Chapter 88: Conversation

Bang.

Dracula opened a bottle of deep‑red wine, and the amber liquid slowly poured into two crystal goblets.

He gracefully handed one of the glasses to Van Helsing, who was seated opposite him, and smiled:

"This is a fine wine from my hometown Valaquia—uh, which is now called Romania."

He shrugged, as if indifferent: "Anyway, it truly is a good wine."

"Thank you," Van Helsing took the glass, whispered his thanks, and took a sip.

The wine unfurled a rich fruity aroma on his tongue.

"Indeed, a fine wine," he nodded in praise, but only took a light sip and set the glass on the nearby tea table,

"Then, what would you like to know?"

Dracula sat up straight, a hint of solemnity on his face: "I wish to learn your method of distinguishing vampires from werewolves."

"I am a merchant who must travel constantly, so this knowledge is vital to me,"

"A merchant?" Van Helsing raised an eyebrow and gave a slight smile:

"From you, I see no merchant's bearing; rather, you look like... a noble."

"That faint yet perceptible aura of superiority is not something you project deliberately; it is etched into your very bones."

Dracula heard this and a trace of helplessness appeared on his face:

"There's no helping it; I've loved trade since childhood, often sneaking to the market to watch merchants haggle..."

"Fortunately I achieved some success, and my parents then allowed me to continue in trade."

"This trip to London is also to expand my trade routes."

He spoke earnestly, as if it were truly the case.

Van Helsing gave a slight nod, uncertain whether he believed it or not; in any case, he acted as if he did.

"You have a keen eye."

"Then, I will explain a few things briefly."

He removed the cross Exorcism Silver Instrument he wore and handed it to Dracula:

"This is an Exorcism Silver Instrument blessed by God; it works not only on vampires but also on werewolves, demons, and it contains HolyWater."

Dracula took it naturally, fiddled with it for a moment, then handed it back:

"Allow me to be rude: will you sell this Exorcism Silver Instrument?"

He thought that perhaps, before becoming a vampire, he was an Eastern Orthodox believer; later he converted to Catholicism, but either way he remains Christian.

So the God‑blessed silver instrument cannot harm him?

Probably.

Van Helsing, seeing the silver instrument ineffective on Dracula, relaxed his guard slightly, smiled, and handed the instrument back:

"No need for that; as a welcome gift, this is yours."

"That won't do..." Dracula frowned in thought for a moment, then rose, walked to the coat hanging on his rack, and took out a crystal‑clear bead:

"This bead I acquired long ago from an Eastern merchant."

"Consider it my gift as well."

He smiled, took the silver instrument, and passed the bead over.

"Thank you," Van Helsing did not refuse, slipped the bead into his pocket, and continued:

"Vampires fear sunlight because legend says they made a pact with demons, sold their souls, and thus cannot look at sunlight; it will petrify or incinerate them."

"Of course, this applies only to ordinary vampires."

"For vampires of royal blood... sunlight merely makes them uncomfortable."

"To kill such a vampire, a wooden stake must be driven into the heart, and decapitation makes it safer."

"As for werewolves... they are much like vampires in what they fear, except they do not dread sunlight; they worry about the full moon, during which they lose all reason."

"If you truly encounter vampires or werewolves, you can seek help at a Church, or find my friend."

"His name is Firo de Leon, and he runs an Exorcism Office here in London, specializing in these matters."

"That will be all for now."

Listening to his answer, Dracula nodded: "Thank you very much for your knowledge."

"If you ever need assistance, you may come to Romania to find me; I have an estate there."

"I am Fulade sanshi Degula."

"Hm?" Van Helsing showed a surprised expression:

"Your name is quite similar to that of Fula De San Shi·Cai Pei Shi, hmm, not just similar—identical."

"Could you be his descendant?"

Dracula smiled and nodded: "Not entirely; my father wanted me to stand on my own like him, and our family happens to be the Vlad family as well."

"Thus he borrowed the name he used in his youth to name me, Dracula, meaning 'son of the dragon.'"

"So I am called Dracula, quite strange, isn't it?"

"Indeed strange," Van Helsing nodded, and continued:

"I am Yabolahan·Fan·Haisen."

"Hm, noted, Mr. Van Helsing," Dracula nodded.

After a while of idle chat about other matters, Van Helsing, seeing the hour was late, ceased to disturb further, rose, and took his leave.

Dracula escorted him to the door, watched his silhouette fade, a faint smile curling his lips, closed the door, and whispered:

"Tsk, what a fine fellow."

"If I could recruit him as my subordinate..."

And also that, the London Exorcism Office, Firo de Leon.

He recited Feiluo's name once more, then shook his head, intending to speak of it later.

Now that he's just arrived in London, what he needs to do first is settle down.

Fortunately, he had hidden some gold and Silver Coin before, which is enough.

Dracula lay on the bed, casually picking up a newspaper to leaf through.

Looking at the various technological reports in the newspaper, he couldn't help recalling his own time back then............ Three hundred years had passed, and the world's development truly amazed him.

Fortunately, as a Vampire, what he lacks the least is energy and time for study.