Chapter 127: Turmoil Withiy
I city of the La Duchy, Northwind Fortress.
At this moment, the atmosphere in Northwind Fortress was tense and uneasy. News of the Ember ’s quests in ions was tightly trolled by the "Eagle’s Shield," but people had begun to suspect the truth or hear whispers.
"I…I’ve got a secret to tell you…"
"Mexis City, Trow City, Akan City..."
"They’ve all fallen."
A drunken man said this in a tavern, clearly intoxicated.
But the drunkard was quickly taken away by pinclothes spies, leaving the tavern in a suffog silence as no one dared to speak further.
Uhis oppressive atmosphere, everyo an impending sense of doom. The air iy was heavy and almost stifling.
The city was uight guard, with "Eagle’s Shield" soldiers statio every critical entry point dug iions. Any anomalies were treated as treason.
Doors and windows were tightly shut across households, but gray-robed spies still broke into homes for searches. Any abnormalities would result in severe interrogation or immediate detention.
No one knew where the so-called "traitors" were taken, though rumors suggested they were executed.
This created a pervasive atmosphere of fear, not just from Ember 's impending assault but also from the brutal searches of the city guards and the unknowns of the future.
"Damn it, where did he go?"
"He should’ve headed that way, follow him!"
"Catch him, dead or alive!"
In a dark alley, Langli Baitiao hid in the shadows, narrowly avoiding the search parties.
He wiped imaginary sweat from his brow—being an undead vampire progeny, he didn’t actually sweat, but the gesture was a force of habit.
"Has the old geezer lost it? Snatg up people like this?"
"Well, his time’s about up. Once Ember ’s heavenly troops arrive, that bloodsug old geezer will face justice!"
Thinking of Ember ’s overwhelming military power crushing the allied forces, every pyer felt a sense of pride.
Yano was also hiding, crouched by a trash bin.
Over time, the once-proud t had shed his noble dignity, being a shadow-dwelling schemer under Langli Baitiao’s influence.
Hearing Langli Baitiao’s words, he curiously asked, "How do you know what’s happening outside when you’ve been stu the bunker?"
Langli Baitiao chuckled. "A mountain man has his ways."
"I even know that the old geezer’s allied forces were wiped out—thirty thousand soldiers turned into barbecue."
Thinking of the Battle of Trier, Langli Baitiao felt a pang ret. Su important fa war mission, and he hadn’t participated! While other pyers earhousands of fa points, showg their prowess otlefield and even building armor, he’d been crawling around a dungeon, scrolling forums in the dark.
"This time, I’ll shine!" Langli Baitiao vowed silently.
Yano reminded him, "Don’t get too excited. The search parties will eventually find us, and we won’t escape then."
"Besides, if things are really as you say, my father won’t simply surrender."
"I know my father well. He’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, to the point of obsession. He’s been pnning this for a tury, sacrifig thousands of lives in the process."
Langli Baitiao paused, then asked:
"You’re saying the old geezer wants to pull off a big move?"
"Exactly."
"I suspect the city folk branded as traitors are being taken to the buo be turned into blood thralls. My father likely knows his time is running out, so he’s no longer hiding—he’s openly using the city’s entire resources to plete his so-called grand assion."
Langli Baitiao was immediately intrigued. "Looks like I’m destio be the hero who saves this city."
"Don’t get ahead of yourself. You may have faced my father before, but you don’t uand his power."
Yano’s pale face showed a trace of fear as he seemed to recall past events.
Langli Baitiao dismissed it. "Why so scared again? Got PTSD or something? We’ve been out for a while now; see, that old geezer ’t touch me."
"Besides, I have this—"
He pulled out a finely crafted metallic emblem, stained with blood.
【Rebellion Emblem】
Quality: Special
"A mage who was turned into a vampire progeny once created this emblem in an attempt to rebel against his master."
"Sadly, he failed and turned into a pool of blood. This emblem sat in the duke’s colle, waiting for the rebel."
Effect: Temporarily renders vampire progeny immuo their master’s trol.
Langli Baitiao had found this item in the vampire duke’s colle alongside Yano, giving him immense fidence.
Yano shook his head, a hint of helplessness crossing his pale, bloodless face.
"Do you really think you succeed?"
"I khe creator of that emblem. His name was Triss, the most talented mage I’ve ever met. He was always full of hope and passion. Even after being turned into a vampire progeny, he never gave up, tirelessly seeking ways to resist the duke."
"But in the end, he still failed."
Yano’s eyes showed a fleeting mix of nostalgia and despair.
"Just because he failed doesn’t mean I will! I’m Langli Baitiao—"
As he spoke passionately, Langli Baitiao suddenly froze, only managing to blurt out:
"Oh, crap—"
Yano’s pupils had turned dark crimson, devoid of reason, and his body exuded an icy aura of death.
"Assion."
"For the great assion."
"Every sacrifice is worth it."
"Offer everything—"
Yano muttered, his pale face glowing with fanatical joy.
At that moment, he seemed like a devout believer, ready to receive divine blessings, nothing like the awkward NPgli Baitiao knew.
His body stiffened, his movements unnatural, as he walked toward the duke’s castle in the shadows.
The sky seemed tinged with blood.
Langli Baitiao noticed his 【Rebellion Emblem】 emitting a faint glow, as if struggling against a powerful force.
"Is the old geezer going all out?"
"But… this might be a good ce."
After some thought, he tucked the emblem into his pocket.
"Uh… for the great assion?"
Mimig Yano’s strange demeanor, Langli Baitiao preteo be a trolled vampire progeny and followed closely behind.
AnnouA big thank you to [Trevor Standifer] and [Willi Sarit] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to me.
FAL
