[Lord of Abundance] Chapter 36: The Shadowbone Demon Spider

 Chapter 36: The Shadowbone Demon Spider

“What do you mean, ‘just the fraction’?”

—

Leon’s expression changed instantly as he stared fixedly at Kun.

—

“I mean exactly what I said,” Kun replied lazily. “I simply haven’t finished calculating the bill yet. No need to panic, Lord Leon. Acting so anxious only makes people think you’re hiding even more secrets and can’t wait to get home.”

He laughed cheerfully.

—

So this was what it felt like to settle accounts with someone else.

No wonder Vittorio was always chasing after him to “go over the numbers.” That bastard really needed a lesson.

Maybe tomorrow he’d dock his wages for no reason at all.

—

Kun was smiling happily.

Leon, however, couldn’t smile at all.

—

Could this guy really have noticed something?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

—

“I was terrified,” Leon said through clenched teeth. “That’s why I want to return to my family’s territory as quickly as possible. Only there can I feel safe.”

“You never saw that enraged earth dragon yourself, so of course you can’t understand.”

“One swipe…”

“Armor and flesh alike turned into bloody paste.”

“I’ve never seen anything so horrifying in my life.”

“The Everdark Forest truly deserves its title as a forbidden land.”

“I never want to set foot there again.”

—

As Leon spoke, the body trembled faintly, as though genuine fear still lingered deep within.

The mercenaries beside him wore similarly haunted expressions.

That earth dragon really had been terrifying.

—

Kun stroked his smooth chin thoughtfully.

“Everything you said was true… except for the final objective.”

“Mix one lie into ten truths.”

“A clever way to deceive people.”

—

“I didn’t—”

—

Kun raised a hand, cutting Leon off.

“I’m not interested in your lies.”

“Save that clumsy act for when you get home.”

—

“You’re sending me home?”

Leon’s emotions swung wildly like a roller coaster, disbelief flashing across the face.

—

Kun chuckled.

“My Fengrao Territory doesn’t recycle trash.”

“As long as Count Breton pays the ransom—ah, pardon me, the compensation—then naturally I’ll have Lord Leon escorted safely back south.”

—

“My men’s medical fees: one hundred gold coins.”

“Lost work compensation: one hundred.”

“Nutritional expenses: one hundred.”

“Mental distress compensation: one hundred.”

“Nursing fees: one hundred.”

“Disability compensation: one hundred.”

“Accommodation fees: one hundred.”

“Rehabilitation costs: one hundred.”

“Follow-up treatment expenses: one hundred…”

—

Kun kept talking nonstop.

“One hundred gold coins” repeated over and over like some cursed refrain.

—

Everyone in the reception hall stared at him dumbfounded.

They had truly broadened their horizons today.

This was the first time in their lives they had ever seen someone calculate compensation like this.

—

Even Dawn, who rarely smiled, had the corners of his mouth twitching upward so hard he nearly aggravated his internal injuries from holding back laughter.

—

Leon stumbled back three steps, sucking in a sharp breath.

How could there exist such a shameless person in this world?

And he still had the nerve to claim he always priced things fairly and transparently?

—

“All these miscellaneous fees together…” Kun mused thoughtfully. “Mm, I can’t quite remember the total anymore. Let’s round it down for convenience.”

“Call it one thousand gold coins.”

—

Old Jili swallowed hard.

His neck suddenly felt very cold.

Would he even leave this castle alive tonight?

—

One thousand gold coins.

Tenfold compensation meant ten thousand gold coins.

Ten. Thousand.

—

If he remembered correctly, even Lovos City—the third-largest city in the northern territories—only collected around that amount in taxes annually.

This wasn’t compensation anymore.

This was personal vengeance against the Smith family.

But weren’t the Arlan and Smith families supposed to be close allies?

—

“Now that we’ve finished calculating compensation for my men,” Kun said calmly, “it’s time to discuss compensation owed to Fengrao Territory itself.”

—

He rose slowly from his chair.

In an instant, the lazy, careless air around him vanished completely.

A crushing pressure replaced it.

It felt as though he had become an entirely different person.

—

Narrowing his eyes, Kun looked down from above.

“I’ll only say one thing.”

“You brought an ancient dragon to my territory.”

“You placed Fengrao Territory in danger of complete destruction at any moment.”

“How exactly do you think we should settle that debt?”

—

“The Smith family is wealthy beyond measure, right? Money can buy anything.”

“So let’s calculate in money.”

—

“There are eleven hundred people in Fengrao Territory, including me.”

“I’ll sell their lives to you cheaply.”

“One hundred gold coins per person.”

“Not expensive, right?”

—

“You personally promised tenfold compensation.”

“So…”

“How much would that be again?”

“My arithmetic isn’t very good.”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

—

“This is extortion!”

Leon exploded completely.

“Blatant extortion!!”

—

More than a million gold coins?

Even emptying the royal treasury of Dansu Kingdom wouldn’t be enough.

—

Afraid he might never get another chance to speak, Old Jili stepped forward grimly.

“Lord Kun… isn’t this calculation a little excessive?”

“And besides, how can you prove that earth dragon was an ancient dragon over a thousand years old?”

“That kind of legendary creature…”

“If we had truly encountered one, even with Sir Dawn’s help, we never would have survived long enough to stand here before you.”

“We’d have died beneath its claws.”

—

He turned toward Dawn.

“Sir Dawn.”

“Though we’ve only known each other briefly, I can tell you are a true warrior who lives by a warrior’s code.”

“Do you honestly believe that dragon was a terrifying fourth-tier legendary beast?”

—

Dawn fell silent.

—

Once dragons lived beyond a thousand years, they underwent transformation into ancient dragons.

And ancient dragons had no third-tier existences among them.

No matter how confident he was in his strength, escaping alive from a fourth-tier legendary dragon should have been impossible.

—

Yet Kun spoke calmly.

“I naturally have my reasons.”

“I have three pieces of evidence.”

—

“First…”

“Because I said so.”

“If I say it was a fourth-tier ancient dragon, then it was a fourth-tier ancient dragon.”

—

“Hah?”

Leon’s face filled with ridicule.

What was that supposed to mean?

Who did he think he was?

The legendary Falling Star Sword Saint?

—

“Second,” Kun continued lazily, “the evidence is on Dawn himself.”

“Dawn.”

“Show them the inner armor you’re wearing.”

—

“A top-tier defensive treasure crafted by a master dwarven artisan.”

“It also has advanced defensive magic permanently engraved into it.”

“Ordinary low-tier spells hitting it are no different from splashing water.”

—

“So tell me…”

“What kind of magical beast can destroy such a treasure with a single claw strike?”

“You people either come from powerful backgrounds or have spent your lives dealing with magical beasts.”

“Would someone kindly educate this ignorant little lord?”

—

“As for the third piece of evidence…”

Kun smiled faintly.

“It also answers your question.”

“Why did you survive after encountering an ancient dragon?”

—

“I believe the answer lies inside the spatial necklace worn by this self-proclaimed third son of Count Breton.”

“Why not have Lord Leon take everything out and show us?”

“Wouldn’t that reveal the truth?”

—

Leon clutched the cross-shaped pendant at the neck tightly, face darkening.

—

“What’s inside belongs to the Smith family.”

“Are you certain you want to see it?”

“Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from the Smith family?”

—

“And Kun Arlan…”

“This is my final warning.”

“The Arlan and Smith families have always maintained close relations.”

“Are you truly willing to tear apart the alliance between our families?”

“To destroy centuries of friendship?”

—

An ancient noble house older than the founding of the Dansu Kingdom itself was not something anyone dared offend lightly.

No one knew what terrifying foundations such ancient families still possessed.

Even kings had to think carefully before moving against them.

—

Caught between Leon’s threats and Kun’s pressure, Old Jili’s scalp went numb.

He was furious, but dared say nothing.

—

Icefang Mercenary Group already depended heavily on the Smith family.

They never wanted to offend this young master.

But now they were trapped between two impossible choices.

Offend one side, and the mercenary group’s future was ruined.

Offend the other…

They probably wouldn’t leave this castle alive.

—

Kun, meanwhile, looked completely unconcerned.

If the boat of friendship capsized, then so be it.

What did the Arlan family’s troubles have to do with him?

He’d be delighted if this caused problems for those people in the capital who were waiting to laugh at him.

—

Seeing the amusement in Kun’s eyes, Leon finally realized things might not end peacefully tonight.

With a flick of the hand, a pitch-black orb appeared from the spatial necklace.

A magical tool capable of summoning a magical pet beyond its rank.

—

Leon spoke rapidly in a low voice.

“Jili.”

“As long as you keep that bastard lord from capturing me, I swear upon the honor of the Smith family that I will do everything in my power to help Icefang grow stronger.”

“From this day forward, the Smith family will protect Icefang Mercenary Group.”

“I guarantee no one will dare trouble you again.”

—

Old Jili gritted his teeth.

“You’d better keep your word.”

“To hell with it—we’re doing this!”

—

“My lord, go first!”

“We’ll buy you time!”

—

Under Jili’s lead, the remaining four Icefang mercenaries all drew their weapons.

They knew perfectly well they couldn’t defeat the guards.

They probably couldn’t even stop Dawn alone, despite his injuries.

—

But Jili only needed to delay them briefly.

For the future of Icefang Mercenary Group—

He was willing to risk his life.

—

“You’re courting death!”

Dawn roared furiously.

—

He drew his greatsword and charged forward despite his injuries, intercepting the mercenaries rushing toward Kun.

If the people he had personally rescued injured Kun here tonight—

He would never again have the face to remain in Fengrao Territory.

—

His greatsword swept out in fury.

In a single exchange, the four veteran mercenaries were forced backward again.

—

Leon finished chanting.

Black mist coiled around the body.

Then came a cold sneer.

—

A finger slid across the throat in a beheading gesture toward Kun.

—

“The compensation you demanded…”

“The Smith family will repay it slowly.”

“Farewell.”

—

The black mist flashed.

Leon’s figure vanished from the reception hall entirely.

—

The moment Leon escaped, the breath Old Jili and the others had been holding disappeared as well.

Dawn kicked them all to the floor one by one.

—

“Damn it!”

Kun suddenly smashed the dinner plate beside him onto the floor.

Fine white porcelain shattered everywhere.

—

“That fat sheep actually escaped!”

“What are you idiots doing?!”

—

“Trash!”

“All of you are trash!”

“Why are you still standing there?!”

“Go search for him!”

“He can’t have gone far!”

“If you don’t find him, don’t bother coming back!”

—

Dawn and old Tate exchanged confused glances.

They had no idea why Kun had suddenly exploded in anger.

It was like he had become another person entirely.

—

“Young master…”

—

Kun immediately dropped the furious expression and grinned.

“So, Tate?”

“How was my acting?”

“Pretty good, right?”

“I told you—I’m the acting type.”

—

“A-acting… type?”

—

Kun instantly returned to his usual lazy, languid demeanor.

Staring at the place Leon had vanished from, he chuckled softly.

—

“First pretend to escape.”

“Then deliberately provoke me.”

“So I send all my guards out searching for you.”

—

“Meanwhile…”

“You remain hidden nearby.”

“Waiting for me to expose a weakness before delivering a fatal strike.”

—

“After all, you’re unfamiliar with this territory.”

“You weren’t confident you could escape successfully.”

“So the best option was controlling me first.”

“Then whether you left or settled accounts would be entirely up to you.”

—

“So that final gesture before you ‘left’…”

“It wasn’t meant to threaten me.”

“It was a reminder.”

—

Kun laughed.

“If you’d succeeded, I would’ve become a complete joke.”

“But if you fail…”

“Then you’re just asking to die.”

—

“… ”

—

The room fell utterly silent.

Everyone stared at Kun with strange expressions.

—

Kun coughed lightly.

“Still not coming out?”

“You’re pretty patient.”

“Or maybe you think I’m bluffing and haven’t actually found you.”

—

“Here’s a free lesson.”

“Illusion magic can be very useful sometimes.”

“But against someone of a higher rank…”

“The flaws become painfully obvious.”

—

Kun raised a hand.

—

A gorgeous flame bloomed in his palm.

Unlike ordinary orange-red fire, this one was crimson—

Like burning blood.

—

Whoosh!

—

The scarlet fireball, only half the size of a normal fireball spell, shot toward the spot where Leon had disappeared—

Then suddenly curved upward midair.

Straight toward the ceiling.

—

“Hissssss—!”

—

A gigantic gray-white spider nearly two meters wide crashed down heavily from above.

Black mist coiled around its body.

Crimson flames engulfed it completely.

—

It shrieked in agony, rolling frantically across the floor.

But the blood-red fire clung to its flesh like parasites on bone.

No matter how it writhed, the flames would not go out.

—

“The Shadowbone Demon Spider!”

Old Jili screamed from the floor.

—

A third-tier demon beast.

The terrifying Grim Reaper of the jungle.

One of the apex predators of magical beast forests.

—

Very few people who encountered one survived.

Most only found the corpses afterward—

Bodies stripped of every bone, leaving only flesh behind.

—

Old Jili had “fortunately” survived a single encounter once.

Everyone else in his squad had died.

And the eye he lost—

Came from that very encounter.

—

The throbbing pain in his blind eye told him clearly:

That burning spider was absolutely the infamous Shadowbone Demon Spider.

—

But—

No chanting.

Just one casually thrown fire spell.

How could it possibly be this powerful?

—

“I told you one fireball wasn’t enough to kill a third-tier magical beast.”

Kun muttered softly to himself.

“Though…”

“A second one should do it.”

—

He casually raised his hand again.

Another low-tier fireball formed—

One infused with fifty times the power of law.

—

BOOM!

—

This time, the spider didn’t even have a chance to scream.

—

The third-tier magical beast nurtured by the Smith family for over a century—

Was burned into charcoal before everyone’s eyes.

—

Any spell that leveraged power of law tenfold would gain one special property.

At fortyfold—

It gained a second.

—

Kun’s fire magic possessed the properties of adhesion and undying flame.

As for whether there were third or fourth properties…

Kun believed there were.

He simply hadn’t explored magic deeply enough yet.

—

As the Shadowbone Demon Spider died, the illusion magic cast upon Leon dissipated instantly.

—

Kun raised a hand and greeted the now-visible Leon—whose face was pale as a corpse—with what he considered a friendly smile.

—

“Hi.”

—

“Looks like we meet again.”