Westminster Bank

Freya wanted to snap. 'Something came up? What could have possibly come up? Can you call Elder Sanning over right now and ask him what it was? Why not? Is he dead?'

But she remembered Baron's instructions, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. "I need to find my seat, so I won't keep you."

Jill quickly interjected, "You could join us—"

But Barbara cut him off with a smile, turning to Freya. "Then we won't trouble you any further, Miss Freya."

She pulled Jill away. Elder Pence quietly turned to Freya. "Did you get a good rest at the hotel today, Miss Lancelot?"

It was a test, a probe to gauge Freya's attitude about what had happened at the Monastery.

"No, I was out enjoying myself," Freya sneered. She couldn't be bothered to feign politeness.

That was Freyja Lancelot—a girl so fiercely passionate in her love and hate that she bordered on being utterly unrestrained.

She was the type of person who, over a matter as trivial to the Old Blood Clans as a disliked engagement, would spend the better part of her savings to unilaterally issue a "declaration of annulment" to the Constantine Clan at the London Tower—all without first consulting her family's elders or even her father.

By the same token, the moment she learned the truth from Baron and a voice recorder, she could make a decision that was true to her feelings without a second thought for the consequences—that is, to cooperate with Baron, the very Bloodless and murderer of her brother whom she once despised, for the simple sake of revenge, even knowing her brother had once tried to kill her just to win another woman's affection.

Elder Pence understood. He didn't press further, but said as he was about to leave, "The Dragon Witch and Baron Constantin are inseparable. It's likely he'll be here for this event. The Hestia Family can help you kill him. Think of it as a transaction."

"My lady's meaning is perfectly clear," Freya's attendant said, stepping forward before she could speak. "She's telling you to get lost."

"What right does a servant like you have to interrupt when masters are speaking? You're asking for a beating!"

Elder Pence's attendant stepped forward, raising his cane and bringing it down on the attendant who had spoken for Freya, his face a mask of viciousness and a cold, unrestrained sneer.

The surrounding guests let out a collective gasp.

The Hestia Family was one of the Four Great Demon-Hunting Clans, a family with a profound heritage.

As the family's Grand Elder, Elder Pence's attendant was naturally no ordinary member of the Old Race. He was a Black Iron Tier Demon Hunter—a fact made clear by the three complete Command Spells on the back of his hand and the Alchemy Circuits that had begun to faintly materialize on his face.

The appearance of Alchemy Circuits on his face meant he was striking with lethal intent. They feared that no matter how tough Freya's attendant was, a blow like that was guaranteed to break several bones, at the very least.

The onlookers could only gasp, though they couldn't understand why the legitimate daughter of the Lancelot Clan would clash with an elder of the Hestia Family.

But in the next moment, the expressions on the faces of Elder Pence, his attendant, and all the surrounding guests froze, their composure crumbling away inch by inch like a weathered cliff face.

Freya's unremarkable attendant caught the cane swung by the Silver Demon Hunter. With a casual flick, the cane—said to be forged from Dwarven Refined Iron—snapped in two.

With a simple kick, the Black Iron Tier Silver Demon Hunter, his body still empowered by Alchemy Circuits, was sent flying. He soared dozens of meters across the hall like a kite with a snapped string, spitting up blood, already half-dead by the time he landed.

Before the crowd could even recover from their shock at the attendant's power—or wonder how deep the Lancelot Clan's resources ran to have such a person serving as their legitimate daughter's attendant—another figure rushed forward.

"Elder Pence, what are you doing!" Jill shouted, shaking off his sister Barbara's grip. He glared at Elder Pence, his expression dark. "I need an explanation."

Since Freya was engaged to him, she was, by all rights, already half a member of the Hestia Family, not to mention the fact she was the prized daughter of the Lancelot Clan.

More importantly, she was his fiancée.

In public, an attendant's actions were a direct reflection of their master's honor.

Elder Pence's actions not only embarrassed him as Freya's fiancé, but they also sent a clear message to the world: the Hestia Family did not respect the Lancelot Clan. What would the Lancelots think when they learned of this?

And just like that, Aile, a Black Iron Knight of the Lion Eye Knight Order, led his fellow knights to surround Elder Pence. "What is the meaning of this, Elder of the Hestia Family? The Lancelot Clan requires an explanation."

He hadn't arrived in time to intervene, but he had clearly seen Elder Pence's attendant strike first.

Although he was surprised that his cousin had an attendant whose true strength he couldn't gauge, Aile didn't forget his objective: to reclaim honor for both Freya and the Lancelot Clan.

"If Elder Pence does not provide a satisfactory answer, I will report this matter to my clan and ask our elders to pass judgment."

Aile was invoking the authority of the Lancelot Clan's elders.

The previous conflict with Zick could be chalked up to a squabble between peers, but Elder Pence was several generations Freya's senior. Moreover, she was the fiancée of the Hestia Family's own Young Master. Was this really how the Hestia Family treated the legitimate daughter of the Lancelot Clan?

If this wasn't handled properly, it wasn't just Freya and Jill's marriage that would be at risk; the entire alliance between the Lancelot and Hestia clans could very well collapse.

In response, Elder Pence said, "I failed to instruct him properly... He momentarily forgot his place. I must apologize to Miss Lancelot for this."

"But I know a simple apology lacks sincerity, therefore..."

He looked at his attendant, who was clutching his chest with blood streaming from his mouth and nose, and said calmly, "End your life."

As soon as the command was given, the attendant showed no hesitation. He pulled a dagger from his robes, plunged it viciously into his chest, and died after a brief convulsion, blood staining the front of his tunic.

The sudden, brutal scene left the onlookers completely stunned.

Elder Pence clapped his hands. Several more attendants emerged from the crowd to properly dispose of the corpse. At the urging of the event's attendants and guards, the gawking guests began to disperse.

"The matter began with him, so it is only fitting that it ends with him. I trust Miss Lancelot finds this satisfactory?" Elder Pence said, looking at Freya.

This time, Freya simply nodded. "Since Elder Pence has gone to such lengths with his apology, how could I possibly be unsatisfied?"

Jill's mouth opened. "Freya... this..."

Freya merely gave him a slight nod. Jill wanted to step forward to explain and comfort her, but his sister Barbara grabbed his arm.

"The auction is about to start. We should be going."

She said, pulling a reluctant Jill away.

Elder Pence also shook his head, took his leave, and turned away. The smile on his face vanished instantly, and for a split second, a golden light flashed deep within his eyes.

After confirming that Freya was all right, Aile turned his gaze to the unremarkable attendant.

"You're a Law Enforcer, too?"

He couldn't recall the Lancelot Clan ever having a Law Enforcer attendant with this kind of power. Moreover, even with his Pupil Power as a Silver Lion Knight, he had only barely been able to track the kick that sent the other man flying. Everyone else could only see a faint afterimage. It was an incredible feat.

But Freya cut in, "Aile, return to your seat."

Aile was taken aback for a moment, but he didn't dwell on it. After a quick word with his cousin, he led his Knight Order companions back to their seats, dispersing the remaining gawkers along the way.

"I believe you now," Freya said in a low voice.

Baron didn't answer, his eyes silently sweeping over the guests in the auction hall.

He had already spotted many faces, both familiar and new. It seemed the information he had gathered from the Dragon Eater Association was proving to be at least partially correct.

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