For the past few days, Kallen had been waiting for Taixisen to summon him, but the old man showed no intention of seeing him alone. Since being reprimanded by him that day, the two had not met again.
There was certainly an element of protection in this, and, of course, disappointment as well.
Picking up an expensive long cigar from the Castle Family's private collection, Kallen slowly stroked it from top to bottom. Whenever he encountered a hard knot, he applied a little extra pressure to break it apart. Yes, the process was quite relaxing.
He picked up the cigar cutter and snipped out a V with a click.
Then he picked up a torch lighter and lit the end of the cigar. He blew on it, checked that the center was glowing red too, and handed it to Alfred.
Afterward, Kallen leaned back in his chair, folded his hands over his lower abdomen, and closed his eyes.
Alfred began puffing on the cigar, maintaining an appropriate rhythm and density of smoke with each exhalation. As an excellent valet, he could serve as a perfectly adequate incense burner whenever the Young Master needed one.
Time slowly passed.
At last,
the sky outside suddenly darkened.
Alfred laid the cigar across one end of the ashtray.
Kallen opened his eyes, rose, and walked to the window. He looked at the sky ahead, dark and heavy yet somehow light and airy. Two utterly different qualities blended harmoniously, like a thin wash laid over a black base. Perhaps this was the sacred.
"Young Master, the High Priest is here."
"Yes, he's here."
Ranks of black-armored knights approached from afar, each exuding an intimidating aura. Every hoofbeat of the undead warhorses beneath them left a scorched black print on the ground.
The Castle Family pirates