I have a surprise for you!

Kael looked at old Roy's face without saying a word. He didn't need to say anything; the result was right there in front of his eyes.

Roy Medici inspected the stone, which was about the size of an ostrich egg. He wanted to make sure it wasn't some trick, as had happened in past generations.

However, upon examining it with extreme meticulousness, he found nothing. There were no signs of tampering or falsification.

That meant the stone was genuine!

Kael watched as old Roy brought his hands to his forehead after examining the stone.

Did he think I would cheat? I do not need to do that. He saw no benefit in it. He knew many ways to fake a stone of origin that would be used a lot in the future.

Kael knew how important origin stones were; their value was five or ten times greater than that of a mana stone. Furthermore, they were extremely difficult to obtain.

Everyone knew that, to obtain an origin stone, one had to clear a dungeon or, in the rarest of cases, it came from a spiritual spring, which were as difficult to find as a drop of water in the sea.

In the Medici Clan, there were only three spiritual springs that produced ten thousand stones of origin per year. These were the source of the clan's wealth.

With a single spiritual spring, a family of viscounts was able to live without worry for at least 10 years.

Without letting those thoughts distract him, Kael held his gaze on the elderly Roy, his face unperturbed.

"There's no doubt about it... the real. By order of the Zephyr Clan Chief himself, the reward will be delivered by him in person," said old Roy with a long sigh. It was the first time in his forty years that he had seen someone as exceptional as Kael.

"You may leave," he said, waving his hand wearily to signal her to leave.

Kael turned around and left the tent with the same calmness and indifference with which he had entered.

The old man Roy watched Kael's back disappear into the distance among the snow, then leaned back in his chair, staring at the green ceiling of the tent.

"The young people of today have surpassed past generations."

...

A few minutes later, Kael arrived at one of the mansion's doors.

Lydia was already waiting for him at the entrance, bowing her head with the elegance that only well-trained servants possessed.

"Welcome, young master," she said in a soft voice, her black hair momentarily hiding her face. "The warm bath is ready."

Kael nodded slightly.

"Where is my mother?"

"Lady Alessia is in the north garden," Lydia replied, maintaining the respectful tone she had used for the past five months.

Without another word, Kael crossed the threshold of the mansion. The warm air contrasted with the cold outside, but he paid no attention to it.

In the hallways, some of his brothers, those who had not been chosen as Standard Bearers, stopped when they saw him pass. The looks of surprise, doubt, and a hint of envy were inevitable.

Kael didn't bother to return them. He walked with a steady gait, as if the rest didn't exist. Other people's emotions were worthless; only results mattered.

Each stride brought him closer to his room, to the cleanliness he needed after the hunt. The dry stench of blood clinging to his skin was annoying, nothing more.

Upon arriving, he stripped off his bloodstained clothes, grabbed the towel that had been laid out for him, and headed straight for the bathroom. Steam floated in the air, laden with the subtle scent of herbs. The temperature was just right. Lydia never made mistakes.

Without hesitation, Kael submerged himself in the warm water, letting the silence envelop him, and allowed his thoughts to wander.

Now that I've completed the dungeon, my father will most likely send for me, and a lot of attention will be focused on me. But that way, the benefits will be the same, and I'll likely be given a stone of origin.

Kael knew that by clearing the dungeon in just a few hours, he would attract the attention of the Clan's high command, and that was precisely why he did it.

It was also to demonstrate his dominance over his brothers. Although he had no intention of becoming the leader of the Medici Clan, he simply wanted to use its resources to strengthen himself.

Kael was no longer going to be so passive, as the differences between his past life and this one were too great not to reap all the rewards.

His thoughts continued to flit through his mind.

My mother and Agnes' business is growing rapidly, so much so that some members of the Clan and the Blossom family want to invest. In addition, I can also make use of this once I leave the mountain.

Right now, approaching the Demon Wolf's inheritance would be a premature move. There are too many eyes on me.

Failure does not come from a lack of strength, but from impatience. In my past life, I underestimated the power of attention and the value of anonymity. I would not make the same mistake again.

Kael wasn't going to act so quickly unless he was completely sure. Although he knew that everything wasn't going to go according to plan. But if he had enough variables in his favor, he would act without hesitation.

Now, my dear brothers, Soren and Jasper, are the only ones who have shown their hostility so openly. But they pose no real danger to me, unlike their mothers, who come from prominent families and wield great influence in the kingdom.

Kael knew that the real obstacle lay with their mothers. Daily, from the Fulger house, a lineage with military dominance over southern Aragon. Scarlett, from the Valentin family, has with vast network of influence among the nobility.

Their power, though not superior to that of the Medici Clan, was sufficient to hinder premature movements.

For now, taking action would be inefficient. The force had to mature. Time, however, was on his side.

Having organized his thoughts, he got out of the bathtub, wrapping the towel around his naked body, which, unlike when he returned, was much more toned.

When he left the bathroom, Lydia was already waiting for him, and his mother, Alessia, looked at him with a warm smile.

And before Kael could say anything, Alessia spoke enthusiastically:

"I have a surprise for you!"