First the waves, then the feeling of being compressed, like under a cosmic rolling pin. The explosion blew me up like a rag doll. The top becomes the bottom, the bottom becomes the left, and the earth is in the sky. For a moment, I felt lost, and the certainty in my mind was shattered. The next moment, I saw something at the edge of my field of vision, which gave me enough willpower to refocus.

No.

I refuse!

I was out of breath and scraped the ground with my paws, leaving painful scars. My trajectory changed at the last moment, and I slammed into the house and the plaster fell. I was out of breath in pain, but I didn't care, I made it.

"Hah!" I shouted loudly at fate and heaven, and coughed up pink foam. Oh.

The burning wreckage of the iron shovel rod fell on my arm. I'm on fire. No, I'm not on fire, calm down. I nervously patted the embers until they were extinguished. I did it. My gaze turned to the outhouse a few feet away, which was still intact. I did it. I avoided bumping into human trash, and my honor and dignity remained intact! Ariana, once again, overcame the odds.

My ears were ringing, and the whispers of worry and the crackling of flames that were about to be extinguished returned. People will react.

The door to the manor suddenly opened, and Merritt stepped out, wearing a pair of glittering gloves on her hands. Behind her, several women with loaded muskets peeked out in horror. Irma, the butler, stamped out with two kitchen knives in her stout hands.

"What's going on here?" She asked, her big wrinkled face wrinkled unhappily.

I raised my hand to signal that I needed some time, and they finally understood my real situation. Sometimes, I find myself surrounded by a crowd of twittering people, poking and pulling at me. I resisted the urge to hiss and managed to get up. If I were a mortal, it would not be a good idea for me to move like this. Think about it, if I were a mortal, I wouldn't hear gunpowder anymore and I would be a slimy corpse with brains coming out of my nose.

"Are you okay?" What happened?"

"The warehouse exploded," I replied succinctly. This would distract them and give me plenty of time to keep my distance and think about what was going on.

Someone detonated gunpowder on my damn lawn, destroying my gardening tools and my credibility. This cannot be tolerated. I slowly approached the smoking crater while a couple of smarter girls were dousing the still-burning wreckage.

As expected, it's quite large. I smelled used black powder in the air, and I guessed that at least a small box would be needed to achieve this effect, and the amount was not negligible. Before everyone comes and tramples this place with their dogs, there's one more important thing I have to figure out. Under the protection of Irma and Merritt, I circled the cave and found what I was looking for. The burning powder leaves behind a long string of burnt grass that leads all the way to the center of the deflagration. This tells me something. First of all, someone waited for me to come out before igniting the explosives, so I might be the target. Second, that person must be nearby.

It looks like I've been upgraded to an assassination target. Incredible. I deserve a plaque to commemorate this.

I tried to take a step forward and see if I could smell the scent of this mysterious admirer. Alas, this is impossible. I was literally dragged away by angry, protective followers, despite my best efforts to convince them that I wasn't actually hurt. I could try to confuse them or threaten them, but I decided not to be an enemy of my entire staff. Soon, I found myself lying in bed, sipping a hot cup of chamomile tea.

It feels good and is a testament to the success of my infiltration and my docile public persona, hidden in...

Anyway, it's good. I love the feeling of people circling around me until only Merritt and me are left, and then someone goes to John to escort me back.

The mage mustered up enough courage and asked what had bothered her just now.

"So, I had to ask Ariana."

"Really?"

"Is this normal here?"

"If you're referring to building explosions, that's almost never happening. We had that warehouse in 1821, but that was due to an unfortunate mixture of highly explosive substances and a misjudgment. No, it was a deliberate attempt to kill me, I'm sure. ”

Merritt stared at me with an expression like amusing a delusional patient.

"Of course, of course, let's say, do vampires get concussions?"

I asked annoyedly. The moment I was in bed, I ruined my reputation, really?

"It's much easier to indulge yourself than to drive them away. At this stage, my death would be catastrophic for them. ”

"At this stage?"

"Yes, I now realize that I made a mistake by not developing a replacement. My distrust of others can jeopardize my project. I understand their concerns, which is why I agree with this farce, but rest assured, I am still fully in my possession. This leads me to my next point, that it is impossible for so much black powder to be so easily available, even at the border. Someone got this, and we have to find out who it is. ”

"Need my help?"

"Yes, I know. I want you to go to a shop called the Tailor's Guild, a two-minute walk east of Dream City. The owner of this store is called Debbie. Tell her that Ariana asked you to come, tell her what happened, and ask her to help find out if a shipment of explosives has been missing recently. ”

"You want me to interrogate a seamstress?" Merritt asked incredulously,

I frowned.

"Debbie is the city's information monger, and you better take her seriously."

"Oh, I see."

"You can work tomorrow when the store is open during the day. I'd have Harrigan and a girl named Lizzie go and ask the storekeeper if he knew anything. ”

"Is Lizzie also a whistleblower?"

"Nope. This man loves petite brunette women. ”

"Oh."

"I told John and Margaret to go to the foreman of the mine, and that's all I could think of. When they are done, they will return to their dreams. Coordinate with them and prepare a report, but if you find the culprit, don't get involved. I'll take care of it when it's dark. You are not as strong as me, and you have no reason to risk your life. ”

"Understood."

John soon arrived, and I was escorted back to the dream. I wish I had calmed down so I could look into it, but unfortunately the problem never comes up alone. Someone I didn't need at all was waiting for me at the door. His face was hostile, and the corners of his mouth rose when he saw me. This time he only had two people to support him.

"Forget the lady."

"Judge Sullivan, good evening. What is the wind that is blowing you here?" I put a special emphasis on "happiness" so that I don't doubt my true feelings.

My enemies deliberately concealed his joy, and I began to wonder if the assassination of a public figure was really too risky. Maybe he will fall to his death from a tall building? Who knows?

"I am here to inform you personally that one of my small proposals has been approved by the State Judicial Council to clear the sins of our beautiful city."

He is the embodiment of righteous wrath.

"For a long time I have tolerated the abyss of depravity...... Some townspeople let it fester. I am pleased to inform you that, from May 1, 1832, only white citizens of pure blood will be allowed to enter the streets of Tere. "You're going to inform your... Employees of color must leave the city by April 28 at the latest. A week later. Note that this includes both male and female employees, in case I don't speak clearly enough. I hope you will follow the law to the best of your ability, and I will check this body to make sure you are complying with it. I hope I've been direct enough, and that's it, I'll say hello to you. ”

The judge shoved the crumpled ordnance into my hand, took off his hat, and strode away.

Sting.

"Is Oscar a person of color?"

"Yes, John."

"So he has to go?" The fool asked, a little worried.

"Not yet. Don't worry, dear, I'm a little lenient, but it looks like I need to remind our brave sheriff who he's dealing with. ”

I patted the bodyguard on the arm as a gesture of comfort and walked in, already thinking about it. This is more important than patrolling the city in search of the mysterious bomber.

April is passing away, and with it, the once-pure snow has melted into a disgusting sludge stuck to our boots. The main road is not much better than the mud lane. Mortal voices can be heard from afar, and people just have to follow the sound of the soles of their feet leaving the ground, and I'm grateful for any supernatural power that allows me to walk over it, rather than through it.

A drizzle fell on my shawl. Occasionally, droplets of fat would condense on the hem of my garment and then land on my skin, delivering their icy load. I may not be afraid of the cold anymore, but I hate the wet. It's terrible, and I'm going to have to suffer if I catch the guy who kicked me out.

The warehouse I was looking for was at the northern end of town, and it was easy to spot, as it was the only one with a lantern lit at the door late in the night. It swayed with the occasional gust of wind, its meager pool of light more like a lighthouse than any effort to illuminate.

I ignored the tempting door and walked down an alley. I found something in the plank in the wall, climbed to a hole with a shutter, and took out a burglary tool from the groove in the cloak. I'm sorry to say that I'm a veteran of this.

I pulled myself in and looked around. I found myself in a small hall without any furniture. Buckets of rotting hay were everywhere, and the air was damp and pungent. The wood used here looks brittle and rotten, and the surface is covered with pockmarked seeds, like the skin of a patient. If I were mortal, I would walk around here and worry about getting tuberculosis. I will never allow my own house to be so sloppy.

Downstairs, rows of crates and barrels are stacked haphazardly in the clearing. There is no clear dividing line here, the only striking thing is a table on which two people work by candlelight. One of them shuddered and put on a cloak.

"Okay, I'll go to the bathroom."

Ah, what a good time.

The burly man limped to the side door, opened it, and disappeared outside. I snuck out and soon found myself looking down on my first victim as he leaned against the wall with one hand and the other helping him aim. I really like grabbing their pants, it's a pun intended.

I fell behind him and put an arm around his throat. In the other, I pressed the knife against his jugular vein and forced him to arch back.

“Mf

lg

!”

I expected him to struggle frantically, staying upright as he fought to buy something, but in vain. Soon, when the last drop of urine landed on his pants, his initial instinctive reaction was overwhelmed by reality, and silence returned. I didn't need charisma, I caught him when he was at his most vulnerable.

"I'm going to have a word with Staton, and I want to have a private conversation. You go now, and you don't look back. ”

My captive nodded frantically, and I let him go. I watched with interest as he struggled to sprint as he lifted his pants up. It seems to be causing some difficulties for him, and I find the show interesting.

Distracted enough, I still have something to do.

I snuck in and took a quiet walk around the warehouse. As I approached the second person from behind, he reached out a hand from his greasy gray hair and took his attention away from the pile of yellow papers. His coat was thick and dirty, and it must have been blue. In the distant past.

"Why did it take him so long?"

Instead of answering, I banged his head on the table. The old smuggler didn't even try to struggle, feeling the weight of the cold steel on his neck.

"Good evening, Staton."

"Who are you and what do you want?"

You have to keep your mouth shut until I let you speak. When you open your mouth, tell me the truth. Two weeks ago, you were tasked with delivering goods. Who pays for it and what's in it?"

"Listen, miss, my reputation as a smuggler is everything."

"I'm going to get my answer from you, now, or when you're just a pile of raw meat, trembling and begging for the sweet release of death."

"It's some kind of powder, I don't think it's made of wheat. As for the buyer, he was a gloomy man with a black beard and light gray eyes. Tall and thin. Not very good at talking. ”

"Tell me more about this mysterious man."

Bradley. Moves very quietly, like a cat. I don't know where he went. ”

"Is he here?" In the special?"

"Yes, I brought him in as a team helper. He also paid me gold coins. Ancient Spaniards. ”

This is extremely unusual. If he had used more rare currency, I'd be able to track him down.

"Is anyone else with him?"

"No, he's definitely a loner and doesn't mention anyone else here."

"What else can you tell me to find him?" Think about it. ”

Staton paused to think for a moment, which was a good thing for him, because if he just answered "no", I would have to chop off one of his fingers.

"He carried a weapon all the time, as if he expected a fight. He looked a little angry. ”

There is nothing to base on. I turned my head, and our eyes met. He was already at my mercy, which made his charm insignificant.

"Are you telling me the truth?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything you're hiding from me?"

"Yes. I like rugged women. ”

I sighed deeply and now realized the man's awakened state. The watchmen protected me from this town. Sometimes I feel like half of them are judgmental paranoids and the other half are shameless perverts.

"Is there anything else that has to do with this person?"

“No.”

Good. I erased the memory of the last ten minutes from his mind and forced him to sleep. I could have charmed him from the start, but Sinid warned me not to use it as a crutch. I try worldly means first, and then make sure I don't miss anything. This method has made me more adept at lying.

As I walked out of the building, I pondered his words. My target was a man, apparently a man, who paid dubs and didn't like to talk. If he was indeed new here, then he must have stayed somewhere, not in a small hotel in the city. His strange behavior and the amount of gunpowder he got his hands on meant that he needed a base for similar operations, a dry and relatively isolated place. This means that there is an abandoned building nearby, and the odds are slim.

I decided to go back to Nami first. I still remember the shock and the flames of yesterday, and I realized that there was a reason why I was afraid that this man would outperform the group of mages we had recently slaughtered. He knew who I was, and he came prepared.

It has to be this.

It took me an hour to get from one possible hideout to another, and this was my third attempt, and the right one. After Peter Smith inherited the inheritance, the Smiths moved back east, leaving a quiet building on the edge of town, conveniently tucked away behind a grove of woods. A great place to hide unusual activities.

I could see wisps of smoke coming out of the two-story chimney where it shouldn't have been.

"Let's go, dear?"

"Let's take a look at this place first."

We carefully examine our goals. The house is abandoned, which means I should have no problem getting in. The muddy footprints stained the planks of the front and back doors, but the people who lived here didn't make an effort to make the place more livable. Or say clean. The land in the garden was abandoned, with only a fallow field overgrown with sick weeds, a pile of dirt and a half-collapsed shack.

"That's right. I'm dealing with this, I have a request. Can you stay outside and whistle when you see something wrong?"

"What to expect?"

"Yes. Explode. Our house is not fireproof, and the house is made of wood. ”

"Why don't you let your mortal servants handle this?"

I looked at her in disbelief and realized from her calm face that it was a test.

"Stop messing around, now is not the time."

She nodded and walked towards the woods, masking her aura. Sometimes even I can't find her.

I turned and walked towards the house, approaching the back door. Instead of using the handle, I closed my eyes and focused.

Wind. Cracking of the wood. Nocturnal animals chase and be chased.

There was no heartbeat in the house, and there was no sound of footsteps, although it could be covered by thick walls. On a whim, I pierced through the fragile wood above the lock.

Nami let out a warm chuckle. What, the more careful the better. Let's get a Dve

gu

The ninja climbed down a wall and placed a touch trigger rune outside the window, and I promise you, you'll also reconsider traps as a way to eliminate your target. How I wish I could catch my opponent, unfortunately he looks cunning and I don't have the patience, especially when my estate is in danger of being burned to ashes.

I searched through my cloak and found a small mirror that, although I couldn't see my own reflection, could use it to check the door for anything unusual. It's worth being prepared.

Nothing.

It's a perfectly normal door.

I sighed, opened the door, and found myself in a central room. Two pairs of doors lead to the left and right, and a set of stairs leads to the second floor. No screaming, no sound of heartbeat, so I took the time to check my surroundings.

The walls were completely bare, covered with a thick layer of dust. The floor had also not been cleaned in a while, which made me notice the marks left by the same person coming and going multiple times. Interestingly, they just go up. Has this man never used the kitchen?

I was about to walk forward when two things that were out of the ordinary caught my attention.

First of all, there is a lot of mud here, so he may have been in the garden for a long time, but for what purpose?

Then I remembered.

That pile of mud outside didn't grow any plants, which means it's fairly new! How come I haven't come to this obvious conclusion yet? I must have lost my peasant roots; Dad will be disappointed.

So Bombe

Sir dug up something. Whatever it is, the passage must be upstairs. Curious.

The second irregularity is a plank in front of the staircase. It's suspiciously clean, as if the person avoids it every time.

It would be wise for me to do the same. Curiosity still made me lean over and take a breath. Rotten, muddy, damp, and the smell of gunpowder underneath. So, there is indeed a catch. I climbed the stairs silently and contentedly, stopping with extreme care with each step. I considered climbing up to the wall so I could give up the floor altogether, but I was worried that they might not be able to support my weight.

It's not because I'm heavy, it's just that the wood is damaged.

After too long, I found myself on the second floor on the landing of the stairs. Again, there are four doors, and only the two to my right are in use. I walked to the first room and looked through the keyhole. It looks like a workshop. I leaned down, snapped off one of the most damaged planks, and looked in the mirror. This time, again without traps, I entered the room.

All the windows were closed. My eyesight has darkened, which is only the case in absolute darkness.

This room is basically empty. All I could see was the box against the wall on my left, a workbench, and a cabinet full of equipment. I was blown away by the contrast between this room and the outside. The floors were meticulously cleaned, the walls were almost sparkling, supplies and tools were rigorously sorted, and the attention to detail was something I hadn't seen since Ross. Even the powder cans on the shelves are marked with the date of manufacture and the chemical composition of the powder they contain. That's where he made the bomb, and I can only applaud his professionalism.

I walked over to the table to check it. There was only one thing worth noting, I took a quick look at a small book. The content of the book didn't teach me anything. This man simply records the resources he expends with an almost obsessive rigor. The letters are lumpy and may even be childish, but the hand that draws them is confident.

There was nothing in the crates and cupboards except for the parts used by mechanics and gunsmiths, including the expected gunpowder.

I walked out of the room and walked to the last room, and I can tell you that it was more promising. From behind the door I could smell the smell of bacon and beans, and the smell of human sweat. Still no heartbeat.

It was the last time I wished I had wrung off part of the door to check the other side. A thin wire was attached to the handle of the gun, which extended to the gun carriage, and then by a ring was attached to the flintlock firing mechanism on a clay pot of huge proportions.

Ha.

Ha!

I knew it.

I made a hole in the center of the door for my arm to pass through, and then realized one second later that the second really saw what I was doing. With infinite patience and inhuman precision, I grabbed the thread between the two claws and cut it. The rope slowly fell to the floor without a sound.

I smirked, realizing that I was in my opponent's chamber. My heart is filled with pride. Yes, his nest is mine now. Like his studio, the place was very clean, with only a small bed, a warm fireplace with some basic cooking utensils and a wardrobe. The environment in Sparta unstruck me. Did this person really stay here for two weeks? I'm going to go crazy. The dedication required to maintain discipline for such long periods of time was both inspiring and terrifying, and I found myself respecting my enemies for it. Even if he proves to be insane, at least he manages to transcend his own madness and turn it into a power.

Nothing urgent, I scanned the room to see if there were any clues as to his location. The most promising element was a trapdoor at the edge of the room, which has now been sealed. What is it doing here? Before opening it, I approached it to check it for traps.

The road continues down to a spot outside the house. But it's not empty, it's just lit fuses everywhere.

There are at least five of them, winding up from the bottom of the sea.

Damn it.

I tore open the blinds with the power of desperation. Open air. Not wide enough.

I jumped out.

I ran to the ground as fast as I could, the world around me blurred, and I whistled with all my might, hoping Nami would hear. This pile of mud, a passage down. He must have dug a way to a cave-like place and dug a hole here, but how did he know I was coming?

I ran through a bend and rolled on the ground with my ears covered.

One... Two... Three......

I counted to five and the house exploded. I screamed as the deafening loud bang reached me, and a wave of heat passed by me, scorching my hair. The burning debris flew far in the air and could be seen on the other side of town.

Wow. He really wanted to make sure.

I stood up to examine the wreckage. The setting is apocalyptic, with a valley of flames and scorched earth surrounding a smoldering volcanic crater, most likely leading to the gates of hell.

"Ariana?!"

"Here!"

Nami ran to the edge of the disaster area, slid to me and stopped. Her face distorted with worry until she saw that I was fine, and then her smile turned evil.

"What?"

"First stop screaming, and second, don't worry, they'll grow back in a few minutes."

"What? Why are you so quiet?"

She didn't answer, just patted her ear. Yes. I was deaf. A moment later, my ears thumped and a black liquid ran down my neck.

What's going on with the long back?

I realized that the side of my head was suddenly more sensitive to the warm wind blowing from the ruins of the house, and I patted it.

My hair.

It's gone!

"Don't be nervous, I'll be back in a few minutes."

My hair, my precious hair, golden and silky! My pride and joy......

"Ariana, calm down. It will be back soon. Really?"

“Mes beaux cheveux……”

"Little sweetheart, Focus. Did you see the bombardier?"

By the way, the guy who almost roasted me, that little...

"No, he dug a passage underneath. From there, he detonated the explosion. ”

"Do you believe he committed suicide?"

It's a simple question.

"I don't think it's likely. Everything was carefully prepared, with several layers of redundancy to ensure that I would end up with charcoal. He may have an escape route. It won't be long. We can find a trapdoor from that corner. I replied, pointing to where the trapdoor had been.

"Okay. We have to hurry, people will definitely come and see what's going on. ”

We quickly searched, and this time we were lucky. The blast wave of the explosion pushed everything away from the epicenter, including a dust-covered tarp, which marked a secret exit. Seriously, is that man really omniscient? Who would do that?

I slammed the door open, moving to the side just in case. Luckily, the man seemed to have run out of gunpowder. I looked down and found a tunnel leading to the house. I glanced at Nami, nodded, and jumped.

The passage was narrow and arched, and I could only walk sideways, only a few feet ahead. The earthen walls are barely reinforced with rare logs, giving me a strong sense of claustrophobia. If it collapsed, I would probably be there for a long time, crushed by the rocks and driven crazy by bloodthirsty desires. I shuddered and ran the thought away. Nami knows where I am.

I walked slowly forward, taking my time to make sure no support was breached, but it looked like I was innocent. After a long time, the passage widened and led to a reinforced door decorated with a cross, which was fastened to the wall by steel bars. As I came into view, a metal rod slipped away, and I found myself facing the front end of a large gun.

I moved down, forward, and the camera below skimmed over the passage above me.

In the ensuing blue powder cloud, I saw a ray of light. One action, I took out my pistol and shot at close range. There was a thud of metal, and then silence.

In such an enclosed space, two explosions in a row made the air resound, and a swirl of waste gunpowder clouded my vision. My ears swelled again and I immediately commented.

"You're missing."

"So are you."

There, in what used to be a place of yellow light, now sits with two gray eyes. The surrounding skin was angry and red, suggesting that the powder cloud I shot myself was still marking my target. My attempt to attract him was more out of habit than anything else, even though the connection was blocked by an invisible barrier that tasted like a warning. As expected.

"I don't think we've met, Bradley."

"We".

I blinked, wondering where to put him. His steely gaze did not flinch. Not to be fearless, but to transcend it. He knew who I was, he knew what I could do, but he decided to come to me anyway. He also managed to bring me to an impasse. I can't go through that door of him unprepared, it's a fact that none of us knows.

I think I'll remember such a person.

Unless...

"You're in prison for the Order. You are the only survivor and you escaped. ”

He didn't have to answer, the anger that flashed across his face was enough to answer.

"But you decided to chase me alone," I continued, "alone. I don't know whether to salute your courage or laugh at your arrogance. ”

"I'm never alone." The man added, still calm.

"No one else has been here. I check. ”

He didn't answer, instead, pointing a finger down. I looked down at the cross embedded in the door, apparently devotioning. Despite the lack of any lighting, the object shimmered with a silvery sheen.

Oddly enough, it was once a familiar symbol, and now, it's a curse for my survival.

"I'm never alone, unlike you."

"Ah, we've gotten to the point where you make me annoying?"

"If you will."

I laughed. What an astonishing person, so unexpected. We had been talking for a minute, and I had not been called a devil whore once. What a novel prospect. I'm excited.

"Where is your justice, knight?" Where's the insult?"

"I'm not very good at talking."

"So, what are you passionate about, aside from careful planning and demolition?"

His eyes met my expression, scrutinizing me. Fool, I've been playing poker for thirty years. Even Loth couldn't read me.

"You do like to talk a lot."

"Ah, can you blame me? This is rare. The old enemy was forced to a truce due to the situation. We are like characters in the Iliad. So tell me, oh defenders of the light, why did you come here alone? Why don't you gather a great army and raze the city to the ground?"

"Won't work. You can't sleep in that room. ”

"Oh? How do you know?"

"I climbed up the wall and looked."

I looked at him and was stunned.

"You scoundrel! Voyeur! How did you get past the guards?"

"At the changing of the guard."

"What? Do you know their schedule? How?"

"I'm observing."

I'm going through the most peculiar experience. I was talking to a door, and there was a guy in the back who would be willing to see me die if he could, but he was amusing more than most people I met.

"Are you saying that in two weeks you managed to sneak into a dream, blow up my cabin, set up such an elaborate trap, and not once went unnoticed?"

"Hmm. Is it? Why?"

He even looked surprised.

"Have you ever thought you could be a great vampire?"

“No.”

"It's okay, I prefer my fellow night owls to have a sense of humor."

"You stole it from me."

"Me?"

He avoided my gaze for a moment, no doubt reminiscing about some painful past. The pause lasted only a moment, and when it ended, the man was under control as before.

"It's not you. Your kindness. A cult of some demon worshippers. ”

"You lost people to wizards?"

Once again, the naked pain and anger that flashed across his face conveyed more meaning than a book.

"I'm not a mage, and I don't worship anyone, if you have to know. So why serve your sentence in prison?"

"Don't work with others. They didn't believe me, so they put me on the team. I took the money from prison and came to you. ”

"I know you entertained me to waste my time till dawn. You're stuck here, and the town is responsible for me, so if you want to see that day, you have to do better. Why did a person come to me?"

Bradley sighed and closed his eyes, and I could tell that the stress of the past two weeks had taken a toll on his mind.

"My sin is pride. I've heard that vampires are arrogant. ”

"We are human. Some of us are arrogant, some of us know better. ”

"You...... I guess that's true. You're too careful. ”

"No, if I had been really careful, I would have sent someone after you."

"Then why wouldn't you?"

That's the first question he asked. I laughed even wider, baring my fangs. He didn't back down.

"You didn't hurt my people, so this hunt is still between us. Ah, those demon worshippers, did you find them?"

“No…”

"Did you join the brothers?"

"They have the tools. There is also training. ”

"I see. Looks like I'm going to have to end our conversation. Someone's coming. Goodbye, Bradley, goodbye. ”

I turned back into the hallway. He won't fire on my back.

Outside, I managed to avoid the attention of the few people who were already searching for survivors on the shipwreck, and quickly found Nami under the cover of the trees. I relayed the meeting to her and she found it very interesting.

"Ah, my little chocolate pie, I'm so happy for you. Decades later, when you share this memory with your loved one, you will cherish it. ”

This sounds particularly strange.

"What are you going to do now?" She continued, "Did your people smoke him out?"

"That's not necessary. I get out of the way; It's just a matter of time ... Yes. See. ”

The number of people examining the wreckage has reached 24, and a curious girl soon discovers the trapdoor. Several burly men volunteered to inspect the tunnel, and I watched with interest as I loaded my pistol. I was still looking at the crater, expecting Bradley to come out of there, when a voice warned me that Nami and I jumped away.

The ground caved in, revealing a minehole. A dirty figure with a backpack brushed himself and appeared in the night.

Nami and I exchanged glances. There is no light here, he is as blind as a mole!

With a determined look, the man stepped onto a soft piece.

The moment he realizes something is wrong is priceless.

"That," I whispered in his ear, "it's my feet." "It was a moment of truth and Bradley didn't let you down. He showed determination and courage in the face of death, and I admired him for that.

"Does the Order know I'm here?"

“No.”

"Do you want to live?"

"Don't play with me."

"I don't know. Give me your blood and swear to keep my existence a secret, and I will escort you to the edge of town. You're free to get revenge. ”

"Why are you doing that?" You can bleed me here. ”

"It's a professional courtesy, from one hunter who loves explosions to another. What could it be, Bradley? Is it your loyalty to the Order and its principles, or is it your chance for revenge?"

Silent. Nami looked at me happily, probably glad I did such a reckless thing. Only his pounding heartbeat betrayed the desperate struggle within him. What will it be? I can't wait to see it.

"Revenge".

Too.

"Stretch out your arms, swear."

"I swear I'll keep your existence a secret and never come back."

I took a bite. Ah, it's delicious. A seeker who breaks his oath to God and his companions, the end of a successful hunt. Delicious. I whistled softly after licking my wounds. Métis struggled through the bushes like a giant war beast, and I climbed up and dragged Bradley through the harness like a bound boar.

“Ya!”

We rode into the night like the wind, and when the smoke cleared, I think I was really happy to be alive.