The First Vampire

The dance finished, and Colin stopped spinning, holding Vera in his arms.

Thunderous applause followed, with everyone cheering enthusiastically for Colin and Vera’s brilliant dance performance.

Colin allowed Vera to hook her arm through his, and they began to entertain the military officers attending the banquet.

After the battles at Silver Moon City and the Expedition to the Troll Empire, the Dark Cavalry now bore a deep imprint of Colin. Even if Marquis Garcia were to return to the North Territory now, it was unlikely that he could easily take this powerful army away.

Colin had even started to plan on changing the name of the Dark Cavalry.

However, considering that Marquis Garcia was about to be redeemed, Colin wasn’t in a hurry to rename the Dark Cavalry, lest it appear indecorous.

His current priority was to marry Vera and become Marquis Garcia’s son-in-law, making any future negotiations between them much easier.

As Colin shook hands and spoke with the officers of the Dark Cavalry, he noticed the reverence and respect that adorned their gaze when they looked at him.

If initially they had chosen to serve Colin simply because of Marquis Garcia’s orders, now, they genuinely acknowledged Colin as the new commander of the Dark Cavalry.

It seemed the best way to win over an army was indeed to lead them to victory.

After making a round among the Dark Cavalry’s officers, Colin finally arrived in front of the dwarf envoy.

“Honorable Viscount Angler, congratulations on your grand victory in the expedition of the Troll Empire. Your achievements have eclipsed the sun itself!”

“Haha, Count Anka, you flatter me.”

On their way over, Vera had quietly explained the background of this dwarf envoy to Colin.

Anka Menam, the eldest son of Marquis Menam.

The Menam family was the most renowned amongst the dwarf clan. Their fiefdom was not in the North Territory, but in the Crimson Flame Territory.

The so-called Crimson Flame Territory was in fact the domain of the ‘World Purifying Flames’ St. Lorenzo of the Radiant Imperial Royal Family, situated in the center of the Empire, surrounded on all sides by the territories of the East, South, West, and North.

Consequently, Marquis Menam was a vassal of the St. Lorenzo family.

The man before them, Count Anka, eldest son of Marquis Menam, was about the same age as Colin. However, dwarfs generally matured quickly, and considering his love for thick bushy beards, he seemed to be in his thirties or forties.

He was less than four feet tall, his plump figure making him appear somewhat comical.

“Viscount Angler, you are too modest.” Count Anka’s face never strayed from its cordial smile, but occasional flashes in his eyes warned Colin that this was not a simple character.

“I wonder what business brings Count Anka all the way to Ice Rock City?” Colin too, wore a harmlessly smiling face.

“I am here for two main reasons.” Count Anka, evidently an impatient man, got straight to the point. “The first is to tell you that the Menam family has decided to send troops to the North Territory.”

“Oh?” Colin’s eyes flashed with curiosity as he asked, “Why would the Menam family send troops?”

“Of course, it’s to conquer Duke St. Hilde!” Count Anka proclaimed piously. “As the Lord of the North Territory, the Duke has failed to protect his citizens, allowing trolls to invade and famine to set in. Now, with the common people in dire straits and war breaking out on all fronts, he must pay the price for it!”

“What price?”

“He must vacate the position of the Duke of the North Territory!”

“To whom?”

Glancing toward Vera, who was by Colin’s side, Count Anka said solemnly, “I believe Mr. Ji of the St. Sean family is more suited to be the new Lord of the North Territory!”

Upon hearing this, Vera’s hand, hooked in Colin’s arm, trembled slightly.

Colin patted Vera’s hand reassuringly, indicating she need not worry. Then, he looked at Count Anka casually and asked, “So, is this Emperor Reinhardt’s idea?”

“No, it’s just an opinion of the Menam Family. Also, we received a plea for help from Marquis Dawson and decided to send troops to the North Territory to punish Duke St. Hilde, the unqualified Lord of the North Territory!”

I don’t believe a word you’re saying!

Colin scoffed inwardly, not buying the claim that the Menam family’s military deployment didn’t receive clearance from Emperor Reinhardt.

If it weren’t for the tacit approval of the Glorious Emperor, the armies of the Menam family would not dare to step out of the Crimson Flame Territory.

But why?

Colin was once again deeply perplexed.

He thought that because of the marital relationship between the Lorenzo family and the St. Hilde family, they would definitely help the North Territory resist the invasion of the St. Sean family.

Moreover, there is a deep hatred between the St. Sean family and the Royal Family of the Empire.

It makes no sense for the Royal Family of the Empire to now indulge the Menam family in assisting the St. Sean family.

What exactly is Emperor Reinhardt thinking?

Instead of helping his own brother-in-law, he helps his enemy?

Seeing Colin lost in thought, Count Anka revealed a smirk of satisfaction at the corner of his mouth, and then continued: “And the second matter, it directly involves you.”

“Oh?” Colin gathered his thoughts and nodded, “Please explain.”

“My father wants to swap territories with the Angler family!”

“Swap territories?” Colin was somewhat confused, his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

Noticing this, Count Anka reassured, “Rest assured, our Menam family has always been fair in our dealings. The territory we use to swap with you will not be smaller, and its output will only be more, not less.”

Colin squinted his eyes, seeming to understand something, then asked again: “The territories your Menam family wants to swap for, I believe it’s more than just my lands, right?”

“Of course not, there’s also the Morrison family, the Lomba family, the Billy family  ”

Listening to the names Count Anka mentioned, Colin also confirmed the locations of these territories in his mind.

Then he realized that after these territories were swapped, the Menam family would completely move to the North Territory, and their territories would connect with the Dawson family’s territories.

Heh, this might be the territory of the future Dwarf Kingdom!

So, this was the Lorenzo family’s intention.

They took advantage of the civil unrest in the North Territory, moving all the dwarves from the Crimson Flame Territory to the North Territory, and then allowing them to establish an independent country.

The post-established Dwarf Kingdom would naturally become a vassal of the Glorious Empire, and the king of the dwarves’ loyalty would not be to the Lord of the North Territory, but to Emperor Reinhardt.

As for Colin, who was traded to the Crimson Flame Territory, would likely switch their allegiance in succession and pledge loyalty to the emperor.

In this way, the Lorenzo family effectively divided the North Territory and took away a significant part of their territories without giving up anything.

What a great plan!

So, this was the reason why Emperor Reinhardt didn’t help his brother-in-law, but instead prepared to support his former family enemy to become the Northern Duke?

Colin feels that this reason is somewhat far-fetched.

“Count Anka, this matter is of great importance, and I need time to think it over carefully.”

“Of course.” Count Anka nodded, “However, you better hurry up. Our Menam family’s armies will enter the North Territory at the beginning of May. The longer you delay, the less territory you may be able to swap.”

“Hehe, I’ll do it as soon as possible.” Colin gave a calm smile, nodded in acknowledgment, bid his farewell, and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, Vera asked in a low voice: “Colin, will the North Territory really become the territory of the St. Sean family?”

Colin turned his head and looked at the worried-looking Vera, reassuring her gently: “Don’t worry, anyone wanting to change the owner of the North Territory has to ask for my opinion first!”

Vera saw the confident Colin and suddenly laughed with relief.

Many times when faced with despair, this miraculous man had always surprised her.

This time, she believed it would be no exception.