Upon hearing the identity of the newcor, Eleanor’s sharp mind quickly processed what it ant. Dmitry Petrov, a Knight of the Night Council, wasn’t just any vampire. His title alone signified his seniority and rank. To be entrusted with such a position, he must be one of the old monsters... those who had lived for several centuries, perhaps even longer. The fact that the other vampires had imdiately knelt to him confird her suspicion. He wasn’t soone to trifle with.
Still, Eleanor was no ordinary young woman.
As the future head of the Raynor Clan, her status as a Young Miss was just as significant. She was destined to inherit a seat on the Werewolf Council... an institution of equal standing to the High Council of vampires. This vampire, Dmitry, clearly knew that. His bowing, his respectful posture... it wasn’t just courtesy. It was an acknowledgent.
"He bowed first," she noted with satisfaction. That says enough.
Yet, another thought crept into her mind... one far less reassuring.
This man had to be imnsely powerful. He had arrived just in ti to save the noble vampire from death. The timing was too perfect. Which ant... he had been following her from the start. That realization sent a flicker of unease down her spine.
"But how did he avoid my senses?" she wondered. "Even with my heightened awareness, I didn’t feel a thing."
It made one thing abundantly clear: if a battle had erupted between them, she might not have won.
Now that her thoughts had settled, she chose her words carefully.
"Greetings, Knight Petrov," she said with a calm nod. "I ca here rely to gather information, not to harm anyone. I instructed my team not to kill. If that weren’t the case, this entire place would be filled with corpses. My people were simply buying ti while I negotiated with Major General Tatiana Lebedeva."
Her eyes flickered toward the noble vampire who had just managed to sit upright. Her tone sharpened. "Out of respect for your request, I will spare this ignorant one. However, while capital punishnt may be off the table, compensation must be made. He attempted to kill my guard while he was already engaged in a one-on-one duel. That is not only dishonourable... a disgrace to your lord’s na."
Dmitry inclined his head respectfully. "Of course, Young Miss. I will personally report the matter to my lord. But before that, may I offer a token of assistance? I have a healing pill that may help your injured guard recover more quickly."
He stepped forward with grace and ease, and with a small motion of his fingers, a green pill shimred into existence in his palm.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed slightly. Dinsional ring!
To the untrained eye, it might seem like a simple magic trick. But she knew better. Dinsional rings... artefacts that could store items in their own pocket space, were extrely rare. While a few such rings were available within the Raynor Clan, only those who had reached the Ascendant stage could use them.
This man was an Ascendant-level vampire.
And the pill he offered, though not extrely potent... was a recognized healing supplent. Costly and hard to manufacture, even the Raynor Clan didn’t use them casually.
Inwardly, Eleanor was thankful for her earlier caution. She had chosen not to provoke him, and clearly, that had been the right decision.
"Thank you, Knight Petrov," she said, accepting the pill. "Please convey my greetings to Lord Alexander Ivanov. Once I finish my work here, I will leave his territory without delay."
Dmitry gave a courteous bow. "There’s no need for concern. Leave that matter to . You may return to your hotel and rest for the night. I will personally deliver the information you seek by tomorrow morning."
Eleanor nodded. "Then I thank you for your trouble."
With that, she turned to Alaric, who had just managed to get to his feet despite his injuries. Handing him the green pill, she said, "Take this. You don’t need water."
Alaric lifted his mask slightly and placed the pill in his mouth. As it dissolved, warmth spread through his body. A tingling sensation followed, healing his wounds at a visible pace. His breathing steadied, and he stood straighter.
"Let’s go," Eleanor said firmly.
The Shadow Team fell into formation behind her. Together, they walked into the Imperial Haven once again, heading toward the elevator.
Eleanor paused outside Major General Tatiana Lebedeva’s room. The woman was still seated, her posture rigid, her face unreadable.
"Our eting is concluded, General," Eleanor said from the doorway. "It was... enlightening. You may open the front door now."
Tatiana stood slowly; her voice was cool but respectful. "Thank you. I hope our next eting takes place under better circumstances."
"You are welco to visit the Kingdom anyti," Eleanor replied, stepping into the elevator. She turned and gave one final look. "You know where to find ."
The elevator doors closed, and within seconds, they were on the ground floor again. The front hall was empty, eerily quiet. The steel doors at the entrance remained sealed.
The team stood silently, waiting for the gates to rise.
Suddenly, Raphael broke the silence. "Ma’am, I’d like you to et soone. Please wait... I’ll bring her here."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted back toward the restaurant.
Inside, most of the injured mbers of the Imperial Haven had regained consciousness. So were receiving basic dical treatnt. Others sat quietly, still trying to comprehend the whirlwind events that had just occurred.
When Raphael re-entered, a visible shudder ran through the room. People flinched, turned their eyes away, and held their breath.
Raphael ignored them. His sharp gaze scanned the room until it landed on the spot where the sword-wielding woman had previously been. She wasn’t there.
"Where’s the sword lady?" he asked aloud.
Before anyone could respond, he spotted her near the counter, assisting a doctor in tending to a burly man.
He pointed directly at her. "You! Sword lady. Co with ."
The woman looked stunned. "?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes. You," he confird with a nod. "Co on."
She froze for a mont, confused and nervous. Whispers spread through the room. Everyone assud she was being taken away for punishnt.
Without any option, she followed him.
When they reached Eleanor, Raphael stepped forward. "Ma’am, she’s a damn good swordfighter. I like her. If you allow it, I want to take her with us."
Stunned silence followed his declaration. Even Eleanor raised an eyebrow. The woman looked more bewildered than anyone.
Eleanor sighed. "Raphael, we’re not kidnapping anyone. Did you even ask if the lady is willing to co with us? Do you know who she is or what her background is? If you’re thinking of recruiting her, you should know by now... I have very high standards."
Scratching the back of his masked head, Raphael muttered, "I might’ve rushed this..."
He turned to the woman. "Are you willing?"
The woman hesitated. "I... I’m wanted by Interpol. Wouldn’t that cause problems for you?"
Eleanor stepped in smoothly. "That’s my concern, not yours. You just need to decide whether you want a different path."
Then, after a pause, she added, "Raphael speaks highly of you. I’ll offer you a chance. We’ll be at Benedict Hotel tomorrow morning. If you’re interested, co for an interview."
Just then, the steel doors groaned and rumbled as they began to rise. Eleanor glanced outside.
"Let’s go," she said simply.
She walked out with the sa elegance and authority she always carried. The others followed behind.
Only the swordswoman stood there, looking at them with conflicted eyes.
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