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558 Tamara Family
Lumian savored the tang of fermented grape juice bought from a street vendor as he coolly surveyed the suite rented by the adventurer, Louis Berry. He occasionally cast a discerning eye over Aquina Street, on the lookout for any potential monitors.
A little over half an hour ago, Lumian had transformed his appearance and changed into a different outfit. He had seemingly âteleportedâ to a nearby street before returning to secure a suitable room.
Soon enough, Lumian spotted Lugano cautiously heading out to fetch an extra breakfast for Ludwig. A chuckle escaped him.
This guy was still spooked from yesterdayâs attack.
However, unless the members of the Fisheries Guild had succumbed to the corrupting influence of superpowers, losing control of their emotions and rational thinking, it was improbable for them to target Lugano, the interpreter and guide. Louis Berryâs response the previous day had sent a clear message to everyone:
If you canât take me out directly, keep your sights off those around me. You might eliminate me, but I, Louis Berry, can do the same. Thereâll come a time when your Fisheries Guildâs committee members, your kids, and descendants travel without protection or lack strength. Wanna guess if Iâd dare to make a move or if I have the capability?
Either find an opportunity to bring me down with all youâve got, or play nice!
Faced with such a resolute âanswer,â the rational committee members of the Fisheries Guild would know what to do. Louis Berry, the adventurer, wasnât bound by official rules like a Beyonder or a cop. Expecting him not to involve family in the game was unrealistic.
Moreover, considering his recent behavior and the circulating rumors, he was a daring adventurer, reminiscent of Gehrman Sparrow. Known for his aggression, madness, and coldness, there were no limits to what such a person might do.
Of course, Lumian wasnât letting his guard down entirely. Lugano would either have Ludwigâs âcompanyâ in the future, or heâd be under Lumianâs watchful eye at all times. After all, beyond the Fisheries Guild, many individuals in Port Santa were secretly plotting to exploit this opportunity for their own gain. Disguised as Fisheries Guild members, they could attack the interpreter and godson of the adventurer Louis Berry, intensifying the conflict and stirring up trouble prematurely.
Ignoring conspiracies at this level would be unacceptable for a Conspirer.
After Lugano returned to his suite on the fifth floor of Solow Motel with a heap of breakfast, Lumian purposefully avoided looking at the high-backed chair, seemingly adorned with a golden straw hat, positioned strategically at the dining table. He turned on his heel and exited the room, ready to explore the surroundings.
Stepping into the corridor, Lumian immediately spotted a burly man standing near the staircase, barely reaching 1.7 meters in height.
The man, with brown hair, brown eyes, and rugged skin, held a distinctive long mouth cigarette between his lips, fixing his gaze on Lumian.
In Highlander, the man inquired, âWho sent you here to keep an eye on Louis Berry?â
Lumian couldnât help but let out a soft chuckle.
âAre you not here to monitor Louis Berry yourself?
âI didnât even inquire about your sender. Why the sudden curiosity?â
He responded in flawless Highlander as well.
The man, with the long mouth cigarette dangling, contemplated for a moment before nodding in agreement, making way for the stairs.
Lumian strolled past him, descending the staircase step by step.
As he departed, the manâs gaze took on a gradually ominous edge.
He raised his left hand, delicately twisting the special long mouth cigarette.
Taking a deep breath, he exhaled into the cigarette, and in silence, a slender steel needle shot forth from the charred tobacco, aimed directly at Lumianâs back, mere two meters away.
It was a blow dart, originating from certain tribes in the primitive forests of the Southern Continent. Typically, blow darts were one to two meters long, making them unsuitable for concealment or sneak attacks. However, bounty hunters, followers of the God of Steam and Machinery with strong hands, modified them into a more portable versionâonly slightly longer than regular cigarettes.
While this modification increased portability and its concealed nature, it sacrificed some power and limited its range to a mere four to five meters. When paired with specially crafted arrows carrying anesthetic and lethal toxins, it remained a favored tool among bounty hunters on both Northern and Southern Continents.
The man had concealed the blow dart within the long mouth cigarette, intending to lull the target and strike when the opportune moment arrived.
His objective: to subdue Lumian and extract information about the identity of his employer.
The steel needle flashed past, but Lumian seemed to have anticipated the attack. Just as the man blew air to propel the needle, Lumian swiftly bent forward, arched his spine, and dodged the blow dart in an almost inhuman contortion.
With a soft poof, the steel needle embedded itself into the wooden staircase. đreewđ˛bđ§đđŻđl.cđm
In the next moment, the assailantâs eyes widened as Lumian, in a display of flexibility surpassing human limits, swung a boxing glove.
Bang!
He fainted.
Swiftly recovering from his contorted evasion, Lumian bent down, scooped up the unconscious assailant, and dragged him into his rented room.
Taking advantage of the assailantâs unconscious state, Lumian administered a dose of truth serum and calculated the time for him to regain consciousness.
Examining the unremarkable, ordinary face of his assailant, Lumian calmly listened to the panicked shout.
âI just wanted to incapacitate you and find a spot to interrogate you about your employer!
âThe poison on the arrow is just an anesthetic!â
Squatting in front of the man, Lumian smiled and responded, âNow, let me ask you, whoâs your employer?â
âItâs Juan Oro!â the brown-haired, brown-eyed man blurted out.
Lumian chuckled and probed further, âIs that so?â
âYes, no, itâs actually someone elseâŚâ At this point, horror overcame the man, and he fell silent.
Lumian prompted him patiently.
âWho is it?â
After struggling for a few seconds, the man involuntarily spoke,
âRubiĂł Paco.â
Rubió⌠Why is he keeping tabs on me? Does he seek to gain from the adventurerâs activities? Is that why he didnât approach me discreetly to share information? Lumian nodded subtly and straightened up.
âYour breath stinks. Remember to brush your teeth more often.â
ââŚâ The assailant looked perplexed, unable to fathom why the conversation had taken this turn. Nonetheless, he replied half-heartedly, âIâm not a fan of brushing my teeth.â
Lumian shook his head in disdain, uninterested in the blow dart as a trophy. Leaving the room, he left a parting message: âMake sure to lock the door behind me.â
âŚ
In Trier, within Quartier de la CathĂŠdrale CommĂŠmorative, Franca and Jennaâs rented apartment.
They had already received Madam Judgmentâs response via Rabbit Chasel.
Before departing, Rabbit Chasel, adorned with a miniature top hat, shrunken gold-rimmed glasses, and a diminutive black trench coat, made an unusual request.
âCan I use a custom-made revolver as compensation for delivering the next five letters?â
Jennaâs mouth hung open, momentarily taken aback.
âSure.â
She questioned, âWhy canât you conjure one yourself?â
Similar to your top hat, glasses, and trench coat.
âThey have no practical use, but I hope the revolver does. The bullets need to be custom-made too,â Rabbit Chasel explained earnestly.
Jenna blinked and acquiesced.
Once the messenger departed, Franca commented with a peculiar expression,
âWhy does it feel like it has shifted from pursuing knowledge to pursuing strength?â
Jenna wanted to defend Rabbit Chasel but struggled to find a compelling excuse. Instead, she cursed, âItâs not necessarily a bad thing. It might even aid me in future battles!
âMoreover, the stronger the messenger, the safer the letter deliveries.â
Franca, lacking a messenger, suddenly felt a twinge of envy. Without delay, she unfolded Madam Judgmentâs reply.
âThe Tamara family, one of the five noble families from the Fourth Epochâs Tudor Empire, held a hereditary duke aristocratic title, akin to the Amon youâre familiar with, albeit slightly lower in status.
âIn the era when the gods roamed the land, families capable of becoming great nobles undoubtedly possessed angelic powers. According to the information, the Tamara family had existed for many years before Alista Tudor became the Blood Emperor. They were renowned nobles from the previous empire.
âThey had the coat of arms changed once and two internal divisions. This is why Tamara was buried on different levels of the catacombs at different times.
âInitially, their coat of arms consisted of thorns, a shieldwall, and vertical swords. Later, it became an open door, with the vertical sword acting as the crack.
âThis represents a significant change in the Tamara family. It shifted from being dominated by the Justiciar pathway to being dominated by the Apprentice pathway. However, no corresponding historical information has appeared for the time being.
âA small number of members of the Tamara family, who adhere to the Judgment pathway, have survived to this day and are secretly active.
âThe other Tamara group had established a close connection with the Demoness family during the Tudor Empireâs era. During the Fifth Epoch, a secret organization known as the Theosophy Order emerged. It had Demoness figures and originated from Tamaraâs Apprentice pathway. Thereâs reason to believe that they are still cooperating.
âThis Tamara group has been estranged from the other one for many years, refusing to acknowledge each other.
âThe Tamaras of the Judgment pathway also experienced a division. The exact situation is unknownâŚâ
Upon reading this, Franca and Jenna shared the same thought.
The Tamara family is indeed connected to the Demonesses!
They continued reading the contents of the letter.
âThe person who led you to the Tamara familyâs tomb and discovered the Mirror World Fragment is likely targeting that special mirror world and the Demoness Sect. Donât worry for the time being. Just be vigilant against coincidences, theft, and scams around youâŚâ
âŚ
In the ensuing days, Lumian, along with Lugano and Ludwig, remained unharmed.
Port Santa seemed to settle back into a semblance of normalcy. Those secretly observing displayed no indications of advancing further.
Just as Lumian contemplated taking further actions to elucidate all details before the sea prayer ritual in early November, the Knight of Swords brought fresh information regarding Nolfi and Batna.
His face maintaining a pale-white hue, he spoke to Lumian, âIâve identified a suspect involved in the kidnapping of the two targets. Should I handle it alone, or shall we proceed together?â
Lumian took a moment to consider before responding, âTogether.â