NAPE - 71

From that point on, vampires decided to withdraw from the human society ecosystem. But he still wanted the Black Death again? Claireval was even more irredeemably insane than Doyoon had thought. Doyoon swallowed the words he wanted to say and forced himself to nod.

“I agree, partially.”

“Really?”

“I also believe vampires should emerge into the light. Because of this, I was actually in contact with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Korea. If you investigated my background, you’d know this, wouldn’t you?”

This part was true. Doyoon’s contact with the military and his initial intention to use the Trainer via Bibi were all steps to pave the way for vampires to come out into the open.

“Yes... So that’s why you were contacting military officials? I thought it was strange, but I didn’t know you had the same goal as me.”

Claireval’s voice became slightly more cordial. The goal was now within reach. If this mouse-like creature would just show himself, Doyoon could seize the moment he’d been waiting for for months. Doyoon ran his tongue over his molars and whispered like a viper.

“Let’s talk in more detail. Get rid of this crappy phone.”

“But I can’t trust you just yet. Tell me Bibi’s location first.”

“Why don’t you reveal your face first? Trust is a basic business etiquette. I can’t trust you either, you see.”

“Bibi’s whereabouts are paramount. She will be a crucial focal point for leading the hound pack.”

A tense standoff ensued. Doyoon’s eyes gleamed intensely, as if they would shatter the phone lens. The hounds, feeling the intimidation, recoiled.

“Claireval. Why do you think Luna betrayed you? Simply because of a man?”

“What are you trying to say? Do you think it was my fault?”

When Luna was mentioned, Claireval reacted more sharply than expected.

“No. Luna’s betrayal was Luna’s fault. She was too weak to handle your great purpose.”

What flowed from Doyoon’s lips was quite unexpected. Claireval, and even the hounds listening to the conversation, gasped, their breathing momentarily stopping in surprise. Doyoon chuckled softly.

“But I am different from Luna. I am the successor to the Executioner and a strong vampire, inheriting the blood of the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties. I am ready to carve a new path in history with you. Here, I’m giving you a chance to join hands with me.”

Doyoon subtly gained the upper hand over Claireval. Anyone would waver when presented with an unexpected opportunity.

“Show yourself right now. Then I’ll tell you Bibi’s location. With your hounds and my capital and power, overthrowing the Elder Council will be enough. The war comes after that.”

This was a truly tempting offer for Claireval. Doyoon gazed arrogantly into the camera lens. He could almost see the faceless man biting his nails and agonizing.

“Then... let’s do this. For today, go back... And wait for my call. Afterwards, gradually...”

“No. I hate waiting.”

“...”

“If not now, I’ll turn away.”

Doyoon sensed Claireval’s anxiety. Despite being captured, Doyoon acted stubbornly. How would Claireval react? He was a very wary individual, a stubborn one who hadn’t shown his face to pureblood vampires for the past 200 years.

However, he had enough audacity to send Jack’s head. There was a possibility he would succumb to temptation. He would fall for it. Definitely.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I... I can’t trust your kind.”

With those words, the phone call ended. Silence once again swallowed the room. The hounds waited for a moment, then, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, they slowly crept towards the iron bars. They ran their tongues over their yellowish fangs, eyeing Doyoon’s neck.

Had he failed?

Doyoon, with a calm face, tightened his cuffed hands. He’d gone this far. This guy was more suspicious and timid than he’d expected.

The more he tried to track him, the deeper he would hide. Hmm... For now, he’d have to interrogate these guys and find clues one by one. Yes, he’d search the entire earth and find him. And hide Bibi even more thoroughly...

Click.

As he was steeling his resolve, the attic door opened. A gaunt man in a worn jacket and baseball cap slowly entered. His pale cheeks, almost translucent with visible veins, blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair were striking.

“Still, one needs to consider the possibility, however slim.”

The hissing voice he’d heard on the phone.

So this was the Trainer, Claireval. The wicked wretch who had degraded a child of noble blood, who should have been born blessed, into a lowly hound. The one he had longed to see, to the point of wanting to chew him up, not just greet him. Finally, he stood before him.

“Nice to meet you.” Doyoon smiled genuinely and brightly. This house had now become the Witch’s gingerbread house. For the past few months, to lure him here, Doyoon had deliberately leaked information, travel routes, and destinations like breadcrumbs—through the Hunter Association’s computer network, CCTV, Choi Hae-jin’s eyes, and Jack.

To hide the surging exultation, Doyoon clenched his fist, ran his tongue over his molars, then bit down hard. Crack, came the sound of plastic being chewed between his teeth.

“Nice to meet you, Henry Bilscardi Tudor.” Claireval recited Doyoon’s full name. Doyoon let out a sardonic laugh.

“That’s the name I only heard when I was in trouble.”

“Of course. You stole my hound.”

“Let’s call it finding lost property. By the way, how did you kill Jack?”

“I told you I worked at a pharmaceutical company. I researched drugs there. Just because vampires are immortal doesn’t mean we’re as perfect as gods. We’re just living beings rooted to this earth. I discovered the ingredients that go into silver bullets. It’s a cell apoptosis-activating substance extracted from a certain plant. If you condense it several hundred times and inject it, then cut off their breath, they die.”

Claireval’s face was full of pride. His eyes seemed to expect praise for his achievement.

A desire to gouge out those eyes immediately surged, but Doyoon suppressed it. There was one more thing he needed to find out: the unusually large number of hounds and the medicines Claireval had created. There was probably a central base somewhere. He wanted to get his hands on it before the Elder Council, if possible.

“Impressive. I suppose you have a private lab? Well, you must have had a plan if you were even talking about a second Black Death.”

“...That is.”

“Master!”

Just as Claireval was about to speak, a hound abruptly burst into the attic.

“We caught this one! He was near the emergency exit on the first floor!”

He threw someone he had slung over his shoulder onto the floor. Doyoon’s eyes widened at the unexpected arrival.

“L-Lord River...!”

River, his face filled with terror, looked like he was about to cry.

“You said you were alone. So it was a lie after all.” Claireval glared at River as if he wanted to devour him. He gritted his teeth, realizing he had been tricked. A fierce rage emanated from him.

Damn it, just when everything was ready.

Doyoon stared coldly at River, who was sprawled on the floor, then realized something. If River was here... it meant Bibi and Namwon were also here. Where are they? Where could they be? They must be somewhere in this mansion, right? Wait, if River was caught near the emergency exit...

Doyoon only rolled his eyes to check the emergency exit inside the attic. Right next to Claireval, behind him, a small sliding door was set in the wall. As expected, a house built during wartime would have separate emergency exits. It probably connected all floors.

He had just pressed the tiny switch attached to his molar... he only needed to hold out for 10, or maybe 15 minutes. Fortunately, the plan wasn’t significantly disrupted. More importantly, had Bibi heard everything he’d discussed with the Trainer? He hoped there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings.

“Who else is with you?” Claireval asked River in a deceptively gentle tone. But his venomous eyes and the killing intent emanating from his entire body were quite menacing. River was an innocent vampire, experiencing such a situation for the first time. He trembled in fear.

“A-alone... I-I came alone...”

“Don’t lie!” Claireval’s rebuke made River gasp, inhaling sharply, and look at Doyoon with frightened eyes. Doyoon kept his mouth shut and subtly shook his head. It was a sign to keep quiet no matter what.

“No, really! Mixed-blood vampires invaded the association... Master told me to check on Young Master’s safety, so I was looking for him... and I came alone.”

Fortunately, River understood Doyoon’s signal and desperately fabricated a lie.

“Then how did you know this location?”

“Th-that...”

Claireval snorted. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to finish things quickly and leave here anyway.”

“...”

“I needed a hostage anyway. To make your friend talk. Now, tell me where Bibi is. Otherwise, I’ll pull out your loyal subordinate’s fangs first.”

Having one’s fangs pulled out was a greater humiliation and pain than death for a vampire. River’s face went ashen, and he clamped his mouth shut.

“Why did you come, River? I told you to stay at the Hunter Association.”

“There too... the hounds attacked there too. And at the mansion... and Young Master wasn’t responding.”