Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 491 - 453 A Girl

The ancient cobblestone path appeared before them, and Beatrice halted in front of those pebbles as if facing an insurmountable chasm. Lyle could hear her inhale, a deliberately gloomy sound expelled from her nostrils.

"Ahead lies the territory of Degonris," Beatrice turned back, her gaze resting on Lyle’s face, "As soon as we take that step, we will be exposed to the eyes of the Loshutar Blood Clan."

The surrounding vegetation was still lush, and they were some distance from the towns of Degonris, without any hidden sentries in sight. Nonetheless, Lyle made his choice.

"Kevin, Grape, you must stay behind. You can explore and play nearby, but promise me not to set foot on this cobblestone road."

The solemn warning elicited a response from Kevin, who patted his chest in assurance that he wouldn’t overstep, and he half-forced Grape to make the same promise. Only then did Lyle feel at ease to walk into Degonris’s domain with Beatrice.

It was not until Lyle and Beatrice had walked a distance that Grape finally wriggled out from the grasp of Kevin’s palm, mumbling discontentedly.

"Kevin, do you really think staying here makes us the so-called external support for Lyle and the others?" Grape picked at Kevin’s promise made just a minute ago, driven by the instinct of an explorer.

"Nothing can hold me back except my own intuition," Kevin pulled Grape back into his arms, the excitement in his eyes now replaced by solemnity, he gazed at the cobblestone path ahead but didn’t take a step forward.

"Trust me, Grape, it’s best to heed Lyle’s words for now."

The cobblestone path ventured deeper into the jungle, and had it not been for Beatrice’s reminder, Lyle would not have noticed this artificial road obscured by weeds. They were still in the jungle, ten minutes into their walk on the cobblestone path, and the quietness around them remained unchanged. It was as if nothing had happened, even the sensation of the smoothed stones underfoot became blurred beneath the cushion of overlying grass. Beatrice’s significant domain marker seemed to amount to nothing.

Though Lyle did not relax his guard, Beatrice, who led the way, still offered an explanation.

"We may not have entered Degonris yet, but we are already under the perception of the Loshutar Blood Clan. The reason there’s been no welcoming ceremony is probably that... they still regard me as one of the Blood Clan," Beatrice walked unhurriedly as if she truly was going home, "This is precisely our plan. Using my identity, we aim to infiltrate the Loshutar Blood Clan peacefully and find your little Paladin."

"My defection is indeed seen as a profound betrayal by the vampires, and you will likely see it confirmed by the faces of the others soon. But Duke Delaures will not be angry; he sickly dotes on each of his ’children’ with love. I believe they will welcome my return with smiles that do not reach their eyes. As for you, Lyle, you are my brother-in-law, a member of the Naslan family."

"This is merely a simple exchange of familial sentiments, which is what we need."

Listening to Beatrice’s detailed explanation of everything about the Blood Clan, new thoughts began to take root in Lyle’s mind.

"Beatrice, you’ve defected, will those vampires really let you and me return to Naslan after everything is over?" Lyle had an intuition that, no matter how much a vampire duke loved his children, he would not tolerate anyone’s second departure. Beatrice might be imprisoned; it was a gamble for freedom, and Beatrice was staking her own liberty.

The blood-red pupils crystallized under the pale sunlight, turning into glittering carnelian, and Beatrice smiled, her face gleaming like a diamond in the sunlight, irresistibly beautiful.

"Do you really expect us to have a peaceful resolution with the Loshutar Blood Clan? You can’t possibly think I can easily make them give up that Purifier Paladin of the Fifth Angel. Conflict is inevitable, and sooner or later, we will have to show our true colors."

"So, you had better grip your ring tightly. When the time comes, and we have found the person, we can call over Andrey the Lich to make the Loshutar Blood Clan disappear. You know Raymond, right? I’ve heard he made Duke Delaries restless for several months."

Andrey’s power made their conversation much more relaxed, and the gloom that loomed over their heads was cast aside at that moment.

Lyle and Beatrice walked side by side, their conversation light and cheerful, as they stepped into the town of Degonris, coming into the sight of the townspeople.

Faced with the arrival of strangers, the dull-witted townspeople chose panic, fleeing into their homes, bolting their doors, and peering through the cracks in the windows of their dimly lit rooms at the two, particularly watching Beatrice with fear.

"They are very afraid of you. Have you done something to them?"

"Not at all. They just treat me as if I were a vampire managing them. I’m not surprised by their panic towards vampires."

Lyle studied Beatrice’s calm profile. The sun left only a little afterglow, and Degonris was completely shrouded in shadows. Beatrice, not touched by sunlight, did not show any crystallization of her skin’s surface; she looked no different from a human.

"How did they recognize you as a vampire?"

"By attire and appearance. The Blood Clan of Degonris can move about openly here. Their managers have distinct differences from the townspeople in appearance. Vampires possess stunningly beautiful exteriors." Beatrice said proudly, puffing out her chest with a smile, exuding the charm of a daughter of Naslan. "Am I wrong? Or do you doubt my allure?" The sly smile of a little devil entered Lyle’s view, and Beatrice, like a hormone emitter, caused Lyle’s face to redden, prompting him to avert his gaze.

"So, is that also a vampire?"

In Lyle’s line of sight, behind the barely-open door of the church, a richly dressed girl was surrounded by citizens with pallid faces. Her deep-purple eyes filled with loathing. She stood like a banner, bolstering the courage of the ordinary citizens. That girl, no less beautiful than Beatrice and about fifteen or sixteen years old, held the most resentful expression on her pretty face as she gazed at Beatrice.

Lyle saw a moment of surprise in Beatrice’s eyes, which was then buried by indifference.

"No, I have never seen her before. A newly born beauty. What a pity, when she turns eighteen, she will probably become a vampire bride."

Those who are beautiful yet powerless are truly unfortunate in their birth in Degonris.

"Let’s go. There is nothing here worthy of attention. Degonris is merely their pastureland."

Under the watchful eyes of human fear and the resentful gaze of that girl, Lyle followed Beatrice through Degonris. Accompanied by the night that grew with the setting of the sun, they walked towards the castle halfway up the mountain.