Chapter 77

Brice Olivier stepped onto the podium, his tailored suit impeccable as always. The crowd before him erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable. He raised his hands, a practiced smile on his face as he waited for the noise to die down.

"Thank you, thank you all," he began, his voice carrying across the square. "Today marks a new era for France, and I'm honored to be at the forefront of it."

The crowd roared again, and Brice allowed himself a moment to bask in their adoration. It had been a long game, but finally, he'd secured a position of real power. Senator of France in the EU Federation - not bad for a 110-year-old vampire pretending to be a 40-something human.

"We've faced challenges, my friends. The cyborg uprising of '99, the Mars colony rebellion, the ongoing threat of extraterrestrial interference. But we've persevered, and we'll continue to do so."