The Louis family manor was very remote; it was hard to imagine why their ancestors had chosen to build it in such a distant suburb.
Several guards carrying rifles stood at the entrance. They were likely the private guards of the Louis family. Peering through the manor gates, one could sense the oppressive atmosphere within.
Yago quietly slipped to a blind spot of the manor, looked around, and after confirming no one had noticed him, leapt up and climbed the wall, effortlessly infiltrating the Louis family manor.
...
At the same time, the guests in another carriage also arrived at the Louis family manor. Upon learning the identity of the person in the carriage, the guards at the gate immediately grew serious. A guest from the Tybur family could not be neglected.
One guard hurried inside to report.
Yago, having infiltrated the Louis family manor, heightened his vigilance to the maximum. With his agile movements, he easily avoided several waves of patrolling guards. After some time, he successfully approached the central area of the manor.
But this was also quite strange. In the vast Louis family manor, aside from the patrolling guards, there was almost no one else to be seen—not even the most basic maids or attendants one would expect in other noble estates.
The entire manor felt gloomy. Yago crouched in the bushes, his gaze fixed on the ancient villa standing within the estate.
Ebson should be in there, right? Yago took out a face mask from his trench coat pocket, covering half his face. Seeing no one around, he dashed straight toward the villa and climbed in through an open window on the first floor.
As soon as he entered the room, Yago's brows and nose both twitched in discomfort. The room was filled with a pungent smell of tobacco. The furnishings were simple: a bed, a chair, and a table. Aside from that, there was only a large wardrobe.
The quilt on the bed was neatly folded. On the table were several large boxes of already opened cigarettes.
Of course, the most eye-catching thing was the trash can by the window. The half-meter-tall bin was piled high with cigarette butts. It seemed the owner of this room was a heavy smoker.
Enduring the strong discomfort, Yago left the room and began exploring the villa.
...
Five minutes earlier.
Lara Tybur's expression was calm as she entered the Louis family manor under the escort of guards. Her purpose in coming here was simple—to test Ebson Louis's attitude. A man capable of creating artificial Titans was truly too terrifying.
The Tybur family would not allow such an unstable factor to exist. If she sensed even the slightest disloyalty from Ebson Louis, Lara Tybur would act immediately to eliminate this unstable element—for the Tybur family and for Marley.
The gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of the Louis family manor displeased Lara Tybur greatly. In comparison, the Tybur family estate felt warm and harmonious.
The last time Lara Tybur had accompanied her brother Willy Tybur to meet Ebson Louis, she had played the role of a maid. She clearly remembered that gaunt and gloomy-looking man smiling as he told Willy that he could create new intelligent Titans.
"Our Louis family is an old noble house of Marley. Naturally, I would use such important technology to help our motherland. However... I would also like a small return. After all, the power of the Titans is the foundation upon which Marley stands."
A threat. To the Tybur family, Ebson's words carried an implicit threat. But because artificial Titans were too shocking, Willy had proposed seeing the results first before making a decision.
And so the Claw Titan and the Sea-Diving Titan appeared. This completely put the Tybur family on edge.
"You must be Miss Lara? Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Chief Steward of the Louis family manor. You may call me Bill." Standing before Lara was Bill, dressed in a black steward's uniform. The smell of tobacco emanating from him made Lara frown slightly in displeasure, but out of courtesy, she still gave him a slight bow.
Standing at the entrance of the villa, Bill extended his right hand in a gesture of invitation.
...
Time returned to the present.
Yago moved quietly through the villa. As expected, there were no maids or attendants inside either. The entire villa was as silent as a haunted house.
To find Ebson, Yago searched room by room and eventually reached the second floor. Just as he was about to continue searching, a sound of footsteps interrupted his plan. Yago quickly sidestepped into the shadows at a corner.
In Yago's line of sight, a burly man led a woman upstairs. He heard the man say,
"What unfortunate timing. Master Ebson left the manor two days ago to inspect the branch company in Orvud Province."
Yago's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this. Ebson wasn't here?
The man led the woman past the corner.
"Master didn't know Miss Lara would be visiting. Otherwise, he surely would have postponed his trip. When Master returns, I will report this to him. However, since you're here, you are our guest. I'll give instructions to prepare a proper reception for Miss Lara."
Though Bill said this, as he passed the corner, his nose twitched almost imperceptibly.
Upon hearing that Ebson was not at the manor, both Lara Tybur and Yago, hidden in the shadows, felt the urge to leave. After all, their target was Ebson. Since he wasn't here, there was no need to remain.
Lara Tybur also expressed her intention to take her leave.
Bill let out a cold laugh and said, "What a pity." Before his words had even fully fallen, in Lara Tybur's shocked gaze, Bill swiftly drew a pistol from his waist and decisively pulled the trigger toward the corner of the stairs.
He fired continuously until the magazine was emptied. The muzzle still emitted a faint wisp of smoke. Lara Tybur's eyes widened, not knowing what had just happened.
Bill said coldly, "Little thief, courting death? You dare to run wild in the Louis family manor? And you even dared to enter my room. What? Interested in my cigarettes?"
Yago clutched his arm. His hand felt moisture—his arm had been hit by a bullet, blood flowing freely. But soon the power of the Titans began repairing his body. Still, Yago's heart sank. He had been discovered.
The smoker's room Yago had first entered turned out to be this man's room. When leaving, he had inevitably been tainted with a trace of tobacco smell. That was the reason for his exposure.
Bill released the empty magazine and inserted a new one, paying no attention to Lara Tybur beside him as he advanced straight toward the corner.
His leather shoes creaked against the wooden floorboards. Listening to the increasingly close footsteps, a sharp glint flashed in Yago's eyes.