The First Vampire

Regardless, this young thief belongs to none of these categories.

Thus, Harry pleaded straightforwardly:

“Powerful Capen, no, no more! I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

With an expressionless countenance, Capen halted the executioner. Then, he commanded Harry: “Speak. My patience is limited.”

Harry has no alternative now; he can only make the best choice possible to avoid further punishment — shifting the blame.

“Sir, Bruce was the one with me last night. I didn’t see any bonds. It must have been this boy who stole them, it was him! ”

“Bruce?” Capen frowned and then looked towards Orlando standing by his side.

Concealing his internal rage, Orlando ordered his junior: “Go find Bruce.”

“Understood!”

Observing his junior rush off, Capen had no intention of sparing Harry. He promptly gave orders to the executioner:

“Continue.”

Harry let out a bated sigh of relief, but was immediately startled:

“Mighty Capen, but I’ve already spoken! Why would you still…””How am I to know whether you’re lying?” Capen scoffed disdainfully, ignoring Harry’s desperate pleas.

“Ah——”

A gruesome scream loomed in the room.

…

Bruce strained his blurry, sleepy eyes, only to see a vague silhouette in front of him.

After a night of wild and drunken revelry, he felt light-headed and totally unconscious.

But soon, he was abruptly awakened.

Splash!

Feeling a bucket of cold water poured over his head, he felt a chill. The silhouette in front of him finally took form.

Then, he recognized Orlando.

“Father!” Bruce, seemingly finding some solace, cried out.

Orlando actually wasn’t Bruce’s father, more accurately, he wasn’t his biological father.

There are numerous orphans in Alfalfa City. Their best fate would be to be adopted as a foster child by a powerful figure.

Of course, such foster children bore no resemblance to the entitled heirs adopted by the nobles.

Orlando didn’t have anything to endow upon his foster children. His adoption of orphans was not out of kindness but to have disposable minions at his disposal.

Therefore, Orlando had more than three hundred foster children like Bruce…

As a result, Bruce’s call did not stir up any waves of emotion in Orlando’s heart. He indifferently stared at his foster son and tersely asked:

“Bruce, were you with Harry last night?”

“Yes, Father. I was on lookout last night while he went in to steal. And then he gave me a gold coin.”

“Observing?” Orlando furrowed his eyebrows, “You didn’t take anything?”

Bruce hurriedly nodded with agitation: “I didn’t.”

Capen, seated nearby, hummed impatiently to urge.

Orlando squatted down in front of Bruce. He brought out a bond and asked in a feigned soft and kind voice: “Bruce, tell your Father, did you take anything like this?”

“Father, I didn’t even go into the Caravan’s living quarters.” Bruce shook his head fervently, glanced at the bond in Orlando’s hand, and vehemently denied, “Really, Father, I’ve never seen what you have in your hand.”

Orlando’s gaze finally turned cold, his patience was gradually exhausted. He asked for the last time: “My child, you don’t know the true value of this thing. It’s not something you can covet – even I dare not touch it!

Hand it over. I and Sir Capen can promise your safety and even give you a sum of money enough to squander in your lifetime.

But, if you keep resisting stubbornly, you wouldn’t blame me for disregarding the bond of father and son!”

“Father, I’m telling the truth! You must believe me!” Bruce cried out holding onto Orlando’s thigh. “It must have been Harry, he’s framing me! It has to be like this! You can interrogate Harry!”

Orlando’s face progressively hardened, a surge of rage ignited in his chest. He kicked Bruce off, growling:

“Harry has already been interrogated. Now, it’s your turn!”

After finishing his words, he nodded at the eager executioner standing aside, then turned away, as if not willing to see the scene ahead.

“Father! Father! You have to believe me… Ahh! Help me! Ah! Ah…”

The harrowing screams echoed through the room, and the odor of blood mixed with feces and urine gradually permeated the room.

…

The city Lord’s mansion in Alfalfa City.

“Father, I found out that the caravan that entered the city belongs to the North Wind Business Association.”

“The North Wind Business Association?” Ron had certainly heard the name of this association. After all, the North Wind Business Association is the largest association in the North Territory.

Moreover, he also heard that Arnold, the president of the North Wind Business Association, had some unpleasant incidents with Count Angler owing to the establishment of the North Territory foreign trade company.

“What was stolen from the caravan? Did you find out?” Ron asked again.

“It has been found out. Allegedly, it is a set of valuable bonds!”

“Are these the bonds that the St. Hilde Family recently issued?”

“Exactly.”

“Hehe.” Ron gave a faint smile, “It seems that they didn’t tell the truth when they reported it.”

When the caravan reported to the security office this morning, they only said some gold coins and important documents were lost.

“The caravan probably didn’t dare to tell the truth. After all, the value of the bonds is immense. Even Capen has been alarmed and is personally investigating it.” Jason confidently explained.

The loose organisation of the Alfalfa Brother’s Club lacked the ability to keep information confidential. The moment Capen told Orlando about this, the news immediately leaked out.

Ron stayed silent, pacing back and forth in the room.

He suddenly felt that the matter might not be as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Why did the North Wind Business Association bring such valuable bonds to Alfalfa City?

Who are they trading with?

The reason Capen is so tense, is it because the enormous value of the bonds enticed him, or is someone backing him up from the East?

Of course, the most important thing is: what impact will this have on Alfalfa City?

Seeing that Ron didn’t speak, Jason felt a bit anxious and took the initiative to ask: “Father, what should we do?”

Ron pondered for a while and then said, “You go straight to the Red Maple Manor now and inform Count Angler about this matter.”

Jason scratched the back of his head and hesitated: “Father, didn’t you say we should tolerate these merchants from the North smuggling into Alfalfa City? Why do we want to take the initiative to alert Count Angler now?”

“Because… there’s something wrong with the North Wind Business Association!” Ron said in a deep voice, “Don’t ask any more questions. You go now!”

“Yes!” Jason had to suppress the doubts in his heart, and walked out.