Journey to Become the Zenith

Quiet Orders Before the Storm

Footsteps faded when Victor stopped speaking about his plan. The air inside settled like dust after a slammed door.

Above them, the lantern trembled with a gentle light, spilling golden warmth onto their skin. Night pressed down on Fantom City now, while distant sounds from below rose through the glass like whispers.

Against the edge of the table he stood, steady like always - yet nobody missed how sharp his gold-colored gaze had turned.

A piece of paper emerged from inside his coat when Victor moved his hand there. He had been talking about solo dungeon hunts just moments before. The parchment was creased down the middle, folded tight. It came free slowly, like he wasn’t in any rush to show it.

He handed it to Lane.

”This is for you.”

Lane accepted the paper silently.

Her dark eyes moved down the page.

It wasn’t a simple note.

It was a list.

Orders.

Detailed instructions.

Victor continued speaking as she read.

”These are instructions for how the underworld will operate while I’m gone.”

Clara raised an eyebrow.

”You’re planning pretty far ahead.”

Victor smirked slightly.

”I always do.”

Lane finished reading the first few lines, and her brows faintly knitted together.

Victor continued.

”I want Eon and Brinda to send several trusted men to the Kanal Mountain Village.”

He leaned slightly forward.

”They’re to protect the village... and monitor it.”

Lane looked up.

Victor’s tone turned colder.

”My parents live there.”

His eyes hardened slightly.

”And Skyla.”

The table fell silent.

Victor continued calmly.

”Make sure they’re safe.”

Then he added in a quiet voice that carried a dangerous edge.

”And make sure everyone understands something.”

”If anything happens to them...”

”...especially my mother or Skyla...”

His golden eyes gleamed faintly.

”...the punishment will be severe.”

Lane nodded once.

”I’ll handle it.”

Victor then shifted his attention to another matter.

”I also want Gian and Brinda’s people to start scouting the large underground families in nearby cities.”

Clara tilted her head.

”Planning something?”

Victor shrugged lightly.

”Just preparing.”

He glanced toward Videl.

”And you.”

Videl crossed her arms.

”What about me?”

Victor smiled faintly.

”Be careful around the nobles.”

Videl rolled her eyes.

”I already do.”

Victor shook his head slowly.

”Not enough.”

He leaned back slightly.

”Not all battles are fought with swords.”

His voice dropped.

”Some of the most ruthless battles...”

”...are fought in the darkness.”

For a brief moment, Victor’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.

His eldest son from his previous life.

A brilliant schemer.

A man who preferred shadows to open battle.

Victor still remembered the day that cunning had turned against him.

One of the reasons the Supreme Demon Emperor had fallen.

Victor’s smile faded slightly.

Videl noticed the shift in his expression.

But she simply replied confidently.

”Don’t worry.”

She lifted her chin proudly.

”I’m not as naive as you make me out to be.”

Victor chuckled softly.

”We shall see.”

Then he turned to Clara.

”Sorry about this.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

”I know we just formed this adventurer party.”

”But I need to do this.”

Clara studied him quietly.

She already knew what was going through his head.

Victor wanted strength.

Real strength.

The kind that ensured the people he cared about would never be threatened again.

Clara sighed softly.

”It’s fine.”

”You’re the party leader.”

She shrugged.

”I’ll follow your decision.”

Victor blinked.

”Really?”

Clara snorted.

”What?”

”You expected a lecture?”

Victor grinned.

”Honestly? Yes.”

Clara puffed her cheeks slightly.

”I only lecture people who deserve it.”

She pointed at him.

”Remember that.”

Victor raised his hands in surrender.

”Alright, alright.”

Then he stood up.

”Well anyway...”

”I should go talk to Isabella before I leave.”

Just as he turned—

Someone grabbed his hand.

Victor looked down.

Lane.

Her grip was firm.

”I’ll go with you.”

Victor shook his head gently.

”I already told you, Lane.”

”I need to go alone.”

He glanced toward the parchment she held.

”And you’ve got work to do.”

Lane didn’t move.

”I’ll let Videl handle that.”

She stepped closer.

”Let me go with you.”

Clara blinked in surprise.

Even Videl looked startled.

Lane almost never opposed Victor directly.

Victor sighed quietly.

He understood exactly what she was feeling.

Lane rarely expressed her emotions openly.

But she was one of the women who clung to him the most.

Victor found that strangely adorable.

Without another word, he gently pulled her into a hug.

Lane froze slightly.

Victor rested his chin lightly on her head.

”Don’t worry.”

His voice softened.

”I’ll always come back to you.”

Then he looked toward Clara and Videl.

”And to you two as well.”

He smiled faintly.

”No matter where I go...”

”...or how many more women I end up meeting...”

”...I’ll always return.”

Lane felt warmth rise in her chest.

But the last part made her frown slightly.

Clara snorted.

”You’re unbelievable.”

Still—

Lane slowly released him.

She understood something important.

If she forced him to stay...

...it would only slow his growth.

Victor kissed her gently on the forehead.

Then he turned to Videl.

She stepped forward without hesitation and hugged him tightly.

”You better come back.”

Victor chuckled.

”Of course.”

Then he approached Clara.

Clara narrowed her purple eyes suspiciously.

”You’re not about to kiss my forehead too, are you?”

Victor tilted his head with a devilish smile.

”What if I do?”

Clara pointed a finger at his face.

”Try it.”

”I’ll break your nose.”

Victor laughed softly.

Instead of kissing her—

He suddenly pulled her into a brief hug.

Clara stiffened.

Before she could react—

Victor ruffled her blonde hair.

”Take care of them.”

Clara stood frozen for a second.

Then she scoffed.

”...Idiot.”

Victor stepped back.

His gaze moved between the three women.

”Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

Then—

Without another word—

He turned and walked out of the tavern.

The door closed behind him.

Leaving the three women staring silently at the empty entrance.

Meanwhile, far from the tavern...

Albion wandered through the streets of Fantom City.

Frustration twisted across his face.

For days he had searched the entire city.

Every criminal.

Every gang.

Even the lowest thugs in the slums.

But none of them would accept the job.

None of them were willing to attack Victor and his group.

Albion clenched his teeth.

”What the hell is wrong with these people?”

He had even traveled to nearby towns.

The result was the same.

Rejection.

Everywhere.

What Albion didn’t realize...

Was that the underworld had already learned what happened in Fantom City.

The name Victor had spread like wildfire.

A monster.

That was what they called him now.

The major criminal families had chosen a different strategy.

Instead of provoking him—

They fortified their territories.

Preparing for the possibility that Victor might come for them next.

But Albion knew none of this.

He walked through the dark street, irritation boiling inside him.

”Am I really supposed to wait for my family to handle this?”

Just as he was thinking that—

A voice spoke from the shadows.

”I heard you’re looking for someone.”

Albion turned sharply.

A figure stepped forward slowly.

”I heard...”

”...you want someone dead.”

For a moment—

Silence.

Then—

A smile slowly spread across Albion’s face.