The Duke's Passion

Chapter 621  Losing his composure

Two weeks had gone by since Claude was welcomed in the guild as Third. For the past two weeks, Claude simply did menial chores and drank with everyone during the night. Although there were only a few times in a week where everyone would gather and close the pub from clients, Claude was getting used to this new routine. "Penny, you look a little happy tonight." He pointed out, gazing at Penny from across the table. He had his arms against the edge of the table, glancing at everyone around the square table. "Haha! There's only one reason for Leader to be happy!" Gai draped his arm around Claude's neck, standing from beside his chair with booze in his hand. Claude frowned, eyes on Penny, who was hissing after chugging down a glass of booze. "Three weeks." She raised three fingers in front of her. "In three weeks, I will fucking break that bastard's neck."

His eyes dilated slightly. "You mean...?"

"Uh-huh!" Penny sported a smug grin, gazing at everyone around the table. "Our years of hard work are finally paying off!"

Claude watched Penny plant her palms on the surface of the wooden table as she stood. All he could do was stare at her as she stood in her chair, hollering to gather everyone's attention. "Everyone!" Penny clapped until the lively noises subsided. "Spare your father a few seconds of your time!" She cleared her throat, face flushed in red from the alcohol, but everyone still listened to her request. When everyone's attention was on her, the side of her lips stretched from ear to ear.

"I received news about the Nightwalkers' trade that will happen in three weeks. On the border between Monarey and La Lona, in that abandoned wilderness, there will be a huge trade. I received a tip of the exact location and the hideout of those damn murderers who took the lives of our beloved." Penny's eyes glinted in anticipation, just like everyone else. "With that being said, in the next three weeks, we will prepare to ambush them. A life for a life, an eye for an eye. I want everyone to prepare because, in three weeks, it will be a war!"

Everyone's loud cheers resonated across the entire pub, yelling their leader's name. They were like depraved soldiers hungry for a kill. Meanwhile, the only one who had a different reaction was Claude. He knew this guild had the best method and had tons of resources to get information. So it was no surprise that Penny got a hold of this information before the earl's intelligence. But that wasn't his concern. What concerned him was... there was this unsettling feeling lingering in his heart. In the past two weeks, Claude was also busy investigating in his own way, on top of being a member of the guild. Klaus would also frequently see him, reporting about the progress of the organization they were hunting down. The said organization was evasive and discreet, but with the eagerness of the Earl's forces, they found some lead. And... had the vague idea of the power of this criminal organization lurking in the dark. Nightwalkers. That was what the organization called itself. Apparently, they originated from the ruined Spade kingdom. A genius king who was driven into madness for seeking to be a god once led those people.

In other words, Claude knew this force wasn't just all being discreet. There was even more than that. They were the late Zero's devoted followers. There was no confirmation yet, but as a person who had met Zero in the past, the earl was now taking them more seriously. 'How can you people say it's war...?' he wondered, balling his hand into a fist. 'If the earl had to rack his brain just to deal with such troublesome lads... why are you all so excited about?'

Claude hung his head low while containing his anger. This should also be good news to him since he could use this information to get there ahead of time. However, these people... these people who treated him kindly without expecting anything in return were all so foolish. Not questioning his identity was one thing. And he could just help them behind the scenes as the earl. But, when this was all over, these people would have to leave Monarey. If they were this foolish, how would they survive?

"Third, are you alright?" he snapped his eyes, gazing to his side only to see Betty, the little girl, standing beside his chair. "You look a bit rattled."

Betty was only an eight-year-old girl. She was abandoned in the street in the place the guild lived a few years back. Thanks to Penny, who took her in, Betty didn't die in the cold street with nothing but her ragged clothes and an empty stomach.

  "Betty, Third is probably scared!" Penny humored as she slumped on the wooden chair, laughing heartily. "Don't worry. I won't send you out to your death."

Her remarks were like a clap in his ear, gazing up at her with blank eyes. "You won't send me out to my death, but you will send everyone else?"

"Huh?"

"Penny, how can you say it's 'war' so easily? Do you know that in a war, people die?" His voice shook just like his fist, making everyone around him shut into silence. The silence soon wrapped around the entire pub, attention shifting to Claude.

"Hey, hey, Third. You have to calm down, brother." Gai waved awkwardly, a bit shocked to see the always composed Claude lose his composure. Meanwhile, Penny raised her head when Claude stood up from his seat. "Didn't you say everyone in here is your family? How can a father... send his children to their deaths?" His eyes glinted, sharp glare directly at this woman who was posing as everyone's father — when, in fact, she was just a girl. "You're no father if you are simply driving your sons to their impending doom. I can't believe I considered your actions admirable when you're no different from others. Using their children as pawns. Tch. What a joke." After voicing out his dismay and disappointment, Claude huffed and looked at everyone. He clicked his tongue and walked out, ignoring the eyes that were following his figure.