Chapter 1190: Have You Ever Been Flipped?
"Hey, don't we really need to bid farewell to the Duke before leaving?"
Sayaka stared at Eiji with a dumbfounded expression.
"Why should we?"
Eiji glared at her irritably.
"Because the banquet isn't over yet!"
Sayaka couldn't help raising her voice.
That's right.
Even though the banquet was still in full swing—the hall brightly lit, guests still clinking glasses—the two of them had quietly slipped away from the hall and were now striding toward the disembarkation ramp!
Was this really appropriate behavior for guests?!
"My presence here alone has already honored him. Do I need to notify him when I leave too?"
Eiji's tone was full of disdain.
If not for wearing a mask, he would've spat a few times on the deck before leaving!
"Just who do you think you are?"
Sayaka covered her face again, her expression utterly helpless.
Once more, she deeply experienced just how willful and unrestrained this damn guy could be!
"Are you two guests planning to leave already?"
Just as they were speaking, a familiar figure appeared before them.
It was one of Vatler's attendants—the young man with softer features.
His name seemed to be Gilla?
"Well, we actually just came out for some fresh air—"
"Have you ever been flipped by Vatler?"
Sayaka, who had been about to make some excuses, nearly collapsed on the spot.
Even Gilla was caught completely off guard, staring at Eiji with a stunned expression.
"What kind of question is that?!"
Sayaka grabbed Eiji by the collar, shouting with a tearful, frustrated expression.
Even if she had private curiosities, you couldn't just blurt them out like this in front of others!
"Th-That's quite a joke you're making..."
Gilla forced out a dry laugh.
"Lord Vatler and we... aren't in that kind of relationship. Tibias and I simply admire his nobility, which is why we became his attendants."
He looked at Eiji with a strangely reverent gaze.
Although they were attendants, both he and Tibias were actually nobles of the Warlord's Empire—each either a baron or viscount. It was only because Vatler was of higher status and possessed greater power that they willingly served as his attendants.
"Please have a safe journey!"
Fearing that Eiji might ask more bizarre questions, Gilla quickly took his leave.
His retreating figure looked unmistakably flustered.
"Thank goodness Mr. Gilla left quickly!"
Sayaka immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
This damn guy really was universally disliked.
Especially that mouth of his—it could only be described as terrifying!
Someone like her, willing to tolerate him, was truly rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. He ought to cherish her more!
"He was lying."
Eiji stated with absolute certainty.
"Huh?"
"When he said they aren't in that kind of relationship with Vatler—that was a lie!"
"Why are you so sure?!"
"My perception never fails me!"
Eiji declared with complete confidence.
He had long since mastered complete control—when it came to reading people, no one's insight was sharper than his!
"Could they really be in... that kind of relationship?"
Seeing his utterly convinced demeanor, Sayaka found herself half-believing it.
After all, whether to grow stronger or recover from injuries, bloodsucking was an unavoidable necessity for vampires!
And what triggered a vampire's bloodsucking impulse was none other than their own lust!
Vampires have an ironclad rule - they must first arouse their own desires before they can drink blood. There has never been an exception to this.
Therefore, high-status vampires typically have blood companions, sometimes more than one. Only through the seduction of these blood companions can they complete the preliminary preparations for bloodsucking.
It sounds rather ridiculous, but this is common knowledge in this world.
Even Vatler cannot defy this iron rule.
He must have someone around him responsible for arousing his desires.
And Vatler is famously uninterested in women, yet shows particular favor towards handsome young male subordinates.
"Don't you think there's quite a story behind this?"
Eiji's meaningful words successfully made Sayaka think of some rather impolite things.
"Enough, enough! I don't want to hear any more of your analysis!"
Sayaka shuddered with disgust, quickly shaking her head as she firmly interrupted Eiji.
"Let's go. We don't need to bid farewell to Vatler - let's just leave directly!"
If we let this bastard stay any longer, things are definitely going to get complicated!
Eiji nodded with satisfaction.
The two quickly disembarked from the cruise ship.
Incidentally, they also took two sets of formal wear with them.
"But speaking of which, why are people from the Imperial Astrology Bureau performing guard duties?"
Sayaka suddenly noticed another question.
Normally, guard duties are handled by the Lion King Organization.
Moreover, since curses and similar things are likely to be encountered during protection details, they usually need to send Dance Prodigies. If she hadn't been assigned to Itogami Island, she would probably be Princess La Folia's guard right now.
There's no reason it should be handled by the Imperial Astrology Bureau's Six Blades priestess, right?
Six Blades are Sword Shamons, after all?
Just from their names alone, you can tell the difference in abilities between Sword Shamons and Dance Prodigies.
"Probably they have some other mission?"
Eiji heard her muttering and casually speculated.
Other mission?
Sayaka pondered this.
That's not impossible.
Superficially performing guard duties while secretly hiding other purposes.
This is a common smokescreen used by government agents.
Didn't she herself come to Itogami Island under the pretext of transporting that sword? While her true purpose was actually to investigate the Fourth True Ancestor.
"Could it be that a demon beast disaster might occur on Itogami Island? But there would be no reason to hide that. Or perhaps her target is also..."
Sayaka began to form a suspicion in her heart.
Could the Imperial Astrology Bureau also be trying to approach the Fourth True Ancestor?
That's entirely possible!
After all, even their Lion King Organization intends to establish friendly relations with the Fourth True Ancestor, doesn't it?
Thinking about the sword she escorted ending up in the Fourth True Ancestor's hands, Sayaka couldn't help but darken her expression.
She had asked her superiors about this matter, but received no response whatsoever.
Logically speaking, it's probably the Lion King Organization showing goodwill toward the Fourth True Ancestor?
This would indeed be more consistent with her superiors' behavioral patterns.
When such a massive human-shaped calamity appears in their country, of course they would first try to establish friendly relations and attempt control. Only if control proves impossible would they resort to confrontation and attempts at elimination.
"Really! Ever since this Fourth True Ancestor appeared, troubles keep increasing day by day! This damned Fourth True Ancestor - if only they would just disappear!"
The more Sayaka thought about it, the angrier she became, stomping hard on the ground.
Nobles from the Warring Kingdoms, princes from the Extinction Dynasty, princesses from Aldeigia, and even the Taishi Bureau—when you think about it, they were all drawn here by the Fourth True Ancestor. Each one more troublesome than the last!
If it weren't for the Fourth True Ancestor, would so many troublesome figures have gathered here?
Why won't this Fourth True Ancestor just die already!
"?"
Eiji slowly formed a question mark in his mind.
Little lady, saying something like that right in front of me—do you have a death wish?