131 Love Triangle
Seeing Albany Laurent's sincere expression, I fell silent.
Having spent years managing vampire relations in Pinewood County, I'd learned to read people well and wasn't easily fooled.
For a high-ranking H.A.R.M. general, delivering a message to the Sanctum of Cloud Citadel shouldn't require a Crystal Realm vampire's heart blood as payment. Any lieutenant general could have handled such a task. After all, would the Sanctum dare show any disrespect toward a H.A.R.M. officer? This meant his true purpose likely concerned the second matter.
The Sun-Shattering Bow sounded quite impressive.
His condition about returning it when we were both in Seattle was hardly a real requirement. Someone who wanted to keep the bow could simply monitor the H.A.R.M. General's schedule and avoid being in the city during his visits—effectively keeping it forever.
In essence, he was subtly offering this treasure as a gift disguised as a loan.
Yet, after hesitating for a moment, I shook my head slightly. "General, you should find someone more capable..."
Though the bow greatly tempted me, as did the chance to study Cloud Citadel's lost martial arts, I chose to decline.
The real reason was simple: movement skills were one of my weaknesses. Even my recently perfected Bloodsteed Gallop technique was only at the Wave Realm level.
Although I could traverse mountains and difficult terrain with ease, pursuing a master thief capable of stealing from both H.A.R.M. General's Mansion and Cloud Citadel would be like chasing shadows across the vast expanse of Cascadia.
Before I could finish, Albany Laurent let out a regretful sigh. "When Master gave me this treasured bow, he explained its nature—it needs no arrows, powered instead by warrior's faith in his own power. Though it requires no essence, only those with exceptional strength can wield it. Draw it to half-moon, and it will wound even perfectly crystallized vampires. At full-moon draw, it becomes a threat that even nascent harmonizing vampires must fear."
"Unfortunately, since I cultivate the Redeemed Spirit, I can only draw the bow to seventy percent of its full power. It's rather wasted in my possession." Albany Laurent shook his head and sighed softly.
The words struck a chord with me. I maintained my composure, though my hand beneath the table clenched involuntarily. "..."
Rose rolled her eyes at her senior brother, her foot absently crushing a fallen leaf. She had just finished describing John's impressive body-tempering abilities during his battle with the Toad Lord. It was clear that Albany had calculated his approach precisely for his audience.
Albany Laurent turned his gaze back to me, concern etched on his scholarly face. "If it truly is Peter Volare—the thief king of Okanagan Valley—his Crystal Realm power is neither exceptional nor weak. Yet with his unmatched movement technique across Cascadia, and now wielding this bow, who can predict what chaos he might unleash in the twelve cities? I'm at a loss for whom to entrust with this matter."
Rose couldn't hold back any longer. She interrupted, looking down, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Peter Volare voluntarily went to H.A.R.M. and allowed the Vampire Hunters to take his essence sample. He returns every twenty years... As long as he remains within the twelve cities and 205 counties, he can't hide anywhere. It will take a month at most. He'll return the Sun-Shattering Bow himself before H.A.R.M. even has a chance to get angry."
Voluntarily submitting his essence sample?
This revelation took me by surprise.
Laurent averted his gaze with a resigned sigh. "..."
Despite being exposed so bluntly by Rose, he showed no embarrassment. "This person had married a vampire. He secretly brought his wife to meet my master, explained their situation, and had the vampiress offer her essence sample. He then knelt outside the Admiral's residence for an entire night, swearing with his own essence sample that he would never harm anyone. Only then did H.A.R.M. agree to turn a blind eye to him. But... this situation might be different from before. We should find him and confirm his intentions. If there truly is a problem, we must inform Spokane immediately so they can dispatch someone to Okanagan Valley."
Rose was about to speak but stopped when she caught a glimmer in my eyes.
She was stunned for a moment. "You… you want to go? It's not necessarily as simple as I made it sound. After all, he used to just play pranks, but this time he actually used the bow to offend Cloud Citadel. Something feels unusual about this."
I was indeed tempted, and I wanted unusual. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
H.A.R.M.'s dual mandate of slaying vampires and eliminating evil men had converged in this case. While I had only fulfilled the vampire-slaying duty at Crown Mountain, I later made up the evil-elimination task with Kongo Shintai. Even a third-rate organization had provided crucial martial arts knowledge for the Nine Cycles Sanguine Resurrection. As a first-rate power, the Bandits of Okanagan Valley must have an incredibly rich heritage.
Coupled with the Sun-Shattering Bow, which seemed tailor-made for me, if it was truly as powerful as General Laurent said, it would give me more confidence when I went to hunt the Mountain Lord of Chuckanut Mountains.
"Thank you, General Laurent," I said, rising slowly and bowed. The generous reward spoke volumes about his sincerity.
Albany Laurent shook his head. "Don't say that. You protected Rose's life, which is also a kindness to me. Moreover, this matter does indeed require Brother Kane's abilities. I'm being completely earnest."
Taking in General Laurent's expression, I turned to Rose and smiled politely with a slight bow. "In that case, Sister Rose, please guide me to complete this task."
The way I addressed Rose made Albany Laurent's eyelids twitch. Rose flinched, caught off guard by my sudden change in how I addressed her. True, the Vampire Hunters were a brotherhood, bound by our shared mission and the perils of the hunt. Yet until now, I had always simply called her Rose.
A complex mix of emotions flitted across her face—a pang of hurt at the sudden formality, a flicker of anxiety at my deliberate distance, and a surge of frustration at the awkwardness that now hung heavy in the air. She said softly, "This is Surrey's business. I am the one troubling you..."
My heart ached and I almost said something to soothe her, but I held back. General Laurent was clearly a better match for her than I was. In this apocalyptic world, I was still struggling just to survive. With formidable enemies like the Pacific Leviasaurs, the Mountain Lord of Chuckanut Mountains, and even the foxvamps of North Cliff, I could barely keep myself alive. Love and family were luxuries I couldn't afford.
… …
After Kane left the courtyard.
Albany Laurent picked up his teacup and took another sip, smiling helplessly. "Are you alright?"
Rose's mind was still reeling, trying to figure out why John had suddenly distanced himself. The feeling of unfamiliarity she had experienced at the Black Stone Spring arose in her heart again.
"Could he have misunderstood what's between us?" she murmured, mentally replaying their conversation.
Rose's expression clearly revealed which man she held in her heart. Albany's heart ached as his thoughts drifted to the black ceremonial sword, and then to Junior Sister Patani.
He looked at Rose and said softly, "Did you see Arnold Stark during your trip?"
"I did. Why?" Rose asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Laurent smiled mysteriously, playing a riddle. Arnold had an air of indifference towards everyone, quite like John Kane. But after meeting Junior Sister Patani, he completely changed.
It was one of life's saddest ironies: when someone of the same sex stands beside you, pure-hearted and free of ulterior motives, yet with just one casual glance can capture the heart of the person you admire, leaving no room for you in their affections. Aisha Patani was one of such people, John Kane seemed to be another.
Master was about to return. At that time, Granny Chloe would definitely have to leave Seattle. As a Vampire Hunter, Kane needed to return to report his achievements, and Master would also summon Junior Sister Patani back to Seattle.
Albany pondered what would unfold when the two of them finally met, especially since Kane possessed the black sword.
With the great chaos approaching, Cascadia would need every warrior it could muster. Yet the Silver Bell Vampire Hunters like Rose would be the first to fall. He could only hope she might find a measure of joy before that dark hour arrived.
That's why he had tried his best to match Kane and Rose for this mission. However, he hadn't anticipated Kane to be so perceptive about the dynamics between Rose and himself, leading Kane to deliberately distance himself from Rose.
He escorted Rose to the entrance of the courtyard. "I'll have some physicians sent to you. Get some rest—there won't be a banquet tonight. I'll be departing Surrey shortly."
Though he longed to stay by Rose's side and comfort her, his duties as a H.A.R.M. general called him away to urgent matters.