Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 187

In the mansion known as the Mystic Palace, Vivian, the enchantress, gazed at a wine glass as red as blood and inquired,

“Have all the invitations been sent out?”

“Yes, they were all dispatched a week ago,” confirmed the butler.

“Hmm, as expected of a butler. Your work is always so seamless,” Vivian praised.

At her compliment, something near the butler’s waist stirred vigorously—it was a tail.

Indeed, the butler, like Vivian, was a member of the beast-folk.

Suddenly curious, he asked Vivian,

“But why prepare a banquet now? You usually find such affairs rather cumbersome, don’t you?”

“There’s someone I’m curious about,” she revealed.

“Ah, that’s right. You attended the royal council to see that person.”

“I had no interest until I heard the crown prince was raising him.”

Gulp.

Vivian moistened her throat with the wine and continued,

“How could I not be curious when even that sly special envoy was drawn out? Besides, you haven’t seen the emperor’s face, have you? Despite his stoic exterior, there’s a frigid wind blowing fiercely!”

She laughed merrily, as if amused by her own thoughts.

The butler played along with Vivian’s story, nodding in agreement.

Just then, a thought crossed his mind.

“Come to think of it, the young man named Yan might not come.”

“Huh? What do you mean? He would ignore my summons?”

Vivian’s words turned sour as the butler grimaced.

“Well… invitations were sent to him from another place as well.”

“If you’re mentioning it, it must be another ducal house? The Eastern Duke doesn’t host external events, and the Sun Duke only holds banquets at the beginning and end of the year. Could it be Duke Beowulf?”

The butler shook his head.

“It’s the Sun Duke.”

At that, Vivian’s beautiful brow furrowed.

She seemed to have much to say but shook her head instead.

“The Sun Duke, that stickler, suddenly throwing a banquet?”

“The Duke might not have shown interest, but Sir Beyof, the White Wolf of the training grounds, said this,”

“What did he say?”

“That young man Yan outwitted the Sun Duke and took most of the trainees with him.”

Vivian burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha! Now that I think about it, didn’t he sharpen his sword for this recruitment to bolster the naval forces?”

“Yes, that’s right. It seems he’s called him to save face after being outplayed.”

“I see. Even if he’s a stickler, he’s not one to let prey be snatched from before his eyes.”

Vivian realized the Sun Duke’s reason for inviting Yan but wasn’t worried.

“If Yan has any sense, he’d choose our side, where there’s much more to gain than the dull and joyless South.”

Besides, the Sun Duke would likely view things negatively, leaving nothing to gain.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The butler tilted his head, watching Vivian.

“What if, by chance, the young man doesn’t come?”

Vivian smiled seductively.

At that, the butler’s tail drooped. Vivian was truly fearsome at such times.

“She won’t let it go, will she?”

For Vivian, she must have everything she desires.

And do everything she wishes to feel at ease.

* * *

The Lord’s Manor

Argon lay still, deep in slumber like a corpse.

Surrounding him, Owen, Theo, Damian, and Yan stood in conversation.

“…You mean to retrieve it from the Sun Duke’s treasury?”

Damian asked with a stern face, to which Yan nodded.

“Yes. The only elixir I know of is that one.”

The mere knowledge of the elixir’s location, capable of reviving his father, was news worth celebrating.

However,

‘Even in my past life, while I succeeded in entering the Sun Duke’s treasury, I failed to bring it out.’

The numerous traps and guards laid by him were a challenge even for Yan, who excelled in stealth.

The emperor, having little expectation, had readily accepted the failure.

‘This time, I must succeed at all costs.’

If luck favored, perhaps it could be obtained through trade or negotiation.

But in the worst case, it would require risking life to steal from the treasury.

Yan pulled out the Sun Duke’s invitation from his pocket.

[You are invited to the domain of Cabalian.]

[Juda Caballan.]

Though the content might seem mundane, considering the Sun Duke’s influence, it was to be expected.

Theo spoke up from the side.

“Shall I accompany you?”

“No, I have someone in mind. Please, Theo, stay here and prepare for any surprise attacks from the chief.”

“Ah, okay.”

“And be careful not to get caught by Lorena.”

At Yan’s words, Theo clamped his mouth shut.

He had once encountered Lorena upon entering this domain, his face concealed.

Fortunately, she seemed unaware of his true identity.

Theo’s expression turned gloomy.

“You needn’t say it; I had the same thought. It’s better she doesn’t recognize I’m alive. And if my father learns of this…”

Duke Beowulf would personally visit this domain.

With immense hostility.

To avoid that, Yan had to be harsh.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

Owen’s eyes widened.

“So soon?”

“There’s no time to waste. I wish to revive my father as soon as possible.”

The atmosphere grew heavy at Yan’s words.

Damian patted Yan’s back.

“Take care. If anything happens, contact me through the communication orb. I’ll always have it with me.”

“Thank you.”

Yan bowed to Damian and left the manor.

He then immediately sought out the person he had decided to accompany him.

* * *

“What? Where are you going?”

Kasa looked at Yan with a puzzled expression.

After being away for days, Yan suddenly appeared, proposing to attend the Sun Duke’s banquet together…

Yan spoke with a firm face.

“If you don’t like it, say it now. I told you to keep a promise.”

“A promise?”

“To raise your family’s status again. For that, relationships with other nobles are important, and above all, we need the support of the Sun Duke.”

Though their house was driven to treason by the royal family, if the royal Sun Duke were to support them, they could shed their disgrace.

Kasa knew this well.

But…

“…I’m not prepared at all.”

He hadn’t gathered any artifacts to present as gifts, nor evidence to clear their name of treason.

Yan looked straight at Kasa and said,

“Opportunities must be seized when they come, not waited upon with open mouths.”

With that, Kasa pondered for a moment and then nodded vigorously.

“We’re leaving right now?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me change my clothes.”

Yan smirked and shrugged.

“I’ll contact someone else and come back, so get ready.”

As Kasa entered the room, Yan took out a communication orb from his pocket.

-Hello. Boss?

The person on the other end was Bella, who ran his private intelligence organization.

Yan spoke into the orb.

“Bella, there’s something you need to do.”

He gave a few instructions, and though Bella expressed some doubts, she soon agreed.

* * *

At that moment,

Aquinas, the current leader of the Revolutionary Army, was silently observing the scene before him.

Crrrack.

“Those rat-like creatures dare to take what’s mine…”

The once formidable prison, where the former commander Argon was confined, lay in ruins, now nothing more than an ordinary cave.

Vulcan, his legion commander and Orc Lord, seemed to have vanished along with the prison, leaving no corpse behind.

It must have been the work of…

Aquinas’ gaze turned sharply toward the direction of the Armenian village.

He could sense the presence of those who had followed Argon.

“Did those wretches really pull it off?”

No.

Could it be the handiwork of Yan, the one who shattered his plans to seize the pirate fleet?

As if echoing Aquinas’ rage, Craig, who stood by his side, spoke up.

“Leader, give the order, and I will turn that village into a wasteland. Not a single dog will be left breathing.”

The leader shook his head in response.

“That would provoke the Empire. Besides, the White Flame Gem hasn’t reached the stage where it can absorb life force yet.”

“So then…”

Aquinas turned, his face cold as ice.

“Let them be drunk on their victory for now. After all, we’ve already extracted everything we could from Argon.”

The completion of the White Flame Gem, extracted from him, was not far off.

Once it was finished… he could plant the seeds of despair in them.

Craig, with a hint of concern in his voice, asked,

“But what about the commander? If he recovers…”

“Unless he miraculously finds an elixir, there’s no need to worry.”

The leader spoke with confidence.

“Understood. I’ll urge the researchers to make time.”

“Let’s go.”

As they were about to head back to their base,

The leader turned his head to look outside.

“Hmm.”

A twisted smile formed on his lips.

“This might turn out to be more interesting than I thought.”

At the end of Aquinas’ gaze stood Lorena.

* * *

The usually quiet Cabalian was bustling with nobles from other domains.

For decades, the Sun Duke had hosted sudden banquets only at the year’s end and start, making this event a rare spectacle.

Such an occasion could shift the currents of noble society, prompting nobles to postpone important matters just to attend.

Some, aware of the Dragon Soldier Project’s recruitment drive, could guess why this banquet was held.

But most nobles were clueless, kept in the dark by those who knew, either to monopolize the benefits or fearing the Sun Duke’s wrath.

Thus, the uninformed nobles believed the Sun Duke must be in high spirits to throw such a party.

Viscount Morris, entering the banquet hall, belonged to that unsuspecting group.

“Ha ha ha, finally, such an opportunity has come my way!”

He had no doubt that he was part of the reason for the banquet’s occurrence.

Being a noble of considerable lineage from the South, he had recently stepped into the realm of superhumans.

Even the stoic Sun Duke would surely want to witness a gem like himself.

As if to prove this, many nobles approached him, and soon a crowd gathered.

“Surely, His Excellency the Sun Duke has opened this banquet to recognize you!”

“Ah, Viscount Morris. We must have a private meeting later. I’ve acquired some fine wine, but no one to share it with.”

The nobles’ words were as sweet as honey, and Viscount Morris’s shoulders soared.

He felt like the star of the banquet, smiling at the greetings and praises showered upon him.

‘At the mere age of forty, I’ve reached the realm of superhumans. Though a bit slower than His Highness the Crown Prince, I’m not unworthy of being called the saint of the South.’

He had no intention of settling for being the lord of a tiny domain, despite its deep lineage.

He aimed to rise to a higher position, catching the Sun Duke’s eye.

Young and talented, even the Sun Duke couldn’t ignore him.

It was at that moment.

Creeeak!

The door opened, and all eyes turned to the newcomer.

Viscount Morris also looked toward the man who had just entered.

One man was dressed in shabby black clothes.

The other, following him, was decked out in various garments but looked utterly out of place, frozen stiff.

Viscount Morris sneered at their poor attire.

‘Not nobles, but mere merchants. Do the gatekeepers not realize they tarnish the Sun Duke’s dignity by admitting such?’

They were strangers, seemingly unaware of their own lack of dignity, so he saw no need to engage.

Just then.

“It’s been a while.”

Merriott, the Sun Duke’s right hand, whom no one had approached, waved and came over.

‘It’s me, I’m the star of this banquet!’

Merriott was none other than the Sun Duke’s closest confidant and a third-class knight renowned throughout the empire.

To be acquainted with such a figure!

Viscount Morris beamed, introducing himself.

“It’s been nearly twenty years. I am Evan Morris, Viscount of the Morris family…”

Swoosh.

But Merritt did not acknowledge his greeting and simply passed by.

Viscount Morris’s face froze. He straightened up slowly and turned his head.

Merriott, whom he thought was greeting him, was…

Crack.

“Your backhand left quite the sting.”

“Ha ha, a backhand? That’s tyranny.”

Merriott was warmly conversing with the shabbily dressed man.

The fact that Merriott, whom he couldn’t even approach, had spoken first to such a ragged fellow.

Viscount Morris felt a profound humiliation.

He moved to show who was the true protagonist of this banquet.