Chapter 375: The Path to the Forest
The morning sun began to illuminate the large windows of the city hall. Alexander rested leaned back in the large armchair behind the main desk, while Lyssandra searched through several tomes and parchments on the shelves.
"Here, take this," said Lyssandra, handing him a folder stamped with the official seal of Plyaro.
Alexander received them and began turning the pages. The document contained a detailed list of the skills of every inhabitant in the city; except for very special cases, everyone was recorded in the municipal register.
"Ice Storm... Freezing Blizzard... Turtle Shield..." muttered Alexander, flipping through the pages with clear disinterest.
There was a massive quantity of skills listed, but none exceeded the Silver rank. Anyone possessing a Silver-rank skill could become a branch leader in the adventurer guild or even serve as mayor.
Lyssandra’s [Double Water Dragon] skill was clear proof of that. Alexander had no use for it in his own set, which was why he had simply evolved it to Level 2 for Lyssandra. Similarly, he had upgraded each of the female adventurers accompanying him to Level 2 by using his standard method: stealing the skill and returning it fully empowered.
"There’s nothing good here... I already suspected as much," said Alexander, snapping the file shut.
"What do you plan to do then?" asked Lyssandra, adjusting her collar.
"I want to know where the kingdom of the vampires is located," said Alexander, looking directly at Lyssandra.
"Vampires? That dangerous race?" said Lyssandra, her eyes widening in surprise. "Why are you looking for them? They are far too dangerous."
"I stole skills from one of them and I want to try upgrading them," said Alexander in a flat tone.
"They live deep within the great eastern forest, but no one knows their exact location," said Lyssandra, making Alexander pay closer attention. "Usually, the merchants set up periodic caravans, and an envoy sent by the vampires arrives to guide them into their territory. You could head to the merchant guild; they ought to have a trade run planned toward that region."
"That’s a great plan," said Alexander, standing up and tossing a sheet with a sketched face toward Lyssandra. "The rest of you stay here and find this person."
Out of all the city records, that woman possessed a specific skill Alexander actually wanted to acquire.
"Of course, Boss," said Lyssandra, bowing her head in submission. "We will find her without fail."
"Alright, I’ll head out right away," said Alexander, adjusting his jacket. "If you find any trace of Liora, let me know immediately."
Alexander left the city hall and walked at a steady pace toward the merchant guild headquarters.
Upon arriving, he stepped into absolute chaos. Following the slaughter and total annihilation of the adventurer guild at Alexander’s hands, the rest of the city’s factions were terrified. The complete lockdown ordered by Lyssandra prevented anyone from leaving the city, and the merchants were running around like ants on a hot skillet, fully convinced that the blockade and the guild’s execution were a bloody retaliation sent by Princess Liora’s government and the Serpent Queen.
Upon seeing Alexander approach the main counter, one of the guild managers stepped into his path with a tense expression and her hands raised in refusal.
"We are closed and will not be taking any clients today," said the manager in a sharp tone. "Please leave immediately."
"When is the envoy from the vampire kingdom arriving?" said Alexander, ignoring her words as he kept walking forward.
"Didn’t you hear what I said?" said the woman, raising her voice in frustration. "Are you deaf?"
Alexander halted a step away from her and locked eyes with her. His eyes flashed an intense crimson as a thick, suffocating aura of blood erupted from his body, flooding the entire guild lobby.
"I asked... when is the envoy from the vampire kingdom arriving?" said Alexander in an icy tone that made the air vibrate.
Alexander’s terrifying gaze and the crushing pressure of his aura shattered the woman’s resolve in a split second. The manager was left terrified, her legs giving out as she collapsed to her knees on the floor, trembling from head to toe without being able to utter a word.
Amidst the deathly silence that took over the room, a woman clad in an elegant blood-red dress slowly rose from one of the armchairs at the back. Her hair, matching the same scarlet shade, cascaded in waves over her shoulders, and her lips wore a seductive smile that complemented the pure image of a bloody beauty.
The woman walked toward him, smiling broadly as she opened her mouth to reveal a pair of sharp fangs glinting under the light.
"May I ask why Your Excellency is looking for us?" said the vampire woman, tilting her head slightly as she assessed Alexander with genuine fascination.
Alexander looked her up and down, maintaining an upright and calm posture before the vampire’s silhouette.
"I want to visit your kingdom," said Alexander straight to the point.
The woman took a couple more steps toward him, closing the distance until she stood just inches from his chest. She tilted her head to the side and took a deep breath of the surrounding air, narrowing her eyes with delight.
"You look familiar... but are you a human man?" said the vampire woman, brushing Alexander’s collarbone with the tip of a sharp claw. "You are a very strange human... You smell delicious... How can this be possible?"
Alexander smirked, letting his blood aura ripple softly through the air before answering.
"So what do you say?" said Alexander, locking eyes with her. "Don’t you want to invite me to your kingdom?"
The vampire woman hesitated for a moment, stepping back as uncertainty showed on her face.
"I am forbidden from bringing strangers," said the vampire woman, shaking her head slightly. "If they find out in the kingdom, they could..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander stepped forward, grabbed her firmly by the waist, and pulled her close to seal her lips in a passionate kiss. The woman’s eyes went wide, taken aback by the sheer boldness of the act, but she made no attempt to pull away.
"My name is Alexander, nice to meet you," said Alexander as he broke the kiss, maintaining a seductive smirk while his arm remained wrapped around her hip. "I don’t think we’re such strangers anymore, right?"
The woman blinked, still trying to catch her breath.
"Besides, I think the two of us are very similar," said Alexander, activating [Vampire King Body]. "I can feel it."
Alexander released an intense surge of his aura as his fangs instantly lengthened and his eyes turned a pure, radiant crimson. The sheer weight of his presence made the vampire woman flinch back a millimeter in shock, bringing a hand to her mouth.
"It’s impossible...!" said the vampire woman, her eyes wide with total disbelief. "You’re a human...!"
"Nothing is impossible in this world," said Alexander taking her hand. "Walk inside with me."