Angel Of Venom

Venom IX

Chapter 9: A Monarch's Awakening

Three years later.

The smoke from the tobacco pipe of the man sitting on the office chair surrounded the gloomy yet fancy office. He exhaled the smoke from the pipe before glancing at the report on his table.

"So... You're saying that none of our men can enter the North?" he asked with a rough voice and dangerous tone.

"More likely, none of our men dispatched in the North came back alive. We detected some movements from the Hampton Twins. It seems like they're the ones hunting down our men, Your Grace," the old butler reported.

"Eight years ago, none of the assassins we sent came back as well. Ngayon ay wala na tayong kahit anong balita kay Lavinia Claymour. Surely, someone's pulling the strings from behind, blocking any informations about her—even blocking our men to approach the North."

Tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo ang lalaki habang patuloy sa paghithit sa kaniyang tobacco pipe. Isinilid niya ang isang kamay sa bulsa ng trouser at humarap sa malaking bintana ng opisina. Pinanood lamang siya ng kaniyang butler bago ito muling magsalita.

"Sa tingin niyo ba ay may nagtatago kay Lavinia Claymour, Your Grace?"

"Highly likely. Fortunately, my daughter, Maurielle, is doing her job right by deceiving the Claymours with her daily reports about that child. Nevertheless, if Lavinia Claymour is dead, much better. But that child, if she's still breathing... She might grow into something that might hinder our progress."

"Ano ang susunod na hakbang kung ganoon, Your Grace?"

A vicious smirk formed from the lips of the man. Halos manindig ang balahibo ng butler nang makita ang ngiting iyon mula sa lalaking kaharap. The pressure of his dangerous presence are sending shivers down his spine.

"Let us wait for a bit. For the next infiltration, I will send the elite force of our house," the man said before inhaling from his pipe again.

"Understood... Marquis Lovell."

The Marquis exhaled, "Ah... Such a fine day. I should visit my lovely granddaughter soon."

Sumimsim sa kaniyang tea si Kamaria habang pahapyaw na binabasa ang report na binigay sa kaniyang ng kambal. Agad siyang napangisi at inilapag ang teacup pabalik sa saucer nito.

"Sly old man. Marahil ay nahuhulaan niya nang may pumoprotekta sa batang iyon dito sa North," aniya habang nakangisi.

"Seems like it. Wala kaming nahuling daga ngayong araw. Mukhang nagsawa sa pagpapadala ng assassin," sagot ni Astaril na prenteng nakaupo sa sofa sa opisina ng ina.

"Speaking of, it's been three years. Is the little pup still holding up?" tanong ni Aldaine sabay baling sa ina.

"Don't worry too much. The guards of the cave reported some movements and strong mana inside just this morning. It seems like she improved a lot," sagot ni Kamaria.

"Do you think she'll beat the Headmaster's record? Her Grace took her isolation training for five years and was able to summon the King of Fire around that time. Wanna bet how many years until she gets out of the cave?" ngising tanong ni Astaril sa kakambal.

"Four years for one million crials," simpleng sagot ni Aldaine.

"Mine's five, one million crials," sabay taas pa ng kamay ni Asta bago bumaling kay Kamaria, "Wanna try betting, Your Grace?"