Orc

　　Count Stephen's estate was vast, yet sparsely populated. Aside from the Count himself, there were only a handful of servants and an elderly butler who resided in the castle year-round.

　　The butler, named James, was a man of few words, but he took great care in managing the myriad details of the castle. It was said that James's grandfather had served as the Count's butler before him. After the grandfather passed away, his father took over the role, and upon his father's death, James became the new steward. 

　　Three generations of his family had devoted themselves to serving the Count. Caesar mused that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, James's position could be inherited for another ten generations! After all, the lifespan of a Count-level vampire was extraordinarily long.

　　Count Stephen had lived for over eight hundred years, yet for him, that age was merely the prime of life. In stark contrast, the lifespan of common vampires was capped at no more than three hundred years. 

　　Caesar couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and envy at the longevity of the nobility. In this world where strength and lineage dictated everything, he was determined to rise beyond his humble beginnings and carve out his own path.

　　Early in the morning, Caesar spent three exhausting hours cleaning the expansive garden. Vampires had a deep-seated fear of sunlight, so he needed to finish his outdoor tasks before dawn broke.

　　Once inside the villa, he ascended the staircase, following the corridor until he reached a large room at the end. As he pushed open the door, he was greeted by towering bookshelves over two meters high, filled with an astonishing array of volumes that resembled a small library.

　　Caesar's job was to tidy the study, dusting off the surfaces and returning the books the Count had read to their rightful places. The workload was manageable, and he quickly completed his tasks.

　　However, he didn't leave the study immediately to return to his small room. 

　　"System, I want to sign in here," he called out in his mind.

　　"Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have received the 'Vampire Blood Cultivation and Refinement Technique'!"

　　A book materialized in his backpack, seemingly out of thin air. Caesar pulled it out and opened it, his face lighting up with delight.

　　The **'Vampire Blood Cultivation and Refinement Technique'** was a method for refining one's life energy and enhancing mental strength through meditation. While it couldn't allow a vampire to break through the limitations of their life tier, it could effectively solidify their current rank and bolster their mental prowess.

　　The strength of a vampire was not solely dependent on their physical might. As supernatural beings, their abilities were also a significant part of their identity! 

　　For instance, they could wield powers such as telepathy, mind reading, illusion creation, flight, emotional manipulation, weather control, and even precognition.

　　Such formidable abilities were not innate to every vampire, as they were closely tied to mental strength. Even if a vampire awakened their powers, the extent to which they could develop them depended on their mental fortitude.

　　"This must be a closely guarded secret of the royal family, inaccessible to common vampires," Caesar mused. He carefully tucked the **'Vampire Blood Cultivation and Refinement Technique'** away, planning to study it thoroughly once he returned to his room. 

　　With a renewed sense of purpose, he felt that this knowledge could be a crucial step in his journey to rise above his current station.

　　He began to wander around the study, and soon his eyes lit up as he carefully pulled a thick book from the shelf—**'The Origins of the Continent.'**

　　The title sparked a memory of a documentary from his past life, and he thought that perhaps this book could offer him a glimpse into the depths of this otherworldly realm. 

　　Unable to contain his excitement, he opened the book, and the first sentence made him widen his eyes in disbelief: 

　　"Gods govern the world, and all changes and developments of things are the will of the divine."

　　Was this a theological text?

　　He continued reading patiently, and with each line, his astonishment grew. 

　　Caesar found his worldview once again shattered. This other world was completely different from Earth, and the origins of species were not rooted in the theory of evolution but rather in divine creation.

　　For instance, the founding deity of the Blood Clan: Caitlyn!

　　Caitlyn was the first vampire in the world. Several epochs ago, she descended upon this realm and created nine great princes from her own divine blood. These nine princes then branched out and established the nine major families of the Blood Clan, all revering Caitlyn as their progenitor. 

　　Caesar's mind raced with curiosity and intrigue, pondering the implications of this newfound knowledge. This was not just a history of vampires; it was a revelation of the very fabric of existence in this world.

　　As the history unfolded in the book, Caesar learned that, in the present age, only seven of the nine major families remained, and they were no longer the close-knit family they once were. Instead, numerous factions had emerged, locked in fierce conflicts that often led to deadly rivalries. Yet, despite their divisions, the Blood Clan continued to revere Caitlyn as their deity.

　　Wherever one traveled in Blood Clan territory, the common refrain was always, "Oh~ Grand Ancestor Caitlyn, hear our prayers…"

　　What caught Caesar's attention most was a section of the map of the continent included in **'The Origins of the Continent.'** 

　　The Kingdom of Poshia was situated in the northwest of the Eastern Continent, separated from the orc-inhabited Gaston Kingdom by the Trepot Mountain Range. The flames of war had raged between the two nations for thousands of years. 

　　However, the city of Seidamir was the "imperial capital" of Poshia, and even the fiercest of orcs would find it impossible to breach the ancestral land of the vampires. 

　　Caesar traced the lines of the map with his finger, contemplating the political landscape and the implications of this ongoing conflict. This knowledge could be instrumental in his journey to strengthen himself and navigate the treacherous waters of vampiric society.

　　**'The Origins of the Continent'** detailed the histories and developments of many races, even touching upon the origins of humanity. Caesar found himself captivated, longing for the world described within its pages.

　　"Are you actually literate?" 

　　A sudden voice startled him from his reverie. Turning quickly, Caesar saw a middle-aged man standing at the doorway of the study, clad in a lavish purple coat. He was handsome, exuding an air of elegance, and his gaze held a hint of amusement as he looked at Caesar.

　　"Count!" 

　　Though startled, Caesar quickly regained his composure and rose to bow respectfully. "I didn't realize you were here. Please forgive my intrusion for reading without permission."

　　It was understandable that he was taken aback. This was none other than Count Stephen himself!

　　Having only absorbed a single drop of Count-level vampire essence the previous night, Caesar had gained a hundredfold increase in strength. He could only imagine how terrifying this ancient vampire, who had lived for over eight centuries, truly was. 

　　Caesar stood before the Count, his heart racing, aware that he was in the presence of a being whose power far surpassed his own. He braced himself for whatever might come next.

　　"Everyone has the right to seek knowledge; this is no fault of yours," Count Stephen said, waving his hand with a gentle smile. "However, I must admit it surprises me that a mere servant can read."

　　"My father once served a nobleman who had a great love for books," Caesar replied, maintaining a respectful demeanor. "I was influenced by him and learned some things, which my father then taught me."

　　He wasn't lying; this was indeed a true part of his past life, and having crossed over, he naturally inherited those experiences.

　　"Ah, enjoying literature is indeed a good thing. We vampires are an elegant and noble race, quite different from the barbaric, backward, and filthy orcs of Gaston," Stephen nodded, his voice refined as he addressed Caesar. "Your name is Caesar, correct? From now on, after you finish tidying the study, I allow you to read here for thirty minutes, provided I am not using the room."

　　Caesar was taken aback, feeling pleasantly surprised. 

　　During his time here, he had experienced the harsh reality of the rigid class system; to those in power, even commoners were often viewed as little more than ants. Nobles with titles tended to flaunt their status with arrogance.

　　Yet, Count Stephen was surprisingly approachable... quite down-to-earth!

　　"Thank you, Count. I won't take up any more of your time," Caesar said politely as he excused himself. 

　　He left the study, a sense of gratitude and hope swelling within him. Perhaps this could be the beginning of a more promising future.