Chapter 2 - The Agrece (II)

Alastor stood before a hunched old man with a gentle appearance, impeccably dressed in an elegant manner.

This was Gregory Miller, the Butler of the Agrece House. His family had always served the Agrece, a thousand years of service, and they would serve for a thousand more in the future. Both families were bound by something greater than a promise or a pact—something mystical and unbreakable.

Despite being ninety years old and having served as Butler for three generations of Agrece Patriarchs, Alastor did not dare underestimate this seemingly harmless and kind old man. The man before him bore the epithet "Monster of Nottingham," and the threads he wielded with mastery could slice through entire buildings as easily as cutting butter.

Behind Gregory stood a girl around thirteen years old, with fiery red hair and green eyes, dressed in a black butler's suit similar to Gregory's. This was Tereza Miller, who would one day succeed Gregory as the Butler. She was skilled in the ways of thread manipulation, just like her grandfather.

"Master Alastor, your instructions and the necessary weapons have been prepared for your first hunt," Gregory said, gesturing elegantly toward a table where various weapons, potions, and documents were laid out.

Looking at the boy standing before him with a cold expression, Gregory couldn't help but reminisce. Alastor's grandfather, Ares Agrece, had resembled him so much that the old butler felt as though he had been transported back seventy-seven years, when he had witnessed Ares' first hunt.

Alastor paid no mind to the nostalgic look on the old butler's face and first picked up the information regarding the Hunt.

It was an extensive list detailing the target's crimes and lifestyle. The information covered everything, from the most basic details like when he woke up, to even when he went to the bathroom or had sexual relations. One could say the target's entire life was written on that page.

As for the crimes, Alastor's eyes grew sharp and intense.

The target was a werewolf, and to become stronger, werewolves needed to perform rituals under the moon. This wouldn't have been an issue if the ritual only involved the moon, but this particular ritual required human hearts instead of the animal hearts typically used by werewolves.

Yes, human hearts. Not just any human hearts, but those of girls aged ten to fifteen, all virgins. The werewolf would sacrifice these hearts when the full moon rose in the night sky, devouring them to enhance certain aspects of his body, including his regeneration.

As Alastor looked at the number of victims, his gaze turned icy. Among them were three ten-year-old girls and one fifteen-year-old. Additionally, one girl was missing, likely being held captive by the werewolf, awaiting the full moon when he would tear out her heart and devour her entirely.

The mere thought of girls his sister's age suffering from such monstrous acts caused his murderous intent toward this Heretic Werewolf to swell uncontrollably, affecting the air around him and making the atmosphere noticeably colder.

Gregory looked at his young master and did not hide the appreciation in his gaze. A man must go through hardships to become worthy, and work dignifies the man. In Alastor's case, the Hunt would make him a worthy man.

"As the target is a Werewolf, all weapons are made of silver, including fragmentation grenades and smoke grenades, which release a cloud of silver particles into the air," Gregory said, watching as Alastor picked up a knife and spun it between his fingers with near-surgical precision.

Although he knew none of this was truly necessary due to the Young Lord's Gift, Gregory believed that caution was never too much, especially after Ares Agrece's death at the hands of an Infernal Duke.

"The vehicle is ready and waiting for your arrival, Master Alastor." Seeing Alastor finish testing all the items on the table, Gregory spoke in a respectful tone.

Alastor nodded and headed toward the mansion's exit. Behind him, Tereza, Gregory's granddaughter, carried all the items in a silver briefcase as she followed closely.

"Tereza." Hearing her grandfather speak, Tereza stopped and looked at him silently.

"Our master's life is more important than ours. Die, but do not let the Young Lord die." Gregory spoke with a gentle tone, despite the cruel and cold nature of his words. The old man cared little if his granddaughter perished.

"Yes, grandfather." Tereza bowed to her grandfather and quickly followed Alastor.

Watching his granddaughter and the Young Lord disappear, Gregory let out a melancholic sigh. "Lord Ares, I should have died in your place, just like all the other Butlers before me."

Shaking his head, Gregory walked back to the Patriarch's Solar, awaiting new orders from Lord Achille.

-

Inside the car, Alastor sat beside Tereza while the driver remained completely silent, focused on the road.

"What did your grandfather say?" Alastor asked in an indifferent tone, looking at his childhood friend.

"The duty of every Butler, Master Alastor," Tereza responded without hesitation. "Die before your master."

Alastor was not surprised by her words. That was the way of the Agrece Mansion, and its vassals were the same. In such a dangerous and cruel environment as the Supernatural World, only by being harsh with themselves could a House like the Agrece survive for so long.

Alastor reached out and gently stroked her meticulously groomed hair, silently offering comfort.

Tereza, like a cat enjoying the affection of its owner, narrowed her eyes in contentment and allowed him to do as he pleased.

"None of us will die, I am strong." Alastor spoke with a cold tone, but that tone brought an overwhelming sense of security to Tereza. Although she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice her life for her master, she still wanted to serve him for as long as her grandfather had served Lord Ares.

A comfortable silence hung in the car, which Alastor himself broke.

"I heard there was news in the HOGD (Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn)," Alastor asked, crossing his legs as he sat in the extremely comfortable seat of the car.

"Lady Morticia announced her retirement, shocking the entire Order. I heard that Lord Marshall tried to persuade her to stay, but it didn't work; Lady Morticia was determined to leave the Order," Tereza replied, her tone filled with admiration at the mention of the woman. After all, she was one of the few women who held the Beyonder level of Special Order Witch.

"My aunt was a formidable woman; I'm curious about the reason for her retirement from the Golden Order," Alastor recalled, remembering the remarkable woman with pale skin and beautiful black hair like raven feathers. He had met her five years ago when his and his sister's birthday was celebrated at the Agrece mansion.

"Lady Morticia said she would focus on raising her children and would be moving to the United States," Tereza shared what she knew, making Alastor nod in agreement.

"My cousins will be powerful under my noble aunt's upbringing; I hope to meet them in the future," Alastor remarked, reflecting on how powerful his aunt was. She was a witch specializing in Shadows and Darkness, as well as Future Visions.

An impressive feat, given that witches typically specialized in only one area of study throughout their lives.

Having three Special Level specializations was enough to ensure that Morticia's name would be remembered in the annals of the HOGD.

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