48 The Paladins Have Finally Entered The Stage

As Maya, the woman with flowing brown hair, entwined her tongue with Cian's in a passionate exchange, he discreetly glanced at the three women nearby. Gone were their blindfolds, a clear indication that they had managed to free themselves during the chaos Maya had unleashed upon the manor. Now their faces were revealed, and Cian took a moment to assess their worth as potential pawns.

All three of them possessed an undeniable beauty, but Cian couldn't determine if their allure translated into useful assets for his cause. Despite the passage of five long years, Cian had failed to gather any additional allies aside from Vera and Maya. The three of them stood as the sole members of the Scarlet Lotus Organization, with Cian positioned as their leader, and Vera and Maya serving as his trusted right and left hands.

However, their trio was simply not enough to achieve their ultimate goal—world domination. Cian recognized the pressing need to expand their ranks. With just Maya, Vera, and himself, their chances of success were slim at best.

And so, his gaze lingered on the three women before him, contemplating whether they held the potential to strengthen their organization. Cian yearned for recruits who would bring new skills, connections, and resources to their cause. These qualities were essential if they were to realize their ambitious aspirations.

Lost in his contemplation of the three women's potential worth, Cian's attention abruptly shifted as his gaze locked with that of the woman sporting vibrant green hair. Her eyes, mirroring the same hue as her locks, held him captive, and a faint blush graced her cheeks as she observed the intimate exchange between Cian and Maya.

A flicker of recognition sparked within Cian's mind. '...This woman... Where have I seen her before?' he pondered silently, his tongue still entwined with Maya's as he continued his sensual exploration. And then, as his tongue grazed against Maya's teeth, the memory flooded back. 'Ah, yes... I remember her now... She's none other than Freya Meadowlight, the daughter of Marquis Meadowlight.'

Cian had encountered Freya once before, on the fateful day he attended the grand party held in the prestigious Micesse Dukedom. It was an event forever etched in his memory, as it was the very day his mother had tragically passed away. While the sight of Freya remained imprinted in his mind, it was evident that she bore no recollection of him. Such an oversight was to be expected, as Cian had skillfully avoided drawing attention to himself at the gathering.

Nevertheless, Cian's encounter with Freya sparked a renewed interest within him. The seemingly fortuitous convergence of their paths held a certain allure, beckoning him to explore the potential she might possess. While Cian couldn't immediately discern if Freya could be a valuable ally in his pursuit of world domination, he recognized that her worth extended beyond such ambitions.

'No. Careful, Cian,' he cautioned himself inwardly, his tongue still entwined with Maya's as they exchanged saliva. 'Don't prematurely view her as a mere pawn. If you start treating her as such, even before she becomes one, you risk becoming no different from him.'

Amidst the exchange of passionate kisses and saliva with Maya, Cian reminded himself of the stark contrast he embodied compared to his father. He refused to succumb to the same manipulative tendencies, forcing others into subservience for his own gain. If he were to prematurely label Freya as his pawn, he would be no different from the person he despised—the one who treated others as disposable pawns in his quest for power.

'Don't think about that yet. What I need to do right now is to bring this mission to an end tonight.' The night was far from over, and there was still one more target awaiting their attention.

A thought then crossed his mind, 'By the way, how long will Maya keep kissing me like this?' Maya, with her relentless affection, continued to kiss him passionately, seemingly unwilling to let go. Her hands even ventured beneath his pants, teasingly caressing his manhood. 'This woman really is a pervert. But that's what I find so enticing about her,' he couldn't help but admit to himself.

Suddenly, he grabbed Maya's shoulder and gently pushed her away, breaking their intense embrace. Maya, her eyes glazed with intoxication, let out a breathless moan, "Ahnn~ Master."

"Pull yourself together, Maya. We still have unfinished business," he said firmly. "Vera is most likely holding back the Knight's Order right now to buy us some time to attack that despicable woman."

The despicable woman he referred to was none other than Zorgar Zuldrake, the mistress of the notorious Zuldrake household. An elderly woman with a disturbing penchant for young boys, she had orchestrated the kidnapping of numerous village boys, subjecting them to unspeakable horrors. Cian's memories of her were vivid and repulsive, each recollection fueling his burning desire to see her brought to justice. He had been her intended target once, but being a nobleman's son had spared him from her clutches. 'I want to be the one to end her life,' he declared silently, donning his faceless mask once again.

"Let's move, Maya!"

"But what about them, Master?" Maya inquired, gesturing towards the three women.

Cian gazed in their direction, or at least they assumed he was since his mask had no eye holes. Uncertain of his focus, they awaited his response. "Would you prefer to stay here or venture out with us?" he asked.

The three women exchanged glances, silently reaching a unanimous decision. Freya stepped forward, speaking on behalf of the group, "Take us with you!" she proclaimed.

"Very well," he acknowledged. Turning to Maya, he spoke with a tone of command. "Maya, ensure their safety. The place we're heading to is extremely dangerous. Proceed with caution, all of you."

Maya nodded, as did the three young women.

"Go ahead," he instructed. "I have something to take care of here first."

"Understood," Maya replied, leading the three women out of the room.

Cian reached into his pocket and retrieved a red lotus flower. Placing it near the lifeless body of Pigman, he took a moment of reflection before turning on his heels and making his way outside.

•••••

The Zuldrake Marquissate was a region plagued by a unique problem—its population consisted mostly of elderly women who caused significant trouble within the kingdom. Describing their actions as merely "troublesome" would be an understatement. Due to a flawed system, their crimes remained concealed and unexposed. In reality, the magnitude of their wrongdoings far surpassed mere troublemaking. These elderly women were known to deceive young men of baron rank into marrying them when they faced demotion.

Demotion occurred as a consequence of committing a crime or failing to contribute to the kingdom. As barons, their responsibility included providing essential supplies such as rice, wheat, and fish. However, due to the limited resources within their small territories, fulfilling these obligations proved arduous. This is where the despicable women came into play. They would propose marriage to the barons, only to seize their lands by murdering them once the marriage was consummated.

It was a tragic tale for these small baronies, ensnared by the schemes of these wretched women.

Not only baronies faced such predicaments; those on the verge of losing their noble status were equally vulnerable, just like Cian.

With his father's passing, there was no one left to manage the Earldom. Many of the earldom's retainers had shifted their loyalties to either the Duke of Horselle, Micesse, or Heartia. As a result, the once grand Lambhart Earldom had dwindled to a mere fraction of its former glory, resembling no more than a small barony. In fact, some baronies now surpassed the Lambhart Earldom in size.

Moreover, almost all the maids in the manor, except for Maya and Vera, had retired, leaving a void behind. Adding to the turmoil, Maya's parents, who had been staunchly loyal to Cian's father, had switched their allegiance to the Horselle family. They wished for Maya to serve the Horselles, but she remained steadfast in her commitment to the Lambhart name, insisting that her loyalty would not waver merely because the Lord of Lambhart had passed away. However, the grim reality remained: the Lambhart Earldom teetered on the precipice of eradication.

In the midst of this crisis, a noblewoman—the very type of person he despised—sought entry into his household and proposed marriage to him. Cian knew better than to accept. The woman was already in her seventies, after all. However, due to the dire circumstances, he found himself unable to outright reject her offer. And so, tonight, he would meet with her, ready to confront her and express his true feelings.

As Maya skillfully drove the car towards the imposing main manor of Zuldrake, Cian prepared himself for the upcoming confrontation. He attached a silencer to his pistol and ensured it was fully loaded. In addition, he grabbed multiple casings of bullets, anticipating the possibility of a prolonged exchange with the guards within the Zuldrake estate.

The last thing he wanted was to run out of ammunition during a heated exchange with the Zuldrake guards.

"Master, we've arrived!" Maya announced.

Cian exited the vehicle and stepped through the imposing front gate.

The sight of his arrival immediately caught the attention of numerous guards, who swiftly readied their weapons.

"Hey! Who do you think you are? This is the Zuldrake Manor! You can't just—" The guard's sentence was abruptly cut short as Cian swiftly dispatched him with a single gunshot to the head.

In an instant, chaos erupted as a full-blown gun battle ensued.

•••••

Within the confines of the Zuldrake Manor, two elderly women, or rather, old bats, were leisurely sipping their tea when a series of gunshots shattered the tranquility around them.

"What in the world is happening?!" exclaimed one of the old bats, her voice filled with alarm.

Zorgar, a Marquis, peered outside and witnessed a young man engaged in a fierce shootout with her guards. The teacup she held trembled in her hand, no, it was her hand that trembled, seething with anger. "You!" she thundered at the two guards standing behind her. "Capture that—Wait? Hmm?" As she looked closer at the intruder, an uncanny feeling washed over her. He reminded her of someone, someone she had an insatiable desire to possess, to indulge in, no matter the cost.

"On second thought, just capture him! Use whatever means necessary, even if it means severing his limbs. But you are not to kill him, do you understand?" she commanded the guards.

"Understood, mistress," the guards acknowledged. With grim determination, they armed themselves, cocked their rifles, and made their way outside.

"Kekeke!" Zorgar, the old bat, cackled maniacally. "It seems I've received an unexpected gift!" she exclaimed, her eyes glinting with wicked delight. However, as she brought the teacup to her lips, she realized it was empty, its contents spilled due to her trembling hand.

•••••

Taking cover behind a sturdy tree, Cian swiftly reloaded his pistol before cautiously peering out to assess the situation. With precision and speed, he eliminated three more guards, then quickly retreated back to the safety of the tree as a barrage of bullets whizzed past him, their aim thwarted by his makeshift barricade.

"Seems like there are more guards than I anticipated," Cian muttered to himself. He retaliated with calculated shots, each finding its mark, leaving bullet casings scattered on the ground. However, amidst the chaotic clash, he sensed another imminent threat approaching.

Swiftly dodging his head to the side, he narrowly avoided a projectile that grazed his mask, leaving behind a smoking bullet embedded in the tree trunk.

"...An assassin?!" Cian exclaimed, realizing that a sniper had joined the fray. As far as he knew, there were no snipers within the confines of the Zuldrake manor. What could this unexpected turn of events signify?

"...Ah, I see. The Paladins have finally entered the stage," he remarked, a sly smirk forming behind his mask. With a calculated decision, he revealed himself to the guards while simultaneously dispatching them with precise headshots. "If the Paladins have chosen to join the game, then I'll extend a warm welcome to them..."