Anna's heart tightened.
Yet when she saw that the dozen or so Enforcement Squad members merely stood in rigid formation—neither drawing their scythes nor spreading out to seal the area—her wildly pounding heart settled, if only slightly.
At least… the blade was not yet at her throat.
Suppressing the dryness in her throat, she forced out a passable expression—one befitting a disciple of the station's overseer—and stepped forward to greet them.
The squad parted in two neat rows with practiced precision, opening a path down the center.
From behind them, a man strode forward at an unhurried pace. His steps were steady, carrying the restrained yet unmistakable pressure of someone newly risen to power.
Anna slowly raised her eyes.
The first thing she noticed was the deep violet thorn-and-wave emblem on his robe—far darker and more oppressive than the silver-thread insignia worn by ordinary squad members. It marked a rank of no small authority within the Hall.
Then her gaze reached his face.
At that single glance, her blood seemed to freeze—only to surge violently back an instant later, roaring in her ears.
That face…
That face from a year ago—before the Inner Sect selection—when he had sparred with her in private, wearing a mask of false apology as he struck her blood core and left it cracked beyond repair.
"…Voss? Why are you here?!"
The question slipped out before she could stop it, laden with shock—and the sting of old pain.
"Impudent! How dare you address a Baron by name!"
A nearby squad member barked sharply, his hand already moving toward the weapon at his waist.
"Enough."
Voss raised a hand, lightly halting his subordinate.
His gaze rested on Anna's pale, stunned face. A faint, amused smile curled at his lips.
"Oh… Anna. It's been a while."
Anna stared at him, nails digging deep into her palms.
It was him. The very man who had destroyed her last chance of entering the Inner Sect—her future, her light.
How was he here? Wearing the robes of the Enforcement Hall?
How long had it even been?
"But," Voss continued leisurely, straightening his sleeve as if savoring her reaction, "you should address me as—Baron Voss now."
Baron?!
Anna's expression shifted abruptly.
"Baron… Voss? You… advanced?"
"No, no." Voss shook his head, clearly enjoying the flicker of relief that crossed her face.
Then, like a serpent striking—
"Not just Baron. By the Sect's grace, I have formally entered the Inner Sect… and currently serve as Deputy Captain of the Enforcement Patrol."
Inner Sect. Deputy Captain.
Each word struck like an icy needle, piercing straight into Anna's heart.
The color drained completely from her face.
Her enemy had not only surpassed her in cultivation—but had ascended in a single leap to a position she had once dreamed of… a position she had never even dared to hope for.
Voss took in every trace of pain, resentment, and unwillingness on her face. Satisfied, he smiled faintly before finally turning to the matter at hand.
"I see," Anna said through clenched teeth, forcing her tone steady. "Then Baron Voss has come all this way… just to display these 'achievements' to me?"
She emphasized the word achievements, trying to claw back even a shred of initiative.
At the same time, a quiet relief stirred within her.
So… this wasn't about the Black Baron.
"Anna, you wrong me," Voss sighed, shaking his head as though truly aggrieved. "With the current disaster, Viscount Goldrich is deeply concerned for the people. He has ordered us to inspect each outpost… to ensure the relief supplies are being distributed properly—and in full—to those who need them."
His gaze swept across the courtyard, lingering meaningfully on the unevenly thick porridge.
Anna almost laughed.
Viscount Goldrich?
Concerned for the people?
The records of profit-sharing in those letters were still vivid in her mind.
This… was not the real reason for his visit.
But she lowered her head, concealing the mockery in her eyes.
"Rest assured, Baron. Everything here is as it should be."
"Mm." Voss nodded, his gaze wandering casually around the courtyard. "By the way… where is the Black Baron? This is his outpost. For an inspection like this, I should speak with him directly."
Here it comes.
Anna's heart clenched violently, as if seized by an invisible hand.
But after the life-and-death struggle of last night—and the clarity of this morning—a near-instinctive mask slid over her panic.
She looked up, her expression shifting into one of subtle understanding, tinged with helplessness.
"Baron, you may not know," she said, lowering her voice naturally. "The disaster has been severe. Some of the weaker children don't even have the strength to make it here. My master… the Black Baron… has personally gone out to provide 'assistance.'"
She let a faint, suggestive note linger on the words personally and assistance.
Voss paused for a moment, then seemed to recall certain rumors about the man. A strange expression flickered across his face, followed by a faintly mocking smile.
"At his age? With his time nearly up… he still has that kind of… enthusiasm?"
"Perhaps," Anna shrugged lightly, "the older one gets, the more one values time—and is reluctant to let it go."
Then she added smoothly, "Is it urgent, Baron? Once he begins… his 'work,' it may take quite some time."
Her words subtly implied that the Black Baron would not be returning anytime soon.
"Nothing urgent," Voss waved a hand dismissively. "Just routine instructions from Viscount Goldrich."
Then—
"Still, our inspection will take some time. Tonight, my squad will be staying here."
His next sentence sent a chill straight down Anna's spine.
"We'll have plenty of time… to wait for him to return."
Without another glance at her, he turned and led the squad away, their dark-blue figures moving toward another part of the outpost—presumably to continue their "inspection."
Only after they disappeared beyond the courtyard did Anna realize she was still standing there, unmoving.
Beneath her wide sleeves, her right hand had clenched into a fist so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
It trembled faintly, betraying the storm raging beneath her forced composure.
What now?
They're staying the night.
Waiting… for someone who will never return.
Where am I supposed to find a Black Baron for them?
The moment they discover he's missing—or worse, dead—the first person they'll suspect is me.
Should I strike first?
Against a fully established Baron… an Inner Sect member… and an entire Enforcement Squad?
With my barely restored blood core—and methods that can't be exposed?
Fear and chaos churned like storm-tossed waves in her mind, tangling and tearing at her thoughts.
"Shh—"
Van Helsing's voice cut in abruptly, laced with mild annoyance—and faint amusement. Like a needle, it pierced straight through the swelling panic.
"You're making so much noise in your head, I can't even think."
His tone was lazy, detached.
"What's there to panic about? The ship hasn't even hit the reef yet—and you're already trying to jump overboard?"
His words forced Anna to pause, if only for a moment, and gather her thoughts.
Then came his next line—low, almost casual.
And far colder than any comfort could ever be.
"Besides… no one's found out yet, have they?"
A brief pause.
"Why not just kill him first?"
…Well.
To be precise, Van Helsing added silently—
Not no one.
Just… not anyone except her little junior sister.