V2 Chapter 2

The Demon Empress is well known for being a kind of person that won’t quietly sit still and analyze his enemies and use underhanded tricks to defeat them, but instead tells you in the flesh to go after her if you want and she would certainly face you head-on!

Then who was it?

Who was the gall to act crazily and arrogant within the Imperial Capital of the Demons…?

Thus, many different kinds of requests were thrown towards the Demon Empress—most were about capturing the heretic White Masked Phantom Thief as soon as possible.

Of course, Demon Empress can’t possibly do that. However, continuing the act was also necessary. And so, she sent many forces to clean(?) and sweep the capital, acting like they are investigating and looking for a huge criminal, all while catching corrupted officials after raiding and investigating each of the pitiful families Clans that was unable to hide things that can't be seen in the public. Indeed, the Demon Empress was able to use this opportunity to give fear to each and every hyena and pests hiding in the dark, all while able to investigate things for a perfect reason...!

But that act itself needs a lot of wasted time and effort—thus; the Demon Empress was quite busy these past few days that she had not gone to sleep up until now. All for Cian to remain unsuspected and that he would never have a bit of doubt turning towards him.

In this case, having the Vampire Lord’s power was quite convenient!

Like the Imperial Court, the entire city as well was rattled. The Demon guilds and most of the aristocratic families had all went crazy, especially the nobles that possess hidden agendas in the Demon Imperial Capital who started to feel a bit of panic and unrest as well as the Demon Mercenaries who were aroused by the bounty, within the city. Bounties had popped out one after another after just one appearance of the murderer—

They were all so regretful that their faces had turned green. Why would they sleep that night? Even if they had gotten up in the middle of the night to pee, they could have heard the commotion and received 50 gold. It was such a huge reward!

Even if one killed a level 3rd rank Blood Lion without a scratch on its fur, the fur could only be sold for at most 30 gold coins, that’s at most half of it.

If they were lucky and killed a “Variant” Blood Lion that has a demon crystal, that would only be worth 40-50 gold coins.

However, against a Variant Blood Lion, even for the Demons, a five high-level Demon Mercenary team would simply be throwing their lives away. Even a ten Demon mercenary team might not be able to touch a single fur on its body. In order to kill a Variant Blood Lion, they would need at least a hundred Demon team or three Duke ranked Demon…

Fifty gold coins reward, that would be equivalent to killing a Variant Blood Lion without any effort.

But now, they would be able to get fifty gold coins just by giving information on what had happened in that night. How could all the mercenaries in this large Imperial City not beat their chest in regret?

The strangest thing was that there really wasn’t anyone in the Imperial City who had noticed such large commotion and fighting even though it was a mass raid for a well-known family, aside from those who had immediately rush over when the Mansion was destroyed completely and turned into piles of rubble. They swore they saw a figure in white standing there and then, they suddenly blanked out. And when they regained their senses, the figure had already vanished in thin air.

It was really strange… Although fake reports came in huge numbers, there was a high level Demon with the [See Truth] Innate Skill from the One-eyed Truthseeker Noble Family that would know if someone was lying or not and thus, immediately found these fake reports that the greedy mercenaries had the audacity to say. In their anger, they had beaten all of these greedy people into pulp; some were even executed as an example.

In a single night, the entire capital was turned upside down.

In three days, the entire world was turned upside down!

At the same time, those who were from the same factions as Duke Rabilla showed no external movements on their part, taking on the attitude of a watchful bystander. Secretly, however, they were moving with all their might. The upper echelons had everyone involved strictly interrogated, and anyone that a single hint of suspicious behavior was tortured brutally without end.

Killing a thousand innocents was better than letting go of one criminal!

Brutal, cruel and very evil...!!

This extremely shows how important for them to find out who was trying to go against them!

After merely two days, many had found themselves unable to cope with the cruel tortures and died! The first prince faction secret forces too moved out in full force, seeking information from all four corners.

All the great families within the capital were able to catch the scent of something unusual within these series of events. All of them kept a close eye on the capital’s movements, guarding themselves from being sucked into this muddy "whirlpool". However, they too sent out their men to inquire information.

What was going on in the Capital?

Who was this White Masked Phantom Thief?

And what was his sudden appearance entails…?

The entire capital’s forces had at this moment, started moving secretly. As for the holding cells of the Demon Council, they were all suddenly filled to the brim! The Habarati family’s unrestricted use of its power and influence had caused an "earthquake" within the capital, causing everyone to feel insecure.

And yet, no news came forth.

…just what is going on here? Where is that thief hiding…?

As Cian was taking it low in these days to avoid suspicion, he continued to stay diligently at his home. Barely coming out from his house, he didn’t care about the pandemonium that was happening outside when, in fact, he was the culprit behind all of it.

Instead, every day, he would play around with Ruka, go and have fun in brothels, or tease Priscilla who was trying to kill him just like she had said—from poisoning the food to suddenly stabbing him with a dagger—all were thwarted of course.

Watching an amateur trying to kill him every second pass was a good way to kill time. Really, he had a very good hobby…

“However, your enemies should be easily distinguished now… isn’t it, mother?” Cian said with a sly smile.

The Demon Empress; Sitana smiled wryly, “…sort of. Most of the suspected people started having wary behavior towards me, and also those who aren’t on the list as well. It seems like I overlook some people…Fortunately, I withheld my plans first from the council that I thought can be trusted if I hadn’t…” Sitana frowned and a menacing look flashed across her eyes. For a snake to be on her side without her knowing… damn it!

It was really an oversight!

“…We still don’t know for sure that they are really the enemies. We still need some close observation on them—we can’t let a potential ally to be turned away by us by mistake. However, we can’t rush these things. Let them swim for now and the moment we made sure of things, we will strike in one fell swoop…gather them all and exterminate to the root…!” Cian coldly said as his eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I listen to you…” Sitana smiled warmly and full of doting love. She stretched out her right hand and wanted to gently touch her son’s cheek. But she suddenly thought of something and in her face appeared a frown. “Son… what are you doing these past few days? Why are you going to a filthy place like a brothel…? Have I not satisfied you?!”

A dangerous murderous intention welled up inside of her. Obviously, she cannot punish her beloved son but who said she cannot destroy a brothel or two…?

They dared waggle their filthy butts in front of my son...? Are they tired of living...?!!

Hearing Sitana’s words that hide a dangerous intent, Cian merely smiled, "Nothing likes that… I went there sometimes because I had a purpose…" He then chuckled in amusement.

Sitana still had an icy expression, "Purpose? And what purpose was that? To play with those whores…?!” When she spoke, her tone was cold, as though she wanted to freeze anyone who heard her into ice directly.

Cian laughed in return. Lifting his head high, his eyes bright and clear, and staring straight at his mother, he spoke unflinchingly, “There’s no need to worry. I had already mended my ways. Going to a brothel is nothing but a deception…”

“Deception…?” Sitana furrowed her brows.

“I did go there every now and then. However, I didn’t do anything aside from chatting and flirting with them—I didn’t do anything beyond that. You can trust me—” Cian smiled warmly. “I want the others, especially the enemy to hold on my poor reputation for now. Although I wanted to change it as soon as possible and make it a clean slate. But I changed my mind. For the time being, such reputation is as convenient as a free meal. Going to a brothel would make their lower their guards towards me—”

"...Besides, they would never believe that I was the one who had kicked their butts without them knowing. Much less, I would still act like nothing happened, even if it was me, and play in places like the Brothel..."

“…Really?”

Cian nodded his head in affirmation, "That’s right. Although I have a 90 percent guarantee that the enemies would never suspect me to be the White Masked Phantom Thief, one must always take precautions. There’s no harm in being careful."

As he spoke, Cian revealed a secretive smile. “…I can’t let myself be subjected to suspicion by now. Because if that happened, you will also be affected by it—surely…”

“Aanuel…” The Demon Empress Sitana smiled happily as she pulled Cian into a tight hug from behind. Patting the arm that was encircling his neck, Cian moved the tray towards the table beside the bed and let Sitana savored the moment of her hugging him.

“You know, you don’t need to do that. Personally, I don’t want you going to that kind of place…”

Cian smiled faintly, “Too bad, whether I liked it or not I need to do it. The world is not full of stars and sunshine, sometimes darkness envelops the world. Life is like a stage, it fully dependent on one’s acting skills. And I’m sure doesn’t want to end up with a fuck up role…thus, I’ll do my best and make this story into my own liking and be the grandest leading male in the century…” enough to win an Oscar for the Best Actor Category!

“… …sometimes, I really wonder if you really are my Aanuel…” Sitana stared at Cian for a moment before suddenly speaking those words.

“Really? How so?” Cian smiled faintly. “Was it because I’m enigmatic just like you had said before?”

“Sort of. But the thing is, Aanuel has no fondness in arts and usage of flowery words, or so I had believed. And yet, the current you are so slick and glib, so unlike the you from before.” Sitana smiled faintly as she stroke Cian’s hair as if arranging it neatly, “Your phrase and words, is something I never heard from before and yet full of wisdom and experience even a sage cannot be compared. Your words are so full of depth and experience that not many people have, and can only be created after a very long time of living…seriously… it’s really hard to believe that it comes from you—”

“… …” Cian paused. Then, he grabbed Sitana’s hand and squeezed it, “If I said that I wasn’t…what will you do?”

Through the hand, Cian felt Sitana shivered. Her expression turned gloomy and her eyes turned piercing as if trying to see through Cian. Cian didn’t mind it, and although he felt bitter and disappointed from Sitana’s love not directed from him but on ‘him’ it wasn’t something he had expected.

Cian was going to change the topic before it went deeper beyond redemption and was about to open his mouth when “…if you are really not. Then, make sure you act like you are till the very end…”

… …Eh?!! Cian’s eyes widened in shock. Sitana’s words were so deep, threatening and at the same time, begging…

It caught him completely off guard...!!

“…though, even if you claim that you are not him—from what I can see, you are still him. And that didn’t change…!”

“Mom…”

Sitana smiled warmly, so unbefitting of her status and reputation—“…do you think a mother, the one who gave birth to you, the one who had given you life till the very blood and flesh and bones inside your body, would mistake someone else as her child…? I don’t know why you are claiming as not nor why you as believe as not—but for me, you are Aanuel, through and through…that would never change!”

“… …”

She then took a good look at Cian and laughed gleefully: “In any case, don’t drown yourself too much in doubt of your identity. It might be due to something—no, someone making you believe as it is… but use this and follow it, it will give you light till the very end of your path…” Sitana pointed at Cian’s chest.

"... ..." Cian was startled and his body shivered for a moment. He stared at Sitana who was smiling at him in response.

Night…? The God who was responsible for Cian’s unbelievable situation appeared inside his mind. But he shook his head immediately. If he starting doubting Night and believe what Sitana had said, isn’t that tantamount of doubting his existence as Cian Cahlo…?!