NAPE - 117

Side Story 28

Some denied their guilt, and some were divided. Albi, who had been watching the situation with his mouth agape, shook his head and turned to Bibi.

“Enforcer, merely knowing is not enough to carry out a sentence. Do you have evidence? Bring the evidence.”

“I’ve brought the evidence here.”

Richard, who had been standing with the Elder Council members, took off his mask and stepped forward. His clear face shone even more beautifully under the moonlight. Amidst the serious situation, gasps erupted from the female vampires.

“All the data has been documented. Please examine it carefully here. But you must remember. This Court of Interrogation is about the silver bullet secret leakage. If you confirm this, you will also have to proceed with the interrogation of the vampires who committed the crimes. Are you confident you can handle it?”

Albi exhaled strongly through his nose. He glanced behind the pillars as if seeking help, then quickly feigned indifference, smiled, and looked at Bibi.

“Enforcer, do you truly intend to enforce the sentences for all the families you just named?”

“I will.”

“What if they refuse to be executed?”

“...Refuse?”

Bibi couldn’t go that far. She blinked, completely unaware of what to do in such a case. Albi quickly noticed Bibi’s naivety. He cunningly pressed on with a seemingly concerned expression.

“There were those who incited vampire wars in the past; what makes you think there won’t be others? If disobedient individuals refuse execution, what is your plan to deal with it? I’m curious about your countermeasures.”

“......”

“You must have that much confidence, since you’ve exposed the crimes of so many vampires, haven’t you?”

“That’s...”

“Now, show us your ability to punish them as well. It was time for verification that you inherited the Enforcer’s power. Many people have doubts, and this would be a good example.”

His tone was seemingly polite, but it carried an arrogance that implied, “What can you possibly do?” Even without raising his voice, the circular space amplified Albi’s voice like a megaphone.

Bibi felt like a paper tiger. A sense of crisis arose, feeling as if she could be sucked into the mouths of hungry crocodiles if she made one wrong move.

In the tense atmosphere, with everyone’s attention on Bibi, the firmly closed door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

The vampires gasped in surprise and turned their heads. Someone slowly walked in, dragging large sacks in both hands.

His face was shadowed by the light coming from outside. His features weren’t clearly visible, but an eerie and oppressive aura emanated from him. The scent of blood filled the hall.

“That’s...”

In the suffocating silence, a vampire pointed at something being dragged along the floor, leaving a dark red trail. It wasn’t an object, but the mangled form of a human.

“I was planning to attend, but I’m a little late.”

The moonlight faintly illuminated Doyoon’s face as he stood before Albi and Bibi. A quiet ripple went through the vampires who recognized him. Doyoon carelessly dropped the two men he was holding onto the floor. Albi looked at them with wavering eyes.

“These are...”

“Isn’t this Reias, the eldest son of the Dawkin family? And that one looks like a human.”

Richard feigned a surprised expression. Doyoon nudged the middle-aged man’s head with his foot, as if to make sure they saw his face properly. The unconscious man’s head tilted to one side.

“The head of the London Hunter Association. Why... in such a state?”

Albi, recognizing the Hunter Association head, frowned with overt disgust. He seemed genuinely flustered by the situation. Doyoon calmly looked around. As everyone focused on the Executioner, his red lips finally opened.

“The head of the London Hunter Association has been collaborating with a pureblood vampire named Roel Jack for a long time. They blackmailed Lord Schauer to secretly obtain silver bullet ingredients and cultivation methods, thereby increasing their power. Recently, the head killed Roel Jack and monopolized both the silver bullet raw material factory and the hound factory. And he ordered the confinement of Lord Schauer, who was trying to clean up his own mess. At the same time, he had the factories, which manufactured silver bullets and exploited hounds, managed by vampires captured by hunters.”

It was half-truth, half-falsehood. Doyoon omitted all information about the trainer and linked the already dead Roel Jack with the Hunter Association head. Bibi looked at the London Hunter Association head with tense eyes. If he confessed that it wasn’t true, the risk of it turning against them was high.

“Is the Executioner’s statement true?”

Albi asked the London Hunter Association head with a doubtful gaze.

“Yes, yes, it is...”

The London Hunter Association head, with missing teeth, admitted it in an unclear pronunciation. Everyone looked curious, trying to guess how he had ended up in such a state.

“There was a car accident on the way here.”

Doyoon offered an obviously false excuse. Albi clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“But a more interesting fact is that there was a vampire who followed the head of the London Hunter Association like a dog.”

Doyoon said, nudging the pureblood vampire to his left with his foot.

“Surely you’re not saying the Dawkin family heir did that?”

“He had more than one master, it seems. He even swayed a human named Chaowei and was managing the Queens Romane Casino... He is, in essence, a living witness to the crimes the Enforcer just mentioned.”

The Dawkin family heir couldn’t lift his head from the floor and trembled violently. Whatever had happened, he was clearly overwhelmed by fear, continuously emitting groans. Albi’s scornful gaze fixated on him.

“Come to think of it, there are many vampires who broke taboos today.”

Doyoon looked around with a refreshed expression. He scanned each of the vampires hiding behind the pillars. Those whose gazes he met became like animals before a butcher, letting out weak whimpers.

“Since the Enforcer has revealed the crimes in detail, it is my duty to deal with them. I will process them cleanly, one by one, in order. I will grab and devour each of them. Painlessly and smoothly.”

“Wait, wait! Let’s not go to extremes. You are someone who advocated for the vampiric integration into human society, so you must know the importance of preserving pureblood vampires!”

The Elder Council chairman finally stepped forward, sensing an imminent indiscriminate slaughter.

“So you’re saying we should only kill that common vampire? Because we are disgustingly noble and he is lowly like a dog?”

Doyoon tilted his head crookedly.

“You speak harshly. There is a way to avoid the worst. Quietly and peacefully.”

“Quietly and peacefully... To imagine such a flowery scene when a Court of Interrogation has been convened and the Executioner summoned. I am here to deliver not peace, but a sword.”

“...We now have an Enforcer. No matter if the Executioner advocates for mortality, we cannot simply draw swords indiscriminately. Enforcer, please, grant merciful treatment.”

The Elder Council chairman looked at Bibi, pleading for mercy. A great power of decision was now in Bibi’s hands, who had been cornered. As eyes seeking mercy turned to her, she felt even more awkward than before.

“Just now, you told the Enforcer to abandon her rights. You’re changing your words.”

Doyoon made no effort to hide his sneer. He pressed the Elder Council chairman without yielding an inch.

“Those were the words of the Court of Interrogation chairman. My thoughts were short-sighted.”

“Wasn’t it the Elder Council chairman who assembled and sent the investigation team? You must have discussed the direction of the Court of Interrogation together.”

“It was merely an investigation team for vampire society, with no other intentions.”

Doyoon took a breath and pondered for a moment.

“Well, let’s assume that. However, pleading for mercy to the Enforcer is tantamount to acknowledging the Excold family’s authority. Is that correct?”

Silence fell. The Elder Council chairman’s face darkened. He felt trapped. The original plan was to catch the Enforcer by the tail and tie her down in their own front yard.

But for the crimes of other vampires to spill out one after another, and for perfect evidence to appear before their eyes, giving wings to the Executioner... It was thoroughly tangled. They hadn’t underestimated the new successors. The Court of Interrogation had become a perfect generational shift and redistribution of power.

“That’s correct. I acknowledge it.”

Finally, the Elder Council chairman nodded, as if admitting his mistake. Richard subtly nudged Bibi’s side. Bibi, who had been blank, cleared her throat and stepped slightly forward, reciting what she had memorized.

“All vampires who violated the rules shall forfeit all profits and be stripped of their status. Furthermore, the Economic Alliance is dissolved and prohibited from re-establishing for the next 100 years. Especially, those involved in human wars shall be sentenced to 100 years of repose.”

Her voice was as small as an ant’s, but the vampires held their breath and listened intently. Everyone sighed in relief at the not-so-harsh treatment.

“And Lord Schauer, for his failure to uphold his duty and for causing a societal crisis, shall also be sentenced to 100 years of repose.”

A sentence of repose meant being confined in a coffin for 100 years. Most vampires would endure the years inside with various drugs and sleep. Bibi’s heart ached, but she couldn’t show mercy only to Lord Schauer. This was a forced punishment, given with much compromise.

“I object.”

Doyoon, who had been standing with a displeased expression, raised an eyebrow. The slightly eased atmosphere instantly froze again.