The topic that Adele had introduced quickly stirred conversation among the nobles. After all, it was an undeniable fact: the price of blood was rising, but the purchase rates hadn't increased much. Moreover, the cost of other goods, like precious metals and luxury items, had also skyrocketed. Although precious metals held little intrinsic value in vampire society, they were still highly sought after for adornment, whether in personal attire, castle renovations, or even the newly popular cosmetics.
With the cost of living increasing and income seemingly stagnant, it was no surprise that the nobility were concerned. As long as the concept of "money" existed, everyone was a slave to it.
Adele stood by quietly, listening to the conversations around her. It wasn't long before someone brought up the Council of Elders. Just as one noble began to voice his discontent—"All the money is lining the pockets of the Council..."—he was quickly hushed by a nearby companion. Realizing his mistake, the noble fell silent, but it was too late; the seed had already been planted.
Adele smiled softly, placing her wine glass on a nearby table. She exchanged a few words with her parents before stepping out onto the balcony. This was Miss Golden's engagement party, and as her cousin and former classmate, Adele knew she couldn't just leave. However, finding a quiet spot to retreat to was perfectly acceptable.
The atmosphere Adele had created was perfect. She knew that once the nobles began talking, these thoughts would linger. The Council of Elders was the highest authority among the vampires, and it was impossible for the nobility not to harbor some resentment toward them. After all, the Council controlled all the most profitable ventures: the farms that paid taxes to them, the banks that reaped even greater profits, and even the airships were under their control. When times were good, the Council's dominance was seen as rightful and just. But when times were tough, the nobility would question the Council's worth, wondering why they continued to be exploited.
Outwardly, no one would dare to voice these concerns, but privately, the growing resentment toward the Council would fester, eventually contributing to its downfall. Normally, the Council dismissed such murmurs as inconsequential; after all, they were the most powerful vampires, backed by the loyal and mighty Thirteen Clans.
But Adele had something different: she had Molly, her secret weapon. Adele wasn't in a rush to overthrow the Council because she knew that physical destruction alone wasn't enough. Even if Molly wiped out the current members, as long as the Council's structure remained, a new Council would eventually rise to take its place. The only way to truly eradicate the Council was to expose it as a fundamentally corrupt institution that didn't deserve to exist.
Sowing the seeds of doubt in the nobility's minds was the first move in Adele's plan. Soon, they would begin to believe that the finest blood they sold to the bank was being consumed by the Council instead of being redistributed. Why else, they would wonder, could they never obtain the highest quality blood themselves?
As these suspicions grew, the introduction of counterfeit currency would only fuel the flames, leading to a more significant backlash against the Council.
Adele sat on the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze. After a while, a shadow appeared, and she opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Molly, this is too dangerous..." Adele's voice was barely above a whisper, but Molly didn't seem concerned. She shook her head, speaking even softer, "Don't worry, no one will see."
Molly reached out, drawing the heavy curtain across the balcony entrance before sitting beside Adele. Adele leaned against the railing while Molly perched on the edge. They both gazed up at the moon, basking in the peaceful moment. Despite her initial worry, Adele couldn't help but inch closer to Molly, seeking warmth in the cool night air.
The mood was serene until Molly, mischievous as ever, gently touched Adele's ear, causing her to shiver involuntarily. Adele shot her a glare, but Molly just grinned. "So, vampire ears really are that sensitive, huh?"
Adele immediately realized that Molly had seen the earlier interaction between Miss Golden and the young master of the Green family and had decided to playfully test it out. Annoyed, Adele reached out and touched Molly's ear in retaliation. The sensation was entirely different.
Vampire ears were long and pointed, reminding Molly of the elves from anime. However, she was sure that elves' ears didn't feel like vampires'. Even though she had never touched an elf's ear, she could confidently say they weren't as cold. Adele's ears were cool to the touch, with soft cartilage that made them oddly enjoyable to touch.
But Molly's ears were different—shorter, warmer, and more like a human's. Adele noted the peculiar texture but didn't dwell on it since vampires' ears were even stranger.
Yet as Adele touched Molly's ear, she noticed something surprising: Molly blushed. The back of her neck bristled with goosebumps as she shyly turned away, clearly embarrassed by Adele's touch. Seeing this reaction, Adele couldn't resist leaning in closer, her weight causing Molly to grip the railing for balance.
"Stop..." Molly whispered, her voice soft and shaky, a far cry from her usual confident tone. Adele, usually the one flustered by Molly's teasing, found herself thoroughly enjoying this reversal of roles.
"I don't want to," Adele replied, smirking as she continued to tease Molly.
But before Adele could react, Molly suddenly vanished, leaving her sitting alone on the balcony. Startled, Adele looked up to see a curtain being drawn aside by another vampire she recognized.
"Oh, Miss Black, I didn't realize this balcony was occupied," the vampire said.
Adele quickly composed herself, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her long, pointed ear. "It's fine. I was just about to leave," she replied, her tone calm and pleasant. She was in a good mood after discovering one of Molly's little weaknesses.
To the others, it simply seemed like Miss Black was in high spirits, despite her former suitor now being engaged to someone else. Clearly, the relationship between the Black and Golden families remained strong, with Adele displaying nothing but grace and poise during the engagement celebration.
The night after Miss Golden's engagement party, Adele wasted no time in leaving. She was eager to return and see the counterfeit money that had been produced during her absence. By the time she arrived, the research facility had already manufactured a large batch of fake bills. They lay neatly in wooden crates, still exuding the fresh scent of ink.
Adele picked up one of the bills, carefully examining it. With a vampire's keen eye and sharp memory, she scrutinized the counterfeit, knowing that even the slightest flaw could give it away. But to her trained eye, the fake was indistinguishable from the real thing. This was expected since both the fake and real bills were produced using the same techniques and identical machinery.
Molly, equally curious, also examined a bill. The young girl from the research team approached them, hands on her hips, looking proud. "So, what do you think? Can you tell the difference?"
Adele nodded in approval, and Molly agreed with the girl's assessment. "Aside from the fresh ink, it's indistinguishable from the real thing."
The girl grinned, puffing up with pride. "Of course it is! After all, we made the real ones too!"
With the counterfeit bills ready, the next step was distribution. This task was no longer the girl's responsibility. After everyone had inspected the fake bills, the girl pulled Molly aside, her voice low and worried. Though her tone was soft, Adele's sharp ears caught every word.
"Miss Dawn, could you please go check on Barbara? We're all really worried about her. With so many people disappearing from the research facility, I'm afraid those vampires will start bullying her..." The girl's voice was sweet and gentle, filled with concern. She was so close to Molly that Molly could smell the fresh ink on her clothes.
Molly didn't hesitate to reassure her. "I'll go to the research facility in the city tomorrow. If Barbara is in any danger, I'll bring her back."
Relieved, the girl whispered her thanks. "Thank you, Miss Dawn."
When Molly returned to Adele, she told her about the girl's request. Since it was a quick visit, Molly planned to return by the time Adele woke up. Adele, understanding the situation, didn't argue about going along but simply said, "Come back soon."
Molly nodded. "You know how fast I am. I'll be back before you know it." But Adele couldn't help feeling a bit melancholic. In a soft voice, she admitted, "Even if I'm asleep, I don't want you to leave me."
Molly's heart melted at Adele's words. Just as she leaned in to comfort her, she felt Adele's hand on her ear, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Adele!"