Chapter 117: The Lone Exorcist or the Apprentice Hunter

Lester, with his keen insight, noticed Murong Mingyue's unusual demeanor. During their initial encounter, their abilities had clashed subtly. Although it was clear this human possessed exorcistic powers, Lester found himself oddly drawn to him. Combined with An Ran's interaction with him, his intuition suggested that this man might know something they didn't. 

Thus, Lester interrupted Murong Mingyue's thoughts, saying, "Mr. Murong? I'm Lester Morris. Our family has resided in Rosewood Town for centuries, coexisting peacefully with the humans here. I believe we're not enemies." 

Morris… 

This vampire's aura was gentle, unlike the bloodthirsty creatures of legend, and the surname Morris did sound vaguely familiar. 

Suddenly, Murong Mingyue recalled something. "The Morris family… Someone in the alliance mentioned you to me." 

"The alliance?" Lester inquired. 

"The HuNTeR Alliance. I'm currently an apprentice hunter," Murong Mingyue explained. 

It all came back to him now. When he'd received his mission, someone in the alliance had mentioned the Morris family in Rosewood Town, suggesting he could seek their assistance if he encountered difficulties. 

The HuNTeR Alliance! An apprentice hunter! 

The Morris brothers and the butler, Sheffield, were visibly surprised. Ever since their family's ancestral alliance with the HuNTeR League, the Morris family had maintained a cordial relationship with the organization. What baffled them was the fact that the HuNTeR Alliance clearly held immense power, and someone like Murong Mingyue, with his exorcistic abilities, was merely an apprentice hunter! It seemed like a waste of talent. 

Murong Mingyue saw their astonishment and explained, "I was originally a lone exorcist. Recently, I accepted a request from the HuNTeR Alliance to investigate a case. Afterward, I was invited to join. According to the alliance's rules, I must complete a mission independently to become an official hunter." 

So, that was it. Though they didn't fully understand why Murong Mingyue had joined the HuNTeR Alliance, it was clear that the organization's strength would significantly increase in the near future. They couldn't afford to underestimate it. 

"So, Mr. Murong, you're in Rosewood Town on a mission?" Lester asked. "Were you at Saint Academy earlier tonight?" 

The agent who had informed them at the castle mentioned that a long-haired, oddly behaving Eastern man had been spotted lingering near the school earlier that day. At the time, they'd suspected this outsider might be linked to the recent bloodshed, as the victims' wounds had been inflicted by sharp blades, not typical of vampire attacks. 

Lester had also inspected the basement and found traces of a vampire's presence. The experimental subjects in the cages had their necks snapped, matching the cause of death of the second victim in the bar district. This suggested that there were two perpetrators behind today's murders—a vampire and likely a human. 

Additionally, there were signs of a struggle at the school entrance, and they'd discovered a scalpel lying on the ground. 

Now, knowing that Murong Mingyue was sent by the HuNTeR Alliance, it was clear he wasn't involved in the murders and had even confronted one of the culprits. The man in the white coat Murong Mingyue mentioned was likely one of the killers. 

Lester's reasoning wasn't entirely accurate, but it was close enough. 

After recalling the Morris family, Murong Mingyue let his guard down and decided to share his mission for an exchange of information. He nodded and said, "Three days ago, I arrived in Rosewood Town to search for Dr. D from the U.S. However, at noon today, I sensed an overwhelming surge of resentment near the academy, as if malevolent spirits were lingering. I intended to investigate but was obstructed. Just now, I returned to the academy and unexpectedly encountered Dr. D at the entrance, only to find he had become a living corpse."