Conspiracy, and Resolve

At this moment, the chaos in the banquet hall continued.

The eerie crimson moonlight filtered through the exquisite stained-glass windows, casting mottled patterns on the floor, while a sinister, blood-soaked aura spread relentlessly.

The unsettling aura emanated from the appearances of every elder vampire present.

Countless blood-red shadows darted through the banquet hall. Their eyes were dull and gray, their mouths elongated with sharp fangs. When they removed their hoods, they revealed their grotesque, wrinkled, and hunched forms. Behind them, floating tendrils resembling capillaries gradually unfurled, spreading like pairs of crimson, revolting wings.

"Luo Wei..." Evelyn gazed at the hideous elder vampires with disgust. "If I ever live long enough to look like that, just kill me..."

"Teacher, what nonsense are you talking about?" Luo Wei shot her an exasperated glance. "They became like that because of the backlash tormenting them. You won’t end up like that!"

"Oh..." Evelyn nodded quietly. "Right. I’m different from them."

Who would have thought that the woman who once wanted to capture Luo Wei as her "Vampire Servant" would, through a twist of fate, become the most unique vampire in the millennia-long history of the City of Cain...

"Luo Wei..." Evelyn turned to Luo Wei, who was holding Helena in his arms, then glanced at the turmoil in the hall. "What’s your plan now...?"

Should they continue watching from the sidelines, or step forward to help the innocent human guests escape?

"Teacher, don’t ask me," Luo Wei winked at her. "This is your family, your home. I want you to follow your heart."

"Oh..." Evelyn frowned as she observed the blood-red shadows darting through the hall. Everything had happened too abruptly, and she wanted to sort through it all from the beginning.

"The identity of the murderer might only be revealed at the very end, but it doesn’t matter anymore... Because this scheme was orchestrated by the elders. They were the ones who killed Father."

Luo Wei nodded. "It’s obvious. The elders’ targets are the distinguished human guests present tonight."

Evelyn continued his line of thought. "The Blood Moon’s descent must be a large-scale blood magic ritual collectively cast by the elders behind the scenes. In this domain of our kin, the already formidable elders have grown even stronger. The human guests’ guards are no match for them, and neither are any dissenters."

Luo Wei glanced at the powerful mage being overwhelmed by the mob. He was indeed skilled—even in his frenzied state, he remembered not to let his spells harm his employer. Luo Wei wondered just how much he had been paid.

He then looked down at Helena, who lay against his chest. Her eyes were tightly shut, her face flushed as if feverish, and she murmured restlessly—all because he had been continuously activating [Punishment Command].

"This Blood Moon domain also severely weakens any supernatural beings who aren’t vampires," Luo Wei mused silently. It was both a buff for the vampires and a debuff for their enemies—truly effective.

Listening to Helena’s uneasy whimpers, Luo Wei gently stroked her hair and deactivated [Punishment Command]. Though her corruption level would rise again, at least she’d feel better.

"Of course, strengthening the vampires and weakening their foes isn’t the ultimate goal," Luo Wei said, lifting his gaze to the crimson full moon above.

"Mmm..." Evelyn nodded. "Remember what we saw that night in the forbidden prison..."

Luo Wei recalled it too—the aged vampire Meizi lurking in the darkness, and her "blood thrall," the mentally broken investigator.

"No wonder she looked so disappointed when she heard I was just a student..." Luo Wei couldn’t help but complain. "If my status had been even slightly higher back then, I might not have made it out alive."

Evelyn silently observed the dignitaries in the hall. "The emperor’s confidant, the Sword and Shield family, imperial councilors, descendants of General Abraham’s former subordinates, the headmaster of the highest academy..."

"That’s their real objective," Luo Wei said gravely. "They plan to turn these political elites into blood thralls, secretly manipulating the political landscape of the Wignar Empire."

A "Vampire Servant"—or "blood thrall"—could never defy their master’s orders. This was far more potent than imprisonment, coercion, or even religious indoctrination.

Unlike the mindless "blood servants," thralls retained their normal cognitive abilities. Otherwise, Evelyn wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to capture Luo Wei for his "first embrace."

"But they’ll be discovered eventually," Evelyn frowned. "Ophelia’s father has many powerful court mages under his command. Hmph... Even if they return, I doubt they’d pass the scrutiny of the Royal Capital’s Holy Edict Church. Imagine Count Philip casually greeting a bishop—wouldn’t that expose everything?"

"Actually... they don’t even need to return to Saint Callen," Luo Wei said, glancing at Count Philip. "These are influential old nobles. Once this is over, they’ll rush back to their territories and incite their subordinates..."

Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath. "And the Wignar civil war begins..."

"But," she pondered, "the Sword and Shield family is no match for Carlton II. That old fox is cunning."

"As long as chaos erupts, that’s enough," Luo Wei murmured. The encirclement was already in place.

"Plunging Wignar into internal strife and external threats—that’s Norsgul’s goal."

"Or rather, the goal of that Holy Maiden who dreams of ruling the continent and spreading her 'holy light' to every corner..."

"Your old flame is quite the ambitious one..." Evelyn remarked coolly.

If Luo Wei’s deductions were correct, this woman would instantly become the most troublesome, terrifying, and formidable adversary in Evelyn’s mind.

Luo Wei massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Right now, he desperately hoped his reasoning was wrong. He longed to find the church delegation, to locate that priestess Feilin.

He wanted to have a proper conversation with her.

Evelyn suddenly scoffed. "Fine. I’ve made my decision."

Luo Wei looked at her.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, her voice icy.

"Thinking they can manipulate our Abraham family with these underhanded schemes? The Church? The Holy Maiden? In their dreams!"

Without hesitation, she strode toward the center of the hall—toward the heart of the storm.

For the first time, Luo Wei sensed an unshakable resolve emanating from Evelyn.