The Moon's anger

In Backlund's West Borough stood a brightly lit villa.

Melodious music echoed through the hall as pairs of guests held one another and danced gracefully. The men in tailcoats were all tall and handsome. The women in their arms had slender waists and full curves, their snowy shoulders and backs gleaming beneath the warm light.

Surprisingly, every guest at the ball, regardless of age or gender, had exquisitely beautiful features and crimson eyes. It lent the entire scene a subtle air of unreality.

Aside from the guests' extraordinary good looks, this ball had another unusual feature—no food was provided.

At an ordinary Loen ball, the long tables would at least have offered cold dishes, hot dishes, desserts, and drinks for guests to enjoy when they tired of dancing. Their absence would have been considered a tremendous blunder on the host's part, making them the laughingstock of their social circle.

These guests did not seem to mind, however, because they had something better.

Several attendants stood beside the dance floor, their posture impeccable, each holding a tray bearing a bottle and several wineglasses. Unlike ordinary wine bottles, these were transparent, and the liquid within looked blood-red and clear beneath the lights.

Mysterious patterns appeared across the glass bottles, emanating a spiritual glow that ensured the liquid inside stayed sufficiently fresh.

"Tell me about this wine."

A handsome young man approached and addressed the attendant before him.

"Certainly... The provider of this 'wine' was an eighteen-year-old lady, born here in Loen, healthy and full of vitality."

The attendant spoke respectfully, showing him a photograph.

"A girl who has only just come of age? That's quite a rare find."

Looking at the youthful girl in the photograph, the man asked with considerable interest, "How did Baron Cosmi obtain it?"

Baron Cosmi was the