Albus shook his head and waved his hand dismissively.

"What are you talking about? Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to get revenge? After all, those cult guys and him are seemingly related."

"No, they're… perfect opportunity? Aren't the ones who raid this place that big dude's lackeys?"

Albus chuckled and lowered his voice.

"You've caught on. How about we help each other out?"

Tibaut looked at him with an eyebrow raised and wasn't sure of his intentions.

"I'm not saying you're untrustworthy but could you lay out what the details are exactly?"

"I suppose I can but I'd like it if you could keep your voice down. The thing is, we've recently realized where they're located."

Tibaut began leaning in closer but Albus blew a small puff of air in his face which had him backing away like a bear that was maced.

"You bas-"

He put his finger on Tibaut's lips.

"Shhh, I'm getting to the good part."

Tibaut backed away from the finger and got up back to his chair.

"So, I had Avis stake them out a few times at night and I discovered something interesting."

"Don't you mean she?"

"Apparently they communicate with someone, sending messages every now and again."

Tibaut was immediately intrigued by this and was starting to show interest.

"Seriously?"

"Indeed. Apparently, someone would approach their hideout's entrance and hand those on lookout a letter. If I had to say those are the people they are either taking orders from or communicating with. And now that you've mentioned this cult I think they may be a likely contender."

He made an audible gulp and felt his body tense. This was a lead he needed. He wasn't sure if it was by chance or if Old Man Bentley had seen something characteristic of the cult in this parish but this was the very much wanted lead he wanted.

"Where is it!?" Tibaut asked impatiently.

"Hold on."

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"Listen, I'm not in the mood, just tell me where it is. I don't want to hear it's too dangerous or it'll ruin whatever plan you have, you should know what would have happened if you told me." Tibaut told him, looking like a starved animal.

"Fix your face, I'm not the one you want to kill here. Besides that depends on your answer. What we're doing here isn't exactly a good thing."

"What do you mean?

"We're gonna break in and steal it. Well that's being generous, we're gonna go in and forcefully ask him to give us the letter."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Considering he is technically considered innocent by a local judge, we would essentially be like a group of thugs breaking into his property and committing theft. Granted, I could find a decent lawyer to absolve me but you would be left on your own if we were overpowered by them."

"So? If that bastard's working with that guy in black then that's more than enough reason to take him down. So we're good as long as we find the evidence?"

"Yes, even with our actions taken into consideration, no judge would be foolish enough to take his side if the letter is talking about the trafficking or sacrifice of humans."

Tibaut could feel himself get worked up as he mentioned the possible fates of the women kidnapped.

"Do you think I'll back away now?" He asked.

"Well, as long as you know the consequences of failing, it's nothing that will lose me sleep at night. Do you think any of your comrades would join us?"

"No. (Well, I'm not sure but there's no reason to bring them into this. Then again I'll probably feel like punching myself if I encounter that black bastard without Tina.)" Although his answer was quick his face wavered. "I'm good by myself. Now when are we starting?"

"Come to the front gate by, hmm, let's say 9:00pm. Well then," He got up off the bed (Thankfully not noticing the severed hand) and made his leave. "I do hope to see you today." With that, he closed the door and his footsteps were heard slowly fading down the hall.

"Tch, so that big dude with nothing but muscle teamed up with them. His funeral, if you team up with people like that, it shouldn't be shocking you'd have to deal with their enemies."

But now that he thought about it, were they even teaming up? They had no interaction with each other than the coincidence of them stealing women in the towns they go to.

("Well, it's not like they're saints,") Tibaut thought to himself, ("They go and attack, even kill people just because they don't agree with Albus being here. If anyone deserves an ass whooping it's them.")

He soon turned around and looked out the window. The sun was hitting its stride and the shadows of the trees and buildings he could see outside were at their smallest.

"Looks like it's noon. I better go sharpen myself up with Tina. (Though I might have to take it easy.)"

As he approached the door he heard a pair of footsteps walk away.

"!"

But he reassured himself. "No, if I'm like this the rest of the day I'll look suspicious. Besides, it's probably just someone passing by."

He left his room and went in search of Tina.

----------------------------------------

After an intense several hours of training and taking a few hours to rest, he silently exited his window and made his way to the property's exit. As he made his way, he ran into Avis who stopped him.

"Come with me."

He nodded his head. As he walked he realized that they weren't going in the direction of the entrance gate. Was she taking a shortcut? After walking along the fence she soon stopped.

"Lord Bradley, I do think this is quite ridiculous. There would be no issues in leaving through the front gate."

"Come on, don't be like that Avis, I want to feel like I'm sneaking out. Besides, who knows what he would do if one of the guards told his friends we left."

"Lord Bradley, they work for you. You can simply tell them to keep their mouths shut." Said Avis in a tone that radiated annoyance.

"Well, I like this way better, so that's that."

Even in the dimly lit night, Tibaut swore he could see a vein become noticeable on the maid's forehead.