Chapter 768: I am your grandfather
"Huh?" Vincent questioned before turning his head.
In front of his eyes were Luciano and Vlad, walking beside each other.
The soldiers looked at the two walking in a straight line. Behind them was a royal soldier. His presence was enough to let the soldiers and vice-captains know the two men were influential, and there was no need to interfere.
The closer the three men approached, the more Vincent started to think. He wondered why both men made their appearance and why they were approaching as if they had something to say.
The old man Luciano was a man full of mystery to them, while Vlad was an ancient man that had a neutral relationship hanging by a fine thread with them. Vincent believed Vlad could turn into an enemy, depending on his mood.
Ester looked at Vincent after she heard him utter, 'Huh?' As she moved her head, she noticed Vlad approaching them. Her heart started racing anxiously.
Ester noticed Luciano looking at her. His lips were forming a friendly smile on his face.
The moment Ester saw Luciano, she started to wonder why Vlad was not making her feel intimidated and anxious as much as before.
Ester could not understand why she had the hunch that the old man Luciano was going to protect her if Vlad changed his thoughts about not attacking them.
Ester wanted to question Luciano about his real identity, but she also knew now was not the time. Regardless, she decided to request some of Luciano's time to ask about his real identity and about Elsie.
"Look who decided to visit us. I didn't think my father would come here. Not after almost all of the first vampire generation do not like a lot of attention." Mimi casually commented while looking at her father approaching them.
The commentator and Darwin looked in Luciano and Vlad's direction. Their expression said it all. They knew one or both of them.
"Why is the guild master of the adventurers guild approaching us?" Darwin questioned.
"Why is the famous Sage of Berlucia approaching us?" The commentator questioned before hearing Darwin reveal the identity of a guild master.
Lilith became astonished to learn about Luciano. As a noble, she knew about him the most.
Lilith became confused as to why such a prominent figure, who is currently ranked first in command after the death of the king of Berlucia, was approaching them.
"Ahem. Good thing I have left the gemstone off." The commentator said while looking at the unlit gemstone in his hand to confirm. "The Sage of Berlucia is enough to turn heads. The reveal of the secretive identity of a guild master would most definitely make waves of news."
Vlad glared at the commentator as if he was annoyed by his presence, while Luciano kept smiling friendly as if he was unbothered to have all of the audience know about who he was.
Vincent, Ester, Kazumi, Lilith, and Sofy were at a loss for words after learning about Luciano's real identity.
This information allowed Vincent, Ester, and Kazumi to understand why the old man Luciano could sit in the royal area without being removed or arrested. Not only that but the reason why he acted comfortably next to the king of Lusterfall.
On the other hand, Iris didn't know much about the Sage of Berlucia as human politics was one of the subjects she was not interested in. Similarly, Mirey acted like she didn't care, while Awa did not know anything about the subject of human nobility.
Unlike the three women, Mimi had met with so many powerful individuals that she considered Luciano to be one of them.
"Ho ho. How nice to see the team I was rooting for win a flawless victory." Luciano said while moving his gaze to see all those who had gathered.
*Tsk* "You took your time beating some disgusting humans before they became even more disgusting. I told you many times this week that you need more training instead of playing house. Now you know I was right." Vlad grumpily said with his arms crossed and looking at Mimi.
"Hehe. I do not think I am the only one playing house here." Mimi joked. "Father. You could have gone training or looked for traces of disgusting blood instead of visiting to see my wedding or see me fight..."
*Tsk* Vlad interrupted with a loud click of his tongue. He didn't appear to be happy after his daughter told him he was also spending time with family instead of working.
"Do not mock me. I was searching for potential threats since many humans gathered. I also smelled a faint foul stench in this city. It was similar to the stench I smelled in the forest and the big animals with disgusting blood I hunted." Vlad said while moving his head to look at the soldiers moving the bodies.
*Tsk* "I do not like the idea of a descendent of the vampire race living in the midst of humans who are collaborating with those who are stooping so low as using test subjects with disgusting blood." Vlad moved his head and looked at Vincent. "I wonder from where they could acquire disgusting blood and turn it more disgusting."
"I also want to find out. " Vincent responded with a determined gaze. Hearing Vlad poking for an answer he did not have made Vincent stop being shocked by Luciano's identity reveal.
Vincent clenched his fist while wondering if the inhabitants of this world had gotten ahold of a body, a part, or some blood of the previous six people summoned to this world.
All of them were all infected by the mysterious mutation. However, the blood should have been green or red instead of yellow. This was a puzzle Vincent and Kazumi had yet to figure out.
[I want to find out how the people doing these inhumane experiments can store mutated blood without evaporating.]
[I am quite interested in uncovering this mystery. Vlad and Mimi provided us with enough information to conclude that the yellow blood has a different and more potent smell than yours.]
-Yeah. I could also feel the mutated blood was not like mine... now I hope we can uncover everything one day.-
"Ho ho. I think it is better to change the subject." Luciano looked at Vincent, Ester, Mimi, and Awa. He looked down and saw Lupa sleeping like a baby.
"I apologize for hiding my identity. I am Duke Luciano Di Mauro." Luciano looked at Ester. With a warm smile on his face, he told Ester, "I am the father of your stepfather. You can call me grandfather without the noble title."
Everyone remained silent after the second big reveal, and they were at a loss for words once again.
Instead of words, everyones' faces, apart from Vlad's, showed two emotions. Some were astonished by the big reveal, while others were happy for Ester to have found a living relative.
[This makes much more sense. Yet it also raises many more questions. Like how could Ester's step-grandfather have in his possession a sword similar to Elsir?]
Vincent nodded. He wondered how Luciano could tell the ordinary-looking short sword was special. Not to mention if he knew who Ester's real father was.
"Ho ho. But this isn't about me meeting my granddaughter with my real identity currently. I am here to see that the winners get their due rewards and see that the reward process ends without a hitch." Luciano stated.
The barrier was deactivated, and anyone could enter or attack from a distance. Luciano was going to protect them, unlike Vlad. No one knew if he would help if anything occurred.
"I am later going to see that those disgusting bodies remain dead. " Vlad said while glancing at the soldiers moving the bodies of the gladiators.
It appeared Vlad was only going to protect them by killing his enemies, but only if the Seers Of Rebirth were involved.
When Vlad stopped talking, Luciano extended his hand in front of Vincent. He turned his hand, and three potions appeared from the storage ring on his finger.
"These are for you. One is a high stamina potion, one is a high mana regeneration potion, and the other is a high healing potion."
Vincent's eyes opened wide from surprise. He didn't expect to be given such costly potions. Not when healers were going to tend to their wounds later and recover their stamina with a good night's rest.
Luciano looked at the sleeping Lupa. "Here. Take another set of potions for your sleeping wife." He said while handing three more potions to Vincent as if they were candy.
After Vincent received the six potions, Luciano went to Ester. He also gave her a high healing, high stamina, and high mana regen potions. Similarly, he gave Mimi and Awa the same three potions.
Lilith could not help but smile while watching Ester look happy, surprised, and confused at the same time while Luciano provided the potions to her.
'Ester never mentioned she had living relatives. I wonder if she forgot or if she was never told. Regardless, she looks pleased.' Lilith wondered with a warm smile on her face.
Iris stopped holding her pouch. She was ready to offer any kind of help she could offer, but now her help was no longer needed. Iris was slightly unhappy that it was not her who was helping.
*Gulp, gulp, gulp* Awa started drinking the potions before everyone else. She slowly gulped the potions while savoring the taste and the texture of each potion.
Awa had the habit of consuming every drop, if possible. Furthermore, her hobby, combined with her new Alchemist class, made Awa want to understand the potions better.