Damir Port
After exchanging pleasantries with Viscount Cullen, Ebner couldn't help but ask, "Have you met with Lydia yet?"
"I have… and I've also seen that boy she keeps mentioning, the one she calls Terrance," Cullen replied, sipping the red wine Ebner had prepared for him. Of course, it wasn't anything high-end.
"Does that boy have something special about him?" Ebner asked curiously.
Though he often teased Lydia and Terrance's relationship in his mind, he could tell their bond wasn't romantic—at least not yet. Lydia's feelings for Terrance seemed more like instinctive fondness, with her main interest being that his blood tasted exceptionally good.
"If my guess is correct, that boy is likely a descendant of Lady Yarrowlan, one of the 'Nine Pillars' of the Moses Ascetic Order. Her bloodline has a strong allure for our family. Even though Terrance is countless generations removed, Lydia still finds it hard to resist that innate sense of closeness," Cullen explained after a moment of thought, deciding there was no need to hide the information.
Ebner's copy of The Banquet of Blood likely contained related knowledge anyway.
The Nine Pillars of the Moses Ascetic Order… likely a high-ranking Beyonder of the Mystery Pryer pathway. And that sense of closeness from the bloodline… could it be that this Mystery Pryer used blood from an ancestor of Cullen's family as the mythical creature blood for her demigod ritual? Hmm, The Banquet of Blood does mention something like that.
Cullen's ancestor was a vampire duke? The one who authored The Banquet of Blood? If so, Lady Yarrowlan must be quite old—at least from the Fourth Epoch.
And Cullen refers to her only as "Lady," which means she's no higher than Sequence 3…
Still, Mystery Pryers are perpetually in pursuit of knowledge, so it's not surprising if she discovered a method to extend her lifespan.
As his thoughts raced, Ebner formed several hypotheses. However, this was Cullen's private matter, and it wouldn't be appropriate to pry further. Instead, he changed the subject: "So, what are you planning to do? Force Lydia to leave with you?"
Cullen shook his head and sighed. "In my experience, forcibly separating her would do no good. It might even affect her state and hinder her advancement."
"Experience?" Ebner caught the key word.
"My parents went through the same thing," Cullen said, taking another sip of wine with a gloomy expression.
"So, Lydia and Terrance are cousins?" Ebner blinked, having seen no resemblance between the two.
"No, it's my parents… Lydia isn't related. After all, humans and vampires have vastly different lifespans. My mother found a new husband, and then Lydia was born," Cullen clarified without hesitation.
Ebner nodded in understanding but felt a faint curiosity. Why is Cullen sharing all this with me? Though I'm somewhat nosy, he could've easily steered the conversation elsewhere if he didn't want to talk about it.
At that moment, Cullen finished the last of his wine, then looked at Ebner seriously and said, "I have a favor to ask of you."
---
Bravehearts Bar, Back Alley
At the gathering organized by the "Eye of Wisdom" elder, the oppressive atmosphere brought about by Wild Dog's repeated questioning was broken by the woman in the black hood with an impressive figure—the "craftsman's agent."
"I've brought a mystical item called the Nightmare Emblem. It allows the wearer to freely enter the dreams of anyone within a large radius, as long as they're asleep. It can also forcibly pull others into a dream within a 10-meter range while keeping the wearer fully conscious.
"It has no significant negative effects, but prolonged use can blur the line between reality and dreams. Of course, if you constantly visit others' dreams at night and deprive yourself of rest, there's a risk of sudden death—after all, you're not a Sleepless.
"This item has 14 months of usability remaining.
"It's priced at 550 pounds or one Berserk Grass."
A Nightmare… That's what the Captain's ability was like. Though this emblem falls short of the Captain's level, it's still an excellent tool for support and control. Far better than my self-made Slumber Charms and Dream Charms.
Without giving others a chance, Klein immediately spoke up:
"I have Berserk Grass."
The woman wearing long gloves also placed a bid:
"600 pounds."
Though others were tempted, they lost interest after hearing these offers.
The craftsman's agent couldn't hide the delight in her voice as she said, "Apologies, madam, but the Berserk Grass takes precedence."
The long-gloved woman remained silent for a moment before nodding and withdrawing her bid.
The craftsman's agent turned to Klein and confirmed, "Deal! But please hand the Berserk Grass to the Eye of Wisdom elder for verification first."
Klein unrolled his cloak and retrieved a metal box from an inner pocket, handing it to the server.
As before, the Eye of Wisdom elder used a ring adorned with countless tiny diamonds encircling a green gemstone, simulating the Beyonder ability of a Notary. He confirmed the authenticity of the Berserk Grass.
After the elder's announcement, the craftsman's agent visibly relaxed. She retrieved a finely packaged wooden box and handed it to the server in exchange for the materials. Her joy was evident.
Meanwhile, Klein opened the wooden box with a snap and examined his acquisition.
A round black emblem inscribed with various symbolic meanings, numbers, and markings lay quietly on the silk inside. Its design was mesmerizing. Klein couldn't resist running his fingers across its surface, watching as the symbols, numbers, and markings transformed into twinkling stars scattered across the emblem, resembling a starry night.
Yes, it's genuinely tied to the Goddess. Klein had sufficient expertise in mysticism to recognize its authenticity. He snapped the box shut and placed it in the pocket of his robe.
Afterward, he fell silent and passively observed the subsequent exchanges and discussions.
Near the end of the gathering, a medium-built, unremarkable attendee adjusted his iron mask and spoke in a deep baritone:
"I need silk glands from an adult Widow Spider."
Silk glands from an adult Widow Spider? That sounds familiar… I feel like I've heard of it before… Klein furrowed his brows, trying to recall without resorting to divination.
Suddenly, it clicked.
It's one of the primary ingredients for the Pleasure Witch potion! He had come across the recipe while performing a séance with Madam Sharon.
Meanwhile, Wild Dog, who had seemed downtrodden throughout the gathering, raised his head and looked over.
(End of Chapter)