Chapter 45: Women Only Affect the Speed at Which I Draw My Sword
As the night grew darker, Harriman Manor glowed with lights, with its grand crystal chandeliers shining brightly, embellishing the estate's beauty.
Luxurious villas stood among them like pearls.
In the pink villa's hall, Diana played with a pink crystal bottle in her hand and casually asked, "What's the situation with Charlotte these days?"
The black-clad young man who was waiting nearby quickly answered, "There have been no other developments in the past couple of days. However, we received news today that Carol is looking for him."
"Carol is looking for him?" Diana paused, showing a hint of curiosity. "What does she want with him? Is she trying to recruit him?"
"It seems... she wants to kill him."
"Kill the person I've taken a liking to?" Diana's seductive eyes narrowed with killing intent. "Could it be that she knows I intend to groom him and wants to snuff him out before he grows?"
"The other party's intentions are still unclear, but our informant within the Jason family is investigating..." The black-clad man spoke, and a short bird chirp sounded outside.
The black-clad man walked quickly to the window and raised his hand. A crow landed on his hand, with a small bamboo tube tied to its leg.
He untied the bamboo tube and emptied a small note. After quickly scanning it, the black-clad man's expression changed slightly. "Miss, Carol's people have found Charlotte's whereabouts. They plan to take action tonight."
"You take some people over. Whoever dares to cause trouble on Baca Street tonight will leave in a horizontal position." Diana's voice turned icy, filled with murderous intent.
"Yes!" The black-clad man left quickly.
"Heh, he's the man I've set my sights on. He'll be the most profitable money tree on Baca Street from now on. Whoever dares to touch him, I'll deal with them." Diana shook the vial in her hand, and the pink liquid seemed to take on an eerie quality.
...
In a dim alley, several tall orc figures lurked.
"Our target tonight is the small clinic on Baca Street. Once it's dark, we'll rush in and kill everything that moves. Then we'll bring back their heads as proof. Lord Carol said that free access to the magic elixir will be granted for the next half month!" The ferocious two-headed dog orc spoke in unison, saliva dripping from its mouth as its excitement grew.
"Kill! Kill! Magic elixir! Magic elixir!"
A dozen orcs in the alley shouted excitedly, like hunting dogs that had already spotted their prey.
Just as two petty thieves were about to turn into the alley to divide their loot, they were immediately frightened by the scene and ran away as fast as they could.
"Don't rush. We'll act once it's completely dark!" The two-headed dog raised its hands and grinned.
...
A delicious piece of wild boar meat temporarily made Vivian forget her troubles. She closed her eyes and recalled some pleasant memories.
When she was little, she loved sitting on her father's shoulders. Her father was so tall and sturdy that she could see the distant scenery from up there.
Her mother was young and elegant at that time, with occasional liveliness. For example, secretly taking her out of the house through the back door to visit the flower market...
When she opened her eyes, a stream of clear tears slid down her cheeks.
"Is it that delicious?" Charlotte looked at her and picked up another piece of meat for her. "Take your time, there's plenty of meat."
"Mum." Vivian nodded, mustered a smile, and lowered her head to continue eating the meat.
Charlotte also picked up a piece of meat and took a bite. The cooking was well done, as they lacked seasonings, preserving the wild boar's natural flavor to the fullest. The meat fragrance was much richer compared to ordinary domestic pigs, giving it a unique taste.
The dried bamboo shoots were the finishing touch. Absorbing the flavorful meat broth, the bamboo shoots were crispy with a satisfying chew, providing an excellent texture and flavor. It was a perfect dish to accompany rice.
The two of them, along with the cat, gathered around a large pot of pork and bamboo shoot stew and managed to eat until the pot was empty.
Charlotte let out a satisfied burp, picked up a freshly sharpened bamboo stick to clean his teeth, and looked at the nearly empty pot of food, startled by his appetite.
At least two-thirds of it had gone into his belly.
Perhaps it was related to the two bottles of potion he had just consumed, giving him an increase of 400 kilograms of strength?
This earthen stove was a successful step in his clinic's transformation. It was easy to use, and from now on, he wouldn't have to force his stomach to endure the world's unappetizing food.
"I'll wash the dishes!" Vivian stood up to collect the bowls.
Charlotte walked to the window and looked outside. The abyssal sky was devoid of any light, enveloped in darkness.
For some reason, he felt a sense of unease in his heart, as if something was about to happen tonight.
Just then, in the pitch-black street, within the mist, two red lights suddenly lit up and quickly moved toward the direction of the clinic. Soon, more and more red lights appeared, numbering around ten pairs.
The ground trembled slightly, and the sound of hurried and heavy footsteps grew closer.
"Damn! They mean business!" Charlotte raised an eyebrow, turned around, grabbed the Judgment Sword leaning against the door, and stared gravely at the group approaching the clinic.
Their figures were obscured by the mist, but judging from their unnaturally glowing eyes, they were likely orcs.
Judging by the commotion, it was probably Carol's people coming for him.
"Boss..." Vivian also noticed the unusual activity and became nervous when she saw Charlotte's serious expression.
Charlotte whispered, "Take Anna and hide in the attic. They're here for me. If I can't hold them off, don't make a sound and leave this place at dawn."
"But..."
"Women only affect the speed at which I draw my sword."
Vivian hesitated, but in the end, she picked up Anna and walked towards the room next door that led to the attic.
As the boss said, she was only capable of healing magic. She would only be a burden during a fight.
Charlotte checked the magic runes hidden in the sleeves of his left and right hands, ensuring they were ready to be activated at any moment. He then wrapped the Judgment Sword in cloth, preparing for a surprise attack.
His swordsmanship was not yet at its peak, so he could only hope for an opportunity to ambush his opponents when they let their guard down.
But judging from the commotion, he had already lost hope.
The other side showed no sense of martial ethics. They had sent over a dozen orcs to deal with him, a magic-origin waste.
Orcs were known for their tough skin and formidable strength, often possessing innate talents for both strength and speed. Those eyes emitting a red glow probably indicated their night vision ability, making them even more challenging to deal with.
Charlotte glanced in the direction of the back wall, considering escaping by climbing over it.
But once he left the clinic, where could he go?
In the abyss of the night, there were all sorts of monsters and creatures roaming around, none of them easier to deal with than those dozen orcs outside.
While Charlotte was contemplating, the group had already arrived at the front of the clinic.
Utilizing the lantern hanging at the clinic's entrance, Charlotte saw the appearance of the leading orc.
It was a two-headed dog orc standing over two meters tall, with a large and fierce black dog head. Its sharp teeth gleamed with a chilling light as it wielded an elongated stone axe and swung it toward the clinic's door.
"An upgraded version of the dog head?" Charlotte was greatly shocked, silently tightening his grip on the Judgment Sword.