13 Mink Street

Karon looked at the ball by his feet— no, the severed head. For an instant, he actually felt the urge to lift his foot and trap it like a pass, but he managed to restrain himself.

He was not frightened by the sight before him. He was simply astonished. When struggles broke out within great families, they were often bloody and cruel. He had long been mentally prepared for that much, as it certainly did not defy the imagination. However, an opening like this left Karon deeply curious to see how this matter would develop. If you set the tone this high, where do you go from here?

Ophelia lowered her head and looked at her brother’s severed head. She drew in a deep breath, but ultimately said nothing.

She had never had a close relationship with any of her three brothers. Once they became adults, they rarely met, aside from family celebrations. And Dante’s earlier words had made her worry Karon might misunderstand her.

Back when they had first arrived in Veyn, she had spoken with Karon in the carriage about Rogin’s Secret Diary. Ordinary people read that book to peek at the luxury and absurdity of true high society. She read it as realism.

Clan Leader Veynar looked at his son’s head, then toward his younger brother. ”Tafmann!”

Tafmann completely ignored his brother’s anger. Instead, he turned his gaze to Karon, as though asking for his response.

Karon said, ”Such a sincere apology is difficult to refuse.”

Tafmann shook his head. ”He said it himself just now. His own captain of the guard betrayed him. That means he likely knew nothing. Those four assassins disguised as attendants were weak. I heard one even swallowed poison to silence himself. But who has not heard of the Church of Order’s Awakening Art?

”Using four mediocre killers, then poison to erase them, compared with that insect used in the poisoning... the gap in quality is rather large, don’t you think?”

”I think so as well, General.”

Tafmann pointed at the head on the floor. ”So someone wanted to kill you, then deliberately frame Dante.”

”Yes.”

”And who might that person be?” General Tafmann sighed with regret. ”A pity. I cut the head off. Otherwise Karon could have used Awakening Art on him and asked a few questions.”

”Tafmann!” Clan leader Veynar shouted his brother’s name again.

”Then by that logic, the true mastermind now appears to be me, because I hurried to silence him forever. Correct?”

Karon did not respond.

Tafmann laughed instead. ”But I would never harm my Ophelia. Whoever the man she likes may be, whatever his identity, I would never bear to hurt him.”

”Tafmann!” This was the third time Clan Leader Veynar shouted his younger brother’s name.

“Brother, if all you know to do at a moment like this is yell my name, then you’d be better off keeping your mouth shut, so you don’t disrupt the bell when it chimes later.”

”You...”

”Dante’s captain of the guard was once Elder Magio’s disciple. Elder Magio has only one daughter. She married our clan leader and gave birth to the First Prince.”

”Tafmann, what are you implying?”

”Very few know Karon’s identity. Me, you, and several elders. So who benefits most from this assassination attempt on Karon?

”It seems Ophelia and Karon have grown too close recently, and certain people noticed. Certain people understand that once these two are united, it would mean the continuation of the love story between Ancestor Bernard and Miss Poelle.

”At that point, it will become nearly impossible to prevent Ophelia from inheriting the position of next clan leader.

”Not only that, Karon’s bloodline and story, as Ophelia’s husband, would also allow him to participate openly and legitimately in governing Darkmoon Island. Certain people do not wish their only grandson to lose the clan leader’s seat.”

”Tafmann, you’ve already killed Dante. Do you intend to turn on my other son as well...?”

”You believe that if his grandfather arranged all this, he would know nothing? Your eldest son, Isse, most enjoys running to his grandfather, clutching his knee, and crying about the injustices he suffers under you. That is no secret. Many people know it.”

”Evidence! Where is the evidence!”

”Oh, the evidence is...” Tafmann clapped his hands. The side-room door opened, and a middle-aged guard in armor entered. He had a thick beard.

”Dante’s captain of the guard greets the clan leader, the general, and Your Highness.”

”The evidence,” Tafmann stated. ”Is that this captain is a man loyal to Darkmoon. Though he once studied martial arts under Elder Magio, all of his loyalty belongs to Darkmoon. Because of that, he long since wrote to tell me about the phone call, and about Elder Magio arranging for him to serve at the Second Prince’s side as an inside man.

“Yesterday, he even came to see me personally and told me that Elder Magio had sent word ordering him to prepare for one matter, to assist in the assassination of Karon, and then pin the blame on Dante. He has preserved some correspondence and tokens given by Elder Magio. Brother, the evidence you wanted is all here.”

”He is your man?” Clan Leader Veynar asked.

”He is Darkmoon Island’s man,” Tafmann corrected.

”You already knew they planned to move against Karon?”

“Yes, he reported it to me.” Tafmann nodded in admission. “But something went wrong. What he reported to me was that they were to make their move after the negotiations had ended, when everyone was relaxing and entertaining themselves. I did not expect them to act ahead of schedule tonight.”

The captain of the guard immediately said, ”Yes. Tonight was sudden. Because Mr. Karon came to the hot springs tonight, they advanced the plan on their own. The insect and the cup was prepared earlier by Elder Magio.”

Tafmann looked at Karon. ”Do not blame me for failing to warn you in advance. This is our dirty laundry. I wished to cover it up. I wanted you to leave Darkmoon Island with a favorable impression rather than witness this sight. According to my plan, I intended to eliminate them before they ever touched you, so you could safely enjoy this journey.”

”I do not blame you, General.”

Everything had moved far too quickly. Dante had only just died, yet clues to the true mastermind had already surfaced, and this captain of the guard had outright defected to become a witness. It was as if every step of the investigation had been swept aside. Nothing remained now except immediate action.

”Then why did you kill Dante!” Clan Leader Veynar demanded.

”His closest subordinate was another man’s chess piece, yet he knew nothing. When trouble came, he panicked and blurted everything. Brother, keeping such a useless son alive only wastes Darkmoon Island’s bread.”

”You-”

”Enough. Though matters deviated somewhat, Karon and Ophelia are safe. What should be done now is to give Karon a result.

”Brother, lend me your clan leader’s token. I need to mobilize your personal guard.”

”You want me to hand you my token, let you move my guard, and then...”

”Yes. Then we go kill your eldest son. Information has been well sealed, so he likely believes Karon is dead and Dante is being punished. He may even be swirling a glass of red wine and celebrating.

”Oh, Elder Magio may be with him as well. Grandfather and grandson celebrating their victory together.”

”Tafmann, do you truly think so little of me, your elder brother, your clan leader?”

”Brother, do you know that several months ago there was an assassination mutiny against me in the fleet? It was suppressed in time. Why did it happen? Because I consistently supported Ophelia.

”If I did not regard you as my brother, did not regard you as clan leader, I would not have returned to the island alone. I would have come back with my fleet, and then you could ask the sailors whether they obey you, the clan leader, or me.”

”You- you-”

Tafmann stepped forward and removed the token from Veynar’s waist. Clan Leader Veynar instinctively raised a hand to stop him. ”Brother, if you continue obstructing me, I will return to sea tonight.”

Clan Leader Veynar froze, and Tafmann lifted the token. He then looked at Karon and Ophelia. ”The carriage is ready. Come along.”

Karon did not refuse, because Tafmann had provided him with no room to refuse. From the moment he had entered the drawing room, everything had unfolded entirely under Tafmann’s control.

This man who held Darkmoon Island’s military power truly possessed the right to act without restraint upon the island. He was not the clan leader, but he was the most powerful man in Darkmoon’s sphere.

The carriage moved. Tafmann sat opposite them. Karon and Ophelia sat side by side.

Partway through the ride, another person climbed in. Karon had seen him earlier today, standing behind Clan Leader Veynar. It was the Third Prince.

He looked as though he had just been dragged from bed. He wore a nightrobe, and his hair was disheveled. ”Uncle, what happened?”

At that moment, the First Prince’s residence came into view, a luxurious villa. Darkmoon Island’s royal palace was more like an office complex. Most nobles kept private estates outside it.

Squads of armored warriors rushed into the garden and surrounded the villa. The guards inside were immediately alarmed and came out to confront them.

Tafmann said to one of his confidants beside him, ”Go. Tell the guards inside their families are already under our control. If they do not come out and surrender, tonight their entire households will be sent above Darkmoon for reunion.”

”Yes, General.”

The most direct threats often produced the clearest effects. Why did villains in dramas always threaten family members? Because under normal circumstances, such threats worked very well.

Soon, the villa guards laid down their blades one after another and came out to surrender.

”Uncle Tafmann, have you come to visit me? Please, come in. I have acquired some fine wine. I was planning to send it to you.” The First Prince seemed to ignore his surroundings entirely and took the initiative to walk out from the doorway. Tafmann stepped down from the carriage. Ophelia pressed her lips together, while the Third Prince closed his eyes. Karon, meanwhile, leaned out with keen interest, unwilling to miss a single detail.

The First Prince walked toward Tafmann, and Tafmann walked toward the First Prince. When the two had drawn to a suitable distance, Tafmann reached out, a guard at his side immediately placing a sword into his hand.

Then he swung.

No greeting, no needless words, no reasoning. It was that direct.

Tafmann lifted the First Prince’s head and tossed it toward the carriage as casually as if throwing a volleyball.

Karon reached out and caught it. Fine then, another weighty and deeply sincere apology.

The First Prince’s face still wore the smile he had used to greet his uncle. This was not something suitable to hand to Ophelia. Karon knew she was strong-willed, but he still did not wish her to be stained by something so bloody, so he handed the First Prince’s head to the Third Prince. ”For you.”

”Th-thank you...” The Third Prince’s mind had already ceased functioning, yet he still thanked Karon. Holding one brother’s head in each arm, he wanted to cry but could not. He could only tremble involuntarily.

”Tafmann, you’ve gone mad!” A furious roar burst from within the villa. An elderly figure smashed through the second-floor balcony window and leapt out. He had imagined countless possibilities, but never that Tafmann would say nothing and simply cut off his grandson’s head on the spot.

As the old man lunged toward Tafmann, two terrifying presences suddenly rose from either side.

“Magio, though you hold the rank of elder, you conspired in treason. To stand among the elders beside you is my disgrace! For the sake of your own interests, you incited mutiny within the fleet and damaged the very foundations of Darkmoon Island’s future. Magio, do you know your crimes?”

The sudden appearance of two elders immediately suppressed Magio.

Tafmann loosened his arms as though preparing to join the battle. But before that, he turned back toward Karon’s carriage and said, ”The final sincere apology may be delayed a little.”

”No need, General. I have already seen abundant sincerity.”

A smile curved Tafmann’s lips. He waved his hand. The driver urged the carriage away, with a squad of guards following behind to ensure their safety.

The fighting within the villa continued. Through the rear window, Karon saw dark crimson armor appear over Tafmann’s body. The man shot into the sky, then descended at astonishing speed.

One punch.

Elder Magio, already losing while entangled with the two elders, was smashed flying.

Karon turned back around and, almost unconsciously, sat up straighter. Had he just witnessed a coup on Darkmoon Island?

It would be hard to dismiss it as some childish farce. It had all the proper elements: intrigue, bloodshed, family ties, and kin slaying kin. Nothing was missing. The only thing that felt unnatural was how quickly it had all happened, and how smoothly it had unfolded.

What might have taken ten days to play out had been completed within a single night. With the whole process stripped away, it left behind a sense of unreality.

The carriage stopped midway. The Third Prince’s guards took him down. He remained dazed, still clutching both brothers.

The carriage then continued on toward Bernard Hotel.

Ophelia’s body softened, and she leaned directly onto Karon’s shoulder without speaking. He could only comfort her. ”It’s fine. Sleep, and it will pass.”

Ophelia nodded.

In one night, of her three brothers, two were dead and one had been frightened witless. She truly had no rivals left. From her perspective, Uncle Tafmann truly treated his niece well. His only flaw was that he killed nephews without blinking.

When they arrived outside the hotel, the carriage stopped. Karon tried to rise, but the moment he moved, Ophelia reached out and held his arm.

With no choice, he remained seated and let her lean against him.

After a long while, Ophelia sat upright.

”I’ll return to the hotel first.”

”Mhmm.” When Karon stepped down from the carriage and was about to walk inside, Ophelia spoke again, ”Karon.”

”Yes? What else is it?”

”I’m sorry. Please don’t blame them.”

”I won’t.” Karon turned and continued toward the hotel.

Ophelia, did you also guess who truly administered the poison?

***

Inside the drawing room, Clan Leader Veynar was trimming his nails, carefully polishing them with a file.

The door opened, and Tafmann walked in. ”Brother, it’s all settled.”

Veynar blew lightly on his nails. ”Sit.”

Tafmann sat, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one toward Veynar.

”Sigh. In one night, two sons died of illness. I am truly an unfortunate middle-aged man.”

”You have plenty of bastards. It hardly matters.”

”Bastards are bastards. Of those with inheritance rights, there were only these four, but using two sons as the price to conveniently clean out part of the Council of Elders will make the coming reforms much easier.

”Dealing with those old fools in the Council these past years has been exhausting, especially that grandfather of my two sons. That old thing thought marrying his daughter to me meant he could control me.”

”Good. Things will be much quieter now.”

”Heh. Come back often in the future. If they fear you may go mad again, they will support me all the more.”

”Very well. I will.”

”Tafmann, do you know what kind of insect that was? They were personally bred and cultivated by Phileas in those days.

”Later, because of that incident, the insects he raised became influenced by Phileas’s hatred for Darkmoon Island and transformed into Curse Insects. The insect itself is harmless, but it carries terrifying contamination only for those with Darkmoon blood. Once someone of Darkmoon bloodline is infected by it, there is essentially no chance of survival.

”Phileas once said his hatred was condensed within those insects. Unless a true god descended, Darkmoon blood would be exterminated by the Curse Insects. Fortunately, Ancestor Bernard foresaw Phileas’s revenge and exterminated them in time. The remaining eggs were sealed away and did not leak out.

”We anticipated everything in advance, yet the one thing we failed to expect was that Magio would use such an insect, something that may be called forbidden to our Darkmoon clan. He truly had gone mad, and deserved death.

”Were we not always doubtful of Karon’s identity? The descendant of Ancestor Bernard and Lady Poelle, everything about it seemed too natural. Now that I think back on it, that insect might actually have tested Karon’s true bloodline, but the cost of trial and error was too great. We could never accept it, and could never truly do such a thing.

”If he was one of us, he would die. If he was not, only then could he live.”

”Sigh. But Karon did not drink it. Ophelia did. So if you had another chance, Brother, would you wish to test it again?”

”I wouldn’t dare.”

”Why?”

”Because Ophelia was not corrupted.”