Landlord World - Start with SSS talent-Chapter 243: I’m sorry, Noan

"Hurry up! Find them!" Valen shouted.

Monica was confused and immediately asked, "What's going on, Captain? Maybe they're just resting in one of the rooms."

Valen glanced at Monica, his gaze so sharp it filled her with fear.

It was the first time Monica had ever seen that look from Valen—cold and brimming with killing intent.

She didn't understand why, but her heart suddenly ached, as if a needle had just pierced through it.

Though that look only lasted for less than a second, Monica had seen it—and it etched itself deeply into her heart.

She couldn't understand why Valen had looked at her like that. Did she say something wrong?

Valen gritted his teeth and said, "I… I'm afraid they're in danger. Hurry, go find them."

With that, he immediately turned and led everyone back toward the main house.

Monica stood behind, slow to move, her eyes filled with confusion and worry as she watched Valen's retreating back.

Baron glanced at Monica with a scornful smile, then quickly followed behind Valen.

…

"Noan?!" Valen returned to the main house, and before he could even step inside, he saw Noan limping toward him, leaning against the wall.

Noan held the wall with one hand, clutching his stomach with the other—blood was pouring out from where his hand pressed.

Valen rushed over and asked with a frown, "What happened?"

Noan panted heavily and said, "Zeka and Violette, they… they…"

Valen seemed to understand what Noan was about to say. He immediately turned to the others and ordered, "Split up and search for those two. I'll take care of Noan."

Without waiting for a response, he helped Noan into the house.

Everyone else, though confused, couldn't disobey the captain's order.

But Monica was different. She opened her mouth, her face clearly filled with fear and disbelief.

"Noan is seriously injured?" Monica muttered, her eyes wide with shock.

The others didn't know Noan, but Monica knew him very well. He was powerful—not just ordinarily strong, but terrifyingly so.

If someone told her Noan could kill everyone here, she would believe it without hesitation.

If someone said that everyone here had been killed by a monster, she would believe Noan to be the sole survivor without question.

But now? Noan was seriously injured—his abdomen soaked in blood. Did that even make sense?

Who could possibly have inflicted such a wound on him?

Noan didn't just possess some bizarre weapon; he also had a terrifying and strange Space talent.

If he couldn't fight, he could easily escape—how could he end up this badly hurt?

Was he faking it?

But… for what purpose? And would he really go so far as to injure himself that severely just to pretend?

Monica felt a terrible headache coming on. Ever since Noan appeared, everything seemed to spiral into chaos.

And Valen's killing gaze had stabbed straight into her heart.

Monica clenched her teeth, deciding to secretly follow Valen and Noan.

She went into a small room deep within the main house, then pressed her ear to the wall, focusing on the sounds from inside.

In the room, Noan sat on a bed made of cold stone and wood—but he didn't mind it.

He glanced toward the door, as if he could sense Monica eavesdropping, and secretly smiled to himself.

"You're saying Zeka and Violette attacked you?" Valen suddenly asked, his face serious.

Noan, panting heavily, nodded. "Yes. I saw them talking about something related to the mission, so I decided to listen in."

"Zeka said he had a strange key—but it was something that could help them find the 'Ice Core' to complete the mission."

"I wanted to finish the mission quickly too, so…"

Noan glanced at Valen, then continued, "I told them I wanted to join them."

"They refused to let me in, so I threatened to tell you everything. And that's when Zeka…"

Valen clenched his teeth, his face flushing red with anger. Killing intent poured from his eyes, overwhelming and terrifying.

"Where did they go?" His voice turned icy cold.

"I don't know. After they activated the key, they only said they would head toward the 'Black Snow' fortress."

Hearing that, Valen's face immediately tensed.

Noan continued, "Please… help me a bit. I… I've lost too much blood, I…"

"Huh!" Valen stood up, a wicked and chilling smile spreading across his face. "You've outlived your usefulness. Now you can die."

"What?!" Noan cried out in fear, quickly saying, "That can't be! You saved everyone here—why won't you save me?"

"Save?" Valen suddenly burst into laughter. "Those fools are nothing more than pawns. When the time comes, they'll be sacrifices for my Master."

"Your Master? What… what the hell are you talking about?" Noan asked in terror, reaching out with his blood-covered hand toward Valen. "Please… save me… I…"

"Shut up!" Valen roared. "You should feel lucky I let you live this long."

"Fine, I'll at least send you off on your final journey."

As he finished speaking, Valen raised his hand. The ground trembled violently, then rose into the air, forming a spinning drill of stone that hovered above his palm.

"Goodbye…" Valen said with an icy smile, then—

Whoosh!

"Ack! You… you…" Noan coughed up a mouthful of blood as the stone drill pierced straight through his heart.

Valen didn't spare him another glance. He waved his hand, and the wall beside him suddenly slid open, revealing a hidden passage.

After he stepped into it, the wall closed behind him, returning to its original state—as if nothing had ever happened.

Outside, Monica clasped both hands over her mouth, not daring to breathe.

After confirming that Valen had left, she pushed the door open with trembling hands.

"AH!!!"

She froze at the sight of Noan leaning against the wall, a massive stone drill embedded through his chest. Her face turned pale, like someone suffering from blood loss.

With a trembling hand, she reached out toward Noan, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Was she crying for Noan? No. She simply couldn't believe that Valen… was truly like that.

Sacrificing everyone to his so-called Master…

Who was his Master?

Why would he do something like this?

Monica's hand froze mid-air before it could touch Noan, then slowly pulled back.

She clenched her teeth, looked at him, let out a long sigh, and said, "I'm sorry. I don't even know why I want to say that, but… I just do."

"Maybe you'll think I'm a foolish girl—for being with him for two years and still not realizing what kind of person he really was."

"I'm sorry, Noan. But…"

Monica's fists tightened until her knuckles turned white, her teary eyes filled with determination. "I swear I'll put an end to this."

She no longer trembled. Instead, her hand grasped the dagger at her waist tightly. Then she turned and left the room.

Before leaving, she looked back at Noan's body one more time, her gaze filled with sorrow.

Perhaps… if he were still alive, he would one day become something terrifying.

But that's just how this world worked.

No matter how much of a genius you are, no matter how monstrous your talent, if you don't grow—

Then you're nothing but a handful of sand in the desert.

Monica sighed and quietly closed the door behind her before walking away.

A moment later, Noan suddenly let out a long sigh. He reached up, grabbed the stone drill, and pulled it from his chest.

Fresh blood flowed, but quickly dried. The gaping wound in his chest slowly closed as though nothing had ever happened.

"Master, why didn't you kill him? You had the power to do it," Vylyss emerged from the shadows, her tone puzzled as she looked at Noan.

Noan smiled and replied, "No. We need to wait a little longer—for the one Valen calls 'Master' to appear."

"Ah!" Vylyss pouted. "So troublesome. We could just kill everyone and be done with it. Why write such a long, drawn-out script?"

"Hahaha…" Noan laughed. "I have a feeling this mission isn't ordinary. Perhaps… there's an even deeper secret behind it."

"We don't have to do much. For now, let's just watch and see how this play unfolds."