Chapter 101: Unexpected Reinforcements

“What exactly is going on?” As soon as Lanser returned to his room, he had Tianyi seal the door. He definitely didn’t want Maotang to see anything he wasn’t supposed to know.

After Lanser’s question, Lianhua’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind. “The beings that appeared this time probably came into existence due to the spatial instability caused when I manifested last time.”

“I’m asking who they actually are,” Lanser pressed. He knew that aside from himself, no one else could have defeated the three beings below. He had met many interesting people in this place—from those he knew from the start, like Aikel, Klein, and Asuna, to those he met later, like Liz and Silica, as well as his guildmates. Although the sense of mission that united them during Arthur’s era was gone, they were still comrades. Lanser could not bear to see them vanish before his eyes. So, the man who used to always lie low and never act decided to take the initiative.

“I don’t know either,” Lianhua replied. Lanser immediately felt she was toying with him. She had already said it was her doing—how could she not know?

As if reading Lanser’s thoughts, Lianhua explained further, “I only know they come from the same world’s data, presumably the world you mentioned. Beyond that, I have no specifics—it was an accident, after all.” Hearing this, Lanser calmed down. As his superior, Lianhua had no obligation to explain herself; this was already a concession. Lanser sighed but then asked, “What about that place?”

“Since I caused it, the little world I created can trap them, but it’s an accidental construct and can’t hold them for long. Also, because it’s tied to me, their existence is similar to yours but without your privileges. Their way to gain freedom is to eliminate you. Once you’re gone, my presence in that world disappears, and they become completely free.” Lianhua’s explanation confirmed several things for Lanser, including that excluding Kirito and the others from this mission was the right call. It seemed that place was no longer just a simple game world.

“By the way, Suppressor said that although this accident was caused by me, you did well last time and won’t be penalized. Plus, there will be a helper sent to assist.” Lanser’s first reaction was, “The King?”

“Unfortunately not. Your king isn’t a pure Heroic Spirit, so he can’t undertake this task. And some of the others you know are on leave due to participation in the last Holy Grail War, so they won’t be coming.” Lianhua cut off Lanser’s inquiry. It was frustrating—the Heroic Spirits only worked for three days and then got a vacation, while Lanser had to keep working nonstop.

“Who then?” Lanser’s curiosity persisted. This person could be key to the upcoming battle.

“Wait and see. I think it will be a surprise.” After saying this, Lianhua fell silent. No matter how Lanser called, she didn’t respond. He could only sigh and lie down to rest—after all, today had been eventful: the chase, the confrontation, and now an unpaid extermination mission.

“Hopefully the one who comes will be someone like the Great Emperor, or at least a guy like Lancer,” Lanser murmured before going to bed early.

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The next day, Lanser was groggily roused by strange noises in his room. As a hardcore shut-in, no one except his nominal younger sister could wake him in the morning. Naturally, he had locked the room’s access permissions while sleeping, and with Tianyi’s assistance, not even Maotang could enter.

Clutching his blanket, Lanser groaned, “Tianyi! Stop making noise, let me sleep!” Then he lay back down.

But soon he sat up. Though still half-asleep, he had caught sight of a man dressed in black.

“Who’s there!” Lanser grabbed for a weapon beside the bed, but awkwardly found none.

“Lord Lanser—” The man gave a noble’s bow, and Lanser was stunned.

At that moment, Lianhua’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Well? How about this surprise?” Her tone was amused. Knowing she couldn’t see him, Lanser rolled his eyes. “It really is a surprise. But this guy looks like a Heroic Spirit. How does he exist in this virtual world?”

“Similar to those three others. At least he can move freely, and once he helps you resolve this, he will leave.” Lianhua explained and then vanished. When Lanser was about to ask how she knew his thoughts, she cut him off again; there was nothing he could do when she simply ignored him.

“Alright, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Arthur. I’m your partner for this mission and hope for smooth cooperation.” Lanser had fully woken now. He quickly changed clothes and formally extended his right hand.

“Greetings, Lord Lanser. I am Vlad III, the executor assigned to purge those pests.” Though Vlad appeared imposing, he did not resist Lanser’s gesture and shook his hand.

“What’s going on!” Lanser’s mind roared. Upon hearing the name, a storm of emotions surged—Vlad III was none other than the legendary Dracula. Lanser had been a famed hunter of dark creatures in his past life. Why was this man so friendly toward him?

Seeing Lanser’s confused look, Vlad smiled wryly. “Lord Lanser, your fame may not be known among commoners, but among nobles, it has spread far and wide. As for me…” He chuckled bitterly. “I don’t know why later generations made me into a vampire legend. Everything I did was for my homeland!” His tone grew fervent.

“Another one, huh…” Lanser rubbed his face wearily. The Heroic Spirits he knew all seemed like zealots—another patriot willing to sacrifice for his country. Still, it seemed only such fanatics could accomplish what ordinary people could not.

“Alright, Vlad. Is it okay if I call you that?”

“Of course, Lord. You have every right.”

“Good. Vlad, this time our targets aren’t easy. They are battle-hardened warriors. So I hope you’ll tell me about your abilities since we’re teammates. Naturally, I’ll share mine as well.” The reason no one knew each other during the last Holy Grail War was that such cooperative missions were rare.

“No problem.” Vlad, with his dark demeanor, responded with surprising straightforwardness.