Final Quest completion

"W-WHAT!? ELTHARION?" Rowena stumbled back a few steps, her eyes wide in shock.

"Yep."

"Don't just 'yep' me!" she cried out inwardly, feeling both flustered and overwhelmed.

"Master, you are really a big shot!" she said with a high-pitched voice, rushing to keep up with him as he walked forward.

"The Eltharions are one of the most renowned clans in the whole Empire!" she continued, her tone filled with a mix of reverence and disbelief.

"And why is that so?" Zynos asked, feigning ignorance but inwardly intrigued.

"It's because of the clan head, Aurielle Eltharion!" Rowena said, her eyes brimming with admiration. But the came a strong sense of fear.

"I want to cut the dick of that old man for taking this quest without prior background check!" She gritted her teeth.

"Is she that strong?" Zynos asked curiously.

"Yes! It's said that she single-handedly gained control over her house after her husband's death and has ruled with an iron grip ever since," Rowena explained. "Even the Queen favors her!"

When he heard the words 'Husband's death' His heart skipped a beat, But he quickly recovered.

"What? The Queen? Then how the fuck does a small-time side character like Amelia have the courage to pull something like that on me?" Zynos' eyes narrowed as a look of annoyance flashed across his face.

"And how do you know all this? Aren't you just a small shrimp?" he asked without turning back, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Wha? Shrimp? Master! You're so rude!" she pouted, her cheeks puffing slightly.

"I just have some good connections. Although her achievements are commonly known, the closeness with the Queen isn't exactly public knowledge," she added after a brief pause.

"I see," Zynos muttered, filing away the information.

"Now go find some beasts. I have to kill a few of them," he said abruptly. "Don't try to run. Trust me, I'll know," he warned her with a casual but chilling tone.

Rowena gulped, her head nodding like a chicken pecking grain. She quickly scurried off, her mind racing with thoughts about her mysterious and powerful new master.

…

After 7 hours.

[DING!]

[QUEST COMPLETED!]

[KILL HUNDRED PEAK STAGE BODY REFINING BEASTS]

[REWARD – APPRAISAL (Works only on those lower or two realms higher than you)]

[DING! DO YOU WISH TO INTEGRATE IT?]

"Yes," Zynos said without hesitation.

This time, there was no pain, just a warm current flowing through his eyes, making him close them for a few seconds.

When he opened them, his gaze felt sharper, his eyes a touch brighter than before. Turning towards Rowena, he muttered, "Appraisal."

[NAME – ROWENA CLAR]

[AGE – 26]

[JOB – ASSASSIN]

[CULTIVATION- PEAK BODY REFINING REALM]

[INNER THOUGHT – Curious about you and thinking of ways to escape]

"Haha! Now that's what you call a cheat!" Zynos exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

But his joy was short-lived. "Hey, System, why can't I see her attributes?" he asked, confusion creeping into his tone.

[THE SYSTEM WILL NEED TO UNDERGO AN UPDATE TO UNLOCK FURTHER FUNCTIONS.]

"Okay, update."

[…]

"What? Then how should you update?"

[…]

"Alright, alright, you tsundere~" Zynos sighed, shaking his head.

"Even so, this ability is pretty handy, even if it's just spying the realms and reading thoughts," he thought, turning his gaze toward Rowena, who was following him obediently.

"Heh, even I was fooled by her act, little lamb," he chuckled inwardly, amused at her feigned compliance.

With a smirk playing on his lips, Zynos began walking toward the Eltharion Mansion, Rowena trailing behind him in silence.

…

Back in the mansion,

Aurelle sat gracefully, her silver hair shimmering under the light as she calmly sipped her tea. The serene air around her belied the sharp thoughts racing in her mind.

"You want to leave early even before the sect examination starts?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Zynos.

"Yes, I want to explore our Empire a little," Zynos replied with a smile. Inwardly, however, his thoughts churned.

"Appraisal."

[DING!]

[HOST'S LEVEL IS TOO LOW FOR THE ABILITY TO WORK.]

Zynos was surprised but didn't let it show on his face. The realization only piqued his curiosity about just how powerful his mother was.

"Alright, I guess you have some plans for that woman?" Aurelle asked with a mischievous smile, her eyes glinting.

"Yes, but I need some help from you, Mother," Zynos said.

"Go ahead."

"I need an Alchemy cauldron and some information about Amelia's family alchemy business," he replied, his lips curling into an evil smirk.

"Hoh? What are you going to do with that?" she asked, clearly intrigued and entertained by her son's antics.

"Heh, you'll see, Mother."

Her gaze shifted slightly, her eyes flicking towards Rowena, who stood silently at a corner of the room. "And who is that girl you brought with you?" Her voice was casual, but the undertone was anything but.

"She's my new maid, Rowena. She's going to come with me," Zynos replied without much thought.

"It's a pleasure meeting you Lady Aurelle" Rowena bowed. Aurelle nodded then turned towards Zynos,

"New maid? You didn't even think to tell me about this?" Aurelle asked, her tone light, though there was a subtle sharpness beneath.

"I just picked her up," Zynos shrugged, completely missing the look on his mother's face.

"Alright, I'll take my leave." With that, he walked out.

Aurelle's serene expression remained as she stared at her tea. "Calm down, Aurelle, that's just a maid," she muttered inwardly, though her grip on the teacup tightened ever so slightly.

"Lyria," she called out.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Go and give him the information he asked for. Make sure not to give too much," she instructed, her tone calm yet commanding.

"Yes, My Lady," Lyria replied, bowing before scurrying off.

Aurelle's piercing blue eyes followed her retreating figure. "Why does she seem so excited about going to his room?" she thought, her gaze narrowing.

Her fingers lightly drummed on the table as a fleeting thought crossed her mind. "Should I—" She stopped herself mid-thought and let out a small sigh, calming the dangerous glint in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Lyria, who had been hurrying towards Zynos' room with a strange sense of anticipation, suddenly shivered. A cold chill ran down her spine as if she were being silently warned. She glanced behind her, but there was nothing. "What was that?" she muttered, shaking her head before continuing.

Back in the room, Aurelle leaned back in her chair, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. The air around her grew heavy with an unspoken tension as she muttered under her breath, "He's my son… mine and mine alone." There was a faint tremble in her voice, a mix of possessiveness and….jealousy?"

...