“What the hell? What's going on?”
Moen had just taken the senior’s hand and stepped out of the dark mist of the Moon of Silence when he was startled by the scene in front of him.
What he saw within his field of vision was people.
From the outer edges of the spacious area—to the alleys, the rooftops, the shadows where sunlight couldn’t reach, and the concealed corners of building windows—a crowd of silencers clad in trench coats had already surrounded the place completely. With an air of efficiency and professionalism, they silently observed Moen and Anna as they emerged.
But at this moment, Moen felt something was off.
It felt like that odd moment in his previous life when tourists at the zoo crowded around to watch giant pandas. He could even detect an expression on some of their faces—a mixture of gossip and excitement—that starkly contrasted with their pale, nerdy appearances.
So I’m the panda, huh?
What the hell? Do these silencers have nothing better to do?
If you keep this up, I’ll accuse every one of you slackers of shirking responsibilities!
Moen silently grumbled but quickly came to his senses. Grabbing his senior and pulling her behind him, he fixed his gaze on the crowd and said sternly:
“What do you want? Look closely—my senior is no longer serpentine. I even have evidence to prove she isn’t the one who killed that count’s son! You have no right to keep holding onto her!”
The silencers exchanged glances but adhered to their usual practice of staying quiet. Finally, Kinzer stepped forward and said:
“We have no intention of targeting anyone. We’re here just in case.”
“Now that ‘just in case’ isn’t necessary anymore, you can leave.”
“But someone wants to see her.”
“Someone? Who?”
“You’ll know when you go over there.”
The crowd parted, revealing a black carriage waiting silently in the shadows at the end of the path.
Moen glanced at the carriage. Like most carriages favored by nobles when conducting shady business, it was pure black and bore no insignia. Even the horses pulling it appeared eerily quiet, as if they weren’t living creatures.
Yet Moen became increasingly wary. The fact that this familiar high-ranking silencers showed such deference suggested that whoever was inside the carriage held significant authority within the Silence Agency.
And for someone of that stature to request to meet a senior with deep ties to the Moon of Silence—even though the Moon itself was gone—hardly seemed like a harbinger of good news.
“No way!” Moen declared. “My senior has nothing to do with the dark god anymore! She’s beyond your Silence Agency’s jurisdiction!”
“Alright, junior.”
Just as Moen was about to refuse outright, Anna gently tugged his arm from behind.
Seeing the broad shoulders of the young man shield her from everything as though he could block any storm, Anna’s eyes filled with warmth and love.
But she interrupted him softly, saying,
“Let me meet him.”
“Is that... alright?”
Moen turned back, uneasy, his brows furrowed.
“Don’t forget what the Silence Agency did to you before… And besides, it’s the Silence Agency! Their influence is so vast, even a duke’s mansion would struggle to intervene.”
Moen knew all too well that his earlier words were merely a bluff.
Although the senior’s serpentification had been cured, the fact that the Moon of Silence had deemed her the perfect vessel for its descent meant the Silence Agency still had every right to investigate and interrogate her further. Matters involving the dark god were no joke, after all, and caution was warranted.
“Don’t worry.”
Anna casually brushed aside the hair on her forehead, her own gaze sweeping over the black carriage. She smiled alluringly,
“I probably know who wants to see me.”
“Who?”
“I’m not certain yet, but you’ll find out one day.”
“But—”
“No more buts. I’m not a child, junior. I don’t need you to protect me in every situation.”
Seeing Moen's continued unease, Anna lightly tiptoed and leaned in, her sweet breath brushing against his ear as she whispered,
“Besides… though it might take me some time to fully adjust, I’m way stronger now than you imagine. From now on, maybe I’ll be the one protecting you, junior!”
“Stronger?”
With her scent lingering, tickling him to his core like music playing on heartstrings, Moen maintained a serious expression and asked,
“How strong?”
“Well…”
Anna winked playfully and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“Didn’t you just experience it firsthand a moment ago?”
Damn it!
This seductress!
Moen gritted his teeth in frustration, itching to pin her down right here and now.
“Earlier—earlier I was injured and not in peak condition! Otherwise, there’s no way—”
“Alright, alright, I get it. You’re strong too, junior.”
Anna giggled, flicking his forehead lightly with her finger.
“Relax, I’ll be fine.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then be careful. If anything happens, you must call me immediately. Don’t bear everything alone like you did before.”
Moen stared into Anna’s eyes, sincere and steadfast.
“If there’s danger—no matter when, no matter where—I’ll come to save you.”
“Junior…”
Anna’s gaze lingered momentarily as she listened to his heart-stirring words. Her eyes fixated on the radiant youth standing handsomely in the sunlight, and her emotions rippled like an autumn pool caught in the breeze.
“Seriously, how can anyone resist someone like you?”
…
After an exchange filled with sweetness, Anna finally walked toward the carriage.
Moen remained watchful the entire time, making sure she safely boarded.
Since whoever was in the carriage held a certain level of class, they definitely wouldn’t stoop so low as to harm a delicate young lady personally.
Which meant that as long as she entered the carriage safely, there wouldn’t be any traps or ambushes awaiting her.
“So it really is just a conversation?”
Moen exhaled in relief.
But that’s when he noticed an odd tension in the air.
Turning around, he found the group of silencers glaring at him fiercely, their expressions looking miserable—as though they’d been painfully stuffed full of “dog food.”
Given the recent events, Moen certainly had no interest in being courteous to this crowd. He snorted coldly and sneered,
“What are you staring at, huh? A bunch of bachelors!”
Silencers: “…”
“Uh… Moen Campbell.”
Even Kinzer, who prided himself on being emotionless, clenched his fists tightly at this moment and said,
“Someone’s looking for you too.”
“Who? I’m not in the mood. I don’t want to see anyone!”
“Are you sure?”
Kinzer spoke meaningfully and pointed to the side.
Moen followed Kinzer’s gaze…
It was another carriage.
But unlike the previous black one, this carriage exuded luxury and nobility, gilded edges shimmering in the sunlight. Even the towering horse had an air of arrogance, its gaze acting as if anyone it eyed was unworthy.
None of that mattered, though. What mattered was the crest engraved on the carriage.
A dragon-slaying sword—the crest of the Campbell Duke's family!
And at a time when both the duke and duchess were away from the estate and Moen himself was elsewhere, there was only one person with the privilege to make such a grand announcement of the family's presence.
The Duke’s Mansion.
Head Maid.
Ann.
Moen's legs gave out, his vision darkening as he nearly fainted.
…
…
