Well, not like she would tell it to Allen. He doesn’t need to know about them though she’s certain that Allen had already probably guessed it; their return… but he wasn’t saying anything at all… which Mia felt gratified for.

“Will you respond?”

“I probably will…” Mia replied. “Church was still a very influential organization and if I will not, they might use it against me in the future… that would be a problem…”

“Good call,” Allen smiled as he sat on the couch. “And I’m guessing, UN will be nullified any moment now. The peace treaty will be destroyed, which the US will start its campaign…”

And as Allen had predicted, a few weeks later, several countries like the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America declared its absolution from United Nations, with a reason for declaring Martial Laws to protect their people.

With several nations’ absolution, the UN gradually faded and disappeared.

“That would be the start of everything…” Mia muttered.

“Indeed, the Church will finally show its fangs. The moment the Vampires were cornered, God’s Crusade will finally begin…”

The [ God’s Crusade ], the campaign to spread the influence of the Church, the Messenger of God, bestowing protection to any human, nation, and cities that will hide under its banner.

“I don’t have any problem with that…” Allen muttered. “However, their hate and prejudice for Fiend Abilities were just too much. Public humiliation and execution would drive Fiend users to hide and become fugitives… that would never change; after all, that was their beliefs…”

“Besides, if the Church monopolizes the power, that wouldn’t be funny on many levels…” Mia showed a faint smile.

“I don’t think you want to eliminate the Church, don’t you, Mia?” Allen frowned, his face complicated.

“That depends…” Mia replied.

“Mia, the Church can’t be eliminated. They can be weakened but cannot be erased in History. That will only create another round of chaos… believers, cults, extremists… I believe you know that outcome…”

“I know…”

Allen stood up and walked over the desk and planted a kiss on her forehead. Caressing her cheeks lovingly, Allen said with deep affection, “Unlike me, you can be a Hero, Mia. You can be plastered in Magazines, written in history books and build sculptures and paintings of your image...”

“Allen…” Mia widened her eyes from Allen’s words.

“I’m not a Hero material, for more reasons than one… I can only be your shadow, your sidekick. The Robin of Batman, Watson of Holmes. I wouldn’t mind making you a hero, no, I will do that. After all, you can save this world, and the people living in it.”

“No, Allen, that’s your…”

Mia wanted to object but Allen shook his head with a faint smile. “I’m neither not good to be shown to the public nor do I wanted to… with your power, authority, and influence, you can achieve far more things than I can…”

“You can become a better Hero than me…” Allen concluded as he gently pulled Mia and kissed her lips.

--- ---

Allen was relaxing in the garden while comfortably basking in the sun, brooding and still, his eyes focused on the cloudless sky.

He held a pebbled of mutton-fat gold in his hands, turning it over and over, rubbing it between his fingers occasionally.

Allen passed his life in the Bianchi’s Mansion quite comfortably. His life, his family, his love life, all was quite satisfactory.

There was no fight, no conflict, no smell of blood, not the stench of danger or wisp of schemes and plans. Allen relaxed his nerves and rest peacefully at the passing day.

Every day, even if he wouldn’t move, he would be taken care off by Ye Yuesheng, Sara, or Layla.

His sex life these past few days were quite better. He was never a vegetarian when he felt like it, he hunts for meat.

Most times, Allen will go with Mia while several times, he will play with Sara. Of course, he had some quite outrageous thoughts sometimes. Wondering what it would be like to take the two of them to bed together.

Mia and Sara would be quite an interesting and exciting combination. But, although Allen knew that Mia wouldn’t likely mind, Sara would be different.

In the first place, sharing a man still haven’t rooted deep inside of her so, it would be quite overboard to do it right now. At least, no for the meantime… a suffused grin appeared on his face as he thought about the interesting future.

“You seem to be planning something bad,” A cheerful voice behind him.

Allen turned around and saw Ye Yuesheng slowly walking towards him while bringing a tray of tea and cakes.

“Am I?” Allen smiled teasingly.

“Yeah, you are.” Ye Yuesheng nodded as he gently placed the tray on the table and slowly poured tea on the teacups.

“Earl Grey, I hope you don’t mind…”

“Not at all, thank you,” Allen received the teacup. “In fact, I was really thinking about something…”

“Oh, mind sharing?” Ye Yuesheng smiled. “For someone like you to smile like that it must be for something bad…” She chuckled happily.

“Of course not,” Allen replied with an enigmatic grin. “I’m just thinking of inviting a beautiful woman named Ye Yuesheng to a small private little dinner somewhere nice, and of course with drinks. And perhaps we’ll get down to something even more intimate later in the evening when were alone while watching the beautiful moon…”

"When did you become so poetic?"

“I'm serious, I have high hopes,” Allen winked at her. “I really do.”

Hearing Allen’s obviously teasing words, Ye Yuesheng giggled. “I think that would be a good idea… I believe she wouldn’t mind.”

“You think?” Allen stared at her, hopeful.

Looking at him, Ye Yuesheng couldn’t endure anymore and burst into laughter. Allen smiled happily as he enjoyed his tea.

Ye Yuesheng watched Allen and could not help thinking how debonair and dashing he looked, sitting there in front of her. His every movement and action, so casual and free.

The rays of the sun emphasized his handsome expression despite the pale dark grey skin tone, which was, in fact, giving him a spicy flavor, like some sort of devilish.

It had been windy today and his silver hair was ruffled, his laughing and sometimes mischievous crimson eyes screwed up against the glare of the brilliant crimson sunlight.

How irresistible he seemed.

When she first came into this place, when she had separated from him, she realized something.

… She was most powerfully drawn to him, and this disturbed and worried her for quite a number of reasons.

Allen was so much younger than her and even her daughter seems to be much older than him, but quite aside from this, he had several beautiful women on his side, take Mia and Sara for example. They were young, successful and beautiful…

Because of this, Allen was hardly likely to be interested in her in that kind of way.

He was immensely powerful, immensely rich and devastatingly attractive, and therefore he could have any woman in the world he wanted. His reputation as a playboy only verified this as a fact.

A single aged mother like herself who don't have anything worth praising for was hardly a candidate for one of his romantic interludes.

Well, she really didn’t care about it. Only seeing him, talking with him like this, it already satisfies her. She doesn't want to desire something beyond this...

Allen turned his head and smiled at her. “I know I’m quite a dashing man but, being stared at by a beautiful woman like you still… make me a bit embarrassed.”

Ye Yuesheng was startled but she immediately regained her composure. “You jest.”

“I am not,” Allen ponder for a bit and then a mischievous glint flash across his eyes. “You look like a woman looking at a man she was in love with while thinking, she would never be compatible with him."

!!?

"Depreciating yourself while listing about negative aspects of your existence while comparing it to some other women you found above you…”

Ye Yuehing’s eyes opened wide in alarm. “Did you just read my mind?!” She shouted a bit hurt and angry.

Allen just selfishly intruded her privacy??

Allen wasn’t fazed and just smile as if he had won something. “Oh, so you really did.”

“Eh?!”

“I don’t have mind-reading abilities, Yuesheng and even if I did, I wouldn’t do it and do criminal acts like trespassing in a woman’s privacy, I am not such a pervert…” He said teasingly.

“You, you bait me!” Ye Yuesheng furiously exclaimed, her face beet red as she realized she messed up big time. She hurriedly turned around was about to leave in embarrassment when he was stopped by Allen.

“Let me apologize then,” Is what he said but in his eyes, there’s no such reproach or self-reflection reflected on them. Only a hint of satisfaction and victory could be seen on them.

Allen put his hands on her shoulder and made her return her seat, albeit forcefully.

Sighing while calming her excited nerves, Ye Yuesheng pulled away from him slowly but firmly. “I heard all about you…” She said, snorting. “Is this what you always did with other women…? Quite a turnoff…”

“Now, whoever told you that?”

Ye Yuesheng just snorted and didn’t respond.

“I say it’s a calumny and a lie,” Allen said, proudly. “I must have an enemy at court. Goodness, I’m such an honest man, look at me,” Allen looked at her while making a cute and harmless looking face. “You say that this face can become so evil?”

Seeing Allen’s child imitation face with a mixture of blinking eyes, Ye Yuesheng’s anger suddenly had a huge chunk missing.

“Don’t do that, you looked so silly…” She finally wore a faint smile.