BLOODY LOVE'S
Episode 217's

“We've been down the river, no bodies of any kind were found,” Robert started when Marco had already met them in the study. They stood around a wooden crate containing a shipment of weapons from Greyland.

Rolan had already explained to him what Marco wanted to do and what happened last night, and although Robert felt the plan to kill with a gun was useless, there was no better idea he could make. His two hands were clinging behind his back, creeping agitatedly at each other. The resignation paper has been bagged, ready to be handed over to the center.

“Ten people have experienced trauma and injuries," he continued. "People reported they saw a ray of light from the direction of the river. Bodies were thrown there by the Argentites and disappeared in the light. Everybody's talking about it now. These few days there is no fog in the South, they think this is all related.”

“In a relationship, and you know it,” said Marco coldly, observing the way Mr. Stuart gave an example using that weapon. He knew how to use firearms, but had never used a semi-automatic model. The one circulating in Albion recently is still a classic model. “Lady Chantall will take care that this undead matter is connected with Scholomance. Of course, an explanation of the fog will also be revealed. Today go to Ashington Castle and arrest everyone there. We will end this mystery and close it as an uproar created by a heretical sect.” His eyes looked at Robert's face. “What's the problem?”

Robert shakes. “This will be the last thing I do for you,” he said heavily. He took the paper out of his pocket and handed it to Marco. “I will resign after all this is done and move to Sivas. We will start a new life there; me and Helga.”

“Oh? If this is your wish, I will not prevent.” Marco watched Robert for longer. “You sure there's nothing more you want to tell me?”

“About what?” reply the inspector without seeing anyone. He busied himself observing the contents of the chest. Mustache twitching. “You want me to give you a farewell speech?”

“Rather than a speech, I would rather explain the arrival of these living corpses.” Marco finished reading Robert's resignation letter, folded it back neatly, and returned it. "According to Jose, this corpse was made by Sir William, so it's not a golem."

"No, no" said Rolan and Robert.

"This body was not made by the Scholomance sect but by the solomonari himself, Sir William," Rolan said. "It's exactly like Gladys. And they were made to deal with me and Jose, because he couldn't go South. I told you how the devil approached me, right? It was the devil that dried up the corpses that have been our mystery all along. Not a vampire." He shuddered. "He's worse than a vampire. At least vampires suck blood because they need human vitamin D, to be able to stay alive. The devil was sucking blood for pleasure, I saw in his eyes."

Despite having heard the story about the demon many times from Rolan, it was still difficult for them to understand what had really happened. Even Rolan felt that this was completely insane. Marco himself accepted that explanation because he had seen and faced the golem that Scholomance made himself.

"And speaking of Sir William" Mr. Stuart broke the silence, "I got word he left Bjork yesterday, around lunchtime. He went to Aston and is now on his way back to Bjork. This is our chance to execute the plan. At the most, he'll be there tonight. Grab him when he comes back. Do it at Bjork's limit so it won't involve civilians."

Marco agreed. The main border of Bjork is a stretch of grassland that covers five hectares. There were no trees to shelter or hide, but they could ambush from afar as long as they were careful. The night will hide them.

"My guy at Aston did report it, too. By the way, Charles and Spencer are already taken care of by Jake and Edgar." He caught a fleeting change in Robert's facial expression when Jacob's name was mentioned. "Greyland will help us from Aston, so we'll flank him like a sandwich once he gets to the border. Destroy him before the eclipse. Our only chance is tomorrow this Thursday, starting later tonight."

Tension rose in the room. All nodded, giving mutters in agreement.

"You're gonna need a police patrol?" Robert asked.

"Yes, but not for an ambush. Keep them all over the city. Equip them with weapons. Their job is to look after the civilians in Bjork. For an ambush on the savanna will be taken care of by me and Greyland." Marco looked at Rolan. "Lavender and his dandelion?"

"So it's easier to get the whole town to put up the flowers after last night" Rolan said. "Lady Chantall takes care of the spread of her infantry, the public will storm our flowers like hungry animals as soon as possible. We simply provide the supply—which is ready."

All who heard were satisfied.

"First, we're gonna use an anesthetic rifle." Marco tapped on the wooden crate with the tip of his fingernail, scraping it to the side. "If he gets dropped, we'll shoot him in turns. I'll split the troops into multiple layer units. Once one layer finished firing, they would immediately retreat to fill the bullets and be replaced by a second layer, and so on. We'll keep doing it while we take him to the river. Drown him, let Jose try to see if the miracle he did to the bodies would be applicable to Sir William."

That idea sounds good, but Robert felt there was one mistake. "What if he can't be drugged? What if he doesn't fall even if he's shot?"

"I planned this based on empirical data" Marco said calmly. "Jose shot him and he could fall. Even if he's not dead, at least he can be temporarily incapacitated until we get to the river."

"You forgot about the devil" said Rolan. He himself remembered that part. "When Sir William fell, the devil kept moving."

"It's a problem" Marco admitted. "We will rely on lavender and pure salt. Garnet gets a clue that salt can drive out the demons that come to her."

"You sure it'll work?" Robert was doubtful.

"It makes no difference whether I'm sure or not." Marco laughing. "If this doesn't work, then there's nothing more we can do. There is not enough time and no other plans. It's our bet."

"How about temporarily, move the people to the South?" rolan. "Sir William could not get near that place. At least we can save half Bjork if we hurry."

"And do you think walking up to Sir William all the way won't make them noisier?"

"They'll be noisier, for sure," Marco spun a little to answer Robert. "They will wonder, most likely will panic. But they'll keep looking at those weapons, and they won't do anything. People will remain silent as long as they are threatened, not themselves. They'll just watch, and maybe gossip. The impact we are causing will be much smaller than if we asked them to flock to the South. After this, Hubbert and Jeanne will cover up what happened easily."

"Jeanne?" repeat Mr. Stuart and Rolan astonished.

"Lady Chantall," Marco's correction.

Robert, for the first time since coming to the manor, grinned amusedly. "You called her little name. That means he finally managed to conquer you?"

"Finally?"

"Come on Marc," Rolan chuckled. "Everyone knows for a long time that he's crazy about you. Everyone can see it from the way he drives away and glares at every woman who comes near you. It's just, he's always denying while you're insensitive."

"When's the wedding?" Robert asked in a very serious tone that was clearly made up. "You'd better do it by tomorrow at the latest, before Sir William returns, just in case our plan fails and the whole Bjork goes to the ground."

"Congratulations!" Mr. Stuart chuckled. "I was invited too, right?"

"Would you wear a white or black suit? I can take care of it." Rolan rubbed his palms vigorously. "Unfortunately, Catholic marriage takes a very long process. Not going to hunt. But you can just sign up for civil records. Or we sail for a while, the ship's captain can get you married tonight."

"That's great," said Marco flatly. "I'm glad my personal life can lift your spirits. My work will prepare weapons for your army, Rob. George will take you later. You can take your family members to the South, but do it in secret, don't let anyone know so as not to make Bjork fret."

Robert still chuckled, slightly comforted to realize the man was just an ordinary man who could turn himself in to women. "You didn't tell the church about the problem with these demons?"

"They will even block the flow of other forces in Bjork" Marco said. He looked around, realizing the three men in the room were staring at him in astonishment. "Not me," he explained amusedly. "That's what Jose said. He insisted and I had no reason to reject his opinion."

"What do you think?" Mr. Stuart is interested.

"In his opinion, God is a unity of system, at its core is something Esa is not Eka" Marco replied. He remembered every detail of the words his nephew had spoken. "Although, these religions and ways of leading to the divine have had considerable effect on the stability of the earth-moving system; sort of choosing which floodgates we open for irrigation. If we open everything, it will actually cause damage, and it will not be effective. The floodgates were religion, belief, and such. Because in older Bjork is an old religion on the mountain, we should focus on it. Arguably, it was the sluice with the strongest foundation in Bjork."

"And you believe that?" asked Robert astonished.

"I believe in my family's consideration" Marco said, moving away from the crate to open the door—a sign that their conversation was over. "Regarding the mumbo-jumbo of religion and god or god? There is no point in me choosing to believe or not to believe. In the end, only the facts and laws of nature determine, not them. You want to believe the law of gravity or not, in fact gravity does exist, and our beliefs do not affect its existence. Facts have nothing to do with trust, and that's my guideline."

Robert simply clucked and shook his head, moving his hand towards the man. "Your arrogance is the reason why you're the prime proud victim."

"It's good because with me as the main key, things are easier and more efficient." Marco chuckled crisply. "Imagine if the key is someone else."

No one denies that statement.

***

×Note×

¬Empiris: knowledge gained based on experience/observation/experiment.

¬Esa: unity, Eka: One

¬Berkelindan: braided/related into one

¬Catholic marriages must be reported first to be recorded and announced to many stationary churches (so that if there are objections/obstacles can inform the church) for three weeks before the wedding. The captain of the ship itself is actually not legally able to marry people, only considered so because on a ship that sails in the ocean, the, the captain is in the highest hierarchy so is considered to have authority over everything that happens on the ship and is considered entitled to also act as judge, notary, pengulu, and so on.