The closer Vassel walked towards the Regent, the more intense the blood lust became. It became difficult to breath. Unlike Sora who lacked a warrior’s perception, Vassel had very high perception. Hence, he could feel the complete intensity of the Regent’s anger and blood lust. Sora on the other hand felt a blood lust which overwhelmed him but did not feel it as much as Vassel did. Just like how a martial artist is aware of the killing intent and a coward isn’t, Sora’s weakness played here to his strength (though it would be more normal for him to faint…but why he did not is unexplained as of now).

Vassel now stood right in front of the Regent.

“Your excellency.” Vassel addressed the Regent with a bow. It was a plain and simple bow; but very difficult to perform with all the blood lust emitted by the Regent.

Vassel trembled as he bowed.

Sora was surprised to see another soldier appear from nowhere. His heart sunk; he had been followed. Could it be that the training of the soldiers was better than he had anticipated?

“You know who I am soldier?” The Regent asked.

“Yes, your excellency. I have heard about it from my retainer the Cardinal of Feladonia.” Vassel replied courteously.

“Is that so…” The Regent looked uninterested. “And why are you here?” The Regent asked as he gave a stern look to Vassel.

“I am in pursuit of a criminal who escaped.”

“Is this the criminal you were trying to apprehend?” The Regent asked as he shook Sora in the air.

“Yes…” Vassel spoke with uncertainty, they weren’t trying to catch him but let him lead them to the den of the enemy. “He has escaped from the detention of the Erito forces.”

“You don’t say…” The Regent said as he examined Sora. “You do belong to the Purple Shadows?”

Vassel was surprised that the Regent knew of the Purple Shadows. On the surface they were part of the Erito post operation investigation forces (a dud department considered to be filled with useless people) but in reality they functioned as an independent group. Other than the Commander of the Erito forces, the Cardinal and King no one was supposed to be aware of this. In fact the name Purple Shadows was more like an in group name something that only the members of referred to themselves as, it wasn’t even an official name.

Vassel continued to bow with his hand closed in a fist manner and placed on his chest.

“Have you travelled to the Wastelands?” The Regent asked.

This seemed like an interview.

“Yes your excellency…though I never went beyond the Second Gate…” Vassel truthfully replied.

“The Second Gate….” The Regent muttered as if lost in thought. Suddenly, the Regent reduced his blood thirst considerably. “Is this better?”

Vassel nodded while still bowing. He could finally breath a bit without feeling stifled. The blood lust was cold and cruel. It made him consume more stamina than normal and he was forced to raise his alertness and defences beyond his limits. With the Regent lowering it a bit, at least now Vassel could breath more comfortably. However, he did not dare loosen up any further and therefore still did not look at the Regent face to face.

Sora wondered if this was considered good manners? He didn’t understand what they were speaking but he could get a sense of what they were talking about.

“How many soldiers are deployed around here…” The Regent continued to speak as he observed Vassel.

“None.”

“You had them removed?”

“Yes, your excellency.”

“Then there is no other soldier here?” The Regent asked hurriedly.

“Other than Clarice who stands beside you none…” Vassel replied. He didn’t know what was happening.

“I understand….” The Regent said as he looked at the girl frozen like a statue standing next to him. He didn’t even notice her presence since she was frozen stiff like a statue.

Vassel was in fact wondering was she even breathing?

The Regent simply made ‘Hmmm’ sound… “Then that suits me just fine.”

It happened in less than a second, two large gusts of wind cut past Vassel and Clarice. In the next moment, both Vassel and Clarice lay on the ground with a large cut against their chest. There was soon a puddle of blood that covered their bodies.

The only thing Sora saw was the rapier held in the hand of the Devil; on its tip was a single drop of crimson blood.

Sora had a fearful look in his eyes. The move that the Devil executed was so fast that he could see nothing more than a blur, but in that blur the Devil took out two of the Elite forces.

Sebastian looked at Sora and smiled.

He placed Sora on the ground and said, “With that you are free to go.”

Sora's POV

Huh? Did I hear him right?

Should I ask him to repeat?

"Pardon me?"

:?: