Chapter 95: Chapter95-Targeted

John had no intention of joining another family to serve as a mere guard dog, not even planning to stay with Hidden Stars for long.

He was not a person who craved fame or power.

What he desired was to enhance his own strength, continually pushing his limits.

However, with his talents exposed, every move he made would now be scrutinized and magnified by those with ulterior motives.

Far from seeing any benefits, John could only foresee endless constraints and troubles coming his way.

What exactly was going on? John wasn't sure, but he harbored a strong suspicion that House Carter was likely involved.

After the Carter House guard returned, he would undoubtedly report Lucas's death and John's information to House Carter.

John's talents and the Legacy of the Crimson Demon would certainly not remain secrets.

House Carter would not let him go easily.

It was possible that even his identity as a Black Cloak had been uncovered by House Carter.

Given that House Carter had offended both House Fairfax and Theodore within the Crimson Realm, they surely wouldn't let House Carter off easily either.

Considering the current circumstances, the manipulations of the major families and powers might very well revolve around him...

John felt a headache coming on and decided not to dwell on it further.

With his identity and power, he could only take things one step at a time; overthinking was futile.

After a short chat, the nurse went off to tend to her duties.

A colorful light shimmered into the room.

Yina, fluttering her wings, her silver hair catching soft glints of sunlight, landed on John's chest with her bare feet.

Her beautiful, colorful eyes sparkled mischievously as she teased, "How does it feel to be treated as a hero?"

John rolled his eyes, responding, "I don't know how it feels, but I definitely don't want a second round."

The last moment of killing Rean, if not for Victor's timely arrival, he reckoned he'd be nothing but a pile of mush by now.

Nobody would want to go through that again.

However, to be fair, slaying awakeners is one of the fastest ways for John to enhance his power currently.

If he finds the time later, he could consider returning to his old profession as a bounty hunter and assassin.

Earning money while gaining attributes, why not?

Yina, munching on a strawberry, seemed to catch on to John's thoughts.

She frowned slightly, advising, "You should be careful with that knife from the Crimson Demon; there's something off about it."

John was momentarily stunned, "The Bloodthirsty Blade? Is there a problem with it?"

He had used it a few times and hadn't noticed any significant issues with the Blade.

Yina explained, "Seven days ago, I sensed the aura of the Crimson Demon on the blade. That guy might not be dead, and worse, he might be hiding in that blade, planning to resurrect himself using you as a conduit."

Yina's words startled John.

Daniel mentioned that his parents were already considering having a second child, which left John both amused and speechless at his friend's audacity.

Albertus also came to say goodbye, having initially left home without his family's consent.

Now that it was time to return to the capital, he had something serious to share with John: "There's something you need to know. House Carter has been looking to target you. Although they were stopped by Hidden Stars, House Harris, and our House Fairfax, the Carters are known for their vindictiveness and will surely find another way to get back at you. You must be careful."

From Albertus's hints, John gathered that House Carter had indeed made moves against him, which was blocked by others.

This aligned with his expectations, and John expressed his gratitude.

Before leaving, Albertus left John a contact method and a card as a small gesture of goodwill.

John didn't refuse; he indeed needed the money right now.

Dark Fox and Silver Tear brought some gifts, mostly fruits and healing items.

However, their expressions were somewhat troubled.

Dark Fox seemed to want to say something but, after glancing at Scarlett, ultimately remained silent.

After a brief chat, Dark Fox and the others departed, leaving Scarlett behind.

"You're quite popular now. I heard that the daughter of the city lord has been visiting you frequently," Scarlett said, sitting by John's bed and peeling an apple for him.

Her face was devoid of smiles, yet her words carried a hint of jealousy.

"Maybe my charm is just too overwhelming," John replied nonchalantly, changing the subject, "How have things been recently?"

He had noticed the unease in Dark Fox and Silver Tear's demeanor.

Compared to the information he got from the nurse, Scarlett surely knew more.

At John's question, Scarlett paused in her apple peeling.

She fell silent for a moment before calmly stating, "Old Dog and a few others are buried in Black Mountain Cemetery. General Shadowcloud barely survived but has become incapacitated; he's still unconscious in the next room. Captain Victor has been relieved of his command, and I've been dismissed."

John's breathing halted for a moment, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

He frowned, "What exactly happened? And what about those news reports?"

Scarlett sighed and explained one by one, "There were spies embedded among Stellarburg's officials, leading to numerous deaths at the hands of the Dusk Sect within Stellarburg, ultimately deemed as Hidden Stars' negligence."

"Captain Victor, having offended someone from House Wilson, was scapegoated during this opportunity. To appease the populace, the merits were attributed to you."

"To prevent retaliation from House Carter, House Fairfax and House Harris seized the opportunity to amplify public opinion, offering you a layer of protection to deter hidden enemies."

"However, someone has been stirring the pot, aiming to place you in the spotlight and make you a target."

With Scarlett's explanation, John finally understood the entirety of the situation.

He hadn't realized there was so much going on behind the scenes and remained silent for a long time.

Even someone as strong as Victor could be manipulated and targeted, what could he possibly do?

Without sufficient strength, one is merely a pawn in others' games; he was lucky to have survived this far.

Instead of dwelling on these matters, it was better to focus on how to enhance his own strength.

John still held an invitation to the "Red Moon Secret Realm," a hell-level secret realm suitable for levels 15 to 25, capable of rapidly increasing his strength in a short period.

However, before entering the secret realm, John had a few matters to attend to.