Beast Evolution Forge

Chapter 130 Dungeon Games 6

"Run!!" A man ran through the city, no one in sight as Vell hunted him down from the building tops. He didn't rash, he waited for fear to do its thing.

"After I am done here, I think I will pay her a visit." He vanished, appearing in front of the man causing him to bump into him and fall down. The man's face was beyond shocked, how did he get there and why is a human so scary.

Vell knelt beside him and whispered, "was it worth it, risking your life for someone that doesn't even acknowledge your existence?"

The man's breath hitched, his eyes darting wildly as if the night might offer escape. Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with the grime of the alley. Vell's shadow loomed over him, patient and unyielding.

"W-worth what?" the man stammered, voice cracking. "I—I don't even know who you're talking about!"

Vell tilted his head, the faint glow of corrupted mana flickering in his palm. "Loyalty to a faceless master. How quaint." He leaned closer, the mana casting jagged light across the man's terrified features. "But let's skip the theatrics. How many others are watching my team?"@@@@

The man's throat bobbed. "I'm just a courier! They paid me to—to leave packages, track your movements! I swear, I don't know anything else!"

"Packages." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Like the tea service? The poisoned sugar?" He closed his fist, and the mana snaked around the man's wrist, searing a faint mark into his skin. The man yelped. "Tell your employers this: if they send another rat, I'll return it to them in pieces. Understood?"

The man nodded frantically, scrambling backward as the mana released him. Vell rose, dusting off his coat. "Run along now and do give Regina my regards."

By the time the man stumbled to his feet, Vell was already gone, leaving only the echo of his threat hanging in the air.

---

Regina's laughter rang sharp and cold in her observation chamber. She flicked the crystal viewer's image away, the scene of her trembling courier dissolving into mist. "Oh, he's *good*," she purred, twirling a lollipop between her fingers. "I almost regret poisoning the tea. Almost."

Uda materialized beside her, expression grim. "The tracker in the sugar cube was neutralized and our agents... are all dead. We don't know who did it, doesn't seem to be the broken empire."

"Huh?" she crunched the lollipop, shards glinting like broken glass. She glarred at him with her mana released forcing him to his knees, "Someone dares to help him? I want you to find that person not matter what or else your heard will go rolling. Am I understood?"

"Have you encountered any complications during the mission?" he asked, his tone shifting back to his usual calm seriousness.

Jia's smile faltered slightly. "Nothing we couldn't handle, but..." She hesitated.

"But?" his eyes narrowed slightly, his presence suddenly heavier.

"There's been... movement. Regina's forces have been shifting resources to Dungeon Five. Rumors say she's planning something big, but we haven't been able to piece it all together yet. She's also brought in new enforcers—ones we haven't seen before. They're stronger, more coordinated."

Vell hummed, his fingers absently tapping against his thigh. "Looks like she is planning something, well, it doesn't matter, we will crush all her little plans."

Jia nodded. "Kana suspects she's preparing the dungeon as a trap, but we don't know the specifics. If she's targeting us directly, it means we've gotten under her skin."

"good, let her do that. If she thinks she can corner us, she'll overplay her hand and when she does..." His grin returned, sharp and cold.

"What should we do in the meantime?" She asked eagerly, her tail still swaying slightly despite the serious topic.

"Continue the mission, stick to your cover, gather information, and watch for cracks in her plan. I'll deal with Dungeon Five personally."

Her eyes widened. "Alone? But Master—"

"Hah, look at you getting all worked up over nothing, did you forget who I am?"

Her worry turned into a knowing smile, "No I haven't, seems I was worried for nothing."

"The others will go into the other dungeons, I will be alone this time around." He began walking away, "It was nice seeing you again, tell the girls I said hi, we will all reunite soon."

She bowed and disappeared after he left.