Chapter 274

Chapter 275. Debt is Also an Asset (2)

Kai, who had received a token claiming to be from the Moon Beast Tribe, examined it closely.

However, even someone as knowledgeable as Kai couldn’t determine if the token truly symbolized the Moon Beast Tribe or if it was genuine.

“I can tell it’s not made by human hands. But how can I trust that this is really the Moon Beast Tribe’s token, or even if it is, that it means they’re still out there somewhere?”

Keter shrugged as if the question was obvious.

“You just have to believe. Isn’t that what trust is all about? It saves you the trouble of wasting time and money. Besides, I have no reason to lie here. If the token were fake, the Special Operations Unit would find out immediately.”

“If you’re hiding where the Moon Beast Tribe is, that’s akin to opposing the Empire.”

“If I were hiding them, sure. But what if I’m chasing them because I want to capture them? Reporting to the Empire would only get me pocket change, but capturing them myself would earn me a fortune.”

Kai understood what Keter was implying without needing further explanation.

“If you’re saying you killed the Sword Wing Tribe brothers during the hunt for the Seven Evil Tribes, how do you plan to explain the suspicion of covering up the truth?”

“Explaining isn’t necessary. It’s only natural. No need to earn the Empire’s ire. If I confess, the Empire would find out the Moon Beast Tribe’s whereabouts for free. I’d be a fool not to hide it.”

Kai leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“The Moon Beast Tribe is in Baydant.”

Without any hints, Kai had guessed correctly. Keter clicked his tongue, annoyed by how sharp Kai was.

“Evidence?”

“Baydant’s spear techniques have a short history, yet their mastery is oddly high. If the Moon Beast Tribe, known for their expertise in spears, taught them, it’s possible. Plus, you’re not trying to capture them yourself but offering to reveal their location. That’s why I’m certain it’s Baydant.”

“Perfectly correct. Congratulations. But you’ll still pay the reward, right?”

The interrogation had turned into a negotiation for compensation.

Despite Keter’s easy admission, Kai remained silent for a moment, then picked up a whiskey glass and slowly swirled it.

‘No matter what, Keter has nothing to lose.’

To extract the Moon Beast Tribe hiding in Baydant, the Special Operations Unit would have to act, and Baydant would be thrown into chaos.

Would they hand over the Moon Beast Tribe, or resist fiercely?

Kai believed it would be the latter.

‘The Moon Beast Tribe is cunning and meticulous. With their foresight, they were the hardest to capture among the Seven Evil Tribes. They wouldn’t let themselves be abandoned by Baydant.’

Baydant would resist even the Empire. In that process, Keter and Sephira would benefit.

It wasn’t that Keter gaining an advantage was troublesome, but the aftermath would be tricky for the Special Operations Unit.

‘Baydant is backed by the Second Prince. From Rakan’s perspective, he wouldn’t want to antagonize the Empire. But he also can’t coldly abandon Baydant.’

If he carelessly discarded a loyal family, other families’ loyalty would plummet, and they’d suspect Rakan. They’d think, “I could be next.”

Crown Prince Rakan, backing Baydant, would desperately resist. At least to ensure Baydant and the Special Operations Unit could negotiate on favorable terms.

‘This has become a nuisance. Of all times, something related to the Seven Evil Tribes had to happen.’

Capturing the Seven Evil Tribes, the beastmen who rebelled against the Emperor, was one of the Empire’s top priorities.

But the Special Operations Unit’s purpose was to act in the Empire’s “interest.” Capturing the Seven Evil Tribes was more about “revenge” than “profit,” lowering its priority.

‘If Baydant resists fiercely and Crown Prince Rakan intervenes to buy time, the Moon Beast Tribe will escape.’

Even if they anticipated the escape and set up a perimeter, the Moon Beast Tribe always slipped away. Their foresight was that troublesome.

‘For all we know, the Moon Beast Tribe might have already sensed our discussion through their foresight.’

If they were to capture them, it had to be now. But coincidentally, the Special Operations Unit was currently short-staffed due to other critical matters.

‘We’ve barely found traces of the missing Queen Lilian. We can’t divert resources for the Seven Evil Tribes now.’

Unable to ignore the Seven Evil Tribes, Kai reached a conclusion.

“Keter, I’ll give you a chance.”

Kai was sharp, but so was Keter.

“You used the wrong word. It’s not a chance, but a request, right? Something like, ‘Capture the Moon Beast Tribe for me.'”

Seeing no point in playing mind games with Keter, Kai spoke plainly.

“Fine, a request. Capture the Moon Beast Tribe in Baydant. In return, I’ll overlook the murder and cover-up of the Sword Wing Tribe brothers and pay you 3 million gold.”

The Emperor had guaranteed 1 million gold for capturing the Seven Evil Tribes. But Kai offered three times that.

However, Keter shook his head.

“3 million is a bit stingy, don’t you think? 7 million.”

“Your greed is excessive, Keter. The Seven Evil Tribes brothers you killed were also Empire officials. Sparing you from that crime is already a huge favor.”

“Fine. Subtracting their value, 6 million.”

“The Empire doesn’t waste money, Keter.”

“Then no deal. Offer it to someone else. 3 million gold to capture the Moon Beast Tribe.”

“4 million. Keter, didn’t you want to stay on good terms with the Empire? Or are you like those fools who antagonize the Empire just because it’s powerful?”

“If strength equals evil, then I’m a monster. 5.9 million.”

Kai glanced at his wristwatch and stood up.

“4.7 million.”

Kai stated the amount without further ado. Keter also stood up.

“4.7 million, deal. But there’s a condition. You have to pretend to investigate Baydant.”

“If that’s the condition, then 4.5 million. The cost of mobilizing Empire investigators isn’t small.”

“Your prices are ridiculously high. Ah, well, since we’re friends, I’ll compromise this time.”

“Keter, I’ve given you everything you wanted. It’s an exceptional deal. So, capture the Moon Beast Tribe. If you fail, it won’t just end our relationship.”

“Oof, that’s intense. Encouragement isn’t enough, huh?”

“The Empire will be watching you.”

Leaving behind words that could be either encouragement or a threat, Kai departed. Keter finished the spider wine Kai had left.

* * *

After concluding the deal with Kai, Keter went to find Maknun.

“Kai came and went. I’m about to head out too.”

Tomorrow was the day the family war between Sephira and Baydant would begin, and Keter had a prepared strategy.

Maknun glanced at the sunset behind Keter and spoke.

“Aren’t you waiting for another guest?”

“If it’s my guest, they’ll find me.”

“If it’s Ruquer, I’d feel at ease, but Sephira makes me nervous.”

“The first time is always the hardest. Overcome it. It’s just the beginning; getting scared now would be problematic.”

“It’s thrilling, not scary, okay?”

“Your ears are red.”

“It’s because of the cold, just the cold.”

Keter chuckled and patted Maknun’s head. Maknun brushed off the hand and said.

“Ah, Brother! Do I look like a kid to you?”

“I was just brushing off dust, dust.”

“Enough, just go. You’re the one scared, hesitating because you’re worried about Sephira.”

“…Maybe.”

Keter summoned Amaranth and draped it over his shoulder as he walked away. Watching his back, Maknun sighed.

“Once you decide to fight, death is inevitable.”

Few are crazy enough to enjoy killing. But to survive, humans are willing to take lives.

Keter is human too. He doesn’t want those close to him to die and grieves when they do. But he doesn’t resist it because it’s the natural order.

“Anyone could die. Hisop, the Branch House Lord, Taragon, even me.”

He won’t die easily, and Keter won’t just watch. But situations don’t always favor one side.

No matter how thoroughly you prepare, there are always unpredictable factors. In the worst case, you could die from a meteor falling from the sky.

“If it’s my fate to die, then so be it. But…”

Daat looked up at Sephira’s main building and muttered.

“At least, I won’t let those who don’t have to die, die.”

Like Keter, Daat was passionate. He vowed to block all variables in tomorrow’s family war.

* * *

Night fell. After tonight, Sephira would no longer be a safe place.

Enemies could invade at any moment, and this beautiful scenery would be decorated with blood and screams.

Even wrapped in fur, the cold pierced to the bone. Yet, the soldiers guarding the perimeter remained vigilant, their morale high, their discipline sharp as arrows, their eyes glowing hotly in the dark.

But sadly, they couldn’t sense the pale figure moving between shadows.

It was a being too advanced for them to detect. The shadow, having passed Sephira’s tight security effortlessly, briefly surveyed its surroundings before heading not to the main building but to Keter’s mansion.

As always, Keter’s mansion had no guards. It was like another world.

Click.

A woman emerged from the shadows in the hallway. Dressed lightly as if mistaking the season, she walked down the hallway without hesitation.

Splat.

Suddenly, green slime fell from the ceiling, engulfing her. It was Popo, the slime guarding Keter’s mansion.

Even a 4-star assassin would fall victim to Popo’s ambush, as its attacks are stealthy. But the woman, as if she knew, reached her hand to the sky-

Splash!

A crimson curtain of blood formed, repelling the slime in all directions.

“Pathetic creature…!”

The blood curtain transformed into a spear, ruthlessly stabbing the slime.

Squelch!

Feeling something different about this intruder, Popo thrashed violently, causing the entire hallway to shake.

Gurgle, squelch!

It wasn’t an illusion. Green slime expanded from the entire hallway, instantly enveloping the woman.

The rapid expansion surprised her.

“A mere slime with such power?”

Though surprised, she remained composed. The blood curtain protecting her was solid. No matter how Popo tried to dissolve it with acidic slime, it couldn’t penetrate.

“So, you’re one of His minions? To think even a slime could be His servant. Ah, He is indeed omnipotent.”

With a mesmerized expression, the woman suddenly scratched her palm with her finger, drawing a blood hexagram.

Gush!

An unbelievable amount of blood poured from her palm. Moreover, it wasn’t just blood; it consumed the slime’s mucus.

With a bewitching smile, the woman flicked her tongue, unleashing a vampire’s power.

“Release, Blood Myriad.”

In an instant, the blood she emitted exploded, overturning the entire hallway. Popo’s slime vanished in the blink of an eye.

The hallway was instantly drenched in blood.

Squelch.

Having defeated Popo in one move, the woman walked over the blood pool and stopped before Keter’s quarters.

“Ah, here. Here is His noble presence…”

Clutching her face and sobbing, she stopped speaking as the door opened from within.

The door slowly opened, revealing a small girl’s figure. Seeing the girl, the vampire’s face flushed, and she knelt.

“Pureblood Isera greets the True Ancestor, Lady Elije.”

Elije, the silver-haired beauty resembling Keter, holding a doll of him, looked down at Isera, who introduced herself.

Isera couldn’t bring herself to look up. Even in the moonless darkness, the girl’s radiance was blinding.

Shiver.

The woman trembled. It wasn’t just because she had finally met the “True Ancestor.”

‘My body, my blood remembers. His greatness.’

Awe, fear, terror.

Biologically, she knew. If the small girl before her simply said “die,” she would vanish.

Vampires are semi-immortal. As long as they have blood, they can heal any wound and revive from death.

Even hybrids, not purebloods, are like this. So, purebloods’ immortality is even stronger. It’s almost impossible to kill them.

In her centuries of life, Isera had never felt the fear of death until this moment. That’s why she was certain the girl before her was the True Ancestor.

“Why have you come to me?”

Elije finally spoke. Her voice was as cute as her appearance.

But Isera bowed even lower and hastily replied.

“Mother of Vampires. I have come to reclaim our ancient glory and rights. The Blood King’s return is near, and I beseech you to join us.”

The Elije Keter knew was an innocent girl. But this Elije was different.

“Who leads you?”

Her voice was cute, but the power within it was real. Isera, without hesitation or deceit, spoke the truth.

“The True Ancestor, Vladimir, leads us.”

“Radi… So, he’s alive.”

Elije referred to Vladimir by a nickname, as if remembering him. Isera’s face lit up, and she slightly raised her head.

“Lord Vladimir also wishes to see you as soon as possible.”

“Go back. I won’t go.”

“…What?”

Isera thought she misheard. The Mother of Vampires, Elije, refusing to join her kind?

“If it’s due to a contract or curse binding you to Sephira-”

“No. I’m here by choice, and I will remain so.”

“I… I don’t understand. You are our Mother, yet you choose to stay with the human family, Sephira…”

Seeing Isera’s reluctance to back down, Elije frowned. Even her frown was unbearably cute, but Isera felt her breath tighten.

“Radi must have thought my heart had changed, or he didn’t tell you. Listen well.”

Squeeze.

Elije, clutching the Keter doll tightly, spoke to Isera.

“I will kill the Blood King. I will never join hands with those who seek to revive him.”

As the progenitor of vampires declared she would kill the Blood King, Isera’s eyes widened in shock before narrowing.

“Before sending me here, Lord Vladimir told me something.”

Crack!

The sound of glass breaking came from the woman’s mouth. Simultaneously, she, who had been pinned by Elije’s aura, slowly began to rise.

“He said that after being sealed for so long, you might not fully remember or could be in confusion. In that case-”

What burst from her mouth was the blood of the True Ancestor, Vladimir.

Temporarily gaining power close to a True Ancestor, Isera looked down at Elije and said.

“He told me to subdue you and bring you back.”