The knock repeated once again. Gryfor looked at the door, his face not giving any hints at his thoughts.

"You may come in." Gryfor spoke, the door swinging open soon after.

With a small set of heavy footsteps, Ardor walked into the room and half-knelt. However, this time he made eye contact with Gryfor without flinching. His eyes had a tinge of happiness.

"Mona Aurum has been feed the whitish liquid, sir. He should be dead tonight." Ardor spoke without missing a beat, a slight sense of enthusiasm in his voice.

I succeeded several times in a row. Surely I have proven myself well. Ardor had tried to earn a place on Gryfor's good side. Ardor knew that among any person, there were a privileged few who received that person's good will without restraint. Akin to family, those people would be protected and cared for, and if that person had greater power or influence, surely those close friends would reap benefits.

Ardor understood that although Gryfor seemed distant and far, he must have friends and allies Gryfor himself wouldn't think of risking his life for. To become one of those people, loyalty was a heavy requirement. And Ardor was trying to prove how loyal, how useful, how successful he was to the general.

This satisfactory record was what Ardor thought would be able to gain him security later down the road. If he really does go high in the military ladder, wouldn't my actions today repay themselves multiple times over? Ardor thought that if he could join Gryfor's inner circle, and Gryfor became a notable figure in Alberdan society, asking for a promotion in payment or land wouldn't be difficult.

All these thoughts were sensed by Gryfor through his Aura. It was still dispersed throughout the room, and Ardor had not yet discovered this tactic of Gryfor's. Through this technique, Gryfor was able to tell from Ardor's pulse, breath, and emotions what Ardor was likely thinking.

After so many years in the military, learning the unsung rules of a soldier, his guesses naturally became fairly accurate. Gryfor smiled back to Ardor, inwardly laughing at the man in front of him. Greed is more than a trait of Ardor. It is his life.

"He should, Ardor? Did you verify a body already?" Gryfor spoke, watching Ardor's response.

The head of guards looked at General Gryfor with a look of confusion before his face paled. Gryfor is an Aura Saint level 7. His Aura can then be sent out much farther than mine. Does that mean?

Ardor began to sweat at the thought of Mona Aurum surviving his injuries from Taizen and also Gryfor's liquid as well. He's a mere mortal! He couldn't train in Aura! Right?

The sweat drifted from his temples down his chin, hanging onto his scruffy goatee. His eyes became as wide as saucers when he realized Gryfor was smiling at him. The sweat began to pour even faster.

"Don't worry, Gryfor. This failure still has its merits. For example," Gryfor continued, his voice filling the room, "this failure has shown me that the Aurum child has a treasure. A valuable one at that." Gryfor maintained his smile. Such a treasure my Aura could not detect it. Such an item must be profound to unimaginable heights. If I had such an item, perhaps I can rival the Emperor himself.

Ardor didn't no whether to apologize to Gryfor for his shortcomings, or to feel grateful his efforts weren't worthless. The sweat had already graced his face, a small puddle formed beneath his chin.

"I can't detect that treasure, nor determine what it is. I know that such an item is vary valuable. But for it to be able to avoid my intrusions must mean it is a special Creation or other item of a spatial Design. I think you understand how rare spatial items are, right Ardor?" Gryfor continued to speak, his words matching what Ardor was thinking.

Ardor felt accepted by the slight change in Gryfor's tone. He was no longer speaking like a superior, but more like a comrade. Perhaps one day he will treat me as a friend. I can't wait!

Ardor nodded to Gryfor's words. He knew that spatial items were very rare. If a Creator was able to infuse their Creations with even the smallest spatial capability of storing items, that Creation would be very valuable. Few had such items, and fewer were willing to share them. Especially items with a spatial Design that allowed multiple uses, such items were legendary.

Items such as Creations and Weapons and so on all followed the same ranking of Aura. A Godly Creation was made by an Aura God with Godly skill in Creating artifacts. Those with decent talent as Creators at the Mortal level were rare. As for an Aura God with Godly skill in Creating, such a being would be far beyond Ardor's reach, and perhaps still quite difficult even if he became an Aura God.

As for Designs, they were markings learned by various craftsmen to infuse effects into items. A Spatial Design was rare itself, and one capable of utilizing one was even rarer. In all the history of the Madrag Continent, from ancient prehistory to modernity, there were only a thousand or so Creators skilled in a spatial Design. Such people naturally were nurtured, and their Creations historic.

If that Aurum boy has such an item, doesn't that mean at one point the family of Aurum had contact with such an exalted figure? Such a thought instilled fear and determination into Ardor. Fear of Mona's rise, and determination to end Mona's life for the treasure he held.

Gryfor noticed this greed in Ardor, amused. For such a child to carry such an item freely, surely he has other items to protect him of equal, perhaps greater value. A mere Aura Warrior is trying to assault this kid without planning. Truly greed is his life.

"I don't want you to kill him, Ardor." Gryfor spoke up, making himself clear. Gryfor had other plans for Mona.

Ardor felt confused by the change in Gryfor's commands. After all, didn't Gryfor want Mona dead as soon as possible? Why did he suddenly change his mind? Ardor wasn't able to tell.

"I originally had plans for the child Mona Aurum, but realized that my plans were truly too low. I want you instead to prepare the Hospital for inmates to be processed daily. " Gryfor gave out his order, bewildering Ardor.

Why do I have to send for inmates to be processed daily throughout the Hospital? It's usually for sick guards afflicted with the diseases of the desert, or injured combatants from the war. Why does he need the prisoners to go through that place? Ardor returned his attention to Gryfor.

"I want prisoners each day to be processed through the medical staff. Each prisoner will be extracted of one pint of their blood. Afterwards, I want you to bring the head of the medical team to my office, along with the pints of blood. Use as many guards as needed to bring them here. Understood?" Gryfor stood up and looked out into the window of his office.

The moon hid behind a thin veil of clouds, its beauty held from sight. Gryfor's sight was upon this thin veil, a slight tinge of admiration on his face.

"Sir, the medical facility is quite small. At best, we can only process 150 prisoners everyday for taking blood. Anymore, and the facility would have to reduce space for the ill and injured soldiers inside." Ardor only felt more perplexed as he spoke with the general.

What is he planning? Ardor hesitated to ask Gryfor of why he was desiring the prisoners to give blood. Before Gryfor made it clear that he didn't like too many questions. Ardor felt that asking Gryfor about the existence of a hidden agenda would very well be such an undesired question.

Ardor eventually didn't ask the question. He wanted more to be in Gryfor's good graces than to know why the prisoners were to give blood. Wouldn't it be detrimental to annoy Gryfor then with such a question?

"150? Hmm. I want you to proceed with at least 200 prisoners every day. That should be 200 pints of blood in total. Every single pint missing, or not labelled with the prisoner's identification number, will cost you a pint, Ardor. Understand?" Gryfor had walked in front of Ardor, stopping as he said the final words.

Ardor shivered with horror at the thought of Gryfor using needles to extract blood from his body. I only have 8 pints. After that! Cold sweat began to form and fall, his chin feeling a slight itch.

Good. He didn't ask too many questions this time. Gryfor walked back to his desk, sitting back into his seat. One of his hands opened a drawer and revealed two books. Gryfor placed both books on the table.

One was thin like a journal, and came with a scribe's tool. Leather made it's covers, and the paper seemed to be weathered with time, yellow and fragile.

The other was a thick book fastened with thick string. It looked quite new, and was quite large. This thick book was at least five times as thick as the journal. On its spine a set of characters were written, although Ardor could not tell what they were.

"I want you to take this journal with you. In it is written all of the prisoners, dead or alive, since the beginning of the first Warden. I completed the work of updating the list to include our current batch of prisoners. Use this to label each pint of blood along the sides of the containers." Gryfor held out the journal to Ardor, whom placed it in his coat pocket.

"You may now leave." Gryfor gestured for Ardor to leave before sitting back in his chair. Ardor left quietly through the hallway, the Warden opening up the thick book.

This is the Azamarth Book of Lifeblood. It describes in detail the ways to condense Lifeblood. Gryfor began to read the pages in the distinct language of the Azamis.

Long before the Alberdos Empire, its current region was largely populated by various groups. One of them was called the Azamis. They specialized in Lifeblood Arts, techniques that used one's Lifeblood to battle. The stronger the Lifeblood, the greater their ability.

Alongside this, they also did extensive research on Lifeblood and other special liquids from the bodies of Aura practitioners. Sadly, with the passage of time their great findings were either lost, damaged, or banned by the various nations from practicing.

Parsmir lent this to me long ago. The old man can truly see into the future. The book Gryfor was reading was a direct copy of a direct copy of the first Azami findings, compiled and ensured in its original language. With this book Gryfor also received knowledge of how to speak in the Azami language and write as well. Parsmir, his mentor, had predicted such would aid Gryfor in the future. He was correct.

Through his readings of the book, Gryfor discovered that one could not only gain Lifeblood through ending the life of an Aura practitioner. One could also synthesize Lifeblood through normal blood from batches of practitioners as well.

Blood made in an Aura cultivator's body still was made with a portion of their life force, although quite small. Using multiple pints of blood, Gryfor could easily synthesize droplets of Lifeblood from each pint.

Then he could refine all of the Lifeblood into a total body, averaging out any differences in levels and finally infuse his own body with the neutral Lifeblood. This is turn would improve his natural ability and talent at controlling Aura, allowing him to make breakthroughs.

Although this was a lengthy process and required numerous participants to give blood, Gryfor easily understood he could simply make use of the situation.

With around 200 pints of blood he could easily refine Lifeblood at least of the Warrior rank. As more and more prisoners were transferred through, the amount of the Lifeblood would easily grow to several pints. All he had to do is ensure no one knew what he was doing with the blood, and the day he became an Aura Lord would arrive ever sooner.

Gryfor thought back to slaying the Emperor of the Alberdan Empire and the several elders of the War Council that resulted in his adoptive father Molov's death. He couldn't wait to return their due. For the deaths of millions of innocent citizens in the slums. For the death of his second father.

Alberdos Empire, I shall make you regret the day you allow scum to rise to power. Gryfor read more deeply into his book.

The sun steadily climbed into the desert sky. Without a single cloud to hinder it, bright beams of sunlight covered the landscape in its shadow. A new day had begun.