Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

A few days after Eren acquired Siren's Sanctuary.

In the early morning, on a desolate road, a mysterious mist enveloped the surroundings, limiting visibility to a few tens of meters.

A city administration staff member met with a dubious client not far from the villa Eren had recently purchased. Tension gripped him as he heard approaching footsteps.

Had Eren been present, he would quickly recognize the man as Grimsham, the one who facilitated the villa's purchase. Initially reluctant, Grimsham's attitude shifted when he glimpsed the royal medallion Eren presented, a token from Wilfer.

"Grisham, we made it clear we didn't want anyone owning Siren's Sanctuary. Just a few more days and we would have bought the damn villa ourselves.

Why sell it to that E-Ranked potioner who appeared out of nowhere?"

A disheveled man in his late 50s interrogated Grimsham as soon as he approached. It appeared he wasn't pleased that the Sunhaven city administration had sold Siren's Sanctuary to Eren, especially in such a hasty manner that left him powerless to intervene.

"I... I was in a difficult position, Enchanter Kilawan. He had ties to the Eldorathian royalty," Grisham replied hastily, attempting to explain his predicament with a touch of politeness born out of fright.

"It would have caused more trouble if he discovered I was intentionally impeding his acquisition of the villa. He might have alerted the authorities about our covert sea piracy operations we are used to running from that villa," he added, the strain evident in his voice.

"Eldorathian royalty?" Kilawan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Hmm. That does indeed complicate matters for us," he said as he narrowed his eyes and he looked at the distant shadow of a structure that was Siren's Sanctuary.

"What... what's our next move?" Grisham inquired cautiously. He was wary of offending Kilawan, especially after the villa had been sold under duress. Grisham, being a mere mortal, recognized Kilawan's status as a D-Ranked Enchanter from the Warlock Path.

Kilawan, a formidable D-Ranked Enchanter from the Warlock Path, possessed a commanding presence accentuated by his distinct appearance. Towering above others, he had a tall and robust frame, emphasizing his strength and resilience. His skin, tanned from exposure to the elements, bore the marks of countless enchantments and mystical symbols.

Long, flowing locks of jet-black hair cascaded down his shoulders, adding an air of mystique to his demeanor. His piercing gaze, framed by sharp eyebrows, revealed an intensity that spoke of both wisdom and power.

In the bustling mortal hub of Sunhaven, Kilawan could be considered as a powerhouse, capable of sending ripples through the populace with his mere presence. His arrival would have undoubtedly garnered attention, prompting even figures like Wilfer from the royal family and other city elites to personally extend their greetings.

Yet, Kilawan chose a clandestine entry, using a concealed sea route to infiltrate the city. Operating covertly, he held the reins of the hidden maritime piracy activities unfolding in Sunhaven's shadows.

Being a demonic Enchanter, Kilawan boasted affiliations with the realms of demons and the demonic continents. His role as the purveyor of demonic entities, artifacts, and potions from the continents dominated by the coven of witches compelled him to shun public appearances whenever possible.

"Let's pay a visit to this potioner," Kilawan declared after a brief contemplation. His tone turned icy as he continued.

"I'll persuade him to sell the villa to one of my associates. If he proves uncooperative, I'll have to ensure his silence permanently.

Hehe. A mere E-Ranked Rook will not pose a threat to me no matter how many Trump Cards he has," With a calculated resolve, he moved forward, making his way toward the villa.

Grisham's throat tightened upon hearing Kilawan's ruthless plan. While accepting bribes from pirates was one thing, the prospect of involvement in a killing left him uneasy.

He hesitated, standing his ground, silently hoping Kilawan would handle the situation independently. Kilawan, however, was not inclined to let Grisham off the hook. Sensing the man's discomfort, he issued a menacing inquiry, "Aren't you coming?"

Stammering, Grimsham reluctantly replied, "Af– after you."

Kilawan chuckled at Grisham's nervous demeanor.

"Odd. I don't recall the place being this foggy," Kilawan mused to himself as he continued advancing toward Siren's Sanctuary.

Kilwan and Grisham proceeded for several minutes, yet the villa seemed elusive as if the mysterious fog was distorting their perception. Initially attributing it to the atmospheric conditions, both gradually came to the unsettling realization that something more profound was amiss.

"Why can't we reach the blasted villa?" Grimsham vented his frustration, cautiously choosing his words to avoid sounding critical of Kilawan. "I mean... no offense, Enchanter Kilawan, but could you shed some light on what's happening?"

Kilwan responded with a grave tone, ignoring Grisham's irritation.

"It's the Array Formation," he explained. "It's so top-tier that I can't even tell its Rank. Breaking this Formation is out of the question. But I can't even fucking seem to find an Array Eye within it. This… This is a fucking maze," he added, scanning his surroundings with vigilance. His voice was laced with dread.

Fear etched across Grisham's face as he queried, "What... What should we do now?"

"How… How did I end up here? Isn't this just Sunhaven… a city of fucking mortals? Fucking nobodies?

Grimsham, don't you fucking dare to deceive me. Can you confirm that the one who sold this villa to us was indeed a Rook?

Is… is this a setup? Did you sell my information to the temple of Sekhmet?"

Instead of addressing Grimsham's question, Kilwan posed his own. One could see drops of sweat running down the man's cheeks.

"I..." Grimsham began to respond when a peculiar event unfolded. The thick fog surrounding them, which had been growing denser, abruptly dissipated, revealing the entrance to the villa.

"Perfect timing, gentlemen," a deep jubilant voice emanated from inside the villa. "You arrived just when I needed test subjects. Please, step inside," the voice invited them warmly.

"Run!" Kilwan shouted, swiftly turning away. He harnessed his mana, activating a movement-type Skill in an attempt to escape the trap-type Array Formation that had seemingly been lifted to allow them entry.

Kilwan instinctively sensed that the owner of the villa was the most formidable being he had ever crossed paths with. The seemingly cheerful invitation only heightened his perception of the danger, convincing him that he should steer clear of someone capable of crafting such an advanced Array Formation within a mere few days of arriving in Sunhaven.

However, it was too late for both Grimsham and Kilwan. The new owner of Siren's Sanctuary paid no heed to Grimsham's mortal status or Kilwan's D-Rank status.

A potent Spiritual Sense effortlessly overrode their motor reflexes, compelling them to step into the villa as if transformed into puppets manipulated by an unseen force.

Needless to say, their attempt to escape from the villa ended in fatal failure. The place then bore witness to some more cries reminiscent of distant Siren wails.

===

AN: Can be skipped.

This chapter's reading session should be accompanied by Daniel Licht's Blood Theme as it perfectly suits the concluding scene. :)

By now, the visual, geopolitical, and social groundwork of Labh Salem is well laid out.

If Anfang reflects European regions during the pre-Victorian Era, then Labh Salem takes inspiration from a blend of Egyptian, Greek, and other ancient civilizations, incorporating their respective mythologies.

If this were a comic, the introduction of Labh Salem at the start of the existing volume would entail a complete overhaul of graphic panels. As if this was a completely new series altogether.

When I started this volume, I aimed to bring attention to Labh Salem's distinctive features in contrast to Anfang, weaving them into the main storyline wherever possible. But I guess this is enough.

Moving forward, we'll minimize the emphasis on these distinctions and shift our focus toward advancing the main storyline.

On another note, the Character Arts have been updated. Please check them out (find the Fandom option at the end of any chapter). I'll be refining the existing profiles and incorporating more later on. Currently, I'm content with the avatars presented.

I've created profiles for the canon characters that are or will remain relevant to the storyline, as uploading everyone isn't practical. However, if there's a missing Character Art (of a canon and a relevant character) you're particularly keen to see, let me know, and we'll see if there's something we can do about it.

VEH's 10th volume, "Entering Labh Salem," concludes with this chapter release. The next volume will feature a time skip of around 5 years. Thanks to all the readers, and special appreciation to the top contributors. See you in the next volume. ;)

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