The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

Unlike the bustling south or the politically charged north, the eastern district of Aurora carried an atmosphere of quiet elegance.

This was the district of artisans.

Runesmiths, alchemists, potion brewers, enchanters, healers, and master craftsmen all lived and worked here. The streets were noticeably cleaner than most parts of the city, lined with beautiful white stone buildings whose windows constantly glowed with magical formations.

Mana lamps floated overhead. Elemental crystals illuminated workshops. The rhythmic sound of hammers striking enchanted metal echoed from distant forges. It was a district built on knowledge.

...

Walking through the eastern streets of Aurora were two rather contrasting figures.

One was a young lizard-kin with short dark-green hair and smooth olive skin. Two black, gently curved horns protruded from either side of his head, giving him a slightly intimidating appearance that contrasted greatly with his soft features. His emerald-green eyes calmly wandered from shop to shop, quietly taking in every detail around him.

Gabi Jormu.

He wasn't particularly bulky or imposing. If anything, he had a lean, athletic build that made him look more approachable than dangerous. Combined with his naturally gentle expression, he looked more like a shy scholar than someone capable of crushing stone with his bare hands.

Walking beside him was a young woman with long brown hair tied into a high ponytail. Rakia.

Unlike the other supervisors, Rakia wore light leather armor instead of robes. Twin daggers rested comfortably at her waist while a short spear remained strapped diagonally across her back. She looked more like a seasoned scout than a cultivator. The royal personnel assigned to them remained several buildings behind.

That had been Rakia's instruction.

"If we're being watched," she had said. "They'll focus on the obvious escorts."

Gabi had just nodded. He trusted her judgment. Well, he trusts everyone's judgement.

...

Several minutes passed in comfortable silence. Eventually, Rakia let out a small sigh.

"You don't talk much."

"I do."

"You really don't."

"I answer questions."

"That's not talking."

"Fair."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"I like you."

Gabi blinked. "Because I'm quiet?"

"No." She smiled faintly. "Because you don't pretend to be someone you're not."

He scratched one of his horns awkwardly.

"I've never been very good with words."

"I noticed."

"But you don't seem bothered by silence."

"Silence is peaceful."

Rakia nodded approvingly.

"I like that answer."

...

Their investigation focused on workshops. Specifically, rare materials. Who purchased them? Who supplied them? And where those supplies eventually disappeared.

If someone truly were kidnapping people on a large scale, they would need resources. Equipment, medicine, storage, and even the most secretive organization couldn't survive without obtaining supplies from somewhere.

Eventually, someone would leave behind a trail.

...

Their first destination was one of Aurora's largest alchemy guilds, where an elderly dwarf greeted them warmly. It wasn't strange to find someone of the demon race around, well, dwarves, in fact.

Dwarves were part of the demon race, but they were more on the "good" side, though they were well known for their immense greed.

"Looking for potions?"

Rakia smiled politely.

"Information."

The old dwarf's expression immediately became cautious.

"We're conducting a royal investigation."

She presented Victor's seal. Recognition flashed through the dwarf's eyes, and he relaxed.

"What would you like to know?"

"Large purchases. Unusual ingredients. Rare poisons."

The dwarf rubbed his beard.

"I already reported everything suspicious."

"When?"

"A month ago."

"To whom?"

"The Royal Guard."

Rakia exchanged a glance with Gabi.

"Did anyone follow up?"

"I never heard another word."

...

For over an hour, the two quietly reviewed stacks of purchase ledgers and found nothing unusual, until... Gabi suddenly stopped turning pages.

"This one."

Rakia leaned over. It was a receipt:

Quantity Purchased: Thirty kilograms.

Ingredient: Moonshade Root.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"That's... far too much."

The old dwarf nodded.

"I thought so too."

"What is Moonshade Root normally used for?"

"Sleeping medicine."

"And if someone misused it?"

He hesitated.

"It becomes a paralytic." He lowered his voice. "When mixed with Blood Orchid, it can temporarily suppress a cultivator's mana."

Silence settled over the room.

Rakia carefully copied the receipt into her notebook.

"Who purchased it?"

The dwarf shook his head.

"They wore cloaks and paid entirely in gold. They didn't even negotiate."

"When?"

"About three weeks ago."

...

The rest of the afternoon followed a similar pattern. An enchantment workshop. A rune merchant. A beast supply store. Everywhere, the same descriptions surfaced. Unknown cloaked customers, generous payments, no bargaining, and no repeated visits.

They were professionals.

Later that afternoon, the two stood beside one of Aurora's beautiful canals. Mana-powered boats drifted peacefully across the water. Rakia rested both elbows against the stone railing.

"They're professionals."

Gabi nodded. "They erase themselves."

"No." She shook her head. "They don't need to."

He looked at her. "They know people don't notice ordinary faces."

He thought quietly.

"Workers."

She smiled.

"Exactly."

"People remember nobles. They remember famous merchants. But delivery workers... They disappear into the crowd."

Understanding slowly appeared on Gabi's face.

"They're hiding in plain sight."

Rakia smiled.

"You're catching on."

Suddenly...

CRASH!!

People screamed nearby. Both reacted instantly and rushed toward the source. A cargo wagon carrying magically reinforced ore had overturned in the middle of the street. Wooden crates lay scattered everywhere while workers hurried to salvage the expensive cargo.

Without hesitation, Rakia joined them. Meanwhile, Gabi crouched beside the overturned wagon.

"Careful," he said gently. "I'll lift it."

The trapped driver nodded nervously.

With surprising ease, Gabi lifted the heavy wagon just enough for several workers to pull the injured driver free.

The surrounding crowd stared.

"So strong..."

"He's barely struggling..."

"He doesn't even look that muscular..."

The driver repeatedly bowed.

"Thank you!"

Gabi smiled shyly.

"It wasn't anything."

As everyone returned to gathering the scattered cargo, Rakia suddenly froze.

"Gabi." He looked over.

"What?"

She pointed toward one particular crate. Unlike every other container, its seal had already been broken. Inside, there was nothing, but the shipping manifest clearly listed its contents. Five enchanted restraint collars. Specialized artifacts capable of suppressing a cultivator's mana.

Rakia's expression immediately darkened.

"When did this shipment leave?"

The driver answered quickly.

"This morning."

"Origin?"

"The Royal Armory."

"Destination?"

"The central prison."

Someone had stolen military-grade suppression artifacts without anyone noticing. But that wasn't the part that unsettled Gabi. He slowly knelt beside the broken crate, his emerald-green eyes narrowing. His nostrils flared slightly.

"Blood."

Rakia immediately crouched beside him.

"Where?"

"There."

Barely visible beneath the splintered wood was a tiny crimson stain. It was fresh. Someone had been injured. Or, blood had been deliberately used.

Gabi slowly closed his eyes. His instincts sharpened as he inhaled deeply.

"I have their scent."

"You can track it?" He nodded. "For a while."

"Then let's move."

The two immediately followed the faint trail, through narrow streets, across rooftops, past abandoned warehouses, and into forgotten alleys.

The scent gradually weakened. Then stopped completely, causing both of them to halt.

Gabi frowned.

"It's gone."

Rakia crouched and examined the stone pavement beneath them.

"No."

She brushed away a thin layer of dust. A faint circular engraving appeared beneath. It was a teleportation formation, tiny, and for single-use. Expertly concealed.

Already exhausted.

"They escaped."

Gabi quietly exhaled.

"We almost had them."

Rakia stood.

"We were much closer than they expected."

She looked toward the fading formation.

"They're making mistakes. We've uncovered supply routes, military theft, and evidence that they're transporting captives."

She smiled slightly.

"They're beginning to feel pressured."

Far above them, hidden atop the bell tower overlooking the district, a hooded figure silently observed the pair. A smooth porcelain mask concealed every trace of their identity.

After a long silence, the masked figure finally spoke.

"So... They've found one of the transport routes."

From the shadows behind them came a soft feminine voice.

"They're progressing faster than anticipated."

"What now?"

The masked figure turned toward the setting sun.

"We proceed to Phase Two."

The next instant, both figures vanished without leaving behind the slightest trace.