Chapter 105: Pathfinder
Raven leaned against the velvet-cushioned chair in the Holmes mansion's main hall, a faint smile curving his lips as Daley's words echoed.
"I have my own way of knowing whether she is in danger or not, Young Master Daley," Raven replied lightly, almost playful, yet his eyes carried the weight of truth.
Daley narrowed his gaze, his tone grave. "Soul Contract?"
When two parties signed a Soul Contract, the existence of the contractee was etched into the contractor's soul. As long as the other lived, the thread of the bond pulsed faintly in their Inner World. Death, however, left nothing but a hollow tear.
Daley nodded in understanding as he remembered his own binding with Raven.
'Even I signed a soul contract with Prince Raven….'
He sighed and asked cautiously, "Should I tell Lady Anastasia to stop searching for Selene?"
"Yes. Please do that." Raven's voice was calm.
Daley nodded solemnly, though a storm still lingered in his heart. After a brief pause, he raised his hand, his spatial ring flickering with a soft green hue. A moment later, a strange goblin corpse appeared on the marble floor. Its pale-green skin had dulled, its twisted fingers frozen in death, but faint traces of power still radiated from its body.
"This is the corpse you searched for," Daley said, handing it over without hesitation.
Raven stepped closer, crouched beside the goblin, and studied its features with quiet intensity. Without delay, he drew it into his own spatial ring. "Thank you, Young Master Daley. I badly need this corpse for further research." His words carried rare sincerity.
Daley waved a hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it. I will return to Arcturus." With that, he turned, his coat brushing the marble floor, and disappeared beyond the doorway.
Once the echo of footsteps faded, Raven's expression hardened. He called out to the mansion's head maid. "Stephanie. Send someone to bring Jacob from the Azmar Territory. Also…" His voice dropped into a cold command. "I'll be staying in the warehouse for a while. Do not let anyone near it."
Stephanie bowed quickly. "As you wish, My Lord."
Raven moved alone into the backyard of the Holmes mansion. He pushed the door open and stepped into the cool silence, his shadow stretching long across the wooden floorboards.
He passed rows of training chambers until he reached the farthest end room. Closing the door behind him, Raven's gaze sharpened. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the goblin's corpse from his ring and laid it across the floor.
The pale-green body was twisted, but its remnant 'Will' was not yet extinguished. Raven placed his palm firmly over its chest, and a chilling red glow seeped from his veins, threads of bloodline power coiling like serpents.
"…Activate."
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Goblin Pathfinder's bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the bloodline… Calculating…]
[The corpse contains 85% purity of Rank-2 Goblin Pathfinder's bloodline essence!]
[It is possible to extract the Goblin Pathfinder's bloodline essence and one of its bloodline spells!]
[Would you like to use the Bloodline Devouring Ability? Yes/No]
"Yes." Raven's voice was firm, decisive.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability commencing!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction…]
[The system has found the corresponding Rank-1 'Fortuitous Finder' spell from the blood essence!]
[Rank-2 Goblin Pathfinder's bloodline spell 'Pathfinder' has been selected!]
…
A sharp pain appeared in Raven's head.
[Host has absorbed a part of Goblin Pathfinder's Bloodline Essence!]
[Vitality +4.0]
[Strength +4.0]
[Agility +5.0]
[Body undergoing mutation!]
[Mutation will take 25 hours, 12 minutes to complete!]
…
Raven's body trembled violently. The devouring force tore through his muscles, veins, and marrow like molten fire. His vision blurred, his breath ragged. He collapsed to the cold floor, his fingernails clawing against the wood.
At the same time, a mysterious golden hexagonal structure started to appear above the Fortuitous Finder Spell.
Hours passed, each heartbeat like a hammer against his ribs. Yet he endured, his will as unyielding as tempered steel.
Finally, the agony receded. His breathing steadied. Slowly, Raven sat up, sweat dripping down his jaw. And then—
Knowledge flooded his mind like a tidal wave: how to activate this spell, duration, cooldown, and gather the mysterious luck power. …
…
[Host has obtained Rank-2 Bloodline Spell: 'Pathfinder'!]
[Mutation completed!]
[Host's body status has been updated successfully.]
…
Raven exhaled softly, the corner of his lips curving upward. His eyes gleamed in the dim warehouse light.
'Pathfinder, huh? No wonder no one managed to catch the goblin for years.'
The burning ache of mutation finally subsided, and Raven leaned back against the warehouse wall, his breath steadying. New knowledge swirled in his mind.
.
…
[Rank-2 Bloodline Spell Obtained: Pathfinder]
[Effect: Allows the user to perceive the safest path during danger and heightens
survival instincts to their maximum.]
[Duration: 10 minutes.]
[Cooldown: 7 days.]
…
Raven's lips curved faintly.
'A spell focused entirely on survival… useful, but not versatile. Still, it has its worth.'
He then flexed his fingers, feeling the quiet strength flowing through his veins.
"My overall physical attributes finally reached above 70," he murmured. Progress. Yet the hunger inside him did not still.
He needed to find the final bloodline spell.
'Memory Seal's corresponding spell, huh? Zera, where should I find a goblin with a memory-related ability?'
Zera's thoughtful voice echoed within.
[Unlike humans, most goblins evolve physically and awaken their bloodline spells over time. Among the goblins, which sub-species is the smartest one?]
"Goblin shaman?" Raven frowned. "But I already checked the shamans and hobgoblins during the last expenditure. None had memory-related bloodline spells. That shaman only had three fire spells, one earth spell, and a wind spell—no bloodline spell. At least the hobgoblins had the ogre's berserk spell."
[Look out for shamans appearing all over the Empire. Once you hear of one, send someone to kill it and bring back the corpse. It's not difficult—one in ten carries memory-related abilities.]
Raven nodded. "Fine. I'll keep watch."
He left the warehouse, sunlight spilling down on the courtyard. It was still noon. After freshening up in his chamber, he had a quick lunch, but his mind was restless.
'Alchemy? I could polish my skills and reach Expert before the war begins… but what use will potions be if my men fall in battle?' He clenched his hand.
'What I need is equipment for my soldiers.'
The last expedition had taught him well: rune-forged armaments could decide the difference between life and death.
After some thought, Raven made his decision. He would no longer rely only on theory—he would put Runeth's 300 years of memories of rune mastery into practice.
Within days, he purchased equipment from blacksmith shops across Giaris—plain armor, helms, and shields. Then he buried himself in the warehouse, carving, etching, and weaving spell models onto metal.
A week passed. His progress was uneven—he failed once, the rune circuits collapsing. Yet he succeeded three times, producing uncommon-ranked armors. They were average in quality and plain compared to the one he had made for Baroness Elara. Their sole feature was the engraving of defensive shield spells.
'Still, it's a good start. Craftsmanship is built one layer at a time.'
Stephanie waited patiently outside when he finally exited the warehouse, blinking into the afternoon light.
"What happened?" Raven asked.
"Sir Jacob has returned, My Lord. He is waiting in the main hall."
Raven gave a curt nod and strode directly to the mansion's grand hall.
Inside, Jacob stood near the hearth, his posture taut, while Leona paced back and forth, her auburn hair fluttering with every gust from the open windows. Both turned sharply when Raven entered.
"My Lord!" Leona's voice trembled. "What happened to Selene? I-Is she alright?"
Jacob's usually composed expression carried rare tension. "Did something happen, My Lord?"
Raven moved calmly to a nearby sofa and sat, gesturing for them to settle. His voice was steady, commanding. "I can assure you, with my life on the line, that she is not in any life-threatening danger." He paused deliberately, letting the words ease their panic. "But she is currently staying at a faraway distance. Due to certain circumstances, she was transferred elsewhere and cannot return to Ivory Island without preparation."
Jacob's eyes widened. "You mean… she went to the mainland?"
Raven shook his head. "Not exactly. She entered the dreamworld, but was diverted to another place entirely." He did not tell them it was another world. Some truths were better withheld.
Jacob's jaw tightened.
Raven noticed their worry and reassured them.
"Do not worry. I actually communicated with her briefly. She asked me to take care of her family and our companions." Raven bowed his head deeply. "This is my failure. I should've anticipated the dangers of the dreamworld. Please forgive me."
"P-Please raise your head, My Lord!" Leona rushed forward, her voice earnest. "I know you didn't send her deliberately. Selene herself said she might gain another opportunity, just like before. She was even excited. And… we know she'll be fine on her own."
Raven nodded.
Then he said, "Her family should relocate to Azmar Town. I'll provide them with a house and land. In addition, I'll send five gold coins as Selene's monthly salary."
Leona's lips parted in shock, gratitude flickering in her eyes. Jacob bowed again.
"One more thing," Raven continued. "If you ever come across Rank-2 goblin shaman corpses in auctions or the market, purchase them. As many as possible. Cost is no concern."
Jacob nodded without hesitation. "Consider it done."
Raven's questions then turned practical. He asked about the progress of the road construction and the young knights' training. Only after ensuring all was on track did he dismiss them.
When they left, silence returned to the hall.
Raven stood, his mind already turning back to the warehouse.