“So, what do you want from me this time?”
Hearing the young man’s confusion, Liyou’s gaze remained calm as she continued. “Well… we’ve been talking too long, and the Blood Race folk in the room seem to be getting impatient. We still have a little time left, so I’ll tell you about the next plan. Whether you carry it out or not, I’ll respect your choice. Really, I will respect your choice…”
Liyou truly trusted Sang a great deal, treating him like one of their own. First, she had brought up the roster to foster a sense of belonging in him. Then she laid out the entire plan to build trust. And finally, she didn’t force him to accept the mission.
Where on earth could you find an organization this good?
Liyou was a beautiful young woman of about eighteen, with emerald-green hair cut to a neat, shoulder-length bob. Her features were sweet, complete with dimples.
At that moment, dressed in her hotel staff uniform, she radiated boundless gentleness.
The next instant, Liyou grew serious. “Among the Four Great Families, only the Hill Family in the Northern Region upholds eternal neutrality. Due to a host of objective factors, the humans there have always endured great suffering, fueling a fierce will to resist. Since ancient times, the Northern Region has harbored countless rebel factions. On top of that, there are rumors of Ancient Titans—whose existence no one can confirm—and the Werewolf Clan, which stirs up chaos from time to time.
“Now, Orcus Hill, the current Family Head of the Hill Family—the greatest lord in the Northern Region—has been grievously wounded by the Wolf King and hangs on the brink of death.
“That’s why we see our opportunity…
“After the last crusade against the True Ancestor in the Central Hub, the 【Hunting Organization】 came to a stark realization: it’s next to impossible to wipe out the True Ancestor in a single stroke. We want to seize this moment to annihilate the Hill Family, seize the Northern Region, and turn it into a stronghold for human organizations fighting the Blood Race. Ideally, we’ll unite with other anti-Blood Race groups to forge a mighty force. We’ll build our strength patiently, bide our time, and one day launch a full-scale war on the Blood Race!”
Sang listened to the plan, bit his lip, and asked, “So, what do you hope I’ll do?”
“It’s much like your mission at 【Heavenly Key】. You’d just handle passing along information and some other support work.” Liyou assumed Sang would accept this task.
But to her surprise,
Sang shook his head. Back when he had agreed to infiltrate 【Heavenly Key】 as a spy for the 【Hunting Organization】, it had been out of sheer necessity. For one thing, he’d been chosen as the True Ancestor’s Blood Servant regardless. For another, Hyacinth had coerced and tempted him into it.
Now, Sang knew little about the Hill Family’s true state, but Snow Hill was at least a flawless, perfect knight. He couldn’t fathom any reason to betray her—especially since she had saved him from the Titan just today, from Samuel Cape in the past, and had even indirectly granted him four months of freedom.
“I don’t want to take part in this operation,” Sang said sincerely.
Hyacinth clenched her fist at those words, dying to sock the young man. She was likely thinking of the comrades lost in the battle with the True Ancestor, but with the Blood Race in the room, she restrained herself.
Hyacinth lacked the Supernatural Ability—Telepathy—so she couldn’t even speak to Sang aloud. Even so, he could read the fury in her eyes.
Liyou pressed on with her persuasion. “An Xiguang, I think I understand what’s on your mind. Every member of the Blood Race is inherently evil. Snow Hill only saved you because of your potential usefulness. Even those tales of her shining with justice aren’t born of any real desire to protect humanity. She’s an emotionless knight, her every action driven by loyalty to her noble honor—which stems from the Blood Race’s arrogance. Deep down, she’s no different from the rest of them.”
Mm.
Yes.
In a way, Blood Knights did protect humans—not out of love, but perhaps from a strong one’s pity for the weak, or simple safeguarding of house slaves, their personal property.
When he heard her call him An Xiguang, Sang froze. It had been ages since anyone used that name. Liyou was deliberately invoking his sense of duty with the organization’s code name for him.
Yet
Sang refused her all the same. “I’m sorry, but I have to decline this mission. I won’t leak any secrets or share intelligence…”
“Very well. I respect your decision. But I must warn you: the turmoil in the North isn’t being driven by the organization—it’s the Werewolves. If you run into danger during all this, we might not be able to protect you.”
With that, Liyou led Hyacinth out of the suite.
She hadn’t gone far when she glanced back at Sang and activated Telepathy once more. “An Xiguang, spend these next few months seeing the world. Feel the suffering of humanity. I’ve always believed you’re something special. Farewell.”
…
Soon after,
Liyou and Hyacinth left the hotel. Hyacinth was still fuming the whole way, gritting her teeth as she spat, “That guy’s getting way too full of himself…”
Back then, he’d been nothing but a pliable kid. Who would’ve thought that in just seven or eight months, he’d started thinking for himself?
Liyou replied gently, “Hyacinth, I know Bruno’s death hit you hard, but Sang is our comrade—a member of the organization. You can’t talk about him like that.”
She wore her signature squinting smile as she spoke.
Hyacinth eyed her and felt a shiver, falling silent on instinct.
After a long pause, Liyou spoke again. “Since he’s so dead set against it, let him slide this once. We tricked him last time, and he’s clearly still sore about it. Manipulating the human heart is a subtle art; it demands a proper balance of tension and release. Oh, right—any word from the Werewolves? Will they cooperate in taking down the Hill Family?”
Hyacinth answered, “The Wolf King won’t even acknowledge us, but one of his underlings says he’s willing…”
“Hm. Sounds less like equal partners and more like them running errands for us.” Liyou was sharp as ever.
“Er… so we drop it?”
“No. We press on with the cooperation! We have one goal: wipe out the Hill Family or cripple it badly, and plant our flag in the Northern Region.”
“What if the Ancient Titan really awakens? If it’s as powerful as the legends claim, the whole Northern Region will be doomed. Countless civilians will die.”
“I trust the Blood Race in the Central Hub will handle it. Let them tear each other apart. As for those innocent humans who might perish…”
Here, Liyou pressed her hands together in a maiden’s prayer, her lips curving into a gentle smile. “Become the cornerstone of peace…”
