chapter 29: The Price of power

Chapter 29: The Price of Power

For one month, Rin vanished from the underworld. No one saw him at the guild, No rumors carried his name. He had disappeared.

But while the world moved on, Rin was not idle.

In the depths of an abandoned laboratory—his father's hidden lair—Rin trained relentlessly. Not just his body, but his mind. He studied his first martial technique.

Every morning, he woke before dawn, pushing his muscles to their limit. He trained in solitude, perfecting a technique that had no name, a method born from his unique ability—adaptation. If he could mimic, then he could refine. If he could refine, he could surpass.

The first technique was not about power.

It was about control.

Through weeks of trial and error, Rin developed an internal rhythm, a way to predict and adjust his opponent's movements in real time. A technique designed for absolute dominance.

By the time he emerged, he was sharper, his stance firmer. His month of absence had not been in vain.

The Birth of "Unholy"

Before leaving the lair, Rin took a moment to examine his true creation.

Rows of massive glass tanks lined the underground chamber, filled with a dark, crimson liquid. The scent of fermentation lingered in the air—rich, aged, intoxicating.

The drink had been one month in the making, and in that time, its legend had spread.

"Unholy."

That was what they called it in the streets. The Number one trending Wine in the underworld. Everyone wanted a taste.

But "Unholy" was more than just alcohol. It was power. The elite hoarded it, the criminals fought over it, and the businessmen lined up to buy it in bulk. It had infiltrated high society and the lowest gutters.

But with fame came danger. The Duvante Family, the ruling force behind the drink trade, had noticed.

Rin knew that the next step was war.

And war required alliances.

A Meeting in the Woods

Night had fallen. The sky was a deep, bruised blue, the trees whispering in the cold wind.

Rin walked alone into the dense forest, his footsteps muffled by fallen leaves. He knew he wasn't alone.

The low rumble of engines broke the silence.

Three vintage cars emerged from the darkness, their headlights cutting through the fog like golden eyes.

Cadillac V-16s, 1930 models.

They circled him slowly, their chrome exteriors reflecting the dim moonlight. Then, the lead car stopped. The doors opened with a heavy click.

A man stepped out.

Dressed in a flawless black suit, he moved with precise efficiency, his hands covered in immaculate white gloves.

Walter.

The butler of the Vox family.

He gave a short bow. "Master Rin. Welcome."

They shook hands.

As their hands met, Rin's sharp eyes caught something—an engraving on Walter's gloves.

A mathematical equation.

It pulsed faintly, as if alive.

Rin traced a finger over the markings. "This isn't just for decoration."

Walter's lips curled into a subtle smile. "Indeed. This is Automail."

"A battle engraving?"

Walter nodded. "These symbols store an equation that, when activated, releases a predetermined attack. It is science and combat fused into one."

Rin's mind spun. A technique encoded into numbers… This world truly had no limits.

Without another word, he entered the car.

Destination: The Vox Mansion.

The Fortress of the Vox Family

The Vox Estate was not just a mansion. It was a fortress.

Towering black iron gates, security drones patrolling the skies, and armed guards stationed at every corner. The mansion itself was massive, white marble walls gleaming under the moonlight.

The butler led Rin through a series of gold-trimmed hallways, past ornate oil paintings and red banners bearing the Vox emblem.

Finally, the doors to the main hall opened.

Inside, Valdo stood at the center, hands in his pockets, a smirk on his lips.

To his left, two men sat.

One was Valdo's father—a towering presence, his left arm missing but his power undeniable.

The other was his uncle, sharp-eyed and calculating.

And to the side, leaning against a chair with a smirk, was a teenage boy—Priere Vox.

Valdo's father regarded Rin with quiet curiosity. Valdo simply gestured.

"Come in."

Rin stepped forward with confidence, ignoring Priere's smug expression.

Priere clicked his tongue. "You finally acknowledge me?"

Rin didn't react. He simply sat. Straight to business.

The Deal

"Unholy is selling faster than any drink on the market," Rin stated. "But there's a problem."

Valdo's father raised an eyebrow. "The Duvante Family?"

Rin nodded. "They control the drink distribution network. They won't let this stand."

Valdo's uncle smirked. "Then we push them out by force. Articles, rumors, financial pressure—we'll bury them."

Rin shook his head.

"No. That would be too slow. I prefer something permanent. Their core figures and producers—gone."

The room fell into silence.

Then—

BANG.

Valdo's uncle slammed the table. "You go too far! You dare suggest wiping out an entire family?"

Before he could continue, Valdo's father raised a hand.

The room froze.

Then, without a word, he stood up.

For the first time, Rin saw it clearly—the empty sleeve where his left arm should have been.

Then—

BOOM.

A violent pressure exploded from him, filling the room with suffocating energy. The temperature dropped.

A lesser man would have collapsed.

But Rin remained seated. Unmoved.

The pressure receded. Then, Valdo's father laughed.

He stepped forward, patting Rin's shoulder. "Valdo brought an interesting one."

Then, he agreed.

The Duvante Family would fall.

Because he had his own personal grudge against them.

They were the ones who took his arm.

The Laws of Power

As Rin was escorted out, he turned to Valdo.

"Your father's arm… How did he lose it? Aren't the families forbidden from attacking each other?"

Valdo let out a slow breath, lighting a cigar.

"There are always internal wars, Rin." His voice was calm, but there was something darker underneath. "Every day, someone falls. The weakest are erased. The strongest rise. And the smartest ones… sit back and wait to take the spoils."

He placed a firm hand on Rin's shoulder.

"Don't dwell on it. Just do your job."

Then, his smirk returned. "I brought you to the Cube to show you how big this world is."

Rin understood.

This was just the beginning.

He also knew he was a chiece piece to someone as if everyday he could feel his gaze those blue golem like eyes that came from nowhere but yet somewhere telling him that if he plans on going out of the game plan he will be disposed