Blood Assimilation

As various thoughts raced through Cardinal Juke's mind, he squinted his eyes and unconsciously turned to glance at Cardinal Zaul, the newly appointed head of the Council of Cardinals.

'This fellow was the sole person privy to my past dealings... For Zolat to possess knowledge of my affairs and present them to the Pope... Could it be that he played a role in this entire debacle...?' 

Suspicion nagged at Cardinal Juke as these thoughts crossed his mind. He suspected his long-time friend, Cardinal Zaul, as the potential catalyst for his downfall and believed the scheming 'Zolat Grant' was merely a pawn in his elaborate scheme. While Cardinal Juke wished to confront Cardinal Zaul to validate his suspicions, he was constrained by the presence of the Pope.

When Cardinal Juke's gaze shifted toward Cardinal Zaul, the latter also noticed the scrutiny from him. South Cardinal Zaul wore an expression of indifference as he silently locked eyes with Cardinal Juke. They stared at each other for a brief, tense moment before both averted their gaze.

Cardinal Juke, perhaps in a gesture of partial confirmation, was the first to look away. He sensed an unmistakable air of disdain emanating from Cardinal Zaul's demeanor during their brief eye contact, solidifying his suspicions that his long-time friend may no longer be the person he once knew.

While Cardinal Juke was engrossed in his thoughts, Holy Knight Randy's resonant voice continued in the background, articulating his proposal.

"To minimize complications and avoid alerting the enemy, I recommend sending two separate teams to the Meistic Forest at staggered time intervals." Holy Knight Randy suggested.

Curious about the sudden transformation in 'Zolat Grant' and seeking to fathom the depths of this change, the newly appointed head of the Council of Cardinals, Cardinal Zaul inquired, "Why do you propose this?"

Holy Knight Randy met Cardinal Zaul's gaze and replied candidly without reservation. 

"By sending two parties at different times into the Meistic Forest, we can divert the enemy's attention. I assume they are attuned to their environment and well aware of most movements and activities within the forest, meaning they could detect any anomalies right away. They could easily retreat as soon as they detect a threat. Having two separate parties would confuse them, allowing us to approach their lair undetected."

Turning back to address the Pope, Holy Knight Randy expanded on his plan.

"A smaller contingent of my subordinates and I will enter the Meistic Forest first to survey the terrain. We'll navigate around the imperceptible dark region while awaiting the arrival of the next group, which would be the Cardinal disguised normal magicians, who will secretly command the sacred artifacts and the Divine Relic to infiltrate the dark region and initiate the crusade."

As Holy Knight Randy articulated his well-thought-out plan, Cardinal Zaul's eyes narrowed with caution. He realized that the 'Zolat Grant' before him was no longer the haughty aristocrat he had once known, who flaunted his status whenever he went. 

He wasn't the only one as even Cardinal Juke observed this newfound 'Zolat Grant' with a sense of trepidation. The pompous, self-righteous aristocrat they once knew had transformed into someone entirely different, demanding their attention.

Both Cardinal Juke and Cardinal Zaul found themselves compelled to pay closer attention to this transformed 'Zolat Grant' in the future.

Meanwhile, the Pope wore a contemplative expression, carefully considering Holy Knight Randy's words before making a decision.

The Pope, after considering Holy Knight Randy's words, made a decisive statement, voicing out his judgment. 

"Sir Grant's proposal appears to be the most viable option at the moment. However, if any of the Cardinals have a better suggestion, please speak up now."

"…"

Silence fell among the Cardinals, each lost in thought. Cardinal Zaul broke the quietness after a few moments.

"I believe Sir Grant's proposition is well-considered. Though there are still potential flaws to address, it seems practical enough to implement, provided the location of the Vampire Queen's lair is accurately determined and not merely based on intuition."

As he uttered the final words, Cardinal Zaul turned his sharp gaze toward Holy Knight Randy, his expression revealing his lingering doubts about both the plan and the means by which Holy Knight Randy claimed to have located the enemy's lair.

Hearing Cardinal Zaul's skeptical tone, Holy Knight Randy shared a meaningful glance with him and calmly reassured him: "You can rest assured that I will accurately pinpoint the enemy's lair."

"Very well, then we shall have to depend on you, Sir Grant. I hope your confidence is proven when the time comes." Cardinal Zaul nodded and spoke with a hint of distrust as he turned away from Holy Knight Randy.

At this juncture, the Pope intervened, declaring: "Very well, we shall proceed with Sir Grant's proposal and begin preparations for the crusade, scheduled to commence in a week. Until the preparations are complete, today's meeting will adjourn, to reconvene later."

With the Pope's resolute words, the meeting, which was convened to devise a strategy for subduing a potential Vampire Queen from an allied race of demons, came to a close. The Cardinals dispersed, returning to their respective roles and making individual preparations. They would regroup later to further discuss their plans for the crusade to the Meistic Forest, where the presumed location of the enemy's lair awaited.

…

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

Brawler Randy, who had recently returned to the Imperial City after attending a meeting with the Crown Prince, decided to explore a location he had long been intrigued by in his wanderings through the city— Mercenary Street. This bustling street served as a hub for mercenaries and various organizations that functioned similarly to the Dungeon Hunter Exploration Society, catering to adventurers who braved dangers for a source of income.

In contrast to Dungeon Hunters, who mostly braved dungeons, mercenaries didn't regularly delve into dungeons. Instead, they focused on a variety of tasks related to civilian safety, such as protecting against magical beasts, and bandits or hunting down criminals with bounties on their heads.

Mercenary Street housed the Bounty Hunter Guild, the Assassin Guild, the Escort Guild, and numerous other organizations that offered their services to those in need as long as they got paid in return. Brawler Randy's interest in this place stemmed from the wealth of opportunities for him to engage in close combat through the diverse occupations available on this particular street.

Due to his inability to use mana, he had chosen to sharpen his martial arts skills, honed since childhood. With his current, more robust, and powerful body, he planned to hone his close-combat skills by partaking in missions or tasks related to combat. 

He believed realistic battles with others were the key to achieving his goal of mastering his martial arts skills, and he had learned through asking around that Mercenary Street provided just the right environment to aid him.

As he was unable to utilize the city's dungeons at the moment due to the stringent rules imposed by the Royal Family, Brawler Randy sought alternative methods, eventually leading him to Mercenary Street and its vast array of diverse professions.

While strolling along the path that led to Mercenary Street, Brawler Randy suddenly noticed a hooded figure walking ahead of him. This hooded figure emanated an odd sense of familiarity as he observed them, and he found his gaze unconsciously fixating on them as he continued to walk.

"Hm?" 

While his gaze was fixated on them, he noticed the hooded figure suddenly make a sharp turn into a narrow, seemingly dark alley. Not long after, two rugged men who had initially been strolling in the opposite direction also briskly veered into the same alley at the intersection when they reached it, following the mysterious hooded figure. 

Brawler Randy observed this scene with a pensive expression. He paused in his tracks, contemplating the implications of the unfolding scene before him.

After a brief moment, his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to discreetly trail the shady group of men into the dimly lit alley. Before he could even reach the alley, his ears caught the sounds of loud grunts and groans, tinged with suffering, drifting out of the narrow passageway. He quickened his pace, eager to investigate what had happened. The sight that met his eyes left him utterly flabbergasted.

Two out of the three burly men lay on the ground, their faces swollen and bloodied, bearing the marks of a severe beating. The last remaining man appeared to be at the mercy of a short figure, who appeared to be the hooded figure that entered the alley ahead of the group.

Observing the short figure more closely, Brawler Randy realized that it was a girl. Her short black hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. Her eyes were like an abyss, devoid of emotion, as she maintained a vise-like grip on the neck of the battered, muscular man, who was visibly taller and larger than her.

At this moment, she cast a cautious gaze in the direction of the alley's entrance, a frown visible on her cold face. 

"Who goes there? Are you their accomplice?" Her voice was icy as she spoke while glaring in the direction of the alley's entrance.

Without uttering a word, Brawler Randy stepped into the dark alley, boldly approaching her. Upon closer examination, he recognized the black-haired girl from the memories he had absorbed from his main body.

Disregarding the injured men sprawled on the alley floor with their limbs twisted in unnatural directions, Brawler Randy silently advanced toward the aggressor. The black-haired girl narrowed her eyes, studying his approaching figure with wariness, readying her hidden dagger for a strike should he pose a threat.

When Brawler Randy had moved within a few meters of her, she finally caught a clear view of his features, causing her to raise her eyebrows in astonishment. Observing the calm young man before her, she was reminded of the peculiar human who had effortlessly dispatched a vampire as though it were nothing in her presence.

"It's you!" She exclaimed, pointing at Brawler Randy, who approached her with a composed demeanor.