Chapter 2293: Justice Person

Chapter 2293: Chapter 2293: Justice Person

Seeing that Mrs. Jude was really going to take action against him, Shard did not raise his longsword but instead confronted the blood mist with his bare hands.

The blood mist itself was merely corrosive; the real danger came from the indeterminate vampire kind hidden within it. Her sharp claws reached for Shard within the mist, while Shard’s hands continued to penetrate the fog, striking her elbow and palm.

Their powers were completely unmatched, even the corrosiveness of the blood mist couldn’t injure Shard. After two or three exchanges, Shard knew Mrs. Jude posed no real threat to him.

Their contact lasted only a few brief seconds because Mr. Benhart’s voice came clearly from behind the blood mist:

"Praise my master – Vampire God!"

The red light instantly hit the blood mist, forcibly transforming Mrs. Jude back into human form and throwing her to the ground. But she ignored her own embarrassment and turned around in shock to look at Mr. Benhart behind her:

"The old things of Velindale, they’ve given you this?"

Mr. Benhart held a bright red metal Holy Emblem, and Shard could sense the power of this Divine Item even with his eyes closed.

If faced with non-vampire kind Circle Sorcerers, this Holy Emblem could be considered a decent blood Arcane Technique enhancing tool, but against vampire kind, the power of this Holy Emblem was much greater.

"The Order is providing me with everything except manpower."

Mr. Benhart said, and then sternly warned:

"Do not lay a hand on my friend! This time is just a warning, next time you dare to make a move, I guarantee you won’t stand to see the next day’s sun."

The coachman and maid had been temporarily placed in the carriage by him, and he and Shard blocked all potential escape routes for Mrs. Jude:

"I originally just wanted to ask you about some local matters, but Mrs. Jude, are you hiding other secrets?"

The woman climbed up from the ground without fixing her clothes and revealed a mocking expression:

"What, Viscount, are you being nosy? Or do you want to show Velindale’s justice to Moon Bay?"

"Justice?"

asked the Vampire Viscount, who had never been seen so angry by Shard:

"Do you know what you’re doing? An orphanage? Raising children? Do you think it’s my first day out?

The last time you heard about vampire kind raising human children, establishing a blood ranch, what was the guy’s final outcome? After that, how did the True God Church treat the local same clan?"

Shard believed that if these words weren’t so sensitive, even though he had placed a Silence Charm, this typically gentlemanly Vampire Viscount would still have shouted.

"Hmph~"

Mrs. Jude held her right arm with her left hand:

"I do not deny what I’ve done, but I’ve never harmed any child to death, and I’ve spared no effort to ensure they grow up healthy, never attempting to transform any of them into blood descendants.

I have never sold human blood externally, nor invited any same clan to visit there. I am worthy of them; the living environment I provide those orphans is something they could never have imagined."

She pointed her unusually sharp, red nail polished finger at Mr. Benhart:

"And the only reward I ask is to quietly take some snacks without harming them. If this can count as a ’blood ranch,’ then what do human-established steam factories exploiting their kind count as? Compared to humans themselves, what I’ve done to their offspring is practically angelic."

She had thus admitted to what she had done, and Shard suspected that yesterday Captain Rudolf had deliberately brought up the matter to let Mr. Benhart, the outsider of the same clan, eliminate this hidden peril...thus Shard had a question.

"Human exploitation of humans certainly can count as a ranch, but can you answer a question for me?"

Shard thus actively spoke, and the woman facing Mr. Benhart turned to look at him:

"You don’t seem to be of our same clan."

"I am roughly human. I am very curious: You created the orphanage and then adopted those children for free. Even if the local other vampire kind all believe you are purely out of goodwill, over all these years, hasn’t anyone ever suspected you?"

Shard said softly:

"Both Viscount and I are outsiders; we merely conducted a brief investigation and discovered the problem.

Mrs. Jude, I do not think the two of us possess any earth-shattering wisdom, nor do I believe all the local vampire kind are fools. So, has this matter continued because you’ve killed all the informed, or are the informed knowingly helping you?"

"So why do you think it’s because of what?"

The Noble Lady’s eyes slightly widened:

"I can’t even beat you guys; why do you think I have the ability to kill others?"

This statement is not wrong. Mrs. Jude may have a noble bloodline within the Vampire Kind, but her Circle Sorcerer level is at most Five Rings. Either Shard or Mr. Benhart could easily subdue her.

"So, maybe not many, but some clansmen in Moon Bay are actually aware?"

Mr. Benhart retorted, then covered his forehead without waiting for a response:

"I originally thought the Order in Velindale was corrupt and rotten enough, but compared to Moon Bay, the old gentlemen in the Royal Capital seem so cautious and humble. Is this world really a competition of who is worse?

No, I’m not discussing this with you. But one intelligent creature breeding another intelligent creature and treating them as snacks is wrong in itself.

The Order signed the ’Vampire Blood Products Ordinance’ and the ’Blood Pact’ with the Church of the Five Gods after the last Vampire-Human War in the Sixth Era, year 693. These treaties have been implemented for a thousand years to ensure our clan’s survival. You made a mistake; it’s just that simple."

The woman laughed:

"So, Viscount Armand Bernhardt, do you want to be a ’Justice Person’ and destroy me now? Then tell me, have I not treated the children well enough? Is the compensation I ask for a lot? Benhart, if you think what you’re doing is right—"

She pointed to her heart:

"I definitely can’t beat you, so kill me here. But one year from today, I hope you can come back here and use necromancy to summon my ghost, then tell me what kind of life those children have had this year."

She saw the grim look on Mr. Benhart’s face:

"I can save more children, and I already have. You’ve done nothing about this and yet accuse me here.

Adults know that no one is perfect; mortals always make mistakes. Why can’t you tolerate my small mistake and supervise me to maintain the current state without crossing the line?"

Shard thought his friend would reproach her, but Mr. Benhart did not:

"Is consuming human blood that important to you?"

"Yes."

She slightly tilted her head:

"After my husband passed away, this is one of my few remaining hobbies. Now, ’Justice Person,’ for your justice and order, kill me. I admit what I’ve done, but I regret nothing."

Generally, such words would only force those originally unwilling to act to take action, but clearly Armand Bernhardt is not an impulsive person.

His nostrils flared, indicating extreme agitation, but he ultimately did nothing:

"I still have other matters to deal with now. Killing you here would only bring trouble upon myself. Go, but this is not over. I’ll find you again when I have time. This is not a threat; it’s a fact."

"You’re welcome to visit if you can tell me your ’Judgement’ on me when we meet next time. I’ll be very pleased."

Mrs. Jude said, instinctively turning to leave but then looking at Shard. She still chose to walk toward Mr. Benhart since her carriage was there... Of course, she also confirmed that her fellow clan members would not act, and she couldn’t see through the mind of the handsome young man who claimed to be human.

After awakening the coachman and the Maid, the Noble Lady hurriedly left. When Shard, with hands in his pockets, left with Mr. Benhart from the other end of the alley, the latter, somewhat dispirited, asked:

"Mr. Watson, did I do wrong?"

"She is unrelated to the matter I need to investigate, so I have no opinion on you letting her go. If I did, I would have stopped her just now. As for being wrong... I won’t judge."

Shard’s tone was quite relaxed, although he understood why his friend felt so heavy-hearted.

"Then what is the right thing for me to do?"

"Oh, I thought you were going to ask me what justice is, but I can’t articulate that. As for what you should do... I don’t know either."

Shard pondered before asking:

"Viscount, would you like to hear what I would have done if I were the only one here and discovered Mrs. Jude’s truth?"

"Please, do tell."

"I rarely kill people, yes, don’t look at me like that; I really rarely take the initiative to kill. In my view, the notion that freedom is more important than life is foolish talk. As for the importance of dignity, it depends on different people’s views."

"That woman has an arrogant attitude, but if she really didn’t harm those children’s lives, I wouldn’t interfere. During my time at Green Lake, I saw a child living with a puppy in a trash can. I know how pitiful orphans are in this era."

"Honestly, compared to life-endangering blood loss, not having enough to eat or wear is clearly more terrifying."

Saying this, he left the alley with Mr. Benhart and returned to the bustling street:

"But you are not me, Mr. Benhart, we are of different identities, so our choices will differ."

He meant from the standpoint of a human, Shard was not of the Vampire Kind.