Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

A couple of days later, the vampire delegation had arrived.

The entire City Hall was on edge. The meeting was to be held inside an abandoned building in Adventurers’ City, far from the main streets and ordinary residents.

Three Councilors — Aramen, Luca, and Kesha — were already waiting inside, while dozens of adventurers had been stationed around the building to secure the perimeter.

No one spoke much. Every adventurer kept their eyes fixed on the streets.

And then they appeared like spectres. Six pale figures moved through the streets, approaching the abandoned building. They did not walk like ordinary people. They seemed to glide across the ground, their movement so smooth and unnatural and eerie that it looked almost as though they were floating.

The moment the adventurers recognized what they were, fear spread through the perimeter.

Vampires!

These undead creatures were rare on this side of the mountains. Most adventurers would go their entire lives without seeing one in the flesh.

But these were no ordinary vampires. Among the six were two Generals of the Vampire King. The sight alone was enough to send a chill through the gathered adventurers. Some tightened their grips around their weapons, while others gulped nervously.

The six vampires eventually reached the abandoned building. At the front was Sandra. Beside her walked another General of the Vampire King. Behind them followed four lesser vampires — those at the Cavalier and Mana Core Ranks.

Without a word, they entered the building. Inside, Aramen, Luca, and Kesha stood waiting. The other two councilors remained stationed at City Hall. One could never trust these vampires too much, after all.

Sandra had a faint smile on her face as she watched the Councilors. Her red eyes seemed to flicker with amusement as she glanced at Luca.

The vampire beside her wasn’t so subtle.

Malik Caligari, General of the Vampire King, bared his sharp teeth and hissed at the Councilors.

”So who was it?” he demanded. ”Who was so bold as to slay four of His Majesty’s Generals?”

Leah had a dark look on her face. To step into their domain and talk to them in such a manner offended her. But she did not speak a word. She silently glared back at the vampire.

Aramen, too, remained silent. He didn’t even spare a glance at the rabid dog that was Malik. Instead, his gaze was glued to the snow-white-haired vampire. She was the quieter one, the more dangerous one.

Luca, however, had no qualms about putting the foul undead creature in his place.

”You’re awfully eager to have your head chopped off like those four,” he said with a sneer. ”If you have such a death wish, I do not mind granting it.”

Malik’s nails elongated, and so did his canines. Immediately, a dark and evil aura emanated from his figure as his bloodshot eyes bore into Luca.

”It was you?” He roared.

But a moment later, he recalled the information.

”No, it cannot be you.” He shook his head, snickering. ”A brute like you isn’t capable of taking down four of us in a single night. It was a Magus.”

”Those twin sisters looked so pitiful with their heads severed,” Luca said with faux-sadness. ”Come to think of it… the giant was also missing his head. And even that little one. I wonder how they felt dying for the second time.”

”It was you?!!” Malik was absolutely livid after he heard Luca talk about the Leroux Sisters and Holstein and Kayne in such a manner.

He took a step forward. ”It really was you—”

”Now, now.” Sandra’s melodious voice echoed in the abandoned building as she gently put a hand on her fellow General’s arm. ”We are not here to fight, Malik dear.”

Malik growled. Surprisingly, he listened to Sandra’s words. It made Luca and the others wonder how much weight Sandra’s status held among the vampires.

Her expression remained calm as she looked at the three Councilors standing before her.

”I bring a message from the Vampire King,” she said sweetly.

Aramen’s eyes narrowed. If there was a way to prevent war, he would do it. It would all depend on what the message from the Vampire King entailed.

Sandra continued, ”Your actions have resulted in the deaths of four of His Majesty’s Generals.”

Her voice carried no anger. She spoke flatly and calmly as though she was merely stating facts. But somehow that made it even worse.

”As such,” she continued, ”the Vampire King has decided that this cannot go unanswered.”

Silence filled the building.

”However,” Sandra said after a long pause, ”His Majesty is magnanimous and is willing to prevent further bloodshed.”

Luca scoffed. He did not believe a word she said. He still didn’t trust her despite the help he and Adam received from her. Her motives were a mystery. She was dangerous.

Prevent further bloodshed? Kesha thought with a slight shake of her head. She already knew where this was going.

Sandra began listing the conditions.

”First, you will offer us the man who killed four of our Generals. Second, you will sacrifice four hundred of your adventurers to us.”

Aramen’s expression slowly darkened. But he remained silent.

Looking at the three Councilors’ expressions, Malik snickered. Sandra continued without hesitation:

”Third, you will hand over eighty percent of the artifacts currently stored within your vaults.”

The demands were absurd. They were not terms of peace.

They were an insult! A demand for submission!

Sandra looked at the three Councilors and calmly delivered the final words.

”If you meet our demands, we will not wage war and you can continue to live happily in this little haven you’ve built.”

The vampires had no intention of stopping the war.

Luca couldn’t help but wonder if this was inevitable. Would the vampires not declare war if Adam hadn’t slain four of Jacob’s Generals?

He let out a contemptuous snort. ”We might as well stretch our necks for you, eh? Anything else you’d like to demand?”

Sandra simply smiled at Luca. Instead, she asked, ”Where is the man who killed my poor friends?”

She already knew it was Adam. Or rather, Bucca.

”Is he so scared to come out and face us?” she asked. ”What a pity. I would have liked to meet him.”

The corner of Luca’s lips twitched. He couldn’t help but think, What a fantastic actress!

”Let me ask you something,” Aramen spoke at last.

”Please.” Sandra smiled. ”Go ahead.”

”The prior agreement we had with the Vampire King,” Aramen said in a grave voice.

”Does it still stand?”