"Brother!" Catrine's voice came from behind. Merlin turned toward her with a faint smile.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood and reappeared right in front of her.

"Brother! Are you okay?"

Catrine hurriedly checked him from head to toe, even touching some sensitive spots, which made Merlin tense up instantly.

"Ahem!" Merlin cleared his throat softly, holding her hand and rubbing it gently. "It's okay. You don't need to worry—I'm fine."

Hearing that, Catrine let out a deep sigh of relief and patted her chest. "I'm glad you're okay. That monster was really strong! It could crush so many trees with just its body. I was scared it might hurt you, but I'm relieved it didn't."

A bright smile bloomed on her face. Merlin couldn't help but smile back and reached out to gently rub her cheek.

"Thank you for worrying about me. Well then, let's go and clean the river of the poison," Merlin said.

"Um! Let's go!"

Merlin lifted Catrine and carried her down. They walked together toward the river and stopped at the edge.

Just as Merlin took out the antidote and was about to open it, a playful voice echoed from above.

"Tsk! I thought you two were just ordinary kids, but it seems I was wrong. Especially you, kid… You're pretty strong. Are you from some noble family?"

Merlin and Catrine froze. The moment he snapped out of his surprise, Merlin swiftly grabbed Catrine and leapt back twenty meters.

He looked up and saw a man in a black cloak sitting on a tree branch, watching them with a playful grin.

"Who are you?" Merlin asked coldly, tightening his arms around Catrine.

If the man attacked, at least he could protect her in time.

"Hehehe…" The man let out a creepy laugh. "Don't be so stiff, kid. I'm not as dangerous as you think. Relax."

He stood, jumped down from the branch, and landed lightly on the ground. As he stretched his stiff body, a thin smile curved on his lips. "Are you looking for the one who caused the outbreak in the nearby village? Well… that's me. Surprised?"

Hearing his casual confession, Merlin stiffened in shock and instinctively took a few steps back.

"So it really was you," he said, his eyes narrowing sharply. "Why did you do it? Do you even realize how dangerous it is? Dozens have already died because of your actions—many more will follow!"

His voice burned with anger. He despised people who toyed with the lives of others so easily.

Yes, he admitted that power was everything, but that didn't give anyone the right to slaughter innocent people without reason.

Such cruelty was no different from that of demons who knew neither mercy nor forgiveness.

"Hahaha!" The man burst into laughter. "Are you lecturing me? You—a little brat—lecturing me? Hahaha! What a joke!"

He shook his head, as if dismissing him. "I don't need permission to do what I want. My goal was to kill those innocent people. Of course—what I wanted was the death of the people of Droswen. That would be so enjoyable and exciting, wouldn't it? Ahhh! Just imagining it drives me crazy!"

He hugged himself, writhing like a worm in heat.

Hearing that, Merlin's heart raced. Anger exploded inside him like a bomb, and his breath came short, as if a rock pressed on his chest.

"Brother…" Catrine reached up and stroked his face. "Don't be angry and let your emotions carry you away."

Her words were like a drop of rain on Merlin's parched mind, bringing him back to himself.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "You're right, Catrine. I'm sorry."

He remembered an important rule—in any situation, he could not lose control of his emotions. Once he did, no matter how strong he was, he would lose.

Emotions were the foundation of a person's actions. Only with a calm heart and clear mind could someone make rational decisions.

"Catrine, go back first. Call Uncle Gover and the other soldiers," Merlin said as he set her down.

Catrine didn't argue and nodded firmly. "Leave it to me, Brother. I'll do it!"

"Good. Now go!"

Without another word, Catrine ran back as fast as she could.

"Trying to run? Do you think I'll just let you?"

The cloaked man snapped his fingers, and a fireball appeared in his hand before shooting toward Catrine at high speed.

Seeing that, Merlin quickly raised his palm. A fireball formed in his hand, and he hurled it straight at the incoming attack.

Boom!

A loud explosion shook the area, scorching the surrounding trees.

"Oh? You're more talented than I expected, kid. A basic spell destroying an advanced one? That's something I've never seen before," the man said with a faint, amused smile.

Merlin felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, but he quickly steadied his breathing and regained his composure.

"System panel," he whispered.

[Status]

Name: Rucas

Age: 35

Identity: Member of the One-Eye Organization

Talent: C

Guardian Spirit: –

Rank: Third Star Mage

Bloodline: –

Favorability: -50

As he read the panel, Merlin's expression hardened.

"A member of the One-Eye Organization? How is that possible?"

The One-Eye Organization was a notorious evil group on the mainland.

It was said their network spread across kingdoms and major powers, hidden in the shadows, committing countless crimes—murder, robbery, and worse.

If he remembered correctly, they were the same group that attacked Saint Freya Academy in the novel—the One-Eye Organization.

'Wait a minute…' Merlin's eyes widened in horror. 'Don't tell me those kidnappers gained their powers because of this guy?'

Previously, he had thought the blond-haired man was the one who brought the burly man and the others into the organization. But thinking it over, that didn't make sense.

The blond-haired man was just a weakling in the Ninth Spirit Core. It was almost impossible for him to bring them into the One-Eye Organization by himself.

'Everything makes sense now…' Merlin took a deep breath and stared at him, fully alert. 'I really caught a big fish, tsk!'

The man in the black cloak, unaware of Merlin's thoughts, stayed relaxed.

"So, kid, now that you know the truth, what will you do? Fight me? That would be suicide. Or how about this—I'll give you tremendous power. Power that will let you defeat anyone you want. Interested?"

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