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Chapter 120: Dark Luxury
🕑 Added 2025-01-11 04:37:22 +0000 UTCThe extraordinary artifacts in Charlot Mecklenburg's possession were nothing short of remarkable. His vampiric axe and the Blood Rose required no introduction—both were vampiric weapons crafted beyond the reach of human artisanship. The Anti-Space Long-Range Rifle, the two Firequell Silver Rhinos, and even the extraordinary dagger he had wrested from the first assassin were all classic creations of Classical Alchemy.
However, the Mask of the Cat was no alchemical creation. It was a genuine magical artifact.
Charlot rarely used this extraordinary item.
The knight’s lance he now considered, though seemingly ordinary with its two attributes—superior durability and armor-piercing—possessed a unique trait: its wielder could summon a magic spirit steed! These spirit steeds were not creatures native to the Old Continent. Living in another realm, they became unparalleled mounts on the battlefield when summoned—fearless chargers that rarely tired.
Pointing decisively, Charlot asked, "Where is this knight's lance stored?"
The trembling housekeeper, Dart, hesitated before replying in a low voice, "It was taken by the baron."
Charlot recalled the battlefield but did not remember seeing the lance. He mused, "The rough knight who killed the baron was merely using an ordinary lance. So where did the baron's extraordinary knight's lance go?"
He immediately sent someone to interrogate Lady Nancella, the captured noblewoman. The answer came quickly: the rough knight had seized six of Baron Feller's extraordinary weapons and sent them all back to Byron.
Charlot couldn’t help but think, "That man’s death was well deserved."
Who wins spoils on a battlefield and sends them away to Byron instead of keeping them? What kind of mindset was this? Then again, it was no surprise, considering the man was a blood butcher.
A blood butcher was technically a kind of knight, but unlike traditional knights, their power seeds were bestowed upon them by their "masters."
Blood butchers could hone every part of their body into a weapon. Their muscles and bones hardened to near steel-like toughness, granting them superior endurance compared to knights of the same rank. However, they were not invincible, and their immense stamina came at the cost of their life essence.
In other words, a blood butcher was nothing more than a dog of the vampires, never considered a person.
This was the case both in Fars and in Byron.
There was little to say about this rough knight beyond acknowledging his aptitude for servitude.
Charlot examined the five extraordinary artifacts one by one. Baron Feller had naturally brought his most prized possessions to the battlefield. Each of the six extraordinary items filled Charlot with greed, yet all had been lost to the battlefield and sent away by the blood butcher to Byron before Charlot could reclaim them.
He moved on to the remaining thirty-nine extraordinary artifacts in the collection. This time, he bypassed the weapons and set his sights on an extraordinary carriage.
Charlot’s immediate priority was how to transport the baron’s wealth away without arousing suspicion. This carriage met his urgent need perfectly.
The carriage was another creation of Classical Alchemy, crafted to appear as a simple ring when unused. Upon activation, it transformed into a black carriage drawn by eight magic spirit steeds.
According to the collector’s catalog, this Magic Spirit Carriage was crafted over a century ago by the legendary Saint Alchemist Stardust. He had made thirteen such carriages, collectively known as Dark Luxury.
Dark Luxury more than lived up to its name. It was not only a symbol of opulence but also one of the fastest carriages on the Old Continent.
Upon its debut, Dark Luxury was sought after by nobles across the continent. If not for its black color scheme, which clashed with the aesthetic traditions of royal families, it would have become a staple of royal courts. Even dukes and counts found it difficult to acquire one, much less a baron.
Baron Feller had spent an exorbitant sum to acquire his Dark Luxury carriage, paying a staggering 3,600 gold écus—a price few vehicles could rival, even on Earth.
Charlot inquired about the carriage, and Dart quickly replied, “The Dark Luxury was taken by the baroness today. It’s not in Dove Castle.”
Only now did Charlot realize that among the six carriages he had captured today, one must have been extraordinary. He silently cursed himself, "How could I have missed that?"
Charlot quickly investigated and discovered that all six carriages had been brought back from the camp and were now in Dove Castle.
Relieved, Charlot shifted his focus to the rest of the collection. He was dismayed to learn that three other items had been loaned out by the baron. Though deeply regretful, he acknowledged that he lacked the authority to demand their return and chose to let the matter rest. He then turned his attention to the castle’s cash reserves.
Dart, ever diligent, reported, “Dove Castle’s liquid funds are always limited. The baron spent lavishly on art collections, rare items, and extraordinary artifacts. The baroness hosted extravagant banquets and purchased luxury goods and funded frequent travels. Currently, there are less than 10,000 gold écus in cash. Including the gold stored elsewhere, the total amounts to 56,000 gold écus.”
Hearing this, Charlot was both distressed and infuriated. How could a baron have so little money? Especially when most of it had been squandered on useless art, frivolous banquets, and meaningless luxury?
“That was my money!” he fumed internally. “This couple has squandered my wealth...”
However, upon learning of the additional 56,000 gold écus, Charlot's mood brightened. “That’s several small goals achieved!” he thought gleefully.
Still, the challenge remained: gold écus were heavy. Alone, he would struggle to carry them all.
“If I move the gold to Machubi, no one will ever find it,” he mused, already planning his next steps.
Charlot was still engrossed in calculating his “fortunes” when Dubin Alger burst in, shouting, “Something’s wrong! Lady Nancella’s army has arrived at the castle gates. We must prepare to meet the enemy!”
Charlot was taken aback and immediately asked, “How many?”
Dubin’s reply shattered Charlot’s plans. “Around ten thousand. These aren’t peasant levies—they’re the main force of the South Seraph restorationists.”
Charlot, momentarily flustered, asked, “Wasn’t their main force fighting Grand Duke Ferdinand? How did they end up here at Dove Castle?”
Dubin could only shrug, unable to explain why the South Seraph restorationists’ main army had appeared at Dove Castle.
Dolores Soumet interjected, “We should rally our troops and meet the enemy outside the castle.”
Charlot glanced at Dolores and Dubin, his thoughts darkening. “Are you both out of your minds? With the castle’s defenses and the West Wind Knights being a rabble, why should I risk an open battle? Holding the castle is our best chance of survival.”
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