The Duke's Passion

Chapter 629  Waiting for the wow effect

The Nightwalkers managed to rent out a huge estate in the last district of Monarey. Penny had known this as this was the tip she received. But to think the property was this vast, where they gathered them in an open space behind the mansion, for mass execution. Penny, along with the members of the guild, was forced to kneel on the grass. Unblinking, she turned her head to her left and right, seeing that everyone had that same pale complexion. They were also beaten up, hands and feet bound. Members of the organization also surrounded them, wielding their weapons. "So, will you tell me where is that Third is hiding?" the man, standing in front of them while swinging a large ax, paced languidly. "One last chance. If you keep quiet, a lucky one will go to hell first."

Her heart hammered against her chest, wide-eyed. The man had mentioned Third to the members of the guild. Just like her stunned expression, they were in disbelief. Even so, no one ratted him out. They didn't deny Third as being a member of the guild, but they told him he hadn't returned yet.

Obviously, the leader of the nightwalker didn't believe them. So he kept insisting. He would only believe them once they were all dead.

The man held his ax in front of them, squatting down. "Still keeping silent?" "We already told you! Third didn't come back for two nights now!" Gai shouted through his gritted teeth, glaring daggers at the man. "And even if he returns, do you think we will tell you?! You will kill us even if we talked!" "Tch. What an annoying owl. Are you perhaps a parrot?" the man chuckled in ridicule, shaking his head while his eyes glossed over their pathetic faces. "What a shame. You owls who kept following us throughout these years and sabotaging us. To think you are all this pathetic and weak... Penelope, what the hell happened to you? You're not this pathetic before."

"Shameless! If you didn't threaten Leader by taking Betty...!" Peter grumbled, eyes full of contempt, recalling how they all surrendered.

In the pub, they all fought equally. Although they were certain this noble vampire, who was also the leader of the Nightwalker, was stronger than them combined, Penny stood a chance. But this man knew Penny's weakness. So, he directly aimed at Betty, a young girl, and took her as a hostage. Now they were in here, seeing Betty not far away from them, unconscious. "You're the one who is pathetic," Penny scorned, licking her fangs. Whatever special material they used that was binding her wasn't surprising. This organization was known to trade everything, So goods that could subdue a vampire or advanced weapons could be seen around. Whatever Claude stole from him, it must be more valuable. Regardless of the questions in her head, Penny didn't even think of blaming Claude. In her mind, she had to do something. But how? Even with vampire powers, she couldn't break free. "I see..." The man rocked his head lightly, glancing at the felon standing behind their hostage. "Drag that one here. They might talk if they saw his head roll."

"What..." Gai's complexion turned even paler as someone already dragged Peter aggressively. "No..." Penny whispered as she desperately tried to break free but to no avail. All she could do was watch a few people subdue Peter until he was lying on his stomach. The man stepped his foot on Pete's back, bending down, dark eyes on Penny. "Penelope, you know me, right? Isn't this the slave who ran away with you? You seem very fond of him. I wonder if I can finally see you break if I dismember him." A wicked grin appeared on his face, watching Penny look back at him blankly. "Ughh!!" Peter wriggled his body, only to stop with the weight of multiple people stepping on him. His chin dug into the grass as the foot on the back of his head pressed harder. "Leader!" he called through his gritted teeth, turning his head so that the foot was stepping on the side of his face. "Get yourself together! Don't look!" "Peter..." Penny whispered, holding her breath seeing that ax raise a meter from Peter's neck. "Please... Rowan, no!"

Penny knew that no one ever saved them aside from themselves. Even if they cry their lungs out or call for help, no one came to their rescue. She had seen tons of death, but this... the years they shared in the guild were akin to a glass that shattered. She wriggled her arms, and feet until they bled, but she didn't care. She needed to break free, she thought. But at the back of her head, she also knew even if she cut her arms and feet right now, she couldn't make it. She couldn't save Peter or herself or anyone. Pushed in a desperate situation, Penny, for the last time, foolishly prayed for help. She even prayed to the devil to save Peter. Just this one, she thought. Just this one... if only someone could save them, just this one, she would do anything they ask for.

TAK!

Just as the ax was about to hit Peter's nape, the blade cracked and shattered. Rowan, the leader of the Nightwalkers, froze. He blinked twice, eyes falling on the pebble that hit the ax, which caused it to shatter. But before Rowan could wonder what just happened, a strong presence sent a chill down his spine. Slowly, he raised his head, eyes on Klaus who just landing not far away from them. Not just him, but Penny and everyone set their eyes on him.

"Ah.. shit! Hey! Didn't you say you don't know their hideout?! How come you arrived here before us, hah?!" Klaus yelled angrily in a direction, huffing in irritation before facing everyone in here. "Ah... sorry. My brother and sister-in-law are so talented it's annoying! I mean, how can they arrive before the great me?!"

A stifling silence was what he received, making him click his tongue. His eyes gloss over to what seemed to be a mass execution, grasping the situation that he had already expected. Klaus placed his pinky inside his ear and scratched it. "Damn... don't look at me like that." Blowing off the dirt on the tip of his pinky. As Klaus was idling, waiting for that 'wow' effect, everyone slowly recognized him. Although the Earl of Monarey never made public appearances — after his first two years as the earl — his chief knight had quite a reputation. It was said that if one met a man who looked like an angry dog and had a stifling aura, one should change their route. Because in Monarey, aside from the evasive Earl, there was also one pureblooded La Crox who was akin to a hound straight from hell.

Klaus. "This is disappointing," he grumbled and frowned, not a bit pleased to see this lack of reaction. "How does Hell do it?" Just as he mumbled those words, Klaus quirked a brow as another presence appeared beside him. He glanced over his shoulder, catching Claude's side profile. Out of curiosity, Klaus checked the 'crowds' reaction, only to frown. That's the reaction he wanted.

"Damn it. I should arrive late next time too." He clicked a tongue.

"Third..." Penny called under her breath, seeing that Claude just looked at them without blinking. Not just her, but everyone, be it from the guild or the Nightwalkers, could only look at him with wide eyes. "Third??" Klaus scrunched his nose up as he snorted. "It's my Lord, girl."