Salute To The General

Nathan's subordinates, Destroyer and Heptakill, were following behind.

Fang, along with a few soldiers, including Colin, quickly stepped forward to greet Nathan, saluting him in unison.

"Chief Cross!"

Nathan raised his hand in return with a faint smile. "Thank you for your sacrifices, my brothers."

Nathan's appearance completely disrupted and overturned Eugene IV's plans.

Standing alone in a daze, he watched the crowd rush forward to greet Nathan. Only one thought rang numbly in his chaotic head. What's going on? What should I do?

He wanted to slip away unnoticed while the crowd was distracted.

At this point, he was at a complete loss on how to proceed. His only option was to seek Morgon and ask for his opinion.

Unfortunately, Nathan caught him before he managed to sneak away.

Nathan calmly called his name, stopping him in his tracks.

"Why are you leaving upon seeing me, Pope Eugene? Are you not pleased to see me return?"

Eugene IV paused in his tracks and turned back with a wry smile. "What are you talking about, Mr. Cross? I'm happy to see you back. I was about to go out and share this good news with everyone." Nathan chuckled lightly. "There's no need for you to personally handle such matters, Pope Eugene."

"There's no need to busy yourself with news of me, telling people I'm alive one moment and that I'm dead in another. That won't do at all!"

Eugene IV looked embarrassed.

At this point, Leopold, Wolfric, and the others began to realize that something was amiss.

They misunderstood the subtle mockery in Nathan's words.

Also, they noticed that something seemed off with Eugene IV.

Eugene IV was so eager to avenge Nathan that his thirst for revenge was even more pressing than a rabid wolf's.

Moreover, Eugene IV repeatedly insisted that Nathan was dead, even willing to take full responsibility for that statement.

Yet, Nathan had returned, alive and well.

How can this be explained? Also, why did Eugene IV look so uneasy when he saw Nathan and even tried to slip away when Nathan wasn't paying attention? All of this is very abnormal indeed. The crowd began to look at Eugene IV differently. Their gazes were filled with suspicion.

Under the weight of the crowd's accusatory glares, Eugene IV was extremely uncomfortable. Nathan's ambiguously amused gaze, especially, felt particularly glaring.

Thus, he could not help asking, "What do you mean by that, Nathan?

I was mistaken into thinking you were harmed and was rushing to avenge you, wasn't I? I've been running around everywhere for you, even prepared to lead the Curia's troops to avenge you. What's the meaning of coming back and speaking to me in this tone?"

"Indeed, you've been quite busy these days," Nathan said coolly. "Busy for my sake, too. However, you've not been busy rescuing me, nor are you busy with avenging me. You've been busy conspiring with the Gods to betray and hunt me down, busy stirring up hatred between humans and the vampires, busy instigating a great war on Earth, and busy creating

opportunities for the Gods to launch an invasion."

As soon as those words were spoken, the whole room became shocked.

Everybody wore a look of outrage, glaring at Eugene IV with suspicion.

"You'd better explain yourself, Eugene IV," Leopold said coldly.

Wolfric, too, had a murderous look on his face. "If your explanation proves unsatisfactory, Eugene IV, if we find out you've been making fools of us, I'll personally slice open your skull." Eugene IV's expression shifted dramatically.

Instinctively, he took several steps back, retreating into the midst of a group of Curia warriors, as if hiding among his subordinates gave him a sense of security.

"You're making false accusations, Nathan!" he exclaimed angrily. "Do you believe Nathan's baseless words, Wolfric, Leopold?"

Then, he went on, "Oh, I see. We've

suspected that you were a vampire, Nathan, even before this. It must have been the last test that failed

detect you. You're clearly one of them,Seeing as you're always siding with them and opposing us at the Curia at every turn. In my opinion, you are the traitor to mankind!"