Chapter 185-2: Post-Battle Gains, Hunting the Dark Pact (Part 2)

He had paid a steep price, but in the end, he had gathered enough strength to fight back.

Even better news: the Dark Pact knew nothing of what had happened.

The Crimson Mage Tower still remained hidden in the shadows.

This asymmetry of information would be enough to determine the final outcome of the conflict.

"Very good. No matter what happened before, from this day forth, you are one of the Saintlight Vampires.

Grote, the vampires welcome you."

Li De reached out and patted Grote's shoulder, who was at least two heads taller than him, a sincere smile spreading across his face.

No matter how hostile they had been before, he was now one of their own.

Humans who evolved into Vampires would still retain their original memories and personalities.

Becoming a Vampire didn't suddenly turn an outgoing personality into a cold, introverted one.

However, the powerful Vampire bloodline would subtly reshape new bloodlines over time, gradually strengthening their identification with their Vampire identity, a process that could take years.

The advantage was that this identification was permanent, etched into soul and blood.

Thus, new Vampires didn't change much at first; only over time would their habits gradually align with Vampire customs.

Of course, this wasn't a bad thing. On the contrary, the longer it went on, the stronger the bloodline's power became.

Grote glanced at the Second-generation Bloodline Descendants around him with a slightly complicated expression and nodded.

Just a moment ago, they had been enemies, and now they were comrades. It was a strange feeling.

But he didn't dwell on it. On the battlefield, enemies were meant to be killed without mercy. As a Northern warrior who had fought all his life, he had long come to terms with such realities.

"Lord Progenitor, the Northern Royal Bloodline..."

Li De saw Grote hesitating to speak and smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. Betty is doing very well. She hasn't become a Vampire. She's still a Northerner."

Of course, whether Betty became a Vampire no longer mattered. She had already been tightly bound to Dawn City's cause by her bond with Isha and the Soul Contract with him.

This Northern royal bloodline was already firmly harnessed to his war chariot.

Grote breathed a slight sigh of relief. Even though he had become a Vampire, he still didn't wish to see the Northern Royal Bloodline severed.

In human kingdoms, royal bloodlines might just be a title. But in the North, it was something far more significant.

The royal bloodline's innate talents were far beyond those of ordinary Northern warriors. Grote could guarantee that no matter when he faced Betty, she would always be the victor.

No one understood better than the Son of the North what kind of talents a royal bloodline possessed. Only a strong royal could lead the Northern people.

That was why he had paid such a high price to rescue the dying Betty, the North could not exist without its royalty.

"Clan Leader, Lady Betty requests an audience."

As the two talked, a Vampire came in to report.

"Let her in."

"Yes."

Not long after, the slender and tall Betty walked in, carrying a greatsword that was completely disproportionate to her figure, her eyes gleaming with a wild aura.

Only now did Li De truly get a good look at Betty's face.

Unlike other women, Betty's features were sharp and well-defined, radiating a spirited beauty. In her black eyes burned an uncontrollable wildness.

If such a girl were on Earth, she would absolutely be a queen-type figure, able to make countless men bow at her feet.

Upon seeing Betty unharmed, Grote broke into a broad smile. He stepped forward, clenched his right fist, and struck it against his chest.

"Good morning, Your Highness Betty. Grote of the Northern Morton Tribe greets you."

Betty's eyes lit up when she heard the familiar name. 

"Grote?" A hint of intimacy flashed in her gaze. "Son of the North, I've heard your name before."

But then her expression dimmed slightly as she remembered the past. "It's a pity. The Morton Tribe is no more. Otherwise, we might have fought side by side on the Northern Highlands."

She glanced deeply at Li De.

"But now, you are one of the Vampires."

Grote paused slightly, a hint of sadness flashing through his eyes as he looked at Betty.

"Your Highness Betty... is it true that you are the last of the Northern Royal Bloodline?"

Betty gave him a strange look.

"Who told you that?"

"Ah, is it not true? The Nolan Empire and the Radiant Empire have conquered the Northern Highlands. The Nolan Empire seized our land, and the Radiant Empire hunted our royals. Even their Legends acted..."

Betty nodded solemnly.

"The general information is correct. But while the Radiant Empire's Legends are formidable, so are ours.

After the fall of the Highlands, the Royal Family, along with 300,000 Northern citizens, left through a Spatial Gate.

They are now in a separate plane discovered by the Royal Family long ago—a place far more suitable for survival than the harsh Northern Highlands."

Hearing this, Grote's face immediately lit up with immense joy.

"Then the North has not lost its inheritance!!"

Betty shook her head firmly.

"No. The Northern warriors could never lose their inheritance. In fact, if the Royal Family hadn't already been planning a migration, no matter how powerful the Nolan Empire and Radiant Empire were, they could never have seized the Highlands."

At these words, Betty lifted her chin proudly.

As the leading warriors of Glory's Three Great Warrior Tribes, the Northern warriors were not as weak as the outside world imagined.

Though their numbers were small, every Northerner was a formidable warrior.

No one could humiliate the North.

Hearing this, Grote's heavy heart finally lifted. His voice grew bright and strong.

"The glory of the North shall guide us forward."

Betty's eyes shone with longing as she echoed,

"The glory of the North shall guide us forward."

Li De watched the two reconnect without interrupting.

After hearing Betty's explanation, he understood. No wonder Betty hadn't reacted strongly to Grote's transformation into a Vampire.

The North's inheritance was not broken. A single warrior who had already left the Highlands long ago—his fate wasn't so important.

After the two finished their conversation, Li De immediately turned to the main topic.

He scanned the Second-generation Bloodline Descendants in the room, then locked his intense gaze onto Grote.

"Grote, the Crimson Mage Tower is my territory. No one can recklessly target my property as prey.

I need you to tell me everything you know about the Dark Pact."

His eyes flashed with a sharp light, his tone carrying a firmness that allowed no doubt, a steely determination that could not be shaken.

"This time, we will hunt the Dark Pact."