Chapter 59:

“Lady, Lord Murphy demands your immediate presence. He has important news to convey.” Lady Adele hurried into a secluded tower in the city center and spoke softly to Lady Femis, who was studying some ancient scriptures. The latter was so engrossed in her reading that Lady Adele’s words startled her, causing her to instinctively cover the book in her hands. This action made Lady Adele blink, but she did not react further. “What is it again?” Femis seemed to be in a foul mood, and her tone was somewhat unkind as she complained: “I have never seen a vampire as troublesome as Murphy before. He is truly an oddity among us, not at all like a vampire, but rather like a human turning into a scheming, calculating plotter.” “It’s about the current threat.” Lady Adele did not express her opinion on this statement. Instead, she said in a low voice: “Lord Murphy seems to have discovered a new danger approaching, and he needs you to be aware of everything. Lady Tris and he are already waiting for you at the front line.” “You actually want to call him ‘master’, don’t you?” The young lady emerged from her hiding place, looking up at the oddly gloomy sky above as she spread her Blood Vulture wings. She said to Lady Adele: “I think you have already felt the compulsory obedience of the blood pact. Do not resist that instinct. Vampiric society operates this way, with superiors exerting control over inferiors that is difficult to resist. All I can be grateful for now is that Murphy is not a shameless, vulgar person. Otherwise, it would be as if I had personally pushed you into the fire pit. Would you blame me for that?” “My life was given to me by you.” Lady Adele blinked her crimson eyes and shook her head, saying: “If it weren’t for you, I would have died twenty years ago. Why would I blame you? But my lady, why don’t you... I mean, if I were to become your blood descendant, I would...” “I don’t want to discuss this issue right now, Adele.” The young lady was clearly intentionally avoiding this subject. She waved her hand, folding her wings in preparation for flight, and said to her former maid: “You must get used to the existence of such an elder as he is. Do not resist him because of me! It’s for your own good. I don’t want to see you put on a shameful dog leash. Murphy may not do that, but Tris... she will not go easy in that regard. I only just learned from reading the family scriptures what a crazed, vicious person the young Tris used to be. Compared to those spine-chilling stories, her present self seems like an unreal, decadent shadow of her former life. Remember, Adele. Your situation is already improving, so don’t provoke her under any circumstances.” “Yes.” Lady Adele nodded, following the young lady as she spread her wings and flew into the dim sky, descending minutes later at the foot of the city wall defenses. Murphy was discussing something with Tris, and when Adele saw Murphy’s back, she was suddenly overwhelmed by an inexplicable “urge to pledge allegiance.” She longed to kneel before this great man, offer him her loyalty, and receive his praise, though it was only a fleeting thought. Still, it proved that she was indeed being influenced by the blood pact. She could only maintain her usual silence and coldness, striving to conceal her mind behind her expression. Upon seeing the young lady approach, Murphy did not waste words. “The Witch Hunters have come!” He said gravely: “Two of my warriors encountered them in the woods outside the camp. One is dead, and one is captured. We cannot yet confirm their numbers, but we can be certain their intentions are not good.” The young lady was also somewhat troubled by this sudden news. She sat on a nearby stone and, after a few seconds, looked up at Murphy and said: “Can’t you establish a mental connection with your warriors? They are your summons, after all. In the material world, you have the power to command them.” “So you do know!” Murphy snorted and said: “The young lady certainly knows how to feign ignorance. Under that seemingly innocent exterior, what kind of soul is hidden?” “Perhaps it is truly a very innocent soul.” Tris raised her hand to stop Murphy’s words. Looking at the young lady, she said: “You must conceal this secret. This is not a request!” “I swear it.” The young lady did not argue with Tris, simply raising her finger and taking a vow, which finally put Tris’s mind at ease regarding this matter. She turned back to Murphy and asked: “Where is the captured warrior now?” “In a place that left a memorable impression on me.” Murphy studied the coordinates and rough map projected by the core bead in his hand, saying: “Morland Village. I thought I would never have anything to do with that place again in this lifetime, but it seems the Witch Hunters have set up camp there, quite cautiously.” This was a total jackpot! However, while the jock was a bit reckless, he wasn’t stupid. Such a bountiful reward implied that the risks he would face were far greater than fighting wild monsters in the city ruins. But he was a player! No matter what antics he got up to, he couldn’t actually die. At worst, he’d hang in there for 3 days before becoming a hero again. So what were these so-called risks and difficulties? Just do it. He made up his mind, then observed his surroundings. Khaki quickly realized he was tied up next to a burning campfire, with three equally bound and terrified-looking camp workers beside him. Guarding them were three intimidating “Assassin” Witch Hunters whose gazes from under their hoods felt like cold knives sending chills down one’s spine. “I want to see your leader!” Khaki shouted, but no one paid him any attention. On one hand, the Witch Hunters were used to the screams of their prey. On the other hand, who the hell could understand your otherworldly language with that Northeastern accent? While Khaki Tony Tai was racking his brains trying to establish contact, in a cleared house amidst the ruins of Morland Village, the old knight Finoch Lawson was receiving a report from his subordinate hunters. “Battalion Commander! That captive who was brought back bound is one of Lord Murphy the vampire’s otherworldly summons! Although that guy put a spirit camouflage on his summon, I can confirm this!” Scout Captain Natalie said gravely to her superior: “My squad and I have fought them in this village before. Their language comes from another realm, a trait they cannot disguise.” Old Finoch did not respond. He looked at the spirit dog tag belonging to Khaki Tony Tai, clearly sensing the effects of a few spirit techniques on this dog tag, corroborating Natalie’s claim indirectly. After a moment, he looked up and asked: “So Murphy the vampire, whom you have been ‘concerned’ about, is the core presence of these summons in the material world? Meaning through these summons, we can contact the mastermind behind the series of supernatural phenomena basically confirmed to be occurring in Kadman City? Natalie, I have not asked how you and your squad escaped from the Midnight Hunters, but I’m guessing that for you all to have escaped alive from that dire situation, there must have been some ‘external factors’ involved. Does this have to do with this mysterious Murphy?” The Battalion Commander’s questioning made Natalie bite her lip. Very reluctantly, she nodded and said: “It was one of his Blood Servants who delivered the message, and his Blood Servant who gave us the chance to retaliate at the last moment. But I don’t think this stemmed from vampire compassion, it’s just another plot! We were merely used as a sword to harm his own kind by that Murphy. He exploited us, which makes me hate him even more.” “Why would you hate someone who saved your life? Even if he is a vampire. Meaningless hatred is a luxury in life.” Old Finoch shook his head. Holding the spirit dog tag in his hand, he said to Natalie: “Bring that captive to me. I want to interrogate him personally.” “Battalion Commander!” Natalie immediately realized things were going awry. She took a step forward, slamming her hand on the table as she said gravely: “You cannot make private contact with vampires! It goes against the rules! They are our enemies! They must be exterminated...” “The Witch Hunters have no enemies, Natalie!” Old Finoch cut off the young scout captain’s words in an even deeper voice, staring intently at the female warrior before him as he said emphatically: “The Blood Vulture Clan is an enemy of the Goldflower Kingdom in this war, not ours! After the fall of the Old Church, past grudges have lost their meaning. We have now joined the Ten-Year War as mercenaries. This does not mean we have truly become war hounds enslaved by hatred and war. You experienced the time when the Old Church still existed. In all the training you received from childhood, was there ever a divine proverb telling you that you must kill every vampire in this world? Killing has never been Avalon’s will, even for the Red Knights symbolizing calamity and conquest. You have been changed by war, Natalie. I think the one who needs to calm down is you. You are satisfied being an angry warrior, even indulging yourself in that anger. But you know very well that you cannot only be a warrior! You must consider the future for your comrades as well. That is also why I agreed to bring you four here.” “The future?” Natalie lowered her head, letting out a bitter laugh before saying hoarsely: “We have no future left, Battalion Commander.” “Yes, you do!” Old Finoch narrowed his eyes and said softly: “The future is an inextinguishable thing. As long as you open your eyes, you can find traces of hope. But before making your final choice, you must carefully consider every possible path. This Murphy once defeated you, but he also once saved you. This shows he is no ordinary vampire, you need to pay extra attention to such individuals. Natalie, I did not just bring you out here to have you complete vengeance for your comrades. You need to learn to be a leader! Start learning now! This is an order!”