Chapter 132:

Miriam eventually accepted the title of “Baroness of Morland” and the territory that came with it. She also received a Crimson Regent’s bat-shaped signet ring, feeling dazed as she returned to the chair beside Lady Tris. Her mind was a complete blank at the moment, making it nearly impossible for her to think effectively. This made her feel like she had surely been trapped by the cunning vampires using some vile mental spell. However, Lady Tris was well aware that this was simply a case of “pig brain overload” from too much intense thinking in a short period. No big deal. A bit of rest and a few drinks to relax would fix it. Tonight’s ceremony had concluded in terms of procedure, but Murphy still had one final announcement to make. Amid the private whispers from the little players upstairs, Murphy rose from his chair, leaning on the Desire Demon Blade and taking a deep breath. His gentle gaze swept across the faces of each little player. He could remember how these adorable and brave otherworld spirits had fought under his command, as well as the process of his interactions and acquaintance with every one of them. Although he had only spent less than a month with the little players so far, the relationship between them had already become quite close. Regrettably, Murphy could not be certain whether this intimacy stemmed from the players genuinely regarding him, an “NPC,” as a friend, or simply from their fondness for a generous main-line NPC. He wished he knew the answer to this question. He could perhaps gain the answer by employing Desire Perception to listen in on their thoughts. But ultimately, Murphy did not do so. He did not want to reap disappointment, and besides, now was not the time. Pushing the question from his mind, he discreetly gripped the core bead tied to his wrist and activated the quest dispatch, with the pre-edited text and content primed and ready to go. “My warriors! It is because of your unyielding battles over this past month that I, once a fringe member of my family, have arrived at this point. Everything I now possess was forged from your shed blood. Thus, I must declare here and now! I am about to make a decision that defies the countless traditions laid down by our vampiric ancestors. This may cause me to become one reviled by my own kind, but I know I must do it! I wish to share the midnight’s blessing and the crimson’s power with you all! Just as you have treated me with such generosity and loyalty.” “Ding, ding, ding!” The moment Murphy finished speaking, a quest note notification sounded from every player’s Computation Bead, indicating a massive triggering of main-line quest updates. Meow King lowered his head to see the quest note that popped up on the player interface: 【Race Sidequest ‘Midnight’s Calling’ has been triggered! Quest Content: Moved by your loyalty and courage, Count of Kadman Murphy has decided, along with Lady Tris, to make a difficult decision that defies vampire law and tradition in order to save the Blood Vulture Clan from the brink of extinction. He wishes to invite you to join the Blood Vulture Clan and become a member of the midnight nobility and an Eternal Sin Descendant. Of course, Murphy would never force his warriors to do anything, so whether to answer his call is up to you. Quest Objective: Answer the summons of Lady Duchess Tris and Count of Kadman Murphy, undergo the Black Iron Trial, and complete the Initial Embrace and Spirit Weaving Ceremony to join the Blood Vulture Clan. (P.S. This quest can only be completed after the version update.) Quest Reward: A new race template and unique power system, a new reputation system and gameplay updates. (P.S. These features will be implemented after the version update is complete.) Note! This is an optional quest. Rejecting it will not lower any reputation you have already gained. Note! The vampire race is the development team’s initial attempt at implementing new race gameplay mechanics. Rejecting this quest will not impact the experience of future new races to be introduced in later versions. Developer Note: While offering advantages, the transcendent vampire race also has significant drawbacks that cannot be ignored. Testers, please choose carefully. Developer Note: Once accepted and completed, this quest will result in permanent, irreversible gameplay changes. Testers, please choose carefully. Developer Note: The test server will be shut down in 20 minutes for Alpha 2.0 version updating. Please proceed to the initial save point, the Blood Vulture Halls Midnight Chamber, to log out. This update will take 48 hours. Testers, please be patient and wait for its completion.】 “What the hell! I was about to offer my heart to Murphy, and now you’re telling me I have to wait 48 hours for an update before I can continue my allegiance? This is such a letdown! The sense of immersion is completely ruined!” “What should I do? I’m a bit tempted.” Meow King, who had already become an Oak Apprentice, was temporarily at a loss. The temptation of this “new identity start” even sparked the urge in him to “delete and restart.” The other players looked at him with a pitying gaze. As if! When faced with something like this, the immediate reaction should obviously be to loudly mock him, right? “My warrior Meow, you have been watched over by the Avalon deity. I do not have the audacity to snatch a follower from the God of Nature.” Murphy shook his head and patted the dejected Meow King’s shoulder, saying: “But even without a clan connection, I believe there is still a bond between us. As I just said, I will not interfere with your decision, but I will be elated if you choose to step into the eternal night.” “Ding” The soft sound from the player interface at that moment caused all 16 of them to look down simultaneously. 【Hidden Reputation Achievement “Murphy’s Approval” has been unlocked! Note! Hidden Title “Murphy’s Friend” acquisition progress 1/2. After obtaining the “Blood Vulture’s Friend” reputation achievement in a future version, this hidden title can be acquired. Note! This hidden achievement cannot be obtained after the Alpha 2.0 version update.】 “Woohoo, limited edition achievement get! Veteran player benefits acquired, yay!” Leading Pigeon and his dorm mates immediately cheered, while the others also looked delighted. Players just love these limited edition things. Even if it was a turd, a limited edition turd would still be considered a good thing! “I shall offer you my heart, my lord!” “And I as well!” “Me too!” Invincible Tyrannosaurus Cheche, Ah Yuen, and Spicy Gugu Chicken immediately knelt on one knee, imitating Maxim’s pose during the Initial Embrace as they pledged allegiance to Murphy. But Murphy shook his head and said in a drawn-out tone: “I appreciate your loyalty, my dear Cheche, Ah Yuen, and Gugu Chicken. However, you still need to undergo the trial of strength. But do not worry, for warriors like you, it is no longer an unattainable challenge. Ah, a mysterious force tells me that you may need to return to your world now. Perhaps this portends some changes to our world as well. Whether for good or ill, I cannot say. Come, let me see you off. Let me send off my most trusted warriors back to their homeland.” Murphy raised his hand forward, and surrounded by the 16 players, he walked deeper into the Blood Vulture Halls, almost racing against time as he went, occasionally chatting with his original warriors about the future prospects of Transia. At the last minute, he saw the 16 players enter the Midnight Chamber, then temporarily deactivated the projection resonance function of the test admin system. He stepped into the silent chamber. His 60 warriors were currently lying about in various postures amidst the darkness, but this “version update” did not count as being kicked offline, so their bodies remained physical. Murphy raised his hand, casting a group-wide Death’s Grasp around them, allowing the invisible midnight noose to gently lift the little players into the air and arrange them in a sleeping posture on the stone dais ahead, thoughtfully placing their weapons beside them as well. As if, in the next instant, these warriors would open their eyes once more and draw their weapons to fight for Murphy. “You have been fighting continuously for so long, you deserve a good rest. After all, unlike me, you have your own lives in another world. You wouldn’t want to end up labeled as internet addicted youths.” Murphy leaned on his staff, stretching his body in the darkness. At this moment, he finally did not need to play the role of a forever wise, forever energetic NPC. It was like taking off an invisible mask. The vampire lord tilted his head, reached out to remove the finger that the sleeping Invincible Tyrannosaurus Cheche had been biting, and placed it on his chest. He also straightened Leading Pigeon’s equipment collar. Turning in the darkness to walk towards the chamber’s entrance, he waved his hand lightly and said softly: “Consider this a two-day break. Gather your strength, and then we’ll complete our grand plan together. Good night, my warriors. Good night, my friends in this otherworld. What comes next will be a less arduous stretch of game time. Treat it as leisure, as for the dangerous Black Disaster...hmm, we might as well make it into an expansion pack.”