Adele was an idealist, but she didn't think the whole world was like her. She understood that for most humans, other races, and vampires in this world, self-interest was the top priority. The humans being pampered by the Vampire Council had no worries about tomorrow, with plenty of food, drink, and even servants to attend to their needs, allowing them to focus solely on their research.
In a world where the average human lifespan barely reached forty years, some of these people had lived to eighty. Given their circumstances, would they really abandon everything they had and join the Human Resistance?
Adele was skeptical.
Molly, however, reached out to support Adele's head, making her sit up straight, and then said, "Of course, we can't convince everyone, but there will definitely be some who will come over to our side." Molly had confidence in this because she had studied Adele's textbooks and understood the history of vampires. She knew how miserable life had been for humans before the advent of banking and other systems.
To put it bluntly, the people under Okan's rule lived miserably, but before the development of these systems, human lives were even worse than those of pigs and dogs. In the eyes of vampires, they weren't even worthy of being servants and were seen as nothing more than livestock. Only those with exceptional beauty—so rare that perhaps one would be born every hundred years—might earn a vampire's favor.
In such a cruel world, some had climbed out of this misery, despite being condemned as traitors and vampire lapdogs. These humans helped construct a more complex society for vampires, transforming them from savage beasts into sophisticated nobles.
Although this allowed vampires to exploit humans more comprehensively, humans did manage to slightly improve their status, at least equal to that of some low-ranking vampires. Molly had read that part of history, and despite the textbooks being filled with derogatory language towards those humans, she could see the truth.
They were just trying to find a way for humans to survive.
Of course, the current group of humans wasn't the same as those from back then. So much time had passed, at least two to three thousand years, and generations had come and gone. But according to the information provided by the vampire traitor, most of these people were descendants of those original humans.
Their lives had been prolonged, and Molly believed their will had also been passed down. Confident in this belief, she decided to visit the addresses listed in the documents. When she mentioned her plan to Adele, Adele clung to Molly's waist, refusing to let go.
"I want to go! I want to go with you!"
"No, Adele, you're too noticeable. Going to that place would definitely make the Council suspicious."
It was a joke; she had just been warned by the Council and now wanted to visit the place where the most important talents were kept. If the Council found out, they'd probably want to swallow Adele whole. They were not only afraid of death but also terrified of their power being threatened. Lacking the ability to create, they only knew how to destroy, so they caged these talents like birds in a gilded cage.
They claimed to provide good food and comfort, but in Molly's eyes, it was nothing more than imprisonment.
So, of course, Adele couldn't go. She wasn't strong enough to completely hide her presence and would be easily discovered. Going openly would be even worse, as Molly had just explained. This time, Adele would have to stay on the farm, while Molly went alone.
But Adele wasn't willing. She had never been apart from Molly for long, the longest being when Molly pretended to be sick. In the past few years, they had become inseparable, always together. Now, hearing that Molly was leaving, Adele was a thousand times unwilling.
However, Molly knew how to handle Adele. She gently lifted Adele's hands from her waist, then picked her up, seating her on her lap. Molly looked up at Adele. "Adele, kiss me."
Adele swallowed nervously. She had been pouting, unwilling to let Molly leave her side, but now, suddenly in this position, she couldn't resist Molly's request for a kiss. Adele found it hard to refuse Molly, especially when she was asking for a kiss.
Molly tilted her head slightly, causing her short hair to shift, revealing her pure and lovely face. Her skin was pale but had a healthy glow thanks to the care of the chefs Adele had hired, making her cheeks a rosy pink, as soft and inviting as a peach.
In this world, fruit was scarce, and nobody cultivated it. Vampires couldn't taste it, so there was no reason to grow it. But in recent years, the humans in Adele's territory had transplanted wild fruits from the outside, selecting and grafting them under Molly's guidance, eventually producing sweet-tasting fruit. Peaches were one of these fruits.
Adele had never tasted a peach, finding its flavor unpleasant, but she saw Molly often eating them. A ripe peach had white flesh with a red blush, much like Molly's cheeks now.
Molly always said peaches were delicious. Although Adele couldn't imagine the taste, she could at least kiss Molly's cheek. Adele leaned in, opening her mouth, and gently bit down on Molly's cheek. She didn't bite hard, and if Molly hadn't allowed it, her skin could have been as tough as stone.
But as Adele bit down, she found Molly's cheek to be as soft and tender as it appeared, just like she imagined a peach would taste.
When Adele pulled back, she nervously saw two small bite marks... left by her sharp canine teeth. Adele's canines were particularly sharp, likely some of the best among vampires, and they were still in perfect condition, unlike those of other vampires who drank blood daily and didn't fear dental issues.
Molly considered this the most vicious curse one could say to a vampire.
Looking at the bite marks, Adele felt a pang of guilt. "Why did you let me bite you? Now you've got marks!" The marks weren't severe and would likely fade within a few hours, but Adele was deeply concerned, worried that Molly might be permanently scarred.
Molly struggled to maintain her usual stoic demeanor. In truth, she had broken her "ice queen" persona countless times while with Adele, so what was one more time? She touched her cheek where Adele had bitten her, her expression revealing a hint of amusement. "Look, they're gone."
Sure enough, as Molly spoke, the marks on her cheek disappeared instantly, and Adele finally relaxed.
Molly had successfully changed the subject. Adele no longer clung to her, knowing that she couldn't accompany her. Not only would her presence raise suspicions from the Council, but the farm also needed her attention. The trip to the Council had already delayed many things, and she couldn't afford to neglect her duties further.
Adele remembered what Molly had once said about working for twenty or thirty years at most. She had to admit, it made sense. At this pace, working for two or three centuries—or even two millennia—would make even a hardworking person like Adele feel overwhelmed.
Two days later, after Adele had fallen asleep during the day, Molly left the farm. Once she was out, she reverted to her Dawn Lady persona. Her speed was incredible, though she took a wrong turn and had to double back, costing her a bit of time.
The Council had placed the humans far from the capital, in a territory directly controlled by the Council, not by any of the thirteen families. Molly had set out at dawn, and by the time she arrived, the morning dew had not yet evaporated.
The city's defenses weren't as strict as those of the capital, but they were still stronger than those of Black Castle. Molly realized she could use Black Castle's defenses as a unit of measurement. For instance, this city had 1.2 times the defense of Black Castle, while the capital had thirteen times the defense.
A fitting number, given the vampires' obsession with thirteen.
Molly scouted the city and noticed something: there were quite a few humans here. In addition to many low-level vampires and hired non-human workers, there weren't many actual vampires. Molly counted only five vampires rotating shifts as guards.
The sheer number of people made it difficult for her to pinpoint the most important targets. But that didn't matter; Molly had a keen eye for the truth. First, she excluded those who were poorly dressed or lived on the outskirts.
Molly wanted to save those people too, but priorities had to be set. To effectively strike at the heart of the vampires' modern society, she needed those who were responsible for the banking system and inventions. The others would have to wait.
This might seem harsh, but Molly wasn't some saint. Her primary goal was to fulfill the dream she shared with Adele; everything else came second. The most luxurious homes in the city might not belong to the researchers, but the third and fourth tiers likely housed them.
The city also adhered to a nine-to-five work schedule, and as Molly observed, the sun rose, and the humans gradually awoke to start their day. Like a nightingale, Molly moved silently into the residential area she had identified earlier.
Once inside, she didn't rush to find someone but instead carefully observed. Call her sneaky, but she spent quite some time watching before selecting someone who seemed most likely to be persuaded.
She chose a woman who stood out from most humans in this world. She was well-dressed, wearing practical yet stylish clothing, and had a pair of glasses—a rarity in this world with its limited technological advancement.
That alone made her a prime candidate for defection.