Secret Colosseum

The manager returned promptly after a couple of minutes, his footsteps echoing through the dimly lit establishment. He had caught wind of Keith's intention to leave and wasted no time in addressing the matter.

"Sir, is there anything unsatisfactory?" the manager asked with a hint of concern.

"No, I came here for a taste of blood, not women," Keith retorted, his tone firm and decisive.

"Then, I must apologize. I thought you might appreciate the services we offer here," the manager admitted, a touch of regret in his expression.

"It's fine. I got what I came for anyway. Here..." Keith nonchalantly placed 100 gold-blood coins on the table, a generous payment for the unusual services rendered.

"Sir, should you ever choose to return, we will ensure that your desired blood takes precedence, and your orders will be treated with the utmost priority," the manager assured, a glimmer of enthusiasm in his eyes.

"Hmm... Can you arrange baron-level blood for me?" Keith inquired, shifting the conversation towards a more specific desire.

"Err, this is beyond our capabilities," the manager confessed, his expression faltering.

"Then it's fine. I don't want to waste my money on weakling vampire blood," Keith asserted, dismissing the notion with a wave of his hand.

A brief silence lingered between them before the manager cautiously spoke again.

"If you desire baron-level blood, there's a place I can recommend," he hesitated, revealing a hidden path to fulfilling Keith's peculiar cravings.

"And, what place might that be?" Keith's curiosity was piqued.

"There's an underground colosseum that organizes tournaments every fortnight. It remains hidden from the prying eyes of the royal court, yet it is backed by influential figures, shielding it from seizure. The tournaments rarely involve fatal matches unless they feature convicts brought in specifically for such purposes. Some powerful individual must be pulling strings to smuggle these convicts into the Colosseum," the manager disclosed, providing a glimpse into the clandestine world.

"So, it's like entertainment for nobles."

"Close enough. They utilize it to train their private guards and keep potential enemies in check. However, the profits generated are substantial, given the high-class nobles in attendance," the manager elaborated.

"How can I obtain high-level vampire blood, then?" Keith questioned, keen to unravel the details.

"Sir, if you emerge victorious in a match, they'll fulfill your request, provided it aligns with the winning prize. It's a gamble, as many participants prefer gold-blood coins as compensation."

"Hmm, so if I defeat a baron-level vampire, I can request the blood."

"Most likely, they'll collect the blood from the defeated opponent. However, you must declare your compensation and secure your opponent's agreement first. Furthermore, you can't take more than two glasses of blood, as it seriously weakens the vampire," the manager explained, underscoring the intricacies of the underground dealings.

"Hmm... I see," Keith mused, stroking his chin as he contemplated the risks involved.

"Good. I think I'll have to visit that place. When is the next tournament?" Keith handed the manager ten gold-blood coins, acknowledging the value of the information he had just received.

"It's in ten days, and the location remains a well-guarded secret. Participants are blindfolded and fetched from a specific location by officials. Just be prepared and present at the designated place and time," the manager disclosed.

"Alright, I'll return later, so ensure everything is prepared for me."

"Rest assured, sir. I will arrange everything."

Satisfied with the newfound knowledge, Keith nodded, and the manager escorted him outside. Keith retraced his steps through the eerie blood forest, reaching the cliff and scaling it with agile leaps. Once back in his room, Keith heard a loud voice, and he turned to find Rena holding a tray.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, momentarily caught off guard.

"I brought..." she began, tray in hand.

"Just put it on the table," Keith instructed, swiftly regaining his composure.

"So, are you eating properly?" Keith queried, showing a genuine concern for Rena's well-being.

"I cooked meat yesterday. It was my first time, but it turned out to be quite good," Rena shared, a genuine smile gracing her lips as she reminisced about her culinary endeavor.

"Good, keep it up. I don't want you to stay weak. You'll be the maid of the future count, and you'll have more responsibilities," Keith encouraged, acknowledging Rena's future role.

"I want to be useful to you, young master. I am learning all the other chores diligently," she declared with enthusiasm.

"Good to hear that you're taking this seriously."

"If young master prefers my blood, I am willing to..." Rena started, but Keith promptly interrupted, setting clear boundaries.

"You don't have to worry about that. Just focus on your diet. I'll call you when I need your blood. Now, go."

"...Yes, young master," she responded, bowing her head respectfully before exiting the room.

After Rena left and closed the door, Keith sat on his bed, contemplating the unfolding events. Having absorbed the blood essence into his blood core, he now needed to circulate the blood qi to consolidate the entire system. The blood core surged with newfound energy, but the rest of his body required synchronization.

Keith focused his mind on the blood core, meticulously circulating the blood qi from the core to every corner of his body. With each cycle, he felt his muscles growing firmer, a tangible manifestation of increased power. He continued this practice for several hours until a gentle knock interrupted his concentration.

"Did grandpa summon me?" Keith inquired from inside.

"Yes, young master," Rena replied, her voice audible from beyond the door.

"Alright."

Keith rose from his bed, donned a formal suit, and prepared to absorb the knowledge his grandfather was poised to impart. As he headed towards the designated meeting, he couldn't shake the anticipation of uncovering the family's deepest secrets and the responsibilities that awaited him as the count.