Chapter 161 - 159
"Why are we in the underground lake again?"
The moment we left the dining hall, Colt had led us through what felt like half the mansion before stopping in front of a massive cavern hidden beneath the estate.
Calling it a basement would be an insult.
It was practically an underground world.
The ceiling stretched so high I could barely make it out in the darkness. Glowing crystals embedded in the stone walls bathed the cavern in a soft blue light, illuminating a vast lake that seemed to go on forever.
Colt stopped near the rocky shore. "This is where Boss usually comes whenever his Hysteria becomes difficult to control."
I looked at the lake before taking one very cautious step backward.
"For the record..."
I pointed at the water.
"You’d have to kill me first before I voluntarily get in there."
Remington laughed. "You won’t need to swim."
Before I could ask what he meant, Kayden calmly walked past us as he simply stepped off the edge.
Splash!
He disappeared beneath the surface.
"...He just..." I blinked. "...jumped."
Gawain folded his arms. "He does that."
"...Without warning?"
"He also gets lost without warning."
"Fair point."
I slowly walked closer to the edge, careful not to get too close.
The water had already returned to complete stillness.
"I’m really curious..." I nudged Remington with my elbow. "What exactly is his beast form?"
Remington smiled as he slowly backed away. "...You’ll see."
"...Why are you smiling like that?"
"You’ll understand."
"...I don’t like that answer."
Colt quietly took two steps backward. Even Gawain did the same.
"...Why are you both moving away?"
Neither of them answered.
"...Guys?"
The lake suddenly rippled.
At first it was just a few circles spread across the surface.
Then the ripples became waves.
The waves became violent surges.
Soon, the entire underground lake started trembling as the crystals lining the cavern flickered.
I slowly looked at Remington. "...Should I be worried?"
"A little."
"...A little?"
The center of the lake exploded.
BOOOOOM!!
A massive pillar of water shot towards the ceiling.
Something enormous began rising from the depths as my head slowly tilted upward.
Higher.
Then farther upward.
Higher.
Then even farther.
Higher.
By the time it stopped, my neck was bent so far back I was practically staring straight at the ceiling.
My brain stopped functioning.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"HOW THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN A BEAST?!"
"I’m still a beast," Kayden calmly responded.
"YOUR’E A SNAKE!!!"
"I’m more like a serpent," he corrected.
"YOU’RE A BIG ASS SNAKE!!!" I repeated.
He sighed as he transformed back to his human form walking up to me. "I’m not a snake."
I tilted my head and stared for a few seconds before continuing my outburst again. "YEAH AND I’M NOT A LEOPARD!"
"Miss Blanca, boss really is not a snake," Colt interrupted me.
"He’s actually a leviathan," Remington said next.
What the hell...
Other than Soren and Vesphyr, this guy is also a mythical beast?
"Gawain..."
"Yes, My Lady?"
"...Let’s go."
Without even asking why, Gawain smiled.
"My pleasure."
He immediately turned around.
"Wait, why?!" Remington yelped.
The twins quickly stepped in front of us, arms spread wide like two human barricades.
"You just got here!"
"We haven’t even started!"
Gawain looked at them with complete indifference before grabbing both of them by the collars, one in each hand.
"...Move."
The twins’ feet actually left the ground.
"Boss!"
"We’re being kidnapped!"
"You are the kidnappers," Gawain corrected as he effortlessly dragged them out of the way.
"Put us down!"
"No."
Meanwhile, I continued walking towards the exit when Kayden had quietly stepped in front of me, blocking the only way out.
"Why are you leaving?"
"Don’t you dare get any closer to Bla—"
Before Gawain could finish his sentence, Remington and Colt simultaneously grabbed his collar.
"Oh no you won’t!"
"It’s our turn next!"
The three of them immediately dissolved into chaos.
"Let go!"
"No! You let go!"
"Let’s release each other on the count of three!"
"After or before three?!"
"..."
I decided to pretend none of that was happening as I looked at Kayden, taking a small breath.
"You see, Mister—"
"Kayden."
"...Mister—"
"Kayden."
"...You see..." I sighed as I reluctantly gave in. "...Kayden."
His expression visibly brightened.
"...Whenever I meet...one of you..."" I gestured vaguely toward him. "...Something terrible always happens."
"...One of us?" His brows knitted together. "...What do you mean?"
How exactly do I explain this?
"Congratulations, you’re the third mythical beast I’ve accidentally collected this month."
No.
That sounded insane.
"You’re all legendary creatures and my life has become increasingly ridiculous."
Also insane.
"Please stop being mythical."
...Impossible.
"I can’t really explain it," I rubbed my forehead. "But every time I meet someone like you," I pointed at him again. "My life becomes significantly more complicated."
Kayden studied my expression. "...I still don’t understand."
"...Neither do I," I let out a defeated sigh. "I’m sorry but I can’t do this job anymore."
I stepped to the side.
He stepped to the side, blocking me again.
I stepped left.
He stepped left.
I stepped right.
He stepped right.
I glared at him. "Are you playing with me right now?"
"No."
"...It feels like you are."
"I’m preventing my carver from escaping."
"I’m resigning."
"You’re not."
"I absolutely am."
"You signed a contract."
"I can compensate you for the damages."
Kayden remained perfectly calm. "...Do you know how much the compensation fee is?"
"..."
"...I..."
"...Uhm..."
I suddenly remembered something.
I never actually finished reading the contract.
I had been so dazzled by the payment that I only skimmed over everything after the first page.
Kayden immediately recognized the look on my face. "...You didn’t read it."
"I definitely read it."
I nodded with complete confidence.
"I just... kind of.... forgot."
I even kept a perfectly straight face even though it was the most shameless lie I had told all week.
Kayden stared at me. "...You’re lying."
"I’m an artist."
"That wasn’t my question."
"I answer creatively."
A sigh escaped him.
"...According to the contract..."
He cleared his throat like a lawyer about to ruin someone’s life.
"If you breach it without fulfilling the agreed terms..." He paused just long enough for my anxiety to skyrocket.
"...You’ll be required to reside within the Cartiere Estate indefinitely."
I laughed. "...That’s a joke."
"It isn’t."
"...You’re joking."
"I’m not."
"...Forever?"
"Yes," he answered so casually it somehow made it worse. "So the only way to complete the contract is to work for me."
"And..." I slowly raised a hand. "What exactly are the conditions for completing this contract again?"
Kayden answered without hesitation. "Until I’m satisfied with your work."
My smile froze.
’Wait. That’s literally the same thing.’
If he was never satisfied then I’d never finish.
If I never finished then I’d never leave.
This man...
He’s trying to trap me here forever.
A horrifying realization slowly dawned on me.
...Wait.
Principal Varek.
My eye twitched.
Don’t tell me they’re working together?!
That old fox had practically begged me to sign this contract acting all frail and pitiful!
"Please, Miss Blanca! You’re my only hope!"
YOU FRAUD!
YOU USED MY OWN SALES TACTICS AGAINST ME!
YOU OLD FOX! WHEN I GET BACK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LONG CONVERSATION.
How dare you scam the scammer!
I inhaled deeply then slowly exhaled.
Act professional, Blanca.
I gritted my teeth so hard my jaw hurt then forced the brightest smile I could manage.
"...Shall I start carving then?"
Kayden smiled back. "I’d be delighted."
BOOOOOOM!!
The entire mansion shook as the deafening explosion echoed through the underground cavern.
Chunks of stone rained from the ceiling, dust and smoke bursting through the entrance tunnel as everyone reacted instantly.
Before I even understood what had happened, an arm wrapped firmly around my waist.
Kayden pulled me against him and turned his body sideways as a shower of debris struck his back instead of mine.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern as dust slowly settled.
Several figures dressed in black uniforms emerged from the smoke with discipline and at their head was a tall man with neatly combed grey hair calmly brushing the dust from his shoulder.
He looked around the destroyed entrance with complete indifference before giving a small, courteous bow.
"Sir Cartiere what a pleasant afternoon," he said it in a completely calm voice.
Kayden didn’t look surprised in the slightest. "What brings you here again?"
The man smiled politely. "You probably know why I’m here."
"...Islave," Kayden’s voice was flat. "You could’ve used the front door."
"We did," the man called Islave tilted his head.
"...There no longer appears to be one."
"It was locked."
"So you destroyed it?"
"It opened."
"...By exploding."
"The result was the same," Islave simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Does Father already know?"
Gawain’s voice cut through the tension before anyone else could speak.
Islave turned toward him as the stern expression on his face softened ever so slightly.
"Ah, Sir Gawain."
He placed a hand over his chest and gave a respectful bow.
"Your father sends his regards."
WHOOSH!
A dagger suddenly came flying straight towards Gawain’s face.
CLANG!
Without even looking, Gawain casually drew one of his twin daggers and knocked it aside.
The dagger spun through the air before embedding itself into a nearby stone pillar.
Gawain simply sighed. "...So he really does know."
Islave smiled apologetically. "We’re sorry for the inconvenience but we’re merely following orders."
I looked between the three of them as I opened my mouth to ask a question.
"I—"
BOOOOOOM!!
The entire cavern shook again.
"...Can everyone stop exploding things for five minutes?!" Remington yelled in annoyance.
Dust rained from the ceiling again as another section of the tunnel had just exploded.
Another armed group marched through the smoke but this time they were wearing completely different uniforms.
I slowly looked at Kayden. "...How many people usually invade your house?"
Kayden rubbed his temples. "...Too many."
The man leading the second group smiled politely.
"Kayden."
Kayden looked thoroughly unimpressed.
The man spread his hands innocently. "Our master wishes to discuss something with—"
"Show some respect asshole," Remington said as a silver flash sliced through the air.
THUNK!
The blade buried itself directly between the man’s eyes, instantly collapsing before he could finish his sentence.
THUD.
"..."
"..."
"..."
I stared at the corpse.
"..."
"...Did..."
"...Did he just..."
Another man from the group calmly stepped forward, grabbed the dead body by one leg, dragged it to the side, kicked it out of the way, and cleared his throat without even blinking.
"My apologies."
He straightened his coat before smiling professionally.
"Lord Kayden."
"..."
"Our master wishes to discuss something of great importance with you."
"..."
I looked at the dead guy then at the new guy.
"...Does nobody care that he just died?"
The man blinked. "He was the vice-captain."
"...And?"
"We’ll promote someone else."
"...That’s your response?!"
Colt, meanwhile, stepped forward. "And what exactly does your master want?"
The man finally looked at me, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Our master received word that the owner of the Crimson Snow Atelier, Miss Crimson, would be here today."
He smiled politely.
"And judging by your reaction..."
He inclined his head toward me.
"The information appears to have been accurate."
I immediately took one step behind Gawain until only half my face was peeking out from behind his shoulder.
"...Gawain."
"Yes, My Lady?"
"...Take me home."
I suddenly missed my workshop very much. Unfortunately, neither side seemed interested in granting my wish.
"I’m afraid we can’t do that."
The black-uniformed man spoke at the exact same time as Islave.
"Our mission is you, Miss Crimson."
"Our mission is you, Miss Blanca."
The messenger turned his head toward Islave. "...Blanca? That’s her real name?"
"...Oops," Islave smiled as he lightly tapped his lips. "My tongue slipped."
I frowned. ’How the hell could someone’s tongue slip?!’
Islave’s smile somehow became even brighter. "How unfortunate though..."
The messenger frowned next. "What do you mean?"
"I suppose..." Islave summoned his soul weapon "...we’ll just have to eliminate you first to avoid information leaking."
All hell broke loose.