[https://i.imgur.com/zweWNHT.jpg]

What the fuck was that?

“Oh, the tremors? It has been happening for the past few weeks. I've got my geologists on it.”

I sense bullshit afoot.

Brenna stood up and strode to the left wall of her office, where a black cord dropped from a hole in the ceiling. She pulled down on it and waited with crossed arms.

“Guardian, if you got word, do you know about the situation at Foushire?"

“I don't know much more than you know. But my people are aware of certain happenings. The duke you captured? Disappeared to the wind.”

Drac kissed his teeth.

Cal and now the slave dealer are who knows where, probably causing havoc and planning revenge. Drac exhaled and calmed his rage

Always deal the final blow. Always.

Drac agreed.

“The new co-governess was attacked by assailants in the night.”

Drac's eyes widen with fear.

Maki…

“Do not worry. She is well. After killing one, strange men in black clothes gave a fume that caused her to sleep. Came out unharmed. “

Drac trekked up and down the office, ruffling his hair.

“Never imagined that the hero of Foushire would worry like this.”

“I am not worried. I was just thinking about whether I should copy myself and run after her.”

Axton consoled Drac, If everything you told me about her was true, then she would be more than fine. Right, Hood.

Hood?

“So it's true.” Brenna sat on her desk with crossed legs and arms. Her sheathed silver sword awkwardly lay on the table.

Drac looked at Brenna. “What?”

“‘The man became many and sliced thousands’”

“Thousands is an exaggeration, but I do have strange talents.” Drac smiled. A knock on the and the blonde receptionist entered.

“Yes, Miss,” she said as she pulled down her pencil skirt. Her eyes dart between Drac and her boss.

Five floors. That quick. I guess the staff are not so normal either, said hood after his abrupt absence

Welcome back, Hood. Finished sulking?

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Find-”

“Wait. You already know, don't you?” Drac interrupted.

The receptionist looked away.

“You knew as soon as you saw my face.” A drop of sweat dripped on her forehead.

“What’s got you so scared?” Drac wondered. He took a few steps closer and with each step, the receptionist became more nervous. Drac leaned in close enough to whisper, “Who is scarier than me?” Aura oozed out of Drac's skin. The air changed around him. The receptionist became spooked.

The frightened staff worker blurted out. “THE CLEMENT PARTY! They were hired by your brother, Asa, as escorts and came back without him! They said he was kidnapped by a vine monster. Brought back a lot of his luggage.”

“Where are they?” asked Drac.

“On a mission to collect beaver bear pelts. It's a task they do every month by schedule. They are coming back tomorrow.”

Drac leaned back with a smile. And shooed off the staff with his hand. The receptionist obliged and rushed out of the office.

“Oh god, the Clements.” She shook her head.

“Bad reputation?”

“No, just aggravating.”

Then why was she so afraid?

Racist ass bitch.

Drac met his party by the rose columns, and a sulking and armour-less noble waited on the side.

“Fergie, where's your party?”

“That's not my na-” Fergus sighed. "They left after giving reception the request-end notice. The request was to...escort me.” Fergus looked down, wiping his boot on the ground.

Such a lonely lad. No wonder he stayed behind.

Drac spoke louder for Flida to hear. “Found a place for us to stay.” Flida held a thumb up. “And Drink?” with a smile, Flida put her thumb higher.

"Great!" Drac tapped the noble on the chest. “Come with?”

Fergus’s face twisted in confusion.

“I will teach you aura control on the way.”

Fergus’s face brightened up and he moved away from the side to join the group. Drac wrapped his arms around Flida and Marina, and with a large smile that squints his eyes said, “Let's get drunk.”

[https://i.imgur.com/deMzpZJ.png]

Drac sloppily opened the door to his inn room. Drunk and tired, he sludged toward the bed for a well-earned rest. A foot from the bed, something changed in the dark room.

Hold. Someone is here.

A slim line covered in a sliver of aura went over Drac's head. The world became slow as the loop squeezed towards his neck. With inhumane reflexes, Drac brought his hands to obstruct the string. The back of his hands bled until he concentrated his aura and broke the string.

Let me take over.

Drac let go, and Hood took the reins.

With a glance, Hood flung a string of blue. He felt it attach and pulled it down. The masked, black-dressed assailant dropped. Before the attacker could fall on the bed, Heilong was pulled out. Hood lunged and stabbed the man in the stomach while in mid-air. Hood continued pushing and carried the man across the bed to the window ahead. Hood threw another line from his left hand and pulled the latch to open the window with a gust of Ventus. Two men fly out the window. Another line swung the two up and above the roof. Hood landed with silent rune boots. He lay a dead body down.

“We are surrounded.” Hood looked around at the empty roof, knowing his enemies lurked. Hood used aura sense. He flipped his Sword and assumed his reverse grip stance

An attacker came with a dagger at Hood’s head. He twisted to the right and blocked with Heilong. A blue knife formed in his hand and stabbed the masked woman nine times in the belly. Another swipe from behind, and Hood bent down, turned around while low, and cut a man in half. An aura imbued throwing knife targeted Hood and he weaved to the left and returned his own. Twenty metres away, an attacker’s head exploded. Hood put his mask and hood on. A pellet was thrown, and strange gas spewed. Hood subtly tuned Ventus to blow the gas away. Another pellet was thrown at him and a thicker gas came out. Out of the mist, three swords come to slice. Hood dodged all but one which was redirected down with Heilong. An attacker came out of the cloud unbalanced and fell to the floor beheaded.

Hood grew bored.

He threw his sword, Heilong and it lands in a person's face with a loud squishy sound. A blue string was connected to the sword and with finesse he pulled out the blade from the bloody face. With a whip on the string, the last attack died from a downward slash. A twist of the magical string and it came back to Hood.

“So Jac finally made his move.”