Chapter 62: Warm Welcome

Words: 1,914

...

[Anthony's POV]

"You didn't mention we'd be working with the nobles." 

Shinya said with a forced smile while looking at Guren.

"Believe me, we don't exactly have a burning desire to work with you either... but we were forced to, um, to keep quiet." 

Ferid coughed into his fist when I glanced at him.

"And you're alive again." 

Krul chuckled, looking at Mahiru... whom she had turned into a vampire eight years ago.

"You can't predict everything." 

Mahiru said this while looking at me in a way that clarified who she meant. 

"But this way isn't bad either, except... forget it.

Mahiru glanced briefly at Guren.

"I've already told you that I'm strong enough even without everything you wanted. If necessary, I'm ready to give more control to my demon."

Guren said to Mahiru.

Finally, I teleported everyone to Sanguinem, where the two groups met. One group consisted of noble vampires, and the other was humans. 

After a short quarrel, I summarized a fairly simple plan for everyone.

"So either they're with us or against us, and if they're against us, we'll kill them?"

Shinoa summarized briefly.

"Exactly." 

I nodded while confirming her words. 

"But I'm waiting for one more vampire... who's already here." 

I glanced toward the shadowy door, and a figure soon emerged, causing everyone to tense up.

"Clap, clap, clap."

He clapped his hands slowly as he stepped out of the shadows. A tall, dark-haired man in a black suit with a slight smile on his face.

"A splendid plan, my respects. I arrived when I heard there were problems in Japan... but I didn't expect Krul Tepes to start forging alliances with humans against her own kind." 

He said.

"Saito..." 

Krul stepped forward.

"And what is the Second Progenitor doing here?"

"I sensed the awakening of the First." 

Saito said it without hiding anything while watching us all. 

"I didn't think things would be this interesting here. After all, you vampires aren't particularly fond of humans. Vampires have a bad habit of looking down on humans. That makes them an easy target for various human tricks."

At this point, Ferid stopped smiling and stared intently at Saito. After all, it was he who had turned him into a vampire.

"Now the Second Progenitor is here. Fun." 

Shinya swallowed hard while holding his weapon which contained a demonic tiger closer to him.

"Did you come to help deal with Shikama Doji?" 

I asked, grabbing Saito's attention... but he wasn't a vampire anymore. 

He had conducted experiments on himself using the Sinful Keys, and now part of his insides consisted of magical chains.

"Who's our new friend?" 

Saito asked and showed neither a hint of aggression nor arrogance. 

After all, he had founded the Hakuja Sect and worked with humans, so it seemed he didn't care whether they were humans or vampires.

"Anthony Luthor. Saito, right? Or would you prefer Rigr? I believe that's your real name?" 

I inquired when I noticed a momentary flicker of confusion on his face.

"Let's not dwell on the past; those times are long gone." 

Saito waved his hand dismissively. 

"But I can't seem to recall you; we definitely haven't met before, and you're not a Seraphim, so who are you?"

"The dark horse?" 

I smirked. 

"You've heard our plan, so Saito, are you with us or against us?"

"Oh, I have no choice, do I? Well, I wouldn't give in easily anyway, but we share a common goal. However, are you sure you can even stand up to the incoming forces?" 

Saito's gaze shifted past us where a screen displayed the fleet near Japan and many vampires.

"I'm more than sure, and you know what these are, right?" 

I pulled out two Sinful Keys that I had found on two Seraphims.

"Hmm, I've been searching for my own for over a thousand years. The Sinful Keys are very useful artifacts." 

Saito nodded as if he had no plans for them himself.

"Ah, a more complex level of the game only makes things more interesting, doesn't it?" 

Ferid chimed in while asking Crowley who ignored him causing Ferid to pout.

"He can't be trusted." 

Krul said it loudly.

"I have no reason to deceive you, as I said, our goals align." 

Saito replied easily.

Then Mika and Yuichiro rushed into the room.

"This is dangerous, Yu." 

Mikaela said while looking at Yuichiro.

"Even my squad will kill vampires, so how am I any worse? And you'll cover for me." 

Yuichiro smiled at Mikaela.

"This is madness..." 

Guren muttered under his breath.

...

The vampires who had landed off the shores of Japan were already nearing Kyoto beneath where Sanguinem was located. 

The vampires under Krul's command had settled in the underground city as they wouldn't be of much use on the surface. 

They guard the city and its people.

"Are we sure we are enough?"

Yoichi asked while watching helicopters fly on the horizon.

"Sometimes quality is much more important than quantity, little human." 

Ferid said, as if explaining to a child and then glanced at me. 

"Besides, we have a real monster with us who managed to change even the heart of our dear Krul…"

"Ferid, shut up." 

Krul snapped.

"You're just jealous that she got back some of her emotions, and you didn't." 

Crowley retorted while standing surrounded by his two companions.

"I'll see how you behave." 

I replied shortly. 

There weren't many strong nobles who agreed with my plans, and even Ferid himself clearly still considered humans beneath him... as did Krul herself. 

This was still better than many other nobles who believed humans were only fit to be cattle.

"What a ridiculous sight…" 

Norito said.

"You don't like something?" 

Crowley raised an eyebrow while looking at him. At the same time, both ladies on either side of him also notice the man.

"Horn, that man looked at us strangely." 

Chess was dressed as a sexy maid and said this to Horn.

"Chess, he's just envious of Lord Crowley's beauty." 

Horn replied.

"Really?" 

Chess made a pensive expression. 

"He looks appetizing... like everyone else here." 

Chess licked her lips while looking at the people, but she received a slap on the butt. 

"Ow, m-my lord, if you like that sort of thing…"

"Chess, stop fooling around. We're about to have a battle here." 

Horn said.

"Hmph, even vampires think there's something off about you." 

Mito Jujo smirked.

"We're in position." 

Shinya's voice came from the radio. He and Yoichi had taken positions atop one of the buildings.

"Roger that"

Guren replied, then looked at Mahiru, ready to plunge into battle. 

The change her soul made to her body made her very strong, about as strong as the Tenth Progenitor in pure strength.

"Let's give them a warm welcome." 

Krul waved her hand and jumped down, flying fifteen meters down while landing gracefully on the ground.

"Are you sure you have nothing against the upcoming battle?" 

I asked her as I landed next to her.

"Urd Geales fully supports the rules set by the First. He is very loyal to him and he won't betray him. He will attack me or my brother... Now that I am so close to reuniting with him, I won't lose him again. I've already lost him once and won't lose him again." 

Krul explained.

"Lest Karr wouldn't mind replacing me from my position and taking over Japan. He won't support betraying the First either. As for the rest... well, there's no need to mention them. Saito has been a shadow of the First for some time, and that's why I told you to be cautious about him."

"Don't worry, I know he can't be trusted... just like the other vampires with unclear motives." 

I added. 

Soon enough, we arrived at an open square where the vampires awaited us. They couldn't have missed us as we weren't exactly hiding.

"Krul Tepes, you're walking around the city with a human, and I don't see the mark of 'cattle' on him."

Urd Geales immediately spoke.

"You reported having some problems with humans and haven't been in touch since." 

Urd continued while looking at us attentively.

"Urd Geales greetings in Japan." 

Ferid's voice was heard behind us, and he slightly bowed. Crowley did the same, approaching us a little later but without his companions.

"I didn't address you." 

Urd looked at Ferid. 

"It's not okay for lower vampires to interfere in our conversations. Why is there a human with you?"

"Urd, put down your weapons and surrender."

 Krul found the strength to speak, and at these words, another vampire smirked immediately.

"Oh, maybe you're getting a little overheated from the sun? Krul Tepes, your words are confusing... As I thought, you shouldn't have been trusted to control Japan." 

Lest Karr said.

"Explain immediately." 

Urd ordered.

"It seems to me everything is quite clear. Surrender, or we'll have to fight."

Ferid smiled and drew his sword while placing it on his shoulder.

"I don't even know..."

He tried to say, but...

"Silence. I don't understand what's happening here, but are you all planning to betray the Council? Our entire kin? For what purpose?" 

Urd asked, still trying to keep himself in check. 

"And you... are here too." 

Urd added while closing his eyes for a moment. 

"Everything is very simple, my old friend." 

Saito said as he landed not far from our group. 

"They are planning to hunt the First... so am I." 

Saito smiled. 

"I will uphold the laws of our society... surrender, lay down your weapons, and we will detain you. "The Council of Progenitors will decide on your punishment for breaking the law and betraying."

"It seems there will be a battle."

 Ferid smiled, and he and Crowley prepared for the fight.

"I'll take the strongest one." 

I said, and I began to squeeze my aura and Qi. 

When I swiftly dashed forward, I exploded the ground under my feet. 

Urd was hit by my attack. 

He was able to block at the last minute, but his arms still burst into a bloody mess, and he was sent flying through a building on his back. 

This was the signal for the attack, and immediately, gunfire rang out. 

A lot of the enemy's nobles' vampires were quickly burned to ashes, but Lest Karr was able to avoid long-range shots and immediately attacked Krul. 

"Wonderful!" 

Ferid exclaimed and attacked another noble whom he quickly began to overpower. 

"Ky Luk!"

Ferid exclaimed in a tense voice, and Crowley positioned themselves to face the enemy from both sides.

"I didn't expect your betrayal. What is your true goal?" 

He asked while immediately dodging Guren's attack with his red eyes indicating that he was using more than he should. 

However, he immediately exposed himself to Mahiru's attack and lost his arm.

"Four against one? And you really work with humans." 

Ky Luk shook his head.

At the same time, Shinoa's squad attacked other vampires who had arrived with the nobles, and many of them were with Guren's squad.

Mika and Yuichiro were cutting down vampires and covering each other's backs.

"After we deal with you, I'll take control of Japan to prevent such situations." 

 Lest Karr confidently said 

"Who is your ally?" 

Lest asked.

"I barely even noticed their movements... After Mr. Urd deals with them, we will interrogate you. You don't think all this will go unpunished, do you?" 

Lest raised an eyebrow and clenched his fist, ready to engage in battle with her again.

...

patreon.com/Sothisq

You can find up to 20 advance chapters on my patreon.

💎DROP MORE POWER STONE💎