The First Vampire

The soft afternoon sunlight warmed the bodies it touched.

The little boat floating on the Angry River swayed gently with the waves, like a cradle, lulling the people on board into a drowsy state.

Colin stood up and stretched, trying to fight off the overwhelming sleepiness.

Still a distance away from the center of the river, where the prisoner exchange was to take place, Colin started a conversation with Marquis Vincent beside him, “Marquis Vincent, have you got used to your stay in Ice Rock City over the past six months?”

Marquis Vincent grunted lightly, ignoring Colin.

Half a year of captivity had rendered the once charismatic Eastern Marquis noticeably haggard.

However, Colin hadn’t abused him. He wasn’t that bored.

In Ice Rock City, Marquis Vincent, apart from his loss of freedom, was well-fed and had his physiological needs attended to by skilled women every week.

At first, Marquis Vincent felt that this was an insult against his status. Being a nobleman, the rightful heir of the Holy Knight Family, he shouldn’t be consorting with such lowly women.

However, before long, the noble Eastern Marquis succumbed to his burgeoning desires under the robes of these capable women.

This would accurately describe the phrase “saying no with words, but the body is honest.”

Nevertheless, despite having his physiological needs satisfied, the mental humiliation had caused Marquis Vincent to grow thinner. He was desperately yearning to escape from Ice Rock City, that hellish place.

Now, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.

Marquis Vincent didn’t want to see Colin’s detestable face for a moment longer.

Faced with Marquis Vincent’s undisguised disgust, Colin didn’t get angry. He continued cheerfully, “I have heard that Duke St. Prowse was considering making your younger brother, Count Evan, the first heir after you were captured.”

“Impossible!” Upon hearing this, Marquis Vincent finally spoke.

What Colin spoke of was his biggest nightmare since his capture.

Seeing him finally respond, Colin chuckled and continued, “I’ve met Count Evan once. He’s a smart man. If I were Duke St. Prowse, I would consider switching heirs too.”

Furious, Marquis Vincent gritted his teeth and glared at Colin with undisguised hatred, cursing, “If I were your father, I would have strangled you in your crib!”

Hehe, he broke his fa?ade.

Colin shook his head, “Marquis Vincent, you’re losing your composure.”

Marquis Vincent snorted lightly and turned his head away, apparently no longer intending to engage Colin.

However, Colin once again initiated conversation, “To be honest, I don’t like your little brother either. He was causing trouble when we were in Silver Moon City, and now he’s meddling in Alfalfa City. Hehe, quite an annoying fellow.”

Yes, after a few days of investigation, Colin had discovered that the supporter behind the Alfalfa Brotherhood was none other than Count Evan.

Hearing this, Marquis Vincent’s expression finally softened a bit. He coldly replied, “What are you trying to say?”

Colin sat back down across from Marquis Vincent, smiling, “I also don’t want to see your brother become the Eastern Marquis. On this point, our interests align. So, why not cooperate?”

Marquis Vincent scoffed, “Cooperate? Hehe, have you forgotten the deep-seated enmity between us? You actually want to cooperate with me?”

Colin shrugged, maintaining an innocent expression, “Our grudges were formed on the battlefield, but after all, it was a fair confrontation between two armies. We don’t hold personal grudges.

Your little brother, on the other hand, always employs sly tricks, which is quite disgusting. It’s a disgrace to the nobility!”

Marquis Vincent’s face softened even more. He stared at Colin for a long time before saying, “My brother is indeed annoying. But if you think you can instigate conflict between us to plunge the Eastern Territory into civil unrest, hehe, I advise you to not waste your energy.”

Colin still maintained his cheerful expression, seemingly unaffected by Marquis Vincent’s exposing his scheme. He patted Marquis Vincent’s shoulder casually, speaking in a friendly manner,

“Don’t be so quick to reject my proposal. I sincerely don’t want to see a sly and troublesome person like your brother inherit the position of Eastern Marquis.

So, think about it. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me.

You should know my current status. Vera is to inherit the Northern Duke’s position, and I am her husband. Wouldn’t you want another powerful ally?”

Marquis Vincent lowered his head in silence. It was unclear if he had been persuaded.

Colin continued, “Believe it or not, I am a peaceful person, and Vera is not ambitious either. We prefer a neighbor who shares the same inclination for peace.”

Eventually, Marquis Vincent seemed moved, murmuring, “I don’t wish to make an enemy of the North either.”

Colin smiled faintly, realizing that his words had influenced Vincent.

However, he did not continue his persuasion.

Excesses ought to be avoided.

When Marquis Vincent’s position in the Eastern Territory comes under severe threat from his own brother, he would naturally remember the day on the Angry River, when an olive branch was extended to him.

And then, hehe…

As both of them were lost in their own thoughts, the little boat had slowly reached the center of the Angry River.

There, a lavishly decorated flower boat was already anchored.

The familiar scent of the blood rose permeated the air; evidently, it was Queen Isa’s boat.

As the nominal ruler of Alfalfa City, Queen Isa was the host of this prisoner exchange ceremony.

Just as Colin arrived, another small boat that had launched from the opposite bank of the river was also slowly approaching the flower boat.

Thud!

The gangway was lowered, and Colin and Marquis Vincent boarded the flower boat one after another.

As soon as he found his footing on the deck, he saw Count Evan and Marquis Garcia climbing up from the other side.

After a long time apart, Marquis Garcia had become entirely white-haired, and even leaned on a cane, obviously the devastating defeat had left irreversible damage to his body.

Although his eyes still held a sharp glare, the air of being invincible that he once had, no longer existed.

In his mind, Colin sighed quietly, then stepped forward to exchange pleasantries.

Marquis Garcia expression remained aloof as he greeted Colin and even nodded to his enemy, Marquis Vincent, as if he had already forgotten everything from the past.

Marquis Vincent was taken aback. It was clear that he did not expect Marquis Garcia to treat him kindly. By contrast, the tension between him and his brother Count Evan was palpable.

Queen Isa gracefully walked up to the group and said with a smile, “The Lord once said that all hatred, resentment, and malice should be eliminated from your hearts. Only by treating each other kindly and mercifully and by forgiving each other can we attain redemption.”

With that, she signaled her maid to serve five cups of wine to everyone.

As everyone held up their wine cups, Queen Isa continued, “Let us drink to forgiveness and the Lord’s redemption!”

Colin and the others raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

The atmosphere had eased slightly.

Count Evan turned to Colin and laughed, saying, “Viscount Angler, I heard that the chaos in the North Territory has been quelled. Congratulations!”

Colin also chuckled and replied: “Thank you for your concern. Evil can never conquer justice.”

Count Evan nodded thoughtfully and replied with the utmost sincerity,

“You’re right! The St. Sean family has forgotten its mission and honor, and the wicked act of sacrificing a city is unforgivable!”

“If Prince Lexie had not already killed Mr. Ji, our St. Prowse Family would have sent someone to help the St. Hilde Family eliminate this extremely evil mage.”

Colin responded with a courteous smile, saying nothing. Of course, he would not take his hindsight comments seriously.

Count Evan glanced at him and continued, “Although Mr. Ji has received his deserved judgment, to my understanding, there’s still someone who slipped through the net from the St. Sean Family.”

At this point, Colin became slightly interested and asked, “Oh? Who are the remnants of the St. Sean Family? Where are they hiding now?”

“It’s very difficult to get a clear picture of all the survivors of the St. Sean Family since Mr. Ji’s whereabouts were secretive, but I do know where one of his sons is.”

“Where is he?”

Count Evan pointed to the shore and said, “Right in Alfalfa City.”

Colin squinted his eyes and asked further, “What’s his name?”

Count Evan shrugged and replied, “I didn’t find that out.”

Colin sneered inwardly, obviously not believing this tall tale. It seemed that Count Evan didn’t want to say.

However, Colin didn’t plan to pry any further.

With the death of Mr. Ji, the St. Sean Family was no longer a threat to him.

What threat could a family without its own territory and direct army pose?

Count Evan turned his eyes again on Queen Isa and said with a smile, “Your Majesty, I heard that you recently found a lord for Alfalfa City?”

“Yes.” Queen Isa gently nodded her head.

Count Evan had a mysterious smile on his face as he turned to Colin and said, “Viscount Angler, shouldn’t you seek help from the Lord of Alfalfa City to find out the remnants of the St. Sean Family?”

Colin gave a light nod and said, “I will.”

But Evan’s inscrutable smile made Colin entertain wild flights of imagination–it would be too coincidental if the city lord that Queen Isa had just found turned out to be the remnant of the St. Sean Family…

“Best of luck to you!”

Count Evan bid farewell soon after, leaving the flower boat together with Marquis Vincent.

Colin glanced at Marquis Garcia and respectfully asked, “My lord Marquis, shall we return as well?”

“Hmm.” Marquis Garcia nodded, staring at the water’s surface, seeming uninterested in further conversation.

Colin glanced at Queen Isa, and the flower boat began to slowly turn around, heading back to shore.