Lord Patrick's residence had just been visited by John Bennett. It was a villa nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with beautiful scenery, perched on a small hill next to a large lake. The entire villa was built somewhat like a medieval baron’s castle, with thick outer walls and protruding, uneven gatehouses; however, Lord Patrick had incorporated many modern elements, such as the use of metal materials and a huge, sail-like canopy for shelter from the rain.

For Peter Yates's comfort, the assistants drove a long black limousine to bring him to the entrance. After announcing their arrival, Peter Yates snorted, and the assistants immediately raised the bed he was lying on to an upright position, which was truly uncomfortable. They waited for about half an hour before the manor’s main gate finally opened. On the black door, a lifelike rose was formed from red metal wire—that was the symbol of the Toreador family. Lord Patrick was the head of the Toreador family, and this was also the Toreador family’s headquarters.

An old vampire, dressed in a British-style butler’s uniform, came out. He bowed to the enforcer, then gestured for him to enter. The assistants hurriedly tried to carry Peter Yates inside, but the butler stopped them with an outstretched hand. He glanced at Peter Yates lying on the bed, seemingly unconcerned by his oddity. The old butler waved his hand; the assistants looked down at their boss, and Peter Yates swept his eyes over them, signaling them to withdraw. The old butler extended his hand, and a surge of energy lifted Peter Yates up. With one hand supporting Peter Yates, the butler walked inside. The assistants followed to the door, and with a clang, the iron gate shut tightly.

This manor—Peter Yates had visited a few times before, but it was the first time he’d been carried in like this. Lord Patrick was the only elder who received guests in the living room; he seemed unconcerned about the threat that light posed to vampires, while the other elders’ reception rooms were all set underground.

Lord Patrick’s eyes were still covered with black sand, symbolizing seclusion. Seeing the disheveled new enforcer, his brows furrowed: “What happened to you? What’s wrong, did you run into a high-level exorcist?” Peter Yates thought to himself, if I’d run into an exorcist, would I need to come to you? He gave a wry smile. “No, I ran into the most powerful enforcer.” He decided to be honest: “I trespassed in someone else’s home and was enforced by our most powerful enforcer: the punishment is imprisonment without a cell, for an indefinite period!” Lord Patrick smiled and said, “Oh, since when did people from your Gangrel clan develop such a sense of humor?” Peter Yates gave a bitter smile. “Maybe because most of us live in France…” Peter Yates honestly explained how he ended up like this. After listening, Lord Patrick said nothing, but reached out and placed his hand on Peter Yates. Peter Yates could no longer feel anything; he knew Lord Patrick was “diagnosing” him.

Half a minute later, Lord Patrick withdrew his hand, but his brows remained furrowed. “Peter Yates, I’m afraid you didn’t come to me just to have me lift this restriction, did you?” Peter Yates’s heart skipped a beat, and his speech became unnatural. Lord Patrick glanced at him. “John Bennett has a few tricks that are really effective, as we all know. Even we can’t undo them. In his words, it’s called, hmm, ‘let he who tied the bell untie it’!” Lord Patrick finally recalled the awkward phrase. “Be honest, what else have you done?” Peter Yates suddenly felt that his little tricks were completely exposed before such a wise elder. He gave an embarrassed smile. “My lord, it’s like this: my subordinates were incompetent and destroyed John Bennett’s home…” A red light flashed in Lord Patrick’s eyes, and Peter Yates’s voice immediately grew softer. “Nonsense!” The elder was a bit angry. “That’s his greatest and only secret. Even we, even the entire Camarilla, never touch it, and you—!” He shook his head helplessly. “Since it’s already happened, there’s nothing to be done now. Let me think if there’s any solution!” He glared fiercely at Peter Yates. “Now you’re scared, aren’t you!” Peter Yates blinked and said nothing.

“You’d better not go back for now. Stay here with me. When John Bennett returns, I’ll mediate for you together with Chief Justice Caroline.” He sighed. “The carnivores are already in this state; you and John Bennett absolutely must not have any more conflict!”

Peter Yates stayed at Lord Patrick’s antique-style manor. He had great respect for Lord Patrick. In the strictly hierarchical and cold-blooded vampire society, Lord Patrick was the only elder who could talk to his subordinates like a friend.