The Return of The Demon Emperor karsu!

In a sumptuous room draped in a muted splendor of melancholic shadows, "The Pig" sat staring with eyes that blazed like embers beneath ash. The chamber was replete with luxurious furnishings and dark portraits of bygone eras, yet he cared little for the décor—it was the sorrow of an unforgivable betrayal that consumed him. In a hoarse whisper, as if addressing the ghosts of his past, he murmured:

> "They stole more than just a priceless artifact… They stole my honor and killed the only brother who ever reminded me that I am human!"

Beneath those words lay cold calculations. He knew full well that Karsu— that cunning fox who had spun his intricate trap at the precious invitation party—would never fall into the hands of ordinary minions. Thus, "The Pig" ordered the gathering of second- and third-tier investigators—those who lurked in the alleys like shadows—to record every detail meticulously in hopes of catching a trace that would lead them to the elusive thief. Although these investigators roamed the city's streets in disguise to hunt down Karsu, the picture they held was imprecise; yet it was enough to give them a thread to follow. As the investigation trudged on without pause, the night crept over the city, and all their efforts proved futile, with no evidence emerging to guide them. By sunset, the reports had evaporated into a jumble of empty words—as if Karsu had dissolved into the very sea of night.

In the darkened streets, while the investigators fumbled in narrow alleys to collect evidence, a voice unlike any other emerged—a voice carrying both promise and threat. A man appeared clad in an elegant brown robe, a neatly tied brown sash cinching his waist. He strode confidently among those masquerading as vegetable vendors. Approaching an investigator scribbling notes in his small notebook, he said in a calm tone laden with hidden storms:

> "Investigating without understanding a criminal's mind is like playing chess with blind pieces. Show me your master."

Raising an eyebrow in astonishment, the investigator snapped back sharply,

> "Huh? Who are you? Get out of here immediately before I call the guards!"

But rather than retreat, the mysterious man's face curled into a dubious smile as he whispered sarcastically:

> "The guards? Hahaha… those weaklings? I could wipe them all out! No, I could erase every soul in this wretched city… so don't force me to erase you as well."

The investigator staggered back, staring at the stranger with growing concern, then gripped his sword and drew it, ready to attack. He declared with determination:

> "We'll see who gets wiped out!"

He lunged with all his might, igniting his sword with a burst of fiery brilliance that granted him a terrifying, decisive power. Yet the mysterious man did not budge—instead, he merely raised two fingers, halting the attack effortlessly without any sign of exertion, all while laughing mockingly:

> "Hahaha… Is that all you've got for defense? How pathetic! Did you really think I was weak just because I outweigh you?"

The investigator broke into a cold sweat, his body trembling with fear, before stammering:

> "N-no… I didn't mean it, sir… I'll show you my client immediately!"

Without further resistance, he followed the mysterious man toward the noble in charge, his fear mounting at the sheer force he had just encountered.

---

In a dim hall within "The Pig's" palace, all the investigators had assembled. Voices rang out in that grand meeting:

> "What are the results of your investigations, gentlemen?!"

bellowed "The Pig" in a tone that mingled anger with hope.

One trembling investigator replied:

> "Unfortunately, we haven't found any trace of him yet. But we're sure that by the end of today—and the dawn of tomorrow—we'll catch him."

Unable to contain his rage, "The Pig" roared:

> "Do you think I'm stupid? I pay you with ill-gotten money to hunt down my brother's killer, you bastards!"

At that very moment, the mysterious man burst into the hall and proclaimed in a resonant, enigmatic voice:

> "And you, who believe that your authority justifies injustice, do you think you can capture what is unseen? I am here to show you that one who masters the game of shadows is not so easily unmasked."

"Who exactly are you?" asked the portly noble derisively, "Another thief pilfering my coins under the guise of investigation?"

The mysterious man smiled calmly and answered in an even tone:

> "It appears you're facing a formidable problem with this case… I will solve it for you."

The noble's anger flared, his face quivering as he jeered mockingly:

> "Do you think I'm playing around here?! Am I jesting? I'll solve it for you, haha! Do you really believe it's that simple?!"

He mimicked the mysterious man's voice with biting sarcasm.

At that, the mysterious man's features darkened, revealing signs of distress. He regarded those present with disdain before murmuring coolly:

> "It seems that the inhabitants of this city understand nothing but the language of power and submission to the strongest…"

At that moment, a mysterious energy began to swirl around him, visible only to those sensitive enough to see his aura. Without hesitation, he raised his finger and pointed it at one of the servants standing behind the noble, then said in a low, menacing tone:

> "Watch closely… this is what happens to anyone who dares oppose me."

Before anyone could react, a burst of compressed aura shot forth from his finger with frenzied speed, piercing the servant's skull in an instant. There was no scream, no time even for shock—only a horrific, bloody explosion that sent fragments of bone, blood, and burnt tissue scattering in every direction, staining the walls and the luxurious carpet.

The hall fell into stunned silence. The noble trembled violently, his lips frozen in shock, while the investigators who witnessed the scene were gripped by terror. They saw no clear sign of an attack—only that the mysterious man had pointed his finger…and then obliterated the man's head.

Though none could fathom what had just transpired, they all felt the overwhelming force of his aura. It wasn't mere trickery or anything familiar—it was something that instilled the deepest fear.

Barely had the murmurs ceased when the head of another servant exploded from a similar burst of mysterious energy, rendering the hall as silent as a cold tomb. "The Pig" shuddered in disbelief and bellowed bitterly:

> "Do you dare challenge my authority in my own domain?!"

Slowly, the mysterious man turned to him, as if reading the dark pages of his soul, then deliberately replied:

> "True authority is not declared by shouting… it is revealed by its presence." He added with a sardonic smile: "Do you know why your investigators failed? Because they search for a criminal with logic, while he manipulates logic itself!" With a hesitant smile, "The Pig" asked softly: "Who are you, sir?" The man answered coolly: "I am the one who was trained by the greatest human mind of all time… Arin Lukzar!"

His voice then rose in confident timbre as he continued:

> "I am the son of the empire! I came here solely to gain experience; being a first-grade investigator has long outlived its time… more than ten years have passed—don't you think it's time for me to advance to the special grade?"

A heavy silence fell over the hall, and the noble's and investigators' eyes widened in astonishment. The mysterious man appeared reserved and calm, speaking only when necessary, yet suddenly he launched into a torrent of words—so much so that when one investigator asked his name, he completely faltered!

"O-of course, sir!" one investigator stuttered while swallowing nervously. "A man of your stature… I can't fathom how you're still in the first grade and haven't ascended to the special grade yet!"

The mysterious man chuckled lightly, as if the praise had no effect on him, then commanded in a firm tone:

> "Bring me all the evidence you have gathered, and tell me every detail of the case."

None dared to hesitate. The investigators quickly presented every scrap of information they had, while the mysterious man sat on an ornate chair, crossing his legs with a cryptic smile playing on his lips as he listened intently.

He stroked his beard thoughtfully, then spoke in a calm yet resolute voice:

> "First order of business… head to every nearby store in the city that sells martial arts equipment!"

The investigators did not object, though one—seeming unconvinced—asked:

> "Why? What's the point of that?"

The mysterious man smiled confidently and replied simply:

> "Because any criminal who wishes to hide will wear a mask."

Raising an eyebrow, the investigator retorted skeptically:

> "With all due respect, isn't that a foolish act? Wearing a mask will immediately make him a suspect!"

The mysterious man let out a short laugh, then looked at him as if evaluating his understanding before replying in a sardonic tone:

> "It appears that martial arts are not your forte, is that so? Well then, let me explain simply…"

He adjusted his posture slightly and continued:

> "Firstly, a mask isn't used for a single purpose; there are advanced masks capable of blending seamlessly with the face, completely altering one's features."

Pausing for a moment, he took a deep breath and went on before the next question could be asked:

> "And now, you might wonder: how will we identify him then? The answer is simple… Smart masks may change the face, but they cannot conceal three inescapable traits: his gait, the glimmer of intelligence in his eyes, and the scent of fear that emanates from someone who knows they are internally defeated. A thief may believe that a mask hides his identity, but in truth… it exposes his weakness!"

He pointed at the investigators and added in an even more serious tone:

> "Thus, another clue is his jet-black eyes. In all my life, I have never seen someone with completely black eyes—it will be easy to track him. And finally… his build! You mentioned that his appearance was distinctive and he seemed strong, correct?"

The investigators nodded in confirmation.

The mysterious man smiled once more and continued:

> "Additionally, keep a close watch on barbershops. If he is truly clever, he will try to shave his head to alter his appearance. But if he does it himself, he is likely to leave mistakes or unevenness in the cut, which could easily expose him."

A thoughtful silence fell over the room as the investigators exchanged looks of astonishment and understanding. It was clear that the mysterious man had a well-defined plan—perhaps their only way to capture the suspect.

After issuing his orders, the guards and investigators, disguised as ordinary citizens, spread out across the city near stores selling martial arts equipment. They moved cautiously, attempting to blend into the environment, though they unwittingly made an obvious mistake

Meanwhile, on the other side…

Karsu had already planned to visit those very stores, but he soon sensed something was amiss. An unusually high number of visitors suddenly filled the streets, and the store lights were ablaze in an uncharacteristic manner despite the night's arrival.

"Strange…"

He quickly realized that something was not right. At this hour, most people were asleep—nights in this city were dangerous, and most workers retired early to prepare for the coming day. Yet now… the lights burned brightly, people roamed the streets in an unusual fashion, and most curiously, some individuals kept shifting positions as if in a state of alert.

"Hmm…" A slight smile appeared on his face before he murmured almost inaudibly:

> "They think I'm an easy target, don't they?"

That smile then transformed into a blend of irony and a hint of genuine interest, and he continued quietly to himself:

> "But… no matter, they've managed to pique my curiosity a little. Let's see what happens if I walk into one of these stores and make a purchase despite the heightened security…"

With confident steps, he began to move—unconcerned by the dozens of eyes watching him intently.