A brief exchange, and the chill in the air seemed to grow even denser.
As Sylvie’s words fell, Shiluo’s eyes gradually lowered, her face filled with solemnity and confusion, along with a hint of… doubt.
As long as this method could be successfully implemented, Sylvie guaranteed that she could let Lady Shiluo escape this city with those children.
Sylvie spoke softly, yet with an unquestionable certainty.
Moonlight slanted in through the broken window, falling on her pale face and outlining her fragile contours.
However, upon hearing this, Shiluo’s face showed no trace of joy or relief. Her brows furrowed tighter, her gaze sharp as she stared fixedly at Sylvie.
The room fell into an unsettling silence, broken only by the whistling of cold wind through the cracks in the broken window and the faint sounds of their breathing.
After a moment, Shiluo finally spoke, her voice low and serious, carrying a hint of suppressed anger and disbelief.
“Then what about you? How will you escape?”
Sylvie wore a faint smile on her face, but that smile was so hollow, like a puppet forced into a grin.
She tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion as she asked, “Sylvie doesn’t understand what you’re talking about. This is a perfect plan.”
Shiluo’s expression grew even more complicated, her voice lowering a few degrees further.
“Then let me put it another way—what’s the cost?”
She stepped forward, her leg injury making her movements somewhat unsteady.
“That thing of yours isn’t a method at all.”
Her gaze was like a torch, trying to pierce through the true intentions beneath Sylvie’s calm exterior.
“You’re just planning a self-destruction. No matter if your method succeeds or fails, it’ll only drag you into the abyss. This isn’t… this isn’t a ‘method’ at all.”
As Shiluo’s tangled words fell, the air stagnated once more.
“This is necessary,” Sylvie said calmly, her emerald eyes holding only indifference and emptiness.
“I’m just doing what I can do—the only thing I can do.”
It made Shiluo feel a chill… down to her bones. She looked at Sylvie, at those dim eyes that seemed swallowed by darkness.
Lady Shiluo had also said that “tasks” and “missions” were greater than everything else. Just by making a stranger, or even someone irrelevant, pay a small “price,” the task could be completed, and they could leave this city. Such a deal was quite worthwhile.
“This is… the only path.”
She murmured in a voice that was almost inaudible.
Normal escape had a success rate of nearly zero, and with the children, it was utterly impossible. Only by creating a big enough incident, one that forced all the vampires to temporarily shift their attention… could a crack be torn open.
Her voice grew lower and lower.
And the one who could create an incident of that level… was only Sylvie herself.
Shiluo’s brows furrowed even tighter, her heart tangled in knots.
Yes, she had no reason to hesitate. As long as she could take the “container” out, as long as she could return to human society, all sacrifices were necessary.
She could see her sister again. But… but what about those children?
Sylvie was begging her, even using this pitiful method to trade for the children’s freedom, but in the end, what awaited them… would be even more painful torment.
Sylvie’s sacrifice would be in vain.
The task would be completed.
Shiluo let out a deep breath, suppressing the emotions in her heart. When she looked back at Sylvie, her eyes held only determination.
“I agree to it.”
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Sylvie’s smile deepened a bit, but in Shiluo’s eyes, it seemed so shattered.
But before leaving, I have to find something important.
“Could… you tell Sylvie more about it? Maybe I can help.”
Shiluo had originally hesitated, because before setting out, she had been told that this mission must be kept strictly confidential—it concerned the future of humanity. Even if captured and tortured to death, she absolutely could not reveal it.
But now… there was no other choice.
“I’m looking for… the ‘container.'” She said in a lowered voice.
“Container? Like a cup or bottle?” Sylvie asked, puzzled.
Shiluo shook her head.
“No, I only know it’s a living person—or rather, a blood livestock.”
“A living blood livestock?” A flash of confusion passed through Sylvie’s eyes, quickly replaced by deeper contemplation.
To be called a container, and worth the risk of infiltrating Eternal Night City to find this blood livestock—it must be extremely special.
Sylvie had lived in the penned district for a long time and had contact with many blood livestock, but she had never heard of any special blood livestock existing. Do you… have more specific clues? Like appearance features? Age? Or… something distinctive?
“The specific information… I don’t know it completely,” Shiluo said in a low voice.
I only know the target might be a young girl, or… someone with a special bloodline. That’s all we know.
She paused, then continued.
Before setting out, the higher-ups gave us an instrument that could detect the target—a metal syringe. But after our whereabouts were exposed, the companion carrying the instrument was killed by that woman named Utia… I don’t know if the instrument was disposed of along with the body.
If the instrument is exposed, the consequences will be severe.
“A syringe… huh,” Sylvie muttered to herself.
Maybe next time I see Utia, I can try to probe a bit.
“I understand. If there’s an opportunity, Sylvie can try to help you.”
Shiluo looked at Sylvie, her gaze complicated.
“Finding the container is my task. You just need to… do your part. If I can successfully leave, I’ll find a way to bring the information back and let others come again.”
“Sylvie understands,” she replied softly.
Shiluo merely lowered her head, and a long silence fell between the two, her expression growing more and more complicated.
She knew this was for the task, for the mission of humanity’s revival, but relying on this method… no one would feel good about it.
After a moment, Sylvie finally spoke again, asking calmly.
“May Sylvie ask you one last question?”
“Speak.”
“The blood livestock who escaped to human society—are they… doing well?”
Shiluo’s pupils slightly froze, leaving her momentarily speechless. She was silent for a long while, turning her head slightly, somewhat afraid to meet Sylvie’s emerald eyes that seemed to reflect the shadows at the bottom of one’s heart.
“They… they will receive the treatment they deserve.”
Her voice was very low, as if convincing herself.
Sylvie didn’t press further, just standing there quietly. Under the moonlight, the shattered smile on her face remained unchanged.
“I see,” Sylvie replied softly.
“Thank you for telling me.”
She no longer looked at Shiluo, giving a slight curtsy in a standard gesture of respect.
“Then, please take care, Lady Shiluo. If I find anything, I’ll tell you. Sylvie takes her leave.”
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