Westminster Bank

Chapter 256: Chapter 161: Screw Him

In the moonlit training grounds, two figures intertwined, blades flashing. Sparks flew with every clang of steel.

Bass seized an opening, turning to sweep his sword horizontally while punching out with his free hand. The gust of wind from his surging Spiritual Power lifted the pale purple bangs from the woman’s forehead, revealing fairy-like eyes filled with a terrifying indifference.

But Isabella remained unfazed. As she continued to press forward with her blade, she caught Bass’s incoming punch with her other hand.

Bass’s eyes widened. His arm went numb, and before he could react, the world spun around him as he was slammed to the ground with a shoulder throw.

’I’ve lost again.’

Bass slumped to the ground, a bitter smile on his face. This was the same outcome they’d seen countless times tonight.

Isabella presented the sword to him, projected by her Spiritual Power. "Again."

’Miss Isabella, I’m completely out of energy.’

That’s what Bass wanted to say. Instead, he just silently gripped his sword and used it to push himself to his feet. He gave the blade a flourish, sending a flash of silver light through the air.

But this time, Isabella didn’t attack. After a long moment, she abruptly plunged her blade into the stone pavers of the training grounds. "The crow has been killed," she said.

"What crow?" Bass didn’t understand.

Isabella said, "That’s enough for today. You should get some rest, Mr. Bass."

With that, she walked away. Bass pulled the blade from the ground and followed her. "Are you thinking about tomorrow’s Dragon Hunting Ceremony, Miss?"

Isabella didn’t deny it. "I’m wondering whether the Dragon Guide I hired is reliable."

During the Dragon Hunting Ceremony, every Dragon Slayer is assigned their own professional Dragon Guide to lure, distract, and locate a Dragon Descendant.

"Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Master Jack."

Bass remembered that Isabella had sent people out to find a suitable Dragon Guide, and that this Master Jack was supposedly from a hereditary line of Dragon Guides in Norway.

The role of Dragon Guide isn’t defined by Professional Law; it’s just a regular profession, similar to an Alchemist.

Their primary responsibility is to lure members of the Dragon Race and Dragon Descendants into traps set by Dragon Slayers for the kill. They aren’t necessarily powerful fighters—in fact, most are just ordinary members of the Old Race. They need to be agile, possess extensive knowledge of the occult, and have a thorough understanding of dragon behavior.

"He disappeared the day after arriving at the manor. Dragon Guides are like that. He’s probably gone to the Dracul Mountain Range to observe their movements."

"But it’s also possible he took the money and ran... The lesser families have had it happen a few times recently..." Bass whispered.

Isabella said, "I already gave him the Dragon Guide’s medal as a down payment. Once the Dragon Hunting Ceremony starts, as long as he is still within the Beowulf Family’s barrier, the guidance will find him..."

"If he’s not here by then, we’ll issue a warrant for his arrest. It won’t be too late to find a replacement."

"If I knew the techniques of a Dragon Guide, I could ease your worries, Miss," Bass said.

Isabella didn’t answer, she just quickened her pace.

.........

"Baron, you can’t!" Jack gripped Baron’s sleeve tightly. "Beowulf Manor is crawling with Demon Hunters! If you set off an alarm, how is that any different from a suicide mission?"

"I know you want to save that maid... but this will expose us!"

Baron glanced toward the tragedy about to unfold, prying Jack’s fingers from his sleeve. "I got her into this. I’m responsible."

"What are you going to do?"

"Killing him seems a bit too cruel. I’ll just break his legs. At least the Old Blood Clan won’t re-hire a cripple."

"The Chief Steward might know a way out of here, like with some kind of higher-level clearance."

"Then I’ll beat him up first," Baron said. "Then I’ll break his legs."

He flung open his trench coat and leaped out like a predatory bat in the night.

’A dark and windy night. No surveillance. The perfect time to make a move.’

’Not to mention, I happened to learn a few "interrogation techniques" from the Blood Loss Knight.’

.........

"Decker! Didn’t you hear my command? Hurry up, or I’ll have to start questioning your competence."

The Chief Steward spoke, his voice cold. The attendants beside him also watched coldly.

Decker looked at Wanda, held fast by two large men. Her face was a mask of sorrow and despair, and her eyes, fixed on him, burned with defiance.

He swallowed, tightening his grip on the knife the Chief Steward had handed him. He hesitated, wavered, faltered, but could not bring himself to step forward.

The Chief Steward’s patience wore thin. "I’m not asking you to kill her. All you have to do is, on our...

"Her name is Wanda, I believe..." an attendant leaned in to whisper in the Chief Steward’s ear.

The Chief Steward continued, "...carve a lovely little scar on Miss Wanda’s pretty face... Now hurry up!"

Hearing this, Decker swallowed and stepped forward, spurred on by their insistent voices.

He raised the blade toward Wanda, whose eyes were welling with tears. His hand wouldn’t stop shaking. Her dull, lifeless, light-blue eyes made his heart pound with panic.

’He felt like he was back in the old days, fishing with his father. The marlin that speared his father’s thigh... it had the same lifeless, vacant eyes.’

The cold stares of the Chief Steward and his attendants were suffocating. The pressure made it almost impossible for Decker to breathe.

Decker’s hands and lips trembled. "Chief Steward..." he stammered, "we’re both Elian Sil people. I... I speak Gaelic, too... You’re from Lewis, and I’m from Harris..."

The Chief Steward merely sneered. "I haven’t spoken Gaelic in a long time...

Hurry up. We’re running out of time. I still need to find this Ronnie that Miss Wanda mentioned... or maybe it’s your roommate, Mr. Schumacher..."

Decker looked at Wanda, swallowed hard, and began muttering "I’m sorry" over and over, even as the tip of the blade pressed against her skin...

At that moment, Wanda and the attendants beside her suddenly stared wide-eyed at him. Decker assumed he had frightened them and hurried to say, "I’m sorry... I’ll be gentle..."