268 Bathory 1

Despite being an immoral host, Sofony had so many things that she didn't know about the world. Example of that was her unawareness of a certain someone flying to where she was now. Another example was whether the father who abandoned her was still alive or not.

No one was truly omniscient in this world. Or at least nobody was born omniscient and all-knowing. The system could definitely help a system user become one. But it would take a lot of patience, luck, and time. For now, there were so many she could enumerate, but it would take so much time to do that.

This was why she would stop at the most recent unknown plaguing her mind. It was why that man in a black waistcoat and white inner shirt acted so respectfully towards her leading her to somewhere another person would be waiting for her.

After the dozen mafia men with her left to lead the hypnotized slaves and captives out of this hell hole, this immoral host was the person who showed up before her, soft-spokenly requesting her to 'have an audience with his master'.

'Such a puzzle... is something I hate so much!' Sofony donned a very serious face while walking behind the butler-like man. For some reason, she felt like the person's movements were awkward and not masculine at all. A certain thought crossed her mind, and it made her humphed in annoyance. 'Another favorite device of every immoral host in the world... Face changer.'

To be honest, if not for the other's show of sincerity, going as far as to expose his back to a supposed enemy like her, she would not have taken up the request and fight it out with this system user right away.

With narrowed eyes, she inquired from the system,

'Is there a plot hidden in this effeminate guy's 'request'? This is quite weird. It's very weird that somebody who is obviously a part of this disgusting place waited for me to show up and amicably talked to me. Are there two or more opposing camps within the organization?'

The bastard system 'jokingly' replied,

Thank the etiquette lessons learned from before she took up the mantle of Starlight and Ever Victorious' chairwoman. Due to those lessons, she managed to restrain herself from showing the system her middle finger. However, she did tell it to send itself to hell for a couple dozen times.

'This man has the appearance of the person called Gavin, that level 5 host who trapped Wendy inside a huge sealed aquarium.'

The click-clack sounds of her heels against the cemented floor were faintly echoing in that enclosed space. The shadows in front did not diminish. It simply appeared like the gloomy passageway Sofony opened almost an hour ago, just minus the foul-smelling miasma.

Now that she thinks about it, was this guy the base keeper hence he could manipulate the place? Or was he from another faction and his level was just good enough to clear this dim but clean passageway?

The man leading in front suddenly looked back to check on her, most probably due to the coldness her body emitted upon being reminded of why she had to drag a few people to this place this early without much preparation.

She told herself in a cold and resolute manner, 'It doesn't matter what faction he belonged to. If this guy is really that damn bastard who kidnapped Wendy, I'll have him killed and fed to the sharks in the ocean.'

The vow was quite poisonous. However, given what her best friend went through due to this person, she deemed the idea a very matter of fact one. There was a high likelihood that a fight would still break out. Sofony prepared herself for that scenario. She, of course, wanted to win as there were people waiting for her in her home city.

"This place is in the deepest part of the base. This is the main base by the way. You would have been lucky and not be discovered since the place where you spawned was quite an unmanned one. Only zombies created from a low-level virus patrolled that area."

Sofony giggled and humored the person, "Oh? I'm unlucky then. How did you know I would appear in that place?"

Silence ensued for a couple of moments. The woman did not show impatience at the man styling himself like a butler and waited for his answer as they walked. After almost a minute, a reply finally came to her.

"My new master sensed you and wanted to meet you."

An eyebrow of her rose up. Nevertheless, she didn't ask more, uninterested with their affair. However deep in her heart, she was already formulating some plans and calculations. Better if an internal fight breaks out while I'm here, I can more easily wipe them off if ever, she thought.

In a little more than three minutes, the walk finally ended. They reached an elevator and boarded it. Sofony silently chanted some words in her mind to condition herself. It was from knowing that this situation was not a usual one where it would be okay to play around a little.

"We're here."

As the door to the new world outside the elevator slowly unfold to her eyes, the short-haired woman indifferently nodded. "Hmm." But she was secretly inspecting the place, alert from all kinds of attacks. No matter where she was, if it was not her home turf, utmost caution must be exercised.

'This whole floor is a room?'

The place was very luxurious. The extravagance of the room was greater than the best presidential suite she had been to, even better than Gio's Baroque-style mansion seated at a prestigious location in Jasmine City.

Just one thing she noticed was the lack of modern appliances and the love for red of the place's owner. The color of blood unsettled her a bit. But overall, everywhere was a very eye-pleasing sight. To be honest, she even wanted to take away a cute lamp near the center table. It looked ancient yet the colors it gave off as it got lit up was like that of several rainbows compressed together, the soft multi-colored glow was simply breathtaking and unheard-of.

'Maybe after the raid I can bring it back as a gift to Steffy or Wendy?'

Out of a sudden, that shout rang loudly in her mind.

'Huh?' She initially didn't understand what the devil inside her brain wanted to tell her. Until she laid eyes on the only other person sitting in a sofa bed before that beautiful glass rainbow lamp.

She felt like her heart froze.

The person was a woman with a regal aura around her. She was wearing a maroon-red court dress, the type where the upper part was held up by a corset while the skirt was composed of many complicated layers of fabrics and frills over a crinoline. The various pieces of jewelry in her hair was probably more than the number of gem-encrusted jewelries on her neck, wrists, and fingers. Those gems glittered brighter than the stars in a starry night. Simply awe-inspiring than the luminous lamp that had taken Sofony's breath at first.

The woman's hair was almost the same deep shade as her dress, champagne red. Her forehead was slightly wide, eyes black like ebony, and lips full and perfectly shaped. The only problem with the latter was that while it made her ethereal and enchanting, the color was like she did not actually apply lipstick or lip tint on them, but drank blood fresh from a pure maiden's neck. The contrast to her skin and facial features seemed that of a typical sheltered person from the Great B Empire. Yet dangerous and noble. Like a mythical vampire.

This was the impression that would come to mind even if the tea she was elegantly sipping had a black-green hue.

'Who is she?' Sofony almost couldn't look at the other woman directly.

The owner of the room, with the two hands holding the cup and the matching saucer, lifted her eyes in a natural and graceful manner.

As if on cue, the butler bowed and said, "The guest has been escorted. Allow me to prepare some snacks."

"Go ahead. Do it on the side so that she can see your movements lest she thinks you're doing something untoward her." The voice that leaked out of those luscious blood red lips was mysteriously more commanding than sweet. She had spoken in an old B Empire tongue.

The man postured while bowing, his actions really feminine and smooth, "By your will, Master."

The red-haired court lady didn't glance at the man anymore and instead directed her gaze to Sofony. Smilingly, she asked. "Nice meeting you. I'm Bathory Erzebeth. How are you, young lady?"

The Business Queen of Alina widened her eyes at the name mentioned by the other. She held her breath, not at all comforted by the hint of a smile on the red-haired lady's immaculate face. When she heard the last question, what popped up in her mind was whether this woman only shared the same name with that notorious female serial killer from five hundred years ago, or if she was facing the real one who might be an immoral host on a totally different level with her...

Actually, even if her IQ had not gone up, it was easy to tell that the latter was the case, especially since it was already hinted by the system.

'I'm face-to-face with a legendary level 9 or 10?' The mental pressure agonized her so much and made her almost forget how to breathe.

Reminded by the devil AI who finally did something commendable after all these years, Sofony broke out of her dazed state and humbly curtsied to the other. "It's also nice meeting you, famed Countess of the Country H. I am Country F's Sofony Mendez Silver, a mere businesswoman. Please excuse my poor manners. I'm pleased to be in your regal presence."

Once again, Sofony thanked her adoptive parents who did not forget to make her sign up for lessons on Etiquette since she became their long lost daughter. The business trips to the Western countries also helped forge her movements into this authentic B Empire court salutation. All of these helped her deliver a perfect curtsy and greetings.

"Take your seat opposite me."

She felt cold all over again, like she got thrown into a freezing river one wintry midnight.

Sofony could swear, it was her body that moved on its own after hearing the countess' words! She was controlled and she knew! But there was nothing she could do about it!

'Damn you. System, you're a dog!!! You are brainless!!! How dare you issue a task so impossible for my current level!!? Do you badly want me to die by a five hundred years old monster's hands?!!!'

The helplessness she felt inside made her repeatedly scold the damn AI.

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