“Poisons are really interesting,” Kadyn murmured as he read the book while sitting on the counter, waiting for customers. After realizing that he had no affinity with Formations, he stopped learning about them and focused on learning about herbs—and poisons also come in the same category, so he also learned about them, and the more he learned the more interested he became. 

 There was a method inside the library that would let one develop Poisonous Mana Pool. That really caught his attention. After developing the Mana Pool they needed Spell Glyphs to cast their spells, but other than that—they also needed to concoct poisons and then merge them with their Mana Pool, and to cast a spell required Spell Glyph together with specific poison. 

Poison Masters had the same ranking as other mages, like—only Rank 2 Poison Master or above could merge Rank 2 poisons. If your rank was lower than a poison, death would be mercy for you.

The concoction process of poisons was also terribly hard and tedious, even harder than potion brewing—as there was no danger in potion brewing, but poisons were something else.

Nonetheless, though poisons could kill, they could also save lives of many, and that was the reason Kadyn delved into this topic. Though he never tried to concoct poisons before he was very interested in it.

As he was sitting, reading the book, Hot Rod walked down the stairs. “We are going to launch Storage Ring tomorrow,” he said. “I have already asked Dion to find a printing press. We will use the templates as you asked us. With this even more customers—”

“Why can’t I access the Rank 2 books and scrolls in the library?” interrupted a voice. Kadyn and Hot Rod looked at the newcomer and found Cecelia was scuttling towards them.

Kadyn eyed her and then lowered his gaze and started reading the book again. “Maybe,” he said, “it’s because you can’t let go of your pride.” Then he lifted his head. “Or, maybe because you don’t trust anyone other than yourself.”

Cecelia frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Did you try to read Rank 1 books?”

“I don’t understand—”

“Go, and try to read Rank 1 books,” he said. “Then tell me what happened.”

Cecelia was still frowning. She was confused but went to the library, nonetheless. 

Hot Rod stood at the side, he cast a curious gaze at Kadyn and asked, “Boss… why can’t she read Rank 2 books?”

Kadyn lifted his head and smiled at the man. “She can’t even read Rank 1 books. You will see; just wait.”

Hot Rod looked more and more confused, but waited nonetheless; and after five minutes, Cecelia walked down with a terrible expression. She looked at Kadyn and said, “What’s going on?”

“You really can’t read Rank—?”

Cecelia gave him a hard look and Hot Rod flinched. He felt a dangerous sensation, but soon it vanished as Cecelia turned towards Kadyn.

“You know,” Kadyn said. “There are a few requirements to fulfill before you could become a Bronze Rank employee. 100 energy points and…”

“And?”

“…and your loyalty.”

“Do you mean to say I need to treat you like my master?!” Cecelia’s expression turned black.

“Was there any such requirement in the contract?”

Cecelia paused; she looked at him confusedly, “No,” she said.

“Then why do you think I want you to treat me as your master?” Kadyn went on. 

Cecelia didn’t know how to reply. Then she said, “But then what do you mean—I am not loyal?”

“Loyalty is a strange thing. Wife could be loyal to her husband, does that mean she is her husband’s slave? Siblings could have loyalty to each other, what do you think that means?” said Kadyn. Then he pointed at Hot Rod and said, “He is already a Bronze Rank employee. Tell me, Hot Rod, what do you think about me?”

“Uh,” Hot Rod didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he replied nonetheless when he felt two piercing gazes. “I think, uh, Mr. Kadyn is a great man, and it is only a matter of time before he finds his place in this vast world. I think I will also be able to wash in that glory when the time comes; so I am ready to face all the troubles that come in our path as well.”

Just as he finished Kadyn spotted Slyff entering through the door. “Slyff,” he said, “come here.”

“What happened, Brother Kadyn?” asked Slyff as he perceived the strange atmosphere.

“What do you think about me?” he didn’t reply. “Tell me.”

Slyff eyed at them confusedly and then nodded. “Brother Kadyn has given me everything I have today. Strength; a good place to live; friends; and even my love—I’m with Nefia because Brother Kadyn saved her. I think he is even more important to me than a blood brother. He is like a big brother to me.”

Kadyn smiled and then turned towards Cecelia. “What do you think? Are they like slave to me? Both of them are already Bronze Rank Employees.”

“I—”

“I knew you only cared about yourself and Nefia,” Kadyn said. “But I thought you were different from other vampires. You deserved a second chance. I wanted to help you because I thought you were kind hearted as Nefia said. I trusted you, but you never trusted me, or anyone in the shop. 

“Well, let me tell you what is the true meaning of loyalty—loyalty means to do what you can when your loved ones and friends and lovers and anyone that is precious to you faces the crisis. Loyalty is a commitment to yourself. You never thought of us as your friends; so there was no commitment.” 

He looked at Cecelia and went on, “Loyalty can be anything, but slavery. Where did you even get that idea from? I don’t know what you went through in your life; what you experienced. But know that, everyone has their own fights to do, and they fight. But when you have friends and someone to share that burden alongside you, it becomes easier to fight against your adversaries. They would stand together with you, to share your burden. Responsibility. Pain.”

Kadyn paused briefly.. “Though we can’t revoke the contract—as it’s not in my control—I can let you go if you want; nothing will happen to you, as long as you don’t betray me.”