The Glorious Evolution

”It means that you have managed to antagonize a well-respected Rook Piece in the Eight Sky Province within a remarkably short period after arriving there.” Va’ren chuckled. ”To think you would be bold enough to steal two territories from him in less than a month...”

’He was a Rook... that’s news to me.’ Levi frowned.

The name immediately connected several pieces inside Levi’s mind, though Va’ren continued before he could respond.

”The Count placed a bounty through the Duskbound Private Network... information regarding Mr. Problem’s identity, race, appearance, spiritual signature, affiliations, habits, location... anything useful is rewarded, and capturing you alive is the juicy part.”

Bishop Va’ren picked up the fork and started testing some of the side dishes, nodding his head in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Levi remained still while his thoughts kept firing questions nonstop.

The information had never appeared in the reports he purchased from the Black Slime Syndicate... they had provided plenty regarding the Count’s public and underground dealings, the families connected to him, his commercial interests, his movements throughout the province, his relationship with House Targon, and even several indirect transactions that suggested he had been using other families as disposable pieces.

Yet nowhere had the Count’s connection to the Duskbound Order appeared... it was perfectly covered up.

’So my research wasn’t nearly as thorough as I thought.’ Levi scolded himself inwardly. ’Stupid... that’s what you get for trusting the Slimes Syndicate blindly.’

Levi wasn’t ashamed to admit that he had put a bit too much faith in the Black Slime Board... after all, its information had proven reliable several times, to the point that he stopped questioning its legitimacy.

Yet, reliability had limits, especially when the target belonged to an organization built around hidden identities and compartmentalized ranks.

Still...

Even if that information had appeared in front of him before his attack, Levi knew exactly what he would have done.

The same thing...

House Targon’s territory, assets, warehouses, accounts, properties, and accumulated wealth had produced a turnover far too large to abandon merely because one hidden Rook might become irritated afterward.

Only this time, he would be more prepared and cover his tracks more carefully... He might even approach the entire operation with several additional layers of misdirection.

But abandoning it entirely? That possibility never existed.

He knew, sooner or later, someone was going to place a price on his head within the Organization.

Since he was already being hunted by extremist followers of the Oblivars and Radians, nothing much changed except having some new hunters added to the list.

Though... he realized that this situation was a bit different.

Levi slowly raised his head toward Bishop Va’ren.

”If you know...” Bishop Va’ren nodded silently as Levi continued the rest. ”Then Na’thir knows too.”

”Obviously.”

Levi moved again, picking up the cup of tea and taking a small sip.

”His goons are probably already on their way to the Eight Sky Province,” he said.

Bishop Va’ren’s expression immediately hardened... not fond of Levi’s casualness toward such a serious threat to his life.

”You’re getting comfortable, boy.”

Levi was left surprised for a moment.

”The Boundless Expanse has laws,” Bishop Va’ren shared calmly. ”It has courts, guards, prisons, contracts, property rights, territories, and enough regulations to make anyone keep their head down... Yet those laws exist to punish choices. They rarely remove the ability to make them.”

Levi’s fingers tightened faintly around his cup, realizing where Bishop Va’ren was going with this.

”People are kidnapped, robbed, and murdered every day here. Entire organizations operate knowing full well their members could spend decades imprisoned if caught.”

Va’ren stared at Levi’s lower face and continued... his tone made it clear that he had plenty of experience with what he was talking about.

”This society protects freedom of choice... someone can choose to stab you in a crowded street, and the Court can choose to bury them in prison afterward.”

”One doesn’t prevent the other... If the Hound, Rain, or Fang finds you, they’ll come for you. Ten witnesses or ten thousand won’t matter if Bishop Na’thir gives the order.”

Levi’s smile slowly began to vanish as the realization dawned on him.

”They might lose their titles, privileges, territories, even their lives... yet they will still make the attempt.” Bishop Va’ren scoffed. ”That’s Na’thir... he gets what he wants, and everything that happens afterward becomes someone else’s problem.”

Levi wanted to retort, but not after he caught himself with his guard instinctively lowered...

For months, he had enjoyed the safety of the Boundless Expanse as it slowly degraded his vigilance.

He could walk through populated districts without constantly scanning rooftops, spiritual signatures, alleys, windows, crowds, and escape routes.

He could purchase property, enter stores, visit temples, travel between territories, and even antagonize powerful families while trusting that Nocturn’s authority would keep certain lines from being crossed casually.

That safety net was real... and unfortunately, it was precisely what made it dangerous, as Levi had begun relying on it.

Only slightly... still, it wasn’t nearly the same as when he was on Earth.

On Earth, he had lived knowing enemies could appear anywhere, at any moment, and every unfamiliar presence was treated as a possible threat until proven otherwise.

His instincts had been sharpened by how much time he spent looking over his shoulder... but here? That instinct had softened, and only now did he catch it.

’I can’t believe it took a Bishop... your enemy, to bring you back to your senses.’ Ash’Kral scoffed, a little disappointed.

’I told you he would start to relax... It’s human nature.’ The Titan chuckled with an extended hand. ’Pay up.’

The tenants already knew that Levi was treading a dangerous path and left him be... in fact, they had bet on it to see whether he was going to catch himself in the act or not.

’I was slowly becoming careless... but no more.’

Levi’s posture remained relaxed, yet internally? His mindset had shifted back into place.

From now on, entrances doubled as escape routes, unfamiliar spiritual auras became potential threats, and no meeting would be trusted until proven safe.

As long as he was hunted, safety was only temporary... whether on Earth, in the Boundless Expanse, or in another realm.

”Point taken,” Levi acknowledged.

Realizing that he had taken his words seriously, Bishop Va’ren gave him a slight nod.

”Since it seems like you’re in the mood to help... how about some advice?”

”On?” Bishop Va’ren raised a brow in intrigue.

”Suppose your name ended up on that board,” Levi asked solemnly. ”What would you do?”

Va’ren didn’t hesitate to answer. ”Kill the tagged identity and start anew.”

Levi’s expression stiffened a little... not expecting such an extreme response.

”It’s a must... not a choice. Pick another one and start fresh.”

”...That’s your advice?”

”Well, that’s the smartest option.”

Levi would be lying if he said he liked his response... Mr. Problem had already moved far beyond a disposable alias, as many clients had sent their commissions to his Black Slime Inbox.

Many offered seven-figure payments, even eight figures depending on the target and difficulty involved... His destruction of House Targon’s estate had effectively served as an advertisement better than anything, or anyone, could have provided.

For mercenaries in his field, they could only wish to have this kind of traction in the underground scene.

Unfortunately...

”You do you; I’m just giving you a warning... no one is advised to keep the same identity for too long in the Duskbound Order’s Network.” Bishop Va’ren added with a faint smile. ”It would pain me greatly to lose such a reliable frenemy this early.”

Levi’s lips twitched at the term frenemy... but the description was quite accurate.

This might have been their first face-to-face meeting, but Va’ren belonged to the side invading Levi’s home, and Levi had zero intention of betraying Earth simply because one Bishop happened to be useful.

Their cooperation had an expiration date... both of them understood it from the vibe alone. Neither side was willing to betray their own.

”Alright, my new frenemy...” Levi leaned closer and asked, ”So, what do you have in mind for getting rid of Na’thir?”