Chapter 2: The Taste of Blood

"Alright, Ryu, this is as far as we go. You should head home now."

"Yes, Garp-san. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

With that, Ikano D. Ryu prepared to disembark from the Marine ship.

Before he could step off, Garp added, "Ryu, if you ever want to join the Marines, just give me a call. You have my Den Den Mushi number, right?"

"Yes, Garp-san."

"Good. Now get going."

Ryu nodded and took his belongings before heading off.

His home, located in Boro Village, wasn't too far from Syrup Village, where Usopp lived—perhaps a two-hour journey. He had originally left on a trip with his parents, only for their ship to be raided by pirates. If it hadn't been for Garp and his Marines, he wouldn't have survived.

As he arrived at the gates of a grand mansion that resembled a small castle, Ryu couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. This was his home now.

But was it really okay to feel happy so soon after losing his parents? He quickly brushed the thought aside. They weren't his real parents anyway. There was no point in forcing himself to mourn for people he had no deep attachment to. He had never truly experienced the warmth of family before, but he did hope to one day.

"Young Master, you're back!"

A cheerful voice greeted him.

The speaker was a fair-skinned girl, around sixteen years old, dressed in a traditional black-and-white maid outfit. Her name was Mia, one of the two caretakers of the mansion. The household didn't employ many servants—aside from Mia, there was only the housekeeper, Gray.

From Mia's reaction, it was obvious she hadn't been informed of his parents' deaths. Ryu saw no reason to bring it up just yet. He had no idea how these servants would react—whether they were trustworthy or harbored ill intentions. Until he understood them better, he would remain cautious.

"Let me carry your luggage for you, young master," Mia offered, taking the suitcase from his hands.

"By the way, where are the master and mistress?" she asked casually.

"They're still away. They won't be back for a long time."

"Oh? That means you'll be alone tonight, young master. Want me to keep you company?" Mia teased, flashing him a mischievous grin.

Ryu froze. "Uh—no, that's not necessary."

"Are you sure? You always slept with the mistress before. Won't you be afraid to sleep alone?" she continued, her expression playful.

"I won't!" he huffed before storming off to his room, his face burning with embarrassment.

Damn cheeky maid! If only I had the power, I'd make you regret teasing me!

Behind him, Mia chuckled. "He's still as cute as ever," she mused.

"But if the master and mistress aren't coming back for a long time… won't the house be too empty?"

As Ryu reached the second floor, he nearly bumped into the other servant of the household— Gray.

Unlike Mia, Gray was a mature woman in her mid-twenties, with a well-proportioned figure and a composed, cool demeanor. When she saw Ryu, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

Wasn't the young master supposed to be traveling with the master and mistress? Why is he back so soon? Wait—if he's back, then they must be as well! And I haven't restocked the pantry yet! I was planning to go shopping today, but now there won't be enough food for a proper welcome banquet!

Her expression changed slightly, but before Ryu could question her, she gave him a polite nod and hurried off.

Ryu narrowed his eyes. Suspicious. Could she be another scheming butler, like the one who tried to poison Kaya?

He made a mental note to stay cautious but continued on to his room.

His bedroom was extravagant—lavishly decorated and comfortable, something he fully approved of. After setting his luggage aside, his thoughts drifted toward his next priority—his evolution.

His path to power was simple: he had to consume blood. Each feeding granted him experience, and when he absorbed enough, he would evolve. Currently, he was at level four, meaning he had already consumed some blood in the past.

However, there was a limit. As a low-rank vampire, his body could only handle a certain amount of blood at a time—much like how a person could only eat so much before feeling full. The process could be sped up through combat or training, which burned through the absorbed blood more quickly, allowing him to consume more at a faster rate.

As for his source of blood? He wasn't keen on drinking human blood—at least, not yet. While it was the most effective, he had no desire to harm innocent people without reason. For now, he would make do with animal blood.

Once he set sail, however… well, the seas were filled with criminals. He would have plenty of options then.

With that in mind, he made his way to the mansion's backyard, where livestock were kept—sheep, cows, and even horses.

He wrinkled his nose at the strong, unpleasant scents of the animals before finally stopping in front of a black horse. Its scent was the least offensive of the bunch.

Sensing his presence, the horse became restless, its hooves scraping against the ground nervously. It could tell something was wrong.

"Relax. Just hold still. It'll be over quickly," Ryu murmured soothingly.

The horse, however, didn't listen. It continued to struggle, growing more anxious by the second.

Thud!

Ryu smacked the horse lightly on the head, leaving a small bruise.

"I said hold still, damn it!"

The horse immediately froze, terror filling its eyes.

Satisfied, Ryu climbed onto its back. His mouth parted slightly, revealing sharp fangs before he sank them into the horse's neck.

A sharp, needle-like pain spread through the horse's body, but it dared not move. It had seen something in Ryu's hand—a wooden stick aimed at a rather sensitive spot under its tail.

Just as Ryu promised, the process didn't last long—about a minute. But in that minute, the horse broke out in a cold sweat, paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of dread.

By the time Ryu pulled away, he had only taken about half a pound of blood—just enough to satisfy his needs without harming the horse too much. The wound on its neck sealed itself within seconds, leaving no trace of the feeding.

Ryu stumbled off the horse, his face flushed unnaturally from the rush of fresh blood.

"Phew… not bad. I'll be coming back for more, buddy."

He shot the horse a playful grin before heading back inside.

The horse, still trembling, watched him go, its eyes filled with sheer horror.