“You’re still as popular with men as ever, Hua.”
Just moments after the black-haired beauty had dismissed a man who came up to hit on her, a voice that was unmistakably that of an elderly person reached her ears.
“Lady Shepherd, welcome.”
The black-haired beauty, whom the voice’s owner had called Hua, quickly turned around, bowed at the waist, and spoke with great respect.
Seeing the black-haired beauty bow before her, the vice president of the Undead Association, Shepherd Old Lady Viktor, immediately put on a kind smile. She reached out to help the woman up and said, “Don’t be so formal with me, Hua. Just call me Mrs. Viktor. After all, we’re all members of the association—truly a family in this world.”
Being helped up by Old Lady Viktor herself and hearing her words, the black-haired beauty couldn’t help but think back to Baka, whom she had recently poisoned to death using a cook, after accepting a commission from Maka. A silent, dark laugh stirred in her heart. “Yes, I understand, Mrs. Viktor. We are all family.”
“I’m glad you see it that way. Alright, there are too many people here. We should hurry to the safe house you and Maka are using now.”
Seeing the black-haired beauty’s response, Old Lady Viktor’s smile grew even brighter. But after glancing around at the somewhat chaotic surroundings and knowing this was no place to discuss serious matters, she quickly urged her.
“Then please get in the car, Mrs. Viktor.”
Hearing Old Lady Viktor’s words, the black-haired beauty swiftly opened the car door behind her and invited her inside.
Old Lady Viktor didn’t stand on ceremony. Handing her luggage to the black-haired beauty, she soon settled into the car.
After placing Old Lady Viktor’s luggage in the trunk, getting into the driver’s seat, and closing the door, the black-haired beauty reminded her to fasten her seatbelt. Then, she drove the Mercedes-Benz straight back to the Undead Association’s safe house here in Windbreak City.
“Welcome, Mrs. Viktor. With you here to hold the fort, I’m sure tomorrow’s operation will go smoothly.”
Seeing Old Lady Viktor and the black-haired beauty enter the presidential suite one after the other, Maka—who had barely gone out for the past few days, staying put to recover from his injuries—quickly stepped forward and greeted Old Lady Viktor respectfully.
“Maka, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight since I last saw you. By the way, what happened to your injuries?”
Seeing Maka step up to greet her, Old Lady Viktor certainly didn’t hold back her smile. But upon noticing his wounds, she couldn’t help but ask with a hint of surprise in her voice.
“Mrs. Viktor, these injuries are from a fight I had the day before yesterday with a relatively weak member of the Free Life Association.”
“The Free Life Association? Is that the organization you reported a few days ago, the one with many powerful supernaturals?”
When Maka mentioned the Free Life Association, Old Lady Viktor recalled the report he had sent to headquarters days earlier and asked, sounding a little uncertain.
“Yes, that’s them,” Maka said with certainty.
“No wonder you said in your report that this organization might be the biggest obstacle to our plans in Windbreak City.”
Having received Maka’s confirmation and realizing the formidable strength of this supernatural organization, Old Lady Viktor stroked her chin with a look of sudden understanding. Then, with renewed confidence, she continued, “But Maka, you can rest assured. Now that I’m here, this Free Life Association is destined to be unable to cause any real trouble.”
Maka knew all too well how powerful Old Lady Viktor was—as the vice president of their Undead Association and a supernatural who held the title of Shepherd, he didn’t dare doubt her words. He quickly chimed in, “With you here, Mrs. Viktor, I believe the Free Life Association won’t stand a chance against you.”
“Don’t flatter me, young man,” Old Lady Viktor said with a laugh, patting him on the shoulder.
“I’m not flattering you at all. Everything I just said came straight from the heart,” Maka replied, looking at Viktor with a completely sincere expression.
“Right, Maka, there’s one thing I haven’t had the chance to ask you about yet.” Her smile fading as she remembered something, Old Lady Viktor’s expression turned serious. She then looked up, indicating she had something to ask him.
Hearing this, Maka didn’t dare ignore the vice president’s words. He quickly looked at her and asked, “What do you want to ask me, Mrs. Viktor?”
“What I want to ask is, who killed Baka?”
Without any attempt to hide her intent, Old Lady Viktor directly voiced the question she wanted to ask.
Maka froze for a moment upon hearing this, then quickly delivered the story he had long prepared, speaking in a calm, measured tone. “Who killed Baka? Hmm, Mrs. Viktor, didn’t I mention in my report that Baka was poisoned and killed by people from the Windbreak City Abnormal Affairs Bureau while he was in their dungeon?”
“I know he was poisoned in the dungeon. The reason I asked that question just now is that I want to know specifically who administered the poison to him.”
“So that’s what you wanted to ask, Mrs. Viktor. I’m sorry, but the answer to that question involves too much classified information related to the Windbreak City Abnormal Affairs Bureau, so I can’t tell you.”
Waving his hand, Maka—who knew full well that he and the black-haired beauty had worked together to kill Baka—replied to Old Lady Viktor with a tone of helplessness.
“Is that so? What about you, Hua? Do you know the answer to this question?” Not getting the answer she wanted from Maka, Old Lady Viktor turned her head and asked the black-haired beauty behind her.
“Mm, I’m sorry, Mrs. Viktor, I can’t answer that question either,” the black-haired beauty replied, perfectly in sync with Maka.
At this, Old Lady Viktor fell silent for a moment.
“Mrs. Viktor, are you angry?” Sensing a shift in Old Lady Viktor’s demeanor, the black-haired beauty asked with concern.
