A Bunch of Useless People?

Of course, this level wasn't that easy to clear. As soon as they entered the bunker, two of Vivian's three subordinates disappeared, leaving only the Dark Dwarf behind. Landen had expected this and didn't stop them. In any case, the Minotaur Butler's corpse had already been dealt with. As for Lilith, if she didn't want to be found, even Vivian wouldn't be able to locate her.

And as soon as Vivian entered the bunker, she revealed her domineering side. After ordering the Dark Dwarf to take his men to their quarters, Vivian went straight to the Lord's Office and claimed the swivel chair.

This wasn't merely a matter of taking a chair. Vivian was using this action to tell Landen, "I have control over your every move. Don't even think about trying anything funny with me!"

Landen merely sneered at this. If she really understood him that well, she would have made her move outside the bunker instead of entering it with him.

Vivian naturally had no idea what Landen was thinking. She draped her long legs over the desk and leaned against the chair. "I heard things haven't been going well for you here. The residents don't listen to you?"

Her voice was flat, even somewhat indifferent. She didn't sound like she was speaking to her younger brother, but rather to a subordinate or a servant.

Your understanding of me really is still stuck in the past. Landen also confirmed that Janie, the Minotaur Butler, was her only line of surveillance over him. Once that line was severed, it was equivalent to completely blinding the eyes she used to watch him.

Naturally, he couldn't reveal any of these thoughts. On the surface, Landen shook his head vigorously, raising his voice slightly. "No, I'm doing great! Sure, I lost Old Niu, but I also recruited a lot of subordinates—very capable subordinates."

With his tone and movements, he looked more like a child stubbornly denying something after being found out. Landen didn't care that his image was being ruined. Facing this second older sister, who was far too powerful for him in his current state, he was willing to use any means necessary to make her underestimate him.

However, it was obvious that Vivian wasn't falling for it. Her tone remained flat as she said, "I don't know whether you're just putting on a brave face or telling the truth, but I still have to remind you of one thing. This is no longer Solenode City. You surely know why Mother gave you this so-called lordship, something that has never existed in the underground world. If you can't make yourself stronger, then when something goes wrong, no one will pity you. And don't expect Mother to come and help you."

Landen shrugged and simply couldn't be bothered to respond.

Vivian didn't mind. Her tone suddenly shifted as she asked, "What about the pendant?"

Landen froze, clearly not understanding what she meant.

Vivian wasn't known for her patience. Landen hesitated for only a moment before she leaped out of the chair and flashed in front of him. With a lift of her hand, she pulled something from inside Landen's collar.

It was the same pendant that had once attracted Lilith.

Vivian lowered her head and stared at the pendant in her hand, remaining silent for a long time. Her dark red hair fell forward, covering her face and preventing Landen from seeing her expression.

She simply stared at it, lightly running her fingers over the pendant. Only after a long while did she let go, allowing it to fall back against Landen's chest.

"You still haven't opened it?" Vivian asked flatly. Her expression showed no change whatsoever, leaving Landen unable to guess what she was thinking.

"No. I don't have the slightest clue." Landen answered while searching his mind for the connection between Vivian and the pendant. However, all he could remember about it was his mother, Matriarch Isis, hanging it around his neck and telling him that only he could open it, and that it could never leave his body. As for Vivian, Landen didn't even remember her knowing that he had such a pendant.

"You really are as useless as ever, my little brother." Vivian had remained expressionless no matter what Landen said before, but when she heard his answer, her face turned cold and her voice followed suit.

She turned and returned to the swivel chair before continuing, "Seeing you like this, I can imagine that your subordinates are just as incompetent. No wonder such a large force of mine was able to easily bypass your surveillance."

She made no effort to hide her contempt, yet Landen remained as impervious as ever. He shrugged and didn't respond.

A long silence fell over the office. It seemed as though even the air had stopped moving, until Landen moved first.

Vivian thought Landen was about to do something, but he merely walked over to the animal-hide sofa nearby and dropped himself onto it. As if even that wasn't comfortable enough, he simply lay down. It turned out that standing had just been too tiring.

A look of exasperation flashed through Vivian's eyes, but she still said nothing.

The situation continued until a knock sounded at the door.

Knocking on a stone door required a great deal of force, and it made one's hand hurt. Yet this knock was exceptionally loud. The Minotaur Butler had been able to knock that loudly before, but now it was probably the Dark Dwarf who had come with Vivian.

He knocked but didn't come in, instead reporting in an incredibly booming voice, "Reporting to the Matriarch, the meal is ready!"

Vivian didn't answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Landen, who had already begun resting with his eyes closed. Only after a long while did she finally speak. "You have no future here. I... can give you a chance. Come work under me. At least... at least your days will be much easier than they are here."

"Huh?" Landen opened his eyes and stared blankly at Vivian.

It was simply too astonishing. How could this "good sister," who had wanted to kill him since he was young, suddenly make such a suggestion? And judging from her tone, Landen had actually sensed... sincerity?

Could it be because of this? Landen picked up the pendant on his chest. It was warm—the warmth left behind by Vivian's hand.

"What? You can't bear to part with those useless subordinates?" Vivian clearly interpreted Landen's monosyllabic question differently, making her even more disdainful and displeased.

"Uh... but they really aren't useless." Landen rose from the sofa and said seriously.

"Hmph!" Vivian snorted coldly and stood up, seemingly about to leave.

At that very moment, a voice almost identical to Vivian's entrance echoed in from outside.

"Lord, we're back!"

"We had an excellent haul this time. We captured a lot of prisoners!"

"Oh, right! I also caught a lot of fish on the way back. Avina can cook something delicious with them!"

The voice was as... solemn and serious as ever, but everyone could hear the excitement hidden within it.

A natural smile appeared on Landen's face. "They're back. Whether they're useless or not, you can see for yourself, Sis."