Caius didn’t get the chance to ask Lyanna her view on the Vampire Dungeon on the building’s higher floor. For one, to speak of such a sensitive matter in the Hall, where the ears of the Nobles were all too sharp to pick up on the conversation, was not at all prudent.

He would have opted for them to leave the Hall for a bit to have some privacy, but Duncan was sticking close, making that next to impossible.

A hush suddenly descended upon the Hall as squads of Militants trooped in, all in perfect formation. Their uniforms were similar to those of the City Guards, only differentiated by new additional dark colors to signify their separation from the Capital City’s main force.

This was the Task Force and they were not shy about releasing their magical energy. Whether to threaten or inspire confidence was really a matter of perspective: whether you were who they were after or not.

At least, that was the vibe Caius got from them.

Leonce Duval walked in after them, his expression serious but the air around him was one of calm as he addressed the crowd of Nobles.

"I trust you have all made merry. Because that time is now past. If any of you feel drunkenness taking hold of you, I advise you to sober up. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I require conscious minds now."

Alexia’s expression was unreadable as Leonce launched into his full address. It wasn’t because she was trying to be mysterious but rather, she was no longer sure what to make of the man.

She had put aside her jumbled emotions for the moment and in the clarity that followed, she was able to process what she had seen on the upper floor— The Vampire trapping and torture techniques that seemed so Von Helsing-like and yet found themselves in the hands and use of a man who was most certainly not a Von Helsing.

"It is not a secret that our dear Capital is in danger," Leonce Duval said in a steady voice that carried all over the Hall and sounded so heavy that it called all attention and held them,

"But even worse, the enemy is within. We’re not battling against external threats but rather those we have, in ignorance, called our own.

Yes all, the enemy could very well be next to you. Eating what you eat... drinking what you drink. All the while, thirsting for the blood that flows through your veins..."

"Is that what this is going to be?" A Noble said with a scoff, "You called us here to tell us a horror story."

Leonce Duval didn’t look annoyed to have been interrupted. He turned his eyes to the Noble who had interrupted him and his lips formed his first smile since he began this address.

"That’s exactly right," he said.

"What rubbish is this—?" The Noble started but it was Leonce’s truth to interrupt.

"It is important you know the gravity of the situation. I’ve noticed apathy toward the great cause for which this Task Force was formed. Many do not see the problem as urgent as it is.

Is it because, perhaps, you have yet to feel that fear... The fear of having their horrible fangs so close to your neck. The fear of having those horrid red eyes staring at you with thirst and delight that chills your very soul.

I think your presumed privilege and distance from the danger have made you all complacent."

Caius saw Elenor’s arms tremble. She had them folded beneath her breasts and was grabbing her forearms as hard as she possibly could.

Elenor hadn’t experienced the threat of a vampire herself but her daughter had. Caius wondered what horrors the child had described once she could speak again— what residual trauma the child was still experiencing for her mother to react so much to a talk of an experience she hadn’t had herself.

Caius furrowed his brow as he directed his eyes back at the cause of Elenor’s distress. Leonce Duval’s expression remained largely the same. He could tell his words were having their desired impact but didn’t revel in that success. His eyes only gained a sympathetic light.

And yet, as Caius eyed him, with nothing about Leonce’s expressions to betray an ulterior motive, he didn’t like him.

"Trying to use fear to drum up donations for your Task Force?" A Noble said barely keeping his voice from trembling.

"This is all so unnecessary," another said, "Many of us already came here with the desire to support you. The few outliers can be convinced without such theatrics."

"Donations?" Leonce said and laughed dryly, "I don’t need your donations. And your support isn’t requested, it is demanded. You either give it or you identify yourself as part of the enemy."

As Leonce said the last word, there were deep thud sounds as yet another squad of the Task Force Militants—even larger than the one standing with Leonce—trooped into the Hall, taking strategic positions.

Caius’s frown got deeper. It was clear that they were being kept locked up in the Hall and not allowed to leave unless Leonce gave the say-so.

Olivia, the Mid-tier Hellsinger, noticed the shift in the atmosphere and her hand moved to the sword by her hip. The other Hellsingers followed her lead. Before long, every personal security detail of the Nobles in the Hall were tensed in alert at a danger they could sense.

Only the Imperial Guards remained relaxed. Duncan’s eyes, however, darted around in worry which made it seem like the Guards with him knew what was happening while he was left in the dark.

"What’s the meaning of this?" An outspoken Noble asked about the increased security that didn’t seem to be for preserving their safety.

"All in due time, My Lord," Leonce said calmly,

"The Imperial crown itself has sanctioned the Task Force. I’m afraid the success and the continued operation of this good cause are not reliant on any of you.

And I am pleased to announce that we have already made progress in returning peace and safety to our dear Capital."

With that, Leonce gestured for one of the Task Force Militants standing with him to stop forward, a magical device in hand. Activating the device, a screen was projected in the air, for all in the Hall to see.

Caius and Alexia recognized what they were seeing immediately; It was the Dungeon with the six Vampires within, their faces gaunt and their eyes bright with hunger as they raked their claws across the walls and the door of the Dungeon.

If there was a recording Crystal in the Dungeon, Caius wondered if there were any in the corridor as well. He hadn’t seen any—he had checked—but who knows if one was hidden.

The image wasn’t particularly striking to Caius and Alexia, but the Nobles let out unanimous gasps.

"Gods," Lyanna said with her eyes wide in surprise, "That’s who was in there?"

That caused Caius and Alexia to look over at her.

"You didn’t know?" Alexia asked before Caius could.

"I— No," Lyanna said and Caius could tell she was being honest as she went on to whisper in dismay,

"There was so much— misery, I couldn’t get an accurate reading..."

Something about her tone told Caius her reaction wasn’t because the ones inside the Dungeon were vampires. Even with an inaccurate reading, Lyanna had spent enough time among Vampires to have already known what those six were.

No, her reaction was because of something else.

"Lyanna, what is it?" Caius asked.

Before Lyanna could answer, Caius got his answer from a passionate cry by one of the Nobles in the Hall.

"Gilbert?" The Noble called as he stared at the screen and then glared at Leonce Duval,

"You bastard, how dare you hurt a Gasqueton!"

Gasqueton was a Noble Family in the Capital and the Noble who cried out was their representative at the Function. Gilbert and the five other vampires with him were members of various Noble Families whose representatives were present in the Hall.