Chapter 70: Vampire Duke

Night Lily Manor.

The core territory of Vampire Duke Eleanor, with three cities, seventeen small towns, and numerous villages distributed around it like stars surrounding the moon.

Eleanor's territory borders the northern side of Duke Sigmond's lands and is not on the Empire's border line.

Within the territory, there are no large dungeons, no special mineral deposits, and even the land is relatively barren, yet it remains an indispensable and important part of the Empire.

Because seventy percent of the Hermit Empire's plasma is produced here.

Between the hundred-plus blood livestock farms operating day and night stretch plantations of Mourning Lilies nourished by corpse fertilizer.

"My lord, the twenty high-quality blood servants and four carts of plasma needed by the Imperial Capital have already departed this evening.

Count Duke and Duke Barnabas are both urging for this month's plasma, but the inventory has only 3,200 pots remaining.

Yesterday, an attack occurred at Pasture No. 45; two lower servants were killed, and over sixty blood livestock escaped.

It is suspected that two elves responsible for recent roaming crimes did this; Viscount Arno is leading people to handle the matter.

The two thousand slaves newly purchased from the Archipelago have arrived at Eternal Wave Port; 1,656 survived.

Additionally..."

Milky-white petals floated and sank in the thick plasma; the manor's steward stood bowing solemnly by the bath, hands folded over his abdomen, reporting the territory's recent situation meticulously.

Eleanor, clad in nothing, leaned against the pool edge; rising blood mist gathered into dark red droplets in the hollow of her collarbone.

A male concubine immersed in plasma waist-deep carefully massaged the mistress's ankle.

"Among the surviving slaves, how many are suitable candidates for blood servant cultivation?" Eleanor asked softly with her eyes closed.

"According to your newly promulgated selection standards, thirty-seven people initially qualify, including five orcs..."

Her bluish-gray nails suddenly gripped the pool edge, plasma winding down through her fingers; Eleanor propped up half her body and looked at her subordinate with dissatisfaction:

"Orcs? A mouthful of fur when bitten; what use keeping them? Send them all to the pasture."

The steward hesitated, bowing his waist even lower: "My lord, Count Duke specifically requested orc blood servants."

"Ah, that barbarian..."

Eleanor brushed aside the wet hair clinging to her chest, seeming to recall there was indeed such a matter.

"Then keep them; do not ask me about this again.

If plasma is insufficient, prioritize supplying Barnabas; for Duke Duke, a one-week delay matters not.

Then tell Arno that if he cannot catch those little thieves, the Defense Chief's plaque should be replaced with iron shackles."

As Eleanor spoke, she rose; blood and petals slid from her pale skin as she walked out.

The male concubine held up scarlet velvet and hurried after her to drape it over her.

The steward also hurriedly followed: "Dinner has been prepared for you."

In the side hall where dark red curtains hung, stood a sixteen-year-old girl wearing a clean long dress, with a ruddy complexion and smooth, tender skin.

This was the so-called dinner.

Unlike the blood livestock in the pastures, who huddled beside rusted iron troughs, gnawing on paste mixed with blood-supplementing agents, were squeezed day and night, and had lifespans not exceeding three years.

This one before her was a high-grade blood servant carefully trained since age ten, cultivated through daily balanced meals and moderate exercise.

There are sixty such blood servants in the manor.

Besides their daily servant duties, they must, once a month, allow the mistress to drink the freshest blood.

As usual, the girl unbuttoned her collar and obediently walked before the mistress.

Eleanor embraced her, her fangs piercing precisely along the edge of the previously healed scar.

However, this time differed from before; the mistress did not release her at the proper moment.

The girl endured, trembled, and finally begged for mercy.

Throughout the entire process, Eleanor remained unmoved; only after sucking the last drop of fresh blood did she lick her lips and casually push the dried corpse in her arms away.

The steward nearby kept his head bowed, seemingly having no objection to the loss of a high-grade blood servant.

"Hoo—"

Eleanor exhaled lightly; her skin gradually turned from pale to ruddy.

Even her height, build, and appearance changed accordingly.

Finally, she became the likeness of the girl who had just died on the ground.

"The summoning is about to begin; I will use this form to blend in for now."

【Substitute LV10】

Unlike the simple shape-simulation of 【Mimicry】.

【Substitute】, one of the blood clan's rare talents, can not only steal the appearance of the consumed target but also acquire their recent memories.

Even 【Detection Technique】 cannot detect any flaw.

After Eleanor arrived in the United Kingdom, as long as she could catch a lone ritual participant, she could easily infiltrate.

This is also why the Emperor sent her to assassinate the Hero.

"Is there any movement from Lord Knoxfer?"

"Lord Knoxfer left his residence the day before yesterday and has been missing since."

Hearing this, Eleanor nodded.

Although the Hermit Empire is ruled by vampires, under the Emperor, nearly half of the dukes are of other races.

And Knoxfer, who is going with her this time to deal with the Hero, is a Shadow Fiend—a elemental spirit aggregate that escaped from Chaos, has no physical form, and remains in the world solely through binding chains.

They say they are executing the mission together, but in reality, each relies on their own ability to infiltrate the scene, then attack together.

As for communication or coordination?

It does not exist.

At the summoning site, if they do not trip each other up while fighting for the kill, that counts as very good teamwork.

"Master, would you like me to send someone to create chaos and divert some of the human forces?" the steward suggested at the opportune moment.

Eleanor thought for a moment, then agreed.

"As for the choice... let it be Lacus. He lost the Holy Scripture last time and made me look so ridiculous.

Tell him that if he succeeds this time, he will be promoted upon his return; if he fails, he will die there."

"I just wonder if they will be hindered when passing through Duke Sigmond's territory?" the steward worried.

"He dares not!" Upon mentioning Sigmond, Eleanor immediately grew irritable.

It was this man, whose mind was full of war, who had poisoned and slaughtered extensively along the border, causing her own source of blood cattle to shrink significantly.

Otherwise, how could the situation arise where delays were necessary just to meet the supply?

That Bai Chi only knows how to kill all the humans, without thinking: if humans are all dead, would a vampire like him really go suck the blood of demons?

The two had not only undermined each other in meetings but also carried out many schemes on each other's territories; their relationship was extremely bad.

"This is Your Majesty's mission; if he dares to cause trouble, that would be even better!"

Having spoken, Eleanor spun her robe, transformed into a bat, and flew directly out of the manor through the window.

Only after Eleanor had flown far away did the steward straighten his back and glance at the dried corpse at his feet.

"Have to cultivate a new one again..."

(End of this chapter)