Chapter 468: 468 Scarlet Manor

Chapter 468: Chapter 468 Scarlet Manor

“Lord…”

Lucius and others, who had become formal knights, were well aware of one thing: if a creature outside the city was referred to as a “Lord”, it meant it had total control over a certain territory.

Furthermore, they were directly protected by the ‘King’ himself and were granted a special ‘Land Deed’.

Even small regional lords were worth serious attention from the Knight Regiment.

“Nicholas… why is he a Lord?”

For a moment,

Images of team members trapped at Stuart Manor, the appearance of the Old King, the escort of the Crowmen, and so on surfaced in their minds.

All of these were directly related to one person.

“Because of the appearance of the Old King, Stuart Manor and its surrounding area were completely destroyed… It took the Plague Knights weeks to completely clear the remnants of the plague in the forest.

According to reports from the Knight Regiment,

The ‘Land Deed’ of Stuart Manor was reportedly taken away by the Old King.

A month later, when the Investigation Regiment conducted another investigation on Stuart Manor, they found that the completely destroyed manor had been rebuilt in a short time and was once again protected by the ‘Land Deed’.

The Ghoul family that once lived in the manor had turned into Crowmen.

According to intel from the scouts, there were at least five “Demon Level” Crowmen living in the Hill Castle.

Due to a new neutral stance being taken by the Old King’s territory and with the Big Expedition nearing… or perhaps it was because Mr. Black White said a few words, the Holy City did not attempt to conquer this area and allowed it to exist.

Now, it seems… that all of this is directly related to this fellow student.

On the surface, he is a trainee knight within the Holy City, but secretly, he is a small Lord outside the city… Jane, it seems your Mysterious Department has produced a remarkable figure.”

About Lucius’ assessment, Jane, who was also born in the Mysterious Department like Han Dong, remained silent.

Although Jane didn’t show any change on the surface, deep down, she was already stirred.

Moreover, the assessment given by Lucius was rather positive… He didn’t seem to regard Han Dong as a traitor.

After all, Han Dong is a student of Black White.

If there is a problem with Han Dong, it indirectly implies that there is a problem with Mr. Black White… And if there was a problem this Prophet, the Holy City would have fallen long ago.

“No wonder Mr. Black White, who hasn’t accepted any students for twenty years, unexpectedly chose a student by name and surname… It’s all because of this factor.

Indeed, without some fundamental changes, it would be difficult for the Holy City to improve its current situation.”

Being a knight of the new generation, Lucius had a relatively open mind. As long as Han Dong’s stance was inclined towards humanity and the Holy City, he would not have any objections.

“But… it seems like we have been tricked by this kid again.

Starting from the fall into the valley, this guy was subtly leading us… Even though he wouldn’t give his opinion on our usual actions, he would indirectly ‘lead’ us when making key decisions, through words, actions, or Simon of the Rock and Soil Clan.

He led us step by step to this current situation.

‘The Invitation of Scarlet Manor’… I reckon this kid had planned to use it here from the beginning? Looks like you tricked us again, kid.”

Having said that,

Lucius stared at Han Dong, who was at the front of the team, chatting vivaciously with the Count, and couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

“Looking forward to your performance at the Knight Conference next year…”

…

At present, due to Han Dong’s ‘Lord’ identity and holding an invitation,

He was engaging in an ‘equal’ conversation with the Count.

“Ha ha ha!”

Suddenly, the Count’s wide scarlet mouth erupted with extraordinarily exaggerated laughter, causing the blood bats ‘bound’ in his throat to continuously fly out from the depths of his oral cavity due to his manic laughter.

“Even a Great Lord who hasn’t reached the level of demons is so foolish, and you all played him like a puppet.

It seems that all the kingdom of ghouls are low IQ beings. Even if it’s just a ‘small land deed’, it shouldn’t have been granted to such a fool.

Ha ha ha! It’s hilarious… Furious and self-sacrificing as a Lord, what a brainless fool.

His soul will be forever imprisoned in the abyss, sleeping in pain.

However, to exchange his humble life for the arrival of the Old King, it’s not too bad!”

The Count was entranced by Han Dong’s story of how he deceived the Great Lord and seized the Land Deed, as though he hadn’t heard such an interesting story in a long time…

The delighted Count even put one of his hands on Han Dong’s shoulder,

Giving off the appearance of being very friendly.

Grinding his sharp, black teeth together, the Count continued to ask, “So, how did you change the Land Deed? You’re not from ‘M.O.’. Are you?”

The corners of Han Dong’s mouth curved up slightly, and he slowly raised his arm.

The Count had a ring of metal spikes around his eye area, and his real eyes were located on the surface of his tongue.

He stuck out his long tongue, opened an eye from the tip imprinted with a seal of blood… seeing through the surface and deciphering the essence.

Through the flesh on the back of his hand, he faintly saw a pale yellow mark.

This mark scared the Count into pausing abruptly, only to immediately burst into wild laughter.

“Ha ha ha, ah~ so that’s it! Thank you again to the new Lord of Stuart Manor for attending the banquet. I will definitely treat you as our highest-ranking guest.

If there is any lack of hospitality, you can bring it directly to me.

Welcome again to my ‘Scarlet Manor’.”

…

‘Scarlet Manor’

It is situated in the most flat forest area on top of Alagard Mountain.

The total area of the manor is comparable to a small town.

The exterior of the manor was separated from the forest by a black metal fence with hollowed-out flower patterns, a fence which was eight meters high and entwined with deep red thorns.

On top of the fence, every ten meters stood a gargoyle penetrated with blood vessels.

Due to the Count’s own return,

There was no need for an inspection.

The giant iron gate was swiftly opened by two ‘biochemical gatekeepers’.

The four-meter-tall gatekeepers were threaded with various fresh blood tubes which served as their body’s energy drives and transmission devices.

A large number of blood-related servants were in the front yard, responsible for the manor’s repair and cleaning, as well as extermination of insects.

They wore light-colored headscarves and plain aprons.

Apart from humans, there were also workers from other races… Upon seeing the Count and his party enter the manor, they all stopped their work and bowed at a 90-degree angle, showing the most sincere respect.

After bypassing the front garden, the pond area, and passing through the corridor,

Behind the fountain where the Count’s sculpture was placed, a grand, magnificent, noble and elegant French style mansion appeared before them.

The mansion had a crimson Mansard roof, and the off-white walls were decorated with a multitude of carvings.

The entire building seemed to be made of a special stone material that could largely isolate the interior from the outside environment.

“Lord, next our servants who take care of the mansion will arrange your accommodation… During the three days before the ‘Red Banquet’ begins, I will definitely treat you as our highest-ranking guests.

If there is any lack of hospitality, you can bring it directly to me.

Welcome again to my ‘Scarlet Manor’.”