West District, inside the Odora family's villa.
"I hereby announce that the results of this hunting competition are in.
A young vampire has successfully hunted down three believers of the 'Primordial Moon,' and thereby wins the contest automatically."
Inside the lavishly decorated hall, Cosmi Odora cleared his throat and addressed everyone present.
"So soon?"
"That can't be right. So many vampires have been caught by the Church of Evernight already, how could anyone still manage that..."
Murmurs of astonishment rose one after another, and the vampires exchanged bewildered glances. Baron Rus Bathory, who had previously held the advantage, wore a dark expression and said nothing.
All the vampires were puzzled: which young talent could possibly have withstood the crushing pressure of the Church of Evernight and, through sheer strength, killed three "man-made vampires" in a row?
Cosmi let out a quiet sigh. "It's Emlyn White."
The moment the words left his mouth, an uproar broke out.
That odd fellow, obsessed with dolls, who never left his house, who had even managed to get lost and end up caught as a believer by the Church of the Mother Earth, that unlucky wretch, could he really have achieved something like this?
"How could it be him?"
"Lord Cosmi, surely you're joking?"
The vampires' voices grew noisy and unrestrained, all eyes turning again and again toward the young vampire sitting on the sofa with an elegant smile on his face.
Heh. Didn't expect that, did you?
Emlyn had never been the center of attention like this before. Though his face still maintained a composed smile, inside he was already bursting with pride.
"This is impossible..."
Of all the vampires present, Rus Bathory found it hardest to accept. "I don't believe it!"
"Why not?"
Emlyn's smile faltered for a moment, then he rose from the sofa, clearly annoyed.
"Something I couldn't achieve even as a baron, how could someone of the lowest sequence like you possibly manage it?!"
Rus Bathory had been among the first to be captured by the Red Gloves. Not only had he been imprisoned underground, he'd also been forced to listen to a devout priest lecture him on the Apocalypse of the Night every single day.
Having finally regained his freedom, he was immediately confronted with this result he could hardly believe. It was no wonder he seemed to be losing his composure.
"Ahem..."
Cosmi Odora cleared his throat again. As the host, he had to offer an explanation under these circumstances.
"Emlyn White had already become a baron before all this. Not only that, the ordinary people present at the time, as well as the Nighthawks who arrived afterward, can all attest that those 'man-made vampires' were indeed killed by him alone."
Upon hearing this, Rus Bathory looked even more unable to accept it.
"You..." He raised a trembling hand, pointing at Emlyn. "You're already a baron? Why didn't you tell us before?!"
"Because unlike a certain someone, I don't feel such a desperate need to show off."
Watching the other's face twist with disbelief, Emlyn felt a satisfaction he had never known before. "Becoming a baron is nothing to be proud of, because my sights are set on something far higher."
He paused briefly, savoring the attention of the crowd before continuing, "Perhaps one day, you'll all address me as Lord Viscount."
Because I am a vampire chosen by the Ancestor Lilith herself, and I've earned the recognition of Mr. Fool as well...
For the first time, Emlyn White felt a satisfaction that had nothing to do with collecting dolls. The feeling only made him more eager to rise further.
...
Hillston District, inside Fors's home.
"Also, Miss Magician, does the Abraham family have any other enemies?"
Klein continued to ask. To show his sincerity, one Lewis Wien clearly wasn't enough.
"I have indeed heard something. They have a disciple who once stirred up a large-scale rebellion, called Botis." Fors recalled what her teacher Dorian had once told her. "It's said he made off with quite a number of precious items from the family..."
"Ahem, in any case, Mr. World." She looked a little frightened, but still spoke earnestly. "I'll pass along your goodwill to the Abraham family. But if they're unwilling to continue communicating, for the Fool's sake, I hope you won't press them further."
"All right."
Klein smiled and agreed.
If it really came down to it, he could always play the Mr. Fool card himself... The Abraham family had probably suffered the same Blood Moon Curse as Fors.
If they knew they could be freed of the suffering through Mr. Fool, their attitude would likely change.
Having finished what he needed to say to Fors, he glanced toward Silas, silently asking whether it was time to take their leave.
Silas thought it over.
"Could you help me write something and spread it around?"
"...Huh?"
Fors thought she must have misheard. "Mr. Temperance, what did you say?"
Silas looked at her earnestly.
"Help me write some articles, and using your influence as a writer, get them published in newspapers, spread across the world."
"Well, that's certainly possible. What subject matter did you have in mind?" Fors responded quickly, switching into a professional tone. "If the subject isn't suitable, the piece might not find any newspaper or magazine willing to publish it."
"It's about my story."
Silas's answer surprised her again.
Mr. Temperance is actually asking me to write a story about him?
Fors could hardly believe it.
She had already plotted out several stories in her head. If not for her fear of getting into trouble with Mr. Temperance, she would have finished writing and published them long ago!
"To be precise, it doesn't matter what the plot of your story is, just don't drag in any of those cheap, tired tropes," Silas said. "I have one more requirement: your story must highlight one particular thing, my flagship, the Black King."
"You need to make that ship's image stand out, to plant it deep in the public's consciousness, so deeply that the moment they hear 'Scarlet King,' they immediately picture the appearance of that flagship."
Silas went on laying out his requirements.
Just adding in the flagship as an element...
Fors weighed it in her mind and decided this wasn't especially difficult. She'd simply need to mention the ship at the key moments and highlight its connection to Mr. Temperance.
"No problem."
For once, she spoke with confidence.
Silas nodded at this.
"As payment, consider it a favor I owe you."
He said his thanks.
Beside him, Klein glanced at him, seemingly without much thought behind it.
So Silas is already spreading word of his anchor... Well, that makes sense. His flagship, doubling as his messenger, is an angel, so of course it would share the relevant information with him.
That's actually convenient. Saves me the trouble of figuring out how to tell him myself.