C131: An Irritating, Suspicious, Narrow-Eyed Man

At night, Florence walked the empty, cobblestone streets of the village, her silhouette cutting a figure against the moonlight.

Accompanying her were two other maids; their movements were eerily silent as they trailed two paces behind her.

The villagers had long since retreated into their homes. Doors were shut tightly, windows latched.

Only those with power or purpose still wandered outside at this hour.

Even after the Church had taken control of the village and suppressed the panic surrounding the so-called violet beast, the fear had never truly vanished. Rumors still lingered stubbornly in people’s minds.

The villagers still avoided the streets after dark whenever possible, locking themselves away the moment the dark settled into absolute silence.

As she walked, Florence lifted the small pouch in her hand and weighed it lightly.

“Two Alan. Not a bad haul at all.”

The transaction had gone smoothly. For just an additional batch of the stimulant, "Lunar Spirit", she had secured two Alan coins.

Normally, the Tear Drop group would only receive their designated supply during the agreed distribution period at the end of the week.

But Loyal Joseph was unusual. That man did not purchase the stimulant for the Tear Drop as a whole. He wanted the entire cache for his own private consumption.

A greedy man.

‘Where did he even acquire such wealth?’ she wondered.

Two Alan coins were not a trivial amount for a thug from a backwater village. It amounted to forty shillings, or four hundred coppies. Given that an average villager produced a mere five to seven coppies a day, and barely kept half of that after taxes and basic necessities, they would be fortunate to save three or four.

That meant Loyal had spent nearly six months’ worth of his own personal wages.

“How utterly unnecessary.”

If he had simply waited another five days, the regular monthly shipment would have reached the Tear Drop anyway, according to the arrangement between Madam Amanda and Danz.

Still, it was none of Florence’s concern how those people chose to waste their earnings.

“I appreciate your presence on this excursion,” Florence said, her voice carrying a formal edge as they navigated the familiar path toward the church.

The two maids behind her lowered their heads respectfully without speaking.

Although Florence herself was already a Foundation Stage Dhampir of the Vampire Path, precautions still had to be maintained. The two women accompanying her were Apprentice Stage followers of the same path, capable enough to serve as escorts if necessary.

As they crossed the desolate central square, the moonlight casting long shadows across the fountain.

They passed the stone statue of the Moon Maiden standing silently beneath the moonlight. Her pace slowed. She narrowed her eyes.

‘Strange. Why is there such a foul odor here?’

A foul scent drifted through the air. Like spoiled meat, left too long beneath the sun.

As they proceeded into the empty street, her eyes narrowed further. She stopped in her tracks, her hand hovering near the hidden dagger at her waist.

“Who goes there?” she asked calmly, directed her question toward the darkness between two leaning houses, where the moonlight failed to reach.

“...”

“...”

The two maids behind Florence immediately shifted their attention toward the same spot, changing into a defensive stances. The silence of the village seemed to amplify, the wind dying down.

Silence.

At that moment, a sound of applause echoed through the empty street.

Florence’s violet eyes flared.

‘Heighten Senses.’

Her senses sharpened instantly. The darkness before her cleared as her sight pierced through the shadows.

Yet without waiting for her to discover, a figure slowly emerged from behind the house and stepped into the pale moonlight.

He was a slender man with narrow eyes. A faint trace of bruise on his neck. He wore a neatly black suit and a pristine white bowtie despite the late hour.

He clapped his hands, with a wide grin spreading across his face.

Florence frowned.

“Sir, how may I—”

Before she could finish speaking, the thin figure interrupted, his voice smooth and dripping with politeness.

“Good evening, ladies. It is truly a pleasure to see you all in such radiant health.” He offered a low bow, the grin still stretched across his face.

A grin so irritating that it immediately stirred annoyance within Florence.

‘...A damned courter.’ She thought, her lips curling in distaste.

She knew the type well. This was undoubtedly a man lurking in the dark to accost women with unwanted courting, or worse.

There was no reason for an unfamiliar man to stand alone in the middle of an empty village street at this hour unless he intended trouble.

The man was unfamiliar. Florence had never seen him anywhere in the village before.

Was he a newcomer?

If that was the case, then it would not matter much if he suddenly disappeared.

‘Still… he reeks of something unpleasant.’

The foul smell surrounding him lingered. Besides, his face itself was irritating.

She did not like him.

“Sir, I must—” she asked again, her tone dripping with coldness.

But the man immediately interrupted her once again.

“Shh. Just allow me to conclude my address, if you would be so kind?”

“...”

Florence ceased her speech. She cast a sideways glance at the two maids flanking her. They caught her gaze and offered a subtle nod, remaining alert.

The thin man smiled wider, clearly pleased with himself.

“Miss, I must admit, seeing such lovely ladies walking through this lonely street has truly brightened my heart.” He pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. “Honestly, I am rather worried. What if the plan went astray? What if the lady failed to appear? The information I obtained was incomplete, after all, and I feared I might have to wait until tomorrow night instead. What a tragedy that would have been.”

“?”

What was this lunatic yapping about? A wave of impatience washed over Florence.

“Sir, I shall not ask you—”

“Miss,” the man cut her off again.

‘This!’ Florence clenched her fists. A vein visibly pulsed against her forehead.

Three times. This man had interrupted her three times! Where were his manners? His etiquette felt as though it had been chewed apart and spat out by stray dogs!

The slender man calmly pulled out a cane from beneath his coat. It was an unusual cane, topped with a silver eagle head.

He bowed slightly, though even the motion looked stiff, as if he did not know how to do it properly.

“You likely possess no recollection of me, but I remember you quite vividly, Miss Maid," he said with a grin, "Your presence is… remarkably potent in my eyes. It stands out like a beacon in this place.”

‘...’

Was this fool seriously attempting to court them?

Florence sighed. She opened her mouth one more time. “Sir, I have heard enough of your—”

“Permit me to re-introduce myself,” the man cut her off yet again. “My name is Jack. Jack Marion.”

“Grrr.” Florence bit her lips. Anger flared inside her.

She calmed down her heart, searching her memory.

‘Marion?’ The name sounded familiar. Florence was sure she’d heard it somewhere before, but her memory refused to surface.

She cast a bewildered look back at the maids, but both women looked equally perplexed.

‘I have never laid eyes upon this man. What is he babbling about?’

The man adjusted his bowtie leisurely before lifting his head again.

“Once more, it is delightful to meet you again,” he said, his grin widening. “Miss Vampire.”

“...”

Florence’s eyes widened instantly. Her pupils dilated, violet light flaring within them with blinding intensity as the temperature around her seemed to drop several degrees.

At the same instant, the confusion vanished from the two maids beside her. Their postures shifted to offensive. Their expressions hardened, killing intent surfacing without restraint as their gazes locked onto Jack.

“Sir.” Florence’s voice became cold and sharp enough to cut flesh. “Who are you?”

“...”

Jack offered no verbal reply. He only continued to grin in that maddeningly calm manner. Slowly, his narrowed eyes opened a little wider, revealing the ordinary brown irises beneath them.

For several long seconds, neither side moved.

Florence subtly adjusted her footing, carefully observing the man before her. She watched for his slightest movement, if his hands would move toward a hidden weapon, the tightening of muscles, or the activation of a Path’s ability.

She could not determine what extraordinary Path he walked. Yet seeing him so confident, even after revealing their identity, she knew it was better to be cautious.

However, contrary to her expectation—

“Well then, farewell, miss. It was lovely seeing you.”

The man simply bowed again and turned on his heel, suddenly bolted away.

“...”

“...”

“...?”

Florence and the two maids froze in place, stunned.

They stared at the thin figure sprinting down the street, the clicks of his shoes echoing against the stone road as he fled at full speed.

Did this man really just… run away?

Their minds struggled to process the absurdity of it.

After all that confidence, after provoking them directly—

—he was running?

They had never expected him to simply start running after such a dramatic confrontation!

‘He’s actually fleeing!’ Florence’s eyes widened in alarm.

This man knew what they were. It would be catastrophic if he were allowed to leave this place alive!

“After him!” Florence shouted.

The two maids launched forward immediately, their bodies blurring into motion. Florence herself surged after Jack at terrifying speed, her black hair whipping violently behind her.

Anger burned in all three of them.

‘How dare he?’

Reveal their secret, provoke them, then turn his back and flee as if mocking them?

Did he truly think they would fail to catch him?

Veins protruded on Florence’s forehead. An unexpected anger consumed her mind!

“You are a dead man!” She shouted, her lips blooming into a cold smirk, revealing her white, sharp teeth!

Yet, the moment they began their pursuit, the man’s voice tore through the silent night!

“HELP!”

“...?”

Even while sprinting after him, Florence stared at him in disbelief.

“MONSTERS! BEASTS IN THE STREETS! SOMEBODY HELP ME! AHHHHGGG!!!”

‘This cursed, wretched man!’ Florence’s face contorted with rage.

"I shall grant you the most painful death!"

Florence halted her steps. She raised her arm abruptly.

Dark red liquid burst from beneath her dress, rapidly hardening into the shape of a blood lance. She seized it and hurled it forward with monstrous force!

The blood spear tore through the air straight toward Jack!

She smirked triumphantly, her fangs bared.

‘Caught you.’

*Kang!*

However, the instant the blood lance reached Jack, it suddenly exploded into a mist of gore!

A high-pitched metallic sound rang through the street, vibrating painfully in their ears.

“!”

Florence’s eyes widened in shock. It was as though her attack had struck an invisible wall!

“NO!”

‘The Inspectors!’

Alarm exploded through her mind.

“Retreat!” she shouted to her two maids, who were still fiercely pursuing Jack.

But it was too late.

*Bang!*

A thunderous crack echoed through the street.

Instantly, a hole was blown clean through one maid’s skull.

Blood and fragments sprayed across the dirt road as her body collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

The remaining maid halted abruptly, staring at the fallen body in stunned confusion.

“Hiiiikkk!” Then panic flooded her expression.

*SWISH*

A sharp hissing sound sliced through the night.

The remaining maid’s head slid cleanly from her shoulders, flying midair.

For a split second, her body remained standing upright before the severed head tumbled onto the dirt road with a wet thud.

Florence's heart hammered against her ribs. She immediately spun around and fled without hesitation!

Yet—

[“All Stagefarer here, Retreat is DISALLOWED!”]

A cold voice tore through the night!

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