The First Vampire

(Volume Two [Silver Moon Coup])

The sunset casted its last golden glow, and then an endless night enveloped the entire land.

Bonfires were lit up in the camp, and the guards busily scurried to and fro, boiling waters, making meals, feeding the horses.

Colin handed over a written letter and a cage containing a carrier pigeon to Knight Lyle.

At the same time, he issued a command: “Lyle, you must return to Ice Rock City immediately. Tell Emon and Quincy about my mission to the Half-Elf

Kingdom, and let them take full charge of the affairs in the territory.

I will write back every five days to update on the recent situation. If you don’t receive my letters within three days, release this carrier pigeon.

Also, let Knight Raymon and Knight Shar continue to train the troops. When I return from the Half-Elf Kingdom, I hope to see a formed army.

As for you, after you return, lead a thousand soldiers to the capital of the

Half-Elf Kingdom—Silver Moon City, and rendezvous with me there.”

“Yes!” Knight Lyle took the cage. He didn’t ask where this carrier pigeon would fly back to but turned and left.

In fact, this pigeon is what Marquis Garcia gave to Colin before he left. It is obvious where it will return to.

Although Marquis Garcia didn’t state it explicitly, Colin already understood the implications…

Colin actually didn’t need to bring his own troops for this envoy mission.

After all, this wasn’t a war. Additionally, the St. Hilde family had dispatched a convoy of thousands of people to escort, more than enough to handle any thieves or beasts that might appear along the way.

However, Colin felt it was necessary to have command over his own military forces, just in case the need arises. “Sir Viscount, your dinner is ready.”

“Bring it in.”

An attendant, carrying a metal tray, walked into the tent, placed the meal in front of Colin, and hastily exited.

Although Colin no longer needed these ordinary foods, to avoid unnecessary attention, he still stuffed the food into his stomach on time.

After eating his meal and drinking some “water”, Colin stepped out of the tent.

The staff in this camp was quite a diverse group. There were St. Hilde family guards, Silver Moon Guards from the Half-Elf Kingdom, and quite a few trolls.

The route that Prince Okamoto took back to the Sky Ice Plain overlapped with the route Colin and his party took to the Half-Elf Kingdom, so they would travel together for a period of time.

The Troll prince was in high spirits lately. Although he didn’t marry Vera and was casually brushed off by Duke using a female from a side branch of the family, but at least, this woman also bore the St. Hilde surname.

Furthermore, Prince Okamoto’s mission was a complete success.

The Troll Empire successfully gained the valuable breathing space.

As for giving three significant military areas on the border of the Troll Empire to the North Territory, this didn’t really matter.

After all, North Territory couldn’t possibly station a large amount of army in these three military areas. Otherwise, the supply line stretching thousands of miles would ruin the North Territory.

As for the promise of never violating the North Territory…

Ok, even Duke St. Hilde probably didn’t believe this promise.

In Okamoto’s opinion, as long as the Troll Empire could tide over this period, there was hope for a resurgence.

“Viscount Angler, come and drink with me!” Upon seeing Colin wandering through the camp, Prince Okamoto called out loudly.

Colin didn’t want to go upon seeing the beaming Prince Okamoto. However, after hesitating for a moment, he decided to accept the invitation.

He had no choice. Since leaving Winterfell City, his surroundings had been eerily calm.

Nobody among the guards from the St. Hilde family’s convoy was familiar with him, and Vera kept herself hidden inside the horse-drawn carriage all the time, adding to the suppressed atmosphere of the group. There was no joy that should accompany a wedding.

Much to the contrary, the half-elves were quite joyous. Prince Topaz, near witless with joy, drinking and making merry with his attendants day after day.

But clearly, Colin could not join them.

When Prince Okamoto invited him graciously, Colin took up the offer, hoping to drown his sorrows and rid himself of the recent frustrations.

“Come! Viscount Angler Sir, you need not stay downcast. The world is full of gorgeous women. There’s no reason to obsess over a single flower like Miss

Vera!”

Colin rolled his eyes, ignoring Okamoto, and simply took the wine pot that was handed to him, pouring it straight into his mouth.

“Cough, cough…” The liquor was unexpectedly spicy and caught Colin off guard, causing him to choke.

“What type of wine is this?”

Prince Okamoto chuckled, “This is medicinal liquor brewed by the troll clan’s witch doctors, best for drinking at night, hahaha. It’s sure to get your spirits high!”

Looking at the sly smile on Okamoto’s face, Colin suddenly realized what the other party meant by “spirits high.”

“Don’t you have any other wine?” Colin grumpily tossed the wine pot back.

“Haha, don’t be mad, Viscount. I do have a few dancers over here, if you wish to blow off some steam tonight, I can arrange….”

Colin, scared, turned around and ran.

Troll dancers?

No thanks.

He would rather go find his Fifth Sister.

“Ehh? Viscount Angler, don’t go!” Seeing Colin turned to leave, Prince Okamoto actually chased after him, “I apologize, I didn’t mean to offend you…”

Colin waved his hand: “It’s fine. You don’t have to bother with me. Go back and enjoy your drink. I’ll just wander around on my own.”

“I’ll walk with you then.”

Colin looked back at Okamoto and said, baffled, “But you’ve already achieved your diplomatic goals. There’s no need to flatter me any more.”

“Actually, I genuinely want to befriend you,” declared Prince Okamoto earnestly.

Of course, Colin didn’t believe a word of this.

But he didn’t bother trying to make Okamoto leave.

The two sauntered over to a small stream at the edge of the camp.

Looking at the slowly flowing stream, Prince Okamoto suddenly asked, “Viscount, do you know why the Duke is marrying Vera off to that young man, Topaz?”

A burst of suspicion arose in Colin’s mind—

Could it be that this Okamoto lad also noticed the power struggle over the succession between Duke St. Hilde and Marquis Garcia?

“What do you think it is?” asked Colin tentatively.

“Political marriage, what else can it be? It’s obviously for the sake of interests,” Okamoto replied immediately.

“Really?” Colin was perplexed, “I could understand him not choosing me, I’m only a mere Viscount, no value in a political marriage after all. But you…”

“You think I’m of more worth in a political marriage than that Topaz?” Prince Okamoto suddenly burst out laughing, looking genuinely pleased with Colin’s praise.

“Isn’t that the case?”

Colin realized something was afoot.

To him, if the Duke wanted to sabotage Vera’s succession rights, marrying her off to either Okamoto and Topaz would be equally effective.

Because people in North Territory won’t accept a woman who married into a different race to become the duke, much less let her offspring—a half-troll, or half-elf become the ducal heir.

But why would the Duke choose Topaz at last?

In Colin’s opinion, the status of Topaz Farah is definitely not up to Prince Okamoto.

Because the Troll Empire is not comparable to the Half-Elf Kingdom.

Although the Troll Empire is recently defeated and appears on the brink of extinction. But if given three to five years of recovery, they can easily gather an army of three hundred thousand again.

As for the Half-Elf Kingdom, regardless of how intense they work, the total population is less than two million, so a hundred thousand soldiers would already be their limit.

As a matter of fact, the official regular army of this small country, which is also a vassal state of the Radiant Empire, merely numbers around fifty thousand.

So, if the Duke wanted to gain external aid through political marriage, why would he be more inclined towards the Half-Elf Kingdom than the Troll Empire?

Seeing Colin’s confusion, Prince Okamoto chuckled and said, “Actually, the real target of Duke’s plan in marrying Vera off to Prince Topaz, is far beyond the Half- Elf Kingdom. ”

“Then what is he targeting?”

Prince Okamoto pointed to the east, and said with a serious tone:

“It’s the east region of the Empire!”