The Heaven-Cursed Costs Life, But I Have Infinite Life-Chapter 20: Bounties and Elves

"Hmph, greedy little thing!"

Lilia huffed as she watched Allen walk away. She was a bit annoyed, but mostly worried about his safety.

Still, she reminded herself that Allen could kill demonic soldiers. There shouldn’t be any monsters in the forests around Blackspire that could threaten him.

"Ah, if only he would join the City Lord’s Mansion," Lilia sighed sadly as she turned and walked toward the mansion.

"Miss Lilia? Why are you back?" the guard at the gate asked, looking surprised. "The trial inside the Secret Realm doesn’t end for another seven days."

"It ended early. Where is my father?"

Lilia nodded in greeting and asked.

"The City Lord is in his study," the soldier replied politely. "Should I announce your arrival?"

"No need. I’ll go in myself."

Lilia ran off in the direction of the study.

Inside the City Lord’s study, Lucas was busy with his work.

Simon was also there, bored and flipping through a book.

"Father, Simon, I’m back!" Lilia’s happy voice came from the door before it swung open.

Both men paused, surprised, and put down what they were doing.

"Why are you back so soon, Lilia?" Simon asked, confused.

"The trial ended early," Lilia said. She briefly explained what had happened inside the Secret Realm, but she left out the part about her true identity as a vampire.

Even though she suspected her father and Simon already knew, she didn’t want to worry them.

"Demonic soldiers appeared in the Secret Realm?" Lucas asked, his expression turning serious after hearing her story.

The appearance of demonic soldiers was a serious matter.

Simon spoke up, "The method to open the Gates of Hell should have been lost long ago. How could a group of lowly goblins know it?"

Lucas frowned deeply, equally confused.

"Anyway," Lilia said, not too worried about that, "Allen and I sold all the crystal cores at eighty percent of the market price. The members of the Three Great Families will come to pay soon. But we have to give that bastard Allen only fifty percent of the revenue."

"You’ve learned to do business. Now the City Lord’s Mansion has a huge new fortune." Lucas smiled, his eyes full of pride.

"It’s nothing really. That was all the idiot’s idea," Lilia said, feeling a bit shy.

Lucas and Simon exchanged glances. They both realized Lilia had special feelings for Allen.

In fact, the sister must have fallen for the boy.

Still, both men already knew Allen’s true identity. Instead of being against it, they were actually very supportive.

"Father, the Three Great Families will likely send money over soon. You should handle the reception. I haven’t slept well for days, so I’m going back to rest properly," Lilia said.

She yawned, suggesting that Lucas should meet them to build better relations with the families, which would increase his chances of being re-elected.

Lucas smiled and nodded, watching Lilia leave.

Suddenly, Simon moved. His attack was fierce and deadly, aimed straight at Lilia.

"Simon!" Lucas cried out. His face turned pale as he tried to stop him, but it was already too late.

Boom!

A loud crash echoed through the room. Simon was knocked backward several steps, while Lilia remained standing in place, completely unharmed.

But her appearance had changed. A pair of huge, dark wings sprouted from her back. Two sharp fangs protruded from her mouth, and her long red hair looked even more enchanting as it fluttered slightly.

For a moment, all three of them froze in shock.

Boom!

Lucas was the first to snap out of it. He waved his hand to slam the door shut, then stared at Lilia with a furrowed brow. "Lilia... have your bloodline awakened?"

Lilia looked panicked. She quickly thought about it, and the wings vanished. She returned to her normal self, her face pale and trembling as she shook her head repeatedly.

Simon’s expression turned grim. "Lilia, tell us the truth. Did you drink human blood and kill people in the Secret Realm?"

For a vampire’s bloodline to awaken, they must drink human blood. A normal vampire needs to drain at least ten people to awaken. Lilia’s bloodline was even more powerful.

She needed to drain hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people.

They knew Lilia’s true identity. To suppress her powers, they had been giving her a special "Blood-Nurturing Pill." They never expected it to finally awaken, and especially not without them knowing.

"I... I didn’t kill anyone," Lilia stammered, shaking her head frantically. "I... I think I drank Allen’s blood. But he didn’t die..."

"Allen?"

Lucas and Simon exchanged a relieved glance.

They already knew about Allen’s special nature. In fact, the "Blood-Nurturing Pills" Lilia had been taking were even refined using Allen’s blood.

They never expected Lilia to awaken her bloodline using his blood, but at least no one was hurt.

"Hmph, we owe that father-son duo a huge favor again," Simon sighed.

Lilia didn’t quite understand their relief. Gradually calming down, she asked cautiously, "Father... am I really a vampire?"

She already knew the answer in her heart, but she still found it hard to accept.

Lucas smiled gently to comfort her. "Not all vampires are bad people. Don’t be afraid. Just don’t reveal your secret easily, and stay away from the Church of Light."

Lilia nodded. Thinking about how the Church’s clergy had tried to recruit her earlier, she decided to tell her father and Simon about it.

"Hmph, plenty of people hate the Church of Light. They wouldn’t dare to openly attack you," Simon said coldly, his expression dark with killing intent.

Lilia felt reassured. Then, curious, she asked, "Father, Simon... are you both vampires too?"

"Your mother was," Lucas answered with a bitter smile, unwilling to say more.

"Your mother?"

Lilia was confused. She remembered her father saying her mother died from complications during childbirth when she was born. But that didn’t make sense now.

Vampires were so strong; how could childbirth kill a mother?

It seemed like there were many secrets about her mother.

Lilia wanted to ask more, but Lucas quickly stopped her. "Don’t ask about this. When the time is right, I’ll tell you everything."

"Okay." Lilia forced herself to stop asking, then thought of Allen. "Father, Allen offended the Church of Light because of me. Can you invite him to join the City Lord’s Mansion?"

"We’ve been thinking the same thing. Simon, handle this," Lucas said.

Simon nodded apologetically. "Miss Lilia, what I did earlier was just a test. Don’t think too much."

"Hmph, nonsense! You used almost all your power. If I hadn’t awakened my bloodline, I would be dead!" Lilia shouted angrily. "You have to make it up to me. Give me your cultivation notes on wind elements!"

Simon smiled slightly, teasing, "Is that for you, or for someone else?"

"You!" Lilia stomped her foot in anger. "Just say yes or no!"

"Sigh, daughters are no longer as obedient as they used to be," Simon muttered under his breath. Seeing she was about to explode again, he quickly added, "Alright, alright. I’ll finish organizing them tonight and give them to you."

"Much better," Lilia said triumphantly.

"Your Excellency?"Just then, there was a knock on the door. A slightly raspy voice called out from outside.

Lucas sat back down at his desk and replied calmly, "Come in."

The door opened, and a man dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask stepped inside.

He was one of Lucas’s shadow guards—mysterious and powerful.

Lilia curiously studied the stranger. She had only heard rumors of these shadow guards but had never seen one before.

"Something happened?" Lucas asked.

Only major events could summon a shadow guard.

The man didn’t speak. Instead, he glanced sideways at Lilia.

Understanding the hint, Lilia prepared to leave.

"It’s fine," Lucas stopped her. "These shadow guards are here for you now that you know your true identity. It’s good for you to get to know them early."

"Oh." Lilia nodded and stayed put, feeling even more curious.

The man no longer hid his purpose. "My Lord, the Assassin Guild has just released two new bounties. One offers a million gold coins for the Academy student, Allen, and the other offers ten million gold coins for the Elf Saintess. Both tasks require the targets to be captured alive."

"What?!"

Both Lilia and Simon gasped in shock.

"Father, Allen is in danger!" Lilia said, worried and looking at Lucas for help.

A bounty of one million gold coins was enough to hire a Stage 5 killer.

Although Allen had defeated the demonic soldiers, that was a straight fight. Assassins were far sneakier and more ruthless.

Lucas looked at the shadow guard. "Allen has already left the city. Those assassins might attack him now. Send someone to protect him."

"Yes, my Lord," the shadow guard replied respectfully and turned to leave.

Simon stood up. "I’m going to the Assassin Guild to investigate this."

Lucas nodded. "Be careful. Don’t reveal your identity."

"Okay." Simon said, then vanished in a swirl of wind.

Lilia looked confused. "Father, what is Simon going to investigate?"

Lucas replied calmly, "He is an Elf."