Forget about the gentle reserve, what a shame this man is! Who would ask such a question on the first night? It's bold, quite bold actually!

"Isaac! You're so daring!"

He frowned unhappily. He must have been very ashamed to behave like this.

"Of course, Ariana, I must apologize for my recklessness, but I beg you to hear me before making a final judgment. This embarrassing request of mine is dictated by the current situation. ”

"Well, I'll admit I was surprised. You do give me the impression that you are a polite person, so I think that the situations you mentioned must be very important to you, which is why you violate etiquette in this way. ”

"I've never hunted in my life."

“…”

What? !he...... What? One never!? Are my ears deceiving me?

"You must be joking, Isaac, you say you live in 1756. I refuse...... I just can't accept you...... That's impossible. ”

"Ah, your reaction doesn't surprise me. On the contrary, it shows that you are the best person on the planet to meet my requirements. ”

"Isaac! We are the hunters. You can't stop hunting! It...... Hey!"

My companion smiled wryly, and it occurred to me that I had insulted him.

"Forgive me, Isaac, I mean nothing disrespectful. I guess you already have someone in mind, right?"

"Yes, although I don't know who, more importantly, how many. What do you want in return for this service?"

"I don't know what you can give me."

"So be it: if you can manage to get enough support to apply for the status of the House of Representatives, and if you haven't committed atrocities, I'll add my personal recommendation to that pile of stuff. Although I am not part of the Agreement, my reputation as a person is useful to you. ”

"I don't know the value of this advice."

I only agree to fair dealing. Isaac and I weren't friends like me and Himina, so I didn't owe him any favors, just listened to him politely.

"When your pleas are heard, your survival will be made public, and all the consequences that come with it will be made public. When the Lancasters inevitably want to take back your custody, they will not be able to invoke your master's agreement with them because you have managed to escape their control. However, they will certainly claim that you are a danger to the community and yourself and must be tightly controlled, apparently theirs, as they managed to stop you from going on a rampage for six months. There will be some kind of trial, during which I will testify that we have met, and that you are courteous and composed.

Constantine had a rational mind, and we were known for being impartial. He will know that both the House of Lancaster and your allies are biased. We at the Rosenthal family have a reputation for reliability and impartiality. I assure you that this will have a significant impact on his decision. Please note that if you start slaughtering villages, I will no longer be on your side. I'm sure you get the idea. ”

"You're offering a conditional, future, intangible return for immediate service."

"I solemnly swear that I believe it is in your favor."

"Hmm."

For anyone else, I'd say no, but a vampire who swore was telling the truth. Isaac did think it was good for me, and he knew far more about our political system than I did. It's wise to think about that.

"I accept."

“…… Good. ”

He didn't move.

"So what? Who are we going to kill?" I asked impatiently.

"Yes, yes. Over the past three months, women have continued to disappear in the city. There were at least 7 of them, but it is difficult to know for sure due to the low social status of the victims.

Normally, I wouldn't be involved because we operate under the principle of strict neutrality, and my master is especially adamant that we never fight. ”

"Really?"

"Yes, this is our tradition, our values. We should step away from the conflicts in the world and focus on arbitration and maintenance. Our strength comes from our wealth and allies; Therefore, we are encouraged not to draw the sword ourselves. ”

"Sounds ...... It's boring and frustrating. ”

"It's impossible for you, Ariana. Your clan is not called the Devourer for no reason. Your extra fangs allow you to eat in battle with only one purpose: to keep killing, again and again, until you are the last one alive. ”

"Wait a minute...... Wait a minute...... Are you saying that only we can devour it?"

"Definitely! Because we are destined to be the keepers of knowledge and records, and through our brilliant minds, you are destined to face all alone. ”

“…… Our situation does not seem to be good. ”

"Unfortunately, that's because your master doesn't care about you. In any case, I haven't been able to go from one to the other. The host won't agree. ”

"They don't need to know."

"Oh, she would. All mortal employees of the Coalition are to report to her. ”

“…”

Spied on by your own followers? This is absolutely unthinkable. How could he not kill them, unless... Ah, he was forced to obey the orders of his master.

"Shouldn't you be more worried?"

"Listen, I have faithfully served the clan for more than seventy years. I obeyed every command without mistake and made a significant contribution to the success of the company. Now there is a killer at large in my territory, and my servants have so far failed to arrest them. So, I'm going to figure this out on my own! If my host has an objection, she can raise it when I come back.... Thirteen months later. ”

"Your resistance, I think, is admirable, but I hope I won't share your punishment as your accomplice."

"Ariana, I'm sorry, there is no pleasant way to express it...... You're not important enough to deserve her attention. ”

“…”

Well, that's a shame on me. Now that I've finally reconnected with other vampires, I remind myself that I'm just an outcast ex-rookie with no connections and no power in the border region. Maybe being isolated from the world for too long has made me forget my place in the dark night. I find myself wanting to make up for this at some point in the future. I'm not going to stay at the bottom. I refuse.

"Good. As I said, the most recent disappearance took place in the evening. If we hurry, we may be able to gather some clues from the crime scene. ”

Clues? Crime scene?

"I don't quite understand what you mean."

"We will check the place where the victim disappeared and start with ...... He may have left something behind. ”

"Oh, I think I get it. You use a scientific and methodical approach to solving cases. Really?"

"Definitely. You...... Not?"

"Nope. This is necessary in large cities, but redundant in smaller communities. If you live in a town with 200 residents, the list of potential offenders is very small. It's either one of a handful of troublemakers or a passing traveler. A speedy interrogation is usually enough to clear any doubt. ”

"Ah, of course, yes, of course. I hope it can be so simple this time. Let's go. ”

With Dalton's tailgating, we arrived in the poorer part of Savannah after 15 minutes. The house there looks like jagged teeth. Some are not much bigger than a shack. The smell of humans and their garbage will be lessened by the cold, although not much. Behind that, I could also smell firewood, soap, and food. We walked to a small house and there was only one room under the watchful eye of everyone we met. Our clean appearance and gorgeous clothing make us stand out when we are under suspicion. This is not right. We should be conspicuous like a rose in a sea of grass, not like a sore thumb. The whole process made me very uncomfortable, and it was only because of the urgency of our task that I didn't ask Isaac to give me a chance to change my clothes.

We stopped in front of an edifice of wood and stone without paint and decoration, no different from the other buildings around. The sickly brown and gray colors that are considered to be buildings here are so dull that I believe putting the whole area on the torch will only improve its appearance.

My companion knocked on the door. Inside, I could hear the three beating hearts of two children and a crying woman. Maybe we can hear what they have to say?

"To hell with it!"

We're off to a good start.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we're here to find the missing woman." I said in a calm voice.

I heard a brief inhalation, followed by heavy footsteps, until the door slammed open.

"Who the are you?!"

I gave her the best smile to lift hostility and politely didn't rip her throat because she me off. After all, she was sad.

This is Isaac Rosenthal, an ardent citizen, and Conor Dalton, Georgia's best bounty hunter. I know there's a guy missing. I asked, my eyes catching the woman.

I gently pushed despair to the forefront.

"She's gone! Nobody believes me, nobody! The police said she was just a prostitute and wandering around somewhere else, but I knew her and she said she would go home, she was always where she was supposed to be, the room was a mess and then ...... Wow. ”

I gently pulled her forward and patted her on the head. Her hair was dry and coarse under my touch, but she smelled clean.

I comforted her for a moment and asked her to invite us in. We followed her into the single room.

This place made me feel dignity in the face of adversity. The white stucco walls are bare, and the furniture is made of rough wood, some of which have fallen apart. The jars that could be found were all fragments, with a messy bed in the middle. I can now say with certainty that the missing woman was indeed "changing her face", because the smell of smoke and stale sex was beyond question.

I sat the lady in a rickety chair, and two children, a boy and a girl, looked at her anxiously. They had a blank look on their face, that is, they knew what tragedy had happened, but they did not understand the meaning.

"Are they here for Mommy?"

I was wrong, they understood.

"Yes, we are. Now you go and sit on the bed and I'll talk to my new friend. "I added a little advice. I will definitely find the victim, and that doesn't mean I have to put up with the presence and constant nagging of her offspring.

"Now tell us what's going on."

I stole a glance at Isaac as our master chattered, and I immediately understood how he had kept his sanity all these years. His mind is predatory.

Dalton looks aloof, paying attention to only a few details, but generally like a sentinel. In contrast, my relative is like a hunting dog. His gaze shifts from one element to another, paying full attention, noticing every detail, categorizing them, and then switching to the next with a logic that only he can follow. No one exists here. He is in a world of his own, where his intellect strips and dissects every detail, every piece of information that his mind can capture.

It seems that my role has been decided, and I am going to calm him down while he is doing things.

I found a clue of hope in this woman and pulled it out. Immediately, her tears dried and she told me her story. I made sure she kept an eye on me.

My host's name is Suzanne and her sister is called Christine. She lives alone with her two children and mainly works odd jobs to make a living. I also learned that it was common for her to leave them in the care of her siblings when she was in the oldest profession in the world for a few coins. When Suzanne returned today, she found the house empty and partially damaged. She knew immediately what was wrong, but the neighbors didn't hear anything out of the ordinary, and they didn't see anyone unusually suspicious. After all, the nearby road is located between the warehouse and the dock, and even if it is late, the traffic is congested.

When she finished, she glared at me, as if she dared to comment. I understand why she was wary. Her sister was a cheap prostitute and a kitchen maid. She is at the bottom of a dizzying social order, and we have no reason to care about her at all.

I found that I cared as much as I cared about other mortals. These people are at the top of the food chain like landowners, soldiers, and everyone else, and like everyone else, they have their place, below me. Their value lies in what they can bring to me, and I will not abandon anyone just because of their social status.

This is their intrinsic value, and it does not even take into account the various circumstances: the woman was not killed, she was kidnapped. No one has died here, at least not recently, and I know why she was chosen.

Someone went out of their way to kidnap a woman from her home. Even with careful planning, it was a risky attempt. It refers to means, will, and some degree of ability. I'm curious about what prompted this decision.

As for why Christine, it's obvious. She is very vulnerable, an outlaw in the most literal sense of the word: someone the law no longer protects. I bet most of the victims have similarities.

If one day I have to build a nest for myself, the people I am going to recruit are not thrill-seeking fashionable aristocrats, nor influential businessmen, but those who have been outcasts from society, and marginalized people whose lives have not yet collapsed, who make up for it with tenacity and contempt despite their lack of power and influence. Even now, Susanna's eyes won't go out. They are survivors, just like me. I can buy influence, and I can buy money. Nothing can replace that sheer will to live.

Isaac was completely unaware of the situation, and he suddenly walked over to the curtain and opened it, revealing the back door. Without a pause, he opened the door and walked out.

I don't think he's joking. Our hosts did seem a little out of the ordinary with this arrogant attitude.

Well, it's time to go. I stood up to leave, Dalton following.

"We'll go to her and come back to you as soon as we have news."

"But...... Wait!"

"Stay and take care of your nieces and nephews, okay?"

"Yes...... Yes of course. ”

Outside, my fellow vampire walked through a vegetable patch and knelt in front of a path that was nothing more than a muddy path. Stone walls, garbage, and piles of firewood block the view from all directions.

Without saying a word, Isaac stood up and followed it back to the warehouse area.

"We're following a carriage?"

"Yes, hostess, there was no sign of a forced break-in, so she let them in. However, it was dangerous to leave the busy street with a wrapped corpse, so they may have dragged her out through the back door. ”

Are they? I looked at the ground, and in addition to the sound of our footsteps, I counted three. One of the shoes is very well defined, which indicates that it is a high-quality pair of boots. Unfortunately, the kidnapped will let the man in without much fuss, as a habit. The kidnappers chose their victims well.

"Isaac, shouldn't we ask our neighbors what they saw?"

"No, I know enough. The woman was quickly subdued by the three men she allowed to enter, and then was taken out the back door and placed in a small covered carriage. ”

Pretty confident in the details, huh? I'll go see if there's a reason.

It's a busy place, I thought we'd get lost, but I was wrong. The kidnapping happened a few hours earlier, and it was late, so there were only a few vehicles on the street. These unique imprints have not been completely erased.

We searched for an hour. When the trail is covered, such as in the middle of a busy intersection, Isaac simply checks every possible exit road until he finds the trail again. Sometimes, people followed the richly dressed and distraught passers-by with longing until Dalton's gaze stopped them. Over the past six months, thanks to a regular diet, he has grown up and gained a lot of weight, and the flash of the pistol handle has become a convincing argument.

Finally, our guide took us to a more remote part of the marina. It was very quiet at this time of night, and I remembered when I was cleaning out the warehouse, which was Potoan's first task. I think, just like then, people working in this field know not to ask questions.

When I decided to step in, Isaac was examining a puzzling set of interlocking trajectories. I gently touched his shoulder, and he turned around in frustration. I patted my nose silently.

He took a breath and his eyes widened in understanding. It smelled like tobacco, more precisely, the same smell we had in a little hut. This time, however, it's still burning.

We go to the source.

As we walked past a uniformed city guard, we knew we had reached our destination. The red embers of the cigar lit up his gray face, and his eyes remained on us until we left his.

There is no reason for this person to be alone at this time of the night to guard private property.

This is how the kidnappers quietly entered Christine's residence. Not everyone trusts enforcers, but few will openly defy them. This is especially true for those who are vulnerable, such as those who have been kidnapped. He must have asked to open the door for them, and they thought it better not to cause a commotion. Here, their respect for justice and its agents is used as a tool by criminals. Indeed, fate is sometimes ironic.

We know how to do it and what to do, and it's time to understand why. I think there are two possibilities. Either they were kidnapped to please the monsters in human skin, in which case the hunt was over, or they were sold, or they were used somewhere else. Sneaking in will give us the most options.

I was pushing those people in an alley. I turned to Dalton first.

After completing some bounties together, we developed a way to communicate through gestures, which I am very proud of. I signed slowly, deliberately: Isaac, I, up, hunt, kill, you, go, guard, silence, warning, come.

His answer was: condition, enemy, come, kill, silence, agree?

I nodded affirmatively. He can neutralize the incoming threat at his discretion. I trust him.

And just like that, Dalton left like a shadow, and I took a moment to appreciate his skill. After he turned the corner, I climbed the wooden wall of the nearest building and strode over the roof, Isaac following behind.

"Who is that person to you?"

I turned around with a lot of curiosity. Can't he see it?

"That's my vassal."

"Impressive. Vassalization is the first step in creating a true human servant. You're lucky to have found one so quickly and tied him down so early in your new life. I admit that your master is as shrewd in selecting candidates as they say they are. ”

I frowned angrily. Of course, the master was right to choose me...... Wait, no, what does he mean? Am I being insulted?

"Please, I wanted to compliment you. You see, most clans focus on converting the best soldiers, artists, and bankers, and forget about transforming the ones who will become the best vampires. ”

What's wrong?

"I beg your pardon, I'm a little distracted. Focus on the matter at hand. ”

I don't think his pedigree needs such a long period of attention. Either my state is more interesting than completing the hunt, or he's stalling for time. In spite of.

We jumped over the narrow rock wall that separated us from our target. I knelt down, closed my eyes, and focused. Beneath the crunch and harmony of the woods and the various sounds of the night, there was the heartbeat of three people. It is now difficult for me to discern whether the deceased was one of them or not. I need more practice.

The good thing about hunting with a fellow vampire is that I don't need instructions. I could whisper a whisper that his keen hearing would catch and the mortal would not.

"Three inside. Shall we kill that officer first?"

"Unless we have no choice."

A strange decision. I don't understand his logic. Why complicate things? We should find those women and kill those who encroached on his territory. The rest is just... Phew, that's enough. I agreed to help him. I promise.

At the very least, avoiding the attention of the police should provide some challenge and make the hunt fun.

Unfortunately, I'm a veteran of breaking into warehouses. The first step is always to scout it.

I walked to the back and sat down in front of a dirty window. I managed to get a glimpse of the inside through the stained glass.

Three people play cards under the lantern. They sat around a table in the center of the mezzanine, overlooking the first floor. At the far end, above the main entrance, I saw a small office. It's nothing more than a cage, but it should be enough. I got back on my feet and invited Isaac to follow me. Stopped in front of and behind the office window, I fell to the ground, my feet in the air, a clawed hand firmly planted in the wood on the wall. Then, I closed my eyes.

The sound of the game becomes clear. Several games are played in relative silence until one of them becomes particularly intense. It's like a victorious "Ha! The room echoed, and I reached into the frame with my paws. My fingers reached over cleanly.

It hurts a little.

I silently waited for them to continue. I went unnoticed.

I slowly lifted the lock with my fingers, took it out, and placed four paws under the lower railing.

It wasn't until the next commotion that I lifted the whole staircase. This time, the noise wasn't completely masked.

"Did you hear anything?"

"Didn't you?"

I'll still climb on the roof just in case. Seconds later, it was not the players who came to check the source of the riot, but the police. My voice came from outside. Luckily, it was too dark for him to notice that the window was still open.

After a perfunctory affair, he left.

I'll admit it's funny. In a direct battle, my enemies may not be my opponents, but it is satisfying to outsmart them, outsmart them. Maybe Isaac did the right thing anyway.

When everything was well, I slipped into the office. The card game is back in action, albeit more moderately. I climbed over a table and onto the dusty floor to find the room piled up with all sorts of strange everyday items, including tools, rope, jars, and even a toy horse. Someone managed to make a way to the door.

Isaac slipped in from behind me, his eyes fixed on the pile of papers in front of him. I whispered before he got too focused.

"Shouldn't we interrogate them?" The woman wasn't here. ”

"It's too noisy, and besides, I can get all the answers I need from here," he replied contemptuously.

"Have you come here to hunt?" I hissed softly.

"If you can get them to talk without causing a commotion in the whole city, then please."

Then he turned around and began to organize the papers, fully immersed in his work.

Well, you nasty nerd. Fear of being true to yourself. Waste of essence. But I promised him, so he's still in power. He did, however, challenge me.

The walls of the room were just a small space, and they didn't even rise all the way up to the rafters. An obstacle when trying to sneak in has turned into an advantage. I jumped onto a wooden beam, grabbed it with my claws and knees, and followed it out of the enclosed space. I'm hanging upside down now, slowly moving towards that small group. The blood doesn't rush to my head, which makes me feel strangely relaxed.

Now to choose.

The dominant male is a cruel-looking giant with a pile of decent coins in front of him. His clothes were dirty and his smile was a little crazy. The other two were wary of him, as is typical of what one would expect from violence. The second man is dressed as a dock worker with the stain of an unfortunate soul and their mother was an alcoholic during pregnancy. The last one is promising. He is a cunning guy in a decent but ill-fitting suit. His legs were clung to the stool; I could still make out dirty, worn-out shoes.

Perfect.

This is typical of the timid climber. He will scream the most and may observe more than he should.

I walked over to the edge of the faint aperture and pulled a coin out of my pocket.

I threw it at the copper plate against the wall.

When I was already on the ground, the coin made a tinkle bell.

The three men turned their heads away from me.

My move.

My left hand grabbed the docker's neck and choked him to pieces, while my right hand gently hit the weasel by the throat.

I jumped over the table and poked my index into the brute's sternum.

The pain took him breathless. I grabbed him by the shoulder, rushed over his head, grabbed it, and bit deeply with my eight fangs.

I devoured his life force. I'm not feeding you, I'm expressing my opinion.

At the same time, my eyes were fixed on the weasel, who clutched to his throat and struggled to take a deep breath. He stared at me with extreme fear, his bladder empty beneath him.

I threw down the lifeless corpse.

From the time I tossed the coin to now, less than four seconds.

I walked up to the weasel with the grace of an immortal predator and leaned over it with a faint smile. I was so close to him that my breath made him flinch. He dangled desperately in the air in front of him, a trembling arm pitifully trying to block me. My smile is getting brighter and brighter. It's a bit late to try the conversion now.

"I have some questions. You'll answer me, okay?"

He nodded frantically, still trying to catch his breath. Tears flowed down his filthy face like a river, and a strange wail came from his throat.

Good.

I grabbed him and dragged his whimpering body.

"You're the one who took the woman tonight?"

Nod.

"What about the women from before?"

Nod.

"Were they brought here first?"

Nod.

"Do you know where the woman was taken tonight?"

Nod.

"Are they all taken to the same place?"

He shook his head.

Well.

I walked back to the office and opened the door. Isaac categorized and reordered all the books and free documents, apparently organizing them. When I walked up to him, he turned around and whispered excitedly.

"Ah, you're back, and I've found some interesting tidbits...... Oh. ”

Isaac took my captive and hung it on my hands. His face turned a pale purple.

"Others?"

My smile. He looked a little uncomfortable. Yes, that's the real hunt. Paper does not bleed, the weak.

"Tell him where you took the girl, little one."

“. . Frederickson's property. He managed to make a hoarse voice.

"Good, good. This is consistent with my current findings. If you make me ......"

"Enough, Isaac, if you want to find the girl before they transfer her, we have to act now."

"Wait, I just found out about a big illegal human trafficking ring and there's ...... there"

"This is not our agreement!" You asked me to help you kill the mastermind of tonight's kidnapping, instead of overturning the whole plot!"

"This matter is much more important!"

"Are you going to change the terms of our agreement, Isaac?" I asked in a deceptively soft voice.

He was about to raise his voice, but the look on my face must have reminded him. He paused, then admitted, with great reluctance:

"I didn't, I'm acting against the purpose of the whole exercise," he sighed, "then let's go." ”

"Great. Do you mind?" I asked, pointing to our captive.

"Not at all."

He grabbed a notebook and a few pieces of paper and left.

Wait, is the disposal of corpses now also my attribution! This little deviance turned out to be increasingly frustrating. Well, at least I can face the night with my stomach propped up.