Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 468: Going to solve problems

The corridors of the imperial castle were far too long for Kael’s liking.

Long, polished, silent... and utterly unnecessary.

His footsteps echoed rhythmically on the flawless marble as he walked with his hands in his pockets, his relaxed posture a stark contrast to the rigid surroundings. Ancient tapestries hung from the walls, depicting glorious battles and noble lineages, while crystal chandeliers cast golden light over everything, creating an atmosphere of calculated—almost suffocating—grandeur.

Kael looked at none of it.

To him... it was just stone.

And people trying to appear more important than they really were.

"Impressive..." he murmured, without any enthusiasm. "A place full of useless people."

A group of officials passed by in the distance, conversing quietly, and none of them even dared to look directly at him. Some discreetly changed course. Others simply lowered their gaze.

Kael didn’t even notice.

Or maybe he noticed... and simply didn’t care.

"The Witch King walking alone through the castle..." he continued, almost bored. "...and nobody finds it strange."

He let out a light sigh.

"Either they’re idiots... or they’re too scared to act."

Probably both.

His eyes scanned the corridor ahead, analyzing routes, doors, patterns of movement. Not like someone lost—but like someone who was constantly calculating.

Always.

"And here I am..." he muttered, irritated. "wasting time."

He didn’t like waiting.

He never liked it.

Time, for him, was a tool. Not something to be wasted on political formalities or the agendas of people too powerful to realize what really mattered.

And at that moment... he had a bigger problem.

Much bigger.

The vampires.

The plan.

And time running out for them.

Kael turned a corner with his usual composure—and then it happened.

Impact.

A body collided with his with enough force to halt his path.

"Watch where you’re going, you—!"

The female voice was thick with irritation.

Instinctive.

Impulsive.

But it stopped.

Abruptly.

As if it had been cut in half.

Kael didn’t even bother to apologize.

He simply glanced slightly downwards.

And saw.

Her.

Elayne Valroth.

Her face had completely lost its color.

Her eyes, once irritated, were now wide with pure shock—and something else.

Recognition.

Fear.

A lot of fear.

"I-I..." she tried to speak, but her voice failed her.

Without thinking twice, she bowed deeply.

"I-I’m sorry!"

The request came too quickly.

Almost desperate.

As if it were a conditioned reflex.

Kael stared at her for a second.

Without emotion.

Without interest.

"Stop."

A single word.

Elayne froze.

Literally.

She hesitated, still hunched over, before slowly straightening up, clearly unsure if she should really obey.

Kael had already lost interest.

He looked away.

"I’m looking for your aunt," he said, as if asking for directions down a hallway.

Elayne blinked.

Confusion crossed her face.

"M-my aunt...?"

Kael finally looked back at her.

Directly.

Impatiently.

"Hella."

The name was said simply.

But the effect... was immediate. Elayne swallowed hard.

"I-I..." she tried to compose herself. "Y-yes... she..."

Kael tilted his head slightly.

Waiting.

No hurry.

But also no tolerance.

She took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts.

"She’s... with the Emperor at the moment."

Silence.

One second.

Two.

And then—

"Of course she is," Kael murmured, closing his eyes for a moment.

Frustration.

Slight.

But real.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a low sigh.

"Great."

Elayne watched him cautiously, clearly tense.

"S-she should take a while..." she added carefully.

Mistake.

Small.

But a mistake.

Kael opened his eyes again.

And this time... there was something different about them.

It wasn’t anger.

But it was... impatience.

"I don’t have time for this," he said, in a low voice.

And there was something in that sentence that made Elayne feel a shiver run down her spine.

It wasn’t a threat.

It was... a statement of fact.

He really didn’t have time.

And that made everything more dangerous.

She hesitated for a moment, then gathered her courage:

"Is it... something important?"

Kael looked at her again.

And for a brief instant... he seemed to consider.

Then he answered:

"Vampires."

Simple.

Direct.

And sufficient.

The effect was immediate.

Elayne’s eyes widened again.

This time... it wasn’t fear of him.

It was understanding.

"V-vampires...?" she repeated, almost in a whisper.

Kael didn’t answer.

But he didn’t need to.

His silence confirmed everything.

She brought a hand to her chest, breathing a little faster.

"So... the rumors..." she murmured.

Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.

"What rumors?"

She hesitated.

But she answered.

"That... some vampires have been seen on the outskirts of the capital..." she said. "But... no one has officially confirmed it."

Kael gave a slight, wry smile.

No humor.

"Of course they haven’t confirmed it."

He crossed his arms.

"They don’t know what they’re seeing."

Elayne swallowed hard. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Are they... dangerous?"

Kael stared at her.

Long.

Silent.

And then answered:

"Some."

She remained silent.

"And others..." he continued, "are just people trying not to die."

This made her frown slightly.

Confusion.

"I don’t understand..."

"You don’t need to," Kael interrupted.

Direct.

Not aggressive.

But definitive.

He uncrossed his arms and continued walking, passing by her as if the conversation were already over. "Wait!" she called, turning quickly.

Kael stopped.

But he didn’t turn around.

"If this involves my aunt..." Elayne said, with a little more firmness, "then I can help."

Silence.

Kael remained motionless for a few seconds.

Thinking.

Calculating.

And then—

He turned slowly.

His eyes scanned Elayne from head to toe.

As if assessing... usefulness.

Value.

Risk.

"Can you?" he asked.

Not as a challenge.

But as a test.

Elayne hesitated.

But didn’t back down.

"I know her schedule... her access points..." she said. "And... I know how to get to the Emperor’s chamber."

Kael raised an eyebrow slightly.

Interesting.

"And you’re willing to take me there?" he asked.

She froze for a second.

Because this... was dangerous.

Very.

But then—

She nodded.

"If it’s important... yes."

Silence.

Kael watched her for a few more seconds.

And then—

"Great," he said.

Simple.

As if the decision had already been made from the start.

He nodded slightly.

"Then walk."

Elayne blinked.

"N-now?"

Kael had already turned around again.

"Didn’t I say I don’t have time?"

She took a deep breath.

And started walking.

Faster than usual.

Trying to keep up with his pace.

"This way," she said, indicating a less busy side corridor.

Kael followed without question.

Her steps remained firm, steady, almost silent.

But now... there was something different in the air.

Direction.

Purpose.

"Kael..." she called hesitantly.

He didn’t answer.

But he didn’t stop her from continuing either. "These vampires..." she said softly, "are they a threat to the empire?"

Kael looked ahead.

Toward the end of the corridor.

Toward something beyond him.

"No."

The answer came quickly.

And surprisingly.

Elayne frowned.

"Then...?"

Kael finally turned his face slightly toward her.

His eyes were cold.

Clear.

"The threat..." he said, "is what’s making it seem like they are."

Elayne felt her heart clench.

Because, suddenly...

It all seemed much bigger than she had imagined.

Much more dangerous.

And Kael...

He didn’t seem worried.

Which... somehow... was even worse.

They turned down another corridor.

And the atmosphere changed.

More guards.

More silence.

More control.

Elayne slowed her pace slightly.

"We’re almost there..." she murmured.

Kael simply nodded.

His eyes were already analyzing everything.

Entrances.

Exits.

Positions.

And, most importantly...

The shadows.

He didn’t like to wait.

But if necessary...

He wouldn’t hesitate to interrupt any meeting.

Even if it was... with the Emperor.

Especially... with the Emperor.

...

A few hours earlier...

The room was still partially enveloped in the morning twilight, with sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains, drawing golden streaks on the floor. The air carried a quieter silence than usual—that kind of stillness that comes after a night that’s too long.

Kael sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, looking at the floor as if organizing thoughts that didn’t want to align.

He didn’t seem tired. But there was... weight.

Much more than before.

Amelia leaned against the wall near the window, arms crossed, watching him intently. There was no provocation in her gaze this time. No playfulness.

Just... seriousness.

"The situation has changed," she said, breaking the silence.

Kael didn’t look up.

"I noticed."

His tone was dry.

Objective.

But not rude.

Irelia sat at the other end of the bed, one leg crossed over the other, slowly twirling a small blade between her fingers. She was also quieter than usual.

Attentive.

"This can’t be treated as an invasion anymore," Amelia continued.

Kael let out a small sigh.

"It was never just that."

Amelia tilted her head slightly.

"Maybe for you."

He finally looked up.

They stared at each other for a second. "For them..." she said, referring to the empire, "it still is."

Silence.

Heavy.

Because that was true.

And that was exactly why the situation was so dangerous.

Irelia stopped spinning the blade.

"If the Empire thinks this is an invasion..." she said slowly, "they will react like an invasion."

Kael nodded.

"Army."

"Hunt."

"Execution."

Each word came like a hammer.

Direct.

Without softening.

Amelia uncrossed her arms and took a few steps forward.

"And that kills any chance of resolving the situation the right way."

Kael let out a short laugh.

No humor.

"’The right way’ depends on who’s telling the story."

Amelia stopped in front of him.

"And that’s exactly why you need to talk to my aunt."

Kael closed his eyes for a second.

As if trying not to get angry.

"No."

Simple.

Definitive.

Irelia raised an eyebrow, already expecting that answer.

Amelia, however, didn’t back down.

"Kael."

He opened his eyes again.

"I’m not going to deal with her."

His voice was calm.

But there was a clear resistance there.

Amelia crossed her arms again.

"You will."

Silence.

The two stared at each other.

And this time... there was tension.

Not hostility.

But... confrontation.

"Hella doesn’t do anything without a plan within a plan," Kael continued. "She plays chess while everyone else is trying to understand the rules."

Irelia gave a small, wry smile.

"Doesn’t seem so different from you."

Kael ignored her.

"I don’t have time for this," he concluded.

Amelia took another step forward.

"And you think you can handle this alone?"

Kael didn’t answer.

Because the answer was obvious.

But he also didn’t like to admit it.

"This isn’t just vampires crossing borders anymore," Amelia said firmly. "This is a hunt for a princess."

Silence.

And this time... it was Kael who reacted.

Slightly.

His eyes moved.

Focus.

Because this... changed everything.

"This changes the scenario," she continued. "And you know it."

He knew.

Of course he knew.

An invasion was a political problem.

A princess being hunted... was something much bigger.

It was instability.

It was war.

It was opportunity.

"If someone is manipulating the vampire king..." Amelia said, "then this isn’t just their problem."

Kael rested his chin on his hand.

Thinking.

"It’s everyone’s problem."

Irelia let out a small sigh.

"And if the Empire gets involved in this the wrong way..." she shrugged, "that’s it. War."

Kael closed his eyes again.

Processing.

Calculating.

And then—

"I still don’t want to deal with Hella," he said.

Amelia rolled her eyes.

"You’re impossible."

"I’m efficient."

"You’re stubborn."

"Me too."

Irelia chuckled softly.

Amelia, however, did not.

She just took a deep breath.

"I already spoke to her."

Kael opened his eyes.

Slowly.

"What?"

"I warned her," Amelia said simply.

Silence.

"I told her to stop with her strategic games."

Kael stared at her.

Long.

And then—

He let out a low laugh.

"That’s absolutely worthless."

Amelia wasn’t fazed.

"It’s worth something when I’m the one asking."

Silence.

Kael tilted his head slightly.

Observing.

Assessing.

"Do you really believe that?"

Amelia held his gaze.

Without hesitation.

"Yes."

A pause.

"Because she knows who I am."

The air seemed to grow heavier.

Irelia watched silently now.

Attentive.

"You’re not the emperor’s daughter," Kael said.

Amelia nodded.

"No."

"So technically..." he shrugged, "you’re not a princess."

"Technically, no."

Silence.

And then—

She stepped forward.

Her eyes were steady.

"But I am from the imperial family."

Kael didn’t look away.

"My mother..." Amelia continued, "is his sister."

A pause.

"And that gives me a voice."

The silence that followed wasn’t empty.

It was... recognition.

Kael watched her for a few more seconds.

And then...

He sighed.

Softly.

Defeated... just a little.

"I hate politics."

Irelia smiled.

"You love it."

"I like to win."

"Same here."

He ignored her again.

He stood up. "Where is she?"

Amelia relaxed her shoulders slightly.

Victory.

Small.

But enough.

"With the Emperor," she replied.

Kael grimaced.

"Great."

"Go on," Irelia said, standing up as well. "And try not to kill anyone."

He looked at her.

"No promises."

Amelia sighed.

"Just... try talking first."

Kael walked toward the window.

"We’ll see."

And then—

He disappeared into the shadows.

Without a sound.

Without warning.

As if he had never been there.

...

Now.

Back to the present.

The corridors had grown quieter.

More heavily guarded.

More... important.

Elayne had slowed her pace as they approached a more restricted area of ​​the castle. Guards were positioned at strategic points, their presences rigid, attentive—but none dared to stop Kael.

No one wanted to be the first to try.

And possibly... the last.

"It’s here," Elayne said, stopping before a large double door of dark wood, ornamented with gold details and the imperial coat of arms carved in the center.

The air there was different.

Heavier.

More formal.

As if even the silence had rules.

She swallowed hard.

"They’re in there."

Kael looked at the door.

Expressionless.

But his mind was already working.

Positions.

Presences.

Shadows. He could feel it.

More than one person.

Power.

Control.

Influence.

"Important meeting..." Elayne murmured, almost to herself.

Kael sighed.

Loosely.

Tiredly.

"Of course it is."

He placed his hand on the doorknob.

Elayne hesitated.

"Are you... sure about this?"

Kael didn’t look at her.

"Relax, kid."