The First Vampire

“Burp

Strolling down the street of Ice Rock City, Colin patted his stomach, letting out a satisfied burp.

He just came out of the Church, his thirst quenched.

But the anticipated upgrade did not come.

His body didn’t even heat up as he had expected.

Colin thought that the effect might not be immediate. There must be some reaction time, so he patiently waited. He waited from morning till sunset.

Still no reaction!

At noon, he did feel a slight hint of warmth in his body.

But it was barely noticeable.

Could it be that the dose was too small?

Colin was a bit puzzled.

At the same time, he also felt a bit helpless.

Last time, Archbishop Raven lavishly used an entire bottle of pure holy water to save him all because of Vera and Marquis Garcia’s influence.

Now if he wanted to get some holy water to drink, he had to buy it with his own money.

However, the thought of the hefty price made Colin cringe.

Probably even if the entire Angler family exhausted all their fortune, it would only be enough to buy the pool of holy water from the Church of Ice Rock City. But just with those diluted holy waters, he doubted it would be enough for him to advance to the third tier.

Feeling blue, Colin went to a small tavern next to the inn, ordered a glass of deer blood wine, and drank to vent his frustration.

Night once again enveloped Ice Rock City.

Meanwhile, Colin’s hearing became even more sensitive in the night.

So, slightly tipsy Colin started sitting idle in the tavern, secretly eavesdropping on various bits of gossip.

After a while, Colin realized that the most discussed topic was still Marquis Garcia forcing Marquis Charles to give up his title at the banquet last night.

Moreover, the majority of the people deemed Marquis Garcia’s actions as very appropriate.

Marquis Charles must pay for his previous defeat.

However, not many people realized how this incident would have a profound impact on the situation in the North Territory.

This was not surprising.

After all, they were just ordinary commoners, what did they know about politics?

Many people were not genuinely supporting Marquis Garcia, they just wanted to see Marquis Charles in bad luck.

Just like the public cheering at a corrupt official’s downfall, the misfortune of the higher-ups always provided the lower-ranked people with a sense of satisfaction.

As for whether the unlucky one truly deserved the punishment, that was secondary.

Apart from the unlucky Marquis Charles, the other most-discussed person in the tavern was the Duke’s adopted daughter, Miss Vera, who made her public debut in the North Territory for the first time.

Especially as the night grew deeper, and the wine flowed freer, Marquis Charles was gradually forgotten, while Miss Vera became the new topic of discussion.

Some people were describing Vera’s beauty earnestly as if they had witnessed it personally.

Others, more mysteriously, talked about Vera’s real identity as a mage, immediately gathering gasps of surprise.

Colin took a careful look at the guy who revealed Vera’s mage identity and found him slightly familiar.

He probably was one of those who had gone through the “Great Escape” with him.

He didn’t care much. Among those who had escaped together, the only one Colin wanted to find was that dutiful son, Sael, whom he planned to teach a severe lesson.

However, some comments about Vera in the tavern later did catch Colin’s attention.

Because many people were speculating about Vera’s biological parents.

It was then when Colin realized, indeed, who Vera’s biological parents were remained a mystery.

But since she was chosen to be adopted by Duke St. Hilde, her biological parents must also be high nobles.

Who could that be?

As Colin was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a group of drunkards, empowered by the wine, speaking disrespectfully towards Miss Vera, their comments utterly profane.

Furious, Colin was prepared to degrade himself and beat these fools outright when he noticed that someone else had already taken action.

And so, the tavern instantly became lively.

There were those fighting, those watching, those cheering…

Those pretending to mediate but actually instigating, those purely watching but unintentionally hurt, those too fired up and joining the brawl…

The entire scene was a chaotic mess, filled with an incorrigible aroma of unchecked hormones.

Only the tavern’s owner mournfully attempted to quell the brawl from the back.

But these drunkards whose rage was stoked by Vera’s very name, could only vent their agitation via raw physical conflict. No amount of persuasion could stop them.

Colin, on the other hand, ordered another glass of Deer Blood Wine, enjoying the show from a corner in the tavern.

Finally, the intense brawl attracted the attention of the City Defense Force.

Faced with fully armed soldiers, the drunkards instantly lost their temper, one by one subdued, squatting on the ground for questioning.

According to the punishment for private fights within the city, these people were required to pay a fine of thirty copper coins or serve ten days jail time.

Some obediently paid the fine.

But there were also destitute ones who couldn’t afford thirty copper coins, as well as those cunning old hands who could afford it but chose to serve jail time.

The latter two were naturally taken away by the City Defense Force.

The tavern instantly became much more spacious.

And a lot less interesting.

After finishing his drink, Colin was about to head back for some sleep when he noticed a familiar face.

“Knight Blis!”

Indeed, it was the knight from St. Hilde Family who had fled with Colin back in the day.

Following the voice, Knight Blis also noticed Colin.

A rare smile spread across his aloof face, as he walked over and took a seat beside Colin.

“Your right arm…” Colin finally noticed the man’s vacant right arm.

After the battle at Ben Liu River, Colin slipped into a coma, and Knight Blis, acting on Marquis Garcia’s order, left before Colin woke up.

Therefore, Colin had no idea that Knight Blis had become a one-armed warrior.

“It’s nothing. Just a little injury from the battle at Ben Liu River,” Knight Blis spoke casually.

Seeing that he didn’t want to dwell on this topic, Colin changed the subject, “What would you like to drink? It’s on me.”

“What are you having?”

“Deer Blood Wine.”

Knight Blis stared at Colin in surprise, apparently shocked by this seemingly refined heir to the baron’s heavy taste.

“Then I’ll have the same.”

With a faint smile, Colin ordered a glass of Deer Blood Wine for Blis as well.

“So where did you head after the battle at Ben Liu River?”

“Winterfell City.”

Colin’s eyes slightly narrowed, and he quickly asked, “For what?”

But he seemed to realize something and added hastily, “You don’t have to say if it’s inconvenient.”

“There’s no problem.”

After the battle at Ben Liu River, Knight Blis seemed to have recognized Colin and was pretty candid:

“I was sent by Marquis Garcia to Winterfell City to seek a Military Order from the Duke.”

Colin secretly exclaimed that it was so indeed.

He further asked, “So, what Military Order did you bring back?”

This time, Knight Blis hesitated slightly, but still told him:

“The Duke ordered Marquis Garcia to command the Dark Cavalry to pursue the

Troll Army that is retreating from the North Territory..”