5 Clues.

James was about to leave for his room when his mother's voice stopped him in his tracks. 

"James, wait," she said, her voice laced with a mix of sadness and hope. She reached out, her delicate fingers gripping his arm as if letting go would break her heart. 

Her green eyes, so much like his own, glimmered in the evening light filtering through the towering hedges. 

"We've only just begun. You've only seen one of my gardens. There are sixteen more, James. Each one is special in its own way. Please, stay a little longer." 

James froze, his expression perfectly polite, but inside, a storm of frustration was brewing. 'Sixteen more? Does she think I have all day to wander through her pointless flower displays? Nobody cares about your stupid gardens, Mother.' 

The thought was cold, even to him, but he kept his expression neutral, polite even. Outwardly, he gave her a gentle smile. 

His face softened, his eyes warm and understanding. "Mother, I'd love to, but something important just came up. I promise we'll tour all your gardens another time. I wouldn't miss it for the world." 

His mother sighed, her hand reluctantly letting go of his arm, her disappointment evident. James turned away, striding down the cobblestone path, his thoughts already moving on. 'Freedom at last.'

Yet, halfway to his room, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. His sharp memory had tugged at a loose thread in his mind. 

Yes, he could remember every face that had been within ten meters of the fountain during the Aegis Resonance Banquet. But knowing their faces wasn't enough. 

He didn't know all their names, and one particular face had stuck with him—round, sweaty, with a nose wide enough to park a cart on, sparse hair, and tiny, suspiciously close-set eyes. 

He found this person suspicious.

"Damn it," James muttered under his breath, turning on his heel. His frustration was clear in the stiff way he walked, but he quickly smoothed it over before his mother could notice. 

When he reached her, he plastered on a sheepish smile, the kind that could disarm even the most suspicious noblewoman. 

"Mother," he began, his tone warm and dripping with charm, "I realized I couldn't bear the thought of you walking alone. It didn't feel right." 

Her expression brightened instantly, her earlier sadness melting away. "Oh, James, that's so thoughtful of you." 

James gave a small laugh, masking the ulterior motive that had brought him back. He kept the sweet act going, casually slipping in his real question. 

"By the way, Mother, I noticed a man at the banquet yesterday. Large fellow, wide nose, sparse hair. Tiny eyes. Do you know who that might be?" 

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her brows furrowing for a moment. "Hmm… Oh! That would be Maurice Banrey. He's the Head of the Hunter Association branch in this state. Why do you ask?" 

James's smile didn't falter for a second. "Oh, no particular reason. Just curious, I suppose. Thank you, Mother. I'll leave you to your gardens now." 

And just like that, James pivoted and walked off, shamelessly abandoning her again. His mother stared after him, dazed and mildly confused by his abrupt departure. 

.....

The next morning, James woke to the odd but slightly familiar sensation of weight pressing down on his chest. 

Groggily, he opened one eye, his vision blurry at first, and saw Martha sprawled across him like a lazy cat. Her soft snores filled the room, her messy hair covering half her face. 

James smirked, amused at the sight. 'She calls herself a night owl, but she's always the first to pass out.' 

With a gentle shove, he rolled her off him, and she flopped onto the bed with a quiet groan, still fast asleep. 

Stretching his arms above his head, James stood up, his muscles rippling under the morning light streaming through the window. 

His body felt alive, brimming with energy. Last night had been… well, let's just say, very intense. 

He and Martha had gone at it again. Multiple times, in fact. She'd tapped out before him, as always. 

He glanced down at Martha, still snoring peacefully. 'Unlimited stamina really is quite the cheat,' he thought with a grin. 

Ever since losing his virginity, something had changed in him. Losing his virginity had done more than just boost his confidence.

It had awakened a hunger in him, an insatiable appetite for intimacy that seemed to grow stronger by the day. 

But there was no time to linger on those thoughts. James eagerly opened his system interface, anticipation buzzing in his chest. 

He was ready for his next move, another guidance clue like the one he'd received last time. 

[Ding! Host has gained one clue token!] The system announced in its usual monotone voice. 

James waited, expecting more, but the interface remained silent. 

Then a new progress bar appeared: 

[1/10 Clue Tokens.] 

His brow furrowed, annoyance flickering in his eyes. His sharp mind instantly pieced things together. 'So I need ten tokens to get a single clue now? That's new.'

He sighed, realising that without the regional multiplier bonus he'd benefited from before, collecting these tokens would be a slow and steady process. Patience was his strong suit, so he could wait, but it was still dissapointing. 

Shrugging off his disappointment, James grabbed a loose robe to cover his nakedness and made his way to the far corner of his room. 

There, hidden behind an ornate golden keyhole, was the door to his private study. 

He retrieved a small golden key from a hidden compartment in his bedside drawer, the metal glinting in the soft morning light. With a satisfying click, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. 

The study was simple but functional. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with books ranging from magical theory to political strategy.

A large oak desk sat in the centre, its surface neatly organised with parchment, ink, and a single dagger for emergencies. 

But what caught James's attention was the massive board mounted on the right wall. Five names were written on it in bold, clear handwriting: 

- Lancaster Wade (The Forgemaster)

- Caylus Voss (Head of Merchants)

- Van Wade (Leader of Blades)

- Maurice Banrey (Head of Hunter Association Branch)

- Shadow (Leader of Shadow Guild)

These were the five Hidden Boss suspects. One of them was his NTR Target!

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Yayyy!!!! You can now give my book gifts to support this poor author! A castle would be marvelous! Plus you get bonus Chapters too!

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Power stone Goal!

20 PS - 1 Bonus chapter

50 PS - 2 Bonus chapter

100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.

Castle - 10 Bonus Chapters!