For nearly an hour, Elysar sat absorbed in Elara's recounting of her past, punctuating her narrative with occasional questions. His bodyguards had efficiently dispersed the surrounding bystanders, ensuring the privacy of their conversation. Elysar was equally impressed by Elara's healing rate; in just an hour, she had regained nearly half of her strength, aided by the high-quality potions he had generously provided.
His understanding of vampires, their customs, and the complex mechanisms of the underworld expanded considerably. Despite the abundance of information available in the previous owner's memories and the extensive Valthoren library, firsthand accounts like Elara's provided invaluable insights. The underworld was a fast-paced, clandestine world where change was the only constant. Even a high-ranking noble like Elysar couldn't claim complete knowledge about its inner workings. Therefore, he listened with rapt attention and acute focus as Elara painted a vivid picture of her life and experiences.
The underworld was a complex web of diverse crime syndicates and underworld bosses, each with unique areas of interest. These entities formed the essential foundation of this shadowy world.
Yet, the most formidable among them were the major mercenary and assassination guilds. Their strength was inherent to their line of work, often requiring brutal force and exceptional combat skills.
Vampires like Elara were often ostracized, even within the underworld. For instance, they could find work as solo thieves, or capitalize on their inherent strength they are joining assassination or mercenary groups. Their biological traits and the superstitions perpetuated by the Church led to their societal exclusion from normal society. And even within the underworld, they were often met with fear and aversion. The only exception to this rule were organizations like the Night Stalkers, where strength was the ultimate determinant of one's worth.
Vampires had adapted to life in the shadows, carving out homes in vast underground cities and intricate cavern systems. Elysar, despite being part of the Valthoren family and residing in the capital, was previously oblivious to the sheer number of these covert networks operating right under his nose. He surmised that the Valthorens had perhaps given up on exterminating these subterranean dwellings due to the constant emergence of new ones. It seemed an imprudent expenditure of effort, especially considering that these networks were crucial for the survival of both the vampires and the underworld inhabitants.
Vampires were naturally endowed with unique abilities, including bone, muscle, and blood manipulation, as well as control over their Sanguine Core. Consumption of cells enhanced these abilities, thus increasing their strength.
However, their complex genetic makeup resulted in difficulties with reproduction, leading to a lower population compared to humans. This scarcity, coupled with their inherent cannibalistic tendencies and mutual mistrust, fostered a fractured society and hindered cooperation. Consuming other vampires granted an even greater power surge than consuming humans, but given the difficulty of capturing fellow vampires, this was not a common occurrence. Yet, ambushes and vampire gangs were prevalent.
Elysar found himself contemplating the tragic existence of this race, hunted by humans and their own kind alike. He pondered on Elara's experience, considering how she was fortunate to have been born into one of the rare vampire clans, despite the harsh realities they faced. As he thought this, he glanced at her, comfortably seated on a chair brought from a nearby house, having long since finished her meal.
Having been the constant targets of Church users, vampires had developed ways to alter their appearances and mana presence, allowing them to blend into human society. Elara, for instance, had managed to transform her typically vampire-red eyes into a deep, human-like blue.
Despite their extraordinary abilities, the discord and suspicion within their society impeded them from harnessing their full potential. Their strength, the very trait that humans both envied and feared, was the primary reason they were relegated to criminal activities.
Nonetheless, there were a few secretive methods by which high-ranking nobles and Church members could identify vampires. These included magical devices and, for those who possessed significant power exceeding the Knight Captain level, their own senses. This was because vampires possessed a distinct half-human, half-negative mana signature. However, skilled vampires like Elara had learned to temporarily mask this signature, merging the two components to appear more human-like, especially during Church patrols to evade unnecessary confrontations.
Delving into the underworld, Elysar discovered a myriad of factions, each with its unique niche. These included mountain bandits, nimble thieves, and illicit smugglers trafficking everything from narcotics, weapons, and purloined magical artifacts, to even slaves.
His attention was particularly drawn to the existence of clandestine underworld auctions. These secretive events were held in well-concealed locales, serving as a marketplace for the rarest and most prohibited items or even beings. He got an idea to visit one of those auctions next tomorrow after he gets back into his residence and rests.
Elysar took a deep breath, his gaze piercing into Elara's eyes, before he began to speak. His voice was calm, steady, and resonated with the weight of the proposal he was about to make. "Elara Bloodrose...", He started, "You have given me valuable and authentic information. For this, I am grateful."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before he continued. "Therefore, I am prepared to offer you an opportunity. A chance to become my first personal subordinate in this world." The words hung in the air between them, heavy with significance.
Elysar leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Think about it carefully," he urged her, "Consider what it would mean to stand by my side as I ascend to the head of the Valthoren family, as I bring this house to unprecedented heights."
His voice grew more intense as he pressed on, "I can offer you strength and power. But more importantly, I believe I am the only one who can provide the protection you need in your current predicament. After all, the family you've crossed is amongst the top ten in this empire in terms of power and influence."
Elysar paused again, letting the reality of her situation sink in. Then, a faint smile crossed his face. "I can also offer you something else, something I know you truly desire: revenge against the Night Stalkers. Should you prove yourself to me, I will aid you in this endeavor. But I sense you'd prefer to handle this personally, so consider my support in terms of strength and time to grow as a stepping stone."
His expression hardened, and his voice took on a stern tone. "But remember, with power and position come great responsibilities. If you are found wanting in your duties, or if you harbor any harmful intentions against me, the consequences would be... severe. Think about it."
Elysar leaned back, his gaze still fixed on Elara. "I only ask for a commitment of fifteen years. After that, you are free." The silence that followed was thick with anticipation, Elysar's offer hanging in the air as he awaited her response. He thought that fifteen years were enough for him to conquer the entire world and become the strongest so he didn't need any more.
Elara's response was not immediate. She sat there, her vibrant eyes hidden under a thoughtful frown, carefully weighing Elysar's words. His proposal was generous, tempting even, but it was also unexpected. She found it difficult to believe him, to trust him. After all, she had been betrayed too many times, by those she once held close, by those she once trusted.
She studied Elysar's face, searching for any signs of deception. But his face betrayed nothing, his gaze steady and sincere. She couldn't fathom why he would value her so much. She was merely a stray vampire, a fugitive running from her own kind and the nobility alike. There would be countless Knight Captains, each with their own merits, waiting in line to serve him, she thought. So why her?
Her delicate face, usually so impassive, was etched with doubt and uncertainty. But as she pondered, she found herself cornered by the harsh reality of her situation. Elysar had saved her, yes, and he could just as easily end her life if she refused him. She had already tasted the wrath of a king-class noble house, a terrifying experience that still haunted her.
To offend a royal house now would mean certain death. Survival was her first and foremost goal, everything else was secondary. It would be hard to escape from him even if she accepted his offer and then attempted to later, after all, Valthoren's family power was endless.
She had no loyalty towards Elysar, no trust in him. Yet the benefits he offered were tangible and real. He could provide her with resources that were otherwise beyond her reach. The luxurious healing potion he had given her earlier was just a small taste of what he could offer: the best training resources in the world, mana-enhanced fighting equipment, and more. But above all, he could offer her security, a chance at survival.
Her mind churned with thoughts, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision she had to make. She felt a pang of humiliation, remembering her desperate flight from her enemies, her impending fate as a plaything offered as compensation to the young noble she had injured. Such memories fueled her resolve.
She yearned for power, for the strength to protect herself from future betrayals, to prevent such humiliation from ever happening again. She wanted to be the one inflicting pain and humiliation, not the one enduring it. She realized that the power Elysar offered was the key to achieving her desires, the answer to her prayers.
"I..." Elara started, her voice wavering slightly as she broke the silence. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She looked straight into Elysar's eyes, her own reflecting a fierce determination. "I accept your offer, Elysar." She declared, her voice steady and resolute.
Elysar's face broke into a pleased smile as he listened to Elara's acceptance. "You're intelligent and adaptable, Elara. You won't regret this decision," he assured her, his eyes sparkling with a strange kind of excitement. Despite his exhaustion from the day's search, he felt invigorated by this new acquisition.
The prospect of having her, a vampire with a fate energy reading of 80, on his side was exhilarating. In comparison, he himself had a fate energy of zero - the difference was staggering, like comparing the vastness of the sky to the solidity of the earth. He believed wholeheartedly that she was going to be his sharpest weapon in the future. Plus, he found her ruthlessness and undiluted determination quite appealing. They were on the same wavelength, both devoid of unnecessary moral burdens and focused on their goals.
He suddenly noticed Elara opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but was holding back. He interrupted her before she could speak, "Don't worry. We're heading to my personal mansion. It's not the business of my family who I bring there. And remember, you're no longer a stray vampire. You are my first and foremost subordinate, someone I expect to rise to the top and lead my other subordinates. I have great faith in you, Elara. Our meeting today seems to be the work of fate, and I'm a firm believer in fate." His grin was infectious, lighting up his features.
Elara looked back at him, taken aback. His handsome face, the earnest smile, the trust he placed in her - it was all so overwhelming. She had never expected anyone to hold her in such high regard again, let alone the heir of the most prestigious noble family in the world.
The stark contrast between the way she was treated by the underworld organization and by Elysar left her stunned. She couldn't help but question his motives. Was he insane? Was he in love with her? Or was there some other hidden agenda she wasn't aware of? Whatever the case, she resolved to remain vigilant in the future.