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Moreover, there was another important issue, the shadow of the Astral Realm that had enveloped the ruins of the upper city district above the Blood Vulture Halls.

Although the foul spirit energy gushing down from the Astral Realm rift in the sky was not as aggressive as before, it had indeed formed a new “black mist area” within the completely desolate upper city district.

It was not difficult to imagine that as time progressed, the threats existing in the upper city district would no longer be limited to low-level byproducts of despair. More and more Astral Realm creatures would cross over from the Astral Realm rift in the sky, which would take at least ten years to heal, and enter the Kadman upper city district. Therefore, Murphy planned to completely isolate the upper city district.

Conveniently, the large crevice in the city had divided the original city into two parts. The new city could then be established with the outer city district as the base for expansion.

As for the upper city district and the surrounding areas, they could serve as the players’ activity zones. After all, they were not afraid of monsters, especially for new players, the more byproducts of despair, those rookie-level monsters, the better.

In this way, the Blood Vulture Halls, which served as the “newbie village area,” would also come with a “monster spawning point.”

It couldn’t be more perfect.

Now, the newly appointed Blood Vulture Grand Duchess had started to “work” in the Blood Vulture Halls, or rather, she had found a new place to continue her indulgent and dreamy existence.

The Blood Vulture Clan was left with just this little cat or two, so for the Grand Duchess Tris, there were not many things worth her personal attention. She focused on her second “job” instead.

That is, Count of Kadman Murphy’s personal spirit advisor and resident Grandmaster Alchemist.

Her previous work was the “Convergence Stone” used to support the instance snapshot mechanism. Murphy was also planning to thoroughly test the effectiveness of this new gadget after the players came back online.

However, while the Count of Kadman was organizing the meeting points in his small room in the Blood Vulture Halls, he heard a knock on the door. Then his maid, Lady Adele, entered and reported:

“Master Murphy, you have a visitor.”

“Oh?”

Murphy, who was lying on the table writing and drawing, asked without lifting his head:

“I’m really curious who the unfortunate soul is that would come to visit our desolate and empty territory at this time.”

“It’s Miss Natalie.”

Lady Adele said in a strange tone:

“She and her Witch Hunter squad came to the survivor’s camp to pick up Lieutenant Frayzer and leave, but she herself wishes to visit the lord of this place, that is, you. I have declined her, as there really isn’t much for a vampire and a Witch Hunter to discuss.

But she insisted on seeing you, saying it was out of respect for the late Lord Finoch.”

“Tsk.”

Murphy clicked his tongue, sat up straight and pondered for a moment, then nodded to Lady Adele and said:

“Then let her in.

The last White Knight in this world sacrificed himself and pushed the rampaging will from the sub-space into the Astral Realm. Theoretically speaking, he is the great savior of us all, and every life in the Transia region should respect him.

He will become a new legend in this land, and his daughter will be treated with favor because of this.”

“Master, this may be a bit risky,” Adele emphasized.

“That Miss Natalie has already established a connection with the Great Oak Sacred Blade. If she suddenly attacks…”

“It’s fine. I also have the sacred object of midnight to protect me. Moreover, our formidable and awe-inspiring Grand Duchess Tris is right next door, isn’t she?”

Murphy stood up and patted the Desire Demon Blade at his waist, which remained dormant.

The Necessary Evil in his hand was not as lively as when it was in Salrokdar’s possession.

If one had to make a comparison, it was like a dying eel, it would only tremble a couple of times when Murphy patted it, exuding the sluggishness and lack of intimidation of an old man who had been severely beaten.

“Uh, this is the second thing I need to report to you,” Lady Adele said in a helpless voice.

“Just now, the Grand Duchess insisted that I pay her annual Grand Duchess pension in advance this year, so she could send merchants from the camp to purchase various liquors from the traveling merchants in the Ice Bay region. She claimed it was for you to make some secret alchemical items, but I have never heard of any potion that requires thirty-year-old liquor as the base.”

“I have refused the Grand Duchess’s such frivolous request.”

“Well done, this is precisely the indomitable spirit that the treasurer of the Blood Vulture Clan’s treasury and the family’s head steward should possess,” Murphy nodded in approval.

“Continue to maintain your impartial image, Adele. As for Tris’s untimely gluttony, my warriors will be more than willing to help her resolve it in various ways once they return.”

“Understood, Master. Then I shall take my leave.”

Lady Adele bowed farewell to Murphy with impeccable decorum. A few minutes later, the fully armed, silver-haired Witch Huntress Natalie entered and pushed open the door.

Her attire was quite peculiar.

The Great Oak Sacred Blade, the watcher left behind by old Finoch, was strapped to her back.

That elven ceremonial greatsword was taller than her, appearing extremely visually striking. At her waist, she wore two replicas of sacred blades from foreign lands, one long and one short.

Additionally, with the combat daggers hidden in her boots, back, and sleeves, and the two hunting hand crossbows hanging from her lower back, she was armed to the teeth.

However, her countenance and demeanor seemed slightly softer compared to her previous teeth-gnashing attitude whenever she saw Murphy.

Those gray eyes harbored a kind of restraint that Murphy could not comprehend.

Nevertheless, the report from Lady Adele, Murphy’s “intelligence chief,” was absolutely accurate. Natalie had indeed established a connection with the sacred watcher blade left behind by the old knight.

There was an obvious spirit resonance between her individual self and the sacred blade.

Yet it was extremely strained,

Completely lacking the smooth, almost “blood is thicker than water” feeling between old Finoch and the watcher. It was far inferior to the Dark Spirit connection Murphy had established with the Necessary Evil in his hand. The spirit resonance between Murphy and the Desire Demon Blade was evaluated as merely “low” on his character card.

From this, it was evident that this gray-haired Witch Huntress had not gained the acceptance of the nature sacred blade.

At most, the sacred blade allowed her to wield it.

Such a degree of sacred artifact possession posed no effective threat to Murphy, who had already obtained the Elite Template.

“You wish to see me?”

Murphy stood in what used to be a patriarch guard’s resting room that served as his office, spreading his arms and asking the Witch Huntress before him in a friendly tone:

“Is there anything I, the lord of this garbage heap and ruins, can assist you with, Miss Natalie?”

“I came to ask some questions about Lord Finoch…”

“You should address him as ‘Father’!”

Natalie’s words were interrupted by Murphy raising his hand.

The vampire lord looked at her, the crimson dots in his eyes flickering, representing Murphy’s changing mood.

He said:

“Lord Finoch Lawson, in the most dire of times, following the guidance of the deity he believed in, sacrificed himself and saved the entire Transia. Therefore, every life on this land should hold him in respect!

I do not know how you Witch Hunters view this, but I have decided to erect a statue of Lord Lawson in the process of restoring the Blood Vulture Halls, standing in the original Sacred Blood Hall.

I will tell his epic story to everyone I encounter.

Of course, as his daughter, you naturally have the right to speak of my departed friend in any unkind manner, but I must still emphasize that any disrespect towards my old friend Lord Finoch may provoke my anger.

Therefore, please choose your words carefully.”

This response once again left Natalie in silence.

A few seconds later, she raised her head and spoke again:

“I came to inquire about some things concerning my father before his passing. He had a conversation with you in the crypt passages of the halls. I hope to know if he mentioned a force called ‘Dusk’ in his words?”

“No.”

Murphy lied quite naturally and frankly, performing as any other vampire would when it came to the bottom line.

He said:

“He only used some linguistic inductions to urge me to take the hidden hands behind the Old Faith Rebellion seriously, but he did not mention the names of those hidden hands. He also said that everything we are experiencing now, including the war, is merely a gentle breeze before the coming storm.

To be honest, it sounds like the ramblings of a madman.

But considering old Finoch’s sincerely devout believer status, I suppose he must have known something. So, is this ‘Dusk’ you mentioned the culprit behind the Ten-Year War and the Old Faith Rebellion?”

“I cannot say too much, but I guess it should be so. I do not know where they are or what they are plotting, but they are my enemies!”

Some lights flickered in Natalie’s merciless gray eyes as she said:

“I will hunt them down, until my dying breath.”

“With your current strength and squad?”

Murphy shook his head.

He took a step back, leaning against his desk, looking Natalie up and down with a slightly mocking tone:

“As far as I know, the White Oak Battalion is the last remaining organized force of the Old Faith. During the Ten-Year War, you lost nearly ninety percent of your numbers, leaving only a little over a thousand demoralized remnants. Not to mention whether you can persuade them to obey you with the Great Oak Sacred Blade you have yet to fully tame.

Even if they all obey, such an exhausted and weakened force can hardly contend against a power capable of inciting a Ten-Year War of this scale from the shadows.

Hmm, this brings me to the second topic from my secret conversation with your father.”

Murphy touched the core bead on his chest, his bloody eyes glancing at the listening Natalie as he said:

“Your father once hoped that you would lead the remaining Witch Hunters to join Transia…”

“Impossible!”

The gray-haired Witch Hunter immediately denied:

“Even if he went mad, he would never make such a request to a vampire lord!”

“Of course, it wasn’t his suggestion. Golden champions always have their own dignity. It was my initiative to extend the invitation. I explained to your father my plans for this land and my ideals,” Murphy said with his arms spread and a gentle tone.

“I told him that I hope to build an ideal city on the ruins of Kadman City, where all inhabitants are equal, and none are treated as lesser due to racial or cultural differences. Your father mocked me, saying I was daydreaming and called me a madman.

However, he never denied my invitation until the very end when he hoped I would accept you all.

There is no lie in what I’m telling you.

Therefore, Natalie Finochia Lawson, I hope you can temporarily set aside the personal grievances between us and consider this matter from the perspective of the Witch Hunter organization.

I am extending an invitation to you.

Not in the capacity of the Blood Vulture Clan, but as the Count of Kadman.

Over the past many years, you have left a rather unpleasant reputation on this land.

Fortunately, the reputation of vampires here is not much better.

So, if the people here are willing to give the vampires a chance to start anew, they will likely not reject the Witch Hunters’ participation in rebuilding this land.

The premise is that you are truly willing to dedicate your strength to this land.

You understand me, Natalie.

You know I’m different from other vampires, and I’ve never tried to conceal this fact. In fact, I can tell you plainly:

Compared to vampires, I consider myself more human.

So…”

Murphy turned around, exposing his back to Natalie without reservation. As he leaned over the table, scribbling away, in this posture, if the Witch Hunter wished, the Great Oak Sacred Blade could be unsheathed and thrust into Murphy’s body with a single strike.

Yet until Murphy finished what he was writing, Natalie remained motionless.

A voice was roaring in her heart.

But she suppressed that impulse that would only make the situation worse with her reason.

This self-restraint is what is called “growth”.

“Give yourself a chance, and give your followers, your subordinates, a chance too,” Murphy said with a smile, handing Natalie the document he had written. He then took the Count of Kadman’s seal and covered it with crimson spirit energy, stamping his seal on the document.

The contents of this document were simple.

It was Murphy exercising the authority of the Count of Kadman to grant the Witch Hunters of the former Avalon Church the status of Transia citizens. He also allocated a large area of the original upper city district of Kadman City for their daily residence and training, and allowed the Witch Hunters to remain armed within his territory.

“Of course, you can no longer use the name ‘Witch Hunter’. Perhaps you can come up with a new name, as if bidding farewell to the past and starting a new life,” Murphy said in a low voice.

“And if you’re willing to accept, I have some marginal territories that could be combined into a baronetcy. Would you like to add the nickname ‘Baroness’ before the name you choose for yourself? Please don’t look at me like I’m crazy, Miss Natalie.

I really lack people right now.

Especially talented individuals like yourself, I am in dire need. So please, believe in my sincerity.”

“I will take this as a not-so-funny joke and share it with my companions. They will surely laugh happily,” Natalie said coldly, folding the document and putting it into her spirit bag. She then nodded farewell to Murphy and turned to leave the office in large strides.

Murphy watched her leave, and at the moment the door closed, he suddenly asked, “Have you heard of the name ‘Dusk’?”

“No,” came Tris’s voice from behind.

The Blood Vulture Grand Duchess emerged from the shadows, removing her disguise with her superior spirit manipulation. She shook her head and said, “I don’t recall ever hearing that name, but if it was a warning old Finoch left for his daughter, we should indeed be wary of it. However, I was only joking earlier. I didn’t expect you to actually consider recruiting the Witch Hunters into your territory.”

“Of course,” Murphy sighed.

“Although they only number over a thousand, that could still make up a dozen or so slots. And Transia is vulnerable everywhere right now, we need this kind of organized armed force. Unfortunately, the chips I can offer are too few.

If old Finoch were still around, there might be a chance, but Natalie clearly has a certain view of me.

I suppose this matter is doomed.

Tris, have any former Blood Vulture members responded to the messages you sent out?”

“No, little Murphy,” the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess sighed.

“In the end, who would be willing to submit to the leadership of a notorious family failure?”

“Excellent!” Murphy narrowed his eyes and said, “Then in the name of the Night Mother, we have indeed given them a chance. From now on, even if Lord Payne himself were to come, he would have no reason to call what we are about to do ‘cruel’.”