Chapter 124:

Lieutenant Colonel Frayzer eventually obtained permission to enter the Blood Vulture Halls and investigate the situation on the ground. Murphy did not obstruct this “enemy spy” from acting, although Old Finoch was already dead, and the Witch Hunters were severely diminished. Theoretically speaking, the force protecting this man had almost vanished, but the vampire did not intend to keep him as a “souvenir” of brutality that would only serve to anger the Goldflower Kingdom without any other meaning. The necessary reason for this decision was that the Goldflower Kingdom’s actions in Transia needed a dignified conclusion and wrap-up, and the investigation report written by Lieutenant Colonel Frayzer himself could bring an end to all of this, allowing Murphy to achieve a more stable external environment more quickly. Secondly, regarding the Carpe family. This was an ancient power known even to Tris, a fallen woman for over a hundred years. During Tris’s heyday, this family already had a certain influence in the political sphere of the Silan Kingdom, and it seemed that the Carpe family’s ancestors had even had a small encounter with Tris. In any case, given the current situation in Transia and Kadman City, Murphy would never make the choice to provoke an enemy over a temporary grievance. “Behave yourself, I’ll be watching you!” The vampire dispatched his most loyal servant to accompany Lieutenant Colonel Frayzer into the collapsed Blood Vulture Halls. Faced with Maxim’s threat, Frayzer chose to sneer at it. As he grasped the rope and descended through the damaged spiral staircase, he said to Maxim: “If you want to intimidate an enemy, you can use your gaze, presence, or actions. Let me advise you, for a fellow aspiring to be a loyal dog, using language to threaten directly is the lowest form of instilling fear.” This was originally meant as a taunt. But a few seconds later, the peculiar Maxim, accompanying him and wearing the vulture mask, asked in response: “Oh? It seems you’re quite skilled in this area. Could you share some insights?” “?” This time, it was Lieutenant Colonel Frayzer’s turn to be perplexed. He looked at the fully armed Maxim with an odd expression and said: “Are all Transians insane? To so brazenly seek to learn from an enemy? Not to mention the rationality of this action itself, aren’t you afraid I might teach you the wrong things?” “I can judge for myself, I have the power called wisdom.” The loyal servant calmly replied: “Since it is a power, it can be mastered. As long as you’re willing to teach, I dare to learn. I need to progress, and I also thirst for progress. In the name of the loyalty you despise, to be honest, I cannot understand why you think my choice to become a loyal servant is a pitiful thing. Are you not also loyal to your sovereign? From this perspective, you and I are no different.” The lieutenant colonel was left speechless. He hesitated for a moment, and as the descending rope touched the ground at the bottom of the corridor, he answered: “I want to enter the Sacred Blood Hall and take a look.” “It hasn’t been excavated yet. The collapse there was too severe, and there’s still a risk of further collapse.” Maxim said: “But if you insist, I can take you to the excavation site. Lord Murphy looks forward to the completion of your report, and my master has instructed me to inform you that upon your departure, he will present you with evidence proving that Salrokdar has indeed perished, to make your investigation report more comprehensive.” “Good, that’s a cooperative attitude.” The lieutenant took out his notebook and said to Maxim as he approached: “To instill fear in others, you must first understand the causes of fear. I once attended a course on this at the Shaldor University’s College of Medicine. Let me briefly introduce it to you.” As Maxim followed Lieutenant Colonel Frayzer to “learn,” in the ruined outer city at Tris’s cottage, only two of the three remaining live little players had been summoned there by Tris’s three-eyed raven familiar, Weber. The players would be able to resurrect tomorrow, and tomorrow evening was also the moment when Murphy decided to hold the victory celebration. Cheche and Niuniu were both helping Miriam prepare for the event, but Lady Tris generously gave them a “hidden quest,” prompting the student group to scurry over. They all knew that Lady Tris had become the new Grand Duchess of the Blood Vulture Clan, so upon meeting this witch, the two greeted her in unison, congratulating Tris on her ascension. The small storyline about this power transition within the clan was quite popular on the forum. Players like Lumina, who were dedicated to the storyline, were quite displeased, feeling that such an important moment should have been witnessed by players, as they had completed the main storyline of Kadman City from start to finish. Tris becoming the Grand Duchess was partly due to their efforts. As for this, Murphy’s response was: You guys were weak and got yourselves killed, so don’t blame me? I can’t just immediately resurrect you, can I? However, Murphy didn’t have time now to placate the dissatisfied players’ emotions. He had a lot of things to attend to, just as Lady Tris had a spirit aptitude test she needed to complete before the players came back online. “Little Murphy’s commission has had me researching your otherworld warriors’ projection forms in this world recently. I believe your ‘otherworldly journey’ should be more spectacular than merely beginning your legendary story in the mundane human form. This may sound somewhat incredible, doesn’t it? But your unique existential forms have made realizing this subject a possibility.” The newly appointed Grand Duchess Tris’s attire was not much different from before, still a set of homely robes that accentuated her beautiful figure. However, the replenishment of power had added a sense of solemn presence to her alluring languor. This was clearly an accelerated “spirit erosion” process. Tris observed this process the entire time. After confirming that the erosion was complete, she cast a spell on the spot to reconsolidate the two little players’ spirit projections. This process was not difficult. From an existential perspective, the little players’ spirit projections had not actually been destroyed, they had merely transformed from a solid state into an energy state. Tris only needed to guide them back into a solid form. As Tris deftly wove the spirit threads on the spot, Cheche and Niuniu’s bodies regathered. They still looked the same, but their eyes now projected crimson dots, and vampire fangs protruded from the corners of their mouths. “Whoa whoa whoa whoa! It’s different now!” Cheche looked at his unnaturally pale hands and exclaimed: “Why does the world look like this to my eyes? It feels like infrared detection, and it’s so uncomfortable. The sunlight outside is so annoying, I feel like I’m burning! I’m going to burn up!” “Check your character interface quickly!” Niuniu reminded him. Cheche immediately opened the player interface and found that his character information had completely changed. In the interface with the Note “New Race Trial Status,” the original total of 30 attribute points had increased by 10, and there were brand new racial traits waiting to be experienced. The best part was that because it was a “trial status” and Tris had given them too much source blood, the two little fellows had even grown Blood Wings on the spot. They flapped and floundered, trying to learn how to fly like Murphy and the young ladies. But this was clearly an action that required special training. Even with frantic wing flapping, they could only flop around on the spot like grounded chickens. Their clumsy posture made Tris look utterly hopeless, yet these otherworldly little ones seemed so silly and adorable. “Hmm, it seems the experiment was a success.” Just as the two dummies were exchanging experiences on how to take flight, a familiar voice sounded from the entrance of the alchemy cottage. They turned to see Lord Murphy envelop himself in a moving shadow to avoid the sunlight as he entered the cottage. Murphy had just finished a “small matter” at the survivors’ camp. To clarify, the “small matter” here refers to him having just personally executed four traitors with proven ties to the Goldflower Kingdom before rushing over. He observed the vampire forms that the little players had taken on under the influence of the source blood with an appreciative gaze. They were slightly different from ordinary vampires. After all, without undergoing the Embrace, their outward appearance lacked the eerie and nocturnal aura of true vampires. Instead, they looked more like human souls stuffed into vampire bodies, like a cat’s soul placed in a caterpillar’s body, with an uncoordinated demeanor and posture. Well, come to think of it, their state was very similar to Murphy’s. “Can this condition be maintained for an extended period?” Murphy turned to Tris. The Grand Duchess shook her head, and due to certain unmentionable events from the previous night, she was currently avoiding Murphy’s gaze. She then evaluated in a researcher’s tone: “The warriors are only temporarily in this pseudo-vampire form, supported by the spirit energy of the source blood. Once the energy is depleted, they will revert to their human forms. However, it has been proven that their spirit projections can indeed be rewoven. I now have a direction to proceed with this endeavor. There is a small issue, though.” Tris stepped forward and pinched the necks of the two obediently standing little players, frowning as she said: “Their abilities are too lacking; they may not withstand the release of more source Blood Spirit energy. So even if my experiment succeeds, they will only be able to truly transform into permanent vampire forms after reaching the Black Iron level, when their bodily potentials are fully unleashed.” “This is already sufficient! And the conditions are perfect,” Murphy said with satisfaction, nodding his head. “Your Blood Vulture Clan needs fresh blood, but not incompetent fools! If all goes well, then in no more than half a month, you will have a batch of fearless otherworldly clansmen! The Blood Vulture Clan will rise again, and its future achievements will make you grateful for today’s decision.” “So, this is your plan for the future of the Blood Vulture Clan? What do you take my clan for?” Tris turned her head and rolled her eyes. Murphy shrugged, revealing a subtle smile. It was evident that this was the most important reason he did not want the original Blood Vulture Clan members to return. In his future plans, all or at least the vast majority of the Blood Vulture Clan members should be players! “Ah, the good times are over.” Five minutes later, Niuniu and Cheche’s “pseudo-vampire experience cards” expired, and the two regretfully reverted to their human forms. However, the trial experience was still a full score! Although in the end, it was only with Lord Murphy’s personal guidance that the two were able to perform the simplest ascent and gliding, the experience of true flight was amazing. “Today’s events must remain confidential!” Murphy issued the rewards to the two little players, along with the strange title “Prototype Midnight Child No. 1” that he had just coined, and instructed them: “I hope to give my warriors a real surprise once everything is complete. Please help me preserve this mystery, okay? I believe my warriors can be as reliable in keeping secrets as you are courageous.”