Chapter 30
“But how did he know I needed these things?”
The Association President had pinpointed exactly what I wanted to an uncanny degree.
No. He went beyond pinpointing it and offered even more.
For example, saying he would help as much as possible even with “matters outside the laws of the World” meant he’d cover for me even if I got swept up in a crime, right?
Then wouldn’t that mean he’d take my side if the Black Cow Incident came to light, or if something similar happened later?
The offer was so ridiculously good that it made me suspicious. Was this a trap?
Well, someone of the Association President’s standing wouldn’t run a scam, but…
Still, there was a real chance it could be a trap at a national level targeting the “True Ancestor”.
I decided to approach this very carefully.
I would show just the right amount of suspicion and send one of my Retainers instead of going myself.
Besides.
“I have the [Appraisal Eye] Skill.”
The [Appraisal Eye] Skill that reveals an opponent’s information.
Surprisingly, this Skill could even be used on targets seen through [Sight Sharing].
In other words, as long as my Retainer met the Association President face-to-face, I could scan his inner thoughts right then and there from my house.
Of course, I couldn’t use it on strong individuals like Katarina, Si-Yeon, or the Ice Empress because the level gap was too large.
But the Association President wasn’t a position that exactly required martial prowess, so his level itself shouldn’t be that high, right?
So then I could secretly peek at his inner thoughts, whether he was telling the truth or lying, or if he was harboring some sinister ulterior motive.
And I only found this out recently, but apparently, the [Appraisal Eye] Skill originally didn’t have a function to show inner thoughts.
It was supposed to provide much more limited information than what I was seeing.
This, too, seemed to be a correction effect from my Class, “Lord of Blood”.
Just like how the [Book of the Dead] was originally a 30% buff but applied as 50% to my Retainers.
[Appraisal Eye] also had added effects like the inner thought function and Blood Fiend Potential.
It wasn’t an EX-Rank Class for nothing.
As long as I had such a cheat-like Skill, I wouldn’t fall into any ordinary trap.
Anyway, that aside.
Now that the negotiations were settled, it was time to choose which of my Retainers to send.
I briefly lifted my eyes and looked at my two Retainers.
Katarina, wearing an apron and washing the dishes I had used, and Si-Yeon, running the vacuum cleaner.
Katarina was the stronger one, for starters.
But since Katarina had exposed her appearance once when helping the Ice Empress previously, there was a possibility that information had already been passed to the Association.
If Katarina’s physical description had already been shared with the Association,
sending Katarina this time, it would blatantly confirm that “the one who commanded that strong Vampire in Seollim-dong = True Ancestor”.
So it was right to send Si-Yeon this time.
'On top of that, I won’t just send Si-Yeon as is; I’ll put a mask on her!'
This would prevent them from identifying her face.
Hehe. I’m just so thorough.
I crossed my arms, smiling and nodding, before suddenly flinching.
Gasp? Did I just act smug by myself without realizing it?!
[Exalted Dignity] itself didn’t affect my thoughts, but since I kept acting and speaking arrogantly, it felt like my mindset was naturally slowly becoming infected.
“Ugh… How embarrassing…”
I resolved to be careful from now on.
I called Si-Yeon over, explained the whole situation, and gave her an order.
“So go buy some masks.”
“Yes, Master. What kind should I prepare?”
“Hmm… Just pick out a variety of masks that cover the face well.”
“Understood.”
Si-Yeon quietly bowed her head and left the house.
And about an hour passed.
She returned with a whole bundle of white animal masks.
“Now, come here.”
I tried placing the masks on Si-Yeon’s face one by one.
“Ooh. It gives off a masquerade, Mastermind kind of vibe…!”
When Si-Yeon wore a mask, it blended well with her tall and slender silhouette, making her look really cool.
The fox mask suited her well, the Rabbit Mask gave off an unexpectedly eerie vibe, and the deer mask felt a bit mystical.
But out of all of them, the one that suited Si-Yeon the best was definitely the Cat Mask.
And should I try putting them on Katarina next?
She didn’t really need one, but I did it just for fun.
“Katarina, you come here too.”
“I heed your command, Liege Lord.”
Katarina trotted over and politely offered her head.
After trying this and that,
the wolf mask suited Katarina the best.
The combination of her usual loyal yet charismatic aura and the wolf mask was a perfect match, giving off a very cool vibe.
“Oh. Katarina. It suits you well.”
“…! If my Liege Lord thinks so, I shall wear this mask for the rest of my life!”
“T-There is no need to go that far.”
Slightly flustered, I waved my hands in denial.
Anyway, the mask fitting for my Retainers was done. Should I try one on now too?
How would I look?
Silver hair, red eyes, and a mask - wouldn’t that give off a Mastermind queen vibe?
Beaming, I picked out the coolest fox mask and put it on.
Checking myself on my Smartphone, I just looked like an elementary schooler wearing an art class project on my head.
Why is it only me…!!
* * *
Yu-Jin was having a mask fashion show in the corner of her room.
Kim Tae-Seong and the Association’s Supreme Council were moving with suffocating intensity.
They paid extreme attention to selecting everything, starting from the interior of the meeting room.
“What should we do about the lighting? If it’s too bright, it might feel intimidating, and if it’s too dark, it leaves room to be interpreted as sinister.”
“Let’s go with indirect lighting. Let’s aim for around this brightness. It should be neither too bright nor too dark.”
“What about the chairs? If the heights are the same, it could be read as our claiming equality, but if we raise the seat of honor too much, it could be read as hypocrisy.”
The height difference between the chairs was 2cm.
It was a meticulously calculated measurement designed to show respect without appearing subservient.
Even the color of the carpet was coordinated.
The red carpet was excluded as it could evoke blood.
Black was excluded for its funeral-like atmosphere.
Ultimately, a matte dark navy carpet was selected.
Every single trivial element like this was taken into consideration.
“Phew… I know it’s the True Ancestor, but it feels like we’re serving a king or something.”
At the words carelessly uttered by one of the committee members, Kim Tae-Seong replied quietly only in his mind.
“It would be easier if she were a king.”
If she were the queen of a nation, there would be a grammar of diplomacy.
There would be a correct answer for Protocol, and even if a mistake was made, it could be salvaged with an apology.
However, for an opponent like the True Ancestor, there was absolutely no precedent to refer to.
The fact that the True Ancestor was making contact with the Association was a Top Secret known only to the Supreme Council.
But the possibility that the True Ancestor was connected to vampires was information currently shared only between the Ice Empress and him.
If she truly was such a monster.
If they made a mistake, it might not end with just an apology.
The Protocol was also meticulously documented.
Titles were unified as “True Ancestor-nim” and “True Ancestor-nim’s Emissary'.
The only attendee would be the Association President.
Refreshments would be served but not offered.
Respond within 3 seconds when the other Party speaks; never interrupt their speech, and so on.
And finally.
It absolutely shouldn’t happen, but just in case.
If the True Ancestor’s mood soured during the meeting and an unexpected situation arose…
They needed to have a minimum safety measure prepared for that moment.
So Kim Tae-Seong ultimately decided to contact the right person for the job directly.
The strongest person affiliated with the Association.
The one among the Republic of Korea’s four S-rank hunters who was the most cautious and capable of making cold judgments.
Kim Tae-Seong picked up his Smartphone.
After a few rings, a calm voice was soon heard from the other end.
“Hunter Baek Eun-Seol.”
“Association President. What is it?”
Kim Tae-Seong spoke calmly, yet with weight.
“We have arranged contact with the True Ancestor. I need your help.”
“…!!!”
* * *
“…To think he succeeded in making contact with the True Ancestor.”
Hearing the news from the Association President, Baek Eun-Seol remained silent for a while.
Baek Eun-Seol was also a part of the Climber Community.
Because she didn’t know any better at first and just set her nickname to her real name, [Eun-Seol], she rarely wrote posts or comments.
But since a lot of useful information and guides were posted, she would occasionally drop by to lurk.
So naturally, she had also heard the actual voice of the True Ancestor, who was the current hot topic.
The clear, ringing voice was typical of a young girl.
However, contained within it was a supreme dignity and Intimidation that was hard to believe belonged to someone of that age.
To an ordinary person, it might just sound like a young girl trying to act tough and putting on an edgy, chuunibyou persona.
But as an S-rank Hunter, she instinctively sensed the dignity imbued in that voice.
The way she spoke was the same.
There were parts that shared a very similar grain to the Vampire who had saved her back then.
“True Ancestor…”
The hypothesis that there was some sort of connection between the “Liege Lord” and the “True Ancestor” was already quietly growing in her mind.
While she was continuing her own speculations,
The Association President had contacted her right on time.
He said that he had succeeded in contacting the True Ancestor via System Message, and that he would be meeting the Emissary she sent three days from now at midnight.
And they were even asking her to take charge of security in case of an emergency.
“Will she come this time too?”
If that Vampire from back then came,
That would serve as decisive proof that the “Liege Lord” and the “True Ancestor” were the same person.
A chance to get even a little closer to her benefactor.
She accepted the proposal the moment she heard it.
Time passed like that, and finally, the night of the promised day arrived.