Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Thorn of the Black Rose
As a Blood Wine Society member who had joined less than half a year ago, Paul, who fancied himself a master of deception, felt quite lucky today.
Because he had unexpectedly discovered a girl on her own.
“Hey, Paul, listen to me… this girl obviously isn’t simple from birth, completely different from those from poor families. What if we offend some count or duke?”
But the fat guy Andy chose this moment to elbow his waist and lean over with some meaningless discouraging words.
“Oh, my God! You’re such a stupid coward. Sometimes I really want to put on Mr. Whipson’s stinking old boots and kick your round belly that’s stuffed with expired cheese!” Paul smacked the fat guy Andy hard on the back of the head, then leaned in close to whisper, “The boss wants us to grab healthy girls. Those girls from poor families are all sallow and skinny—when they take off their shirts, they’re no different from skeleton frames. How could they compare to this kind of tender, smooth, premium goods? Besides, where would Greycliff Fortress get counts and dukes? Even the church doesn’t dare make trouble here!”
Speaking of this, Paul couldn’t help but glance sideways at the front.
The silver-haired girl standing there was dignified and elegant, with exquisitely beautiful features that seemed unreal. Her gorgeous dress and accessories made her look like an expensive doll stored in a display case that could sell for a fortune. Every visible item on her body was clearly recognizable as valuable goods of high worth.
Fat guy Andy’s concerns weren’t unreasonable. Paul naturally also believed this girl was likely some count or duke’s precious daughter. After all, that elegant temperament unique to noble young ladies couldn’t be simply imitated or performed by girls from poor families.
“Remember to say less later, don’t give us away.” Without thinking further, Paul instructed fat guy Andy, then strode toward his target.
Just after crossing the street, before Paul could speak first, the noble girl took the initiative to lift her skirt and curtsy.
The crisp sound of heels lightly touching the brick surface was like clear spring water flowing through the heart, making even the tense and nervous Paul relax considerably.
Only after truly getting close did Paul begin to deeply tremble with amazement at this girl’s stunning beauty. Facing this respectful yet seemingly carved like a cold, gorgeous goddess statue, he—a cobbler’s son who had never seen the world—even forgot to breathe.
It was still fat guy Andy who elbowed his waist to bring him back to his senses. “Don’t space out, Paul.”
Paul looked left and right. On this wet street, there were actually no other “gentlemen” besides the two of them. The beautiful, elegant noble girl was undoubtedly curtsying to them.
What an honor…
Wait!
Paul almost got himself confused.
He was supposed to be the leader of this conversation. He should use his silver tongue to trick the naive, unworldly young lady into entering a deep alley where no one could see, then drug her, bag her, and hand her over to the boss!
“Ahem, this beautiful young lady, are you lost and separated from your parents?” Paul cleared his throat, then tried to search his not-very-polite vocabulary for relatively polite phrases.
The girl didn’t speak. She straightened up and stared at Paul in confusion.
“Uh, I and… this, this gentleman, can help you find your family…”
Seeing the girl remain silent, Paul felt flustered under her stare. The veteran of the deception game actually began stuttering in front of a child who looked to be barely twelve years old.
But the girl still didn’t speak. She tilted her head slightly, silver hair flowing down, still staring at the confused and sweating Paul with puzzlement.
That look was like she was looking at an idiot.
Just then, fat guy Andy suddenly interrupted, pulling out a handful of fruit candies wrapped in colored glass paper from his pocket.
“I have some candy here—”
“I’ll go with you.”
?
It was really too straightforward. Paul didn’t even react at first to what had happened.
So Paul, who fancied himself a master of deception, watched that cold, beautiful statue skillfully tear open candy wrappers while stuffing colorful fruit candies into her pink little mouth while obediently following behind fat guy Andy with light steps, slowly walking away from him.
But no matter how absurd the process, as long as the result was successful, it was excellent.
He and Andy led the noble girl into the deepest, most hidden alley in this area, with two other Blood Wine Society companions lying in ambush nearby—to prevent any accidents that might allow the girl to escape.
Previously, Paul had succeeded repeatedly with his deception skills. Once they entered the dim areas, those girls never had a chance to leave again.
He didn’t know what the boss wanted to do with these not-yet-developed little girls, but this work paid by the head—the melody of gold and silver coins clinking in his purse was too beautiful for Paul to refuse.
But this time he hadn’t played much of a role. Fat guy Andy had lured this girl who looked more precious than diamonds here with just a handful of cheap candy.
Paul was bewildered.
Until the crisp sound of those clean, bright high heels heavily striking the stone bricks stopped.
And echoed.
Seeing the girl stop and then slowly begin to close her parasol, Paul suddenly realized something seemed wrong.
Andy had only taken out candy without making any demands or promising the girl any benefits, yet the girl had followed them here to the deep alley without hesitation.
As if… the girl had wanted to come to the deep alley herself…
Two other men emerged from the shadows—tall and bearded, one holding a drugged cloth, the other clutching a burlap sack and thick rope. The ill-intentioned men gathered around with sinister laughter, slowly surrounding the girl in the center. Compared to them, the girl seemed so small and powerless.
Just before they were about to pounce and pin the girl to the ground.
Paul saw the umbrella handle in her hand begin to separate and slide from the umbrella ribs. Cold light flashed through his vision, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
The light blue sun hat was thrown high into the air.
Silver threads rose lightly, and the blade’s shadow carved a circular arc in mid-air, precisely pouring out thick killing intent.
Red mist immediately spurted from the two men’s throats.
Like blooming blood azaleas.
As if dancing an elegant piece, her skirt fluttering up and down like butterfly wings with her dance steps, the beautiful curves of her tightly covered calves visible beneath the skirt, the girl gracefully spun a perfect circle while the umbrella ribs serving as a sheath silently shattered into pieces.
The corpses were still warm.
Blood spread in pools.
The white dress hadn’t been stained with even a single trace of red.
Fat guy Andy was terrified. He stumbled back two steps, turned to run, but was met by a piece of cold metal pressed against the back of his neck from below.
The trigger was pulled, hammer and cylinder clicking.
Gunfire lit up the deep alley.
Just for an instant.
Another blood azalea.
Like a ghost, that slender, cold figure flickered and blurred, and like silver lightning, the barely visible remaining traces continuously folded back.
Paul tremblingly raised his head.
He finally met the gaze of that reaper with transparent horns. Her eyes were light purple like glazed glass, brilliant and sparkling, yet her gaze was dark and cold without an inch of brightness. Then a silver short rapier with butterfly-shaped guard aimed straight for his throat.
Pain.
Unable to breathe.
Consciousness began to blur.
In his gradually darkening dim vision, he saw the girl lifting her skirt to curtsy to an audience somewhere unknown, celebrating the curtain call of a magnificent performance, an unparalleled dance.
Silver bells chimed softly.
Only now did the light blue sun hat finally fall from the air, but she casually reached out to catch the hat as if simply taking it from a hat rack.
“Just scum who kidnaps girls.”
She turned around and placed it back on her head.
Hiding her horns.
Licking her fingertips.
“But the candy didn’t taste bad.”