"So this is the Blood Rose." George read through the report, unable to hide his surprise. According to Arron's write-up, the artifact was capable of enhancing a celestial hunter's stats tenfold and granting a skill called Dragon Eye — with the caveat that if the artifact deemed its user unworthy, it would devour their mind. A newcomer had secured something that was at minimum A-rank based on the stat enhancement alone, and the true ceiling of Dragon Eye's ability hadn't even been determined yet — which meant the artifact's actual rank and value could be significantly higher.
"Ed — is it true that he managed to beat a celestial hunter on the verge of stepping into C-rank?" Ella asked, turning something over in her mind.
"Yes. He did," Ed answered plainly.
The expressions on both George and Ella's faces shifted.
"How is that even possible? He was a civilian until recently — no combat experience, no proper understanding of celestial energy usage." George argued, and Ella nodded in agreement. Under normal circumstances it shouldn't even qualify as a fight. Arron should have died.
"He unlocked the bloodlust state — and retained his rationality while inside it."
At Ed's declaration, both team leaders went completely silent.
"What?" They said it at the same time.
"He achieved the bloodlust state and kept his rationality." George stood up from his seat.
"How did he unlock it? Most celestial hunters struggle to access even a fraction of that power." Ella looked at Ed, waiting.
Ed explained how Arron had fought the Lion Mask — the desperation that had pushed him past the threshold and unlocked the state. As he spoke, both of their expressions cycled through shock and then something quieter, a pity for the fact that Arron had been dragged into a life-or-death situation on his very first mission.
"Incredible. He beat someone with more experience and greater power through sheer combat intelligence." Ella let out a long sigh, a trace of genuine regret in it. "Damn you, you lucky bastard — why do the talented ones always end up with you?"
"So what did you actually call us here for, Ed? Was it just to tell us about this?" George recovered his composure.
Ed said a single word in response.
The bloodlust that erupted from both George and Ella simultaneously was enough to make every other employee in the vicinity instinctively give the room a wide berth.
"So that bastard is still alive after all these years. We finally have a lead." George's voice was controlled despite the rage underneath it. "Where is he, Ed? Where is Clown?"
"Where. Is. He?" Ella slammed her hand onto the table hard enough to split it apart.
"Calm down — both of you. Clown got away, and he's significantly stronger than he was twenty years ago." Ed pulled off his jacket and unwound the bandages wrapped around his upper body, revealing a massive claw mark running across his chest.
"You fought him alone?! Are you out of your mind?!" Ella crossed the room and slapped him for his recklessness. George could only sigh at the fact that this idiot was still breathing.
"I'm sorry," Ed said. Ella wound up to hit him again, but George caught her arm.
"Calm down, Ella. I know how you feel — but just hear this idiot out for a moment. I'm sure he had a reason." George held her steady as Ella exhaled slowly and dropped back into her seat.
"It had better be a good one. Hmph." She pouted. George and Ed both winced involuntarily, both remembering her age, and Ella immediately turned a sharp glare on them.
"The reason I went in alone is because my subordinate had become Clown's new person of interest. I didn't anticipate that he would be able to — however clumsily — exercise some degree of control over his bloodlust state." Ed clenched his fist at the memory.
"How much control are we talking, based on your assessment?" George and Ella both asked, their tones turning careful.
"I'd estimate around fifteen percent. That doesn't sound like much on paper, but in actual combat it was enough that he nearly had me. I only managed to turn it around by copying his technique."
"You copied his technique? How does it work?"
"It's deceptively simple. He uses celestial energy to forcibly link his bloodlust and his rationality together, allowing him to exert a limited degree of control. The cost is severe — it puts the brain under extreme stress as the forced balance tries to equalize. That alone nearly put both me and Clown into a coma."
Before he finished the sentence, Ella crossed the room and drove a haymaker straight into his face, putting him on the ground. She mounted him and began throwing punches as Ed scrambled to defend himself.
"Why are you hitting me? I gained valuable information — a method to counteract the bloodlust sta—"
"Stupid old man! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Ella's punches kept coming. "Gain information my ass — what if Clown had finished you? What then? Answer me! What about your subordinates? What about the guild? What about me — what about me?!" Her voice cracked. Tears were running down her face.
George walked over and slapped Ed across the back of the head.
"You think too little of your own life. This is why you frustrate me — you haven't changed at all. Still throwing yourself in without a second thought." He scratched the back of his head, exhaled, then straightened up. "Calming her down is your problem, you idiotic old man. And for what it's worth — I'll back whatever additional compensation you put forward for Arron." George stepped out of the room, pulling a lollipop from his pocket to take the edge off.
Back inside, Ed attempted to calm Ella down. What he received instead was a heel to the face, followed by a right hook and a left jab to the jaw that sent him sliding back several inches. Ella pressed forward relentlessly — she was the kind of person who didn't stop until you gave her what she needed to hear.
"Fine. Next time I won't be so reckless." Ella's fist stopped an inch from his face.
"Say it again."
"I won't do it again. I promise."
The moment the words left his mouth, the ring on Ella's finger lit up and a beam of light pierced through Ed's chest.
"Ella — what was that?"
"Insurance. You won't be breaking that promise anymore." She wiped her face with the back of her hand, then turned toward the door. "And for the record — you're an idiot for making us worry like that."
She stepped outside, and found Arron waiting in the hallway. He greeted her with a bow. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Take care of that old man for me, Arron."
Arron nodded. "Don't worry, Senior — I'll do my be—"
The words hit her like a physical thing. A memory she had buried surfaced without warning — a boy with the same earnest expression, the same words, the same smile that hadn't yet learned what the world could take from you.
"Big sis."
"Big sis."
"Senior Ella? Are you okay?" Arron's voice pulled her back.
"Yes — I'm fine. Just remembering something from a long time ago." Ella reached up and patted Arron on the head. Her voice was steady, but the regret and nostalgia underneath it were unmistakable.