How about calling off the engagement?

"It was me," Victor declared, his voice cutting through the tense air.

Gwen whipped her head around at the sound, her eyes widening in surprise as she beheld Victor standing there. Without a moment's hesitation, she believed him. After all, Victor's reputation as a third - order mage preceded him. For someone of his caliber, dealing with a ragtag group of bandits was as effortless as swatting away flies.

"What on earth are you doing here?" Gwen queried, a furrow forming between her brows. She was genuinely perplexed. If Victor was already on the scene, why on earth had Lia still summoned her?

She bent down to retrieve a crystal pulsating with an otherworldly, multicolored glow. As she casually leaned against Lia, the once - vibrant hues on the crystal gradually faded. Victor's sharp eyes didn't miss the identical crystal hanging from Lia's waist. So, this was how they communicated. It functioned much like a sophisticated, two - way - connected device from some far - off, fantastical realm.

Victor, ever the picture of stoicism, maintained his cold, unreadable expression. With a calm, unhurried demeanor, he began to explain, "My family's caravan was in the vicinity of the royal capital. I came to rendezvous with them and, as it turned out, took care of these bandits along the way."

Gwen, satisfied with his plausible explanation, didn't harbor a single doubt. She briskly spun around and issued orders to the waiting knight order. "Examine those corpses closely. Look for any recognizable features. Conduct a thorough identity investigation and report back to me as soon as possible."

"Yes, ma'am!" came the resounding reply. The knights, with practiced efficiency, immediately sprang into action, their movements quick and purposeful.

"Lia, stay vigilant. Promise me you'll reach out the moment you sense any danger," Gwen said, her voice laced with concern. With that, she led the knights away, their horses' hooves clattering on the ground.

The moment Gwen was out of sight, Lia's expression soured. Her face flushed with indignation, puffing up like a pouting child's. She had been the one to deal with those bandits! She'd been looking forward to showing off her prowess in front of Gwen, but Victor had swooped in and snatched all the glory.

"You understand the age - old principle of not flaunting your wealth better than most, don't you?" Victor murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lia's eyes widened in realization, and just like that, her anger dissipated. She knew he was right. The caravan members were loyal to her, so their witnessing her magic wasn't a problem. But if word got out that her power was derived from a magical artifact, she'd be a prime target. As a shrewd merchant, she was all too aware of the insatiable greed that lurked within human nature.

"Um... I see," she mumbled, her voice sheepish.

Victor felt a warm glow of satisfaction. For the first time, he'd successfully imparted some wisdom to Lia, and a sense of pride, not unlike that of a proud older brother, welled up within him. He stepped closer to Lia and extended a single finger towards the dull - looking gem on her Mage Hand. A brilliant red light flashed as he effortlessly refilled its magic.

With his task complete, he turned to leave. But Lia, her curiosity piqued, called out in a slightly coy tone, "How did you really get here? I don't buy that story you fed Gwen."

Victor paused mid - step and swiveled around. His eyes, as cold and emotionless as a winter's night, met hers. "I felt you activate the magic. Curiosity got the better of me, so I came to check it out," he replied flatly.

Lia's heart skipped a beat. In all her life, Victor had never shown an ounce of concern for her. So, what had happened today? Had he had a complete change of heart? Or was there some other, more sinister motive at play?

Victor, seemingly oblivious to her inner turmoil, continued, "The caravan attack might be linked to my enemies. There are so many of them, it's hard to keep track. You need to be extra cautious."

Lia finally found her voice and retorted, a sneer on her lips, "Oh, so you're aware of how unpopular you are?" Secretly, she had her suspicions about the bandits' origins, but she kept them to herself.

"Have you tested the potions?" Victor suddenly asked, changing the subject.

Lia's eyes lit up. "All the mages have tried them, and they're all raving about how amazing they are!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. Just imagining the exhausted mages springing back to life after a single sip of the potion sent a thrill down her spine. Even though she wasn't a mage herself, she could appreciate the sheer magnitude of the potion's power.

"This time, bringing the caravan wasn't just about the ore trade. I've already scouted out the perfect store in the royal capital," Lia gushed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "There are hordes of adventurers, especially mages. If we sell these potions in the bustling city center, they're bound to be an instant hit!"

Victor listened intently, secretly impressed by Lia's initiative and execution skills. But he was far too reserved to let his admiration show. "In the royal capital, if you run into trouble and I can't help, don't hesitate to reach out to Gwen," he said, his voice matter - of - fact.

Lia tilted her head, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Don't you know?" she drawled, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Victor frowned. "Know what? Stop playing games, Lia."

"Gwen's leaving on a mission in a few days. She won't be back for at least half a month. And here you are, her fiancé, completely in the dark. Maybe it's time to start thinking about letting her find someone who actually pays attention," Lia taunted, her eyes fixed on Victor's face, eager to see a reaction.

But Victor's expression remained inscrutable. "Where is she going?" he asked, his voice betraying no emotion.

Lia's hopes of riling him up were dashed. He might as well have been asking about the weather. Disappointed, she dropped her gaze and idly fiddled with the Mage Hand. "She's been dispatched to Mount Vesuvius," she replied casually. "The locals have been hearing strange noises. The emperor sent her to assess the risk of an eruption and devise a contingency plan."

At the mention of Mount Vesuvius, Victor froze. Memories of the game flooded back. He knew all too well that it wasn't just an ordinary dormant volcano. Hidden beneath the layers of seething magma was a colossal monster, the formidable neutral world boss from the game's first - chapter storyline.

This world - class boss was a force to be reckoned with. With an incredibly high level and health bar that seemed almost endless, it could be challenged by players from across the entire server. Once defeated, it would spawn a dungeon, a haven for players seeking a challenging and rewarding experience.

If Victor's memory served him right, the boss was set to wake up in a year and a half. Back then, the players were still relatively low - level. The game had only been out for half a year, and most were hovering around level 20. In contrast, the boss was a staggering level 50! Breaking its defense was a herculean task, one that had taken countless attempts and sacrifices.

Victor vividly remembered the day the boss emerged from the volcano. The surrounding towns were reduced to ashes in an instant. The empire's army and knight order had been sent to quell the threat, but they were no match for the behemoth. It was only when the empire turned to the "players" that there was any hope.

Over the course of three grueling days, the players, Victor among them, waged a relentless battle against the boss. He recalled staying up all night, logging in time and time again to chip away at the boss's health. The sense of camaraderie and the thrill of the fight were unforgettable. And when they finally emerged victorious, the rewards were well - worth the effort.

Even though he'd revisited the dungeon with different professions, nothing could compare to the intensity of that first encounter. The fear, the excitement, the overwhelming sense of despair - it was all part of the experience.

Now, Victor was consumed by a burning desire to see the monster before it awoke. The Furnace Warcraft, as the players had named it, was a terrifying entity, a living, breathing incinerator that brought destruction wherever it went.

Determined, Victor decided to pay Gwen a visit that very night. He needed to find out more about the mission. If he could accompany her, all the better.

Lia watched as Victor stood there, lost in thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was plotting something. "Are you that bored? You're a professor at the Magic Academy, for goodness sake! Shouldn't you be busy with something more important than loitering around here?" she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "If you've got nothing better to do, do us all a favor and go home."

Victor glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he nodded. In an instant, a magic array materialized beneath his feet, and with a soft "whoosh," he vanished.

Lia let out a sigh and rubbed her temples. "That guy... He really just comes and goes as he pleases," she muttered. But in a way, she was relieved. With him gone, she could focus on the task at hand.

She immediately turned to her subordinates and began directing them to take inventory of the goods. The mages, who had been watching the entire exchange with wide - eyed astonishment, were still in a state of disbelief. Was that really the legendary head of the Clevanna family? He could teleport at will, a feat even their own boss couldn't achieve!

Before long, the inventory was complete, and Lia let out a sigh of relief when she learned that nothing had been lost. She motioned for a subordinate to come closer and then whispered in her ear, "Contact our people and have them look into the recent activities of the Du Croy family." Her eyes hardened. "Our Clevanna family caravan has never been robbed before, and I intend to find out who's behind this audacity."

She had long suspected the duke. After all, his daughter was the only one who had a recent grudge against Victor. As for Victor's other enemies, they had either been dealt with or were smart enough to stay away. The duke, with his arrogance and power, was the most likely culprit.

She wasn't about to let anyone, especially not some local noble, push her family around. It had always been the Clevanna family who called the shots, and that wasn't about to change.

....

Back at his residence, Victor teleported directly to his bedroom. He rummaged through his wardrobe, selecting a set of clothes suitable for a visit. He then summoned a servant and instructed him to prepare the carriage. He was determined to visit the Delin family mansion and have a word with Gwen.

Meanwhile, Gwen had just returned home after a long day of work. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally. The moment she stepped through the door, she couldn't wait to shed her heavy armor and cumbersome clothes.

Thankfully, the maid had already prepared a steaming - hot bath. Gwen sank into the tub, stretching her sore muscles with a contented sigh. "Um~ha!" she moaned, closing her eyes and letting the warm water soothe her tired body.

Just as she was on the verge of drifting off, a knock on the bathroom door jolted her back to reality. "Sister, someone is here to visit," the servant called out.

Gwen groaned and lazily emerged from the water. Her white back glistened in the soft light as water droplets cascaded down her skin, creating small ripples in the bathwater. "Ha... Who is it?" she yawned, still half - asleep.

Then, the servant's next words sent a shockwave through her. "It's Mr. Victor."

"Splash!" Gwen's eyes widened in horror as she lost her balance and plunged back into the water.