"What?!" Rossetti demanded. "What's so funny?!"

"You think the three of us are capable of destroying the vampire clan by ourselves?" Kufa snorted as he sat back down, folding his arms and leaning against the chair. "Sorry, but if you want to commit suicide, do it yourself. Don't drag us into this reckless plan."

"Have you forgotten how we got our a.s.ses kicked by the adult vampire? That big guy who got roasted by Headmistress Taylor? We couldn't even defeat one guy, and you want to go after the entire clan?"

I shook my head, trying my best not to sound too annoyed. Rossetti slumped in her seat, her hands at her side. I could see her bunching them into fists.

"But…but we can't do nothing!"

"Who says we are doing nothing?"

"Eh?" Rossetti stared at me blankly. I shrugged and turned to Kufa, smiling.

"We are keeping track of mercenary movements and seeing who are carrying the fight to them. Then we will follow the specific mercenary regiments and volunteer to join them. Isn't that right, Kufa?"

"Yeah." Kufa nodded. "I'm looking at the Midnight Order, who specialize in hunting vampires. The Hunter a.s.sociation has already enlisted their help. They haven't mobilized yet, mostly because they are still gathering information and trying to track down the vampires and locate their hideout."

"The Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan is really good at hiding." I sighed as I sagged down on the table. "This isn't the first time the Hunter a.s.sociation has tried to root them out. I think they have been on their tail ever since the other two high schools were destroyed."

"Yeah, but Saint Teresa Academy is…you know. An elite school of renown and no small amount of prestige. Rich kids go there, especially the children of n.o.bles. That's what caused all this uproar. The parents are spending a lot more money to ensure they get their revenge."

Cla.s.s difference really sucked. It wasn't that n.o.body cared when the other two high schools were destroyed by the vampires, but the parents could do very little except rely on the authorities. However, the moment rich parents and n.o.bles came into the picture, they were willing to empty their wallets and hire elite mercenaries and paramilitary organizations to wipe out the vampires. They sought vengeance for their beloved children, who they had devoted so much resources and time to grooming.

Somehow the whole thing made me disgusted, but there was nothing I could do about it. I wasn't very rich. Yeah, my dad earned quite a bit from his mercenary days, but people tended to misunderstand something. We didn't get to save those funds. Most of the money he earned had to go into procuring new equipment, maintain and repair broken weapons, secure fresh ammunition (for magic weapons) and fuel, purchase new vehicles – especially those lost during missions.

I hadn't even counted medical expenses – hospitalization fees such as surgeries and healing spells. Doctors didn't cast healing spells for free. They needed to make a living too. Also, the money was required to cover traveling expenses – air tickets were not cheap, and mercenaries needed accommodations, and sometimes to buy new supplies, clothing and other equipment in a foreign land.

All these cost money. And they were taken out from the paycheck that the employers gave the mercenaries. What, you think they were going to cover all those expenses along with the big cheque they gave us? Don't be naïve.

That was why mercenaries were so expensive to hire. You weren't just paying for them to go into combat. All the combat expenses, such as traveling, vehicles, ammunition and weapons, and medical fees were all included in the transaction.

Also, the mercenaries also subcontracted other combat mages, such as volunteers like me, Kufa and Rossetti if we chose to follow them. Then they had to split the cash they earned even further. Even if we were "volunteers," we still need to be paid, or that would be illegal exploitation of labor. They had the right to refuse us if they didn't think they could spare the cash, but mercenaries usually didn't care because they needed cannon fodder and the like. Or interns. Also, they were always on the lookout for potential newbies that they could recruit into the core of their organizations. For the future, and all that.

"I see." Rossetti was aware of that too. She straightened up, looking more determined. "Then let's do that. Please keep me updated."

"I will," Kufa a.s.sured her. Then he looked sternly at her. "And don't do anything reckless. We'll move together. Is that clear?"

"Come on…" Rossetti clasped her hands behind her head, looking annoyed. "I'm not stupid, you know? Even if I'm a little…hotheaded, even I know that it'll be absurdly reckless for me to attack the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan on my own."

Then she lowered her head, an expression of frustration on her pretty face.

"And besides, I don't even know where they are right now."

"Yeah, the Midnight Order will find them," Kufa promised. He glanced at me. "Are the Silver Wolves partic.i.p.ating in this one?"

"No." I shook my head. "Instructor Feng Hai says that they have a lead on the Dark Church. They are focusing on that for now. As dangerous as the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan is, the Dark Church cannot be forgotten. They have already attacked several cities. Can't blame the Silver Wolves for prioritizing them."

Yeah, when I thought about it like that, I realized that the Dark Church was the greater threat. As callous as I might sound, what was a school compared to an entire city? Despite the atrocities the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan carried out, they hadn't a.s.saulted anything larger than a school…

Wait, why were they attacking schools in the first place? That made no sense whatsoever. Shouldn't the vampires be attacking Hunter a.s.sociation outposts instead? Hunter a.s.sociation headquarters and the like? What benefits did they have from attacking schools? I guess it was possible that they intended to ensure that the students still in training wouldn't mature to become powerful enemies in future, so they wanted to first eliminate those with the potential to threaten them in future. That was the only reason I could think of right now.

"All right, then I guess it's time."

After finis.h.i.+ng my mango cake and mango tea, I rose from my seat. I had already automatically paid for the food and drink through electronic payments, the system automatically deducting the credits from my account when I made the order.

"Where are you going?" Rossetti asked, standing up to join me. I turned back to her and smiled.

"To pay a visit."

*

Thanks to my gla.s.ses and smartphone, I roughly recalled the route that Nan Gong Zhao Yan took to her house, so it was a simple matter for me to retrace the steps. Like before, the train journey required an hour, but I reached my destination before I knew it.

As I approached the Nan Gong family's house, I could hear the faint sounds of the television drifting through the open window. Apparently they were watching the news.

"Yesterday night, Saint Teresa Academy was attacked by a ma.s.sive group of vampires belonging to the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan, who reportedly mobilized their entire clan for the a.s.sault. At least 120 students have been killed or are injured, and half that number have gone missing. Headmistress Teresa Taylor has expressed her outrage at the atrocities and is in discussion with the Global Federation government on launching a nationwide search and destroy mission. Several mercenary organizations have already stepped forward and pledged their support, offering to help the Federation military. Meanwhile, the school itself closed down, and students have been advised to stay at home in the aftermath of what is one of the worst school attacks in history…"

Professor Nan Gong Jiao Shou was watcing the television solemnly, slouching against the sofa in despair. Behind him, Yue Jian was preparing the food that her mother had just cooked, placing them on the dining table and setting it up. Upon hearing the anchorwoman's dry rambling, she glanced at the television with a worried expression.

"Zhao Yan and Ji Yan…"

"I've contacted the school, but it seems the both of them have gone missing."

Yue Jian's mother looked concerned even as she brought out a plate of fried chicken.

"There's no news about them," Nan Gong Jiao Shou said glumly. "Headmistress Taylor promised to do everything within her power to locate the missing student, but with her academy in such a state, I don't think they will be able to do much for now…"

"At least there's still a chance that they might still be alive," his wife said wistfully, clasping her hands as if in prayer after setting the plate down on the table. "They are not among those confirmed dead so that's some good news."

"Still, I would like to hear something more concrete than that…"

"About that, I might have some news on your daughters."

The Nan Gong family jumped up at my voice, startled by my sudden intrusion. Well, I didn't exactly trespa.s.s into their house. I was standing right outside their door and speaking through their open window. The three of them stared blankly at me before recognition filled their eyes.

"You are Zhao Yan's friend!"

No, I was her enemy. Like…duh.

I bit back that retorted and forced a smile instead, noting that they couldn't even be bothered to remember my name. Trying not to feel too offended, I bowed respectfully while Yue Jian hurried over to open the door for me. The Nan Gong parents also approached me, eager for news regarding their precious daughters.

"What do you mean? What kind of news do you have?"

"Well, I can guarantee that Zhao Yan is alive, at least."

Nan Gong Jiao Shou nodded, relieved, but he still displayed some skepticism.

"And where is the basis for that a.s.surance?"

"I saw the vampire prince of the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan capture her." I briefly elaborated on what had happened last night, and how my friends and I failed to save her. Of course, I took full responsibility for everything and refused to pin any blame on my friends. It was my plan and weakness that failed us all, not any shortcomings on Kufa or Rossetti's part. "I'm sorry. We weren't able to stop them. But Fan Le Lao seems to want your daughter for something."

Marriage, to be specific, but I didn't think it was a good idea to inform Nan Gong Jiao Shou and his wife that. They would probably go nuts if they heard that they were going to have a vampire prince as their future son-in-law.

"What about Ji Yan?"

I shrugged, trying to mask my callousness. I didn't care about that traitor b.i.t.c.h. However, I wasn't sure I could tell them that she had betrayed not just her sister but the whole school. I could already picture Nan Gong Jiao Shou going into a fit and his wife fainting from the sheer horror. Their daughter, a traitor? Not only had she sold out the entire school to a vampire clan, she even had the audacity to try and get her flesh-and-blood sister killed?

The information would be too much for them. Also, they would most likely deny it and refuse to believe me, no matter how much evidence I piled atop their table. I had been through the bulls.h.i.+t with Headmistess Taylor, the teachers and schoolmates in Saint Teresa Academy. I wasn't going through that whole denial nonsense again.

"I have no idea. I didn't see her at all."

There was some truth in what I said. Now that I thought about it, I really did not see Ji Yan once throughout that fateful night. Where did she go? Probably taken away beforehand by the violently abusive Xu Wu Cheng, I guess. I had no doubt that he had terrifying things planned for her. But that wasn't my problem.

After Ji Yan's treachery, she was better off dead. I had no intention of rescuing her. She reaped what she sowed. I wasn't magnanimous enough to forgive her for her betrayal. I wasn't some delusional saint who was happy to turn my other cheek after getting slapped.

"I see." Nan Gong Jiao Shou paused for a moment. "Thank you. If Zhao Yan is at least still alive, then that's a great relief. I'm sure they will eventually rescue her."

"Yeah." I wanted to be part of that rescue mission, which was why I was waiting with Kufa and the others for news from the Midnight Order. The moment they moved out, my friends and I were going to volunteer for the operation. "We will."

"Well, would you like some lunch?" Nan Gong's wife invited me into the house. "Don't feel like a stranger and help yourself. I made sure to cook extra."

Don't feel like a stranger, you say…yet you couldn't even remember my name.

"Don't hesitate," Nan Gong added. "Please join us for lunch. If possible, I would like to hear some more details. We can talk as we eat."

"All right. Thank you."

I was never one to say no to free food, so I shamelessly waltzed into the house, took advantage of my hosts' generosity and helped myself to the delicious dishes on the table. All in exchange for elaborating in greater detail about what had transpired last night.

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