Marking His Prize

Cana walked back to Erus as if she had done nothing at all. The hall had fallen completely silent, no one daring to speak out of fear of becoming her next target.

That middle-aged woman Cana had just exposed was a high-ranking noble. Her absolute silence after the confrontation said everything, that Cana was no ordinary guest in this hall.

"Not satisfied yet, Erus?"

"What?" Erus was caught off guard. Even though he had been watching her walk back, he still hadn't noticed how close she had gotten.

She stood on tiptoe and whispered, brushing her lips against the outer shell of his ear. "If you want, I can burn this entire place down, leaving not even a speck of dust behind. Just say the word."

He swallowed hard.

Why had her presence suddenly become so deadly? She didn't seem to be just playing along with him anymore. She was fucking serious, and the way she said it proved it.

"No need," Erus said, finding his voice. "You were already amazing back there. Now we can finally have a quiet breakfast."

Cana stared at him with a soft, affectionate warmth for a brief moment, then wrapped her arms snugly around his. "Okay."

Erus was left momentarily stunned and flustered. In the end, it was Cana who had to guide him toward a vacant table.

The crowd was left utterly speechless, watching how tame Erus seemed beside her. They quickly concluded that the woman at his side was from no ordinary family. She had to hold a title far above a mere noble, perhaps she wasn't even from the kingdom of Northland. She was the first woman they had ever seen touch Erus and remain standing with all her limbs intact, without a single drop of blood hitting the floor.

After having breakfast and dealing with some smug nobles, Cana and Erus headed to the market to sell the remaining Dragon Crawler's core.

"I can't wear this dress in a place like that," Cana said, halting before they could even reach the market's entrance. Her dark gaze locked onto the heavy, cold steel doors.

Erus nodded, mentally facepalming. He should have known better, being a local here. Wearing a dress inside a market like this was like prey offering itself to the worst monsters of this land.

Before he could guide her somewhere to change, he was left stunned, watching her switch outfits beneath his cloak with a single snap of her fingers. What shocked him even more was her choice of clothes. It was a white combat top and fitted pants, detailed with gold streaks as intricate as the design on his own mask.

"Too flashy, I guess," she said, noticing Erus's fixed stare. With another quick snap, her clothing shifted to deep black, though the gold streaks remained. She smiled up at him. "Better now?"

"Yeah," was all Erus could manage to say. He was so speechless he almost forgot which version of Cana he was getting used to.

"Good. Let's go," she said, wrapping her arms around his, leaving him surprised and flustered all over again.

He noticed that her darker, bolder persona was staying around longer now, but he had no objections. In fact, he was thrilled by how open she had become with him. It was just that he still couldn't quite get used to how effortlessly she took charge whenever she wanted to lead.

Who was really the master and who was the slave now? It seemed the contract meant nothing between them anyway. Which made him wonder... How had he ever expected to keep someone three times stronger than him as a mere slave?

Cana was his Little Rabbit, and that was it. A real beast in a rabbit's fur.

He lightly shook his head as they walked, hiding a faint smirk.

"I can feel it. Do you have something bloody in mind?" Cana asked, looking up at him with a mischievous smile.

"I don't know what you mean," he said, instantly going on the defensive because she could see right through him.

"Okay. Just give me the signal," she whispered, her lips moving with almost no sound. "And I'm more than willing to give you a hand."

"Relax. We're here to sell those cores, not to fucking battle," he said, the words slipping out before he could filter them. Did he just match her energy?

Cana chuckled, a sound that felt both expensive and delicate at the same time. Erus stared down at the crown of her head as they walked, feeling his heart race all over again.

Was this still part of her act? Because she was giving off the vibes of the real deal.

She was a completely different person ever since they had entered the dining hall. She might still look modest on the outside, but there was something entirely lethal lurking in her aura now. Was this supposed to be the real Cana?

Reaching the steel doors, Erus knocked. A small rectangular slot opened, just wide enough for a pair of eyes to peek through.

"What cost pays for absolute silence?" a deep, rough voice growled from the darkness within, clearly trying to sound intimidating.

Cana's eyes narrowed the moment she heard it. Before Erus could answer, she leaned down to the level of the slot and stared blankly into those dark eyes.

"Your life," she answered, her voice sounding sweet yet ominous.

And that was definitely not the password.

Erus took a deep breath to compose himself. He prepared to correct her mistake, only to freeze, astounded as heavy iron chains rattled and slammed to the floor. The massive steel doors creaked, slowly swinging open.

"May you have a pleasant visit, My Lords," the guard greeted them with sudden, profound respect. His hands trembled violently as he gestured for them to enter.

Erus blinked twice in a row just to make sure he wasn't seeing things. He almost wanted to ask the guard if they had changed the password without his knowledge.

Meanwhile, Cana plastered on her winning smile.

As they entered, a suffocating mixture of copper blood, cold iron, cloying perfume, and heavy incense hit them both. The combination of scents was practically a miasma—breathing it would turn the stomach of any ordinary mortal, slowly suffocating anyone weak-willed.

Beyond the stench, both of them could easily sense the thick, dangerous aura clinging to the shadows. For Erus, this was familiar territory—a frequent stop when taking on off-the-books guild contracts.

"Interesting," Cana hummed softly.

Erus glanced down, surprised to find she didn't so much as flinch or complain about the foul air.

"Let's go," he muttered, and she fell into step right beside him as they ventured deeper into the dark.

The place was far from welcoming. The quiet surroundings were eerie, giving the impression that unseen assassins were watching from the shadows, ready to strike at any moment. Long corridors stretched out, lined with numbered doors like a subterranean apartment complex.

They headed straight toward the door with the number twenty-three carved into its cold steel.

Erus opened it, and the deafening roar of heavy metal music immediately blasted into their ears. Cana almost sent the entire place to hell right then and there.

Thankfully, Erus slammed the door shut just in time.

"We use our shields," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Mmm. My shield yields to no one except you. Want me to kill them all?" Cana asked, a dark, playful grin stretching across her face.

"I—" he stammered, freezing in his tracks.

How could he forget that her shield burned anyone who came near it during the ambush? Her idea of a defensive barrier wasn't protection—it was total incineration.

"Never mind," he grumbled, taking her hand and pulling her close.

He activated his golden shield, enveloping them both in a warm, protective glow—one only they could see.

Cana grinned up at him, her dark eyes sparkling. "More like it," she teased.

"Tsk!" Erus clicked his tongue, ignoring her smug look as he prepared to face the noise again.

Opening again the door of room twenty-three, the deafening roar of heavy metal music was instantly muffled by Erus's shield. Stray magic buzzed through the air, casting low, flickering colors over the dark room. Everything here ran on raw mana.

Cana walked alongside him as casually as a local. A few patrons glanced their way, but quickly averted their eyes upon recognizing the familiar golden dragon mask—nobody here was stupid enough to mess with a man they had no chance of beating.

Erus guided her deeper into the crowd. The place was a chaotic underground bar, the blasting music acting as a loud cover for illegal transactions. Some were making out in dark corners, others were gambling, drinking, or high on illicit substances, while seasoned thugs picked on easier targets for quick cash. Best of all, no one pried into anyone else's business. This place was strictly not for the weak.

Once they passed through the chaos, they entered a quiet, dimly lit corridor. Neither Cana's nor Erus's combat boots made a single sound as they walked. The ceiling, walls, and floor were all painted a dark, dried-blood red.

At the end of the hall, the corridor split in opposite directions. They took the left path, passing doors carved not with numbers, but with symbols.

They stopped at a door marked with a skull, a sword driven straight through its crown. Erus smudged a small drop of his blood onto the cold steel. Cana watched closely, unsure how he had even pricked his finger—he hadn't bitten it or drawn a weapon, and the steel surface wasn't sharp or jagged.

The cold steel quickly absorbed the blood.

Click!

A mechanism shifted deep inside, and the door swung open.

Brilliant light filled the room, illuminating displays of luxurious ornaments and rare antiques. The air smelled clean and surprisingly refined, making Cana arch an eyebrow. She had expected the heavy scent of copper blood or cold metal, not luxury.

"Well... who do we have today?" a smooth, baritone voice echoed through the room.

A man's face peeked from behind heavy white curtains. He had long black hair adorned with ornate jewelry, stepping out to reveal a sweeping woman's gown. "Mr. Solari! What a great day. Come in, come in."

Cana frowned, glancing at Erus. He didn't look bothered at all—not even slightly annoyed.

They stepped inside, and the heavy door clicked shut behind them.

"Oh, the first time you've brought your girlfriend. Excellent choice," the dealer commented, his eyes darting down to where their hands were still locked together.

Neither of them corrected him.

Cana kept her eyes locked on the dealer.

"What is your name?" she asked without emotion.

"Mmm... I'm Mesi, my dear."

Cana smiled. "Nice cover, Mesi," she said, finally letting go of Erus's hand. "Can I look around?"

"Ah—yeah. Of course," Mesi stammered, caught off guard not just by her smile, but by her words.

There was no way she had seen through him. He had operated here for years without anyone realizing his secret—not even the feared hunter, Solari.

Erus cleared his throat, drawing Mesi’s eyes away from Cana.

"Oh, forgive me, Mr. Solari," Mesi said smoothly, adjusting his robe. "Your woman is stunning. With taste like that, no wonder you’ve avoided everyone else."

Erus didn't answer. He walked to the main table and set down twenty Dragon Crawler cores, the diamond-like, crystalline gems clinking against the polished wood.

"I'm here for business, not chitchat," Erus said, his voice flat as he locked eyes with the dealer. He didn't care what a person wore or how they chose to live, so long as they didn't cross his line.

​

"Whoa! Twenty pieces at once?" Mesi's eyes widened. "You sure know how to drain my vault."

"You're welcome," Erus replied dryly.

Mesi shook his head. He knew Erus always hunted higher-tier beasts, never failing to deliver. Higher-value cores meant extending his own life.

He pulled ten black star tokens from his spatial storage and set them on the table. Erus took them, stashing the tokens into his own spatial storage before turning toward Cana. She had vanished behind the white curtains, hidden from view.

Hopefully, she wasn't slipping antiques into her own storage while they weren't looking.

Erus walked toward the back, Mesi trailing nervously behind him to see what she was doing. They found her standing before a display of five distinctly designed swords. She held a blade with jagged, flame-like edges, tracing its length with a finger.

"Is this the one that hurt the most?" she asked without turning around, her voice eerily calm.

Erus frowned, not understanding her question.

Mesi's heart slammed against his ribs. The gentle way she cradled the weapon felt as if she understood his entire painful past just by touching the steel.

"Those swords aren't for sale, Cana," Erus said, stepping in when he noticed Mesi tense up. He knew those blades were the dealer's most prized possessions.

"I'm not interested in things that aren't mine," Cana replied, finally turning to face Mesi. "You chose pain in order to live. You're a brave one, Mesi. But why?"

"I... I don't understand what you are saying," Mesi stammered, his mind wildly racing between self-preservation and terror over the entity standing before him.

"Don't be afraid. I'm fond of beautiful creatures, so you're safe with me," Cana teased with a quiet smile. "You can't hide from me."

"Please, pardon my insolence!"

Erus stared, completely stunned as Mesi dropped to his knees before Cana and slammed his forehead against the hard floor. The dealer's flirtatious act vanished instantly, his voice dropping into a deep, commanding masculine tone.

Erus had no idea what was happening. The two of them clearly understood something he didn't, leaving him feeling entirely out of the loop. Did they already know each other? Had Cana regained her memories?

"Stand up. You owe me nothing," Cana said, patting Mesi's head with the flat of the jagged sword.

To Erus, the sight was completely absurd. Who in their right mind used a deadly weapon to pat someone on the head, let alone expect it to bring them comfort?

When Mesi looked up, tears were flowing down his face. For the first time since that tragic day, he felt the lost warmth of his own again. He had no idea how Cana did it, but the feeling was undeniable.

Mesi stood up and respectfully asked for the sword Cana was holding. Cana surrendered it without hesitation, offering only a calm smile. Mesi clutched the steel to his chest, weeping silently as though reunited with something he had lost long ago.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Cana asked.

Mesi blinked in confusion before realization dawned. Hope briefly lit up his eyes, but it vanished the instant Cana presented her open palm.

"He is mine to handle."

Mesi bowed his head, offering no argument against her absolute authority.

Erus remained silent, watching the entire spectacle in complete bewilderment. He couldn't piece the conversation together, but he recognized the mark resting on Cana's palm.

Why show it to Mesi if the dealer had nothing to do with the captured Teumessian fox?

Erus held his tongue, waiting for Cana to finally explain what was happening.