I'm sorry, Laura. But somebody has to stop her.

I made a deal: Tell him where they were hiding, and he'll stop with this plan to kill the Anglerfish-

with the safety patrols- with all of it.

You little fool-

Now, now, Ms. Belmonde, don't you think sour grapes are beneath you?

We Vordenbergs tolerated your high-handed edicts on the Board with good grace, like the staunch Roman senators of old-

Oh for the love of god: Shut up.

I would rather have my toenails pulled out with rusty pliers than hear you speak.

The great adventurer! The great warrior! The great lover!

As if you've ever done anything but spend your family's money and whine.

Yes.

Perhaps I do- embroider from time to time. Sometimes the truth is insufficient to the needs of one's soul.

Life is full of humdrum humiliations, battles lost, lovers who disappoint. Why not imagine it better?

Why not tell a story if it helps you believe that just beyond the horizon there might be some...

- great adventure, some chance to be the man you always wanted to be?

To be Baron Vordenberg, Vampire Hunter! Chair of the Board of Silas University! Godslayer!

What?

And there it is, kids.

No need to mock, in mere minutes, I will have achieved something that neither the Board nor your exquisitely malevolent Mother ever managed-

I'm going to slay the Great Beast of Silas.

But you promised! You weren't going to go through with it

Ah yes. Well, you see, I was fibbing.

But you-

Is this actually surprising you? His official title is "Lugenbaron"! It literally means "Baron of Lies"!

You can't. We don't know what might happen-

Can anyone else hear that

Yeah.

I think I can- it's like- uh- like-

By now the heroic citizen soldiers of Corvae have the great machine in place.

And when the sun is at its zenith-

Pathetic creatures. Do you think you can kill what has risen from the deep?

We should have crushed your crawling bodies. We should have burned your minds-

Young... persons, it is hardly polite to interrupt a public official when he is gloating-

If we die, the gate will open- You will die in blood and fire-

?

Are we all about to die or what?

Seems not.

We were due for a break.

Are they?

I don't think so- They're out. Kirsch has a pulse-

As though I would do anything to endanger the lives of students.

The Beast is slain, and the only terror confronting us now is the health hazard posed by approximately a thousand tonnes of spoiled fish.

Can we sell it as canned tuna, do you think?

Bully for you, you didn't kill us all- but the Anglerfish isn''t the one who killed eight students last night.

Nine.

Perry's missing too.

And let us not forget the brave journalists of the Silas Voice.

Do you have any idea how sick I am of being accused of murder sprees I didn't even get to commit?

We know it was you!

You mustn't expect her to tell the truth, This sort of deceit runs through her veins like the blood she leeches from her victims.

But have no fear -

Now that she is in our power she will be tried for her crimes and-

Frivolity will not stay your execution, Ms. Belmonde-

Sorry.

Last night is just coming back to me.

Turns out godblood really does pack a wallop.

You know-

Since I've arrived, I've been gracious, I've been reasonable. I've been civilized.

But all you idiots do are accuse me of murder after petty murder. As if I would bother with one.

Or two.

Or twenty.

I'm going to carve a red swathe through your army.

I'm going to drink this nation dry. I am death on dark wings. You want to blame me for carnage-

I'll show you carnage.

Vordie squeals

Not until you answer for my sisters-

Come here, gingersnap.

... that sounds like it hurts.

a lot.

That temper of yours is going to put you in a bind someday.

I'll work on that.

Mattie!

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