Chapter 118:

Maxim had always been remarkably efficient, especially after receiving relevant instructions from Murphy. This loyal servant would always complete his master’s orders with utmost speed. This time was no different. Although it was only the previous night when Murphy asked Lady Adele to notify Maxim to lead the Kadman Civilian Self-Defense Force into the collapsed Blood Vulture Halls to excavate the buried treasure vault, by the evening of the next day, a fully armed soldier came running to report on the project’s progress. They had already unearthed a corner of the treasure vault. This greatly surprised Murphy. The project progressed so quickly? In his memory, the collapse of the entire Sacred Blood Hall had triggered the overall collapse of the buildings deep within the corridor. Theoretically, the location where the treasure vault was buried in the middle should not have been so easy to clear. Murphy had expected it to see daylight within three days as a victory. However, after personally descending into the collapsed Blood Vulture Halls for inspection, Murphy discovered the clue. The damage to the Blood Vulture Halls was not as devastating as he had imagined. Especially in the area leading to the middle of the corridor, although it was covered by the collapsed corridor dome, the original underground cavern of the Blood Vulture Halls, apart from the direct passage to the surface caused by the Spirit explosion from the Sacred Blood Pool and the subsequent collapse forming a large skylight, its structure remained very sturdy. Through the cave passage that Murphy and the old knight Finoch had previously taken, Maxim and his soldiers easily entered the Blood Vulture Halls once again. As for the excavation of the treasure vault, it was even simpler. To protect the wealth and treasures of the Blood Vulture Clan, the Vampires had obsessively coated the outer layer of the vault with a thick layer of solid gold over the course of four hundred years. It was this incredibly sturdy material that protected everything within the vault during the corridor’s collapse. It had been flipped over and pressed into the rubble in a bizarre posture, but remained intact overall. “My lord! Fortunately, we have succeeded! The treasure vault has been unearthed. Additionally, our people have discovered the clan patriarch’s personal armory and a massive armory containing many Blood Servant equipment below the corridor. They are currently being cleared, but it may take a few days before they can be reopened. However, you need not worry about securing further weapons and supplies.” Maxim, with his arm still in a sling, saluted Murphy with his left hand. Behind him was the discovered treasure vault, its Spirit-locked door hanging diagonally above, while Murphy nodded and took out the Treasurer Slave’s vault seal, pressing it onto the door. With a crisp click, the vault’s door opened outward. “Come in,” Murphy said to his loyal servant. As the two entered, they were greeted by a scene of pure golden splendor. Crafted into rectangular shapes, gold ingots that filled more than half the space had scattered across the floor due to the intense shaking, while Portian gold coins that had been stored in boxes spilled out like waterfalls. Various precious artifacts and artworks collected by the family also adorned the space. It resembled the legendary super treasure hoard that had withstood the passage of time, a real-life version of a dragon’s hoard. Even with just this money, it would be enough to purchase the entire land of Transia. So, these Vampires were essentially hoarders, right? How did they manage to accumulate such an enormous sum over 400 years? Faced with such terrifying wealth, Maxim’s breathing momentarily stopped, but he quickly regained his composure. All of this belonged to Lord Murphy’s treasure trove, and others could not lay claim to it! “If the Blood Vulture Clan’s accumulation over 400 years amounted to just this money, I would be extremely, extremely disappointed.” Murphy knew that mere wealth was no longer significant given his current status, so he felt no particular sense of awe. As he stepped on the piles of coins like sand with his boots, he bent down and retrieved a few small Spirit boxes from the coin heap. It was not that he had become so indifferent to the temptation of wealth. Rather, as a lord, Murphy had to consider issues on a deeper level. The ten-year war had devastated Transia’s already underdeveloped agriculture. By the end of the war, the rationing system implemented in Kadman City had essentially plunged it into an economic and food crisis. While the sight of so much money piled together was certainly alluring, the thought of having to prepare for the ever-insufficient food and resources for his domain gave Murphy a pounding headache. Most critically, it was already October, and the cooler temperatures signaled the arrival of autumn. And the unforgiving winter would soon follow! Murphy’s most vivid memory was of nearly dying from starvation and cold on a snowy night in Kadman City, only to be carried back to the courtyard by Tris. This meant that winters in the Transia region could be snowy and deadly cold. Not to mention the impending arrival of war prisoners and refugees! Manpower was undoubtedly precious, but to simply bring them back without any care for their well-being would be too much. He had set a goal of having at least 2,000 players within six months. Based on the domain feedback of 1%, this meant that the region under his rule must have at least 200,000 subjects. The long-term food needs for so many people alone could not be met with just some gold. Therefore, all this shiny stuff was worthless in Murphy’s eyes! During extreme hunger, a piece of gold was not even worth a slice of bread. And if the price of a slice of bread rose to 500,000 marks, Murphy was all too familiar with the consequences. If Murphy could not secure food and supplies before people froze to death, then his domain would not only struggle to endure the Black Disaster but would likely be overthrown by his starving and freezing subjects even before the Gnolls came knocking. Just thinking about these issues gave him a headache. Fortunately, he had his omnipotent little players. This lord and NPC had to learn to trust the players’ ingenuity in these matters, for if he did not, his domain would truly have no hope. snap Murphy opened those small Spirit boxes, which contained exquisite crimson rings bearing the Blood Vulture Clan’s insignia but no specific names. These rings were “identification” prepared by the Blood Vulture Clan specifically for official members. Every clan had something similar, supposedly crafted by the “Thinkers and Recorders” Sanguine Clan, one of the seven great Vampire clans, and issued every three hundred years for clan expansion. Only those wearing the Blood Vulture signet rings would be recognized as official clan members. More than once! This land should be grateful and pledge its loyalty to You.” “But if I become the Blood Vulture Duke, it means I have chosen my allegiance.” Murphy sighed, sitting atop the “hill” formed by piles of coins and ingots. He idly flicked the coins, listening to their pleasing clinks as they collided, and said: “True, becoming the Duke would allow me to control the entire clan and demand the allegiance of those Blood Vultures in hiding. But in gaining that, I would inevitably lose something else. Max, you must learn to view issues from a higher perspective. Those survivors... They were oppressed and ruled by Vampires for 400 years. Though they obeyed, it doesn’t mean they harbored no resentment. They respect and obey me now, not because I am a Vampire, their master, but because I can protect and lead them. However, the leadership prestige I have painstakingly built would crumble the moment I assume the position of Blood Vulture Clan Duke. In their eyes, I would become yet another mouthpiece for this land’s centuries of suffering, and their respect for me would swiftly turn to fear, inheriting the previously accumulated resentment. In exchange for gaining so much resentment, I would only reap a group of cunning but battered and disloyal Vampires. It’s a trade-off. If it were you, would you make such a decision?” Maxim paused his work, furrowing his brow as he considered the issue from Murphy’s perspective. Soon, he realized that, it seemed... well... perhaps it wasn’t such a good deal after all. If Lord Murphy were taking over a thriving Blood Vulture Clan with over 30,000 to nearly 40,000 Vampires in allegiance, it might be worth the gamble. But this clan, which existed in name only, hardly seemed worth the effort. “I don’t yet have a clear idea of the essence of ruling,” Murphy said, scooping up a handful of coins and letting them slip through his fingers. He told his loyal servant, “But I can at least confirm one point: a ruler cannot become the enemy of the people! Fear may be an effective means of rule, but there is no need to invite meaningless hatred upon oneself. As a Patriarch or Duke, I could only rule over Vampires. But if I am a Lord, if I am the Governor of all Transia, then even the new Blood Vulture Duke would have to bow before me! Vampires are merely one of the many races inhabiting the land of Transia.” Maxim’s eyes widened in realization. It wasn’t that Murphy didn’t want the title of Blood Vulture Duke, his ambition far exceeded the petty throne of a single Vampire clan. That would neither elevate him nor spread his prestige. “Your ambition is as unfathomable as your wisdom, my lord,” the loyal servant said, bowing his head in sincere admiration. “It was foolish of me to view it so simply. But my lord, even if you spurn this throne, you cannot simply toss it to Lady Femis. I have no personal objections to her, but her temperament... at least in my view, is unsuitable for leadership. As you said, you will rule over all life in the land of Transia, with Vampires as merely one of your subjects. As such, the Blood Vulture Clan should be firmly in your grasp. I propose letting Adele inherit instead.” “Her status is too low, Lord Payne would never agree. We currently rely on that lord’s prestige for our protection,” Murphy said, stroking his chin. He gave Maxim an enigmatic smile. “Did you forget someone? Someone who, like Femis, can address Salrokdar as ‘Elder’ and ‘Father’, someone closely tied to me, whom I acknowledge would never harm us, someone with exceptional wisdom and connections, including with Lord Payne. Someone who just rescued us from the brink of destruction. Someone who, from the very beginning, has been the most suitable candidate in my mind to become the Blood Vulture Duke.” “!” Maxim’s eyes widened as he exclaimed breathlessly, “You mean... Lady Tris.” “Correct!” Murphy laughed heartily, patting Maxim’s shoulder. “I will not become the Blood Vulture Duke, but my elder will sit upon that throne and become the strongest force supporting my rule over the land of Transia. She has endured so much suffering over the past hundred years, this is what Salrokdar and the entire Blood Vulture Clan owe her! Lord Payne would not refuse such an ancient succession either. From every angle, Tris is far more suitable than Femis.” “A perfect decision!” Maxim said, reinvigorated. “Then we must complete this coronation swiftly, before Lady Femis is taken to Lord Payne.” “Why bother with such formalities? That sort of ceremonialism is rather ill-timed in our current difficulties,” Murphy said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Of the entire Blood Vulture Clan still left in this former territory, there are only a few little cats like us. I have already notified Miriam and Adele. They are bringing Lady Femis this way. You personally invite Tris over, but don’t mention the real reason, just tell her I’ve discovered something important in the halls. Also, invite Lord Knight Palanno and his three attendants to come as well. They will attend the ceremony and bear witness to today’s events.” With that, Murphy reached into a nearby coin pile and lightly scooped up a lady’s style Vampire crown. He brushed off the remaining coins and told Maxim, “You must also prepare yourself! Two days from now, after the victory celebration, I will perform your Blood Embrace here. Fervent loyalty must be rewarded with supreme honor. Without a doubt, this is what you deserve, Max.”