Chapter 48: Traces

In the blink of an eye, Benjamin launched a flying kick, but Yuri effortlessly blocked it with one hand, catching Benjamin's unexpected attack. Emily hadn't even realized what they were doing. She blinked once and when she opened her eyes again, the two of them were in this strange position—Benjamin furious and Yuri disdainful.

Benjamin sat cross-legged on the rooftop, his foot still raised. He was starting to lose his balance, and his body began to sway. But neither of them moved. Their eyes, filled with different emotions, locked in a standoff. Yuri watched Benjamin tremble slightly, his smile growing more triumphant. Then, with a casual wave of his arm, Yuri effortlessly flung Benjamin's leg away and casually brushed off the dust from his sleeve.

Benjamin was unwilling to back down and wanted to charge again, but Emily glared at him fiercely, and he didn't dare to move. Yuri shot a provocative glance, and Emily glared at him just as fiercely. The two tense individuals immediately became docile.

"Don't bring up that first kiss thing with me again. I'll just consider it a waste!" Emily said in an annoyed tone. Benjamin burst into laughter, only to receive a glare from Emily.

"Now, we have a formidable enemy ahead. Can the two of you cooperate a little?"

"No!" the two men stubbornly replied in unison.

"Fine, then you can fight each other here while I go on my own!" Emily declared, her voice barely fading when she unfurled her wings with a soft, silken rustle. The black feathers glowed softly in the moonlight.

"Yes!" This time, both men spoke in unison, even their actions were synchronized. They each grabbed one of Emily's arms, pulling her back just as she took off.

Emily folded her wings and sat back down. She looked at the two men, their expressions identical, and chuckled mischievously. "You two have a special bond! Your teamwork is impressive!"

"Hmph!" Both of them coldly snorted, shaking off Emily's hands. The synchronicity of their actions made their expressions even more eerie.

"Enough playing around!" Emily put on a serious expression, her laughter fading. "We have six days until Crimson Moon Festival. No matter what, we'll try to find Bloodblade before the festival. After all, Cyberville isn't that big. I refuse to believe that they can hide so securely with so many people!"

"That's right! We'll dig three feet deep if we have to, and turn Cyberville upside down. I don't believe we won't find anything!" Benjamin chimed in.

"Wait! What did you say?" Excitement flickered in Emily's eyes. Without waiting for Benjamin's response, she continued, "Dig three feet deep..."

Both Benjamin and Yuri realized at the same time, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Yuri conjured up a holographic image of Cyberville's layout. "If Alexander is hiding underground, especially in crowded areas, it would mask his scent!"

The three of them eagerly searched the map, their eyes filled with anticipation. Members of the Secret Party could dig tunnels, and so could Les Ambrans. They just never bothered to do so. Moreover, vampires could conceal their scent from their own kind, but not from Emily's nose.

"Here, here, and here!" Emily pointed at the busiest areas of Cyberville. "They are likely digging tunnels in these places, using the scent of humans to mask their own scent."

"Yes, let's split up and act separately. We'll meet at dawn. We don't want to alert them prematurely. Tonight is just a reconnaissance mission. Don't get caught and don't act alone, it's too dangerous," Yuri spoke like a leader.

"Where should we meet?" Emily looked up and asked.

"Let's go to my villa. The more dangerous the place, the safer it is. I don't think Alexander would expect us to take shelter there," Benjamin eagerly suggested.

Emily nodded in agreement, while Yuri furrowed his brow but didn't raise any objections. The three of them went their separate ways, and Emily arrived at the New District of Cyberville. The New District was a rapidly developing area with mostly residential zones and no companies or commercial streets yet. By night, every household was occupied, and the scent of people filled Emily's nostrils. However, amidst the strong odor, Emily could still discern the scent of flowers.

Emily was delighted, feeling like she had discovered a new continent. Since many Les Ambrans had seen her before, she had applied heavy smoky makeup. Dark eyeshadow and eyeliner accentuated her elongated eyes, with curled lashes coated in thick mascara. Her flawless face had been tanned to a bronze color, adding a touch of seductiveness. She resembled a Versailles dancer, radiating vibrant hues, and she had deliberately added some spots under her eyes, which not only didn't detract from her beauty but also made her more captivating.

To mask her own scent, she had applied floral-scented perfume all over her body. In the summer, the most common scent was floral perfume. Although she had never been bitten by mosquitoes, the scent was strong and natural, without raising suspicion. Right now, she looked like a gypsy girl, with no trace of Emily remaining.

Yet, as Emily walked on the deserted streets, she couldn't help but feel anxious. After all, it was the sleeping hours for humans, and a human woman wandering the streets of various residential areas would inevitably attract attention.

The scent of Burmese orchids grew stronger and stronger, and Emily became increasingly excited and restless. Although Les Ambrans were somewhat declining compared to the Secret Party, their numbers were still terrifyingly large. Perhaps this was just one of their bases. Her task was to find the location where Bloodblade was being held captive, not to destroy their stronghold or seek revenge against Alexander. That would be a long-term goal.

Bloodblade, being a vampire hunter and a herbivore, had a slightly different scent from other vampires, which Emily could easily distinguish. Of course, she didn't know why Bloodblade had managed to evade her nose for so many days when he had tracked her.

She had already passed through three neighborhoods, but the overpowering scent was that of ordinary Burmese orchids. Emily felt a bit discouraged but relieved that there was no scent of poppies. She didn't want to cross paths with Alexander while she was alone and outnumbered.

Emily entered the fourth neighborhood, which was slightly newer. It seemed to have a low occupancy rate, with streetlights spaced further apart. The scent of humans was faint, making it easier to discern the scent of vampires.

As she walked, Emily keenly detected faint footsteps behind her. She pretended not to hear and continued forward, but her pace quickened, and the footsteps behind her quickened as well. Emily walked faster, knowing that a human was following her. If possible, she didn't want to harm a human.

The footsteps behind her followed closely, almost jogging, and their sound became clearer. As she reached the corner ahead, Emily swiftly turned the corner, but her attention was focused entirely on the person behind her. She didn't notice another person at the corner. Just as she turned, someone suddenly lunged from behind, covering her mouth and nose with a cloth. A pungent odor pierced her nostrils, causing her entire body to go numb, and her consciousness gradually faded...