Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 203

"He left me training and went away the day of the false alarm," he finally recalled. "We were told there was an abyssal attack from the mines again but in the end it was a false alarm."

Something changed in Kassian's expression, a flash of genuine concern quickly masked by his usual cold demeanor. "The mines? When was that exactly?"

"I haven't really kept track of days lately," Klein struggled to remember and turned to look at Feng. "Two days ago? But, why did you leave him in my charge? I don't understand what that guy has to do with our family or with me..."

"It has everything to do with your inability to handle responsibilities," Kassian snapped. "First you lose shamefully in front of the entire academy, then this..."

Klein visibly shrank back, his shoulders hunching as if to shield himself from the verbal assault.

"Perhaps," Feng intervened, defying the common sense that told him to remain silent, "we should officially report his disappearance."

The look Kassian directed at him would have frozen a lake in summer. "Are you suggesting we make this situation public? That we admit a guest under the Goldcrest protection has disappeared without a trace?"

"If he's in danger..." Astor began.

"This is a family matter," Kassian interrupted, his tone brooking no further argument. "And it will be handled as such."

He turned to Klein, who seemed to want to melt into the floor. "This is a disaster you created, little brother. And now I'll have to clean it up."

"Why is he so important?" Klein dared to ask, looking up through his golden bangs. "He was just a transfer student, wasn't he?"

"There are things you don't need to know, little brother," Kassian responded, his voice turning colder. "Things that, frankly, you wouldn't understand. It's better this way, now if you'll excuse me..."

"I'm sorry," Klein murmured, his usual arrogance completely dissipated.

Kassian headed toward the door, but stopped before exiting.

"I'm going to see the director. I'll convince the administration to allow two of our men in to search discreetly. Meanwhile, you and your... friends," the word sounded like an insult, dripping with disdain, "will keep your eyes open. If you hear or see anything about Harold, you will inform me immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, brother," Klein responded automatically, like a trained pet.

Kassian studied the three boys for a moment longer, his expression inscrutable. "And Klein, remember what's at stake with the final exams. A Goldcrest can never afford three consecutive failures at the same task."

With that warning, Kassian left, firmly closing the door behind him.

The silence he left was oppressive, heavy with the weight of unfulfilled expectations and implicit threats.

"Well," Feng murmured, "seems like you just got two new shadows, Klein."

"And something tells me they're not just here to look for Harold," added Astor, his voice barely above a whisper.

Klein collapsed onto his bed, suddenly exhausted, the weight of his family name crushing down on him like a physical burden.

"Do you think Harold is in trouble?" Astor asked.

"I don't know," Klein admitted. "But Kassian wouldn't worry so much unless Harold was really important so..."

What Klein couldn't know, what he couldn't even imagine, was exactly why Harold was so important to his brother. He didn't know the boy was a Yino spy, sent to gather information about the seed beneath the academy. He didn't know his brother was involved in a betrayal that could destroy their family if the King returned soon.

And he certainly didn't know that Harold had already met his end, struck down by a powerful beam of light in the depths of the tunnels.