The following nights were no longer spent in silence by Evan. Beneath the dim glow of the lamp in his tightly locked study, Evan sat cross-legged, holding the book Sword Technique and Aura Secrets by Alistair Vance.
Aura, as written in the book, was not merely raw physical strength, but the union of mental focus, bodily vitality, and pure mana flowing through the blood vessels. For an ordinary human in this world, it took years of extreme physical training just to feel the first tremor of their aura.
However, Evan possessed something no one else did: the highly structured thinking of a Transmigrator, an understanding of many things, and mental control honed by constant feelings of being threatened.
Evan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing according to a special rhythmic pattern. He imagined his blood as a flowing river carrying a radiant energy.
WHOOSH!
In just three weeks of intensive training, a warm vortex erupted in his solar plexus! A thin crimson-golden glow wrapped around Evan’s palm, radiating heat powerful enough to crack the wooden table in front of him.
"Is this... Sword Aura?" Evan whispered as he stared at his trembling hand, brimming with power.
The sensation was extraordinary. His hearing became ten times sharper, his muscles felt as light as feathers yet as hard as steel, and his vision could pierce through the darkness of the room. The path toward the Sword Master realm had been opened wide before him.
Unwilling to keep this power to himself, Evan turned the orphanage into a covert military base.
Every morning before sunrise, the orphanage’s backyard, enclosed by high walls, rang with the clashing of wooden swords. Evan, assisted by Tom, Luke, and Peter, who were astonished by "Aiden’s" progress in swordsmanship, taught the orphanage children the basics of breathing techniques.
"Hold your stances!" Evan shouted as he walked between the rows of children. His hands corrected the wooden sword grips of Paul and Anastasia. "You’re not training to become killers. You’re training so that one day, no one in this world will be able to oppress you or take away your freedom!"
"Yes, Uncle Aiden!" Paul and the other children shouted, their eyes shining with excitement.
For Tom, Luke, and Peter, watching the orphans absorb the basics of Aura breathing so quickly was astonishing. Without realizing it, the three former thugs also began training desperately under Evan’s guidance in hopes of restoring their previously broken hands.
While his combat strength rapidly developed behind the scenes, Evan’s deception scheme on the main stage of Velmora City exploded far beyond his expectations.
Silvy Velmora, just as Evan had predicted, brought the Fruit in Diamond Glass to a noble banquet. The effect was extraordinary. Within days, rumors about "Aiden Samuel," the rare genius craftsman, exploded throughout the upper class.
The orphanage courtyard, which was usually quiet, was now packed with luxurious, gold-trimmed carriages belonging to Barons, Viscounts, and prominent Merchant Guilds. Plump men adorned with jewels and noblewomen in magnificent dresses were willing to queue and jostle with one another just for the chance to meet Aiden.
Evan came out to meet them in his modest caretaker’s clothes, wearing an awkward and reluctant expression that had been carefully crafted to perfection.
"Lord Aiden! I’ll pay 300 gold coins! Make me two Diamond Glasses with my family crest engraved inside them!" a fat Baron shouted as he threw a thick leather pouch onto the table.
"I’ll pay 500 gold coins! Make me a set of tea cups for my wife’s birthday!" a wealthy merchant interrupted, unwilling to be outdone.
Evan raised both hands, smiled gently, and shook his head regretfully.
"My deepest apologies, esteemed Lords and Ladies," Evan said in a soft yet firm voice. "The legacy of my late Master Gareth Ironwood is not some cheap commodity. The process of smelting ’Diamond Glass’ requires the alignment of natural energy and rare mineral materials that are extremely difficult to obtain. I can only make a single glass each month."
That statement instantly drove the nobles into a frenzy! In the world of commerce, the rarer an item was, the higher its price soared and the greater the social prestige of anyone who possessed it. Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.
"One glass a month?!" the nobles cried out in panic.
"However..." Evan continued, placing a hand over his chest with a generous expression, "...because I am the caretaker of an orphanage, I will give priority to whichever Lord or Lady is willing to make the largest ’Charitable Donation’ to cover the living and educational expenses of these orphans."
The charity auction scam was a huge success. The prestige-hungry nobles fought one another by throwing out increasingly outrageous bids until the price reached a staggering figure: 1,500 gold coins for a single glass made by Evan!
But Evan did not stop there. He launched his newest fraudulent product: the Soul-Illuminating Aura Glass Cup. Evan made use of a small amount of leftover alchemical chemical residue and a thin layer of aura on the inner surface of the glass, causing the color of the wine inside to magically change whenever a noble held the cup. Evan spread the rumor that the color revealed the "purity and majesty of the owner’s noble aura."
The foolish nobles were left dumbfounded. Streams of gold coins poured into Evan’s pockets every week, which he immediately laundered and concealed within his underground business network through Tom, Luke, and Peter.
Amid his busy schedule of deception and training, Silvy Velmora became the orphanage’s most frequent visitor.
The City Guard Captain now made time to visit almost every afternoon, removing the shoulder guards of her armor and sitting on the orphanage’s terrace while enjoying the barley tea Evan made. Silvy would even bring sweet pastries from the city’s finest shops for the orphanage children.
"Aiden," Silvy called softly one afternoon. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she gazed at Evan’s profile bathed in the light of the setting sun. "My father... Lord Velmora... has started asking about you. He’s interested in hiring you as our family’s personal craftsman."
Evan, who was brewing tea, smiled calmly and sat down beside Silvy.
"Then, what was Miss Silvy’s answer to Lord Velmora?" Evan asked gently, looking straight into the female knight’s silver eyes.
Silvy looked away awkwardly, gripping her teacup tightly. "I... I forbade him. I told him that Lord Aiden is a free man who has devoted his life to children, not an object that can be bought with gold coins. I won’t let my family’s filthy politics touch this sacred place."
Evan reached out and gently wiped away a crumb of cake stuck to the corner of Silvy’s lips. The sudden touch made Silvy’s body freeze, her breath catching as the blush on her face spread all the way down to her neck.
"Thank you very much, Silvy," Evan whispered in an exceedingly warm tone. "In this greedy city, your presence is like the best protection I could have for myself and the children."
Silvy lowered her head, her chest pounding wildly and irregularly. "?????????? ??????... ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??’?? ???????? ???????? ???????" Silvy thought hysterically.
To Evan, this romance was merely another part of his chess game. Silvy was the most powerful legal shield protecting his disguise as Aiden Samuel from the pursuit of the City Guard and the influence of the Velmora Family.
However... Evan’s safe little game did not remain undisturbed.
That night, as the cold night wind blew through Evan’s room, the air temperature suddenly plummeted to freezing. A thin layer of ice rapidly spread across the window glass and wooden floor.
The thick scent of lavender mixed with the pungent smell of fresh blood filled the room.
SRAAAKKK!
In the corner of the room, a mass of dark crimson aura unraveled violently. Anna’s magical projection appeared there. But this time, there was no doting smile on her face. Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
Anna’s beautiful face was deathly pale, with red veins protruding around her eyes that glinted with deadly intent. Such heavy, dense killing intent pressed down on the entire room, causing the floorboards to creak sharply!
"My dear Evan..." Anna’s voice echoed heavily, trembling with overflowing anger and obsession. "Who... is that filthy female knight who sits and laughs with you every afternoon, hm?"
Anna instantly floated closer. Invisible threads of red magic emerged from her fingertips, wrapping around Evan’s neck, both arms, and legs, binding him tightly against the wall.
"I’m watching you, Evan... I saw how your hand touched her lips! I saw how you looked into those disgusting eyes of hers!" Anna shrieked with a hysterical laugh filled with insane jealousy. "You’re mine! I’m the only one allowed to touch you! I’m the only one allowed to receive that warm gaze from you!"
Anna’s magical pressure was so powerful that it bruised Evan’s neck and left him gasping for breath. However, the Evan of now was no longer the weak Evan he had been some time ago.
BOOOMM!
A vortex of crimson-golden Sword Aura suddenly exploded from within Evan’s body!
The pure aura enveloped his skin, resisting and eroding Anna’s red magical threads until they snapped! Evan planted his feet firmly on the floor, standing straight as he stared directly into Anna’s mad eyes without the slightest hint of fear.
Anna jolted in shock. Her eyes widened as she felt the energy radiating from Evan’s body. "Aura...? You... you’ve mastered Sword Aura in such a short time?!"
Evan rubbed his bruised neck, curling his lips into a cold, provocative smile.
"Why? Are you jealous, Anna?" Evan taunted. "Silvy Velmora is nothing more than a chess piece I’m using to build my strength in this city. She’s my shield so I can become strong enough to break free from your damn chains!"
Evan took one step forward, pressing his Sword Aura directly against Anna’s illusion.
"Or... are you afraid?" Evan whispered, his eyes gleaming with menace. "Are you afraid that one day, some innocent ’ordinary woman’ might actually make me treat her with genuine tenderness, while toward you... I’ll always harbor nothing but resentment and hatred?"
Anna’s blazing anger abruptly came to a halt. Evan’s words struck the deepest part of her obsessive madness.
Anna’s illusory body trembled violently. The anger that had filled her face suddenly transformed into a deep blush. Her breathing quickened, her eyes sparkling with excitement and insane satisfaction as she witnessed Evan’s growing strength and courage as he openly challenged her.
"Khaha... Hahaha! Incredible! Incredible, my Evan!" Anna burst into laughter until she doubled over, wiping away imaginary tears from the corners of her eyes.
Anna floated closer, ignoring Evan’s Sword Aura as it burned the skin of her illusion. She wrapped her arms tightly around Evan’s neck and pressed her forehead against his.
"Use that female knight... Make use of her, manipulate her, and drain her entire fortune!" Anna whispered happily in a sensual tone. "Become stronger and stronger, my Husband! Sharpen your sword, master that Aura until you reach the Sword Master realm! I will be so happy when I see you try to sever my neck with your own hands!"
Anna bit Evan’s lower lip until it bled, then licked up the fresh blood with an even wider smile.
"But remember, Evan... If that female knight dares to touch what belongs to me any further than this... I will fly to this city and carve her flesh to pieces right before your eyes."
Before the crimson illusion completely faded into the darkness of night, Anna’s final whisper echoed sweetly in Evan’s ear:
"Keep growing, my Little Dragon... I’ll see you at the pinnacle of your glory."