Westminster Bank

He was just about to discuss with Jack how to kidnap Freya when he suddenly heard a noise outside the door. His spirits lifted. 'Could it be Freya?!'

He exchanged a look with Jack, and the two of them quietly hid in the shadows.

The Dragon Knight's senses told him there was more than one person.

Just as he frowned, the door opened. It wasn't Freya who entered, but two maids. They bustled about, hastily packing something in the room. A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed as a butler appeared at the door and instructed them:

"Hurry and get all of the Miss's clothes ready. We can't delay the journey."

He left after giving the instruction, leaving only the two maids to pack clothes in the room.

'A journey? Looks like Freya is going somewhere. Where is she planning to go?'

Hiding in the shadows, Baron listened to the maids' conversation, analyzing the details.

He frowned. It seemed his and Jack's kidnapping plan was dead in the water before it even started.

"That butler is always so bossy, but you never see him come in and pack clothes himself..."

one maid grumbled in a low voice, but she couldn't escape the Dragon Knight's exceptional hearing.

"Well, men aren't allowed in the Miss's private chambers, after all..."

"It's the Miss, really... Ever since she returned from the Beowulf Family, she hasn't been herself... gentle and soft-spoken one moment, then fierce and arrogant the next..."

"You just got back from leave, so you must not have seen the news. That man showed up at the Beowulf Family's Dragon Hunting Ceremony."

"That man? You mean... *that* man..."

'That man?' Baron thought from his hiding spot. 'That's an interesting way to put it. Reminds me of my past life, when my ex-girlfriend and her bestie would talk about "him." Everyone knows that when an ex talks about "him" without using a name, she's talking about her ex-boyfriend. If she had a lot of exes, it wouldn't be "him," it would be "that guy, [Name]."'

"Shh, keep your voice down! You don't know, do you? I heard that man was incredible at the Dragon Hunting Ceremony... He even killed Roy from the Hestia Family! And that's not all. He took care of the Dragon Tide and the Dragon Devourer Cultists at the scene, and in the end, he even managed to escape while surrounded by the Law Enforcement Organization."

The maid added, "The papers say some director even wants to make a movie about him!"

"He sounds really capable, then. I really don't know why the Miss insisted on breaking off their engagement... She's probably kicking herself now."

"Enough gloating. The Miss is still our Miss, so don't gossip about your betters... Alright, pack that winter dress too. North Wales is very cold right now, and the Miss is too delicate to stand the chill."

The two maids finished packing and departed gracefully from the room.

After waiting in silence for over a minute, Baron and Jack emerged from their hiding spot.

"North Wales... Why would Freya go there?" Jack asked. "For a vacation? But it's winter. There's no sun in Britain."

"So, Constantine Brothers, what do we do now? Our kidnapping target has fled."

"We follow her," Baron said. "And wait for our chance."

After saying this, he activated the Chain of the Imitator and left the room. Jack, as a precaution, didn't follow. Instead, he continued searching the room for any useful information.

He was tempted to use his Little Flame Demon, but a floating ball of fire would be far too conspicuous in the winding halls of the house—not like Isabella's stealthy Crow Demon.

Since Freya wasn't in her room, there were no guards posted outside. Baron didn't encounter anyone in the hallway. The Dragon Knight's keen hearing guided him as he followed the two maids' footsteps through the winding corridors, and he soon arrived outside a large door.

The maids had entered through this door. It was a meeting hall.

The room's soundproofing was excellent. Baron couldn't hear a thing, nor could he tell who was inside.

As he pretended to walk past, a guard outside the door shot him a look and barked, "What are you looking at? Scram!"

Baron forced a smile and nodded. "The Patriarch sent me to prepare gifts... Could you tell me which distinguished guests are in the room? It would help me make the proper arrangements."

"Gifts? I don't recall the Patriarch mentioning anything..." The guard looked skeptical.

Baron's heart leaped into his throat, but then the other guard spoke up. "Who do you think you are? You think the Patriarch needs to inform you about every little thing?"

The first guard seemed to come to his senses and said to Baron, "There are only two of them. Miss Freya and an Elder from the Hestia Family. They say he's inviting Miss Freya to an auction at Traitor's Cliff."

'An auction...' Baron recalled the plan against the Witch he had overheard at Beowulf Manor. The Law Enforcement Organization was setting up an auction at Traitor's Cliff, east of the Dracul Mountain Range, to lure the Witch out.

'It wasn't hard to guess the item up for auction would be a Dragon Scale. I wonder if the Witch will take the bait.'

"Well, I'd better go prepare the gifts, then."

Baron thanked him and left. The guard felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Hey, did you notice? I feel like that Attendant has passed by here before. Isn't this the second time?"

"You're imagining things. Just stand your post. I'm waiting for the next shift to relieve us..."

...

'An Elder from the Hestia Family is in that room. The Hestia Family is mixed up with the Dragon Eater Association. He's come for Freya... or more likely, he's come for Fla regarding Association business. I have to find a way to eavesdrop on their conversation.'

In a corner, Baron contemplated how to get his Little Flame Demon into the room without being discovered.

Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. On pure, unthinking reflex, Baron pressed his Spear Sword against his ambusher's forehead.