Chapter 284: The Win Can Be Won (53K Bonus 86 87)

"You damned knight!"

In the darkness of the Prison of No Light, Elisa loudly scolded, glaring at the smirking damned knight before her.

"You! Don't come near me!"

"Don't… ssshh, ssshh, cough cough cough!"

Elisa had originally intended to maintain her current "persona" — a proud vampire who would rather die than yield.

But when Herbert drew near, especially when he deliberately poked a hole in his fingertip and sweet blood began to trickle out… snap.

The string in Elisa's mind snapped.

She simply couldn't hold on.

To remain rational before such temptation? I truly cannot!

So she could only step by step, walking toward Herbert.

Click.

Just before reaching Herbert, a flash of clarity crossed her eyes; she abruptly halted and slapped herself hard.

Slap!

Under the shock of pain, her consciousness regained a sliver of clarity; she stepped back, squinting at the boy before her.

"How dare you tempt me!?"

This knight is truly despicable — using such underhanded tactics against me!

It's a disgrace to the knightly order!

In response to her furious glare, the "disgrace of the knightly order" rolled his eyes and sneered: "You're acting — huh? Stop wasting my time with your nonsense."

He raised his bleeding middle finger and gestured toward the vampire.

"Cut the crap — just tell me, do you want it or not?"

In response to his insult, the vampire immediately reacted.

"Yes!"

Though her mind resisted, her body was utterly honest.

Ah — ugh!

She closed the distance in three strides, lunged forward, and clamped her mouth over Herbert's fingertip.

Then she began sucking his fingertip like a baby nursing from a bottle.

Glug, glug, glug…

As the pure blood flowed down her throat, her scowl vanished, her eyes growing noticeably clearer.

(6ω9)

Herbert watched her greedy behavior and couldn't help shaking his head; with his other hand, he gently patted the top of her head.

At this moment, though the vampire resisted, she merely shot him a glare and made no further move.

Whoever feeds you is your mother — no, whoever gives you blood is your mother!

Under the torment of her bloodlust, she could even unreservedly call Herbert "Mommy"…

Hmm, better not call him "daddy-mommy."

No daddy-mommy!

Herbert thought this, while internally producing vast amounts of blood, lovingly nurturing his child… cough.

He shook his head, shaking off the absurd thoughts in his mind, cleared his throat, and asked about the matter at hand:

"So, you still won't accept my terms? I think I've offered a fair price."

Several days had passed since returning to the Mist Monastery, and all major and minor matters had been preliminarily resolved.

After learning from the Ash Bishop what items he needed, Herbert had been pondering whom to choose as his travel companion.

Ultimately, after "deep consideration," he fixed his gaze on this easily controlled vampire young lady.

As for why he didn't choose the monster girl he had already fully won over, Herbert's reason was simple.

Because of danger.

Not that they posed a danger to Herbert — the risk of being drained dry doesn't count here.

Rather, this journey would expose them to danger.

Valentina is at a critical breakthrough stage; she should remain still, not move about — temporarily ruled out.

Fu Leimei is a pure mage; she risks magical backlash in dark regions — also temporarily ruled out.

Since other viable candidates exist, Herbert didn't want Valentina or the others to bear such risks.

Among the remaining candidates, he ultimately chose Elisa.

Elisa — it's decided, it's you!

After all, she's truly easy to control.

He smiled and slightly pulled back his finger, watching the greedy vampire step forward with him.

Herbert chuckled and asked: "You've hesitated for so many days — aren't you ready to give me an answer yet?"

In response, Elisa couldn't help rolling her eyes and letting out a huff.

"Hmph!"

Haven't I already answered you?

No.

You just haven't gotten the answer you wanted, so you pretend I never answered!

She wanted to retort, but couldn't bear to release the delicacy in her mouth; she mumbled through it: "Mmm… don't even think about it, mmm."

(Suck-suck)

"I am not, mhm, possibly going to be your dog!"

(Suck suck)

Herbert couldn't help but laugh after hearing her vicious tone.

"Haha! Don't put it so harshly!"

"Besides, when did I say I wanted you to be some 'loyal hound' for me? Wasn't that what you said yourself?"

Herbert shook his head and laughed: "I remember, what I clearly said at the time was for you to be my most loyal bodyguard… how did you get to dogs from that?"

I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!

I'm a person of upright character!

How could I ever say something like telling you to kneel down and be my dog?

Misunderstanding.

Folks, this is all a misunderstanding!

Please, kind sirs, see clearly!

"Mmh mmh… ha~"

Elisha sucked hard for quite a while before finally releasing Herbert's finger, but her two hands still hadn't let go, still resting on Herbert's wrist.

She caught her breath, then squinted sideways at Herbert: "Hah! Is there really any difference?"

"Once I agree to your terms, you'll definitely do this and that to me!"

Exactly.

Just like those dark elf customs Swani told me about — you'll definitely devour me alive!

And faced with Elisha's undisguised suspicious gaze, Herbert also laughed.

He blinked, and asked curiously like an inquisitive child: "What exactly do you mean by 'this and that'? Can you tell me in detail?"

"It's definitely… huh? You're trying to trick me again?"

Halfway through, Elisha warily shut her mouth and bared her sharp canines stained with fresh blood at Herbert.

What for?

You damned bastard, don't you know?

How could you not know!

Do you think I've forgotten everything you've done to me!!?

"…Heh."

Under her grief-stricken stare, Herbert shrugged and didn't pursue the question further, instead asking: "Since you're so unwilling, can you tell me the reason you're so against it?"

Reason?

Elisha's eyes clearly flickered upon hearing this question; she tilted her head slightly and pressed her lips together.

Herbert: Oh?

He looked at Elisha's expression, raised an eyebrow slightly, realized something, but didn't point it out, holding it back.

"…Not enough."

Elisha was silent for a while, turned her head back, and said aggressively:

"The price you're offering right now is way too low — you're insulting me, you're insulting a powerful Vampire Prince!"

The Young Lady vampire's attitude wasn't great, but Herbert actually laughed out loud upon hearing this.

"Heh."

Because he knew that the change he had been hoping for had finally arrived.

Since Elisha was willing to haggle, it meant she already had an answer in her heart.

She had agreed.

But now she wanted more.

"Still not enough?"

Herbert suppressed his inner joy and replied, seemingly displeased: "Don't be too greedy, thirty vials of holy blood really isn't a small amount."

The bargaining chips between the two of them naturally wouldn't be gold coins or treasure.

Nor would it be some promise like "I'll do you a big favor, and you help me take care of someone."

Blood.

Just like the citizens of certain superpowers with iron wills, the two of them were — selling blood.

The youth offered his fresh blood to the vampire as a Sacrifice, and the vampire had to fulfill his wish.

On the surface, it seemed the vampire held all the advantages, while the mortal was the exploited, pitiable one.

But in reality, the situation was exactly the opposite — the youth was the capitalist.

The vampire's expression was firm, her gaze blazing, and she declared loudly: "Fifty! It must be fifty vials! Fewer than that, I absolutely won't agree."

The youth smiled, shook his head, and bargained down: "Forty."

Tch.

It was obvious she had wavered somewhat, but she tilted her ear and thought for a while, then continued stubbornly: "No! It's fifty! Fifty is fifty, I said so. I absolutely won't fall for it this time!"

The youth frowned and said coolly: "Don't want forty? Fine, then thirty."

Elisha's expression changed again, deeply regretting not having agreed just now.

But just as she was about to speak, her expression changed once more; her lips moved, and with a most conflicted look she uttered rather tough words: "No, no! It's fifty vials!"

And seeing her so insistent, Herbert took a deep breath and said slowly: "Then thirty vials of holy blood, plus three vials of fresh blood daily during the trip."

Herbert also grew serious and said earnestly:

"Elisha, this is my final bottom line. If you don't agree, then this deal between us is completely off."

The boy's expression was resolute, a hint of impatience lurking between his brows, as if he had reached his limit of tolerance.

"Deal!"

At that moment, the Vampire Young Lady ceased her insistence and smiled broadly, as if afraid Herbert might regret it.

She bounced up happily, spinning in circles on the floor, her court gown swirling with her movements.

"La-la-la~ Ha-ha!"

After spinning several times, she winked mischievously at the stunned Herbert and teased, "You agreed! You can't back out now! Ha-ha!"

Herbert blinked at her triumphant display, his lips twitching as he pressed them tightly together.

"You… sigh! Fine."

He lowered his head, raised a hand to shield his face, clenched his teeth, fell silent for a long while, then sighed helplessly.

Elisa crossed her arms and teased, "Herbert, don't you dare back out! Ha-ha~"

Herbert, as if resigned to his fate, nodded helplessly: "Relax. Since I've agreed to you, I'll keep my word."

"Alright, since you've agreed, I still need to prepare some other things. Be ready—I'll come find you when the time comes."

As the saying goes, good fortune lifts the spirit.

Having finally won against Herbert once, Elisa was in excellent spirits, radiating joy.

"Go on, go on~"

She waved casually at Herbert, watching the dejected warden push open the door and leave.

A regrettable exit. JPG

Click.

The moment the door shut, the Vampire Young Lady could no longer hold her composure—her already radiant smile widened even further.

"Oh↑ ha↑ ha↑ ha↑ ha↑"

She let out the exaggerated laugh stereotypically associated only with "blonde twin-buns noblemisses."

After laughing triumphantly for a while, she rummaged in her skirt and lifted high a palm-sized "doll."

"Svanie!"

"Herbert really agreed, just as you said!"

"You're amazing!"

During her negotiation with Herbert, Elisa had actually had outside help.

Through subtle prompts from Svanie, she had steadied her resolve in moments of doubt and succeeded in winning against Herbert for the first time in a deal.

In her palm, the tiny Svanie smiled: "Hehe, it's nothing—just a little help."

"Actually, the deal succeeded because Lord Herbert never intended to exploit you."

"Otherwise, he could have offered a much lower price—you still would have agreed."

Elisa:?

"Really?"

The slightly overjoyed Vampire Young Lady blinked, eyeing Svanie skeptically: "... Is he really as good as you say?"

"Yes."

Svanie nodded, smiling: "Of course—I'm comparing him to beings from the evil realms."

"Compared to those greedy creatures who'd devour their trading partners whole, Lord Herbert is as generous as a saint."

"In my view, even if we hadn't raised the price, he would have raised it himself… though you probably don't believe that."

Elisa was half-skeptical of Svanie's words, sensing something off.

It felt as if Svanie were deliberately speaking well of Herbert… ha! That's impossible.

Impossible, absolutely impossible. JPG

She must be overthinking.

Svanie is my close ally—how could she possibly side with Herbert?

Ha-ha.

I must be overthinking.

Elisa held the "Svanie figurine" to her face, rubbing her cheek against it like a hardcore otaku, muttering incessantly.

"Fine, if you say so."

"Right now, you're my only true companion!"

…

…

"So, do you really think she's the right choice?"

"Hmm, this Svanie, dear friend of Elisa~"

On the other side of the Dark Prison, in Svanie's treehouse.

Herbert watched Svanie's expression shift subtly, his own gaze full of amusement.

Elisa, you think Svanie is yours?

Wrong!

She's been on my side all along!

Hehehe—

Once, Svanie had no choice. But now, she wants to be good.

Also, you think you won against me in the deal?

Wrong again!

You think I'm on the first floor, but actually I'm on the fifth floor!

The huge profits you imagined are, in the end, only what you imagined.

As for what the truth really is?

Well... hehe.

The most useful episode of the invisible big hand.

Let me put it this way — you might earn a little, but I definitely won't lose out.

Besides, this entire Third Commandment is full of my people. What are you going to fight me with? Your head?

Do you have the ability?

You don't have that ability, you know?

"... Lord Herbert, you're joking about this matter again."

Swanee shook her head, looking at Herbert's smug expression, a hint of helplessness in her face.

Whether it was the self-righteous naive vampire or the scheming mortal warden, these two people... were both a little sick.

Mm, and quite seriously sick at that.

And herself, as the mouthpiece and double agent sandwiched between the two... was probably not much better off.

"Swanee, regarding the matter of the candidate, I still want to ask you."

After laughing for a while, Herbert lounged comfortably in the rattan chair and asked Swanee again: "Although Eliza's strength isn't weak, among the candidates I provided you, she shouldn't be the most outstanding one, right?"

Since he'd chosen to cooperate, Herbert didn't hold anything back.

Don't use those you suspect; once you use them, don't suspect them.

He quite generously provided Swanee with information on some of the monster girls he could control.

It was both an act of trust and a form of invisible deterrence.

Telling Swanee — look, not just you, I can even control all these other people.

And to make sure nothing could go wrong, Herbert even included Lucille in the candidates.

But in the end, after some hesitation, Swanee chose a candidate that surprised him greatly — Eliza.

"I didn't press you for details before, but can you tell me now your reason for choosing her?"

Why her?

Surely it's not really because she's easy to control?

Swanee nodded and said calmly: "Because she doesn't die easily."

"As long as there's an ample supply of blood, a legendary vampire's vitality is very tenacious."

"What we're going to do this time is very dangerous. She can protect you the best, and you can also provide her with better assistance."

Herbert was stunned after hearing this reason, his eyes widening slightly.

"Oh?"

Oh ho!?

That's the reason!

"This reason... uh, mm."

Herbert smacked his lips and could only sigh: "Wow, your heart is really black! Ah, I'm not talking about your skin color... cough."

How to put it?

Truly worthy of plastic besties!

Swanee just smiled at his teasing without a word, not taking the bait.

What are you even saying here?

Isn't this just basic operation?

And Herbert thought about it seriously and felt he probably would have made the same choice.

It wasn't that he was deliberately targeting Eliza, maliciously tormenting only her — it was out of safety considerations.

Since she had this ability, why not use it?

As for whether Eliza suffers or not... I'm not not paying her a salary!

Take a person's money, do a person's job — it's only natural.

Capitalist speak: It's not like I made him drop dead!

It's the same logic.

"By the way, compared to Eliza, I'm actually more curious about you."

He raised an eyebrow and smiled: "So, how do you plan to escape your sister's watchful eye?"

Currently, the greatest danger of their trip to the Underdark was being discovered by Stela before they could act, exposing their tracks.

At that point, they would probably truly have a one-in-ten chance of survival.

"Me? I'm not going."

Herbert:?

Huh?

If you're not going, am I supposed to go deliver myself alone?

"Hehe, don't rush, let me finish."

Swanee looked at his bewildered expression, the corners of her lips curving up slightly. With a light laugh, she turned and took a slender leg bone from the experiment table.

"For everyone, the one going with you isn't me."

"It's... her."

After the dark elf's grand spell fell silent... on that smooth, bare bone, a layer of flesh and blood slowly began to grow.

Herbert:!!!

(End of Chapter)