Impregnable Northwind

The sudden, violent commotion made everyone look over. The Black Swan Assassin inside the house did not even have time to dodge.

"Who are you! This is my house, and they are my friends—they, they're adventurers too."

"Get out of my house right away, or I'm calling the patrol guard!"

Old Manfred shrieked at the top of his lungs, though he didn't dare shove Egil. Those three sturdy White Wolves did not look like mere decorations.

"Lord Knight, it's them! They're the ones who kidnapped our family!"

Little Manfred shouted at the top of his lungs, running toward Egil. The three White Wolves lifted their heads; the candy in the boy's hand was a scent they were chasing after.

"Dammit, little Manfred, what are you doing?"

"Lord Knight, it's them! They're the ones who kidnapped our family."

"My father was kidnapped by them too."

The boy hugged his father's thigh for dear life, refusing to let him budge. Life had improved, and the child ate well, so his strength was not insignificant.

"I see it, child. Your family was targeted by the abduction of Church believers, and they even tried to indoctrinate you."

"Black Swan Assassins have no right to recruit believers into the fold."

Egil looked down at old Manfred.

"They're fakes. The Church of Dawn wouldn't even dare acknowledge their existence. You think they're priests?"

"Let me show you what they look like after death—as shriveled as that fellow outside."

Outside, Alfie Clayton curled his lip, his sharp fangs bared at the corners of his mouth.

Expecting vampires to keep ordinary, level heads was out of the question.

Egil had already charged out. Once exposed, Black Swan Assassins lost their greatest advantage. They were assassins and killers; launching sneak attacks from the shadows was what they were supposed