Chapter 2362: Twin-Tailed Cat

Chapter 2362: Chapter 2362: Twin-Tailed Cat

Shard and Mr. Benhart both showed a smile, and the latter continued:

"I want to arrange for those people to help me investigate who among the local same clan is collaborating with the cultists. Of course, we must first conduct an internal self-examination."

"But before that, can you tell us about the matter of the ’Sorrow of Blood’? What was the situation with that vampire kind who was covered in scars of ’Sorrow of Blood’ back then?"

Shard also asked, and the noble girl glanced at the clock in the corner and put down her teacup, making a gesture as if she was about to tell a story:

"Last time I told you that unfortunate guy was a friend of ’Mother.’ Don’t consider finding his corpse, even I don’t know where he’s buried. I found out later, that guy really deserved to die."

Her eyes looked towards the city’s scenery shrouded in black mist outside the window:

"He was not a good person, and calling him human is a bit off. He... I’m reluctant to discuss such matters, anyhow, he had a habit of drinking human blood during his lifetime, but unlike Mrs. Jude, he only fled to Moon Bay after killing people from the blood ingestion in his hometown and being hunted by the church."

Shard and Mr. Benhart exchanged a glance:

"Please continue."

"These matters were only discovered by ’Mother’ after his death; otherwise, ’Mother’ wouldn’t have dared to associate with him. ’Mother’ always believed he died in Moon Bay because he still hadn’t changed his evil ways and encountered that Circle Sorcerer with ’Sorrow of Blood’ ’while out hunting,’ leaving him in an alley."

She sighed:

"I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else, otherwise, we’d be suspected of having sheltered that guy in the past. You both understand what I mean."

"We won’t spread it around."

Mr. Benhart promised:

"Did that person say anything about the appearance or other traits of the attacker?"

Miss Les shook her head:

"That person was severely injured at the time. The wounds caused by ’Sorrow of Blood’ are generally very difficult to heal. The simplest treatment is No. 2 Holy Water Essence. This is one of the sword’s traits. ’Mother’ was merely a friend of that person, and not having No. 2 Holy Water Essence, even if she had it, she wouldn’t have used it to save him.

However, in a semi-conscious state, he mentioned he was attacked by a person enveloped in glimmering light. The opponent was particularly skilled with sword weapons. ’Mother’ said most of those wounds avoided fatal positions and only served to torture him. Only the last two sword strikes precisely hit vital spots... almost at scalpel level precision."

"Swordsman... are there any other clues?"

Shard further asked, Miss Les thought for a moment:

"That sword wielder had some divination methods. ’Mother’ mentioned the person attempted to ascertain whether the man we rescued was truly dead, but the wielder’s divination methods were not very strong back then. As for other clues, it’s just this."

She reached out to the Maid standing behind her. The Maid handed a prepared painting scroll to Miss Les, then the scroll was passed to Shard and Mr. Benhart.

Upon opening it, it was a crimson-toned oil painting, in the center stood a man with his back turned to the viewer, holding a longsword in his left hand. Beneath his feet was a lake almost formed into a river, above was a warm yellow sky, and around were indistinct figures hanging from trees.

"What is this? It seems this painting has some age."

Mr. Benhart asked:

"This is ’Mother’s’ divination dream back then. To say ’Mother’ wasn’t curious about ’Sorrow of Blood’ would be impossible; every vampire kind wants to see that sword, so she conducted divination in her dream and painted what she saw upon waking."

Miss Les, holding her cheek, watched Shard spread his arms to unfold the scroll:

"’Mother’s’ interpretation at the time was that the person holding ’Sorrow of Blood’ would surely accomplish something significant, but this event would come at the cost of our same clan. Of course, ’Mother’s’ divination ability couldn’t compare to that ’Lady Amethyst’ in the city, so I’m not sure if there’s error in the divination and interpretation. I have no divination talent."

"May I ask an additional question, your ’Mother’ wouldn’t be residing on Herring Street, would she?"

Shard remembered the matter of the ’Hope Diamond,’ Miss Isabella wanted him to find this relic to ascertain Luviya’s exact motives and how to thwart her plan. Shard’s initial visit to Moon Bay was actually for this matter.

"’Mother’ is traveling in the New World, she hasn’t been in Moon Bay for the past year or two."

Miss Les answered, thinking Shard wanted to meet her:

"Communication in the New World is quite inconvenient, even if we send a letter to her now, it’s likely she’ll be too late to come back. The entire Moon Bay now resembles a giant gunpowder barrel, and the fuse is already more than halfway burned."

"But this way, regarding the holder of the [Sorrow of Blood], we still haven’t mastered the next investigative clue."

Mr. Benhart pondered:

"Ever since that same clan member died, have similar scarred wounds not appeared in Moon Bay anymore?"

"At least I haven’t seen them. Perhaps the opposite party left Moon Bay afterwards and might have returned recently... Gentlemen, I have other guests scheduled, you have five more minutes, please proceed quickly. If you still wish to chat, we can come back in the evening or tomorrow."

She suddenly urged, so Mr. Benhart looked at Shard, who was still gazing at the painting, signaling him to continue asking.

"Can I take this painting with me? I will return it later."

"It’s a gift for you, there’s no use in keeping it here."

Miss Les said generously, and Shard nodded, carefully rolling up the painting again:

"Both Viscount Benhart and I are outsiders, after all, we’re unfamiliar with this place, and we still need your help for some matters, Miss Les. As for the Sorrow of Blood, having the painting is sufficient, I have excellent diviners by my side, and I’ll have them help."

But he actually didn’t want to divine this matter further, he had already understood.

"Suit yourself, I’m just following your instructions, I won’t decide what to do next."

Miss Les responded, and the three chatted a bit more, then Shard and Mr. Benhart naturally stood up to bid farewell.

When they reached the corridor, they coincidentally saw a young lady with her hat lowered standing at the door, and under the Maid’s cover, she entered Miss Les’ room in the club.

The two of them exchanged a glance, saying nothing, and left together.

Shard and Mr. Benhart parted ways at the club entrance, with the Vampire Viscount planning to use the newly acquired clan connections to continue investigating the local clan, and seeking more willing helpers to prepare for the anticipated ongoing battle.

Shard continued his investigation regarding the [Sorrow of Blood] and other matters, and if needed, the two will support each other.

"Regarding the believers’ prayers, I’ll keep it in mind to help you, though I don’t hope we reach that point, but if truly needed, this won’t be a hindrance."

Mr. Benhart’s destination was quite far, so after finding a carriage at the club entrance, he let him board first. Being in the city center, Shard wasn’t worried about not finding a new carriage. After waving goodbye to Mr. Benhart, he was considering whether to meet Mr. Albert for a discussion or to visit Margaret, when he suddenly saw the flash of a cat wearing clothes at the edge of his vision.

"Hmm? A cat wearing clothes?"

He thought he was mistaken, but upon turning to look, indeed saw a black-and-white, golden-eyed cat, crouching at the alley entrance beside the club, staring at him. The cat’s clothing was clearly feminine, with white lace at the ends of the limbs, easily recognizable as a beautiful "dress."

Of course, more importantly, the cat had two swaying tails behind it, and such an obvious anomaly was ignored by everyone around.

"Oh, don’t appear here~"

Shard groaned, hurriedly running forward, but the golden-eyed cat turned and trotted into the alley.

She demonstrated agility far beyond ordinary cats, specifically navigating through the lesser-traveled alleys. A chase ensued between one person and one cat, quickly taking them from the city center to the southern docks of Moon Bay.

Hearing the waves, Shard realized the chase was nearing its end, and as the cat gracefully walked onto the pier, she paused and coquettishly glanced back at Shard before continuing along the pier and eventually jumped onto a private yacht.

"Really."

Shard whispered, following quickly onto the yacht, and neither the sailors on deck nor the Maids inside stopped him.

Soon, Shard followed the "two-tailed cat" into the yacht’s master bedroom, and upon entering the room, he heard a bang behind him as the door automatically closed and locked. Subsequently, a highly complex ritual circle lit up on the door panel, extending lines to the room’s four side walls, making it impossible for Shard to exit immediately even with the [Key of the Door].

Turning to observe the room’s interior, the central large bed was surrounded by red and purple drapes, and of course, the cabin’s windows and curtains were drawn. No gas lamps were lit indoors, with only two red candles illuminating either side of the bed. Certainly, using candles on a swaying ship was an extremely unwise choice.

The dim light made it difficult for Shard to discern details within the drapes, able only to see the silhouette of the twin-tailed cat pausing on the bed. Following a sudden glimmer enveloping the cat, its shadow began transforming.

The body elongated to sleek proportions, with limbs shifting from a cat’s standing posture to a human’s crouching position. As the head tilted upwards, slightly longer than shoulder-length hair traced a beautiful trajectory behind the drapes.