122. Annoying!

Magnus smiled and broke the awkward silence. "We were elated to finally meet the Supreme Punisher. Rest assured that we will give our very best to our jobs, and we will not abuse our power and position," he assured her quickly. "Thank you, Magnus. I'm glad to meet you all. Together we will work hand in hand to preserve peace and unity for the welfare of all peace-loving creatures on this planet," Clarice responded, her words laced with wisdom. "Yeah. Peace for all," Magnus agreed. "This moment calls for a celebration," he added cheerily, clapping his hands, his gaze glued on the masked woman who deeply aroused his curiosity. The door opened. Women, wearing black attire, arrived, holding silver trays in their hands. The women put the wine glass filled with red liquid on the table. After finishing the task, the women left the room quietly. "Everyone, let's drink this high-quality blood taken from teenage human boys and girls," Magnus said, picking up his glass, and raising it. The others followed suit, but Clarice refused to pick up her glass. Everyone looked at her, wondering why she hadn't picked up her glass yet. "What did you say? Blood taken from human boys and girls?" Clarice asked, alarmed. She wondered how they got blood from human teenagers. By killing them? "What's wrong, Supreme Punisher? You don't like drinking teenagers' blood?" Magnus asked. "I will instruct the maid to prepare adult blood. Or you can drink my blood. I'm willing to offer you my blood," he said, teasing her. Clarice sighed inwardly. "I'm not against drinking the blood of teenagers. I just want to ask, are the teenagers okay? How did your men get their blood?" she asked curiously, wanting to know if extreme force was used to extract the blood. "Don't worry, the teenagers sold their blood willingly in exchange for money. No harm was done during the extraction of blood. They went home to their families safe and sound with money in their pockets. I specifically told my men not to force teenagers. The blood was taken legally in exchange for money," Magnus explained. "If you want, I can show you the video of how the blood was taken and there's also video footage of the teenagers returning home safely to their families," he added for clarity purposes. "Good. I'm satisfied with your explanation," Clarice said and picked up the glass. Magnus smirked. He raised his glass and said, "Cheers!" Everyone drank the blood from their glasses, including Clarice. She didn't notice anything unusual about the blood content of the glass. In fact, it was very delicious. That's when she noticed Magnus staring at her intently. There's something in his eyes. The way he looks at her makes her feel uneasy inside. What is he thinking? After they enjoyed their human blood refreshment, Magnus spoke. "Is there a chance that the Supreme Punisher will take off her mask and show us her face?" he asked boldly. Clarice was surprised by his request. She glanced at Demetria, who was listening and observing the conversation quietly in the corner. When her mentor didn't say anything, she had to take matters into her own hands. She valued her privacy so much. She will never reveal herself to Magnus and his staff. "I'm sorry guys. I value privacy. You won't see my real face. I always wear a mask when I visit this place. Take it or leave it. Anyone who dares to remove my mask without my permission will die!" she warned everyone in the room, her voice strong and firm, echoing in the room. Magnus smiled. "No problem. I respect your privacy. Rest assured no one will dare to remove your mask while we are inside this place." "Good!" Clarice smiled, pleased with his reply. "Let's continue..." "I'm sorry if I offended you," Magnus said apologetically. When he heard from Demetria that the Supreme Punisher would arrive wearing a mask, he was intrigued by her identity. He puts a powerful potion in the wine glass mixed with blood. The moment the punisher drinks the blood, he can see her true face behind the mask. He was shocked when he saw her face. He never expected that of all people, she would become the Supreme Punisher. He finally found his missing lover after a long time. "Apologies accepted," Clarice replied. "Alright, let's begin our discussion..." Magnus said, trying to calm the emotion raging inside his heart. The staff discussed things related to the association, focusing mainly on the conditions of vampires all over the country. So far, everything has been great. Generally, vampires behaved well, coexisting peacefully with humans. The meeting ended after three hours. "This meeting has finally reached its end," Magnus declared, officially ending their first ever meeting with the Supreme Punisher. "Well done everyone. I'm proud of you guys. I can finally retire in peace," Demetria spoke cheerfully, pleased that Clarice's first day of being a Supreme Punisher went well. Clarice handled Magnus well. Magnus looked at Clarice before standing up. "Alright, I will personally give you a tour of this place together with our mentor Demetria," he said. They left the conference room and went outside to tour the vampire headquarters. Clarice made her minions disappear in the blink of an eye while they were walking in the hallway. Magnus was stunned. "Where are your bodyguards?" he asked, amazed. "I told them to stay hidden because this place is safe for me to roam around," Clarice said smugly. "Wow, you really are worth being called the Supreme Punisher," he said with full admiration in his voice. Demetria went to talk with other staff members, leaving Magnus and Clarice to continue the tour and deal with each other. Clarice was feeling anxious. Every time she looked at Magnus' face she was reminded of her very own husband waiting for her home. "Um, can we meet outside? In a public setting," Magnus suggested. Clarice looked at him, raising a brow. "Why?" "Nothing, let's just have a friendly chat," Magnus replied casually. "I'm sorry, I'm not interested in going out and pursuing a friendly relationship with you. We can discuss everything here at headquarters during my visit," Clarice bluntly turned him down. "I just wanted to know you because I had a feeling that we had known each other in the past. Your voice sounds familiar to me. Why are you hiding your face? Let me see your face, please?" Magnus requested in a pleading tone. Clarice sighed. "Look, I don't know what your intention is, but our relationship will be strictly professional. I won't be meeting you outside for a friendly chit-chat. I want to separate my private life from my duty to the vampire association. So please respect it!" she said adamantly, glaring at him. Magnus groaned, releasing a deep sigh. "Why are you wearing a mask? Why don't you show us your face? Show me your face!" He insisted impatiently. The more she refused his simple request, the more he suspected she was intentionally hiding her identity from him. But why? Why is she doing this to him? Clarice begins to feel irritated by his repetitive requests about wanting to see her face. "You know what? You are starting to annoy me. I will inform Demetria that you are pestering me!" she said, enraged. She left his side and retraced her steps to find her mentor. But she couldn't find Demetria anywhere. She quickly left the headquarters and teleported back to the sacred mountain, nostrils flaring in anger. She hates Magnus guts! She doesn't like working with him. He is so annoying! A few minutes later, Demetria appeared in the living room. "Why did you suddenly leave the headquarters without informing me?" she asked, noticing the scowl on her face. "That guy, Magnus! He is so annoying! He wants me to take off my mask. He told me my voice sounded familiar. He wanted us to meet outside for a friendly chat. I told him no but he kept insisting. So annoying!" Clarice said indignantly. Demetria sighed deeply. "Oh well, I never expected you and Magnus to argue on the first day of meeting each other." Clarice looks at her mentor. "Why didn't you tell me that Magnus looked like my husband?" Demetria sighed. "They do look the same, but they are not twins and they are different people. One is a vampire and the other is a wolf. It just so happens that the two men have similar physical features, but that's all there is to it. You even have a lookalike, your doppelganger upstairs," she quickly reminded her. "So no big deal, right?" "You are right." Clarice took a deep breath after realizing that Demetria had a point. "As long as I have a mask plastered on my face, everything is alright." Demetria nodded her head. "Yeah. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Besides, you had already warned him that you would kill anyone who attempted to take off your mask. No one will try." "OK. Thanks. I'm going to rest now. Goodnight," Clarice said, heading to her room. "Night night," Demetria murmured. Everything is just coincidence. She can't tell Clarice the truth that Magnus and her doppelganger in the hibernation chamber were lovers in the past and Magnus has been trying to find his missing lover for a long time. She doesn't want to complicate things between them. As long as Clarice doesn't show her face to Magnus, then everything will be fine. Magnus didn't know the existence and location of the sacred mountain. He didn't know that his long-lost lover was lying peacefully in the hibernation chamber. He will never know.