Chapter 46: The Shaken Rekel

This was the first time Li De had met Rekel.

Before dawn, when Avi left Dawn City, she informed Li De of all the information about Rekel.

Li De was also curious. Why would a Level 7 intermediate warrior choose to live in a border town and even attack the noble ruling over them while fleeing?

Especially since Avi seemed to admire this Rekel, which intrigued him.

The number of vampires wasn't large at the moment. Although managing the current few hundred humans wasn't difficult, in the future, he planned to continue expanding the human population. Managing everything with vampires alone wouldn't be realistic.

Thus, it was necessary to promote a group of capable humans to assist in management—finding collaborators.

As for whether humans might later take over, Li De wasn't worried at all.

This was a world of magic. A Level 5 intermediate mage could easily kill fifty or sixty civilians. The power held by vampires wasn't something these displaced peasants could resist.

Moreover, it wasn't just about force. In the later stages, human interests would align with those of the vampires. When their land and property were protected by the vampires, any rebellion? Their own kind would be the first enemies of those rebels.

Furthermore, the number of vampires would continue to grow, and outstanding humans would become vampires.

Li De had plenty of ways to make these people willingly join the vampires. Becoming a vampire would even become something humans would compete for.

Rekel was the first target Li De was evaluating. Besides him, there were five others who were literate and held high prestige among this group.

Rekel sat cautiously across from Li De, while Oli stood awkwardly beside him, unsure whether to sit or stand.

"No need to be so nervous," Li De smiled kindly. "I've said it before. in Dawn City, your lives are protected by the Saintlight Vampires.

Our Saintlight Vampires are different from the evil vampires you know."

Whenever he had the chance, Li De showcased his parrot-like nature.

"Lord Kachar, what brings you to see us?"

Even a mercenary with extensive experience, Rekel felt immense pressure facing a vampire clan leader who ruled a city.

These were the bloodthirsty and brutal vampires of legend. Even though the other party repeatedly claimed to be different, fear had long been rooted deep in his mind, impossible to remove, even by divine intervention.

"Rekel, I heard from my clansmen that you hold great prestige among humans. I have something I'd like to ask of you."

Li De spoke very politely, but upon hearing this, Rekel instantly broke into a cold sweat.

Something to ask of me? Recalling the various evil legends of vampires, fear spread uncontrollably within him.

"My Lord, I, I…"

Seeing the man's expression, Li De knew he was overthinking. He cleared his throat lightly and said calmly, "Rekel, as I've said, you are protected by the Saintlight Vampires in Dawn City.

As long as you don't break the laws of Dawn City, no one will harm you."

"Lord Clan Leader, please speak. As long as it isn't something that betrays the townsfolk, I'll do anything."

Rekel gritted his teeth as if preparing to duel a demon, his face filled with determination.

Li De raised an eyebrow and said indifferently,

"Dawn City will provide free food for all of you until next spring.

Although the Saintlight Vampires are powerful, we aren't skilled in cooking.

I need you to organize about twenty people to form a logistics department to cook food daily for the humans of Dawn City."

After these words, Rekel's expression immediately stiffened.

He originally thought this vampire clan leader wanted him to betray the townsfolk, perhaps by selecting a few humans each day to offer to them. But he never expected it to be something like this.

Free food?

The enormous psychological gap left Rekel momentarily stunned.

Could the promises made by this Saintlight Vampire clan leader on the square earlier really be true?

The townsfolk had fled in such haste that many hadn't even managed to bring out their grain or Copper Pucks.

If not for that, they wouldn't have risked attacking Baron Marcus's caravan of the Kingdom. Attacking a noble was a grave offense; if word got out, the armies of the Nolan Empire would hunt them down and hang them.

After being captured by the vampires, Rekel had already mentally prepared himself. Most of these people wouldn't survive the winter.

But now, this vampire clan leader said he would provide free food. This psychological expectation soared from rock bottom to its peak.

"You, you're serious?!"

Harrison and Augustine, standing behind Li De, became angry at Rekel's impolite questioning.

"Human, don't use your shallow understanding to question the clan leader of the Saintlight Vampires, the Lord of Dawn City. If it were before, you'd be hanged."

Upon hearing this cold remark, Rekel quickly regained his composure and hastily apologized, "Forgive me, Lord City Master, I…"

Li De waved his hand, saying nothing. His status among the vampires was supreme, beyond reproach.

For such a human to question him so rudely without being immediately killed already showed how well Li De had educated them.

In human kingdoms, commoners who defied nobles could be killed without anyone caring. This world was indeed ignorant and cruel.

Life was the cheapest thing, worth less than a noble's toy.

"No need to worry. As long as you don't make mistakes, you won't be harmed.

If there's no issue with this matter, then I'll leave it to you.

Rekel, I believe you still have many questions, but time will always reveal the true nature of demons. Whether the Saintlight Vampires are good or bad, time will give you the answer."

Looking at Li De's smile, Rekel inexplicably felt touched. Such an important figure actually consoled him. He was starting to believe in Li De.

Perhaps, this really was an opportunity for the townsfolk.

"Lord Clan Leader, I will strive to complete the task you've entrusted to me."

Li De nodded satisfactorily. "This is a good start.

The salary for this job is 10 Silver Pucks per person per month. As the leader, you will receive 15 Silver Pucks."

Ten Silver Pucks? Hearing this, Oli nearly bit his tongue. Not only were they getting work, but they were also receiving salaries like the guards in the town?

In Eric Town, Marcus's guards received only eight Silver Pucks a month.

Rekel took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

He never expected what should have been a voluntary job to come with such generous pay.

Ten Silver Pucks, if saved, would be enough to support a family of three for a month and a half.

Lord City Master really was different from the vampires of legend.

Li De took the cloth bag handed over by Harrison and casually tossed it onto the table.

Clang—the sound of metal colliding rang out.

"There are 100 Silver Pucks here. Those willing to accept this job can receive half their salary upfront, with the other half paid after a full month."

A small price to pay for a great reward. This marked the beginning of the first collaboration between humans and vampires.

Li De believed that as long as people participated in the affairs of Dawn City, humans would quickly put down their inner fears and vigilance, truly integrating into Dawn City.

And this was just the first plan. Subsequent plans included land distribution, job assignments, and even reassigning houses.

Each plan had certain prerequisites. Only after humans met these prerequisites could they truly obtain land and houses.

These simple civilians couldn't escape his schemes.

Li De, the King of Schemes, Kachar, had already dug the pit for them.