Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 492: Consider this over.

Night had fully fallen when Kael reached the top of the imperial cathedral, and there, above all else, the world seemed more distant, more silent, almost as if reality itself slowed down around that elevated point. The imposing structure of the cathedral stood like a silent testament to ages past, its towers cutting through the dark sky while soft city lights spread below like an ocean of artificial stars. Even at that hour, the empire remained alive, pulsating with constant activity, illuminated streets, lit windows, and the distant sound of a civilization that never truly slept.

Kael walked to the edge of the roof with calm steps, without any hurry, as if this kind of scene was something he had seen countless times before. Still, there was a certain weight in the air that night, something subtle but persistent, like a premonition that wouldn't be completely ignored. He sat on the edge, letting his legs dangle freely while resting one hand on the cold stone surface, his eyes fixed on the vastness of the city below.

For a few minutes, he simply observed.

The light wind blowing at that height slightly ruffled his hair, carrying with it the distant scent of smoke, iron, and urban life. It was a curious contrast, thinking that something was wrong while everything seemed so… normal. The lights didn't indicate chaos, there were no echoing screams, no explosions, no desperate movements. Just routine.

And yet, Adalric had come in person.

That was never a good sign.

Kael let out a small sigh, tilting his head slightly back as he looked at the dark sky for a moment, as if trying to organize his own thoughts before any explanation reached him.

It was then that he felt it.

A presence.

Subtle.

Controlled.

But undeniably there.

He didn't turn around immediately. He showed no surprise, nor exaggerated tension. He remained seated, his eyes still fixed on the city as his perception automatically adjusted to this new presence approaching with light, almost inaudible steps on the stone roof.

"Sent by?" he asked, without even looking back, his voice calm, but carrying a clear expectation.

There was a brief pause before the answer.

The sound of fabric moving softly.

Then, the voice came.

"By the Imperial High Command."

Kael turned his head slowly.

The woman was already there.

On her knees.

A few meters away.

Her posture was formal, perfectly aligned, her body slightly inclined in respect as she kept her head down for a brief moment before raising her gaze in his direction. She wore a dark, well-fitted military uniform that conveyed authority and discipline without any unnecessary exaggeration. Her short, blonde hair was perfectly styled, and her brown eyes held a firm, analytical expression, someone accustomed to observing more than speaking.

"Victoria," she said, introducing herself clearly. "Leader of the empire's intelligence."

Kael observed her for a few seconds.

The way she carried herself.

The way she spoke.

Nothing about her was casual.

He nodded slightly.

"Straight to the point, then," he replied, adjusting his posture slightly while still seated on the edge of the roof. "What happened?"

Victoria didn't answer immediately.

She stood up with a controlled, unhurried movement, taking a few steps closer before stopping beside him, maintaining a respectful distance while also glancing at the city below for a brief moment.

"An incident occurred last night," she said finally, her tone firm but low enough to avoid unnecessary drama.

Kael frowned slightly.

"Incident."

He repeated, as if testing the word.

"And the emperor isn't happy." Victoria shook her head almost imperceptibly.

"No."

There was a pause.

Short.

But heavy.

Kael turned his face completely toward her now, his gaze more focused.

"What happened?"

Victoria took a deep breath.

And then answered.

"Children were kidnapped."

The world seemed… to stop.

Not literally.

The city was still there, the lights still on, the wind still blowing.

But, internally…

Something changed.

Kael's gaze widened slightly, not exaggeratedly, not dramatically, but enough to completely break the neutrality he had maintained until then.

"Kidnapped?"

He repeated, his voice lower now.

Heavier.

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

Kael was silent for a second.

Two. Enough to get his mind connecting the dots even before he heard the rest.

He didn't want to ask.

But he needed to.

"Was it... them?"

The question came out incomplete.

But clear.

Victoria didn't respond with words immediately.

Instead, she reached inside her uniform and pulled out a small set of photographs, holding them for a moment before extending them toward him.

Kael hesitated for a split second.

Just a reflex.

Then he took them.

And looked.

The impact was immediate.

Brutal.

His stomach churned before his mind could even fully process what he was seeing. The images were too clear, too direct, without any attempt to soften or hide the reality behind them. Small, fragile bodies, carelessly arranged, as if they had been discarded after losing all value.

Children.

All of them.

Without exception.

And on each one of them…

The same mark.

Fangs.

On the neck.

Kael swallowed hard, feeling the bitter taste rise in his throat as he looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath to avoid reacting more viscerally right then and there.

"Damn…"

The word escaped.

Low.

Almost a whisper.

He lightly squeezed the photos between his fingers before looking again, as if part of him still hoped he had misinterpreted.

But there was no mistake.

There was no ambiguity.

It was exactly what it seemed.

Victoria watched silently.

Without interrupting.

Without commenting. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Just waiting.

Kael finally lowered his hands, still holding the images, but without looking directly at them now.

"They… killed them all."

His voice came out harder.

More controlled.

But carrying something much deeper beneath.

Victoria replied.

"Not immediately."

Kael slowly raised his gaze.

She maintained eye contact. And then he said, without changing his tone:

"They used them as… blood bags."

The silence that followed was absolute.

Heavy.

Dense in an almost physical way.

Kael said nothing.

Not immediately.

But something in his gaze changed.

That constant slight irony, that relaxed posture, that almost carefree demeanor he maintained most of the time…

It disappeared.

In its place…

Something much colder remained.

Much more focused.

Much more dangerous.

He took another deep breath.

This time, more slowly.

More controlled.

And then he looked at the city below.

The lights.

The people.

The normality.

And, for a moment…

It seemed completely incompatible with what he had just seen.

"How many?"

The question came softly. Victoria answered without hesitation.

"Confirmed so far… thirty-two."

Kael closed his eyes for a second.

Just one.

But it was enough.

When he opened them again…

There was no more doubt.

"And the emperor wants an answer."

It wasn't a question.

Victoria nodded.

"Yes."

Kael remained silent for a few more seconds.

Then he handed the photos back to her, the movement firm, without hesitation.

"He will have it."

His voice came out calm.

But absolutely firm.

And, at that moment…

It became clear.

This was no longer just a political problem.

It was personal.

The wind that swept across the top of the cathedral seemed colder now, or perhaps it was just the change in Kael himself that made everything around him seem different, heavier, sharper, more real. He remained silent for a few seconds after returning the photographs, his gaze lost in the vastness of the city below, but clearly he was no longer seeing the lights, the streets, or the people. His mind was elsewhere, reconstructing every detail he had just heard, fitting pieces together with almost automatic precision.

Victoria remained beside him, motionless, observing with professional attention, like someone accustomed to gauging reactions, interpreting silences, understanding when someone had crossed an invisible line within themselves. And Kael… had crossed it.

He took another deep breath, his chest rising slowly before releasing the air in a controlled manner, as if deliberately maintaining his balance.

Then he spoke.

"Where."

The word came dry, direct, without any room for interpretation.

Victoria didn't hesitate.

"Most are hiding during the day in the forests around the capital," she replied, her tone firm, informative, without unnecessary embellishment. "Dense locations, with enough cover to block direct sunlight. They are constantly moving, but always within a relatively predictable radius."

Kael tilted his head slightly, absorbing the information.

"And at night?" he asked.

Victoria crossed her hands behind her back, maintaining an upright posture as she continued.

"At night, they approach from the western walls."

Kael frowned slightly.

"West."

She nodded.

"It's the area with the most external traffic, the least natural visibility, and the most indirect access routes. After the incident, we doubled security in that region, constant patrols, reinforced surveillance, but…" she paused briefly, choosing her words carefully.

"…they're still getting through."

The silence that followed was short.

But significant.

Kael looked away from the city and finally stood up from the edge of the roof, the movement slow but laden with a clear decision that had already been fully formed within him. He ran a hand through his hair, lightly smoothing the messy strands as his gaze returned to the horizon, but now with a completely different intensity.

"Of course they are."

He murmured, more to himself than to her.

Victoria observed.

"They're testing limits," she added. "Forcing responses. Measuring reaction time."

Kael let out a small, dry laugh.

"They got the timing wrong."

He turned his body completely now, facing her, his expression calm, but with something sharp behind it, something that hadn't been there before.

"The emperor wants an answer."

Victoria nodded slightly.

"Yes."

Kael tilted his head to the side for a moment, as if considering it from a new perspective.

"Then he will get one."

The way he said it wasn't grandiose.

It wasn't theatrical.

But there was an absolute certainty there.

A promise.

Victoria kept her gaze on him, assessing him.

"What is your plan?"

The question came directly, without beating around the bush.

Kael was silent for a brief moment.

Then he looked again at the city.

Then at the darkness beyond the walls.

To the west.

"Simple."

He answered.

Victoria waited.

Kael then took a step forward, slowly passing her, walking towards the opposite edge of the roof, as if literally positioning himself to leave at that very moment.

"If they come at night…"

He continued, his voice steady, almost casual.

"…then I'll find them before then."

Victoria frowned slightly.

"During the day?"

Kael stopped.

Without turning completely, just tilting his head slightly, enough for part of his profile to be visible to her.

"In the den."

The answer came simply.

Directly.

And full of intention.

Victoria narrowed her eyes slightly.

"This won't be a discreet operation."

Kael let out a small sigh.

"It doesn't have to be."

He finally turned again, facing her.

And this time…

There was something in his gaze that made it very clear this wasn't just another mission.

"They crossed a line."

His voice dropped slightly.

Lower.

Deeper.

"And I'm not interested in negotiating with that."

Silence settled again for a few seconds, but now it wasn't uncertainty.

It was understanding.

Victoria nodded slowly.

"Understood."

Kael took another step toward the edge of the roof.

The wind blew harder there, making his coat move slightly.

"Prepare the west to contain anything that tries to escape."

He said, no longer looking directly at her.

"And keep the patrols away from the forest during the day."

Victoria raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You intend to go alone."

It wasn't a question.

Kael didn't answer immediately.

But the brief silence that followed was answer enough.

After a few seconds, he spoke.

"The fewer people, the less distraction."

Victoria watched for another moment.

Then nodded again.

"As you wish."

Kael placed one foot on the edge of the structure, ready to leap.

But before…

He stopped.

Just for a second.

And said, without turning around:

"If anyone asks…"

A brief pause.

"…tell them it's over."

And then he jumped.

His body disappearing into the darkness below as the night effortlessly swallowed his silhouette, leaving behind only the sound of the wind and a silent certainty that now hung over the city.

That hunt…

Had already begun.