Crimson Tower.
Two half-vampires knelt humbly on the floor, faces plastered with fawning smiles, carefully holding an exquisite jar.
“My lord, this is the rare snake honey I obtained after countless hardships. Its sweetness is—”
Before he could finish, a crimson blood whip whistled through the air, lashing them and sending them flying into the wall. They only dared let out muffled groans.
“How many times have I told you,” Sigmund leaned forward slightly from his throne, his slightly plump body radiating danger in his red eyes, enunciating each word, “during this period, do not let me see any sweets! Next time, I’ll kill you!”
“Yes! Yes! This lowly one knows his mistake!” The two half-vampires scrambled to pick up the fallen jar and retreated to the corner, wishing they could disappear.
Watching their groveling, Sigmund’s eyes flashed undisguised disgust.
Only his roommate with peculiar tastes would appreciate such spineless, boot-licking trash.
But to be fair, the roommate’s eye for picking these two sycophants among many subordinates could be called “unique vision.”
If not for the roommate liking them, Sigmund would have long sent such garbage on suicide missions.
At that moment, the adjutant stepped into the hall. “My lord, Duke Velariss’s troops have entered the canopy range.”
“They’re finally here!” Sigmund’s eyes gleamed. “I’ve waited long enough! The information hasn’t leaked, right?”
“Rest assured, my lord. After incorporating Blood Knights into scout units and sealing the border, no human scout can cross to probe our rear movements.”
Sigmund nodded satisfied. Such ostentatious secrecy would naturally alerted his old rival Alama to something unusual.
But it no longer mattered. As long as the information stayed locked, humans couldn’t reinforce High Fort in time!
Of course, the price was heavy.
“Blood Knight losses?”
“In the past half month, 187 Blood Knights have fallen.”
Naturally Alama’s handiwork.
Sigmund smacked his lips unhappily. The knight order only numbered two thousand; nearly ten percent losses hurt.
But… it was worth it!
The adjutant timely reminded, “My lord, Duke Velariss has arrived. Shall this subordinate go greet her?”
Sigmund glanced at him, knowing the inexperienced adjutant wanted to shine, but he clearly didn’t understand Velariss; otherwise he wouldn’t dare volunteer.
Still his adjutant, Sigmund denied the request and pointed at the two trembling half-vampires in the corner. “You three, go welcome Velariss.”
The two half-vampires and the adjutant looked at each other in confusion.
“My lord,” the adjutant cautiously asked, “you mean all three of us?”
Sigmund grew impatient but repeated, “You’re not going. Let those two go.”
The adjutant followed Sigmund’s finger; only the two kneeling half-vampires were visible.
Was… there an invisible third person?
The adjutant’s heart chilled. As a temple-tier powerhouse, he was confident no one could hide from his senses at this distance.
Yet he saw only those two cowering half-vampires.
He was about to ask again when Sigmund suddenly clutched his forehead, frowning, muttering almost inaudibly, “Wrong… wait, he and they… one plus one equals… three? No, the math is off…”
The voice was fragmented, confused.
After a long moment, Sigmund snapped back, as if angered by his lapse, and barked, “Just those two! Immediately!”
“Yes!”
The adjutant dared not ask more. Suppressing unease, he quickly led the two half-vampires away.
Lin Jun took in the whole scene, silently recording this precious observation.
[Skill: Multiple Wills LV1]
If the divine tree hadn’t mentioned it while killing Ilos, Lin Jun might never have noticed this mere LV1 skill on Sigmund.
With hundreds of skills, he usually only paid attention to high-tier ones. Hard to notice low-tier skills at the list’s end.
But Lin Jun wouldn’t kindly remind Sigmund. As a perfect observation subject, maintaining the status quo was best.
“Speaking of which, little Sigmund,” Lin Jun asked in a boss-like tone, “why do you care so much about your Blood Knights? Are they special?”
Recovered, Sigmund acted as if he hadn’t just spaced out.
Though annoyed by the nickname, he still explained proudly to his curious roommate.
“The Blood Knight Order is elite selected from slaves raised from childhood. Each batch is repeatedly indoctrinated: loyalty to me brings everything, while undergoing the harshest training. Finally, trainees are grouped in twenties to fight each other…”
Lin Jun cut in before he finished. “Fight to the last one standing, and only the victor joins the Blood Knights?”
Sigmund paused briefly. “No… not that extreme. That’d kill them all… Losers continue training; when vacancies open, they compete again.”
A disappointed mental tsk seemed to echo. Sigmund’s knuckles went white gripping the armrest, barely resisting crushing it.
…
Velariss’s troops camped behind Crimson Tower. From above, massive figures were visible: trolls.
Trolls’ greatest traits: racial talent [Rapid Adaptation] to quickly gain resistance, and signature skill [Regeneration].
Eye-opening; humans never saw such things!
Lin Jun was quite envious but had no channel to acquire trolls for now.
Trolls clearly weren’t disciplined soldiers. In moments of observation, several conflicts erupted between regular demon soldiers and trolls.
But Velariss’s troops were clearly experienced; troll disturbances were quickly quelled.
Sigmund went down, letting Lin Jun see the “madwoman” he mentioned.
“Ah! Sigmund! Long ti—” The enthusiastic half-demon girl waved her tail and arms, running over loudly from afar.
But…
“Uh…” Up close, looking at the slightly rounded figure, the girl asked uncertainly, “You… are Sigmund, right?”
(End of Chapter)
