The next day, the air in Baron Carman's residence felt noticeably heavier than usual, all because of an uninvited guest.
Leonard Klein, the earl's third son, in whom he placed great hopes, was already seated in the reception room.
His oppressive presence seemed to make the air throughout the room grow still.
Veylin's father sat uneasily across from Leonard.
A noble from a collateral branch with little standing in the family, he tried several times to ease the tension, only to swallow his words under Leonard's scrutinizing gaze. Beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead.
Veylin sat quietly beside his father, his gaze unruffled as he studied his overbearing younger cousin as though observing an experimental specimen.
"Uncle," Leonard began haughtily, "everyone in the family is deeply concerned about Cousin Veylin's engagement to Lady Diana. Back then, Lady Diana was merely the family's second daughter, and Veylin had shown talent at an early age. Together with your friendship with Earl Dawn, those circumstances made the engagement possible."
Then Leonard's tone shifted. "But last year, Earl Dawn's parents and elder brother were lost at sea, and Lady Diana inherited the title. She now bears a heavy burden and needs a strong man who can stand beside her, not..." He cast Veylin a contemptuous glance.
"My father has invited Earl Dawn to Greenvein City to discuss strengthening our trade cooperation. She will also attend the bloodline awakening ceremony the day after tomorrow, when I will activate my bloodline. The family hopes Cousin Veylin will voluntarily break off the engagement before the ceremony, allowing everyone to save face."
Baron Carman paled. He was about to speak, but Veylin raised a hand to stop him.
Veylin lifted his eyes to meet Leonard's gaze, his tone unexpectedly calm. "I understand. I have no objection to ending the engagement."
He truly had no interest in this marriage, much less in letting it consume his energy and delay his exploration of the mysteries of bloodlines.
Surprise flickered in Leonard's eyes, then gave way to undisguised smugness.
He had expected to spend some time arguing his case. He had never imagined that this cousin, whom the family considered "useless," would yield so easily.
"You certainly know how to put the bigger picture first, Cousin." A mocking smile curled Leonard's lips. "However, to provide a clear explanation to the family and Earl Dawn, I must ask Cousin Veylin to sign a contract stating that you are voluntarily relinquishing the engagement, with no other reasons involved."
At those words, Baron Carman jerked his head up.
"Is this your father's wish as well? If an act that damages his honor like this is put into a contract, Veylin will only be able to marry a commoner woman in the future!"
Still basking in his victory, Leonard failed to notice the anger and humiliation in Carman's eyes.
"Does it make any difference whether there's a contract? Uncle, these are the family's arrangements. Don't forget that Cousin Lilia's marriage still depends on the family!"
Recalling how Lilia had cared for him yesterday, Veylin's gaze turned icy. "Enough!"
"Cousin Leonard," Veylin said, his voice growing colder, "I acknowledge that I am unworthy of Lady Diana and am withdrawing voluntarily. But this was originally a matter between the two of us. Why are you in such a hurry now, even demanding that I sign a contract?"
"Are you afraid that a 'good-for-nothing' like me will go back on my word and pester her later? Or are you afraid this 'achievement' of yours won't be conspicuous enough for you to claim credit before your father and Earl Dawn?"
He paused, staring straight at Leonard with undisguised contempt.
"Rather than worrying about whether a 'bloodless' man will change his mind, perhaps you should give more thought to making a name for yourself, instead of merely appearing on Earl Dawn's shortlist of marriage candidates."
The smug smile froze on Leonard's face, as though an invisible hand had seized him by the throat.
All his calculations and sense of superiority shattered under Veylin's words. "You... you worthless fool, how dare you..."
"I, Veylin Klein, may have failed to awaken twice, but I will never stoop to selling my dignity in exchange for so-called 'respectability.'"
Veylin slowly rose. His voice was not loud, yet every word struck Leonard in the face. "What I pursue is the truth of knowledge, the origin of bloodlines. I doubt a cousin who devotes himself to scheming, thinking only of how to rise by clinging to others, could understand such things."
Leonard's face went from red to livid. He had never expected that Veylin, whom he had suppressed until he could barely lift his head, would dare talk back to him like this today.
And every word struck a sore spot-he did indeed hope to win Diana's favor by arranging the dissolution of Veylin's engagement.
"You don't know what's good for you!" Leonard shot to his feet, trembling slightly with rage, all his aristocratic composure gone.
"Fine! Just fine!" "Let's see how a worthless fool like you, with all your 'pursuit of truth,' will face Lady Diana in two days! With or without this contract, the outcome won't change!"
With that, he swept his sleeve sharply and strode away.
The trouble Leonard had stirred up undoubtedly heightened Veylin's sense of urgency.
That afternoon, he changed into an inconspicuous set of linen clothes, covered most of his face with a headscarf, and quietly made his way to an alley near the workshop district.
This was one of the entrances to the Shipwreck Market, the city's notorious black market. Veylin had occasionally come here before to hunt for strange old books.
He turned down a deep, narrow alley with practiced ease and stopped before a shop whose sign bore a dried octopus tentacle.
The shop was dimly lit, and a small, shriveled man sat behind the counter.
"Shopkeeper, I'd like to ask about a few things," Veylin said, lowering his voice.
He listed the supplementary ingredients from the system's list. Without even lifting his eyelids, the shopkeeper casually quoted their prices.
The few Silver Moon coins Veylin had brought were barely enough to buy all these ingredients.
"Do you have primordial blood crystal powder?" Veylin asked.
Only then did the shopkeeper raise his head, his cloudy eyes sizing Veylin up. "Primordial blood crystal? That's something only noble lords can afford to play with. How much do you want?"
"Five grams."
"Five grams?" The shopkeeper tapped a thin, shriveled finger against the counter. "Twenty Gold Sun coins, for the lowest grade."
Twenty Gold Sun coins! That was nearly half a year's income for Baron Carman. Of course, collateral-branch nobles without fiefs, like Carman, were essentially half laborers in service to the main family, living only a little better than highly skilled craftsmen.
"Then... do you have any potions that can improve a bloodline or awaken latent potential?" Veylin asked tentatively, recalling the improved potion in the notes he had spent last night organizing.
The shopkeeper's expression abruptly changed, as though he had heard something forbidden. He lunged forward from behind the counter and looked around.
"Gods above, are you mad?!" "Have you forgotten the empire's Bloodline Purity Act? Trading those forbidden potions in secret will get you hanged!"
Then he lowered his voice and spoke in a whisper.
"Even if there really were something good, a little shop like mine wouldn't dare take it. If you have the connections, go to the Klein Family. They're the only ones in the whole city who would dare accept it."
Disappointment washed over Veylin. It seemed this avenue was closed.
If I could get money from the family, would I need to come here?
He silently paid for the supplementary ingredients, turned, and left the shop.
As the night deepened, Veylin walked back toward the baron's residence, calculating how he could make up the shortfall within two days.
Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from the corner of an alley and blocked his path.
"Young Master Veylin Klein?" a hoarse voice called.
Veylin stopped warily.
"No need to be alarmed," the shadowy figure said, apparently sensing his caution. "Diana Chenxi, Earl Dawn, would like to meet with you privately."
"Midnight tonight, at the old lighthouse beside the Silver Moon Canal."
With that, the figure swiftly vanished into the night, as though he had never appeared.
And in Veylin's hand lay a badge engraved with the image of a rising sun.