“You speak, and I’m listening. But remember, I’m not one of those easily fooled civilians outside.” Xiadam said with a serious expression, showing no intention of backing down.
“The reason is simple. Lord Dante is a hybrid. As her subordinates, our line of vampires experiences much weaker bloodlust, and we don’t carry the corpse toxin infection. That’s why we can coexist peacefully with the Human Race,” the maid Gallondine explained.
“Hybrid?” Xiadam’s brows furrowed upon hearing that.
So there was such a perspective as hybrids?
It sounded reasonable enough that she had no immediate retort.
“I’ve never heard of that. I feel like you’re trying to fool me.”
“I already said, I’m not one of those ignorant refugees. I know vampires far too well.”
“The Blood Clan has no reproductive ability at all. To increase pureblood family members, you must kill pregnant women and perform a cruel ritual called the Seed Borrowing Ritual.”
“Or purebloods can split off part of their Power of Blood to transform adult humans into subordinates, who in all aspects are inferior to purebloods.”
Xiadam quickly found points to question and refute.
In truth, all vampires originally came from humans.
The Blood Clan are monsters born from the Human Race—tumors, demons, and natural enemies.
Theoretically, vampires lack the ability to reproduce.
Both the Seed Borrowing Ritual and subordinate transformation have huge failure rates, or else their numbers wouldn’t be so few.
“The Blood Clan simply can’t have hybrids. Don’t try to fool me.”
Xiadam slammed her hands on the table, leaning her head close to Lord Dante’s small face, exerting maximum pressure on her opponent.
“You’re too close! Too close! I’m scared,” Lord Dante turned her face away, trembling as she tried to retreat.
“Looks like the Mage Lady really knows us well. Even better than us young subordinates,” Maid Gallondine said calmly.
“So, is there anything else you want to explain?” Xiadam glanced around, believing she had already won.
“Mage, you know a lot, but not everything is accurate. In history, there were Blood Clan who could reproduce,” the Blood Knight Commander, who rarely spoke, finally said.
“Reproductive Blood Clan in history…” Xiadam froze for a moment hearing her words.
Her expression shifted from confusion to bewilderment, then to disbelief.
“How is that possible?” Xiadam was shocked.
“Exactly as you imagine, Mage. Lord Dante is a hybrid. She’s a miracle. She’s never harmed a single person. She shares her power with us so we can protect the residents here,” the Blood Knight Commander said coldly, arms crossed.
“Do you believe it now? If you don’t want to, there’s nothing we can do. We have limits too. I won’t allow you to continue slandering Lord Dante,” Maid Gallondine stepped between Xiadam and Lord Dante, her tone losing all kindness.
“If you keep being so aggressive, you’re no longer welcome here. If you want to fight, we won’t back down,” the Blood Knight Commander prepared to draw her sword.
To be honest, their patience in talking with the foul-mouthed Mage for so long was already remarkable.
“Fine, I’ll temporarily trust what you say. If I offended you earlier, I apologize. But I want to stay here for a while to observe and monitor you to be sure you’re not harming anyone. You won’t refuse that, right?” Xiadam suddenly softened her tone and wore a humble face.
“No problem, of course. We warmly welcome both of you Mages. I’ll arrange lodging for you right away,” Maid Gallondine agreed decisively.
But just as everyone reconciled…
Xiadam suddenly noticed something strange.
The Blood Knight Commander had loosened the black cloth, revealing the steel sword strapped to her back—a somewhat familiar style.
“Clang!” Xiadam instantly drew her sword, spinning it with one hand, the blade now pressed against the Blood Knight Commander’s neck again.
“Crack!” Little Lord Dante’s expression grew serious. Her small hand extended, forming a blood-red spike aimed straight at Xiadam’s face.
“Hum!” Sheffield immediately summoned a great blade suffused with Dragon’s Breath magic, swinging it toward little Lord Dante’s head.
“Elf, don’t act recklessly.” Maid Gallondine lifted her skirt slightly, revealing a dagger hidden above her garter stockings, quickly drawing it and pressing it against Sheffield’s back of the head.
Even the Fat Little Dragon picked up a toothpick and poked Maid Gallondine’s black stockings from behind, adding a touch of humor and absurdity.
Everyone turned to glance at the Fat Little Dragon, whose presence was unmistakably strong.
Yet, they chose to ignore it for the moment, focusing instead on the opponents before them.
The atmosphere instantly thickened with tension, and silence lingered for a long while.
Just moments ago, everyone had been getting along well; now they were at a deadlock.
This time was different from before—Xiadam’s blade carried killing intent.
The Blood Knight Commander could clearly feel it, but didn’t understand why the Mage suddenly held such hostility toward her.
“Where did you get your Campaign Knight Sword?” Xiadam’s face darkened as she questioned.
“Sword?” The Blood Knight Commander looked puzzled.
“Answer my question,” Xiadam pressed.
“This is my father’s sword,” the Blood Knight Commander replied.
“Your father? Who is your father?” Xiadam’s pupils constricted at the name.
“My father is Baraka Arenas. I am his daughter, Erin Arenas,” the Blood Knight Erin answered.
Baraka Arenas.
Hearing that name, Xiadam was suddenly thrown back to the past.
“Ludwig, drink some water.”
“Ludwig, I’m going to pee. Watch over things for me.”
“You don’t really think you can command me just because you’re Vice Commander!”
“Vice Commander, we’ve been discovered. What do we do next?”
“We fight our way through with blood!”
The Campaign Knights’ Thirteenth Captain Arenas.
He was a young Campaign Knight close to Xiadam’s age.
They often teamed up for infiltration missions into the Demon Domain.
He was her closest comrade and best partner in crime.
“Arenas, is he alright?” Xiadam’s killing intent eased, her voice trembling slightly.
“My father passed away ten years ago. Who exactly are you? Do you know my father?” Blood Knight Erin asked.
“…Dead?” Hearing the news, Xiadam was struck like a bolt from the blue and froze.
She sheathed her sword, stabbing several times but it wouldn’t go in.
Xiadam collapsed onto the pile of books, her entire being seeming to burn out, sinking into silence.
Even the vampires looked dumbfounded.
Everyone quietly put away their weapons, realizing the standoff was no longer necessary.
“Who exactly are you?” Blood Knight Erin pressed again.