Chapter 31: Mastermind

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Letting Lucius come forward, arresting Van Helsing, and stirring up the townspeople’s feelings of opposition toward Anna and her family were naturally all Roy’s ideas.

Since Roy had decided to take Anna’s soul that could possibly become a noble soul, he naturally had to cooperate with Dracula’s actions and even assist him. It was also a good way to separate Van Helsing and Anna.

Roy had two goals. One was Anna’s soul. Let Dracula test Anna, and if she was really willing to sacrifice herself to save her brother, then the noble soul might be able to form. But on the other hand, if Anna was unwilling, then even if she died, it would be another ordinary low-quality soul and not worthy of Roy’s attention.

The second goal was, of course, the soul of the fallen Lucius. Roy had greater confidence in that. Although Roy himself could not directly make a move against Lucius because of the demon contract, he knew he could make use of Dracula and even Van Helsing to get rid of Lucius.

And letting Lucius and Van Helsing meet was an extra guarantee. It was impossible for Van Helsing, a monster hunter, to miss the demonic aura on Lucius.

Regardless of who killed Lucius in the end, Roy would be able to achieve his goals. He realized that he quite liked the feeling of being the mastermind behind the scenes!

As for Van Helsing’s soul, it was not part of Roy’s plan. Although Roy did not clearly remember the plot, he vaguely remembered that Van Helsing was a very powerful existence, whether it was an angel’s incarnation or something else. Therefore, to play it safe, Roy had no thoughts about seizing Van Helsing’s soul. Lucius’s appearance might have exposed his transaction with a demon, but as long as Roy did not appear in front of Van Helsing, there would be no issue. When he was unable to hunt the demon down, he could only deal with Lucius. As soon as Lucius died, Roy would leave and return to the Abyss.

Of course, Lucius was cunning, and no one could guarantee that he would not kill Van Helsing in order to not expose his dealings with a demon. After all, Van Helsing was sent by the church.

Whether or not Lucius made a move did not matter to Roy. If he could really kill Van Helsing, then it would be beneficial to Roy.

The critical problem now was that Roy needed a little time for Dracula to carry out his plan…

The townspeople tied Van Helsing and Carl to wooden crosses with both their hands and feet bound and left them in the wilderness. This town had commonly used this method to execute prisoners for years. As night fell, hungry beasts would appear and roam here to find food! All the townspeople had to do was to collect Van Helsing’s body the next day and then use his head to claim the bounty!

While the others left, Lucius stayed behind. He waited until there was no one around before saying to Van Helsing, “I guess when the people from the church see your body, their expressions will be marvelous!”

Van Helsing was expressionless as he calmly said, “You reek of a demon. I could smell it from afar. I did not expect to find another person who made a deal with a demon apart from those vampires occupying this place. The church indeed made the right decision to send me to cleanse this place!”

“Hmph, so what if you know?” Lucius fiercely said. “The church hasn’t cared about our lives for years, and now it wants to play the role of a good person? How am I wrong for seeking help from a demon for self-preservation?”

“This isn’t a reason for your depravation!” Van Helsing said. “I will kill you and expel that demon, regardless of what kind of deal you had made with him!”

“Yet another self-righteous face!” Lucius shook his head. “However, you must be able to do it. You better pray that it’s a ferocious beast that comes here tonight for food. This way, you can at least have a quick death!”

With that, Lucius left without looking back.

After Lucius left, Carl looked at Van Helsing with a dismayed face. “Van Helsing, what should we do? I don’t want to become food for wolves!”

Van Helsing struggled but found that he was so tightly bound that he could not free himself. But he was not disheartened. “Don’t worry. That blonde beauty is a descendant of the Villelis family. Since she knows my identity, she’ll know that we are sent by the church to help her. She won’t watch us get eaten by wild beasts. She may come to save us after night falls!”

“What if she doesn’t come?” Carl asked worriedly.

“Then we’ll just have to find a way to save ourselves!” Van Helsing sighed.

As time passed, night fell, and a figure finally appeared.

When he saw that Anna had really come, Van Helsing heaved a sigh of relief. It seems as though he had placed the right bet.

Anna was not silly. She knew that Dracula had sent his bride to pass the message with ulterior motives. Although it appeared to be for the sake of her brother, she would be truly silly if she delivered herself into danger just like that. In the end, she would not be able to save her brother, and they would have been both captured instead. After pondering for a long time, Anna came to save Van Helsing and planned to go with him to save her brother afterward.

Anna carried a torch as she walked forward. She quickly cut the ropes and released Van Helsing and Carl from the crosses.

But at this moment, an accident happened. From the night came two gunshots. Van Helsing shook and slowly fell to the ground.

“Oh no!” With a look of despair on her face, Anna rushed toward Van Helsing while watching blood surge out from his chest.

Lucius walked out from the darkness. In the light, he looked full of smugness. “Miss Anna, I guessed that you might come to release these prisoners. You’ve kept me waiting for a long time!”

“Why are you trying to kill him?!” Anna screamed at Lucius.

“Why can’t I kill him?” Lucius asked in turn. “He’s a wanted criminal. Do I need a reason to kill him? Instead, Miss Anna, you came to release these prisoners. Do you plan on following them?”

Van Helsing coughed blood and said to Anna, “Don’t listen to him. He’s made a deal with a demon and has already fallen!”

Upon hearing that, Anna immediately pulled her gun out, pointed it at Lucius, and fired two shots.

Although they were standing apart, and Anna’s marksmanship was not good and failed to hit Lucius, she still managed to frighten him, causing him to squat in fear.

“My Lord! Save me!” Lucius called out.

As soon as Lucius finished speaking, Lucius’s body was dragged away by a force that appeared out of thin air.

That was right. Roy had come along. However, he had not shown himself but hid in the darkness instead and only let Lucius come forward. Although Roy was speechless by just how craven Lucius was, he could not afford to let him die now, so he saved him.

All this was done in the dark of the night. Anna and the others were unable to see them and merely thought that Lucius had run away.

Anna was slightly despairing. She initially wanted Van Helsing to accompany her to save her brother, but Lucius had appeared and injured Van Helsing. Despite Van Helsing still being alive, he was unable to accompany her on the rescue like this. After deliberating, Anna stood up and told Carl, “You stay here and take care of him. I’m leaving!”

She decided to go to the castle alone.