Westminster Bank

Howard chuckled and said, "What more is there to say, Malozov? A bet's a bet."

But Malozov retorted, "The containment test isn't over yet. An examiner has to enter the containment room to confirm whether he used other methods to cheat his way through."

He intentionally stressed the words "cheat his way through."

Howard's expression turned cold. "Are you implying that L cheated, Malozov?"

Malozov said, "Whether he cheated or not, we'll know once we go into the containment room and see for ourselves."

Hearing this, Howard also felt a little nervous.

Although he didn't know how Baron had gotten an "A" rating, he was fairly certain that Jack had pulled some strings.

Otherwise, what was the deal with the betting pool in the *Westminster Times*? 'That guy Jack would never go into a fight unprepared.'

As for whether Baron Constantin was responsible for what happened inside... although Stella's previous containment test had already proven his Destiny was strong.

But according to the real-time information Jack had leaked to him, Constantine had spent basically half his time on the run, hiding here and there. He simply hadn't had time to perform any containment.

'Even though I had Jack tell him to consciously try and contain Taboo Items, he first had to actually encounter one.'

The only possibility was at the Beowulf Family's estate. But the Beowulf Family was one of the top Old Blood Clans, and Constantine surely wouldn't have offended them too badly... even if he did manage to contain something, it would only be a few items at most.

Howard understood that what he needed to do now was stall for time. Whatever Jack and the others were up to, the more time he could buy them, the better.

He had put up with Malozov, that man from Moscow, for a long time. This time, he had to seize the opportunity to make the guy suffer a little.

So he was about to say something, but at that moment, another uproar went through the crowd. Both their gazes were drawn over, and they noticed that among the surrounding Westminster Commissioners, some were laughing hysterically while others were weeping.

Just as he was wondering what had happened now, his female secretary suddenly said, "S Level..."

'S Level? What does that mean? Is she talking about L's interview or his test rating? Or could it be...'

Malozov looked at the data screen, feeling as if a thousand thunderbolts were striking him down.

The bloody "S" on the data screen was still pulsing, slowly but surely solidifying into a serpentine, wildly dancing "S."

Everyone thought they were seeing things. They blinked, rubbed their eyes, or even put in eye drops.

But when they finally saw the Tier on the data screen clearly, they had to be sure. It was S Level.

S Level...

S Level.

S Level!!!

The previous commotion stopped instantly, as if God had pressed the pause button. A dead silence fell.

After a long while, someone said with a tremor in their voice, "I'm never gambling again for the rest of my life."

But no one answered him.

Malozov charged straight at Howard. "Inside... I'm going inside with you! Open the door... Open the door!"

***

「Beowulf Manor, Dragon Slayer Hall.」

"The wanted poster for Baron Constantin has already been issued. The Law Enforcement Organization moves fast. The Beowulf Family must find Constantine before they do."

"Baron Constantin... Why did that guy show up at our manor... Why was the Dragon Spear pulled out... And why, of all people, was it him who pulled it out?"

"This is a disgrace! A disgrace to the Beowulf Family! The Dragon Spear of our Beowulf ancestors was taken by a Bloodless from the Constantine Family! If this isn't a disgrace, what is!"

"Elder, aren't you going a bit too far...? Although Baron used to be a Bloodless, he's now a Pure-blood Dragon Knight contracted with an Ancient Dragon... Plus he's tall, handsome, and can even speak Chinese... You didn't see the way he held my sister hostage with the Dragon Spear. I was practically drooling..."

"Shh... Lucy, keep your voice down. The Grand Elder is in a bad mood right now. It's best not to get on his bad side..."

"Why should I be quiet? The Grand Elder just backed my second brother, right? My second brother is still lying in a medicinal pool because he drank Dragon Blood. Besides, everyone at the plaza heard my second brother admit he wasn't as skilled... Third Brother, what do you mean by asking that? Don't tell me you still haven't changed your ways?"

"Lucy, you..." Tune opened his mouth, but for a moment, he couldn't find the words to refute his eccentric Daoist Nun of a sister.

Inside the hall, the Elders, Household Servants, and disciples from collateral family branches were all talking amongst themselves, but their main focus was on the striking purple figure in the center of the hall.

The Grand Elder standing beside Patriarch Lidton shot Lucy a fierce glare before turning back to the figure in vibrant purple and saying:

"You may have received the Dragon Spear's acknowledgment, but the Dragon Spear has now been stolen by Constantine... Logically, that means you are not the Master of the Dragon Spear. And if you aren't the Master of the Dragon Spear, then you shouldn't be the Patriarch of the Beowulf Family right now."

Isabella's expression was calm and tranquil. "If not me, then who else in the Beowulf Family is there? Elder, you can have him come up and fight me."

CLANG.

The Red Spear crashed to the floor.

"You..."

The Grand Elder pointed at Isabella, so furious he was speechless.

The Second Elder, who was in Tune's faction, stepped out to smooth things over. "This isn't really a big deal... Isabella, put away the Red Dragon Spear..."

"I refuse," Isabella said coldly. "Is it just because my mother was a Bloodless? So what if she was? Are the Bloodless not considered people on the Inner Side, just because they can't use Spiritual Sense and have no Spiritual Power?"

"Among those present who are my age, there may be none who match my Tier. Among those who match my Tier, there may be none who can defeat me. And among those who can defeat me, there may be none at all."

"Isabella, don't be insolent! The Beowulf Family has always followed the Silver Cultivation Faction, yet you insist on practicing with the Beast Faction... The Dragon Slayer bloodline will eventually overwhelm your reason. The Patriarch of the Beowulf Family absolutely cannot be a madman who has lost their sanity."

"That's because your wills are simply not strong enough to resist the corrosion of Dragon Blood. But mine is," Isabella said. "Jose, a member of the Silver Faction, drank a little Dragon Blood and is still lying in a medicinal pool. I drank Dragon Blood, and yet I'm standing here perfectly fine. Doesn't that prove something?"

"..."

Silence. The Elders fell silent as they, too, realized this fact.

The Grand Elder said, "Isabella, you need to remember your place! If the family hadn't helped you awaken your Spiritual Sense, you'd still be just a stray orphan in Italy!"

"The family is what made me an orphan... My mother was alive and well before I was brought to the family. It was you who brought me back to the family in that man's name."

Isabella said lightly, "I am exceptional now. Isn't that all that matters? Am I right, Uncle?"

Patriarch Lidton, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke. "Isabella, you received the Dragon Spear's permission. You are the next Patriarch of the Beowulf Family. That is beyond question."

The Elders all looked up at him.

"However..."

There was, of course, a 'however.'

"The Dragon Spear has been stolen by Constantine. The succession ceremony for the Beowulf Patriarch must be initiated by the Dragon Spear in Dragon Spear Plaza. The Dragon Spear will Bestow the Nine Dragon Pattern, which only the next Patriarch of the Beowulf Family can master... To do this, we need to retrieve the Dragon Spear."

Isabella nodded. "How do we find it?"

Patriarch Lidton said, "Constantine's movements are erratic, making him difficult to find. However, there is a Taboo Item in the collection room that can pinpoint his location. The only issue is that the price to use it is quite steep."

He immediately ordered an Attendant to fetch the Taboo Item from the collection room, then said to Isabella in a heartfelt tone:

"Isabella, the Elders are only acting this way for the future of the family... Only you and Jose have inherited the Dragon Slayer bloodline of the Beowulf Family. In the future, the entire family will have to rely on your younger generation..."

Just then, the Attendant from before suddenly ran back and whispered something in an Elder's ear. The Elder cried out, "How is that possible?" and immediately shot to his feet.

Seeing everyone's eyes fall on him, the Elder paid them no mind. He strode over and said something to Patriarch Lidton, after which Patriarch Lidton's voice quickly grew heavy. "To the collection room."

A group of them arrived at the collection room. The moment the door was opened, it wasn't just the Patriarch and Elders whose expressions changed. Nearly everyone present, including the ever-stoic Isabella, was completely stunned by the scene inside.

In the display cabinets that once held one Taboo Item after another, there was only a puddle of clay!!!

The collection room... The entire thing had been stolen!!!

Who did this!