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However, Jed did not truly trust him. Murphy could sense that the man was merely using him as a pawn, tempting him with future power to betray his current friends.

This was normal reasoning.

Especially in traditional vampire society, it was absolutely impossible for one vampire to completely trust another.

Their veins did not flow with the lowly substance of blood, but with a poisonous concoction of intrigue and malice fermented in darkness, in equal proportions.

A touch was deadly, blood-curdling.

Several tens of minutes after Murphy left, the door to the house opened again.

This time, it was Maxim who entered.

He kept his hood down, shielding his eyes and face, carrying a bottle and seven stemmed glasses.

It was not easy to find these form-over-function items in present-day Kadman City. Fortunately, Lord Murphy’s warriors excelled at scavenging, and Miriam also had stockpiles of supplies.

“My lord, have a drink.”

Maxim poured the deep red liquid from the bottle into the glasses, then handed one to Jed. The weakened vampire moved his throat, unable to maintain the pretense of etiquette any longer.

In this moment, he was like a crude, greedy drunkard, tilting his head back to drain the fresh blood like fine wine.

“Mmm”

As the blood entered his mouth and transmuted into true strength, infusing his parched body, Jed let out a long moan, as if drinking jade nectar, the wrinkles and aging visibly fading from his face.

Only that head of gray-white hair could no longer return to its original deep black.

Damage to the essence of fresh blood was not something a vampire could recover from overnight. It was like an unfortunate man suffering from kidney deficiency.

Haste does not solve the problem!

Injuries to the root always required slow healing and recuperation.

“You did not inform Murphy that I had already awakened. It seems you remain loyal, Maxim.”

Jed said in a low voice.

His voice no longer sounded as parched as before, now carrying the malice and gloom befitting a vampire. With his head bowed, Maxim did not reply, merely refilling Jed’s glass with the sweet blood taken from a virgin at the camp, handing it to him again.

“He trusts you greatly.”

This time, Jed was not as crude as before.

He seemed to have regained the proper bearing of a midnight aristocrat, gently swirling the sweet substance in his hand, observing Maxim’s expression through the ripples of the blood.

He said:

“He also told me about you, hoping I would gift you to him. He truly thinks highly of you.

And I

I suddenly realized that I had misjudged.

Just as I failed to notice Murphy’s hidden talents, I also failed to notice that among my servants, there was an outstanding individual like yourself. So, Maxim, would you be willing to follow Murphy?”

“I am your servant.”

Maxim said in a deep voice:

“I still owe you a life, a debt I cannot forget. I must repay it with this life!”

“Correct!”

This answer greatly satisfied Jed.

Maxim did not conceal his admiration for Murphy and desire to follow him, but he also honestly expressed his thoughts. The vampire, deeply versed in the human heart, knew such conflicts were the natural state of these fragile creatures.

The more resolute or loyal Maxim was, the more it would make Jed suspicious.

“Then I need you to do one last thing for me as my servant, a certain ritual necessary to gain your freedom.”

Jed took a small sip of the blood, then with a flick of his finger, a familiar Daylight Potion dropped into Maxim’s hand.

He said:

“Murphy is an outstanding junior. I suppose his ready agreement to cooperate with me was just to placate me. He likely expects offers from both sides before naming his price.

If I were him, I would do the same.

But now, circumstances do not permit it. I must ‘help’ him make up his mind. Go and put this drug into Lady Tris’ drink, then hide her away.

Do not harm her until this is over.

I do not need you to get involved in this matter, Maxim.

I only need Murphy to feel a bit of pressure. After our cooperation is complete, you will obtain what you desire. We, we will all get what we want.”

Maxim nodded.

He seemed unable to understand, and finally asked:

“My lord, you clearly have the advantage. Femis is alone with no family. Her black iron level strength is no match for any of your companions.

Why must you still…”

“This is not for you to know, Maxim. You are not yet one of us. The secrets of the night are not for mortals to perceive!”

Jed gave this servant a cold glance.

The latter immediately bowed and withdrew. Before leaving, Maxim told him:

“I have already selected ‘food’ to your taste. It will be delivered to you first thing tomorrow morning. Please bear with it for now.”

“Mm.”

Jed watched Maxim leave. Once the room was quiet again, he dragged his heavy body up and took the blood bottle Maxim had brought. After surveying the dozens of progeny lying on the ground behind him, he finally poured the blood over a tall, large-framed progeny.

The recipient quickly revived under the nourishment of the blood, then heard Jed murmuring in the darkness:

“Arthur, my finest progeny. Go! Watch over Maxim. I recall you two were well acquainted. If he completes my orders, you will take over guarding Lady Tris and let him return to report to me.

But if he does anything untoward

Eliminate him!”

——

Maxim walked along the ash-covered ground of Kadman City.

He regretted being too honest and failing to ask where Jed’s concerns about Lady Femis originated.

He didn’t believe Jed’s orders for Lord Murphy to execute the lady were harmless. That cunning old thing must want Lord Murphy to bear the terrible responsibility.

Perhaps there were other, more dangerous factors involved.

He needed to find a way to secure more benefits for Lord Murphy in this sudden situation.

Unfortunately, his mind was ill-suited for such contemplation. Just a few minutes of thinking made his head feel like it would burst. At that moment, Maxim suddenly stopped, looking left and right.

He heard an exaggerated cooing sound, then spotted Lord Murphy’s warrior Lumina Yanghen gesturing for him to approach from a dark alley ahead.

After confirming he was not being followed, he swiftly went over.

“Jed ordered me to poison Lady Tris!”

He said in a low voice to Lumina:

“Immediately inform Lord Murphy. Jed wants to use Lady Tris to force his hand. She must be moved immediately.”

“But doing so will expose you!”

Clever Lumina immediately understood, whispering:

“I came to convey Lord Murphy’s orders. He says he trusts your judgment and you are free to act until this is resolved. Do not contact him to avoid endangering you.

He also said not to worry about Jed, just protect Lady Tris.

This is an opportunity to get you out.”

Lumina rather admired this loyal blood servant warrior. She told Maxim:

“You should seize this chance to remove Lord Murphy’s vulnerability from the vortex of this familial conspiracy. Do not let her fall into the hands of that Jed who clearly looks untrustworthy.”

“This is not enough.”

Maxim shook his head, saying:

“The pressure on Lord Murphy is too great. Jed and his companions are formidable. I must…hmm, perhaps your inconspicuous group is more suited.

Ah, my foolishness finally understands what the lord often meant by learning to use your true strength.”

He looked at Lumina Yanghen before him, then handed her the Daylight Potion Jed had given him, whispering:

“Go to the survivor’s camp!

Dilute this with water and put it in the ‘food’ prepared for those vampires, but not too early or too late, they are vigilant. Then gather the other warriors, there are 40 of you! You are brave enough and unafraid to die. An ambush should be enough to severely cripple those already weakened ones.

Lord Murphy’s great undertaking cannot be stopped!

Whether Witch Hunters or vampires, eliminate anyone who stands in the way!”

A ferocious light flashed in Maxim’s bloodshot eyes as he told Lumina:

“Find my soldiers. Open our armory and take out the best weapons to arm yourselves. If you win, those masterwork weapons and armor will be yours!

Lady Tris will be guarded by me.

She will not be harmed, I will stake my life on it!

I know now that I do not need Jed to grant me anything!

I am a Transian.

So what I want, I will take myself!”

“Ding!”

At that moment, a quest prompt appeared on Lumina’s player interface:

【Shared Group Quest ‘Loyal Fangs’ has triggered】

——

“Thud”

The milky white Daylight Potion was placed on the corner of the table.

In the tower where Femis had been hiding these past few days, Murphy stared at the lady who had her back to him, engrossed in a book.

Lady Adele stood guard outside the passage to the highest floor of the tower.

She knew she should not involve herself in the conversation between the two inside.

She only needed to do her duties as a progeny and maid.

“You’ve been hiding many things from me and Tris! You! Not a shred of honesty.”

Murphy bluntly told Femis:

“You confirmed long ago that your father was not dead, right? You also knew exactly what happened in the Blood Vulture Halls. If not for Jed’s unexpected appearance, I would have remained in the dark.

I suppose you had to go to the Blood Vulture Halls because the shard representing the clan leader’s position is there. Once you obtained that stone tablet, you could rebuild the clan!

Claiming to help me establish a new power base, claiming just to confirm the truth, all lies!

Perhaps you and Jed are cut from the same cloth. He was not wrong to call you a ‘little whore’ and ‘little vixen’.

Perhaps your dedicated efforts to help me take in these survivors was nothing more than to turn them into the clan’s new members once everything was over.

Let me ask you, Femis. Is the Blood Vulture Clan really that important to you?”

“Of course it’s important!”

Femis no longer pretended to read. She tossed the book aside and turned to face Murphy, her crimson eyes fixing on him as she took a deep breath. Knowing the time for openness had come, she said in a deep voice:

“The clan is important to every vampire! Only oddballs like you and Tris would be unconcerned about your clan’s demise, solely focused on establishing your own power.

But you’ve overlooked this world’s malice towards vampires. Only by sticking together can we survive the night!

The clan is the embodiment of this survival philosophy.

But you were mistaken, Murphy.

I do not see you and those poor souls in the survivor camp as sacrifices. My desire to go to the Blood Vulture Halls truly was just to uncover my origins.

I know you’ve been speculating, so I’ll just tell you!

I…am not a vampire!

At least, not an ordinary vampire!

I cannot turn Adele, only ask for your help. With your intellect, you must have noticed this point long ago. You were just playing dumb, like a crafty schemer waiting for this moment to blame everything on me, righteously berating me for dishonesty.

However, have you not also concealed things from me?

I don’t believe someone who has been the outcast of the clan for over a year could undergo such a drastic transformation in just a few days. You have secrets too! And your secrets are buried even deeper than mine.

To use your words, cleanse your own suspicions before insulting me!

But I don’t care about such things. We children of the midnight should not actively seek out others’ secrets they are unwilling to share. Crossing that line is a proclamation of malice, a declaration of war.

Let me tell you the truth!

Right now, I only want to know the truth!

And only my father knows that truth. Perhaps your elder Tris also knows, but the Crimson Witch has no intention of telling me. She is tormenting me!

She knows exactly how to torment me better, like an outstanding blood inquisitor, knowing how to inflict more suffering on her captured prey.

But I don’t even know why that malicious woman you cherish hates me so much?

We’ve barely met a few times.

As for the tragedy in the Blood Vulture Halls, I admit I saw some things, but that’s not something you need to worry about!

You can’t resolve it either.

These past few days hiding here, I haven’t been slacking off.

I’ve made difficult contact with the Blood Pact Knights through the heirloom of the Blood Vulture Clan. Lord Payne’s blood knights are already on their way to Transia.

I assure you, Murphy!”

The lady took a deep breath and said solemnly:

“The horrific events in the Blood Vulture Halls are not troubles you need worry about. I will help you resolve them! This place will also be your domain, as I promised, no one can take it from you.

But now, Jed is our shared problem!

He should never have escaped!

I saw with my own eyes my father’s loyal servants draining them of their blood. I don’t know what my father was doing, but he sealed the secret door to the Blood Vulture Halls with the shard of desire.

Since they escaped, it means they stole the Lord’s Sigil from my father and chose to betray the clan.

I don’t want to know the reason, but they must die!

That is the rule, unbreakable.”

She glanced at the Daylight Potion Murphy had placed on the table corner and said:

“He made you an offer, didn’t he? You came here hoping I would make you an offer too?”

“No.”

Murphy drew the Blade of the Desire Clan from his waist and stabbed it into the ground with a thud.

The rapier’s basket hilt vibrated with a low hum. Murphy stretched his neck, his eyes flickering crimson in the dim light.

He said:

“This is like a story choice.

If I must choose a partner between you and Jed, I need to be more cautious. I need to know who is trustworthy! Truth be told, I already have a plan underway.

I’m considering whether to continue cooperating with one of you duplicitous sides.

Or perhaps I should seize this opportunity to eliminate you both, since you clearly cannot be anything good!”

“Hm?”

The lady stared at Murphy.

She wondered if this guy had cracked under the pressure. How could a rookie vampire who hadn’t even passed the black iron trial have such arrogance? Even with Tris’s help, it was absolutely impossible…wait!

A crazy possibility flashed through the young lady’s mind.

She widened her eyes and rebuked:

“You want to cooperate with those Witch Hunters? Murphy! You’ve gone mad!”

“I didn’t just start cooperating with them now. You, who personally experienced that night in the Smuggler’s Woods, should understand that better than anyone!

But am I not the ‘oddball’ you speak of? Should an unwelcome oddball do anything insane, it would hardly surprise one of your ‘noble bloodlines’, would it?”

Murphy revealed an amused, chilling smile in the darkness.

Pointing to the sword embedded in the ground before him, he said to Femis, who had grasped the spirit sword at her waist and was retreating:

“Either you stake all your honor by cooperating with me and the Witch Hunters to eliminate Jed’s group, letting us both stain our hands with the blood of our own kind and become the ‘traitors’ others call us, forging a despicable but trusting unity!

Or I will have to complete my Black Iron Trial here using your noble blood, then use your grisly death as bait to send Jed’s group to where they belong.

You’re right.

That arrogant fool should not have appeared at this time, thinking to tempt me with clumsy words after barging uninvited into this game.

How utterly tactless!

Just like a certain dishonest little lady who fails to grasp her actual situation, still clueless about who the true leader is even at this point.

Utterly tactless.”

“You’re being far too arrogant.”

Femis said through gritted teeth:

“A mere professional, and you dare…”

Her words trailed off midway.

Because she saw Lady Adele slowly emerging from the darkness behind Murphy, her left hand gripping a Thorn piercing sword, her right clutching a crimson hand cannon, strategically positioned to block all exits from the tower.

Adele’s body was trembling.

She inwardly resisted what she was about to do with every fiber of her being.

Yet how could a blood descendant refuse an order from an elder?

Murphy pulled out a chair and sat sideways on it, even casually propping up a leg.

Staring at the silent lady before him, he spread his hands and said:

“Femis Cecilia Lessenbra! Recognize your situation! And time is passing like precious life itself. Now, make your choice!

My patience is wearing thin.”