A slow, suffocating silence filled the room as the twins stirred awake. Their bodies ached, their minds sluggish from unconsciousness, but the first thing they noticed was that the cold bite of restraints was gone.

  They weren’t bound anymore.

  Nebula groaned, pushing herself upright, her muscles stiff from being held in the same position for so long. Nova followed, rubbing her wrists as she blinked away the haze of sleep.

  Then, they looked around—

  And froze.

  At the foot of the bed, sprawled lifelessly across the blood-soaked stone, were piles of bodies—Lucas, his butlers, his guards—every last soul that had aided him in his sick games lay in a heap of twisted limbs and slackened faces.

  The stench of death clung thick in the air, the iron tang of blood nearly choking them. The once-pristine dungeon floor was a crimson swamp, the girls’ bare feet splashing softly against the pooled remains of the slaughter. A grotesque trail of corpses led all the way to the exit, as if someone—or something—had methodically erased every trace of Lucas’s influence from existence.

  Nebula swallowed, her voice hoarse. “What in the hell happened?”

  Nova hesitated at the door, her hand trembling on the iron handle. “I—” she faltered. “I don’t know.”

  Nebula let out a long breath, stepping over the remains as she shook her head. “I don’t think I wanna question it, either. The bastards who tried to help that creep? They’re dead. That’s all I need to know.” She exhaled slowly, then gave a pointed glance at the empty air. “Whoever did this? Thanks, I guess.”

  Nova glanced at her sister, blinking in mild disbelief. Then she nodded. “You know what? You have some really solid points.”

  With that, the two of them pushed the door open and ascended the stairs, the dungeon’s suffocating air gradually giving way to the bitter chill of the mansion above.

  As they stepped into the main hall, Nebula let out an exhausted sigh. “You think we can find any clothes that’ll fit us?”

  Nova scanned the lavish interior, eyes flicking across velvet drapes, ornate furniture, and expensive tapestries. “Probably not, but we have options. We can either send Solari to get Everah and Severus, or we can... I dunno, make something out of curtains?”

  Nebula groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yeah, no. I’m not about to walk into town wrapped in someone’s goddamn drapes like some prostitute who got thrown out mid-service.”

  Nova snorted, smirking slightly. “Fair. Call your summon, then.”

  Nebula nodded, taking a deep breath before calling forth Solari.

  A golden light flickered into existence, materializing into the small fox-like creature. The moment Solari locked eyes with Nebula, her ears flattened, worry shining in her ember-like gaze.

  Nebula knelt down, running a hand gently over Solari’s fur. “We’re okay for now, girl. But I need you to find Everah and Severus and bring them here, alright?”

  The fox tilted her head for a moment, as if sensing something unspoken, before giving a short, reassuring chirp. Without hesitation, she turned and darted out of the mansion.

  Nova watched the small creature disappear into the fading daylight. “…She does know what they look like, right?”

  Nebula smirked, stretching her arms as she collapsed onto an expensive couch. “Mhm. She’s got access to my memories. She’ll find them.”

  Then, she paused. Her expression shifted to one of bliss as she sank further into the cushions. “…Oh, wow. This couch is comfy.”

  Nova arched a brow, crossing her arms. “…You know what? I think I’m gonna go find something to steal.”

  Nebula cracked an eye open, giving her sister a deadpan look. “…And you couldn’t say that before I sat down?”

  Nova shrugged with a mischievous grin. “It just came to me, sheesh.”

  “Well, if we’re gonna essentially rob the— You know what? Fuck that. This man owes us. It’s not stealing.” Nebula stood up, crossing her arms.

  “Now we’re talking.” Nova smirked, already heading down the hallway and up the stairs toward what she assumed was the man’s office.

  “If we’re gonna find anything worth taking, it’ll be in here or in his room. Might as well see what else he was up to before he caught us,” Nebula muttered, making her way to the desk. She plopped into the chair, grabbed a stack of papers, and started sifting through them.

  “You can look around here,” Nova said, glancing at the bookshelves lining the office walls. “I’m gonna check somewhere else.”

  Leaving Nebula behind, she wandered further into the mansion, peering into various rooms until one in particular caught her attention.

  The trophy room.

  Stepping inside, Nova felt an eerie stillness in the air. Polished marble floors gleamed under dim lamplight, untouched by dust, as if someone had meticulously maintained the space. The scent of aged wood, leather, and oil-polished steel mingled with the faint mustiness of a room that had been sealed away for too long.

  Her sharp eyes swept over the display of taxidermied beasts—wolves frozen mid-snarl, a lion baring its fangs, even an enormous bear standing upright, its claws outstretched as if ready to maul any intruder. But what drew her interest most were the weapons.

  The walls were lined with ornate spears with gilded tips, ceremonial daggers encrusted with rubies, and massive greatswords that looked too impractical for real combat. She passed by them with little interest—pretty things, but useless in a real fight.

  Then, at the far end of the room, something caught her eye.

  Resting on an elegantly carved wooden stand, its surface completely untouched by dust, was a platinum sword.

  Nova’s brow furrowed.

  Unlike the extravagant weapons surrounding it, this one had no unnecessary embellishments, no gaudy jewels encrusting its hilt, no gilded etchings designed to flaunt wealth. It was clean, efficient, and purpose-built—a warrior’s blade, not a noble’s decoration.

  She stepped closer, eyes narrowing. The silvery-white surface reflected her image almost perfectly, though something about the reflection seemed off—as if the metal held more depth than it should. Along the fuller, she noticed faint etchings, almost invisible unless the light hit them just right.

  They weren’t purely decorative.

  Nova reached out and grasped the hilt.

  Cool to the touch, but not uncomfortably so. The leather wrapping felt firm yet smooth beneath her fingers, worn in places but still sturdy, as if it had seen battle but never bore the scars of war. The crossguard was subtly curved, its edges polished but unassuming, offering neither excessive flair nor intimidation—only quiet confidence.

  She lifted the sword.

  Surprisingly light.

  For a blade made of platinum—a metal denser than steel—she had expected something heavier, something that would require adjustment to wield properly. But instead, it felt perfectly balanced, as though it had been forged to fit her grip alone. The weight was there, solid and reassuring, but it carried itself effortlessly, a weapon meant to be wielded in relentless combat.

  She tested the edge with her thumb. Razor-sharp. A single, well-placed strike from this could cleave through flesh, perhaps even armor, without hesitation.

  A small smirk tugged at her lips. “Now this… this is a damn fine sword.”

  What she didn’t notice was the faintest pulse of warmth beneath her fingers, lingering for only a fraction of a second before vanishing—so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

  Shrugging, she grabbed the sheath that had been set beside the stand, fastening it around her waist before securing the blade inside. With one last glance around the trophy room, she decided most of the other items were either too gaudy or completely useless, so she turned and walked back into the hallway.

  As she strode past various doors, she spotted the master bedroom across the way.

  She stepped inside.

  The room reeked of excessive wealth—red velvet drapes, golden candleholders, and furniture carved from expensive darkwood. It all screamed of a man who indulged in luxury.

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  Nova ignored the opulence, instead focusing on areas where valuables were typically hidden.

  Her instincts were right.

  Crouching beside the massive bed, she ran her fingers underneath the frame until—click.

  A hidden latch.

  She pushed the wooden panel aside, revealing a small chest nestled into the hollow beneath the bed frame. Wasting no time, she pulled it out, flipped the latch, and opened the lid.

  Gold coins, small gemstones, and a few documents.

  She let out a low whistle. “...Yeah, I’ll be taking this.”

  With a grunt, she lugged the chest up and carried it back to Nebula.

  Upon stepping back into the office, Nova froze.

  Nebula was furious.

  Her sister was slamming papers onto the desk, one after another, her movements erratic, frustration rolling off her in waves.

  “This… This! This fucking— I cannot think of a single word in our language’s lexicon to properly describe this man!” she snarled, eyes blazing with rage.

  Nova raised a brow, setting the chest down. “That bad?”

  Nebula turned to her, fury etched into every inch of her expression. “Worse.”

  Nova leaned forward, dropping into the chair in front of the desk. “Well? Spill it. What the hell was this bastard up to?”

  Nebula slammed another stack of papers onto the desk, her hands clenching into fists. “First off, he was kidnapping villagers—men, women, children—it didn’t matter. Then, he’d do you-know-what to them before selling them off. And the ones he didn’t sell? He either kept them until he got bored and killed them, or worse—fed their corpses to the monsters out back.”

  Nova’s jaw tightened, her grip on the armrests turning white.

  Nebula wasn’t done.

  “And to top it off? He captured people and dumped them into monster-infested areas, just to watch them run for their lives like some sick game. He kept notes on them—how long they lasted, how they died, which ones ‘entertained’ him the most. This man did not care. Not one damn bit.”

  Her voice was trembling, not with fear—but with sheer, unfiltered rage.

  Nova inhaled sharply, forcing down the bile rising in her throat. “How the fuck did he get away with all this? Someone had to know.”

  “They probably did,” Nebula snapped, shoving another page aside. “But if they didn’t have proof? You know how that goes.”

  Nova exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers to her temple.

  Nebula shuffled through another stack of documents, her movements frantic. “Well, lucky for us, this sick bastard kept track of everything. He marked several illegal slave trade locations on a map—one of them got a shipment of elves just days ago.”

  Then, her expression darkened even further.

  “And Nova… He had his eyes on us since the day we got here.”

  She tossed a folder onto the desk, flipping it open. Detailed records, notes, sketches—painstakingly written observations of them, tracking their movements from the moment they stepped into the city.

  Nova’s face **went beet red— from embarrassment and from seething rage.

  Her fingers twitched at her sides, fists clenched so hard her nails threatened to pierce her palms.

  “...I think I’ll gladly take some jail time for burning this fucking mansion to the ground.”

  Nebula’s eyes blazed with fury.

  “I fucking second that.”

  The weight of silence hung heavy in the mansion, broken only by the rustling of documents as Nova and Nebula continued digging through the piles of paper. Each sheet revealed another layer of depravity—evidence of corruption, kidnappings, and brutal atrocities carried out under the guise of nobility.

  Then, the front entrance exploded open with a deafening crash.

  Shouts rang through the air, angry voices filling the halls, the rapid stomp of boots echoing against bloodstained marble. The chaos surged forward, but amidst the commotion, Nova and Nebula distinctly heard their names being called.

  They turned to one another.

  “Oh, it’s about fucking time…” they muttered in unison, grabbing every damning document they could find.

  Without hesitation, the twins bolted from the office and down the grand staircase—completely unbothered by the fact that they were still naked.

  As they descended, two familiar figures emerged from the crowd of raiding guards.

  Everah and Severus rushed toward them, weapons still drawn, their eyes scanning the scene with alarm.

  “You two alright?” Everah demanded, his usually calm voice sharp with concern.

  Severus let out a low whistle. “Shit, you two look rough. I’m just glad you’re still breathing.”

  Nova exhaled, shaking off the remnants of exhaustion. “Could be worse.” Then she glanced down at herself and groaned. “But tell me you brought clothes, yeah? I’d rather not have a bunch of guards getting a free show.”

  Everah sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, yeah. Your little fox summon found us and told us everything.” He reached into his pack and pulled out a bundle of clothing.

  Without waiting, the twins dropped onto the bottom steps of the staircase and began dressing, the bloodstained documents laid beside them.

  Just as Nova was fastening her pants, the sound of approaching boots sent a fresh wave of heat rushing to her face.

  Sarah walked in.

  Flanked by a handful of hardened adventurers they didn’t recognize, the guildmaster scanned the carnage with an unreadable expression. Her piercing gaze swept over the bodies, the blood-slicked floor, and finally landed on the two wolf-kin sitting on the stairs.

  Nova’s face burned red.

  Without thinking, she yanked her un-buttoned shirt shut and promptly ducked behind Severus, using him as a human shield.

  Sarah, appearing stoic, strode forward, her sharp eyes narrowing. “I heard a noble was being raided for kidnapping, but I didn’t expect to find you four in the middle of it.”

  Severus scoffed. “Yeah, well, turns out this bastard had his sights set on Nebula and Nova for a while now. Kidnapped them, locked them up, and…” His jaw clenched. “Well, you can imagine.”

  Sarah’s expression darkened, her knuckles going white as she crossed her arms. “…He didn’t manage to hurt you, did he?”

  Nova exhaled sharply and stepped out from behind Severus, tugging her shirt into place. “No. He never got the chance. Someone got to him first.”

  Sarah’s brows furrowed, her sharp gaze flicking between the two of them. “Someone?”

  Nova nodded toward the massacre littering the hall. “Every last bastard in this mansion was killed before we woke up. We don’t know who did it, or why, but…” She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “…I don’t think they did it for us.”

  Before Sarah could respond, one of the armored guards leading the raid stepped forward.

  His weathered face was tight with tension, his stance stiff, as though expecting trouble.

  “You two were the ones kidnapped by Sir Vinyard, correct?”

  Nova straightened. “Yes, sir. We thought we were stopping a woman from getting mugged, but it was a setup. Next thing we knew, we were unconscious—then chained up in his dungeon.”

  Nebula’s lip curled in disgust. “He was going to do… things. But before he got the chance, someone killed him. And not just him—everyone.”

  The guard’s expression didn’t change, but his gaze flicked to the blood-smeared walls, the bodies that lined the corridors. “…And you have no idea who did it?”

  Nova folded her arms. “Not a damn clue. We didn’t hear a thing.”

  The silence that followed was heavy, stretching uncomfortably between them all.

  Finally, the guard exhaled, his shoulders loosening. “We’ll need your official statements, but for now, get yourselves checked out at the guild clinic. After what you’ve been through, we’ll hold off questioning until you’re in better shape.”

  Nova and Nebula exchanged a glance.

  “…Fine by us.” Nova shrugged. “But after that, I expect a front-row seat to watching this mansion burn.”

  Nebula grinned darkly. “I fucking second that.”

  The guard gave a curt nod before shifting his gaze to Sarah. “Ms. Everglade, nice of you to make an appearance as usual. We’re probably going to need your assistance with this.”

  Sarah offered him a polite smile. “Always a pleasure to help.”

  After enduring hours of questioning from the city guards, the twins were finally released. Despite the ordeal, they were allowed to keep the items they had taken from the noble’s estate—a small consolation prize for what they had been put through.

  As for the illegal slave trade uncovered in the documents, the Adventurers’ Guild had taken swift action, posting a high-priority bounty offering up to 20 gold coins for any information that could lead to dismantling the operation. Unfortunately, since many of the locations marked on the maps were outside the city’s jurisdiction, the responsibility of handling the matter now fell on adventurers rather than the authorities.

  When the twins left the guard station, they wasted no time heading for the guild. They were exhausted, physically and mentally, but their restless nature wouldn’t let them sit still for long. After everything that had happened, they needed a change of scenery. A few quests outside the city sounded like the perfect solution.

  As they navigated through the bustling streets, a familiar voice called out over the noise of the crowd.

  “Hey! Nova!~ Nebula!”

  The twins turned toward the source of the voice and saw Sarah standing near a cozy outdoor café, waving them over.

  When they approached, she motioned for them to sit. “You two doing alright? Come eat with me. It’s on me.”

  Nebula sank into the chair with a sigh, rolling her shoulders. “Still a bit shaken from everything, but otherwise fine.”

  Nova leaned against the table, resting her chin on her hand. “Yeah, we were just heading to the guild. Thinking about grabbing some quests—get out of the city for a while.”

  Sarah hummed in thought. “Mm… You know, your group is due for a promotion soon, aren’t you?”

  A waiter approached to take their orders, and Nova glanced up. “I sure hope so. The sooner we rank up, the sooner we can take on bigger jobs and get stronger.” She ordered tea.

  Nebula nodded, stretching slightly. “It has been a while since our last rank-up. Probably about time.”

  Sarah smiled as she placed her own order. “Well, check in with the receptionist when you get to the guild. You might be in for some good news.” She paused before glancing between them. “By the way, did you two manage to form a contract with a summon yet?”

  A small grin tugged at Nebula’s lips. “Took us a while to get to it, but yeah, I did.”

  She raised a hand, summoning Solari into her lap. The tiny, flame-tailed fox stretched before curling up, peering up at Sarah with bright amber eyes.

  Sarah’s expression softened. “Oh my… That’s… that’s impressive.” Her gaze lingered on the fox before she turned to Nebula. “Take good care of her, alright?”

  Then her attention shifted to Nova, who had gone unusually quiet.

  Nova looked away, irritation flickering across her face. “I don’t know why, but I couldn’t get the summoning ritual to work.”

  Sarah frowned. “That’s odd… Something should have appeared—even if it was just a low-tier summon, like a slime.” She tapped a finger against her lips, clearly deep in thought.

  Nova said nothing, just clenched her jaw slightly.

  Sensing the shift in mood, Sarah let the subject drop. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. “Well, setting that aside, I assume you two plan to take part in shutting down this slave market, yes?”

  Nebula’s ears flicked back, her expression darkening. “Oh, you can count on that. We’re actually thinking of taking quests near the locations we found in those documents.”

  Nova simply nodded, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her teacup. “Yeah…”

  At that moment, the waiter returned, placing their drinks and a small assortment of pastries on the table.

  For a while, they ate and drank in relative peace, but once the plates were empty and their cups drained, the twins stood from their seats.

  Nebula stretched, rolling her shoulders. “We should probably get going. Thanks for the treat, Sarah.”

  Sarah waved it off. “Oh, it’s nothing. I take good care of my guild members.” She stood as well, smoothing out her coat. Then, as though remembering something, she added, “By the way, my sister’s inn is offering a special herbal mineral bath tonight. You two should come check it out.”

  Nebula perked up. “Oh? That actually sounds nice.”

  Nova tilted her head slightly. “You think it’ll make my fur fluffier?”

  Sarah chuckled. “Not sure, but it’s worth a try.” She started to walk past them but paused briefly beside Nova, lowering her voice to a teasing whisper.

  “Don’t be shy this time.”

  Before Nova could process the words, Sarah had already slipped away, her amused laughter trailing behind her.

  Nova stood completely still, her brain catching up to what had just been said.

  Nebula watched her sister’s stunned expression and smirked. “She say something to leave you…speechless?”

  Nova snapped out of it, crossing her arms with a huff. “Shut up.”

  But her tail flicked behind her—betraying her flustered state.