“Young master Landon, it’s been forever since I last saw you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Ah, Miss Donna, what a pleasant surprise...”

  Once he saw the lovely receptionist of this renowned hotel, he leisurely exchanged pleasantries and calmly walked up to her.

  The name reflected its theme as the entire hotel gave off a sense of evening afterglow – its walls and pillars adorned with dim purple paintings and further gave off a smell of fresh lavender.

  All in all, it was a fine establishment.

  As expected of its staffs, the lovely receptionist named Donna was neatly wearing a beautiful purple attire, and her sweet smile, brimming with friendliness.

  “Miss Donna, I’m here to meet one of your customers. I was told he has been staying here for a while and he’s been expecting me as well. Can you kindly call for him, please?”

  “Certainly, Young master Landon. May I know the honored customer’s name, please?”

  “It’s Anderson Kenneth.”

  Once she heard the name, Cora’s eyes became alive again after she had been in an awed daze the moment, she set foot in this magnificent building which she was completely foreign to.

  She even stuttered slightly before asking,

  “Wait, that...that Anderson Kenneth who’s one of the wealthiest figures of Brownmourn and could literally be called the Godfather of Eastern Square? Isn’t he like... a super famous celebrity? Lord Kenneth?”

  Landon gave an awkward smile to Donna for his subordinate’s behavior but the latter didn’t seem to mind and smilingly explained,

  “Yes, he is, little miss. Though I must say he would prefer you just addressing him without “Lord”. He has been here for long indeed, because he has a work to do and, in a few days, you'll know that work coming to fruition!”

  “Don’t tell me...”

  Donna chuckled with a proud smile – which widened visibly and said,

  “Yes, it’s as you expected, little miss. As well as being a profound Godfather of Eastern Square, he’s also the owner of “Unfazed” and it’s all thanks to him that we’re finally going to see the best play this century has to offer!”

  “Woah!”

  “Also, did you know, little miss, who’ll be playing Derrik, the main hero of this play?”

  Seeing Cora shaking her hand in excitement, Donna explained in an exceedingly pleased and smug manner.

  “It’s Aldwyn, himself! Ahhh.... it’s Aldwyn. Aldwyn. Aldwyn himself!”

  “Al... Aldwyn... that... that Aldwyn... I... I thought he retired a long time ago and... and...”

  “Yes, Aldwyn, in the flesh!”

  Aldwyn was such a big name that even a suburb girl like Cora had heard of his fame and anticipating since them. Furthermore, the ladies from her village that had been to that renowned actor’s plays all had similar, wonderful stories of their own regarding him – each one involving the man’s peerless beauty and unrivalled performances.

  It was as if he was a supreme art from heaven, descended to grace the humble earth with his divine presence. The personification of beauty itself.

  Aldwyn.

  All of a sudden, both of the ladies’ hands were in an interlock, countless sparks dazzling in their excited eyes.

  “Of course not, little miss. I’ll let you in on a little secret Mister Anderson told me and me alone. Promise me you’ll keep the secret it, alright? Yes, he retired a long time ago but guess what, he had been preparing himself for this role since then! You understand what I mean? We’ll get to see his best performance yet in his entire life.”

  And they both squealed while jumping in joy.

  Landon’s mouth turned slightly agape, seeing both the reactions of the two women... no, the two avid fangirls of an actor he was only faintly familiar with. Seeing how they were hitting it off immediately on their mutual love over the same hobby and the same actor, Landon smilingly shook his head in pleasant surprise.

  Landon coughed and tried to interrupt them but after letting her inner fawning ran wild for a while, Donna soon regained her professional manner with a slightly flushed cheek.

  “I... umm... ahem, it is how it is, little miss...”

  “Please, call me Cora.”

  “Alright, little Cora, so, we should probably let the young master meet Mr. Anderson as he desired or this regrettable behavior of mine is going to fall shamefully further downhill if it keeps going like this.”

  “No, it’s not regrettable, Miss Donna. Don’t worry about it.”

  The ladies both smiled pleasantly at each other.

  “Well, then. Young master, if you excuse me, I will go summon Mr. Kenneth. Please, wait for a moment.”

  Donna left the counter and walked smoothly down the hallways – calm and steady in her steps, unlike any of her contrasting behaviors just a few moments ago.

  After giving a raised brow at Cora, who was seemingly embarrassed now, Landon let out an amused snort and patiently waited for Donna to return.

  Anderson Kenneth was indeed, one of the pioneers of their city and also, best friend of Landon’s late father, Lord Marvello Yarrow. Thus, naturally, Landon was in a good relationship with Mr. Kenneth almost as if the eccentric old man was his own uncle.

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  The people he had met today were one way or another related to Yarrow family, from every layer of society, mundane or important.

  After considering it properly, Landon finally decided to step into his family’s matters, which he had been reluctant to, since forever. It went on since his father’s untimely demise a few years back.

  He had long decided to cut ties with his hypocritical family for good, even though he was the true heir to the Yarrows, one of the big three noble families of Brownmourn.

  Thus, meeting those people today meant he was finally involving himself with the Yarrows, which would undoubtedly attract unwanted attentions from every corner, especially his eldest brother.

  Though he couldn’t care less because the matters he had got himself implicated into, were no longer as simple and insignificant as mere family dramas.

  Still, he wasn’t a mad man to just blindly fight through things when he knew himself lacking in strength.

  Meeting Lucien Monroe was one of the examples that was constantly glaring at his weaknesses as well. Which could also be the catalyst of his current actions.

  To become stronger, he needed strength. And more sophisticated way in finding strength would be building good interpersonal communications, thus, he decided to step onto the twisted spirals of the political world under his own famous name.

  Once he thought of such an idea, the very first person that came to his mind was his father’s most trusted friend, Anderson Kenneth. Kenneth himself was such an influential person that his grasp terrifyingly reached much more than the public perceived it to be.

  He wasn’t just a vibrant Godfather of Eastern Square – he was at the same time, a hidden leader of the infamous black-markets that dealt with all sorts of unorthodox activities – a glaring contrast to his gentle appearance and kind demeanor.

  Landon took out a beautifully intricate, silver pocket watch from his trousers and handled it gently. The watch was after all, a gift from his late father, which he himself got it as one from Mr. Kenneth for his 56th birthday.

  There were only two watches as such in the world as it was custom crafted by Mr. Kenneth – one for himself and one for his dear best friend.

  Now it was in Landon’s hand as sort of a memoir.

  If by any chance, did he manage to land on the good side of Mr. Kenneth and with great luck, Landon would slowly but steadily be able to assert his influence over the underground business and his network would grow exponentially.

  Knowledge was power. Being the smartest one in the room would always work out in your favor. And there wasn’t a better place to learn such information from these shrouded parts of society.

  “Keep it well, Lad. It’s what your old man treasured, anyway. With this, two sole reminders of him once walking this earth, are now together. Don’t lose it, alright? And most importantly, don’t lose yourself.”

  He firmly grasped the pocket watch in his hand and patiently kept waiting for his potential partner to come – his eyes, full of hope – excited for his very first step on his coming, long and arduous journey.

  Some minutes later, Donna came back.... alone. She was wearing an expression of mild confusion.

  “I’m sorry, Young Master. I tried to call Mr. Kenneth several times but received no answer. It seems he isn’t in his room at the moment.”

  Noticing her confused gazes, Landon asked,

  “But?”

  “...but it’s really strange, considering he hasn’t left his room for quite a while. We are instructed to personally bring his food at certain periods of time, even. Strange, really strange.”

  “Isn’t it also possible that he’s left without you noticing?”

  “It is possible but what’s even more strange is that my shift started this morning and I haven’t left my post, not even for a minute. I haven’t heard anything out of ordinary from the last night shift as well.”

  Cora joined in their deductions.

  “Maybe, he’s in the toilet, trying his best to release... all of it?”

  She received intense judgmental stares from the rest, which she couldn’t face head on.

  Though, those stares were somewhat showing traces of realization.

  “What Cora said is possible. After all, I’ve heard that it becomes harder with age.”

  “I understand, Young Master. Let’s give a him a few more minutes.”

  They waited for a while and only when Donna believed she gave the old, pitiful man quite enough time for his deeds, she decided to go and summon him again.

  When she returned, however, the confused look on her face became more apparent and now, her eyes filled with growing worry and anxiety.

  “No luck, huh?”

  “It’s extremely quiet, so, I don’t know if he’s in there or not.”

  After pondering for a while and seeing how Donna was dejectedly shaking her head, Landon decided to give up for today and just go home. He was one of the few who knew how to read the room, after all.

  He stood up and said,

  “Maybe, he doesn’t want to see anyone at the moment. I’ll just go home today, Miss Donna. Please send my regards to him and that, I will come meet him again in a few days.”

  “Young Master...I apologize.”

  “No need to apologize, Miss Donna. It’s not your fault. Anyway, I’m thankful for your hospitality, even.”

  Even though he was really looking forward to it, he still wasn’t going to linger where he wasn’t wanted. Landon half turned his body towards Cora and said,

  “Let’s go, Cora. We’ll come again later.”

  However, Cora didn’t move – she was staring at something or someone outside.

  “Why are the people outside, shouting and yelling?”

  Both Landon and Donna instantly looked at the outside of hotel. Truly, there was a huge chaotic commotion in front of the hotel.

  As a staff of this famous establishment, Donna rushed straight outside to deal with this unknown commotion. She even stomped her feet along the way.

  Landon and Cora were left abruptly and, awkwardly watched Donna confronting the crowd.

  Once she got there, the crowd did seem to calm down for a bit and despite all the incomprehensible yelling, Landon could distinctively see panic and uncertain fear in their eyes.

  The people informed her of something and pointed above their heads.

  Once she saw what they were pointing at, Donna’s fierce eyes instantly dimmed and started screaming in an ear breaking shrill. She even almost dropped to the ground.

  Landon and Cora both dashed to her.

  “Miss Donna, what happened? What’s wrong?”

  Donna kept screaming in a terrifyingly worrisome manner, and streams of hot tears were slowly dripping from her widened eyes. And while shaking uncontrollably, she was pointing at something above their heads.

  Landon’s eyes slowly followed the finger and there, he finally saw it.

  A figure. A person. A man.

  His heart thumped lightly before started beating wildly with the harsh realization kicking in.

  The man was tied with ropes on top of the signboard, “Twilight Hours”, his four limbs evenly stretched. He was tied as if he was a human flag.

  From his extravagant outfit, everyone instantly knew that he was a wealthy man, and from his frail limbs, an old man.

  What’s worse was that the old man was still showing signs of life – weakly resisting his ensnarement – although it was all but futile. Though weak, his actions were somewhat eerily vicious to the point of hurting himself.

  Furthermore, he was making a weird sound of sort. The sound resembled a breathing of an extremely tired human or a snarling.

  Through the emotions excruciatingly assaulting his heart, Landon faintly heard something Cora muttered with terror.

  “Why doesn’t he have a face?”

  However, Landon’s teary eyes were now intently focused on a certain object hanging from that unfortunate man’s pocket, which was gently swaying in the air.

  It was a sliver pocket watch.

  It’s not true. Please, don’t let it be true.

  Landon, in a daze was now suddenly shook back to his senses by Cora, who was similarly baffled and was terrified beyond comprehension.

  “Landon, Head Captain! What is that? Why’s it up there? Why’s... why’s...why’s it making a noise when it doesn’t have a mouth? Is... is it who I think it is...? Landon!”

  Landon answered with a shaky, hoarse voice.

  “It’s...it’s a zombie...”

  “... a zombie?”

  At the same time, Merik muttered out some strange words he had never heard of, while his eyes, narrowly squinting.

  It's the first time he learnt of this word – even though Albert seemed to be letting him know that the entire case was related to this eerie name of a certain grotesque species.

  A zombie.

  He looked out the window after letting out a long, turbid air to ease his excited nerves.

  Fortunately, he learned something valuable, after all.