NOVEL NEXT Chapter 254 Vanessa’s Hidden Identity
Chapter 254 Vanessa’s Hidden Identity
Vanessa's skepticism was not unfounded.
Her conjecture was based on a multitude of facts she had personally witnessed.
First and foremost, from their initial encounter, Felix displayed an unmistakable disdain for the Snowy Hart family. In truth, in the Wester Kingdom, those idiots unaware of the Five Great Families were few and far between.
In other words, Vanessa believed that Felix was deliberately ignoring her, not due to ignorance of the significant influence of the Five Great Families.
So why would a commoner dare to disregard the Five Great Families?
After much consideration, Vanessa could only think of one possibility: Felix was not a commoner, but a nobleman in disguise.
Supporting this theory were two key points: Pamela, the branch chief, had prioritized speaking with Felix even at the risk of offending Vanessa, and Garvit, the captain, had openly defied Vanessa to serve Felix, seemingly having been in Felix's service for quite some time.
Both Pamela and Garvit were individuals of certain status and experience, unlikely to be deceived by Felix.
Therefore, it could be concluded that Felix was of a higher rank than a mere commoner.
However, within the Wester Kingdom, the Five Great Families were essentially on equal footing, with none daring to disregard the others.
If Felix was not from one of the Five Great Families, but was a noble, then the only possibility was that Felix was a member of the royal family.
Having met several princes of the current generation, Vanessa knew that Felix was not among those she had encountered.
If others, their deduction may meet a dead end at this point. However, Vanessa was not just the second young miss of the Snowy Hart family, but also a prospective member of a certain organisation.
[Click paragraph comment for Quote from " People in the Moonlit Night"]
In the Wester Kingdom, the dragon represented the royal family, and the so-called 'Dragon's Shadow' referred to the hidden dragons - the illegitimate children of the king.
Due to complex power struggles, the king had some children who could not be publicly acknowledged. These illegitimate children could not have their identities exposed, for most would be assassinated once their identities were known.
Considering that some of these illegitimate children could have potential talent, 'King Darmodar Das III of the Wester Kingdom' established an 'organisation' specifically to protect these 'Dragon's Shadows', or illegitimate children.
Once the illegitimate children grew up, the king would assess their abilities; those with potential would be granted royal status, while the mediocre would disappear from the world one night.
Vanessa was part of this organisation, although she had yet to be assigned a 'Dragon's Shadow' to protect.
If she were assigned to a promising 'Dragon's Shadow', she could rise with them, and if the 'Dragon's Shadow' turned out to be mediocre and was disposed of, she would only lose some time and nothing more.
Because of Vanessa's knowledge in this area, she naturally developed this conjecture.
Once she had this idea, Vanessa was captivated by it, convinced that this was indeed the truth.
—(I wonder if Felix, the 'Dragon's Shadow' has?been assigned his 'Guardian' yet... If not...)
The thought of a potential opportunity excited Vanessa.
If Felix wasn't an enemy, Vanessa quite admired his strength and talent.
Vanessa quickly made a decision; tomorrow, she would probe into the reality of this 'Felix'.
.
Upon the nocturnal streets of Delis Town, Tyler and Heloise, having just partaken of their evening meal, ambled toward their inn.
Tyler deliberately took a circuitous route, his sole aim being to lure out the "Heavenly Ghost".
At this juncture, less than twenty hours remained until the time of his death, as foretold in the "Precognitive Death Scene".
Tyler surmised that the Heavenly Ghost, or its assassin, would likely advance to scout the location in preparation.
Tyler's reasoning was grounded in the fact that the method the Heavenly Ghost employed to assassinate him was too "flawless".
A person who pursued such meticulousness was unlikely to act directly on the day of the assassination without any preparation.
Given that the Earthly Ghost was able to control snakes, Tyler deduced that the Heavenly Ghost could likely control species that fly, such as birds, bats, or perhaps insects.
With the cover of nightfall and most birds having retired to their nests due to night blindness, Tyler easily spotted an unusual Brown Forest Owl in the night sky.
Next, Tyler purposely led Heloise in and out of several buildings, only to find that the Brown Forest Owl was indeed still lurking not far away.
At this point, Tyler was fairly certain that the Heavenly Ghost could use birds to surveil him.
Now that he knew the enemy's method of reconnaissance, it was time for counter-surveillance operations.
Tyler continued to lead Heloise on a random walk, surveying all the buildings in Delis Town, and found a location well suited for tomorrow's battle.
Would the outcome be smooth? Tyler had no certainty.
However, he had a way to verify in advance whether his strategy was effective.
This "reserve point" that he could have taken but deliberately did not, he had been preserving it for quite some time.
.
"Heloise, do you have a nickname?"
Back at the inn, while checking her back, Felix suddenly asked Heloise.
"Nickname? I do have one... Is the Messenger of the Benevolent Deity seeking the secret designation of the apostle of the Nefarious Tiger King?"
Heloise was quite surprised; Felix rarely took the initiative to ask about her.
This led Heloise to wonder if, after living together for several days, her feminine charm had finally begun to show.
"Yes, can you tell me?" Felix asked.
— (What? So direct?)
Heloise was even more astonished. Felix had never shown such obvious interest in her.
"Uhm... I'm a bit embarrassed... how should I put this..."
Heloise twiddled her fingers, becoming somewhat shy.
Heloise indeed had a nickname, but she had only ever shared it with her "family" in the tigermen race. If she told Felix now, it would mean that she recognized Felix as family — and that would mean she and Felix were a couple!
For others, this line of thought might seem peculiar, but for Heloise, who believes that one can become pregnant just from holding hands and sleeping together, this is totally normal.
"If you can't tell me, don't force yourself, I was just asking casually."
Hearing Felix say this, Heloise immediately became anxious.
If she missed this opportunity, she would have to take the initiative to tell Felix her "nickname" in the future, and that would not be romantic at all!
In her value system, it had to be the man who asked the woman for her nickname!
"No, no, it's not a burden!"
Heloise nervously defended her position. Then, with the aim of making things clear, Heloise first asked Felix a question.
"Messenger of the Benevolent Deity, Felix, knowing the secret name of the apostle of the Nefarious Tiger King means you will accompany her for life, never to betray her. Even so, are you willing to hear her secret name?"