Now that Caelum and Anna were in Germany, they needed to purchase an actual home to serve as a temporary base of operations.
So, first thing in the morning, they checked out of the hotel and began house-hunting. They spent most of the day searching through neighborhoods until they eventually met up with a female real estate agent. She was stylish, professional, and knew her craft well_she took them to over four different homes in various pristine and secure locations.
Caelum had very specific requirements. He wanted a two-story home with at least five spacious bedrooms, three fully equipped bathrooms, a basement level for training and research, and a large yard that provided both privacy and space.
Finding a house that ticked every box wasn't easy, but eventually, they stumbled upon one. It was a beautiful two-story building nestled in a less populated suburb. The compound was vast, with a gated entrance, trees lining the edge of the fence, and enough space to train or host a garden party. It wasn't flashy, but it was elegant.
They accepted it without a second thought and paid for it upfront. After all, Caelum was now a multi-millionaire.
After settling in and arranging the few belongings they had brought along, Caelum suggested they explore the local public market. He hadn't had the chance to truly explore his surroundings since his reincarnation, and today felt like the right day, one last breath of peace before the storm of action began.
They went grocery shopping and picked up meats, eggs, fun drinks, vegetables, and assorted pastries. Anna was in charge of the cooking tonight.
She chose to prepare creamy mac and cheese, with a side dish of oven-baked pizza and caramel-drizzled apple pie for dessert.
As the warm aroma filled the air, they relaxed in the living room, watching the hit reality show Love Island Season Seven, which had just premiered.
Anna couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. Deep inside, she was genuinely happy. For the first time in years, Caelum looked relaxed_at peace. For two entire years, he had thrown himself into missions, negotiations, runes, and rebuilding the family legacy. She had missed this version of him. The one who could laugh. The one who could eat junk food and watch reality TV.
But for Caelum, this was more than just rest.
He was doing this for himself… and for the previous Caelum too.
Gordon Mustapha Livinus.
In Caelum's previous life, he had been his greatest human enemy. Possessing incomprehensible strength, resources, and a terrifyingly loyal followers_no, not just followers, an entire civilization of Dark Disciples.
If anything sinister was happening in Europe, Caelum was at least 60% sure that Gordon was involved. And with the outbreak of the Spontaneous Mutation phenomena, the pieces were beginning to align. It had Gordon's fingerprints all over it.
But the challenge was locating him. It had been five long years since Caelum_then known as Darius Drakenhart_was killed. In that time, Gordon must've built something terrifying. His base of operations may not even be in Germany anymore.
"Hah…" Caelum sighed, feeling a familiar headache beginning to creep in as the weight of thoughts swirled in his mind.
"Let's forget about that for now," he told himself. "My first task is to find my strongest disciples again."
And to do that… he needed one more public act as Mr Unicorn. A dramatic one. One that would make the entire continent remember the name Darius Drakenhart.
Here was the plan:
Step one: He would find a powerful opponent_either a dangerous mutated beast or a nationally wanted Dark Disciple. He'd defeat them publicly and make Mr Unicorn even more famous.
Step two: During the intense battle, he'd stage his mask getting destroyed, revealing his identity as Darius Drakenhart_the once-dead Draco Monarch who had returned from the grave.
"And if anyone asks how I'm alive," Caelum smirked, "I'll just say I used an 8th-tier Resurrection Spell seconds before my death. I reincarnated into a deceased body and have been secretly training these past five years."
It would be a shocking return. A dramatic one worthy of legend.
Now, before you get confused–yes, Anna specialized in shapeshifting and illusion magic. She would use her abilities to recreate the face of Darius Drakenhart, down to the last detail. She was one of the few people Caelum trusted with such a sensitive task.
But that was for later.
Right now, what mattered was information. And to get it, he needed to take action.
After some thought, Caelum sent Anna to a powerful Mercenary Guild operating in Germany. Her task was simple: Find the most dangerous wanted criminal with the highest bounty in the nation.
During Anna's absence, Caelum got to work.
He trained in silence, lifting massive boulders from the edge of the yard, using them to push the limits of his super strength. Then he spent over an hour holding his Thunder Force ability at full Stage One, focusing on endurance.
The sky darkened into evening as time passed.
Caelum had just finished bathing and was heading downstairs, his towel still draped around his shoulders, when he heard the chime of the security door.
Anna had returned.
Her hair was wind-blown, and her breath slightly uneven from walking fast. She gave Caelum a short nod before pulling a folded slip of paper from her coat and handing it over.
He took it, scanned through the text… and grinned.
"You've done well, Anna," Caelum said, eyes glinting. "I've prepared pasta. Go take a bath and come eat."
Anna blinked in mild surprise, Caelum rarely cooked, but she nodded quietly and made her way upstairs, a faint smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Caelum stared at the bounty report in his hand, his mind racing.
Bounty Report:
Criminal Name: Steven Darlugo
Known Supernatural Ability: Master of the Four Elements
Danger Rank: ???
Bounty: £160 Million
Note: Must be brought in alive
"A hundred and sixty million for one man, huh?" Caelum said aloud, lightning flickering faintly across his fingertips.
His heart quickened with anticipation.
This was going to be one hell of a challenge.
And he couldn't wait.