Chapter 51: The History of Vampires

The black cloak was removed, and the man's jet-black hair startled Vina for a moment.

No, it wasn't black hair. In the dim candlelight, it gradually revealed a deep purple color.

Was that person also a vampire?

　　Just as she was about to look more closely at his features, a pair of deep, piercing eyes met hers first.

　　Those eyes, calm as a still pond, seemed to be quietly contemplating.

"You shouldn't stand so far away, Vistata the Witch." Lore scanned Ivina's attire.

　　No matter where she was, her beauty always shone faintly, drawing him in. Was it this beauty that he coveted? He had tried to convince himself hundreds, thousands of times, but he simply couldn't let her go.

"Sit beside me. Everyone else, rise." Lo issued an unquestionable command.

"Your Majesty, this..."

Having a witch sit in the count's seat. Even if she was greatly favored, one couldn't break the rules.

　　Standing nearby, Si tried to speak up to stop him.

"Buchler. Caesar, on behalf of the Blood Clan, I welcome your arrival."

The situation finally stabilized, and the tense atmosphere eased. Luo nodded slightly, gesturing to the man on his left.

Buchler's gaze slowly shifted away from Ivina.

　　"Count Dandel, there's no need for formalities. Our friendship isn't something that developed overnight, so I also appreciate you not addressing me by my title." The man spoke calmly, his serene expression at odds with the sharpness in his words. 

"Then, before the dance begins, let's discuss the matter at hand."

　　The waiter poured the blood-red wine into Ivina's glass. The only sound in the room was the gentle flow of liquid. 

　　This tense atmosphere was slowly brewing between the two powerful rulers. And the saddest part was that Ivina was undoubtedly the one closest to the storm.

　　She looked at the people present, each with a look of fear on their faces. Rather than a casual dance party, it was more accurate to say that Luo and the man named Bucher. Qisa were engaged in negotiations—or perhaps a rupture.

Who exactly was that man?

Taking a deep breath, Ivina struggled to suppress her fear.

"Business?" The smile on Bucher's lips gradually faded.

　　"Indeed, I would like to know. How did tens of thousands of my people meet such a tragic end at the fangs of the Great Blood Clan? Which clan set up an ambush at the border? If possible, please provide me with a reasonable explanation."

"There are so many vampire clans. Zisa, are you certain it was ours?"

　　"Leder." Bucher called out to the attendant beside him. Soon, a bloodstained suit of armor was handed over by the attendant.

"This is just one of them. If you need more, I have thousands of battle robes, and all of them carry the scent of your vampire clan. This is something no one would mistake."

　　Luo fell silent. He narrowed his eyes and looked toward Pu Jiao, who was standing a short distance away. He had never issued an order to send troops to conquer the Underworld. If that was the case, it must have been Pu Jiao who acted on his behalf.

"Your Majesty, since I drew the boundary line, I have remained secluded within the palace. I have never sent a single soldier to conquer the Underworld's territory. The other counts can attest to this." Pu Jieao was shrewd enough to defend himself promptly.

"Yes. It is indeed as the count has said."

"We have never sent troops," several elderly men with pale faces murmured below.

"Quiet." Luo looked at Buhler again. "It seems to be a misunderstanding. The matter I am referring to is not a minor territorial dispute. What concerns us is that boundary line. I believe you are here for the same reason." Luo's tone was calm.

"Minor disputes? Does that mean killing thousands or tens of thousands of people is merely classified as 'minor'? This made her feel a sudden chill.

"That is correct. Since the creation of the Three Realms, the territories of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity have been clearly divided. This balanced structure is something no divine or evil force would dare to disrupt. " Bucher furrowed his brow. He slowly swirled the red liquid in his wine glass. "And no one could have imagined that Cain, the son of Adam, would commit a sin, be punished by God, and become an immortal vampire. Thus, the Fourth Barrier was formed..." 

　　Snap. A crisp cracking sound interrupted Bucher's words. It was Luo, who had just picked up the wine glass and crushed it without warning.

"Ridiculous nonsense! God?! Cain was not the son of humanity. What right does that damned God have to deprive any life of its light and warmth? To use immortality as a price, to inflict endless punishment on every vampire whose blood flows with Cain's—such a despicable method… Hahahaha… Only the God revered by all could do such a thing!" " Luo laughed wildly. But in that laughter, Ivina tasted for the first time the sorrowful memories that belonged to him. 

　　She truly did not understand him. The thousands of years of his past were a blank to her. As the ruler of the vampires, proud as he was, he still had memories filled with pain.

　　Thinking about it this way, how much did she truly understand about vampires? It wasn't that vampires were naturally afraid of light; it was their own light and heat that had been ruthlessly stripped away by the Jehovah she worshipped. 

　　It turned out that she was as ignorant as an outsider about all of this.