a throne the moment he blinked his eyes.

"I'm good... this is what I'm good at," Eduard answered anxiously.

Rasmus chuckled softly as he looked around and then turned his gaze back toward Eduard.

"Bring everyone, let's have a drink tonight," Rasmus said as he crossed his arms.

"A drink? I can even start a festival. You're a hero, and everyone should celebrate your arrival here. I can make it happen if you want," Eduard offered as he looked around at the people, who were admiring Rasmus.

"Hmm, sure. I'll be waiting," Rasmus nodded with understanding. "Get something fine for everyone then. You're paying for everything," he smirked and then left the building.