Leilin strolled out of the room and made his way to Isabel's quarters.
Ever since their last meeting, Isabel had become remarkably reclusive—even driving away her original maids.
Knock, knock! Leilin rapped politely on the door.
"Who is it? Didn't I say I didn't want to be disturbed?" Isabel's voice from inside carried a note of irritation.
"It's me!" Leilin answered calmly.
The door swung open to reveal Isabel's face. Her cheeks were flushed an unnatural red, as though she had just undergone some intense physical exertion, or perhaps… a ritual?
"What is it? I was about to rest!"
The moment she saw Leilin, a flicker of panic crossed Isabel's face.
"Not going to invite me in?" Leilin smiled.
"Barging into a lady's private chambers at this hour is hardly gentlemanly behavior! Or have you gone bad, little cousin?"
Isabel's eyes glinted with a playful light as she leaned languidly against the doorframe, her tone deliberately provocative.
Leilin suppressed a laugh at the act. When it came to experience, he was clearly miles ahead of this pretender.
"Gone bad? Why don't you find out for yourself?"
Leilin wore a mischievous grin as he moved closer, pressing his nose against the fair skin of her neck and inhaling deeply. A girlish fragrance mingled with a peculiar scent drifted into his nostrils.
"What are you doing?" The young woman flushed scarlet and dodged away, and Leilin seized the opportunity to slip inside.
The furnishings hadn't changed much, but a faint smell of blood lingered in the air. Despite thorough efforts to wash and conceal it, Leilin's brow furrowed.
"About what happened before—is there anything you want to tell me?"
He settled onto the sofa, trying to make his tone sound as sincere as possible. "After all, you're my cousin. I don't want you bearing this alone!"
"It's nothing… it's already over…" Isabel's expression stiffened for a moment before she waved it off nonchalantly.
That forced display of resilience made Leilin sigh inwardly.
Of course, he knew that pressing the issue now wouldn't accomplish much. Though the traces of Negative Energy contamination in the room were glaringly obvious, whatever she had done still seemed innocent compared to the experiments he himself was about to conduct.
"Fine! I'm here to ask for your help!"
Leilin changed his approach. He had originally thought leaving her to hold down the estate was a sound choice, but it was now clear that keeping her cooped up in the manor would only invite far greater trouble.
"What trouble?" A cold gleam flickered in Isabel's eyes.
"It's like this…" Leilin scratched his head, then laid out the situation regarding Marquis Louis and Viscount Dim—especially the part about the pirates landing to launch an attack.
"So you're saying… the destruction of my family's holdings was also their doing?"
Isabel's hand clenched, and a chunk of the black ironwood chair was torn clean off. Shards and splinters cascaded from between her fingers.
"Physical strength like that?" Leilin's pupils contracted slightly. "It already surpasses many fifth-level professionals—possibly approaching the tenth level. Those demons and devils are indeed generous, though the price is the sacrificer's soul…"
Leilin had heard of the practice of continually performing blood sacrifices to gain demonic power enhancement. Such demon worshippers were invariably hunted down by the churches of every god across the continent.
If word ever got out that the Faolan Family was harboring one of them, the resulting trouble could dwarf anything Marquis Louis could bring.
"I can't say for certain—I can only call it a possibility…"
Leilin rubbed his chin. He saw no reason to deceive her on this matter.
"Good! I'll investigate it personally. And since these pirates dared to trespass on Faolan territory, we will make them pay in blood—their souls shall repent in hell!"
Isabel's beautiful eyes narrowed. Beyond the killing intent, there seemed to be a certain yearning as well.
"Thank you so much, Cousin!" Leilin muttered inwardly even as his face broke into a brilliant smile.
"Rest easy. We're cousins, after all—I'll look after you properly!" Isabel pledged, her expression resolute and determined.
After thanking her once more, Leilin finally withdrew, the smile on his face fading little by little.
"The open sea is vast and boundless, teeming with every sort of scoundrel and degenerate from the continent. Sailors of this era are hardly trustworthy—atheists and devil worshippers are mixed right in among them. It's a veritable hornet's nest. Cousin hiding out in their midst shouldn't raise any suspicion…"