Chapter 212: Help from Duke

Amon leaned back in his chair and examined the handcuffs around his wrists.

The room was small, with a wooden table, two chairs, and a narrow window overlooking the outer walls of the royal palace.

’...They’re really putting me in jail for killing a vampire, huh?’

He found the situation absurd, especially considering what had happened earlier.

He had stopped several car bombs from killing civilians, yet the royal soldiers had somehow turned him into a suspect instead of a witness.

According to the soldiers who questioned him, he was suspected of tampering with evidence and killing someone who might have possessed valuable information about the bombings.

Apparently, the fact that the dead man had been a vampire didn’t matter much to them.

Amon rubbed his temples and sighed.

He should have expected something like this. ’...I knew this was bound to happen.’

He already suspected that the kingdom was infested with vampires.

If they had infiltrated the capital so deeply, some influential people might already be working with them or deliberately ignoring their activities.

Amon leaned back and stared at the ceiling, thinking about the consequences.

He wasn’t particularly worried about spending a few hours in custody, but the vampires were another matter entirely.

’...I’m definitely going to be a target now.’

He had no idea how large their organization was or how many people they had planted throughout the kingdom.

If they discovered that he could recognize them among ordinary humans, they would undoubtedly consider him a threat.

Still, he doubted they would come after him immediately.

With the kingdom in shambles following the king’s death and the succession crisis had given the vampires plenty of other things to worry about.

That didn’t mean he could afford to become careless.

Just as Amon settled into silence, the door opened with a faint creak.

A royal soldier entered the room, accompanied by an elderly man dressed in an immaculate dark suit, carrying a leather briefcase.

The old man approached Amon and bowed politely. "Young Master Amon, Duke Edinburgh sent me to secure your release."

Amon raised an eyebrow as the soldier stepped forward and began unlocking his handcuffs.

"Have the charges against me been dropped already?" he asked, rubbing his wrists once the restraints came off.

"There were never any substantial charges against you in the first place." The old man shook his head.

"They simply wanted a scapegoat to shift some of the blame onto, and you happened to be a convenient target."

Amon flexed his fingers before looking at the soldier, who was glaring at him.

"I can’t say I’m surprised. I would have been disappointed if they’d come up with something more convincing."

The soldier’s expression darkened, but Amon paid him no attention as he stood and walked toward the door.

"Please convey my thanks to the Duke," Amon said to the old man. "I appreciate him getting me out of this place."

The old man smiled faintly. "You can thank him yourself. His Grace has been waiting outside for you."

Amon paused before following him into the corridor.

Several soldiers stood along the walls, while two others guarded a man seated on a wooden bench near the exit.

Amon immediately recognized the broad shoulders and green hair.

Duke Ragnar Edinburgh sat with his arms crossed, looking so stern that even the nearby soldiers seemed reluctant to approach him.

When he noticed Amon, he stood without saying a word.

The three of them left the custody building together, passing through the entrance.

The moment they were far enough from the entrance, Ragnar stopped and rounded on Amon.

"YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT! DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THE VAMPIRES?"

His voice startled several passing guards, who quickly pretended they hadn’t heard anything.

Amon blinked before raising both hands defensively. "Come on, it wasn’t my fault that I happened to find one!"

Ragnar’s expression darkened further. "That’s exactly the problem! I explicitly told you to stay low and avoid getting involved in anything suspicious. All I wanted was for you to remain safe!"

"What was I supposed to do?" Amon groaned and dragged a hand down his face. "Ignore the bombs and let people die?"

"I never told you to ignore the bombs!" Ragnar snapped. "You stopped them, and that should have been the end of it!"

"You could have left the investigation to the soldiers instead of chasing a vampire across half the district!"

Amon opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. He knew the Duke had a point, even if he wasn’t willing to admit it.

"I couldn’t just let him go. He was involved in the attacks, and I wanted to find out who was behind everything."

"We might have learned something important if I’d managed to question him."

Ragnar drew a sharp breath, seemingly ready to continue yelling, but he suddenly stopped and studied Amon’s face.

"Wait a moment. How did you recognize him as a vampire?"

Amon tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Vampires are masters of deception. They can blend into human society and conceal their identities so effectively that even experienced investigators struggle to distinguish them from humans."

Ragnar narrowed his eyes. "You found one in a crowded street and recognized him immediately. How?"

Amon stared at him for a moment before pointing at his nose. "I’m really good at sniffing them out."

Ragnar’s expression went blank. "You’re telling me you can identify vampires by their smell?"

Amon nodded solemnly. "Pretty much."

The Duke studied him, apparently trying to determine whether he was joking.

After several seconds, he released a long breath and turned toward the royal palace, whose towering white walls rose beyond the trees.

"Fine. I’ll accept that explanation for now, although I hope you understand how dangerous this information is."

Amon followed his gaze toward the palace gates.

Guards stood along the walls, and mana-powered barriers shimmered faintly above the entrance.

Ragnar remained silent for a moment before turning back toward him. "I’m going to trust you with something important, Amon, so listen carefully."

Amon straightened slightly. "Alright. How can I help?"

Ragnar raised a hand and pointed toward the palace. "I want you to identify the vampires inside that building."

Amon had expected Ragnar to ask for help with the investigation, but he hadn’t anticipated being asked to search the royal palace itself.

Considering how many nobles, officials, guards, and servants worked there, the task could easily become a nightmare.

After considering the request, Amon nodded. "I can do that."

Ragnar studied him for another moment before turning toward the elderly man.

"Give him your card."

The old man reached into his pocket and handed Amon a business card bearing his name and contact information.

"His name is Harold Whitmore," Ragnar explained. "He’s my personal lawyer, and I trust him with my life. If you encounter any legal trouble, contact him before doing anything foolish."

Amon slipped the card into his pocket. "Thank you, Mr. Whitmore. I’ll keep that in mind."

Harold smiled politely. "If anyone attempts to use the law against you unfairly, I’ll make certain they understand the consequences."

"That’s reassuring to hear."

Ragnar grabbed Amon’s hand and began walking toward the palace gates. "Come on. We have a lot to discuss, and we shouldn’t waste any more time standing around."

Amon retrieved his phone and quickly messaged Seraphina and Ambrosia, assuring them that he was safe and had been released.

Seraphina replied immediately, asking whether he had been injured, so he promised to explain everything later before putting his phone away.

The royal guards straightened when they recognized Ragnar, and the massive gates soon opened to reveal the courtyard beyond.

Amon followed Ragnar inside and his expression immediately caught the system screen.

[A New Quest Has Been Generated]