“Is something the matter, Master?”

Fenriri noticed Albion’s eastward gaze, but she failed to discover anything unusual in the eastern direction when she took a look.

“It’s nothing serious; just a foolish woman who doesn’t understand what it means to be a blood slave—even after receiving an explanation for it,” Albion casually replied.

Empress Una thought that she could hide things from Albion’s monitoring if she limited her own activities.

But as he explained, he didn’t just see her situation; he could even read her thoughts.

To use his blood essence to mark her soul with his will was akin to putting a piece of his soul in her body.

Everything she saw, heard, smelled, and thought was read like a book.

At the Expert-level, he could even exert his will to shake Empress Una’s soul, causing her inexplicable pain and torment, or take complete control of her movements like a puppeteer.

Such is what it means to be a blood slave.

It was an incredibly vicious technique that was not used often, not to mention the Nine Divine Heavens forbidding the use of all slavery spells.

“To think they still have so many elves…” Albion muttered thoughtfully.

It was not his responsibility to save them.

But, considering his future elf followers, it would be a dent in their loyalty if he turned a completely blind eye to the captured elves’ plight.

Albion shortly made a phone call and arranged for a subordinate to inform the Elf Tribe.

“Well, that settles it,” Albion uttered after the call.

Whether the elves succeed in rescuing the fellow brethren was up to them. It was not his job to wipe their asses all the time.

They were not his people, and he wasn’t interested in charity work.

‘Hm?’

Sensing something again, Albion glanced towards the boundless sea in the east before he furrowed his brows with doubts.

It wasn’t Empress Una’s movements in the far Armentia continent that he sensed the first time. No, it was something much closer in the Ganymede Ocean.

Albion’s eyes flickered as he recalled his time at the bottom.

“Come to think of it, what happened to the rest of your family, eh? Pompom? Did they also evolve to water dragons? Albion suddenly asked.

Rao!

Pompom growled.

Under normal circumstances, no one would have understood what it just said.

However, thanks to the Intermediate-level Hundred Beast Language, Albion understood what Pompom said just fine.

It had not separated from the other ancient sea serpents and wandered the ocean on its own, and the secret behind its evolution was a mystery.

‘I see…” Albion uttered.

Although he was curious enough to investigate the ocean floor, he didn’t want to pile up more tasks and further delay his cultivation.

Albion tapped Pompom on the head before they were on their way.

Silvercove city was just within sight.

As Albion glanced at the city ahead, he thought about his next destination, ‘I should check out the orphanage.’

…

…

…

Sunflower Orphanage

In recent days, even with the chaos and unrest around Silvercove city, the rundown orphanage experienced improvements in their lifestyles.

The orphan children wore brand new clothes, and they got to eat nutritious meals with meat, something they rarely get to enjoy in the past two years.

“Big Sister Estelle is here!” Little Wuxin exclaimed.

The eyes of Little Sally and the other kids quickly lit up at the sight of Estelle Xiao arriving at the orphanage with bags of food ingredients before they rushed over and chirped around her.

“Big Sister Estelle! Are you tired? Let us carry the bags for you?”

“What are we having for dinner tonight, Big Sister Estelle?”

Several kids tried to peek inside the ingredients bags and make guesses about dinner’s menu before Estelle Xiao raised the ingredient bags out of their reach.

“Little brats, these bags are very heavy. What if you drop their contents? Do you all still want dinner?”

“Yes.”

Estelle Xiao tried to intimidate the children, but they were simply immune due to their great trust in her as they gave simple answers.

“We are going to have beef stew with bread tonight,” Estelle Xiao stated before adding, “Alright, don’t bother me. I still need to cook.”

After quitting the police force, Estelle Xiao invested her time and energy into managing the orphanage in the bedridden Mother Stacy’s stead.

Nevertheless, this was only possible due to the funds given by Albion.

If she could not get a stable source of income or receive donations for the orphanage, she would not be able to continue her current lifestyle.

…

Shortly after Estelle Xiao entered the kitchen, Albion arrived in the vicinity of the orphanage with Fenriri while Pompom was sent away.

He was back in his original human appearance, and even his long hair was cut short again.

“Why have we come here, Master?” Fenriri asked.

“You’ll don’t see anyone familiar here?” Albion replied with a smile before adding, “Go and play with them if you want. I will call when I need you.”

Fenriri squinted her eyes before spotting Wuxin and Sally, the two little girls who almost got sold off in the illegal auction like her and her big sister.

“Then… I’ll be off, Master…!”

“Un, go.”

Fenriri left shortly after.

Albion took the chance to inspect the Sunflower Orphanage from the small hill he stood on before nodding with approval.

The empty fields around the orphanage were spacious, and it almost seemed deserted due to the orphanage’s poor state and a lack of visitors.

If not for the presence of children, it would be easily mistaken for an abandoned place.

Albion took out his phone and called Maverick Cohen.

Ring, ring~!

“Do you need something from this subordinate, Boss? It is related to tonight’s meeting?” Maverick Cohen accepted the call quickly on the other side.

“I have a new task for the Blackthorne Group. There’s a place called Sunflower Orphanage in the south suburban area of the city. Quickly find out everything about this place, even better if you find out the situation on all the orphanages in the city.”

“Understood, Boss.” Maverick Cohen complied before declaring, “I will have it done immediately. It shouldn’t take too long.. Please give this subordinate a moment.”