"I'll discuss this and give you an answer tomorrow."
"The campaign is scheduled in two weeks."
The Duke had no doubt about receiving a positive response.
"We should agree!"
The Council meeting had just begun, but almost everyone was in agreement. The discussions mostly concerned technical aspects and whether they would be deceived.
"What about clear days?" Leonid was naturally concerned about the vampires' combat effectiveness in sunlight.
"Summer has arrived. Clear days are rare now. Besides, we've already adapted," Oleg's enthusiasm was hard to dampen with such minor concerns; he and his constables had spent more time under the local light than anyone else. "And don't forget, the enemy at the pass is goblins, and they operate at night."
"And once we get paid..." Gennady rubbed his hands contentedly.
"We still haven't received everything from the battle at the Cursed Bridge!" another countered.
"We have receipts! We'll get everything!" the man vehemently dismissed all doubts.
The triumvirate sitting at the head of the table did not share the general excitement. It was a phenomenal situation for vampires when the triumvirs were the ones holding back decisions, and all council members were positive. Eugene stood up.
"Leonid! How do you assess the success of the campaign?"
The voivode rose. His authority in all military matters was so high that now he could bury the entire undertaking with a single word. Therefore, the man cautiously chose his words.
"If we manage to slip past the goblins, then I rate it highly. The artifacts left on our side of the mountains will definitely be retrieved. But those left on their side... won't be retrieved, even if the goblins learn about the expedition too late."
"And if they find out immediately?"
"Then nothing will work out. Many people will die, and we will retrieve little of value, if anything."
"So, are you against the campaign then?"
"I am for the campaign. I am confident that we can avoid casualties on our side, and there are no baronies along the road."
The triumvir sat back down. He didn't like the plan. Everything smelled of adventure. But he couldn't find reasons against it either.
"Is anyone against the campaign?"
But even this hope collapsed. The vampires sitting at the table were already mentally at the pass. They drank the hearty blood of goblins and earned themselves a place under the local sun, gaining power and significant independence.
There was one last thing he could suggest.
"What about the idea of moving to the years? Occupying a dwarven city and living there?"
Everyone fell silent. Even the other triumvirs looked at him strangely.
"Well, why not an option? There's no sun there. No people. We're our own masters! Not dependent on anyone or anything. Plenty of food."
"You surprised me," Konstantin scratched his ear. "Very surprised. But I immediately have objections. Personally, I don't want to live underground. We've all drunk goblin blood and seen that dungeons aren't the best place to live. And we are nocturnal creatures, not cave dwellers."
Semen stood up.
"And I have doubts about the food. I've already estimated the option of moving underground. Goblins multiply like cats, but they develop slowly. Animals breed well and mature faster. But in the mountains, there's a chance we'll just drink everyone up and lose our food base. Up here, on the surface, it's not so limited."
The idea of living underground was criticized and rejected. Eugene could only silently accept the majority opinion. The Duke's proposal was accepted, and the village began to prepare for the campaign!
When everything was over, Alexander finally caught up with Sergey.
"Listen. I talked to the bishop. Turns out, he doesn't even know about the goblin attack on Sands and how it all ended!"
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