In the dimly lit basement, the atmosphere was solemn.
Count Schultz had hurried away, presumably to welcome the arrival of Archbishop Agani.
So only Colin and Lucien remained here, standing face to face.
“Sir Lucien, are you planning to kill me?”
Colin suddenly spoke, asking with a smile.
Lucien, however, did not answer. He just stared at Colin with a fierce gaze.
Facing the terror and pressure of a sixth-level warrior, Colin felt like a leaf adrift in a storm, as if he could capsize at any moment.
“You dare not kill me.” Colin smiled confidently, showing no fear, “I’m not some insignificant figure. I’m a Viscount of the Empire, the guardian of the North Territory, and the husband of Duke St. Hilde. Ha ha, can the Schultz Family bear the consequences of killing me?”
Lucien was still silent, but Colin caught a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Colin gained some confidence and began to persuade, “I believe the Schultz Family understands my plight. Why not tell me the whole story?Don’t worry about me blaming the Schultz Family. You should know that I’ve always been extraordinarily lenient with the lords of the North Territory.
Just think about the Uman Clan and the Dawson Family. Despite their big mistakes, aren’t they well now?”
Lucien was still unmoved.
Colin shrugged helplessly, “If you don’t dare to kill me and won’t set me free. Sir Lucien, you’re not planning to keep me here forever, are you?”
“Why not?” Lucien finally responded.
Colin gave a light laugh and joked, “Well then, you can stay with me in this gloomy basement for a lifetime. There’s plenty of fine wine here, we surely won’t be too bored for the rest of our lives.”
Lucien’s face darkened, and it seemed he finally made up his mind. He said harshly, “I’m sorry, Viscount Angler, for the inconvenience you are about to face!”
With his words, Colin immediately felt a change in the atmosphere of the cellar!
If it had been a storm brewing before, now it was the world turning upside down!
“Wait! Lucien…”
Boom!
Colin had hardly finished his sentence when he saw a fist strike before his eyes, growing larger rapidly. An overwhelming force swept towards his chest, accompanied by a vehement howl.
The surrounding air seemed to stagnate, and Colin felt as if he was caught in a giant net, each move required enormous effort.
There was no escape. He barely had time to protect his chest with his hands.
Boom!
The explosive Holy Light and surging fighting spirit burst between the two, causing ripples that shook the entire cellar.
All the wine bottles burst instantly, filling the confined space with the fragrance of spilling wine.
Crack!
Amid the unsettling sound of bone fractures, Colin felt a sharp pain in his hands.
He couldn’t help but scream. The aftershock threw him against the side wall.
Lucien, seizing the opportunity, didn’t let up. He quickly gathered his fearsome strength in his fists and struck again at Colin’s legs.
Another grating sound of bone fractures echoed. Colin collapsed on the ground, his body drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
However, there was no panic in his expression. Instead, he pulled up the corners of his mouth into a mocking smile and said laboriously:
“Ha ha… if you have the guts… kill… kill me now! Otherwise… I swear… you’ll wish you were dead!”
Looking at Colin, who had all his limbs broken, Lucien finally seemed relieved and said lightly:
“Viscount, please be patient and stay here a little longer. Once the Schultz Family finds out who’s really behind the planning to kill Bishop John, we’ll come to apologize to you.”
After saying this, he ignored Colin, turned around, and walked away.
Out of the wine cellar, Lucien glanced at the two guards at the door and ordered, “Guard this place well. Do not let anyone near, except the count and me!”
“Yes!”
The two guards answered promptly.
They heard the commotion in the wine cellar just now. Although they suspected something, they didn’t dare to ask any questions at that moment.
When Lucien disappeared from sight at the top of the stairs, the basement once again fell silent.
Not much later, the wine cellar echoed with clattering sounds of shattering bottles, followed by a bone-chilling scream.
Then, silence returned.
The guards at the door exchanged a look, both seeing the doubts in each other’s eyes.
“What’s going on?” one of them could not resist but quietly asked.
“I don’t know.” Another shook his head, a trace of anxiety appearing on his face, “That man… Nothing’s happened to him, has it?”
They knew who the person inside was, and they knew his prestigious status. If any accident had occurred…
“Should I go in and check?”
“Yeah, you go. I’ll guard the door.”
One of the guards then pushed the door open and saw the wine cellar in a mess, with wine racks toppled over and wine bottles shattered everywhere. The air was filled with a strong smell of wine.
And in the deepest part of the wine cellar, against the wall, Viscount Angler was lying motionless on the ground.
“Viscount?” The guard called out a few times, but noticed no reaction from him.
He cautiously approached and called out a few more times upon getting closer, but Colin still did not answer.
The guard was getting nervous, so he bent down and patted Colin on the shoulder: “Viscount…”
Swish!
In an instant, Colin, who had previously shown no movement, suddenly raised his head, opening his ghastly mouth wide. His terrifying tusks sparkled with a chilling light in the dim candlelight.
“Ah…”
The guard let out a short gasp, and then felt his strength and blood rapidly draining from his arm that was gripped by the other man’s fangs.
He opened his mouth wide, trying to shout for help, but found that he could only make a low murmuring sound “he…he…”
With the intake of blood, Colin’s body rapidly inflated, his broken bones healed at an improbable speed, and a pair of huge bat wings emerged from his back, instantly filling the not-so-spacious space in the wine cellar.
The guard outside saw that his companion was not responding, so he carefully opened the door of the wine cellar.
Then, he witnessed a scene that he would never forget for the rest of his life.
In the restaurant on the third floor of Swan Castle, a young maid walked with light steps, serving delicious dishes to the long table.
Count Schultz, with an elegant and proper smile on his face, said courteously: “Archbishop Sir, you must be tired from your journey to Swan City. Please taste the exquisite dishes that Schultz Family has prepared for you.”
Agani smiled and thanked him, her beautiful eyes scanned the hall, curiously asking:
“Lord Count, I met Duke St. Hilde’s party returning from Dragon City on my way here. She informed me that Viscount Angler remained in Swan City to help investigate Archbishop John’s disappearance. So why haven’t I seen him?”
Count Schultz maintained his composure, and responded with a smile, “Sir Archbishop, indeed, Viscount has just left this afternoon. Unfortunately, you missed him.”
“Oh? What a shame.” Agani nodded, seemingly believing the explanation.
“And where is your husband? Isn’t he in Swan Castle?” Agani asked again.
As Count Schultz was pondering how to answer, he caught sight of a figure entering the dining room from the corner of his eye. He immediately smiled and said, “Lucien, why are you so late? The Archbishop was just asking about you.”
Lucien walked into the restaurant, bowed to Agani, and apologized with a smile, “I’m sorry, Sir Archbishop. A thief had sneaked into the basement to steal wine just now, and I went to deal with him, hence the delay.”
Agani stood up in return, smiling, “I can’t believe that there are thieves who would dare to sneak into Swan Castle to steal. That’s audacious!”
“Absolutely. Perhaps the fine wines of the Swan Castle are too famous, hence attracting envious eyes.” Count Schultz laughed and added.
Banter and laughter gradually livened up the atmosphere of the banquet.
But not long after, the butler rushed over and whispered something in Lucien’s ear.
Then, Lucien’s face visibly changed.
“What’s the matter?” Agani asked curiously.
Lucien smiled, feigning nonchalance, “Nothing much, it’s just that the thief who was trying to steal the wine seems to have accomplices who managed to rescue him.”
With that, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up and said, “I’m very sorry, Sir Archbishop, I need to catch this escaping thief, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish this dinner with you.”
Agani looked perplexed, “Sir Lucien, it’s just a minor thief, do you really need to go after him personally?”
“That thief is somewhat skilled, and the family guards are too disappointing… so, I have to go after him personally. My apologies.”
Agani waved her hand, indicating that he could go.
Lucien then gave Count Schultz a glance and strode out.
Count Schultz was nervous in his heart, but on the surface, he kept himself calm, trying to stick with a relaxed tone as if nothing had happened:
“Sir Archbishop, you needn’t worry about Lucien, let’s continue to enjoy this banquet.”
Agani cast a deep look at the Countess beside her, and smiled:
“Good!”
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