We waited until dusk when she managed to send a letter back through a messenger mentioning those cultists and instructing us to seek you out.
The inkeeper explained, producing a crumpled note from his attire.
The note was passed up, I made.
The handwriting was small, consisting of only two simple phrases.
We are under the control of cultists.
Seek Fongo.
Cultists.
The mention of cultists evoked thoughts of the paleblooded figures cloaked in large hoods.
Who is Bennett? Did you commit theft? Fonggho pressed further.
The name Bennett sounded familiar, yet he struggled to recall the details.
Bennett is the son of the former minister of internal affairs.
Our tavern prides itself on its reputation and would never engage in theft.
It is clearly just an excuse from Bennett.
The inkeeper replied, his face flushed with anger.
Upon hearing that Bennett was the son of the minister, Fongghao recollected who he was, the Pockmark man who had previously been beaten by Ja.
now evidently released from the confinement imposed by Lord Sirill with Bennett having apprehended the proprie.
It was plausible that she had been targeted for having provided Fong How with numerous pieces of information.
And what are the cultists? What further details do you have about them? Fongo continued his inquiry.
The term cultist was a nickname given by the proprieed individuals who wearing hoods in broad daylight indeed resembled cultists.
In recent days, many hooded figures had appeared in the city.
During Bennett's raid, he had been accompanied by several of them, which the proprie had dubbed cultists.
The inkeeper elaborated.
Fongo remained silent, yet he had already drawn a conclusion in his mind.
It appeared that Sirill had chosen a misguided path.
The Blood Clan had evidently formed a collaborative relationship with Pearl City, brazenly appearing in the sight of the residents, and had even garnered the approval of Lord Sirill.
The Blood Clan had consistently targeted Fong Hao, and even if this matter did not directly involve the tavern, he intended to clarify the situation upon receiving the news.
He needed to discern the true intentions of the Blood Clan, and Sirill.
What do you wish for me to do to assist?" Fonhow asked.
"Ah, I do not know," the inkeeper stammered.
The bartender, bewildered, shook his head.
"Where have your elder sisters been confined? They are not in the city.
" After the gates closed at dusk, they were taken away towards the southeast.
Taken away indeed.
I followed them for a while before hastening here, the bartender continued.
It requires an hour's journey from Plural City to the fortress.
The time consumed to reach here from the fortress is not trivial either.
If we continue to delay, it is quite possible that they will become lost.
Summon the blood hunter.
Fongo instructed a nearby maid.
Yes, my lord, the maid replied, darting outside.
Are you courageous? Fongghao inquired again, glancing at the bartender.
The bartender, fearing he would be tasked with some perilous duty, hastily shook his head.
Not at all, very little.
Bring that sack over, Fongghao commanded.
Oh.
The bartender, perplexed, nonetheless placed the sack over his head.
Soon, the skeletal hero, Blood Hunter, stroed in his enormous bat-like wings folded as he approached.
"My lord, you called for me.
" The bartender stood in the center of the hall ins snared in the sack as blood hunter passed by him.
Beneath the loose sack he caught sight of iron boots and above them the bare ankles revealed stark white bones.
His heart raced and his body trembled violently.
What is going on here? How many races have gathered at Fong Ho's place? The lizard men are one thing, but why are there undead as well? Fungho gazed at Blood Hunter and said, "Blood Hunter, I need you to investigate a group.
They departed from Plural City, heading southeast.
I suspect they are on route to the Blood Clans Crescent Moon Highlands.
Please look into it.
" "Yes, my lord.
" Blood Hunter wasted no time.
Turning to depart upon receiving the order, exiting the Lord's Manor, he mounted his bone dragon and soared towards the southeast.
After assigning the task, Fongghao turned once more to the fidgeting Rolley, who had been watching the spectacle.
Rolley, I have a task for you.
If you perform well, I shall build you a house.
Roly's eyes sparkled at Fong Ho<unk>s words.
All right.
Fongghao opened the map within the Lord<unk>'s book, pointing out to Roelly, "This is plural city.
I needed to investigate what the Lord here is up to.
" "Understood.
" Roly eagerly agreed.
The heavy infantry escorted the bartender and Rolley away while Fong Hao began mobilizing his forces awaiting their return with news.
Southeast of Plural City on a flat expanse of land, a contingent of 500 individuals gathered for a brief respit.
This group composed of villagers and lowerass residents represented the first batch of human inhabitants being relocated from Plural City.
Sirill had reached an agreement with the Blood Clan to gradually transfer residents to the Crescent Moon Highlands, where they would live under the Blood Clan's dominion.
These villagers hailed from remote hamlets or were petty thieves and criminals apprehended under various pretexts.
Their sudden disappearance would go unnoticed by others.
As night descended, the guardians escorting the prisoners removed their hoods, revealing their crimson eyes, prompting a sense of foroding among the onlookers.
though it was already too late.
In that moment, they found themselves powerless, left only to hope for a miracle.
Nearby sat two men, a gaunt, middle-aged figure, whose eyes glimmered with the same sanguin light as the bloodkin and younger man, whose appearance bore no distinction from that of a human, although a hint of malevolence lingered in his brow as he occasionally scratched at the painful blemishes on his face.
These two were none other than the former minister of internal affairs of Pearl City and his son Bennett.
Father, I too desire to become one the Bloodkin.
To possess such power, Bennett declared, harboring a tinge of envy towards his father's transformation.
The minister, his emaciated visage betraying a stern demeanor, replied, "The affairs of Pearl City still require your stewardship.
When you reach my age, you may undergo the transformation.
According to Lord Sirill, once one became a bloodkin, they could no longer dwell within the city.
Contemplating his father's words, Bennett conceded the point and refrained from pursuing the conversation further.
"That scoundrel Fong how closed the shop during the day.
If not for that, I would have seized his rabbit women and thoroughly tormented them.
" Bennett seeed, smiting his thigh in frustration.
There is no rush.
Even Sirill fears Fong house strength.
For now, we must resolve the matters concerning the bloodkin.
When the time is ripe, we shall have our opportunity to deal with that brat.
The minister remarked, his gaze fixed forward, his tone unyielding.
You speak wisely, father, Bennett acknowledged, then cursed.
It must be that tavern when you informed Fong how, leading her people to flee.
Damn it, I shall teach that harlot a lesson.
With that, Bennett rose and stroed towards the retreating figures.
The minister made no attempt to dissuade him.
The individuals taken away were merely offerings to the blood kin.
Their fates were of no consequence.
Bennett spotted a resting woman amidst the crowd and without hesitation kicked her to the ground.