(Samuel's POV)
Monsters.
Vampires.
Midnight Legion.
My sexy teacher.
Shit, today is quite something.
I was making my way back to the client's house, a few minutes before the intended time. I was thinking about the conversation I had with Kiyomi earlier and her warning.
I wasn't that surprised that the Midnight Legion would take any form of conspiracy seriously; they are the great military of the Abaddon Kingdom. This is a Kingdom that has been ruled by the same Demon Queen for centuries, who has kept a firm grip on the land, firm but fair.
While she is quite lenient for a Demon Queen, her Midnight Legion is as brutal as one might expect from the Demon Queen's Military Force. They don't mess about, with each General having the authority to undermine any Great Noble House. If they feel like a conspiracy might threaten the Legion, much less the Kingdom, they will act with nothing but overwhelming force.
Is it surprising?
No.
This is the Midnight Legion.
They don't fuck around.
Modeled after the Demon God of Destruction's primordial army, they are the stuff of legend.
I let out a sigh as I reached the gate, "Man..." I said, looking up at the snowy sky, "I will have to deal with that later."
A Vampire conspiracy, that's what I'm focusing on.
I need to find out what that name means; Valtheris. My gut is telling me that it has to do with Vampires, probably one of the Covens of the Abaddon Kingdom. But Kiyomi is right, they have been inactive for decades after the Queen forced them all to bend the knee.
At some point, they were a major threat, some of them even aided the Duskrend Kingdom in invading. But all of that is in the past and it is too political for me to even worry about it. I focus more on local stuff, only monster-related incidents.
That is my job.
I stood in front of the gate, still thinking about Kiyomi's warning, "Hm....." I said, feeling some snow falling on me, "Hmmm...."
The letter that I found on that Gargoyle's lair, it name-dropped General Streinde. And knowing how brutal Midnight Legion Generals are, there is no doubt that this Streinde will send her wrath towards me.
Kiyomi is right, it doesn't matter who or what I am; I will be targeted. And she means well by telling me to drop it. She means to protect me, after all.
But I don't give a shit.
I intend to get to the bottom of this.
If questioning General Streinde means that, then so be it. If she's here in Nourenth, then I have to see her after I finish this job.
After a few seconds, I saw the maid walking up to the gate. She slowly opened it and stepped to the side, gesturing inside.
"You're early." She said, "Come on in, Master Yvan will see you."
I nodded, "Thanks." I said, walking through, "Anything come up while I was gone?"
"That is for him to inform you of." She said as she led the way
I followed her through the path that led to the manor. She opened the front door and stepped to the side, gesturing me inside.
I nodded, adjusting my hat as I walked inside, "Hm....."
She walked inside and closed the door. I heard her slow and gentle footsteps as she walked past me.
Right through the door was a massive chamber that was filled with many antiques, lined up on shelves and some heirlooms hanging off the walls. I saw the massive head of a bear mounted on the highest point of the chamber, its red eyes staring off into the distance.
There was no doubt that the ambience of the manor screamed rich noble. I mean, compared to my family, this was way too much.
I can't imagine what a Great Noble House would look like.
I mean, I know one directly, but I haven't been to their manor.
I whistled, "Damn, I didn't know that Yvan Lothrand was like this." I said, "His family wine business was this successful?"
"The Lothrand Wine brand was sold off to the Blood-Briars years ago, but the family still receives some compensation every month." She said as she stood next to me, "As the contract states."
I nodded, "I see." I said, "And where is Yvan? And is there anyone else in the Manor at the moment?"
She shook her head, "It is just myself and Master Yvan." She said, "And he will be here shortly."
I nodded, "Very well." I said, "I'll wait."
I placed my hands inside my coat's pocket, feeling my simple revolver through the coat's fabric. It was a small habit I had: making sure that it was there in its holster.
I glanced at the Maid, she was patiently standing there with her hands in front of her. I looked at her, seeing that her body was quite nice. She had nice and thick thighs with a small waist; her breasts were a good size as well.
Yvan Lothrand was lucky to have her as a personal maid, she reminds me of Meadow.
But Meadow is not someone I look at sexually, though. I would look at this one that way, though.
Lucky bastard, that Yvan.
After a few seconds, I opened my mouth and uttered some words:
"Te Ipsum Revela"
The words spread throughout the room, as if carrying some weight. I waited a few seconds for any reaction from anything in the room.
But there was none.
The Maid looked at me, "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
I shook my head, "No." I said, "Nothing, don't worry."
She frowned, "I see."
I then heard a faint sound, which sounded like a low growl carrying along the loud winds. It was quick and very faint, something that not just anyone could pick up. But after years on the job, I pick up the skills to be able to hear what normal people can't hear.
I raised an eyebrow, "Hm...."
"What is it?" the Maid asked
"Yvan is taking long." I said, turning to the left and walking towards the set of stairs that led up to the second level, "I'm going to see him. He's up the stairs, is he not?"
"Y-Yes." She said, "But please wait here, Master Yvan does not like being disobeyed. He-"
"Yea, yea." I said, walking up the stairs
"Master Samuel!" She called out as she followed me, "Please, it is necessary that you don't anger him in any way."
I reached the second level and the moment I reached it, I saw that I was in another large chamber similar to the one down below. This one had a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, rocking slowly. I looked around to see that there wasn't much furniture or antique heirlooms handing from the wall.
I did notice large claw marks on the wall, however, something that immediately alarmed me.
"What the...." I said
"Master Samuel!" the Maid said
I looked at her, "Shh." I said, "You're too loud."
She stopped, looking past me, "I'm sorry, Master." She said, "He didn't listen."
I followed her gaze, seeing that there was a man in the middle of the chambers, wearing a black nightrobe. He had long grey hair with green eyes and looked to be in his mid-thirties. His skin was pale and I noticed there were many bruises and healed cuts on his face, neck, and forearms.
I raised an eyebrow, "Yvan Lothrand?" I said, "Are you-"
"Shhhh...." He shushed me, raising his hand up slightly, "You're the one being too loud now...."
I frowned, "Hm?"
He hunched down slightly, as if flinching from something, "Shhhh..." He said, "Very quietly...shhhh....we must be quiet....."
"Or we'll wake it."