Chapter 113: Chapter 113

Meanwhile, Kai felt a pair of hands pulling him. It happened so fast that he couldn’t react or even understand what was happening. He could only watch everything unfold before his eyes, his mind spinning as fear began to take hold of him.

His body was carried quickly through the noisy crowd. The sensation was similar to when Vlad, the vampire, carried him with that effortless speed. But this time was different. The person carrying him was shorter and heavier in movement, judging by the distance between his head and the ground and the roughness of each step.

Kai tried to struggle, though the nausea from the rapid movement made it hard to breathe. His heart pounded, and every attempt to pull away was useless. Whoever was holding him now was not only strong but also solidly built, with arms that felt like iron around him.

"P-please let me go!" Kai shouted as loud as he could, his voice hoarse with desperation.

He kept screaming again and again. At first, his cries were drowned out by the voices of the festival crowd, but as they moved further away, the noise faded and his voice rang louder in the growing silence.

When the man finally stopped carrying him, Kai saw an empty, shadowy field stretching before him. A black tent stood in the middle, its dim lighting flickering weakly through the thin cloth walls.

The tent loomed like a crooked house, built with tall iron pillars and covered with layers of black cloth. In front of it, two men in black uniforms were standing guard, their attention focused on the strange devices in their hands.

Kai struggled even harder, his fear mounting. He was certain they had evil intentions, especially since they had dragged him away from Sylas without hesitation.

"Please take me back to my master!" Kai shouted, thrashing desperately, fighting with all his strength as panic tightened his chest.

The man carrying him stepped inside the tent without a word. A musty smell, mixed with thick cigarette smoke, immediately filled Kai’s lungs. The air was suffocating, and the dark tarpaulin walls seemed to close in on him.

Kai coughed violently, his eyes stinging.

Then the man roughly threw him into the middle of the room, where the rocky floor scraped against his skin. Kai winced as his body slid forward, stopping only when he crashed painfully against the leg of a heavy table.

Holding his sore shoulder, Kai looked up in shock. A man was standing in front of him, watching with a cold, calculating gaze. Kai drew in a shaky breath, his stomach tightening with dread, especially when his eyes caught the royal emblem stitched into the man’s dark clothes.

Was this man a royal guard?

Kai scrambled backward, his heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst. But the further he backed away, the more his body bumped against something solid. Looking down in fear, he saw a pair of old, worn-out boots planted firmly behind him.

He had bumped into someone’s feet.

Kai immediately turned around.

A man, around thirty years old, stood there staring at him with sharp, piercing eyes. His long black hair was neatly tied back, giving his pale face an almost cruel precision. His lips curved into a smirk as he exhaled cigarette smoke slowly, deliberately, as though enjoying Kai’s fear. He was dressed completely in black from head to toe, his presence heavy and intimidating.

Kai swallowed hard when he noticed the scar running down the man’s cheek and neck. Another scar stretched across his forehead like a permanent reminder of countless battles.

Kai shivered, frozen in place, confused and terrified about where he could possibly run.

Who were these people, and why had they brought him here?

"Interesting," the man finally said. His voice was deep, heavy, and full of authority. He leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes scanning Kai from head to toe as though he were a prize animal on display.

"Are you sure he’s useful?" he asked in a low tone.

The guard nodded quickly. "Lord Montery will like him, Jirkan. He’s the Prince’s favorite servant. Didn’t you say I could bring anyone useful to trade at the palace?"

The man—Jirkan—took another slow drag of his cigarette, clearly deep in thought. Montery, the black mask master, had long wanted to gain access to palace trade. But until now, King Adrien had kept all doors shut because of Montery’s past betrayal and dealings with Prince Virouse.

Montery had made a terrible mistake, and he had been trying to repair his standing ever since. Now, with the news that Sylas might soon become the young king, Montery saw a chance.

Still, they hadn’t discovered the Prince’s weakness. Perhaps this frightened servant could be the key.

Jirkan finally nodded. "I’ll take him to Lord Montery."

Then he added with a sly grin, "Even if Lord Montery refuses, he can be sold at a high price."

Jirkan reached out and grabbed Kai’s hand roughly, dragging him closer.

Kai’s terror rose even higher. Jirkan’s grip was painfully tight, and no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn’t break free.

Kai held his breath as Jirkan yanked his shirt hard enough that the buttons popped and scattered to the ground.

"M-master, please don’t..." Kai begged, his voice trembling, as he tried to push Jirkan’s hand away.

Jirkan smirked when his eyes landed on the scar along Kai’s neck. With one sharp tug, he ripped open the rest of his clothes, leaving his bare arms and chest exposed to the cold air.

Jirkan’s eyes narrowed as he examined the scars scattered across Kai’s chest. Then he caught sight of the numbers tattooed low on Kai’s hip, partly hidden by his pants.

A slow grin spread across Jirkan’s face. "I didn’t expect the Prince to be interested in such a beautiful slave."

Kai jerked back, trying to escape again. He lost his balance and fell when Jirkan suddenly let him go without warning.

"Take him!" Jirkan ordered firmly.

The guard immediately hauled Kai to his feet but froze when Jirkan spoke again.

"Your name is Isla, right? You’ll get your reward once I have Lord Montery’s decision," Jirkan said, leaning casually against his chair, still smirking.

Isla, the guard, nodded quickly. "You can contact me as usual. During the festival, I can move around more freely without suspicion."

Jirkan waved him off lazily, signaling them to leave.

Isla dragged Kai into the next tent, which was almost pitch-black inside. He shoved Kai roughly when he kept struggling and whining.

Kai groaned as he landed on a pile of coarse ropes. He looked up with pleading eyes, but Isla ignored him, tying his hands and feet tightly without hesitation.

"P-please let me go, Master..." Kai whispered in fear, his voice cracking. His bare body was covered in bruises from the metal tools scattered inside the tent, which looked like it was used for storage.

Isla remained calm. "You’re not going anywhere. Just pray the Prince finds you valuable. If not, you’ll end up as nothing more than an auction item."

Kai swallowed hard, dread curling in his stomach. He didn’t know exactly what "auction item" meant, but he was certain it was something terrible. The rıghtful source is novᴇlfire.net

He shouted again, his voice breaking, but Isla had already stepped out of the tent, leaving him alone in the suffocating dark.

Sylas and his guards were still searching everywhere, but they found nothing.

Sylas was about to order the area sealed off when a noise came from behind.

He turned and saw Vlad arriving with an enthusiastic-looking group.

Alvaro recognized them immediately—John, Obi, and several quiet, timid young men.

Vlad stood out among them, looking like a wealthy master leading his slaves.

Alvaro frowned. He hadn’t expected to meet the vampire here. He was certain Vlad had followed him. But how could the vampire have known he was here?

"What are you doing here?" Alvaro asked sharply, not bothering to hide his annoyed face.

Vlad looked back at him with a calm, infuriating smile. "I’m just taking them on a trip to the capital. Isn’t the festival open to everyone?"

Obi nodded eagerly, holding piles of food in his hands. "Master let us come to the fertival in the capital!"

Alvaro snorted, eyeing Vlad’s group, so many young men with expressions ranging from fear to excitement. He was sure they were Vlad’s slaves. At least they weren’t naked this time.

How had Vlad even brought them here? By carriage?

And why did Alvaro even care...?

Sylas greeted Vlad politely, though his face was tense and panicked. "Lord Vlad, can you help us find Kai?"

Vlad smirked faintly. He already knew what had happened. He had seen everything. And he knew who was behind it. But he wouldn’t act without gaining something in return.

"He disappeared?" Vlad asked, pretending to be surprised.

Sylas nodded. "Yes. He was right here, and suddenly he was gone. Please, if it’s not too much trouble, help us. I’ll reward you."

Vlad’s eyes flicked to Alvaro.

Alvaro immediately understood that look. He cursed under his breath.

"Looks like I’ll have to help," Vlad said at last. Then he looked back at Sylas. "But what if you let me take your knight with me tonight?"

Sylas stiffened. He glanced at Alvaro, who glared back at him. There was no way he could allow Alvaro to sacrifice himself.

"I’ll offer you money instead," Sylas said quickly.

Vlad smiled. "I’m not interested. I’m busy right now. I’d rather enjoy myself with my companions."

He turned away with his usual smug smile, walking off. Obi and the others hurried after him.

Alvaro clenched his fists. Why were vampires always so insufferable?

Sylas sighed. He didn’t want to waste time arguing, so he ordered the guards to keep searching.

Alvaro stayed rooted to the spot.

"Alvaro, let’s go," Sylas called.

But Alvaro didn’t move. He stared at Sylas, then took a deep breath. "I really hate that bastard," he muttered.

Sylas was surprised when Alvaro suddenly strode past him.

"Wait!" Alvaro called out to Vlad.

Vlad turned back with a wide smile, spinning dramatically.

"Please, help us find Kai. You can have anything you want," Alvaro said firmly.

Vlad tilted his head, then looked at Sylas. "Well, what do you say, Your Highness?"

Sylas looked at Alvaro. "Alvaro..."

Alvaro answered immediately. "I don’t mind, Your Highness. The most important thing right now is finding Kai."

Sylas hesitated, but he had no better option. Finally, with a heavy heart, he agreed to Vlad’s terms.

The vampire smirked, then darted away, disappearing from sight.