192. Ask Her to Come Save Me
Vancouver, Cascadia.
The H.A.R.M. General's Mansion.
Skyler Grant studied the telegram from Seattle in his hand. Sent by Aisha Patani, it stated that his deputy H.A.R.M. general should have reached Vancouver three days ago.
So, where was he...?
Vernon Wells stood awkwardly to the side, watching the old man stare at his telegram. Every few moments, the general would unfold and study the message again, each time letting out his now-familiar sigh.
"Perhaps he was delayed on the road," he said reassuringly.
General Grant tucked away the telegram. "Young people are busy—it's perfectly normal. I truly don't mind."
After undergoing cleansings at the Martial Abbey in the capital, he should have reached the fully crystallized stage and begun Harmonization. How could he not be eagerly awaiting him?
The old man deeply felt that the city's faith power was wasted on him.
Despite being over eight hundred years old, he still hadn't managed to break through the third stage with his embryo and transform into a true Redeemed Spirit.
Kane would surely make better use of this faith power.
Now he was simply waiting for Kane to arrive and become familiar with Vancouver's situation before this old fogey could finally retire.
"General Grant, General Kane has arrived," two agents reported, nearly shouting as they quickly approached with long strides.
At this news, Vernon Wells let out a relieved sigh. He watched as Old General Skyler Grant—who had just claimed not to mind—hastily rose and strode out of the main hall.
Sigh, the General truly had a lot of stress.
Why else would he be so anxious?
He hoped that once General Kane arrived, the old man would finally be able to get some proper rest.
At the front door.
General Grant gazed at the handsome young man in front of him, who stood clad in intimidating black armor, and felt an increasing sense of satisfaction.
Having met two or three times before, the young man was no longer as distant as he once was. A hint of anticipation now gleamed in his eyes.
Though uncertain of what the young man anticipated, Skyler Grant was a generous person. Whatever Vancouver could provide would be freely given—after all, it would all belong to him eventually.
"John Kane reporting for duty, sir," I said with a salute.
"Don't put on the airs of a subordinate. You are also a general of this place now." General Grant shook his head. Despite our somewhat unfamiliar relationship, my respectful attitude toward the old man had remained constant—from my days as a personal attendant colonel to my current position as a H.A.R.M. General.
"Come in, quickly." He turned and led me into the meeting room, gesturing to a seat with a soft sigh. "You never visit without a reason. I believe this is the first time you've come specifically to see me."
Vernon Wells stood beside the old general, stifling a quiet laugh. Not only is this his first visit to General Grant, but General Kane has rarely set foot in Vancouver at all.
I pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Actually, there is something this time."
Skyler Grant's movements stilled slightly, and he sighed. "I've never seen anyone busier than you in all of Cascadia. Come on then, what do you need me for?"
"The old Leviasaur of the Pacific is perhaps about to break through," I answered, relaying what I'd heard from the Nemean Lions.
As they listened, both General Grant and Vernon Wells' expressions grew dark.
"The Blood Moon Vampire King sends elixir to help that old Leviasaur break through?" The old man's voice suddenly became much more serious. He had only just managed to reach the second stage of Harmonizion, barely able to deal with that old Leviasaur now. If it broke through again, probably only Albany Laurent and Aisha Patani among all the Cascadian Generals would be able to handle it.
However, General Laurent was already stretched thin, and Aisha Patani wasn't skilled at fighting vampires in the ocean.
Skyler Grant instinctively considered sending a message to the Admiral.
But drawing on his years of experience as a veteran general, he quickly realized: "Could the Vampire King have ulterior motives—using me to keep the Admiral tied down in the Pacific?"
Even with a Seeker of Redeemer's Spirit's immense power, how could anyone effectively patrol such a vast coastline?
If the old Leviasaur stayed hidden for a weak, would the Admiral's Spirit need to guard the entire Pacific Ocean coast line for a whole week?
"General..." Vernon Wells opened his mouth hesitantly. General Kane had already made it so clear—Moonfeather had died among the vampires, and they demanded Cascadia pay with a life of a general in return. General Grant, being old and frail with unremarkable strength, was naturally their easiest target.
They seek your life, yet here you are putting other concerns ahead of your own safety.
He couldn't help but suggest, "General Kane wants you to temporarily evade the old Leviasaur."
I glanced over silently. When did I ever make such a suggestion?
General Grant noticed my change in expression. "Speak freely," he said. "Don't hesitate."
At this, I rose decisively from my seat. "I request that you position yourself at the shoreline—and make your presence there as conspicuous as possible."
The room fell silent at these words. Of course—this strategy was characteristic of someone with Vampire Hunter background.
"Understood. You want to determine the Leviasaur's location, to prevent it from not finding me and sneaking out elsewhere to cause casualties."
General Grant tried hard not to say that I wanted to use him as bait.
However, Vernon Wells spoke bluntly. "But even if we use General Grant as bait to lure out the old Leviasaur, how will we handle it?" he blurted. Before he could finish speaking, he caught the Old General's disapproving glare.
He fell silent, not knowing what he had said wrong yet again.
Skyler Grant drew in a deep breath. He finally understood what gleamed in the young man's eyes—he wanted to borrow my life.
Still, he too was curious about the answer. The old man studied the young man intently as the latter declared confidently, "Leave the rest to me."
"Hiss!" Vernon Wells drew a sharp breath, vigorously ran his fingers through his hair. This familiar feeling immediately took him back to a month ago when General Kane had gone to Pinewood County to kill the fox vampire.
The young man wore the same expression and spoke in the same tone—and minutes later, he was calmly stripping that fox vampire bare.
But this time they faced something far more dangerous than a fully crystallized fox vampire—a third stage harmonizing old Leviasaur in its ancient domain, the Pacific Ocean, where it had lived for thousands of years...
"I understand now." Skyler Grant nodded and said gravely, "You truly do want my life."
Before I could respond, the old man smiled warmly. "From what I know, you have never let anyone down before."
Indeed, this was the only viable option now.
He rose as well. "My only concern is that I'm not very good at being conspicuous. Let me make some preparations."
I nodded slightly. "Then I won't disturb you further, sir."
I wasn't skilled in such matters either, and had no advice to offer him.
However, his ready agreement caught me off guard. I hadn't realized he placed such trust in me.
I quickly strode out of the hall.
When I was about a dozen steps away, I heard a faint voice behind me.
"Send a message to Aisha Patani—tell her to hurry up and come save me."
"..."