“Ugh”


    Murphy, who was presiding over the initial embrace ceremony, let out an almost inaudible groan of pain as he struggled to remain standing.


    This scene was immediately noticed by Lady Adele.


    The perceptive Blood Descendant immediately stepped forward, using her own body to shield Murphy’s momentary weakness.


    She had been through a simr experience herself.


    She had no trouble guessing that Lord Murphy had given Maxim the same precious fresh blood essence during the initial embrace, which made Adele truly appreciate her lord’s generosity.


    “You foolish child!”


    Meanwhile, Tris, seated on the Blood Stone Throne, tightened her grip on the armrests at that moment.


    As an ancient being nearly five hundred years old, and a “veteran” who had made a living from “initial embraces” for over a hundred years, Tris, of course, knew what Murphy was doing at that time.“I know he’s loyal to you, but how can you be so generous as a vampire! You’re such a fool.”


    Lady Tris muttered under her breath.


    This was overheard by Miriam, the red-haired girl sitting beside her, who didn’t understand the intricacies and couldn’t help asking in a soft voice:


    “Did Murphy give Maxim really powerful strength?”


    “Powerful?”


    Tris nced at the adorable girl and replied with a mimicking tone:


    “It’s no longer a question of how powerful it is. He gave half of his fresh blood to Maxim. If I’m not mistaken, he had done the same before, giving a third of his blood to Adele.


    Although it’s fresh blood and not essence, it still means he’s weakening his own talents and potential to help his progeny gain more blessings of the midnight.


    This will make Adele and Maxim’s growth potential and speed far surpass that of ordinary vampires.


    However, I’ve never seen such a generous vampire elder!


    Little girl, why don’t you reconsider?


    Look how good my little Murphy is to you all. Meeting such an elder, you must have umted great merits in your previous life.”


    Miriam shook her head vigorously.


    She didn’t want to be a vampire.


    Although she was currently working for vampires and might even be a servant of a vampire lord, this waspletely different from actually bing a vampire!


    Meanwhile, words were constantly flickering on Murphy’s character card, noting the establishment of a blood covenant:


    【Choose Elite Temte Inheritance!


    The progeny ‘Maxim Cena d Lessenbra’ will gainplete vampire traits and 200% racial initial values, with enhanced effects for their skills, and inherit three randomly selected talents and specialties from your current ones!


    This option will additionally consume 50% of your blood, putting you in a ‘deep weakness’ state! This state requires 72 hours to recover, during which all attributes will be reduced by 50%, and life and spirit recovery rates will be zero.


    Progeny ability inheritance in progress…


    1. Inherited ability: Racial Talent Enhanced Branch – Swift Crimson Wings


    2. Inherited ability: Racial Talent Enhanced Branch – Bat Swiftness


    3. Inherited ability: Racial Talent Hidden Enhanced Branch – Night ws


    Note!


    Due to choosing the Elite Temte Inheritance, the progeny’s biological trait ‘Blood Wings’ is immediately manifested!】


    As these words flickered, Murphy felt himself plunged into an extremely weakened state.


    This was far more draining than thest time he initially embraced Adele, as if his entire body had been hollowed out. As a vampire under the blessing of midnight, he unexpectedly experienced dizziness.


    However, the “initial embrace tax” from his progeny soon arrived:


    【Initial Embraceplete!


    Maxim Cena d Lessenbra has fed back a portion of his strength to you during this process, specifically manifesting as:


    Strength +1, Endurance +1, Agility +1.


    New Talent 【Monster – Intimidating Ferocity】 gained, with a chance to inflict 【Fear】 effect on enemies when enteringbat.


    New Talent 【Monster – Robust Physique】 gained, increasing maximum life by 10% and improving life and stamina recovery rates.】


    This strength feedback satisfied the weakened Murphy.


    The talents were secondary, receiving three attribute points from Maxim’s feedback sessfully brought Murphy’s total attributes to an astonishing 104 points.


    What does this mean?


    For a regr vampire at the White Silver rank with an Elite Temte, the total attribute value, without considering progeny feedback, is precisely 104 points.


    This means that at the ck Iron rank, Murphy already possessed fundamental strengthparable to that of transcendent beings at higher ranks. As they say, future over-leveled battles will be fair fights for Murphy!


    “Support me,” Murphy said softly to Lady Adele, who was shielding his weakened state.


    She immediately assisted the weakened Count, ensuring he didn’t suffer an undignified fall in front of his warriors.


    As Murphy retreated a few steps, Maxim, who had been kneeling on the ground, opened his eyes, their crimson glow igniting as his bloodthirsty fangs emerged from beneath his lips, only to be retracted momentster.


    As Maxim stood up, a pair of massive Blood Wings, extremely simr to Murphy’s, unfurled from behind his heavy armor, beating powerfully.


    That piercing gale took the little yers on the second floor by surprise, forcing them to cover their eyes. But some were also shouting crude and foulnguage, eximing how cool it looked.


    There was no helping it.


    This scene was indeed very cool!


    Although Lord Murphy also looked cool when spreading his wings and flying, Murphy’s coolness came from his outstanding looks and dignified demeanor, like a nobleman strolling under the moonlight, making one feel admiration.


    But Maxim’s coolness stemmed from sheer power!


    It was the beauty of strength!


    The fully armored monstrous swordsman was like a walking mountain of armored flesh, already imposing and domineering, nowplemented by his broad Blood Wings. Add to that his hands like curved beastly ws, and the Night ws adorned with natural spirit patterns extending down his shins, and he exuded an oppressive aura worthy of a dungeon BOSS-level monster.


    Not giving him at least the role of a climactic five-person dungeon BOSS or an old first-tier raid BOSS would be an insult to his dashing entrance pose.


    Immersed in the blessings of the midnight force, Maxim soon regained hisposure.


    From the endless wellspring of power surging within him, he understood the truth. Then, raising his head to see his lord Murphy being supported by Adele, his pale face, an indescribable sense of guilt and gratitude welled up in his heart.


    “Lord Murphy, I…”


    “No need to say more, this is a reward for the loyal.”


    Murphy waved his hand, indicating that Maxim could temporarily withdraw.


    His part in tonight’s ceremony was temporarily over.


    “p”


    Seeing how much effort Murphy had exerted, Lady Tris felt a pang of pity and raised her hand to cast a spell, mimicking Lord Pnno’s spirit magic to make spirit energy dance like ck and red rose petals, sculpting a crimson long chair for Murphy.


    This allowed him to continue with the segments he had prepared for tonight’s ceremony.


    Lady Adele thoughtfully offered Murphy a cup of deep red fresh blood. The vampire lord epted and drank it all, regaining some strength, before sitting in the chair and once again leaning on the Desire Demon de in his hand.


    Meanwhile, Maxim stood resolutely by his lord’s side, fulfilling his duty as a Blood Descendant to guard and protect.


    Murphy calmed himself and said:


    “Be Bernice Adele Lessenbra, step forward!”


    Lady Adele was taken aback for a moment.


    Then she adjusted her low-cut, blood priestess robe that drew the gaze of all yers, regardless of gender, and came forward to kneel before Murphy.


    Just like Maxim’s earlier ceremony, as the magic de lightly tapped Lady Adele’s snowy white shoulder, he asked:


    “I ask you, Adele, are you willing to follow Murphy’s cause and use your own hands to open a new future for the dark and closed-off Transia?”


    Lady Adele thought she would hesitate.


    After all, her rtionship with the youngdy was extraordinary. In the face of this oath of allegiance being witnessed, she should have hesitated for a few seconds, making a choice between Lord Murphy and Lady Femis.


    However, she was overthinking it.


    Upon hearing Murphy’s question, her heart, which now beat only for Murphy, instantly gave her the answer.


    “I am willing, it is my honor, my only lord.”


    This response was so straightforward that Adele herself was shocked, then a sense of helplessness welled up within her.


    It seemed her heart hadpletely taken Murphy’s shape, or perhaps in the future, even this pure and seductive body would…


    Ah, this damned blood covenant!


    How vexing.


    But in reality, it wasn’t so bad, especially given the youngdy’s situation…


    Even if Adele wanted to pledge allegiance, she really had no choice.


    And the way this E-sister, quite popr among yers, said the words “my lord” in a gentle and natural tone also caused a stir among the little yers on the second floor.


    Several who had been diligently raising Lady Adele’s favor fainted in the crowd.


    Damn!


    Did it have to be so real?


    The paper waifu goddess you painstakingly courted turned out to be the ve of another paper being!


    Terrible gaming experience!


    Negative review!


    Give me all the harsh negative reviews!


    “Very good.”


    Satisfied with Lady Adele’s answer, Murphy nodded, then raised the de and tapped her other shoulder.


    His voice slightly winded, he said solemnly:


    “Then by the power bestowed upon me by Lady Tris, the Grand Duchess of the Blood Vultures, I hereby dere that from this day forth, Be Bernice Adele Lessenbra shall be the Shadow Overseer under Count of Kadman! I shall grant you the title and authority of ‘Baroness of Shadows.’


    My warriors shall bear witness to this, my warriors shallmit this to memory!”


    “Thank you for bestowing this upon me, my lord.”


    Lady Adele remained unruffled.


    After all, before tonight, Lord Murphy had already consulted her about this, and as she herself had said, she wasn’t particrly concerned about power.


    After Adele rose, Miss Miriam, seated beside Lady Tris, also heaved a sigh of relief.


    She thought the ceremony was over, but just as she was about to stretch her neck, which had grown sore from sitting upright, Murphy spoke again.


    “Miriam, step forward!”


    “Ah?”


    Miriam froze in ce.


    Huh?


    What did I have to do with this?


    Hey, don’t arrange such weird plots, okay?


    I’ve already said I won’t be a vampire!


    You bastard!


    “The initial embrace ceremony is over, this isn’t to make you a vampire, you cutie.”


    Tris, seeming to notice Miriam’s nervousness, said softly in her ear:


    “It’s just to formally bestow you with a title and authority in the eyes of the otherworld warriors, so you can properly continue serving your official role in the Transia region. Don’t you think the title ‘Survivor Camp Administrator’ is too casual?”


    “Oh.”


    Miriam understood.


    She straightened her long dress and walked towards Murphy, but just as she stood before him, a sh of lightning went through her mind.


    Wait!


    There was a problem here!


    Based on the authority and titles Murphy had just bestowed upon Maxim and Adele, if she stepped forward and received simr titles and status, wouldn’t that mean she would be permanently bound to Murphy, this vampire lord?


    If it really developed that way, no one would believe her if she told others she wasn’t a vampire worshipper!


    She would have to walk the continents bearing the identity of a “vampire servant.”


    Was this really happening?


    “I ask you, Miriam, are you willing to follow Murphy’s cause and use your own hands to open a new future for the dark and closed-off Transia?”


    Murphy’s inquiry rang in her ears.


    Like a death knell, it made the red-haired girl clench her fists. Having disliked vampires since childhood, she was about to refuse. But then, another thought emerged like a little mischievous man hidden in her heart, gesturing at her:


    Don’t be so hasty to refuse, girl.


    Why not consider what you might gain if you ept?


    A baroness title!


    Your ownnd and fief!


    Real power and authority!


    Since Murphy is so solemnly including you in this ceremony before his most valued otherworld warriors, it’s clear he intends to formally announce that you will take over the true governing authority of the Count of Kadman’s dominion!


    From then on, you will be the spokeswoman for Count Murphy of Kadman!


    Oh, mytemented mother!


    The opportunity for social advancement you dreamed of your whole life may truly be before your daughter’s eyes. You don’t even need to sell your beauty, body and dignity to serve some old, foolish man.


    You just need to work hard from now on.


    This is the kind of thing that could never happen even in a third-rate knight novel!


    It’s like being in a dream.


    Her clever little mind was engaged in an intense internal struggle, so intense that Murphy barely needed to use Desire Perception to listen to Miriam’s inner turmoil.


    So the cunning vampire cleared his throat and raised the stakes, saying:


    “Miriam! I await your answer, for in this time you have gathered and managed the survivors, contributing to the revival of the Blood Vulture n. I have decided to grant you the title of ‘Baroness of Mond’ and itsnds.


    And with my retainers and warriors as witnesses, I shall formally invest you with the authority of ‘Crimson Regent.’


    This city needs rebuilding, Count of Kadman’s dominion lies in ruin, the reborn Blood Vulture n and all of Transia await new changes, and the power to decide all this is about to fall into your hands.


    You have been so outstanding, loyal and excellent that you need not be one of the midnight’s kin to share in the power we wield.


    So answer my question, Miriam!


    Are you willing to follow Murphy’s cause and use your own hands to open a new future for the dark and closed-off Transia, for the homnd you loathe yet can still be changed?”


    “I…I…”


    Miriam was nearly rendered unable to think by the question and its unabashed temptation.


    No matter how clever and capable she was, she was still just an ungraduated student, while what Murphy offered far exceeded her original life ns.


    She really wanted to vehemently rebuke Murphy, to tell this damned vampire not to tempt her with such worldly things!


    She really wanted to do that!


    But s, what Murphy offered was too much…


    She was struggling mightily to resist.


    The righteous little man in her heart was being pinned down and pummeled into helplessness by the wicked little man, while her trembling legs refused to heed her inner screams, smoothly sinking to one knee instead.


    “Very good.”


    Murphy nodded.


    And up on the viewing tform on the second floor, Meow King stroked his chin and said to Joy Stick beside him:


    “Look at that! That’s what you call turning some pie-in-the-sky grandmaster nonsense into glory and power within reach, just from an NPC’s mouth. Not bad for a self-proimed Descendant of Desire vampire. Truly masterful at manipting hearts.”


    “Bullshit!”


    Joy Stick scoffed at Meow King’s remark and retorted:


    “Never mind the career-driven Miss Miriam, if you were in her position facing all these temptations from Lord Murphy, wouldn’t you ept?”


    “Heh, of course I…”


    “Shut up, you still have that hidden side quest in hand. Try abandoning it before talking tough?”


    “Tsk, I was just saying, you make me sound so silly.”