A handsome new face with a deadly smile?
[Tap tap tap]
Inside a room, a man was stomping about, walking left and right every few seconds.
The room was a well-decorated study, with furnishing that looked sparkling clean and ornaments scattered throughout the room, it was a place any person would dream of having as their workspace.
There were rare paintings that hung from the walls and huge lamps on the side of the desk that was at the back of the room.
To describe this place in one word would be simple.
It was simply, "Grand".
But unlike the elegance displayed by the room, a middle-aged man could be seen marching around the room like a madman.
He had his hands on his waist as he looked towards the beautiful carpet laid out on the floor while stomping away.
The man was tall, had blonde hair, a cleanly cut beard, and was dressed in a stylish yet noble outfit.
"Wanfi that idiot!"
He mutters while continuing his march around the room.
"The creation was nearly complete already. He was amounting enough power with those worms already, so why did he have to go and die!"
The man gets angrier and angrier, with each word he speaks he sound like a child ready to throw a tantrum.
"arrghhhHH!"
He slams the desk and an embellished cup drops, breaking it in the process.
"Shit!"
Just then a knock could be heard.
The man stops and turns his head to face the door.
"Who is it?!"
He sounds furious that someone has interrupted him.
Beyond the door an old man's voice could be heard.
"Master...someone desires you meet you. He has just returned...from his trip."
The old man's voice sounds worried.
"Who?! Who wishes to meet me?"
The bowing old man from beyond the door shudders at the yelling of his lord. At that moment, he regretted not detailing who had wanted to meet with him. But it was understandable, he was way too nervous at that moment.
The old man had just become the lord's attendant not long ago. He had dreaded to be put into this position for the longest time, but because there was no one else with experience that even came close to his, he had been forcefully given the spot.
When other people are given the role of being an attendant to the lord they serve, they should be happy, right?
But not this old man.
The reason for his concern stemmed from the fact that all attendants that had served the lord mysteriously disappeared after making a mistake. They were never heard from again. Not even their families seem to have been found.
The lord has stated in the past that they were "relieved of their duties" due to being incompetent and given a large sum to live their lives in hiding.
But even without saying, everyone knew it was a lie. Rumors that had spread about the disappearances suddenly stopped when the people spreading them disappeared too.
No one dared to mutter any criticism about their lord. Even if they had wanted to leave, they couldn't. It was like they were locked in this place when they decided to work here.
To make matters worse, he was posted to this position right after the younger master passed away. Thus, the old man couldn't help but make an internal cry for help when he was put in the position he is.
"Uh...The elder young master."
The old man continued to shake when he speaking.
"Noel? Alright."
The lord's voice suddenly calms down upon hearing those words.
"What are you waiting for? Let him in."
The door to the study opens and the old man welcomes the lord's son into the room while bowing.
A young man steps into the room.
He looked to be in his mid 20s and had long blonde hair that reached his shoulders that was tied up to a ponytail. The red fiery shade of his eyes matched well with his hair.
He was handsome, tall and charming looking man. He was so good-looking in fact that it wasn't an exaggeration to say that women would probably be frothing at the sight of him entering their personal space.
"Father."
The young man says.
He had a soothing voice that could allure possibly anyone.
The young man was dressed in a noble's suit similar to his father's, the only difference would be that the shoulder pads on his outfit was absent.
As the young man spoke, the old man attendant hurriedly closed the door, while trying his best to be as gentle as possible in order to not sound a creak.
"Tch. That stupid old man pisses me off."
Says the lord in a stern voice.
"Shall I get rid of him for you?"
The lord stares at his son's smiling face, and couldn't help but withdraw his statement.
"No. It's okay, I heard we don't have another one like him."
"Unfortunate."
The young man's eyes catch note of the broken cup beneath the desk.
"But father, you really shouldn't act like this. You are the duke of this nation."
"Besides, it was just one mishap, we still have plenty more bases and materials."
His smile deepens.
"Wanfi and that useless Leroy failed, but that doesn't mean our plan is ruined."
The duke takes a sip from another cup present on his desk and sits down on this chair after calming down.
"I heard you wanted to see me Noel?"
"Ah yes. I was going to inform you that sir Spencer and his assistant has arrived."
"Oh! The reinforcements from 'that man' are here already?"
The duke's voice lightens up upon hearing the news.
"He has nearly finished completing the project."
"We should be able to test it soon enough."
Noel takes a seat on the couch to the left of the room and faces his father.
"That's great! Then we can fina-"
"But."
Noel cuts off his father's words.
"But?"
"We need test subjects."
"Test subjects you say?"
Says the duke while touching his chin.
"Sir Spencer is planning on releasing the trials throughout the city of Mond."
"Mond?"
"Hahaha! I like how that man thinks!"
Mond was a prominent city to the North of the capital that was past the Northern mountains. It is the third largest economic zone within the nation, rising up to that spot not long ago while generating hundreds of thousands of goal every month.
If we ignore the capital city Rime, it was second to only the Mroun city, the capital of the Mammelion territory.
Although it was behind Mroun in terms of overall wealth, it had something no other city had. And that was an immense privileges from the royal family.
Merchants and residents who stayed in Mond had various perks that allowed for the territory's sudden economic boom. This was meant to keep the duke in check as well as display the influence that is the royal family's power.
The fact that Mond, which was heavily under the royal family's influence, was chosen as the testing ground for the creations was a great thing.
"As for the test subjects, I was thinking about using the second inquisitor squad that is currently investigating the events of the academy."
"That squad? Isn't that Slayer Miranda's squad? Vice principal Gradham informed me about them."
"Yes indeed. It would be a great chance to see how the creations fair against the inquisitors."
"With the first inquisitor squad and third inquisitor squad away for diplomatic missions, it would be a great chance to attack."
"Especially since the golden inquisitor is away and the Fermone academy's principal is in closed retreat."
"With this, no one should be able to match the might of the creations. It would make for a brilliant testing ground at Mond."
Noel finishes his statements and turns towards the duke.
The duke starts to snicker, that snickering turns into giggling, and that giggling becomes a full on laugh.
"HAHAHA! Well done! You really are my son!"
The duke walks up to Noel and pat him on the right shoulder.
"However, there is one thing I'm concerned about."
"Hmm?"
The duke looks confused.
"The ones who did that to Wanfi's hideout, who are they? And what are they trying to accomplish?"
"That's right! We have to find out who the hell are those bastards!"
The duke starts gritting his teeth again.
Noel stands up and comforts him by saying.
"But don't worry father. If I'm right, they should show up when the trial begins."
Noel's attractive yet sinister smile could be seen from his face again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ughhhh."
Rolan is currently speeding through a forest with a few others. He feels a shiver down his spine, and couldn't help but shudder.
"Is someone talking about me?"