Chapter 65: Reward

Chapter 65: Reward

Inside the Odora family’s villa, Emlyn met with Baron Casimi, a fellow baron.

This Sanguine, who was in the prime of life, served as Nibbs Odora’s representative.

I am also a baron, and I only just came of age not long ago…

Emlyn muttered inwardly, then rose from the sofa in the sitting room and bowed to the other man.

“Good evening, Your Excellency Baron.”

Casimi was just about to speak when his nose suddenly twitched. His gaze immediately shifted to the wooden box Emlyn had placed by his foot.

“The smell of blood?”

As he voiced his doubt, he seemed to think of something. After pondering for a second, he added, “You hunted another target?”

Emlyn’s lips curled into a smile. He shook his head.

“No.”

Then, before Casimi could ask, his smile deepened.

“Not one. Two.”

Two? Casimi, who had the appearance of a middle-aged gentleman, froze for a moment. He watched Emlyn bend down, pick up the wooden box, and open the lid.

During this process, the muscles of Emlyn’s face faintly twitched and distorted, because the series of movements had brushed against the wound on his right hand.

Forcing his expression not to change, Emlyn slightly lowered his arms and tilted the wooden box downward, fully exposing the contents inside to the Sanguine baron opposite him.

Two bloodstained, somewhat charred heads were packed side by side within a pile of old newspapers. Beside them lay two heart-like translucent objects, one fresh and vigorous crimson, the other dark red, almost black.

This strongly shocking image entered Casimi’s eyes. He lifted his head in astonishment and stared at Emlyn, blurting out, “You did this?”

For the moment, he had only recognized that one of the heads belonged to Galis Kevin, but the two Vampire Beyonder characteristics could not be false.

Emlyn set down the wooden box. His right hand naturally hung at his side and flicked very slightly near the crease of his trousers. Then, with a smile on his face, he answered, “Of course.

“The situation is this: after receiving that 7,000-pound reward last time, I purchased the ‘legacy’ of a certain baron at a Beyonder gathering, and relied on it to advance my rank.

“I do not wish to use money to satisfy the murderer who hunted our Sanguine, but I did not want to see that ‘legacy’ fall into someone else’s hands. Besides, the seller might not necessarily have been the hunter.”

Taking this opportunity, Emlyn revealed that he had already become a baron. Every sentence he spoke was true.

This was a technique he had learned at the Tarot Club.

I knew long ago that you had become a baron. Did you think that frequently purchasing all kinds of spiritual materials, and borrowing and studying potion-related books, could be hidden from our eyes? If not for certain factors, we would have summoned you for questioning long ago… What surprises me is that with your combat level, with you possessing not a single mystical item and only thinking of buying dolls, even if you had become a baron, you still should not have been able to easily hunt two artificial vampires without causing major commotion… Even I would have had to make thorough preparations in advance and grasp detailed intelligence before I might possibly succeed… Without anyone noticing, Emlyn has actually become this formidable?

Casimi Odora could not help grumbling inwardly. A false smile appeared on his face.

“So that is how it is.

“Emlyn, why did you conceal it before? Do you not wish to be respectfully addressed by other Sanguine as Your Excellency Baron?”

Emlyn glanced at the other Sanguine’s expression. He raised his chin slightly.

“I had been planning to tell everyone, but then I ran into this hunting competition, so I thought I would give you all a pleasant surprise.

“Casimi, I have already successfully hunted three believers of the Primordial Moon, while you provided only five targets. Does that mean I have won?”

He impatiently changed his form of address from Your Excellency Baron to Casimi.

Casimi’s eyelids twitched. He chuckled.

“Yes, that is the case. You need not trouble yourself with the remaining two targets. Leave them to Rus Báthory and the others. That way, they may still compete for some consolation prizes.”

Only at this point did Casimi realize he had appeared too indifferent. He hurriedly added a note of concern.

“You were not injured, were you?”

“A minor injury.” Emlyn raised his right arm and flexed his fingers.

Truthfully, the most serious injury he had suffered during tonight’s hunt had been caused after he teleported out of the East Borough, when he tore open his own skin and blood vessels to smear blood over the cover of Leymano’s Travels.

Casimi found no way to develop the topic. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “Congratulations on winning this hunting competition. You will receive two prizes.

“First, if the clan has an opportunity for someone to become a viscount in the future, you may directly enter the final candidate list and receive free ritual assistance.

“Second, you will obtain a mystical item. It is a ring personally made by the Ancestor in ancient times. Although it contains no divinity, it has very powerful and miraculous abilities. Because the Ancestor did not name it, we all call it Lilith’s Ring.

“Also, according to custom, these two Beyonder characteristics will belong to the Sanguine as a whole. In that way, perhaps two more newborns can be born, and you will receive 3,000 pounds in cash in exchange.”

A ring personally made by the Ancestor…

Although Emlyn felt somewhat regretful that the reward was not the Beyonder characteristic of a Viscount, but only a candidacy opportunity and free ritual, the ring personally made by the Sanguine Ancestor Lilith was enough to make up for everything.

To a Sanguine with intense racial pride, this was the highest symbol of honor!

Once his joy settled slightly, Emlyn, who had attended many Tarot Gatherings and completed two hunts, faintly felt that things were not so simple.

I was originally sent by the Ancestor to Mr. Fool’s side, and now I have obtained a ring of the Ancestor. Is that not too much of a coincidence?

Emlyn thought for a while but could not reach an answer. He could only decide that later, he would pray to Mr. Fool, explain the whole matter, and see what advice that existence might give.

Seeing that after his delight had settled, Emlyn had remained silent for more than ten seconds, Casimi cleared his throat.

“The ring and cash will be given to you tomorrow evening.

“At that time, I will summon Rus Báthory and the others, publicly announce that you have won the hunting competition, and then hand the ring to you.”

“No problem.” Although Emlyn lacked experience in such matters, he knew that the prize could not be awarded privately. It would certainly have to be presented before all the participants.

He did not linger any longer. After taking his leave, he left the Odora family’s villa and boarded a rental carriage.

As the carriage slowly moved along, Emlyn glanced at the quiet crimson moon hanging in midair. His mood gradually grew peaceful. Unconsciously, he recalled the many details of today’s events and summarized no small amount of experience and lessons from them.

Finally, he began calculating how many Beyonder abilities he needed to record into Leymano’s Travels.

“I used Lightning Strike five times. All of them are gone… There was also one Teleportation, one Door Opening, and one Astrology… Eight uses in total. On top of that, I have to pay two extra, which makes ten.

“That is somewhat difficult. Some Beyonder abilities probably cannot be recorded, like my self-healing ability… I can only repeat a few… Heh, after I receive the Ancestor’s ring, I can try recording the Beyonder abilities it possesses…”

…

“Lilith’s Ring?”

Above the gray fog, inside the palace that resembled a giant’s residence, Klein sat in the high-backed chair belonging to the Fool and considered the contents of the Moon Emlyn White’s prayer.

Originally, he had thought he might be woken in the middle of the night and forced to provide assistance to a vampire with little combat experience. To his surprise, Emlyn had settled everything before eleven, and even “turned in” the mission.

Emlyn prayed to the Fool in the beginning because the ancient god Lilith gave him a revelation… Now he has obtained Her ring… Regardless of who this “Lilith” truly is, I must remain somewhat guarded and then observe how matters develop…

After thinking seriously for several seconds, Klein responded to Emlyn’s prayer in a low yet peaceful voice.

“When you pray to me or participate in the gathering afterward, remove that ring.”

After giving this instruction, Klein returned to the real world. No longer worried about being woken during the night, he slept until daybreak.

After breakfast and a brief rest, he welcomed his etiquette instructor, Wahana, for special training regarding the ball to be held at his home over the weekend.

Wahana had her black hair lightly pinned up, and the hem of her skirt swayed as she guided Dawn Dantes from the opening dance onward, familiarizing him with the entire process.

Amid a light and soothing musical passage, this etiquette instructor suddenly said, “I hear Madam Mary visited you yesterday afternoon?”

“Yes.” While sighing inwardly that in the field of social interaction, this street held no secrets, Klein calmly nodded.

Wahana gave a small nod and remained silent for two seconds before saying, “I hear Madam Mary has pledged all her shares to the bank and borrowed a large sum of money.”

She is reminding me to be careful and not fall into a possible scam… The help she provided earlier not only allowed me to quickly enter Böklund Street’s social circle, but also continues to bring returns like this… However, Madam Mary pledged her shares in order to quietly absorb more stock…

Klein listened quietly, then revealed a gentle smile.

“Thank you.”

He paused, then added, “I believe in the character of every friend, but in the business world, caution and prudence are always the foremost rules.

“I have already had Walter hire an independent solicitor and accounting team. They will conduct a detailed, responsible investigation and provide the plan that best protects my interests and minimizes taxes.

“Before that, I will make no decision.”

Wahana slightly raised her face, looked into Dawn Dantes’s deep blue eyes, and suddenly half-sighed, half-laughed.

“You truly are a man of wisdom.”

Klein had wanted to say that this was maturity, but he suddenly remembered that Wahana’s husband had previously been tricked in a fabric deal and recovered most of the loss only through Klein’s help. Answering that way could easily make her form an association and compare the two, turning it into mockery. He changed his wording in time and laughed softly.

“My wisdom comes from the lessons I have received before.”

“It is difficult to imagine you being deceived,” Wahana said with a lowered laugh. “Is it also because you have experienced too much that you can appreciate the different charms of every type of lady?”

Is this rumor never going to pass?

Klein smiled helplessly.

“Every flower has its own beauty.”

After familiarizing himself with the entire process and the corresponding dances, Klein saw Wahana off. Taking his personal valet Richardson with him, he accepted Madam Mary’s invitation and headed to Coim Company in the Cherwood Borough for a visit.