"So it's her again. Always the one controlling the strings."

Previously, Arthur only gave a small glance to Claudia then focused his attention on Lucy. Thanks to his training, which lasted God knows how long, he became able to fully suppress his rage and completely hide his killing intent, only making it surface when he wishes so.

In fact, he was gutting for Claudia and can't wait to show her what real torture really is, but things must be taken slowly and as husband and a man, there are priorities and things way more relevant than his revenge, for example, his wife and daughter.

"She's really one crafty woman. Unfortunately, I had people monitoring every small move she did, from what toilet she uses to what fork she eats with, nothing escaped my eyes. You see, Saly is kind of famous amongst the young children as she won a small tournament two years ago organized by the International Hero Organization. I forbade her from joining any company and only focus on studying. Thus, she rejected all the offers but... seeing the potential growing threat, Claudia decided to sneakily kill her. All attempts were a failure, of course."

Arthur's eyes turned cold for a split second before they returned to normal, the more he thought about Claudia, the more he remembered those days from the past.

That cold and isolated room with only a metal chair in its center. The foul stench of piss, blood and various other things that made it nauseating. He still hasn't forgotten about the many faces that visited that room and enjoyed torturing him, oh it would be absolutely wrong to assume that his wife is the only one at fault.

The list is long and albeit her being the main culprit, there are many others, many who shall not escape the fate he prepared for them.

"What about the assassins, were they all disposed of?"

"Yes, you know how I deal with things, an insect today, a thorn tomorrow. I left no one left but even if one could have escaped, I doubt Claudia would have left him/her alive. Though I didn't stop there, I personally searched every inch of this planet and rooted every assassin organization, none were spared. Then I proceeded in creating one myself, I even handpicked everyone so that no one can think of backstabbing me."

"With your methods, I'm sure they are very loyal hahaha..."

Arthur laughed as he listened to Lucy. Knowing her criteria when picking or assessing people, it must've taken quite a time to find the perfect candidates. They would have been tested countless times too, to assure they won't betray her trust.

Nonetheless, it's good, his wife was more active than he thought her to be. Not only did she erase every assassin organization, she also created one of her own, possibly the only one existing on Earth right now.

"I do not personally travel to their headquarters, I usually send a messenger. With the help of Miya and Delia, I managed to train a few loyal and helpful subordinates, they are my eyes and ears. Going back to the topic of Claudia in recent years, I managed to get very close to her. She considers me a loyal subordinate and although I didn't do any dirty work for her, I allowed her to become one of the top figures of the IHO. With her new status and wealth, her ego got a huge boost, adding to her never-decreasing arrogance but it's fine this way, at least she isn't as cautious of me as five years ago."

Arthur listened to his wife and noticed that she seemed to dislike Claudia, or more accurately, loathe the latter guts. It's natural though, with a character like hers and a slutty behavior, no one would like her once they discover her real personality; A sadistic, egoistic, selfish person.

"Doesn't she know that Saly is your daughter?"

"No, no one knows where Saly lives. Even if she were to be followed, thanks to Randuin's invisibility, no one can trace her back to her, even when using modern technology, which is easily detectable using Mana or Nether Energy. Claudia thinks that I live alone in a place not far from here, she 'secretly' put a lot of cameras alas... all she would see is an illusion put by Snory, who owes me a favor for helping him."

Lucy flicked her hand and retrieved a small red stone, it showed an illusion of Lucy meditating in an empty room. With but a thought from Lucy, the illusion followed her will and did as sold, for example, eating, leaving the room or doing other activities, basically, it can fool the unprepared and inexperienced eyes.

"In addition of Claudia, I've managed to locate three other main perpetrators that contributed in capturing you and paid the mercenaries. I still haven't acted and merely watched from the sides, I didn't want to alarm them if one of their 'friends' disappeared. I also wanted to save the treat for you, doing it personally would be much more exhilarating."

Lucy continued talking about the details of these people, who they were, what they do right now and what they DID in the past, from crimes to offenses and even small fights, she had everything on them thanks to the thorough investigation of her subordinates.

She even sent people who infiltrated these people's groups and became trusted there. With a single order from Lucy, these spies could slit the throat of their bosses, they are, after all, trained assassins before becoming spies.

Arthur became eager to see what kind of people Lucy managed to train, furthermore, with her backing his every move and watching the target's affairs, he needs not worry about any unforeseen events.

Escaping to the ends of the Earth still wouldn't save them from his grasp, unless they find a way to travel out of Earth, then they would never be able to resist the imminent death that's closing up on them.

******

In a courtyard, where there's an artificial small mountain and a beautiful pond next to it, stood an old man with a long white beard a bent back, indicating his old age.

Just behind the old man was an elegant man in his twenties, he wore a black tuxedo and had a handsome face, anyone who sees him will know that he's some kind of a businessman with such an appearance.

"Arthur, I do not have much time left...."

A sad look flashed through the young man's eyes as he replied

"Yes..."

In response, the old man turned around and slapped the young man's head, causing the latter to groaned in pain

"What 'Yes' bullshit are you giving me? This ain't a dramatic goodbye! I'm telling you this so you can wake the hell up and speed up the process. You're here sipping tea and enjoying this view like there's no tomorrow, like hell there isn't!"

"B-but we must honor the deal..."

He didn't even get to finish before he got smacked again

"Honor your damn sister! Go stand in the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matter. The silence is your answer, furthermore, aren't you interested in that girl? What's her name again ehmm.... ah yes! Claudia! So why are you cowering away now? I ain't giving ma damn company to an indecisive little virgin, you better get hold of your shit and man up or you ain't getting ma seat, boy."

The young man nodded as he was being lectured again and again by the old man, facing this elderly person, he couldn't retort or object, all he had to do is listen to the advises he was given because if there's something he's lacking then it's definitely Wisdom.