198. Closed-Door Meeting
After spending the night in the fishing village, the group rose at first light and prepared to return to Vancouver.
General Grant seemed very satisfied with the messages he had written. He arranged for his captains to ride excellent bloodsteeds to leave at first light of dawn, instructing them to deliver the letters to the other cities without delay.
"Can I finally rest these old bones?" he asked, turning toward me.
Originally, he had planned to look after John for a while longer, but ever since the latter had slain the old Leviasaur right in front of him, Skyler Grant couldn't figure out what help he could still offer.
"I actually really want to find some time to visit my colleagues in other counties…"
Merely sending those letters wasn't quite satisfying enough.
"Sure. I'll return to Vancouver after we complete our business in Seattle." I nodded. For some reason, the mysterious power of faith felt much stronger in Vancouver.
"Then take this—there is no time to waste."
Skyler Grant retrieved a silver cross from his pocket and solemnly placed it on the table.
"This enchanted cross channels the power of faith from Vancouver and all counties under its jurisdiction. Make better use of it than I did."
He slid the cross toward me with evident impatience. After being bound to Vancouver for hundreds of years, the old man was clearly weary. He seemed eager to pass on this token of authority over the city and its over a million citizens.
… …
As we prepared to depart, Max Vierkant cast a suspicious glance at the Solar Nomad bearing the insignia of the Sacramento General.
As soon as General Kane stepped into the carriage, Senior Sister Patani followed him. Her expression remained composed, though their evident familiarity and unspoken understanding was enough to shock him.
After a long silence, Max Vierkant borrowed paper and pen from the Old General, intending to write a message to Senior Sister Hightower.
Just as his pen was about to touch the paper, he recalled Senior Brother Bai's pitiful condition after Aisha's casual swat several months ago.
His hand trembled as he hesitated, then with a sigh, he crumpled the paper into a ball and tucked it away.
He had more pressing matters on his mind. His Master had approved the marriage arrangement with the Atzmon family—he was to wed Noa Atzmon, whose recent advancement to late-stage Wave Realm had greatly impressed the Admiral.
He had no objections to the spirited woman—he simply disliked all privileged heirs from Seattle elites.
Putting away these thoughts, he mounted a bloodsteed, catching up with General Grant, whose crimson stallion had already led several lieutenant generals and colonels out of the village.
… …
"Warm yourself up," Aisha Patani said inside the carriage, retrieving two whiskey bottles from her storage tool and offering one to me.
"I'm trying to quit drinking," I said with a polite shake of my head. She has a habit of tormenting people with that stuff.
"I see." Aisha tucked away one whiskey bottle and took a small sip from the other. A flush of color painted her porcelain cheeks like cherry blossoms in spring, her dark eyes sparkling with warmth beneath long lashes.
I sank into introspection, and found that the power of faith, which had been thin before, had grown substantially richer in just one night.
Were it not for the range limitations, nurturing a Redeemed Spirit would be far easier than raising an Infant of Love.
...
The horses' hooves clattered rhythmically against the stone path, their steady beat echoing through the morning air as the procession made its way forward.
Before we reached the city gate, a group of riders approached us. Two middle-aged men rode up to General Grant, the silver bells at their waists tinkling softly.
"General Grant, there is urgent business in Seattle that requires your immediate attention. Please return to the headquarters as soon as possible, do not delay!"
General Grant froze in surprise.
Having Silver Bell Vampire Hunters deliver messages was already an extravagant display.
Furthermore, their tone carried a hint of authority when addressing him, a H.A.R.M. General—which could only mean the message originated from the Admiral.
The riders spotted the insignia on the Solar Nomad and approached as the carriage window lifted, revealing two more black-armored figures.
The Silver Bell Vampire Hunters appeared surprised to find me seated beside Aisha. "General Patani and General Kane, you're both here. Please return to Seattle immediately as well."
Max Vierkant's brow furrowed deeply, his eyes widening in astonishment.
The last time the twelve generals had gathered was when his master had returned from the capital and needed them to report back to the city.
Now, after such a brief interval, all H.A.R.M. Generals were being summoned once again.
What monumental event could demand such an urgent gathering of all generals?
General Grant clearly sensed the gravity of the situation. The relaxed atmosphere from the previous day instantly turned tense.
...
H.A.R.M. headquarters, Seattle.
Theodore Montgomery stood expressionlessly before a pavilion, staring at its tightly closed doors.
Alex Bai stood uncomfortably behind him, regretting his decision to use the hand seal to notify his master.
The Admiral of an entire State was being kept outside—in all of Seattle, only that eccentric old woman Granny Chloe would dare to do such a thing.
Nine H.A.R.M. Generals stood in line, yet they still couldn't get the door to open.
Only when Albany Laurent hurried over from outside the crowd did Arnold Stark crack open the door from within. "General Laurent, please come in."
"What is going on?" Albany Laurent glanced from his master to his fellow colleagues.
He entered hesitantly, his mind filled with questions.
Arnold Stark barely spared a glance at the old fogeys as he moved to close the door.
Just then, a gentle breeze fell from the sky.
Upon seeing this familiar scene, Arnold's face brightened with surprise. "General Kane! Please, come in!"
I surveyed the surroundings silently before walking straight into the pavilion.
"What on earth is happening?" The other generals exchanged bewildered looks. They could somewhat understand Albany Laurent being allowed entry while they were kept outside.
Yet somehow the newly appointed General Kane was allowed to enter?
Only letting the younger generation listen in, was Chloe planning to instigate these rookies to overthrow the Admiral?
Shortly after, as if confirming their suspicions, Aisha Patani was also welcomed inside.
Most baffling of all was that even the bald man with the injury, Olivier Maes—a Gold Bell Vampire Hunter and colleague of Granny Chloe's—was blocked outside.
... …
Within the spacious pavilion, Chloe occupied the main seat, wearing an uncharacteristically stoic expression.
Next to her sat a muscular old man with a crew cut.
The old man was named Samir Jabal, the third Gold Bell Vampire Hunter of Cascadia, sat beside her.
Albany Laurent sat quietly in a side chair, across from Aisha Patani and me.
"..."
Chloe shot her grandson a stern look. She hadn't planned on allowing me to enter.
"Nothing that happens in Cascadia should be kept from General Kane." Arnold stood with his hands behind his back, completely unfazed.
He gazed at everyone assembled, his eyes blazing with intensity. This was the moment he had dreamed of!
He had finally...
"You—get out," Chloe rebuked him.
"Ah?" Arnold's face fell instantly. After a moment's hesitation, he retreated obediently, his shoulders slumped in dejection.
After the door was closed again.
Chloe retrieved two silver bells and handed them to Aisha and Albany.
Then, forming a hand seal, she transmitted the message one by one into their bells.
Seeing her cautious appearance.
Albany Laurent's doubts grew even stronger. Yet when he infused his aura into the bell and received the concise message within, his steady hand trembled ever so slightly.
"Ambush the Ascendant King."
The other Gold Bell Vampire Hunter's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
Even Aisha Patani, at this moment, slowly raised her eyes: "..."
The stability of Cascadia for many years had been broken, leaving the H.A.R.M. with a nightmare that lingered, and the reason Aisha Patani had trained so diligently since childhood.
The reason was clear: the Ascendant King had unexpectedly entered their territory.
Countless ambushes, always ending in failure. Each failure cast a thick layer of gloom over everyone's hearts.
That arrogant Bull Demon loomed over them like a suspended sword. None could predict when it might strike.
But until it was defeated, none could rest peacefully.
This was unprecedented—someone proposing an ambush right after it was injured. They had considered such plans before, but the Ascendant King was known to conceal its location whenever wounded.
"I have only two pieces of information," Chloe's voice emanated from the silver bell.
"First, the Blood Moon Vampire King is not with it, and has taken away its guards."
"Second, its current location."
"This information came too easily, so easily that even I feel like I'm dreaming. I suspect it may be a trap—the decision is yours."