The Yuanrang Monster Hunter
15. Livilla
“Are any of you secretly studying waterbending or suddenly being able to control water?” said Mengde.
“Do not be foolish, Mengde,” said Yuanrang, “There is no such thing as secretly and suddenly able.”
Suddenly the water in the pond seemed to be surging like it was being blown by the wind. The suspicious Yuanrang immediately prepared. The water then floated in the air and began raining down on Mengde's artificial flames. Some of the flames were extinguished.
“Control original water,” said Yuanrang, “Mengde, lest we lose light.”
“Ya,” Mengde replied.
“All stay calm!” said Yudhistira who stepped forward to protect his three disciples.
Mengde also spread fire again and this time more. It's too risky if they can't see in a place where there's no light like here. There's obviously someone else here. It is potentially dangerous because it controls water.
As the amount of fire there is, this area is bright. As the light strengthened, the four warriors saw one approaching figure. This figure was wearing a black robe and hooded. Yuanrang prepared to attack. He was arrested by Yudhishthira. The hands of this figure waved to the four swordsmen. He walked while coagulating the water into four fairly large water balls.
“Wait, don't be attacked!” said Yudhistira, “He seems to be trying to talk to us, Yuanrang.”
Whoever controls the water, he opens the hood of the robe. The face of a woman with pale skin, fanged and yellow eyes. Clearly this woman was the fanged human they had met yesterday. Judging from the braided blond hair, it was also clear that she was not of East Asian ethnicity. Except from the Roman Empire far away on European soil.
“Strigoi,” says Miaocai who finally used the arrow as well. Already coated the arrows with ice and had already aimed at the strigoi.
“Master ... She ... I can't ...,” said Yuanrang
“Quiet. I speak Roman,” said the advanced Yudhistira as if he had understood what Yuanrang thought, “Let me speak with him and will translate to you.”
“I'm not looking for trouble with you guys, man,” that's the initial word of the strigoi, “Why are you guys interrupting our place?”
Because he jumped too far, Yudhistira reversed communication. Without beginning self-introduction, suddenly this strigoi woman immediately complained. Yudhishthira began his introduction and remained calm.
“Before we get into the main topic, let's get acquainted first,” said Yudhistira in Roman, “My name is Yudhistira and these are my three disciples. I am from India and am now in the Han Dynasty due to an assignment. May I know your name and where you're from?”
“Livilla. Roman Empire. Britannian. Londinium,” said the female strigoi in a tone that sounded stiff and unfriendly.
Britannia is a place name in the Roman era. Later, in the modern world, it would be known as Britain or England. While Londinium is one of the cities that belong to the Britannia region. Later, in the modern world, Londinium would become known as London.
“As long as we speak, may I ask you for a moment to translate our communication to my three disciples? Three of my disciples do not speak Roman,” said Yudhistira.
“Please,” says Livilla.
“Initially our target was just centipedes. To your question earlier, my intention was only to protect the strigoi that were brutally attacking humans. My three students met you yesterday. I'm sure you also recognize these three students of mine. Not all strigoi are bad. But not all strigoi are good anyway. That's why we need to make sure first.”
“Just ask the villagers on the south side of the forest. Were any residents attacked by blood-sucking humans? Try asking them!”
Before leaving here, Yudhistira had asked this to refugees. But they reported nothing about bloodsucking. Nor have you ever met a pale-skinned, yellow-eyed, blond-haired man. There were no reports of strigoi coming to the village.
“I asked the villagers just now,” said Yudhistira, “There were no reports of your assault.”
“If you've asked the residents,” Livilla wonder, “Why do you still not believe?”
“Shortly. Then how do you survive without blood?” ask Yudhistira.
“First, we suck blood from the livestock of the surrounding population. Secondly, there were some bandit nests around this forest. They were quite far from this forest. But it doesn't matter. We kidnap them, suck their blood and return them once they've weakened. We didn't even kill the bandits. Moreover, the villagers who are innocent.”
“Can I trust your statement? It could have been you who controlled the centipedes to kidnap the villagers. They suck the blood of the people. So right?”
“We do not have any relationship with centipedes.”
“How can I believe your words if you live side by side with centipedes, Miss Livilla?”
“Lipan this was there before we were here. What brought centipedes here were three lukanthropos. I've killed one lukanthropos. The second Lucanthropos was killed by your students last night. Third lukanthropos escaped somewhere.”
“You've placed my suspicions on the lukanthropos, Miss Livilla?” ask Yudhistira, “If you're not looking for trouble with the people, why don't you kill the centipedes? Isn't the result now that I suspect you?”
“We purposely let the centipedes live to protect our hiding place. Let alone the cave, the residents will not dare to approach the forest because there are centipedes. In short, so that they may be far from us. We don't have much choice. Imagine if we killed a centipede? Then there will be many villagers who enter the cave and even meet with us.”
“Kupress. So you have nothing to do with lukanthropos and centipedes?” Yudhistira.
“For lukanthropos, they're our enemies. For centipedes, our relationship with them is just to use it,” said Livilla, “For the evidence you have got yourself and have explained earlier.”
“From the land of Britannia in the far west to the Han Dynasty in the far east. What is your goal to travel so far?”
“We hunt down a treacherous strigoi. Reportedly, he fled to the Han Dynasty. The organization sent several strigoi groups. We are all scattered throughout the land of the Han Dynasty.”
“Some groups?? Meaning you guys sent strigoi in bulk??”
“That's. For the specific number, we don't know for sure. Because our organization in Britannia is sending in installments. After getting here, we also have to build a communication network.”
“What strigoi are you hunting? Until you sent a bunch of strigoi just to hunt down one strigoi?”
“Your investigation is here, are you completely legal?” Yudhistira.
Livilla sighed and said, “I thought you believed. Alright. It'sit's okay. I have enough proof.”
Livilla held back from hearing Yudhisthira's words that were hard to believe. Seen from the face. But the woman is keeping the anger. Then he said he had four pieces of legality. He opened the bag and took something. Then show me a special badge. The badge is made of square shaped steel slab. On the surface, there are three special molds. The topmost print is the eagle that looks to the left side. Typical Roman state emblems. Complete with SPQR. SPQR was a state slogan of the Roman Empire meaning Senatus PopulusQue Romanus. If translated means the Senate with the Roman People. Then under the coat of arms of the Roman Empire, there is a mold embossed in the form of the emblem of the organization in which Livilla worked. At the bottom of the plate, there is the name LIVILLA.
“How? This is just the first evidence. Let you have more faith, I'll get you three more proofs,” said Livilla, “Please wait here for a moment.”
“Yes. Please. We will wait,” said Yudhistira.
Livilla turned around and walked. Then it disappeared in the dark. Yudhishthira told his disciples to sit down and start chatting.
“Teacher, what's the symbol in the middle? I know that the topmost emblem is the coat of arms of the Roman Empire. If the one in the middle I don't know,” said Yuanrang.
“He's a member of an organization called Aquilae Custos. Which means Protective Eagle. The meaning of the Eagle here is the Roman Empire. So it means Protector of the Roman Empire. Aquilae Custos overcomes monsters, ghosts, evil witches, black magic and things that disturb the peace of the Roman people. Not a playful organization. Functionally and purposefully, similar to the Silk Road Guard. The Silk Road Protector was supported and financed by five states: Han Dynasty, Persian Empire, India, Arabia and Rome. While Aquilae Custos belongs to Rome itself.”
The symbol of Aquilae Custos is located in the middle and consists of four symbols. First the eagle symbol. Both shield symbols are located in front of the eagle. Third, the axe symbol is gripped on the left foot of the eagle. The four sword symbols are on the right foot of the eagle. Yudhistira also explained that this organization has a slogan that is “Serving the People of Roma” even though it is not written on the symbol. Not from the official military part of the Roman Empire.
“If it is not part of the military, then is it part of the Roman intelligence organization?” ask Miaocai.
“Not really. Aquilae Custos is independent and independent. Not under the military and not under the Frumentarii,” said Yudhistira, “The number of Aquilae Custos members is not as much as intelligence and military. But they are very strong. The Aquilae Custos selection system was also very strict and training was insane. They protected the Roman population from the shadows. Its members can be ordinary humans, strigoi or lukanthropos.”
“Wait, teacher .. Frumentarii?” ask Mengde.
“Ya that was. Frumentarii was a Roman intelligence organization,” Yudhistira said.
Soon, Livilla came and showed up again. Yuanrang was quite astonished to see the way the strigoi were moving. Said to walk also not, said to jump also not. They walked but jumped. Yuanrang himself was confused to describe. What is clear, the way it moves like that makes the strigoi look faster when compared to ordinary humans. Livilla brought two documents. The Strigoi slowed down and handed over three documents to Yudhistira.
Yudhistira checked Livilla's documents. The first document, a warrant, states that Livilla, a member of Aquilae Custos, was in charge of searching for fugitives in the Han Dynasty. At the bottom, there is a special stamp of the Roman Emperor. Emperor Antoninus Pius. The second document, similar to the first, was written by Aquilae Custos himself. The third document, is a hunting license from the Han Dynasty. No less convincing, the third document is marked with a special stamp of the head of government of the Han Dynasty. Cao Can is. It was fine for Yudhishthira to understand Chinese and Roman. Yudhistira returned three documents to Livilla.
“How? already four proofs I gave and previously had a series of arguments,” said Livilla who sighed, “Do you believe? If you still don't believe it, that's okay. Doesn't matter. We're gonna get out of here. But, as a consequence, we will report to Aquilae Custos. Aquilae Custos will report to the Roman Empire. That there was a group of people from the Han Dynasty who claimed to be monster hunters obstructed the investigation and hunting of Aquilae Custos. Of course the consequences of the information just now will have an impact on the relationship between the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire. I'm sure you know, if this information reaches Emperor Antoninus Pius, it's not a good thing for the Han Dynasty.”
“OK, Okay. Forgive us. We're just making sure. We believe,” said Yudhistira.
Livilla smiled, “Thank God then.”
“Actually this is the case, me and my three students are conducting the same investigation related to the arrival of monsters from the north. If you're pleased, maybe we can combine power?” Yudhistira.
“Can you show me proof that you're really investigators?” here's Livilla's counterattack, “I've shown proof. Now it's your turn.”
“Next meeting, I'll give you.”
Yudhishthira actually did not have this affidavit. However, he believed that he could obtain the documents requested by Livilla. Because Yudhishthira intended to cooperate with this Roman emissary.
“I'd be very happy if there was any help. But there are two things to think about. First, we have not yet established coordination with colleagues in the organization. So, we have not been able to get approval for cooperation. Second, sorry in advance, we have not fully trusted you guys,” Livilla said.
“We've killed two centipedes and one lukanthropos. You still don't believe it?”
“If competently, I believe. For the size of a teenage boy, killing two centipedes and one lukanthropos is incredible,” said Livilla who stared at three students of Yudhistira alternately, “The problem is in coordination and legality.”
“For legality, we will bring a letter when meet again. For coordination, what else do you need to make you believe in us?”
“For the initial stage, just do not spread it to the residents if we live here. Only the three of you know.”
“If the matter is easy for us. But along with the return of the villagers, sooner or later they will come to this cave. So, even if I don't tell the residents that there's a strigoi living here, they'll know for themselves. Without us having to tell. How else, Miss Livilla? The people depend on the daily life of this forest. Do you have any other alternatives?”
“Sebentar.”
Livilla frowned and lowered her head. He seemed to think hard. Because of these words of Yudhistira. Want to tell Yudhishthira to prevent the residents who want to return here? What a ridiculous request. Want to tell Yudhishthira to divert the source of income of the population so as not to hang this forest? That's ridiculous too. Livilla looked confused.
“You have two people, right? What if you call your friend here and let's discuss?” ask Yudhistira
“Sorry, my friend is sleeping. I can't bother him.”
“Or is this all? I know that strigoi like you need blood. I am willing to give you blood. So you don't have to bother looking for cattle or kidnapping bandits. If the blood problem has been resolved, you can focus more on working on the mission and building an information network with other members of Aquilae Costus.”
Livilla's expression went from confused to happy, good “Ide. I'm willing, my friend will be ready too. He often complains of having to look for blood.”
“Look, Miss Livilla. Indeed my idea is not necessarily approved by the local authorities. But I'll discuss first. Who knows, the local authorities agree. I'll try. All of you propose to the ruler to find you a cave or other house. Two researchers from Aquilae Costus did not deserve to be in a cave like this. Like wild animals only.”
“Iya. Thank ye. When are you guys gonna be here again?”
“We can't be sure yet. Because we had to hunt giant water snakes. I will not charge the ruler money for two centipedes, one lukanthropos and one water snake. The pay is long-term operation support heading north.”
“One more time, thank you for your help, Mr. Yudhistira,” Livilla said with a greeting imitating the Chinese.
“Alright, we go home first,” Yudhistira and three of his students say goodbye.