My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!
Chapter 143: Eyes are the windows to the soul!

Chapter 143: Eyes are the windows to the soul!

That fire hidden deep within her eyes was almost captivating to Drayken.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and as he looked into hers, he truly believed it.

He didn’t need to use his True Eyes to see the sparks flickering within, not yet flames, but small sparks.

Those sparks waited like a predator, biding their time, destined to grow into a terrifying blaze that would one day engulf everything.

Drayken remained silent, expressionless, his gaze fixed on the woman. The longer he looked, the more a strange fondness grew within him.

His heart stirred with satisfaction. Then, pointing at her decisively, he declared:

"I want her."

The round-bellied man grinned with delight. "As long as you like her, you can have her, esteemed Dragon Slayer."

"Hmm." Drayken nodded.

The dog-eared woman’s face instantly turned pale as she looked at the bulky, cloaked figure before her, as if he were a demon from the depths of hell.

Why is she so scared? Am I really that terrifying? Drayken wondered, puzzled.

Shaking off the unnecessary thought, he refocused. His only intention was to train her into a capable guard, one strong enough to stand her ground even against overwhelming power and help him.

Drayken had always believed that hard work and temperament were crucial for attaining true strength. Of course, talent played a role too, but what use was talent if left unused?

He could always find a way to nurture talent, even if she lacked it. But temperament? That was something only a rare few possessed.

"What’s your name?" Drayken asked, his voice low and deep.

"I-I... my name is Rowena," she stammered, fear flickering in her eyes as she looked at him.

"I see." Drayken nodded.

"Is there some procedure, or can I take her now?"

"There is a lease you’ll need to sign, esteemed Dragon Slayer," the round-bellied man replied. "It legally transfers ownership of the slave. And there’s also a collar, standard protocol to prevent disobedience."

As he spoke, the man took out a stack of papers and handed them to Drayken to review.

Drayken glanced through the paper. He had already learned the human language.

Although his skill, Universal Language, did help in this part, however, it was limited to vocabulary only. He couldn’t understand the words, but he could communicate.

Anyway, as he read through the contract, he nodded his head in approval.

The contract wasn’t too large, and there was only a transfership of the owner written over it.

"Here is a pen." The round-bellied man handed a pen to Drayken.

Drayken took it and signed it.

"Congratulations, Esteemed Dragon Slayer. Now you own her," he smiled in glee.

Drayken didn’t reply. He looked at Rowena from head to toe silently.

Then he sat back down with Synthia, opposite the round-bellied man, while Rowena respectfully stood behind them.

Synthia pinched his hand, her expression indiscernible.

’Trust me, okay,’ Drayken whispered to her with a bitter smile.

’Hmph.’ Synthia pouted in anger but didn’t speak further.

They quietly ate the food and settled in the carriage.

Once inside, Drayken immediately pulled Synthia into a hug and whispered in a soothing tone:

"I’m sorry but please, trust me just this once."

His warm breath brushed against her ear, making her cheeks flush.

"Hmph, don’t try to win me over with your sweet words," she muttered flusteredly.

Seeing that his approach was working, Drayken felt a quiet joy stir within him.

"Just trust me," he said softly. "I really don’t have any intentions toward that woman, there’s just something about her that intrigued me."

His arms tightened gently around her waist as the two of them sat down in the carriage, snuggled closely together.

Their bodies seemed to move in quiet harmony.

Synthia closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth and comfort, letting out a soft, contented purr:

"Fine, you sweet talker."

"Haha," Drayken chuckled, the warmth in his heart growing.

Drayken’s feelings for Synthia had slowly begun to change. He wasn’t sure if it was love, but he knew one thing, he wanted to protect her, no matter what hardships lay ahead.

To shield that sweet smile.

To make sure she never experienced sadness again.

His eyes drifted toward Rowena, who was staring at them with a stunned expression.

He raised a finger to his lips, a silent gesture for her to keep quiet.

Then, still tangled together, Drayken and Synthia drifted off to sleep.

Rowena stood silently nearby, her heart uncertain, her expression hesitant as she watched the two wrapped in warmth and affection.

Seeing them brought back memories of a warmth she had long buried.

But just as quickly, another memory surged forth, a darker one.

Flames devoured her village.

The screams of her mother and father echoing through the night.

And the cruel laughter of humans ringing in her ears.

Her feral teeth clenched with hatred.

The spark in her eyes was gradually intensifying into flames.

’I must take revenge on all humans.’

She tightened her fists, forcing herself to steady her ragged breathing.

Slowly, she drifted into a restless sleep.

It was the middle of the night. The moons had vanished from the sky, plunging the forest into pitch darkness.

The three cargo and guard camps lay silent, blanketed in shadow, untouched by even a sliver of moonlight.

Two guards were on patrol.

Suddenly, two shadowy figures darted through the darkness, cutting silently through the air and melting into the forest’s shadows.

A black dart, barely visible in the gloom, streaked through the air and struck one of the guards squarely in the neck.

With a heavy thud, both guards collapsed to the ground.

The shadows moved forward silently, creeping through the night toward the camp.

Exchanging a brief glance, they didn’t rush toward the cargo. Instead, they slipped into the guards’ quarters and began eliminating the soldiers one by one, granting each a swift and merciless death.

One by one, the killings proceeded flawlessly.

Until the last guard...

As the two shadows approached the last guard, every light in the camp suddenly flared to life.

Soldiers who should have been dead appeared one by one, forming a tight circle around the intruders.

"Hmm?" The two shadows didn’t flinch in the slightest.

They calmly watched as the round-bellied man stepped out of the carriage, a confident smile spreading across his face.

"I knew something was off," he said. "Those dire wolves wouldn’t have been so drawn to our carriage otherwise." His grin deepened:

"The famed twin-bladed assassins, caught so easily."

One of the shadows spoke:

"Have you really caught us?"