To hell with training and waiting—Charles wanted that artifact now!

Excitement surged through his veins as he left the medical room, following a translucent blue arrow floating in his vision, visible only to him thanks to the system.

The arrow pointed northwest, toward the mysterious cave the system had mentioned, where a powerful artifact awaited.

His energy was at 15%, according to the system tab, and though the bandages on his arms and chest felt a bit tight, he couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

'A treasure!' he thought, a crooked grin spreading across his face. 'This is exactly what I need to turn things around.'

The idea of a powerful weapon, something to help him survive the weekly arena fights and potential missions in the outside world, had him pumped.

But he'd barely taken a few steps down the hallway when two nurses intercepted him, blocking his path with curious expressions.

"Cole, where are you off to in such a hurry?" asked the nurse with black hair tied in a tight bun, the same one who'd tended to him that morning.

Her tone was friendly but carried a hint of suspicion.

"You just left saying you were going to stroll and eat. Back already for something else?"

Charles stopped, a stab of irritation hitting him.

'Damn it, they always have to butt in,' he thought, but he kept his cool.

He recalled the cold, authoritative tone Lira used with the staff and decided to channel it.

"I've got a meeting with someone important," he said, his voice flat as he crossed his arms. "Not something I need to explain to you."

The nurses froze, clearly thrown off by his response.

The second one, with round glasses, opened her mouth as if to say something but then closed it and looked down.

"We… we're sorry, Cole," the bun-haired nurse said, her tone nervous. "We didn't mean to pry. We're just worried about your recovery."

Charles raised an eyebrow, maintaining his serious facade.

"Let's make sure it doesn't happen again," he said, firm but not overdoing it.

He didn't want to come off too harsh, but he needed to get out of there without more questions.

The nurses nodded quickly, muttering apologies, and stepped aside to let him pass.

As he walked away, Charles couldn't help but smirk to himself.

'Acting like a Cole isn't half bad,' he thought, feeling a strange satisfaction. 'Maybe I should pull this card more often.'

Following the blue arrow, Charles moved through the Storm Clan's hallways.

The place was livelier than usual, with servants and apprentices bustling about.

Some greeted him with respectful nods, which still caught him off guard.

"Good morning, superior," said a young servant carrying a tray of clean laundry, bowing his head.

Charles nodded back, feeling a mix of awkwardness and pride.

'This is pretty cool,' he thought, remembering how he'd been ignored or sneered at when he wore the white servant's tunic.

Now, in the black Warrior tunic with red stripes, people treated him differently.

He wasn't sure if he liked it or if it made him nervous.

Soon, he left the main buildings behind and entered the clan's greener area, where stone paths gave way to dirt trails lined with tall trees.

The air smelled of damp grass and wood, and the blue arrow kept guiding him northwest.

As he walked, his thoughts drifted to Nora.

'Where the hell's that lunatic?' he thought, glancing at the trees around him.

Nora always seemed to be climbing something or stirring up trouble in this area, but today there was no sign of her.

The path led him to less-traveled trails, with smaller, scattered buildings that looked like storehouses or barracks.

No one stopped him for the first few minutes, and Charles started to relax, enjoying the quiet and the feeling of doing something important.

But then, a shout shattered the calm.

"Hey, you! Stop!" The voice was deep and authoritative, coming from somewhere to his left.

Charles frowned, thinking it must be a mistake.

'Just ignore it,' he thought, quickening his pace and following the blue arrow.

But before he could get far, a figure slammed into him from the side, knocking him to the ground with a hard thud.

"Ugh!" Charles grunted, feeling the impact in his ribs.

His instincts hadn't reacted in time, and now he was pinned, a burly man sitting on his chest, gripping his arms tightly.

"Where the hell do you think you're going, huh?" the man growled, his voice thick with suspicion.

He was tall, wearing a dark gray tunic with a belt lined with small knives.

His face was stern, his eyes glaring with distrust.

"Speak, now!"

Charles blinked, confused and pissed.

'What the hell?' he thought, trying to stay calm despite the pressure on his chest.

"Hey, chill," he said, his voice firm but controlled. "Why're you coming at me like that? I'm just walking!"

The man sneered, tightening his grip.

"I'm the one asking questions here, rookie," he said, his tone sharp. "I'm a Custodian. So tell me, what are you doing so far from the clan's main area?"

Charles felt a knot in his stomach.

'Shit, a Custodian,' he thought, recalling the clan's rank hierarchy.

Custodians were above Warriors—not people he wanted to mess with.

He let out a sigh, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Just taking a walk," he said, shrugging as best he could with the man's weight on him. "What's the problem?"

The Custodian raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"A walk?" he repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "This far from the main area? You think I'm stupid? No one comes out here just to 'stroll.'"

He leaned closer, his breath reeking of tobacco.

"Tell me the truth, or I'll drag you to the council right now."

Charles frowned, irritation bubbling up.

'This guy's looking for a fight,' he thought.

But he also knew he couldn't spill anything about the artifact or the system.

"Look, I just wanted some fresh air," he said, his tone more serious. "I'm not doing anything wrong. Why don't you back off and let us both get on with our day?"

The Custodian laughed, but there was no humor in it.

"Fresh air? Really?" he said, his tone mocking. "You don't even know where you're standing, do you? This is a restricted zone. Only Custodians and above can wander here without permission. And you know what I think? You're a spy, pretending to be one of us."

Charles's eyes widened, stunned by the accusation.

"A… spy?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "Seriously? I'm wearing a Warrior's tunic—look at it! I'm Rian Cole, I fought in the arena yesterday. You think a spy would make a scene like that?"

The Custodian wasn't impressed.

"That proves nothing," he said, his tone cold. "Anyone can steal a tunic. And don't give me arena stories. If you don't know something as basic as restricted zones, you're no true clan member."

He stood, still gripping Charles's arm, and turned his head toward the forest.

"Hey, get over here!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. "We've got a spy! Help me detain him!"

Charles felt a chill run through him.

'Shit, this is getting ugly,' he thought, glancing at the blue arrow still floating in his vision, pointing toward the cave.

He was so close to his goal, but now he was stuck with a paranoid Custodian and who-knows-how-many others on their way.

"Wait, wait," he said, raising his hands. "I'm not a spy, alright? I'm Rian Cole, a Warrior. Ask Lira—she'll vouch for me."

The Custodian sneered.

"Lira? You think I'm gonna bother someone like her over a liar like you?" he said, yanking Charles's arm to pull him up from the ground. "You're coming with me, and if you're who you say you are, you'll prove it to the council. If not, you're in for a bad time."

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