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However, for the truly loyal, a simple ceremony could serve a very important purpose.

Especially after Lady Tris, the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess, restructured the family hierarchy and bestowed nominal control of two-thirds of the Transia region to Murphy and Femis respectively. This legally confirmed Murphy’s rule over the areas near Kadman City.

As for the northwestern Baron Sykov’s domain occupying the last third of the Transia region, the situation there was more complex. Even during the Blood Vulture Clan’s heyday, that area had a rather ambiguous relationship with them. Thus, Tris did not intend to deal with such troubles now, nor did she plan to handle these matters herself.

She believed her dear Murphy would be willing to take on the task.

Law itself is worthless when unnecessary but can be as precious as gold in certain situations.

Like the present.

In the shadows of a rare intact building in the outer city of Kadman City at dawn, Murphy watched as three Blood Pact Knights escorted a carriage carrying Lady Femis’s beloved walnut wood coffin away.

They were clearly escorting her to meet Lord Payne in the Dark Mountain range.

Knight Lord Palanno had departed Kadman City the previous evening after the ceremony, as his warning mission required him to travel around the continent’s various powers within a month. Considering this fellow’s particular neurotic habits, this would undoubtedly be an extremely rushed journey for him.

“I thought you would be accompanying the young lady,” Murphy said to Lady Adele from the shadows.

“You know, I don’t actually oppose you and the young lady continuing your close friendship, or even a loyalty relationship without a blood pact bond. You know I’m open-minded in this regard.”

“As you say,” Adele replied softly.

“But the young lady and I have gone our separate ways in life. Now I will fight for your will, and compared to the young lady’s safety, these ruins and your endeavors clearly need my strength more.”

Her tone was very natural, showing no resistance.

The matter-of-fact expression on her face made Murphy ponder the blood pact’s imperceptibly domineering effect on obedience. He could still vividly recall Adele’s previous defiance and resistance, but in just under fifteen days, her loyalty had reached this level.

He estimated that after some more time, Adele would no longer refuse any of Murphy’s orders.

If Murphy were truly a debased person, with “E-Sister” exaggerated physical attributes, Adele might have completely submitted in this lifetime.

Fortunately, he was not.

Now, recalling Tris’s request for him to dissolve their pact seemed to represent her care and love for him. She clearly did not wish for Murphy to walk further down this twisted path.

However, for vampires, such a life of dependence on others was the norm, just as vampire civilization had now become entirely dependent on human civilization. It was better not to dwell on it, the vampire race was full of flaws in every aspect.

“Take this,” Murphy said, turning and entering the house behind him. He casually handed Adele a small jar of pure source blood, instructing:

“The first time a vampire drinks source blood, it will not only enhance your strength but also dissolve our blood pact bond. Let the past be the past. Now, I’m giving you the choice in your life, Adele.

Take advantage of the last shred of clarity in your mind and choose the lord you truly wish to serve.

Consider it a reward for your dedicated service to me these past weeks. You are an exceptional lady in every respect and should not fall to a worse state.”

“I do not need such a thing! This is an insult!” Adele’s expression changed as she said in a low voice:

“I am loyal, Master Murphy.”

“No, this does not mean I doubt you. I merely wish to build a new family system for vampires. This is just an attempt, as well as a reward for loyalty. After all, I need warriors, not hunting hounds. A bound will cannot unleash true terrifying power.

Keep it, or you can discard it.

It’s up to you.”

With a wave of his hand, Murphy disappeared into the house’s shadows.

After he left, Lady Adele looked at the source blood vial in her hand.

Complex emotions flickered in her crimson eyes. Eventually, she raised her head toward the direction the young lady had gone, but did not discard this precious item.

As Lady Adele silently turned to go about her business, she suddenly sensed a gaze from nearby. Looking back, she saw the ghost-like Maxim standing at the edge of the shadows outside the eaves, holding a box in one hand and gripping his tomb guard black blade in the other.

He was now watching her with an ambiguous expression.

That gaze seemed to say, “Dare to be disloyal, and I dare to cut you down!”

Tsk

The proud half-elf tilted her head proudly, ignoring Maxim’s unspoken threat. She then swiftly traveled through the shadows cast by spirit magic spells under the sunlight, flying off toward the Blood Vulture Halls.

At this moment, inside this ruined building, Miriam had already prepared a report summarizing various materials from the survivors’ camp, ready to update Murphy on her work during this period.

However, before she could begin her report, Murphy raised his hand to interrupt her and instead brought up another matter.

“Miriam, before the battle in Smuggler’s Woods, I promised you absolute freedom. Once we overcame the danger, I would immediately grant your wish to leave Transia and bestow upon you wealth sufficient for a lifetime without worry.”

The vampire, seated at a luxurious solid wood table found by the little players amidst the ruins, said with a smile to the red-haired girl sitting across from him.

Miriam was stunned for a moment.

Indeed, this had occurred.

It was when Murphy had lured her into risking danger to rescue those four Witch Hunters that he had spoken those words. She had thought it was merely a pretext from the vampire but did not expect Murphy to bring up this matter proactively now.

Ah, that must have been nearly twenty days ago.

Yet in her perception and recollection, it felt as distant as some afternoon over a decade ago.

But what did this mean?

Miriam could not help but ponder in her mind’s little theater. Was Murphy testing her loyalty?

If she demanded Murphy fulfill his promise now, would this newly-anointed “Count of Kadman” issue orders, leading to the classic story of five hundred executioners and dumplings?

She thought of many possibilities.

However, Murphy had no other intentions.

He called out toward the entrance, and Maxim, clad in crimson heavy armor, entered carrying a box. This Blood Vulture clan guard captain’s armor from the secret vault offered exceptional protection, with the suit’s combined spirit defense effect. Its appearance was also remarkably sturdy and imposing.

Especially the two bat-shaped shoulder plates, making the already tall Maxim appear beast-like.

That bucket helm with its vulture-faced visor completely covered his face, exuding an oppressive aura from the dark midnight.

Thump

The loyal servant set the box before Miriam and, under Murphy’s smiling gaze, opened it.

In an instant, a golden radiance illuminated Miriam’s eyes.

Inside the not-so-large box were neatly stacked forty gold bars and an equal amount of gold coins and jewels, merely a drop in the bucket from the Blood Vulture’s secret vault. Even though Miriam was neither an accounting nor appraisal student, she could instantly roughly estimate the value of these treasures.

Calculated at current Shaldor port prices, this money would not be enough for her to enter high society overnight. However, by ordinary living standards, Murphy’s claim of providing sufficient wealth for a lifetime without worry was indeed no exaggeration.

With this money, she could not only comfortably complete her studies but even purchase a shop in Shaldor port and begin a new, comfortable life far exceeding ordinary standards!

“This is what you deserve, Miriam,” spoke not Murphy, but Maxim.

This loyal servant pushed up the vulture-like visor, revealing a face unlike ordinary people’s, but now without the previous hostility and scrutiny. Instead, he addressed Miriam with a gentle expression:

“I apologize for my earlier doubts. Even by the strictest standards, your work in the Kadman City ruins and survivors’ camp has provided far more assistance to Master Murphy’s endeavors than my own contributions.

This wealth is not only my master’s promise but your well-deserved reward.

Yet I must say, perhaps you should not accept it.”

“Hm?”

Miriam was busy calculating the value of these glittering little darlings and envisioning how to enjoy life after becoming wealthy. Hearing Maxim’s advice, she looked up in surprise and said:

“Why? Maxim, though in my view you remain a hopelessly devoted fool, I must admit that by the standards of friendship, you do qualify. However, you should not interfere with my choices, should you?

Just as during this time, I have not mocked your vampire ideals again.”

“No, I do not mean to interfere with your life,” Maxim said, glancing at Murphy, who was smiling and toying with the core bead.  He turned to Miriam and said softly:

“Taking this money means your work in Kadman City is over. You will have the freedom to leave and head toward your new life. But what about the survivors’ camp? What about the 1,800 people we rescued from the Blood Vulture corridors?

This camp of nearly three thousand is your own creation. Can you bear to abandon them, to cast them aside in these ruins and wilderness?”

“This…”

For a moment, Miriam did not know how to respond. Maxim leaned forward, picked up a gold bar, and toyed with it as he said in a low voice:

“I am a blunt person, so allow me to be more direct! Between future power and present wealth, which do you choose?”

Do not be deceived by Maxim’s large stature. From his occasional conversations with Murphy, one could see that this big fellow actually possessed his own “art of speech” that could sometimes cut straight to the heart of the matter. At least, this question was quite skillfully posed.

However, the red-haired girl was amused by this question.

She wanted to directly ask Maxim which eyes saw her enjoying power in the survivors’ camp. By Shaldor port standards, this was just a larger refugee camp, what power was there to enjoy?

But then, her expression subtly changed.

Having been imbued with knowledge and education, she understood association. The scene of Murphy being granted the title of Count of Kadman the previous evening was still vivid in her mind.

He had already obtained legitimate ruling authority!

So, this refugee camp could hardly be said to not potentially develop into a settlement on the scale of Kadman City in the future. Given Murphy’s identity and character, it would be difficult for him to truly take on direct rule. Then, as his currently most trusted administrator, herself…

The future city lord?

Or even further?

Thinking of this, Miriam’s breathing suddenly quickened, then after a second she held her breath and looked again at the luxurious objects before her. These glittering golden things no longer seemed so alluring.

At this moment, Murphy was not particularly attentive to Miriam’s change. He was currently surfing the net enthusiastically.

In the game group chat, he was chatting animatedly with a group of idle little players waiting to respawn, ranging from the latest popular music all the way to some borderline vulgar topics. He even had the dank netizens share a few popular songs to the group to listen to in his free time.

But when he looked up, he saw Miriam staring straight at him from across the table.

Her eyes flickered with three parts anticipation, four parts delight, two parts hesitation, and a final part rapidly increasing determination. Damn, that pie-chart gaze was rather creepy, you know.

“So, are you satisfied with the compensation I’ve offered?” Murphy inquired, maintaining his usual elegant and proper tone.

“If this is not enough, we can discuss further. My warriors found some priceless artworks in the city ruins. Perhaps you could take them to sell in Shaldor port?

We can split the proceeds seventy-thirty.”

“You need the money to buy food, right?” Miriam suddenly asked.

“Have you finally noticed that it will soon be October, entering late autumn? With Transia’s climate and the current workforce, there’s no time left for cultivation.

In the coming winter, you’ll have to purchase enough food from outside. And you’ll need to implement even stricter rationing to possibly support the current and potentially soaring refugee population in your domain. Not to mention the additional expense if the two countries truly release their imprisoned blood servants back into the war.

This is extremely dangerous!

In the very first class of my administrative program, the instructor emphasized that relying solely on others is the worst situation for any regime.

Not only must you cut costs, but you must also find ways to generate income.”

“Hm?” Murphy blinked, clearly intrigued as he asked, “So, do you have any good ideas?”

“Mines!” Miriam took out her notebook and flipped through it, saying:

“In the southern part of Transia, near the Foul Swamp, there are several abandoned mines. They were once an important source of minerals for the locals, but during the Ten Year War, all the miners there were conscripted to the front lines by the vampires.

With our current manpower, we won’t be able to get those running again for at least half a year. However, when I was studying in Shaldor port, I often saw prospecting advertisements from brass dwarf mining teams in the local newspapers.

Dwarves have an endless need for minerals. We can let the dwarves manage those few mines and trade the ore directly for food.

Those little fellows will definitely try to haggle the price down, they’re cunning and petty. But those unused mineral deposits could certainly be exchanged for at least enough food for the survivors’ camp.”

“Good idea!” Murphy praised, then asked, “But how do we contact them?”

“With this!” Miriam pointed to the Computation Bead on her wrist and said:

“Given the distance between the Foul Swamp and Brass Citadel, we just need to set up an information relay station near Smuggler’s Woods to contact the dwarves’ mines near the Dark Mountain range. You don’t think they built Brass Citadel just to defend against the Dark Mountain’s monsters, do you?

Of course not!

Our economics professor explained in detail that the dwarves initially did so to obtain the rare minerals in the Dark Mountain range. Defending against the Black Disaster was just an unintended consequence later on.

If you’re confident, I can take charge of this matter.”

“Of course I’m confident. Go ahead and handle it,” Murphy generously authorized. Miriam stood up, gathered her files, and bid farewell like a proper lady before heading out.

“Hey, you forgot something,” Murphy reminded her from behind.

“Your gold.”

“The domain needs this gold more right now,” Miriam waved her hand dismissively without turning back.

“As the lord, you should also be more cautious with your wealth. When I need money, I’ll come ask you for it. By then, this meager amount of gold won’t suffice.”

With that, her figure disappeared through the doorway.

Maxim stepped forward and closed the gold box, saying to Murphy, “It seems changing an intelligent person’s mind is that simple, my lord. Simple enough to merely require a reminder.”

“That is because the more wisdom one has, the more one thinks. And the more one thinks, the more temptations arise. Once temptations become too many, the wisdom the mind can hold diminishes. So in conclusion, the more wisdom, the less wisdom.

This also proclaims to us that intelligent people are not actually formidable.

What is formidable are the intelligent who can resist temptation, yet do not become arrogant.”

Rising in the dim room, Murphy made a joke that could potentially fry his servant’s CPU, then explained:

“Miriam’s thoughts have never changed. She merely used her present as collateral to make an investment betting on the future. Perhaps I’ve found what she truly desires. I should also give her a real opportunity to fully flex her abilities. What do you think?”