"What strange discovery requires me to go there right now? Could it be that you discovered that the bastard Sarokdar is still alive, so you invited me to come over and make up for it?"
Tris walked out of the tent very dissatisfied.
She was conducting a very important psychic interference experiment. After hearing Maxim's report, although she was full of complaints because the experiment was interrupted, she quickly packed up her things and went to the collapsed place under the protection of Bonnie.
The blood vulture rushed to the corridor.
Tris is too weak to call out Blood Wings, so it will take time to do it on her legs.
And all this is part of Murphy's plan.
Watching Mrs. Tris leave, Maxim did not dare to delay and immediately went to the camp where Lord Palano and the three Blood Alliance knight investigators were.
But to the loyal servant's surprise, when he arrived at these camp, they had already changed into the midnight ceremonial clothes required for formal occasions, and seemed to have anticipated what would happen tonight.
"Why are you showing such a surprised expression? Your master is not the only beautiful thing in this world that possesses the beauty of wisdom."
Knight Paliano, who carefully put a midnight rose stained with dew on the chest of his ceremonial uniform, reached out and brushed his long golden curly hair, with an expectant smile on his handsome face.
He took another look at Maxim, who was hanging his arm with a bandage, and looked up and down at this loyalist who was incompatible with other humans in appearance.
After a few seconds of judgment, the emotional Lord Knight stepped forward and put his hand on Maxim's injured arm.
He said softly:
"Having such unwavering loyalty without blood connection is a rare beauty in the world. However, foolish loyalty with only courage but no wisdom has seriously weakened your beauty."
Palano's fingertips flashed with scarlet psychic energy.
That power seeped into Maxim's wound, and the vampire's manipulation of blood caused Maxim's wound to heal quickly.
He said:
"You are not completely out of ugliness now, and that's not enough for me to give you a rose. I hope you can be reborn next time we meet."
"Thank you for the reminder, sir."
Maxim knew that Mr. Palano was giving him a heads up, so he leaned over and thanked him.
But the proud descendant did not return the favor.
He ignored Maxim magnificently, and then took his three followers and flew into the night sky with his blood wings spread out under the dark night.
The Midnight Bat Wings of the Cappadocians are no different from those of other clans. They are short wings that are like ornaments. Even at the golden level, they can only provide short-term air suspension and gliding. They are far inferior to those with the surname Lesembra.
The midnight folk are beloved by the sky.
The loyal servant raised his head where he was, flexing his healing wounds while watching these nobles disappear.
When he saw the short bat wings, he felt quite dissatisfied. It seemed that even a perfect man like Master Paliano was not handsome all the time. At least his embarrassment when flying was far less elegant than that of Master Murphy.
But his reminder came at the right time.
Although he has an unpleasant arrogance, he calls himself a "descendant of arrogance", and it is enough respect for him to say a few words to those he doesn't approve of.
It was obvious that Lord Palano's image in the eyes of others was completely different from that in Murphy's eyes.
"wisdom."
Maxim got on his horse and rushed to the corridor in the dark, thinking in his heart:
"That has always been something I lacked. In order to better follow Lord Murphy's glory and deserve that heavy trust, perhaps I should try my best to make up for this shortcoming.
study!
I have to learn from Master Murphy, whom I respect most."
On the other side, Tris quickly arrived at the Blood Vulture Corridor under midnight.
Because the spiral stairs leading to the underground were all damaged, Bonnie could only hold her hand and lead her to fly below. Following the guidance of the Cadman Self-Rescue Army soldiers stationed in the tunnel, Tris arrived quickly.
Outside the unearthed secret treasure house.
She left Bonnie alone outside and went inside to check the situation.
As a result, as soon as I entered, I saw Murphy placing a lady's crown on the cleared table. On the chair next to him were a luxurious grand ducal cloak and a scarlet scepter whose entire body was polished with moonlit crystal.
The top of the thing was carved into the mysterious posture of a fusion of night bat and blood vulture, just like the gargoyle squatting on the edge of the church. It looked quite low-key but had a restrained luxury.
Tris has seen this thing!
This is an accessory used by Sarokdar to show his identity. It is the exquisitely crafted and [only] master-class divine weapon scepter that Murphy just found from the "sea" of golden coins in front of him.
It's not just about looking good!
It is also the most advanced psychic crystal on the continent, second only to the miracle creation.
This scepter named "Serenade" is said to be a treasure specially made for Salokdar by an elder of the Secret Blood Clan. It is also the activation core of the "Serenade" city enchantment in Cadman City.
Unfortunately, Sarokdar himself is a powerful Midnight Sword Master and Scarlet Hunter. He is not proficient in the use of psychic powers. In his hands, this good thing can only be reduced to a status symbol.
How smart is Tris?
When he saw that Murphy was not injured and that he was collecting these "scary" things, he immediately realized something was wrong. His expression changed and he turned around to run away, but the next moment, Murphy grabbed his wrist from behind.
"You're already here, why are you running away?"
Murphy said helplessly:
"I don't believe that you have the wisdom to judge that this is the best choice at the moment."
"Let me go! You are hurting me, do you understand?"
Tris was really anxious, waving her wrist and screaming:
"How can I, a useless person who has lost my power, inherit the position of the Grand Duke? What's more, although I am the blood descendant of Sarokdar, I am not his designated heir! Kudel is more qualified than me. This is against the rules and will be punished by Paying.
The Lord scolded.
Besides, what the hell is the Blood Eagle Clan like now!
Where is the Grand Duke's throne? It is clearly a fire that is coveted by many pairs of eyes.
Murphy!
I've been so good to you, and there's nothing wrong with me. You can't do this to me! Hey! This is the Grand Duke's cloak. Don't put it on me! Don't put it on me, Murphy!
I order you to stop!"
However, how could she, a disabled vampire who had lost her power, be able to outpace her evil-hearted offspring who had now changed from what they once were?
It was like a scarlet whirlwind wrapped around Tris. In just a few seconds, the cloak was fastened, the crown was slanted, and the serenade cane was placed in her hands.
Murphy stood in front of her, tilted his head and looked at Tris' current appearance and nodded with satisfaction. Then when Tris was about to refuse again, he took out two things from the psychic bag, put them in his hands, and handed them to Tris.
In front of you.
The left hand is the mechanical box containing Sarokdar's heart, and the right hand is the crystal clear blood-colored liquid contained in an exquisite crystal bottle.
He looked at Tris and said:
"Power and freedom! You can get it as long as you stretch out your hand. There is no need to feel guilty or doubt about tomorrow. This is what you deserve, and it is also the best gift that I, as a descendant, can give to my elders.
The former is the apology that Sarokdar must repay to you.
The latter is the blessing given to you by fate through my hands."
Looking at these two things in front of her, Tris was speechless for a moment.
The heart of the Grand Duke can restore her strength, and the purified source blood can dissolve her blood contract with Sarokdar. Although the latter is dead, the feeling of weakness brought about by the bonding contract is still bothering her.
But these two things are not the point!
The point is that Murphy took it out so casually, which means that this little guy must have started planning all of this a long time ago.
Even long before Sarokdar's death.
Now that he was deceived, it was not the beginning of his plan, but a symbol of its successful conclusion. This little guy said before that he wanted to get angry for the pain he had endured for more than a hundred years, but he was not kidding.
He plays it real!
"You are hurting me"
Faced with Murphy's feelings, Tris really couldn't think of a reason to refuse. She took a step back and sat on the chair inlaid with jewelry, and said to Murphy helplessly:
"You know I don't want these at all. Maybe I chased these desires crazily and viciously before, but now I have settled in time. I am very satisfied if I have enough wine every day to make me drunk.
I shouldn't chase things that no longer belong to me.
Murphy, to the outside world, I have been dead for more than a hundred years. You cannot pull out a dead person who is already lying in a coffin and resurrect him. The dead should die obediently instead of wandering willfully in the world of the living."
“Good argument!”
Murphy shrugged, smiled, and said:
"However, this is not my decision alone, nor is it just a heir's love for his elders."
The door of the secret treasure house behind her was pushed open again. With the support of Mrs. Adele, the somewhat frail eldest lady walked into the place she had been to several times before. She saw Murphy using his spiritual energy to lift him up.
There are two things in front of Tris.
After making simple eye contact with Murphy, Femis also nodded.
Under Cuisi's stunned and even more helpless gaze, the eldest lady took out the last thing that was the certificate of the Grand Duke.
One-seventh of the vampire slate representing the origin of the Blood Vulture clan, an ancient object called the "Fragment of Desire", was also held up in front of her and handed to Tris.
The eldest lady said softly without any psychological pressure:
"The traces that my father and I left on it have disappeared with his death. The fragments of desire are waiting for the real owner, just like the Blood Eagle clan that has fallen into the mud is longing for the real leader to lead us in the dark night.
Rise again.
I won't deny that I thought Murphy needed to take on this responsibility.
But now I understand.
You, the former Scarlet Witch, a rare genius and wise man among vampires, who have gone through the years and stood at the top and fallen into the valley but never surrendered to fate, may be more suitable to lead us in this precarious time.
Your knowledge, your insights and your connections are all urgently needed.
There is no more suitable leader than you in this dark land, Mrs. Tracey, please do not refuse this praise and following."
"Be honest!"
Tris sat on the chair and pouted, staring at Femis with a subtle look, she asked dissatisfiedly:
"Did Murphy force you to say this? I know that he always has many ways to achieve his goals, and this is not even due to my teaching. I obviously want to teach him to be a good boy."
"it's not true."
Femis explained quite seriously:
"It's just that as a taboo, I really don't have the courage or qualifications to inherit all of this, and Murphy's choice is correct and appropriate. What I mean is that although there are no specific strength requirements to serve as the Grand Duke of the Blood Race, a Black Iron
It's indeed a bit shameful to spread the word about the Grand Duke's rank.
Strength does not mean power.
But there must be a shadow of strength in power.
Even from the most rational point of view, I quite agree with Murphy's decision."
"This is your father's heart! Although he has turned into a monster, he still gave you life. As a daughter, shouldn't you regard it as the last memorial?"
Tris is still making her final "struggle".
She pushed the Grand Duke's heart in front of her, but Femis took a step back this time and looked at the heart that seemed to be still beating in front of her with a complicated look.
She shook her head and said:
"I have decided to forget the past and start a new life that belongs only to me, so these memories of the past are just a heavy burden to me."
"Mrs. Tracey, please just obey."
Mrs. Adele behind Murphy and Femis said softly:
"There are only a few of us left in the Blood Eagle Clan. Who else is more qualified to sit on that throne besides you?"
"Who said that!"
Tris retorted with difficulty and paleness:
"Obviously there are still many peripheral members of the family alive. They are distributed in small towns on the border of Transia. There are also some strong men of the Silver rank among them. They are just hiding."
"Well, I assure you, my lady, they will soon be no trouble to you."
Murphy said in a subtle tone.
The gesture is gentle and light, but the smell of blood is almost overwhelming.
Obviously, he has once again expressed his attitude. He does not recognize this Duke of Blood Vultures except Tris! Anyone who dares to rob must be prepared to be beheaded and bleed.
"Yes, those traitors who enjoy the protection of the family but sit back and watch the family fall into a humble state and only think about saving their lives will soon not be a threat to anyone. I also promise you that my
Miss."
Femis next to him answered in an indifferent tone.
have to!
Now the tragic fate of those on the fringes of the family was decided through the harmony of these two guys.
Such a cold-blooded tacit understanding made Tris's lips move, but she couldn't give any more reasons. Facing the two people who were determined to push her to the top, her fingers that clasped the scepter relaxed as if they had lost their strength.
.
After a few seconds of silence, Tris whispered:
"You two go out first. I want to say a few words to my heirs. Don't worry, you have convinced me and I will fulfill my duties."
Femis and Adele left with satisfaction and closed the door.
The secret treasure house became quiet again.
"Come here, Murphy."
Tris called out.
Murphy stepped forward and stood in front of her with his head bowed, as if he was ready to be scolded.
But the imaginary scolding did not appear. A cold hand was placed on his cheek, lifting his downturned face so that his eyes could look into Cuisi's seductive eyes.
The former Scarlet Witch stared at him.
While making eye contact, she said:
"I can become the Grand Duke of the Blood Vulture as you wish, but you have to promise me one thing."
"Well, as long as it's your wish."
Murphy said softly.
Then, he heard Tris say to him:
"You have drank the source blood. You can terminate the blood contract between you and me at any time as long as you are willing."
"Yes, I can, but that doesn't mean I need to."
Murphy replied in a relaxed tone:
"I think it's good now, let us be close, let us trust each other, let us unite and cooperate, let us be at ease"
"Lift it!"
Tris said in a deep voice:
"That's what I want."
"Um?"
Murphy's eyes widened.
He looked at Tris with disbelief in her eyes, and then he heard Tris say to him:
"I don't want the tragedy between Sarokdar and me to happen again between you and me, Murphy, and I don't want the blood contract to affect your future judgment and decision-making. You feel that all your current thoughts are based on your own reason.
But you overlooked that this judgment itself was made under the influence of the bonding contract.
You must regain your senses!
You must also re-evaluate your relationship with me without any repercussions.
Believe me.
This is important to you and me.
If you want me to become the Grand Duke of the Blood Vulture, then dissolve the blood connection between you and me."
"I think so."
Murphy wanted to retort.
But then a slender finger gently touched his lips, blocking everything he wanted to say.
Tris had already grasped the Grand Duke's heart. She looked at Murphy and said:
"A true leader cannot be controlled by others, little Murphy. I have fallen into darkness before, and I am not sure whether I will fall into it a second time because of the temptation of power. But I must at least guarantee that no matter what happens to me, it will not happen.
It involves you!
You see, I still care about you and love you.
This will not change just because the contract is severed. You should believe that the more than a year that you and I have been living together is enough to transcend all blood connections.
So, be good. Okay?
Consider this the first order your Grand Duke gives you."
Murphy was silent for a few seconds.
He took a step back, looked at Tris with a smile in front of him, then nodded, put his hand on his chest to make a standard blood vulture salute, and said softly:
