Milluki’s laughter echoed across the courtyard, unrestrained and sharp, as his plump fingers brushed over the leathery texture of the olive-green wings now fused to his back. His excitement was palpable, his round frame trembling like a child who had finally been handed a treasure long desired.

  “Hehehe! Grandpa, you’re the best! Lending me your dragon’s wings—this is beyond anything I could have imagined!”

  With the eagerness of one who had never known hardship, he crouched low, every muscle tensing in anticipation. Then, with a forceful push—

  Nothing.

  The earth refused to release him. He stumbled awkwardly, arms flailing, nearly toppling into the mud. By sheer luck, he managed to keep his footing.

  Gotoh and Cade exchanged a fleeting glance, each raising an eyebrow in silent commentary.

  “Young Master, perhaps—”

  “Quiet, Gotoh! Let me concentrate!” Milluki snapped, cutting him off with a dismissive wave of his chubby hand.

  He drew a sharp breath, steeling himself. The wings on his back twitched, trembling like a newborn fawn finding its legs. Slowly, they began to move—flap, flap—clumsy and uncoordinated. His brow furrowed in frustration.

  “Just a little boost… that’s all I need!”

  Scrambling onto a nearby boulder, he spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the sky itself, and leapt.

  For a brief moment, the air seemed to cradle him. His wings caught a faint breeze, lifting him ever so slightly. A triumphant grin spread across his face.

  “See, Gotoh? I can fly! I’m—”

  Woosh—Thud!

  His flight ended abruptly as he collided with the unyielding trunk of a tree.

  Gotoh exhaled softly, a gloved hand rising to massage his temple. Zeno Zoldyck, arms crossed, muttered something about fledglings needing to learn to walk before they could soar.

  Cade watched the scene with quiet amusement.

  “Shall I offer some guidance, sir?” he asked, his tone measured.

  He could explain the delicate mechanics of flight, the principles that allowed birds to glide effortlessly through the air.

  Zeno raised a hand, his gesture calm but firm. “No need. Even eagles do not shield their young from the trials of the sky. If he is to learn, he must endure the struggle.”

  Cade inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the wisdom. The Zoldycks’ methods were harsh, but their results spoke for themselves.

  Milluki, undeterred by his repeated failures, hurled himself into the air again and again, each attempt ending in a clumsy crash. His frustration boiled over, his shrill voice cutting through the stillness of the clearing.

  “Why won’t these cursed wings listen to me?!” he screeched, his face flushed with anger.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Moments later—

  “Gotoh! Come here! I’m stuck again!”

  Gotoh exhaled softly, his expression one of weary resignation as he stepped forward to assist. He had long grown accustomed to the young master’s demands.

  Yet, despite his failures, Milluki’s determination burned fiercely, though it was tinged with petulance. “This is it! This time, I will fly!”

  With a forceful leap, he launched himself into the air. For the first time, his wings caught the wind just right. He rose, unsteady and awkward, but unmistakably aloft.

  “HAHAHAHA! YES! I AM A GENIUS!” His triumphant laughter echoed across the sky, filled with unrestrained glee.

  Zeno watched in silence, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he turned to Cade. “I admit you are skilled,” the elder assassin remarked, his tone measured. “Do not waste your talents on frivolous pursuits.” His gaze shifted briefly to Gotoh. “Take him to the guest quarters. He will remain there until the effects fade.”

  Cade gave a slight bow, though his curiosity stirred. “And after that?”

  Zeno’s gaze remained steady, his voice calm but firm. “Then you will leave.”

  Cade exhaled quietly, understanding the unspoken implication. The Zoldycks were meticulous. They would ensure no trace of this power lingered beyond their domain.

  That was fine.

  Let them be cautious. It changed nothing.

  Gotoh led Cade through the sprawling Zoldyck estate, stopping before a grand guesthouse. Its architecture evoked the elegance of ancient temples, with intricate carvings of wooden dragons adorning the entrance, their wooden eyes glinting in the soft glow of lantern light.

  “Mr. Cade,” Gotoh intoned, his voice even, “you may stay here until Master Milluki returns to his usual state. A hostess will attend to your needs. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

  Cade offered a brief nod, his fingers brushing against the intricate carvings of the doorframe before sliding it open. The scent of fresh tatami mats greeted him, mingling with the delicate aroma of steaming tea.

  “Welcome, sir.”

  A woman stood inside, clad in a simple yet elegant kimono. Her demeanor was poised, her movements graceful.

  Interesting. She hadn’t appeared in the anime. Likely just a caretaker of the guesthouse.

  Cade gave a curt nod and settled onto the futon. He gestured for her to join him, but she merely inclined her head.

  “Allow me to pour you some tea,” she offered.

  He raised a hand, stopping her mid-motion. “Unnecessary. I require neither tea nor food.”

  She bowed once and withdrew without protest.

  In truth, hunger gnawed at him. But to accept anything from the family of assassins? That was a risk he would not take.

  Alone at last, the mask fell.

  A low chuckle escaped him, soft at first, then growing into a deep, resonant laugh. His shadow danced against the paper walls, flickering with the rise and fall of his shoulders. This was not laughter born of amusement—it was the exultation of triumph.

  His plan had succeeded.

  One hundred million Jenny. That was the price he had paid merely to secure Milluki Zoldyck’s contact. A fortune for most people in his line of business.

  Milluki had been easy to manipulate—his greed, his obsession with the fantastical, his boundless arrogance. The mere suggestion of exotic genetic traits had been enough to ensnare him.

  The Testing Gates had been a minor obstacle. The true gamble had been stepping into the Zoldyck domain.

  At the heart of it all was a single, crucial assumption—one upon which everything hinged.

  When I told Milluki that the beast for the wings had to be of his own choosing, I knew to some extent what his choice would be.

  True to form, the fool had sought the pinnacle of specimens. And what greater prize existed than a dragon?

  Cade had known from anime that Zeno Zoldyck harbored an Eastern Dragon—a living legend, a marvel of biological perfection.

  Milluki’s desperation had done the rest.

  The moment his eyes fell upon the beast, Cade had issued a single command to his serpent.

  "Destroy all bio-serum in storage. Extract every viable gene from the dragon until you reach full capacity."

  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He had seized it without hesitation.

  And now, seated within the silent guesthouse, his triumph was absolute.

  A small object hovered above his palm—a cube, spinning lazily, its glow pulsing with an otherworldly light.

  The Genetic Codex Extraction.

  Within it lay the distilled essence of the Eastern Dragon. A power beyond measure.

  Cade exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around the cube. His eyes burned with the fire of ambition.

  “My journey has only just begun."