“Captain…” Maria’s voice was trembling in fear as she watched the black butler lift up Sora.

Maria’s voice was engulfed in fear. Even though she was watching the scene unfold from a distance and was in no visible danger her fine-tuned senses of a warrior could gauge how strong the person in front of her was.

If she had to describe it Maria would have said a black dark dark hole which engulfed all light and glimmer of hope. That is what Maria saw when she looked at Sebastian.

Other than Maria, everyone else (Hida & Kiyoma) were frozen in their spot. They dared no move or speak. They were drenched in so much fear that they felt that if they made the slightest movement or noise the monster would take notice of them and kill them.

A minute of eerie silence passed away before Vassel spoke. “It will be alright …That man is the Regent…we are on the same side…so it should be okay…”

Hida looked at Vassel suspiciously. He had only heard stories of the Regent…stories bordering legends and fables….he never thought a creature like the Regent could exist.

Kiyoma also looked at Vassel suspiciously, unlike his brother Sliver, Kiyoma did not trust Vassel easily.

Vassel did not say anything more than that. He could only offer them assurance no guarantees. The Regent is answerable to no one but the Emperor of the Old. Vassel and the others never understood why was a mere servant was as powerful as the King of Feladonia who had descended from royalty bloodline…but those questions and doubts had been laid to rest today. Who would dare to question a man as strong as the Regent?

The Purple Shadows decided to stay on and observe the scene.

Also, Sora had been re-categorized into a level 5 target. For the Regent to take interest in matters pertaining to Sora, Sora must be an important person of interest. The Purple Shadows were no longer interested in knowing who Sora worked for.

The logic to follow the tail to the head of the snake was thrown out the window.

This was no longer a snake but possibly a dragon they were dealing with. The Purple Shadows was happy with even the tail of Dragon, the head would probably bite them off.

Vassel spelt out the new instructions; at any cost they must capture Sora. That is of course assuming the Regent lets him live.

“And what about Clarice?” Kiyoma asked as he pointed out to the pink haired girl who stood frozen like a statue next to Sora.

Vassel frowned. The girl was new to the team, this was a really bad experience for her. If they could feel such high intensity of blood lust from the Regent from here, what would she be experiencing? A living hell? A nightmare? Vassel shuddered as he thought about it.

“We save her at the first chance we get…” Vassel said.

They watched and watched.

From what they could infer, the Regent was involved in something at the Blue Rose Inn…something connected to what Vanessa was investigating and what the adventurer was involved in. Basically, the three things were interlinked.

The Regent’s investigation did not go to well, since he clearly came out of the debris and was injured. Vassel concluded the Regent was on their side…since he lifted the adventurer in rage….

“COME OUT!” The Regent shouted as he looked in the Purple Shadows directions. Vassel felt like the Regent was speaking to him but surely that can’t be the case. Vassel had two reasons for this. The Purple Shadows excelled in stealth and there could be someone else the Regent is referring to…

“COME OUT!” The Regent shouted again. He was still looking in the same direction.

Vassel and his group froze in their spots.

Is he talking to us?

Maybe he is.

Maria, Hida and Kiyoma looked at Vassel for direction. Now what?

What if he was really calling out to them and they didn’t listen….would he kill them? His blood lust certainly made Vassel think so.

Vassel stood up from his hiding spot. The man had such a commanding aura it was difficult to ignore an order.

The Regent looked really frustrated as if he would explode any moment.

Maria was shivering as the blood lust in the air was increasing. Clarice had fainted.

“DON’T COME HERE!” The adventurer shouted.

Vassel paused before he took his first step. Was the adventurer telling them? Was he trying to help them? Vassel’s pride would not allow it. As a warrior and pursuer of the criminal, he would never owe a debt to a criminal. Sora's request made cemented

Vassel's decision to meet the Regent. Why should he fear one of his own colleagues?

“Get away from here.” Vassel told his crew. Although Vassel thought of the Regent as a colleague, he did not believe himself.“I’ll bring back Clarice. Inform the Cardinal of the situation.”

“But…” Maria argued but she didn’t have the courage to say she would stay on. She was a warrior but the man (the Regent) in front of her was a monster whose strength was beyond anything she could fathom. She knew she would be more of hindrance if she stayed on. Grudgingly Maria and the others obeyed.

Vassel stepped out of his hiding spot and approached the Regent.

The Regent looked at Vassel who was approaching them, then at Sora and then let out a sigh.

The sigh of an old man who was tired of dealing with idiocy.

:sigh: