Chapter 57: Hawkwood Barony II

"You still remember me, right?"

"..."

Receiving no reply to his question did not faze Herbert.

"Looks like they did a lot on you this time."

"Young master, he has always been like this. He wouldn't budge no matter what kind of torture we gave him so we decided to drug him. It was only there that he had started speaking. Although he should have recovered, there might have been some side effects. However, we have already submitted a report after the interrogation."

Herbert merely sent him a look before he nodded in approval. It was as expected of the Ravenmoon's efficiency. Naturally, he had also received this report and had already read it. This time, he was here because he wanted to see if he could still squeeze some value out of his near-death body. Besides that, he might have wanted to try out his new abilities.

"Send a copy over to him. Oliver, I want you to review this by tomorrow."

"Yes, young master."

"Hmm… Since I'm already here, why don't you open it up for me?"

The prison guard looked at Herbert puzzled, but he still did his job and opened the metal bars that separated Herbert from the Tax Collector.

As he took a step closer, Davos' heart tightened. He could still remember Herbert's face. He was the one that had sent for men to abduct and torture him. He had once seen a glimpse of his face, but that alone was enough for him to remember it for his entire lifetime, after all, he was the sole reason for his current miserable appearance.

His loud footsteps that echoed seemed to mirror the thumping in his chest. If he could turn back time, he would have done everything that he could to prevent himself from falling into the hands of this monster.

However, it was already too late, he was now bound in chains and he couldn't even take a step forward even if he wanted to.

Without taking off his gloves, Herbert held his head in a caring and gentle manner. It almost seemed as if he was worried that such a light touch would completely crush the other party's face.

"Look into my eyes. Tell me, Davos. What do you see?"

In an instant, Herbert utilized his newly awakened bloodline, the ability to create and manipulate dreams. From the Tax Collector's perspective, Herbert's eyes had become mesmerizing and irresistible. With his widened eyes, he gazed deep into Herbert's almost reptilian eyes, and then everything changed.

It was as if he had been roused from his deep slumber. His previous fears disappeared like it was just a nightmare. He felt refreshed as if the decades' worth of fatigue that had accumulated in his soul had fizzled out from existence.

As he sat awake, in front of him were no longer the same arms that he had, nor did he have the same body. As he looked at his reflection in the water, he recognized that he was younger.

"Davos! What are you standing there for? Mother told us to return early today. You better start moving or I'll leave you! Do you want me to leave you here all alone?"

The boy looked at where the sound was coming from and saw a girl who was around the same age as him. She had the same light brown hair that he had and as he opened his mouth to call out her name, he couldn't help but feel as if there was something that was stuck in his throat.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"I'm coming. Wait for me, Daphne!"

As these words came out softly from his mouth, the young boy took out his bucket filled with water and chased after the girl. As he got closer, the boy noticed the girl staring at him with a sad look in her eyes.

"Davos, I'm sorry. I won't leave you, okay? I won't tell mother that you've been lazing around so don't tell her that you cried. Don't cry!"

Seeing her childing attempt to coax him, the young boy smiled before silently wiping out the tears that had unconsciously dropped from his eyes. The girl then heaved a sigh of relief after seeing that her younger brother was fine.

Unbeknownst to them, Herbert who was merely watching this from an outsider's point of view snickered. He still didn't have perfect control over his powers so he went too far back. This wasn't the memory that he wanted to see.

Soon, the scene changed once again. This time, the young boy had grown into a fine young man. Next to him, his sister had also become relatively beautiful. However, compared to their previously cheerful appearance, the two had become mature and reserved.

"Again? Why did the lord increase the taxes this time?"

Davos, in his fury and anger, suddenly exclaimed. He whose voice had become deeper had his brows tightly knitted while his fists clenched, it almost seemed as if he was ready to enter a fight.

"I can't do anything about it. I'm only here to collect the taxes. Well, it's not like there isn't a way to get around this. If you accept my offer then you don't have to pay taxes for a year."

Hearing this sudden change in tone, the person in front of Davos tugged at their heartstrings. They knew that there must be some sort of catch, but Davos' sister, Daphne, couldn't help but ask.

"Really? Are you willing to exempt us?"

"Of course. It's not like I don't understand what you're going through. Let me tell you, as long as you make Daphne enter the lord's mansion as a servant, I will let you guys off."

"You bastard!"

Davos was young and lively; his youthful vigor had made him rash and prone to making a big reaction to which his sister immediately quelled.

"Davos, no. It's okay."

"Don't tell me you're willing to go near that lustful lord-"

"Davos! Enough. Thank you for your kind consideration, Tax Collector Dion. Please come back again tomorrow. For now, I will try to talk to and persuade my brother."

"It's good that you're very understanding, Daphne. I'm sure your parents will be proud of you."

After saying this, the man who was dressed nicely left the two of them.