A sense of ill omen immediately surfaced in his heart.
However, Murphy still extended his perfect courtesy to his fellow kin. The latter responded with a cold nod, simultaneously taking out a sealed velvet bag from his bosom and handing it to Murphy.
He spoke very formally:
"The frontlines are urgent. The Exploration Corps of the Golden Flower Kingdom has already approached the border of Transylvania, and war is about to descend upon Cardman City. Every Blood Eagle member must contribute to our territory.
This is your mission.
Deliver this secret order from the clan leader to the hunter camp thirty miles east of Morlan Village by midnight. You have three days to accomplish this!"
A jolt hit Murphy's heart as he accepted the bag and murmured:
"But I heard the witch hunters from the Golden Flower Kingdom have infiltrated the area..."
"Indeed."
The Blood Eagle guard nodded in confirmation:
"Those hounds under the Circle Tower are carrying out tactical blockades. This means you must risk crossing their hunting blockade at midnight.
But for the noble members of the Blood Eagle, this task would be easy."
"Hey, when you say 'easy,' you're talking about normal vampires, right? Open your eyes and take a good look! What about this vampire in front of you seems 'normal' besides being exceptionally handsome?"
Murphy roared inwardly.
But he drew a deep breath on the surface, barely hanging on to his facade, and said:
"I need armor and weapons. Also, if possible, I need some assistance."
"Hmm?"
These words made the Clan Leader's guard blink. He looked at Murphy's overly "simple" appearance and said oddly:
"You look like you have been embraced for some time now, but you don't have your own Blood Servant yet? You even need...wait, this is Cui Si's manor? Your elder is the former... um, Elder Cui Si?
Well, that figures.
I heard some rumors about you in the Blood Eagle Corridor. I thought they were absurd jokes. After all, a blood race member couldn't possibly be this unfortunate."
After speaking, the vampire patted Murphy's shoulder sympathetically, and said with subtlety:
"It seems things have not been easy for you, child."
"Indeed, this is far removed from the life of a vampire I had imagined."
Murphy could not hold back this time.
He could endure the ridicule and malice of others, but the sympathetic look in the other's eyes caused him to heave a sigh, his face filled with sorrow.
Seeing this, the Clan Leader's guard did not know what else to say, so he sighed and said:
"At dusk today, when you set off, there will be enough Blood Servants to bring you what you need. Also, if you do not return, there will be other unfortunate... uh, I mean, other reliable individuals to replace you and take care of Elder Cui Si.
So brave yourself and go."
Having said that he turned and disappeared into the shadows as a fluttering bat, leaving Murphy standing there holding the task items.
"So they've written me off as dead? Hey, can't you at least pretend for a few seconds when you're sending someone to their demise?"
"Damn it, at least I have a cheat!"
Murphy muttered a complaint, then habitually glanced at the progress bar occupying most of the space on the strange semi-transparent interface in front of him:
["Real Different World" test version administrator system installation package unzipping progress: 99.87%, please wait patiently.]
"It's been on edge for a whole month, and it will be done by this afternoon."
Murphy bit his lip. A genuine smile spread on his face which was always maintained in an elegant posture due to muscle memory.
He hummed a tune, bent over to pick up the relief food beside him, and walked into the yard, thinking:
"Once my reality-changing golden finger arrives, I'll scatter all of you jerks. I've got a list of everyone who has disrespected me. I'm not as forgiving as you think.
Oh, what a great future it will be, just waiting for me."