The Mastermind

Having Lucius step forward to capture Van Helsing and stir up the townsmen's hostility toward Anna and her family—those had naturally all been Roy's ideas.

Since he had decided to claim Anna's soul, which might become a Noble Soul, Roy naturally had to cooperate with Dracula's plans, perhaps even give Dracula a push. Separating Van Helsing from Anna was an excellent way to do that.

Roy had two objectives. The first was Anna's soul. He would have Dracula test Anna. If she was willing to sacrifice herself for her Brother, then a Noble Soul might truly take shape. But if Anna was unwilling, then even if she died in the end, she might only be an ordinary Low-grade Soul, no longer worth Roy's attention.

As for the second objective, it was naturally Lucius. The soul of the already-corrupted Lucius was the surest prize. Though Roy could not directly act against Lucius because of the Demon Contract, he could use Dracula's hand—or even Van Helsing's—to get rid of Lucius.

Arranging for Lucius and Van Helsing to meet was a backup measure. As a monster hunter, Van Helsing could not possibly fail to smell the demonic aura clinging to Lucius...

No matter who ultimately killed Lucius, Roy would achieve his goal. He found that he rather liked the feeling of being the mastermind behind the scenes!

Van Helsing's soul, on the other hand, was not part of Roy's plan. Though he did not remember the plot very clearly, he vaguely recalled that Van Helsing seemed to be an incredibly formidable being, some kind of Angel Incarnation or something. So, out of caution, Roy had never considered taking Van Helsing's soul. Lucius appearing might expose his dealings with demons, but as long as Roy did not appear before Van Helsing, there would be no problem. Unable to pursue the demon, Van Helsing would only target Lucius. Once Lucius was dead, Roy could simply leave and return to the Abyss.

Of course, Lucius was also a deeply calculating man. No one could guarantee that, in order to conceal his dealings with demons, he would not make a move against Van Helsing. After all, Van Helsing had been sent by the church.

Whether Lucius acted or not was irrelevant to Roy. If Lucius truly managed to kill Van Helsing, Roy would only profit from it!

The key now was that Roy needed some time—time for Dracula to carry out his plan...

Van Helsing and Carl were taken by the townsmen into the desolate wilderness outside town. They were tied to Cross Stakes, their hands and feet securely bound, and then the townsmen left. This had long been the town's usual method of executing criminals. After nightfall, starving beasts would come here in search of food! All the townsmen had to do was return the next day to collect Van Helsing's body and claim the bounty with his head.

Before leaving, Lucius deliberately lingered behind. Only after everyone else had gone did he say to Van Helsing, "I imagine the churchmen's expressions will be quite spectacular when they see your corpse!"

Van Helsing showed little expression as he calmly said to Lucius, "I could smell the demon stench on you from far away. I never expected that, in this place overrun by vampires, there would be another person who made a deal with demons. The church was right to send me here to cleanse this place!"

"Hmph, so what if you know?" Lucius's fat face twisted viciously. "For all these years, the church never cared whether we lived or died. And now they come running over to play the good guys? What was wrong with seeking a demon's help for self-protection?"

"That is no reason for your corruption!" Van Helsing said. "No matter what kind of deal you made with whatever demon, I will kill you and drive that demon back!"

"Such sanctimonious drivel again!" Lucius shook his head. "But only if you can manage it. You should pray that the creature coming here to feed tonight is a savage beast. At least then, you might die a little faster!"

With that, Lucius left without looking back.

"Van Helsing, what do we do? I don't want to end up as wolf food!" Carl asked despondently only after Lucius had gone.

Van Helsing struggled hard a few times, only to find that he was tied far too tightly to break free. Still, he was not particularly discouraged. "Don't worry. That blonde beauty from today is the Descendant of Villeris Family. Since she knows who I am, she should understand that we were sent by the church to help her. She will not stand by and watch us get eaten by wild beasts. Perhaps she will come rescue us after dark!"

"But what if she doesn't?" Carl asked anxiously.

"Then we can only find a way to save ourselves!" Van Helsing sighed.

As time passed, night slowly fell, and at last, a figure appeared.

When Van Helsing saw that Anna had truly come, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seems he had gambled correctly.

Anna was no fool. She understood that although Dracula had sent his bride to deliver the message supposedly for her brother's sake, there was definitely ill intent behind it. If she stupidly walked right into the trap, she might not only fail to save her brother but get them all killed instead. After thinking for a long time, she had come to rescue Van Helsing, intending to have him join her in rescuing her brother Viken afterward.

Holding a torch, Anna stepped forward and quickly cut the ropes, freeing Van Helsing and Carl from the Cross Stakes.

But at that moment, an accident occurred. Two gunshots suddenly rang out in the darkness. Van Helsing's body jolted, and he slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Oh no!" Anna threw herself over Van Helsing, staring at the blood pouring from his chest in despair.

Lucius emerged from the shadows. In the firelight, his face was full of smug satisfaction. "Miss Anna, I guessed you might come to free these prisoners, so I have been Waiting for a Long Time!"

"Why did you kill him?!" Anna shouted furiously at Lucius.

"Why can't I kill him?" Lucius retorted. "He is a wanted criminal. Do I need a reason to kill him? You, on the other hand, Miss Anna—you came here in secret to free prisoners. Were you planning to join him in his crimes?"

Coughing blood, Van Helsing said to Anna, "Don't listen to him. He made a deal with demons and has long since fallen into corruption!"

The moment Anna heard that, she immediately pulled out her gun, aimed it at Lucius, and fired two shots.

Though the distance was too great and Anna's marksmanship was poor, so she failed to hit Lucius, she still frightened him badly. He hurriedly crouched down to hide.

"My lord! Save me!" Lucius cried.

The instant his words fell, an unseen force dragged Lucius's body away.

That was right—Roy had come as well. He simply had not revealed himself, remaining hidden in the shadows and only letting Lucius appear. Though Roy was speechless at Lucius's cowardly, life-loving nature, he could not let Lucius get shot dead just yet, so he pulled him away.

All of it was concealed by the night. Anna and the others could not see what had happened. They only thought Lucius had escaped.

Anna felt somewhat desperate. She had originally wanted Van Helsing to accompany her to save her Brother, but Lucius's unexpected appearance had resulted in Van Helsing being wounded first. Even if he was not dead yet, Van Helsing could not go rescue anyone with her in this condition. After hesitating for a while, Anna stood up and said to Carl, "You stay here and look after him. I'm leaving first!"

She had already decided to go to the meeting alone.