Though he had seen photos of it before, the majestic construct was breathtaking nonetheless. It resembled a castle more than a mansion, with several spires at its corners, high walls, and a rather imposing gate.
Tall Corinthian columns supported the wide portico, casting a soft shade over its entrance. Arched windows framed in stone lined the walls, while wrought-iron balconies added a touch of refined charm.
Caught in the grasp of its grandeur, one might miss the weathered marble statues that guarded its entrance. Those didn’t seem like custom-made pieces, but rather true artifacts placed up front to accentuate the timeless grace and elegance of classical architecture.
As he continued to stare through Rose’s eyes, Dante wished that he were there to witness the masterpiece himself. With how things are at the moment, he had no control over what he was seeing, making him wish Rose would linger some more on a few details. Unfortunately, she felt the need to keep her sight on the path ahead, as if trying to hide how captivated she was by the sight.
The large gate opened for them and they walked straight inside. The front hall was rather spacious, with a massive chandelier hanging from above and a bifurcated staircase leading to an elevated balcony overlooking the entrance. A massive painting depicting an ancient battle hung on the wall facing the entrance.
If the elevator they emerged from felt like a gate to another world, the interior of the mansion only helped cement that idea. It lacked the usual minimalistic coldness of modern decor and instead embraced the extravagance of classical design.
The scene they witnessed caused Dante to imagine lines of maids and butlers flanking the entrance, but turns out it was something reserved for movies and dramas, or maybe for more distinguished guests.
Ushida remained silent for a few seconds, allowing Rose and the others to take in the grandeur of the sight before them. A couple of minutes later, he pretended to clear his throat, helping them snap out of the momentary daze and refocus their thoughts just in time as their host appeared.
"Welcome to my humble abode!"
A smooth and confident voice boomed, drawing everyone’s attention to the man who had just appeared by the stairs, his hands spread by his sides as he gazed down at the gathering, a charismatic smile shining on his face. He wore a tailored blue suit, the collar of which was black with a distinct shape. Nothing stood out about his necktie, but the pin he used to hold it was undoubtedly the emblem of the Stahlwölfes, depicting the silver head of a wolf.
Klaus Stahlwölfe was far from the most handsome man, but his face was distinct enough that he easily stood out in a crowd. He was on the skinnier side with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. His narrow eyes carried a hint of eagerness and delight restrained behind a cold blue color, and his wheat blond hair cascaded down to his back, framing his head as if it were a glowing halo made from pure light.
Even though he was watching footage captured through someone else’s OAM, Dante still felt the pressure emanating from the scion of the Stahlwölfes. Something about him screamed superiority, giving shape to the status of someone who stood at the pinnacle of the world, far removed from the rest of humanity.
It was a rather strange sensation. Klaus was a Basic human. He lacked the extensive upgrades of bionic enhancement, nor was he a Genome with powers that defied logic. Nothing suggested that he was a sorcerer as well, and yet-
"Mr. Pike! It is so nice to finally meet you face to face!"
Before they realized it, the blond man had descended the stairs and walked up to them. Mr. Pike came back to his senses just in time to reach out and shake Klaus’s hand.
"Words can’t describe the joy of this moment." He said, flashing a genuine-looking smile. "I will forever be grateful that you put aside some time in your busy schedule just to meet me."
"That is to be expected! Your gift has brought me one step closer to finishing my Tianhua collection! Very little has survived from the time of the second emperor, so it has been a struggle to gather the relevant artifacts!"
"Indeed." Mr. Pike nodded. "I just happened on the blade while marching through the streets of Tonghai. Never in my life did I expect such a treasure to end up in some nameless gift shop."
"You certainly have exceptional eyes, to be able to recognize it at first glance." Said Klaus. "Unfortunately, as I tend to a lot of pieces to museums so other people can appreciate them, there aren’t a lot of relics from the Jinhe Empire currently on display. That said, I’m sure you will enjoy my collection in its current iteration. I have grown interested in the rich history of the Tōseika empire as of late and even obtained authentic artifacts belonging to the Mikazuki clan!"
Mr. Pike’s eyes widened a little.
"Indeed." Nodding, Klaus turned around and motioned for a certain corridor. "The royal family that had once ruled over the eastern lands for a thousand years! Despite the notoriety and the scars they have left on our world, a great many things about them remain a mystery. I have sponsored many research and excavation efforts, but to this day, we have yet to learn their full story!"
As he listened to the rich scion ramble, Dante couldn’t help but think that things were a little odd. The lack of bodyguards was notable, but that was likely because they were surrounded by Stahlkorps members who could use the advanced version of Ghost Mode.
As he tried to find the source of his discomfort, Dante realized that it came from the man himself. Klaus Stahlwölfe was there with them. Nothing seemed to suggest that he was a fake or a projection. The real scion of the Stahlwölfes had come out to meet them, which would mean that the audience was underway.
’... huh?’ Catching a glimpse of Shirogane Ushida, the confusion causing the chaos in Dante’s mind only grew stronger. ’Why would he...’