The First Vampire

The Brugen family’s guards, watching this scene, felt a sense of unreality.

This iron cavalry from the North Territory had come swiftly, and left just as swiftly, apparently none too fond of Huorong City, considered the primary fortress in the east.

However, they all knew that, despite the Blood Knight Army passing like the wind, their brief stay of a day and a night had profoundly transformed the city.

The rumors of an illicit affair between Grace and Count Angler had already spread throughout the city. Such salacious gossip always takes root effortlessly, especially when the Brugen family appeared to have no intention of suppressing the information.

Thus, the future direction of Huorong City became the most popular topic of discussion among citizens.

Grace was standing on the city wall, ignoring the investigative stares from people around her, staring blankly at the Blood Knight Army as they disappeared over the horizon.

The butler came over, whispering, “Miss, should we address these rumors spreading across the city?”

“No need,” Grace shook her head.

With furrowed brow, the butler was about to persuade her when Grace spoke again:

“Go contact the Church. Have them prepare for my father’s funeral.”

“Yes,” the butler had no choice but to depart with a heavy heart.

The cold winds howled, causing the guards on the city wall to instinctively withdraw their necks.

Yet, the pampered Grace still stood there quietly, staring into the distance as if waiting for something.

The clear sky was without a single cloud, pure as a turquoise mirror.

Suddenly, a mere speck appeared on the mirror’s surface, a black speck circling in the sky above Huorong City.

Grace’s eyes narrowed, she pursed her lips making a strange shape, whistling sharply time and again.

Attracted by the whistling, the black speck in the sky suddenly dived down.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an enormous black raven.

The raven landed on Grace’s shoulder, affectionately rubbing its wing against her head in a way that resembled a greeting.

Grace, smiling, gently rubbed the raven’s head, and extracted a letter from its leg.

The guards atop the city wall used the corners of their eyes to steal glances at the unusual sight of the young lady interacting with the uniquely shaped raven, careful not to approach with questions.

Finally, having read the letter, Grace’s expression remained the same, as if the contents of the letter hadn’t surprised her.

Then, she procured a ready reply from her bosom, tied it to the raven’s foot, and again produced a sharp whistle with her lips.

The raven cawed, spread its black wings, and once more took to the sky, quickly disappearing from sight.

Only then did Grace turn around and descend the city wall, tossing the letter she’d just received into a fire pit as she walked past it.

The emerging flames quickly consumed the letter, producing ashes.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew, the corner of the not fully burned letter rolled out of the fire pit.

A nearby guard quickly collected it, only seeing a remaining signature:

“…Your most beloved brother.”

Scratching his head in confusion, the guard wondered, hadn’t Grace’s brother just left Huorong City? How did he write back so soon?

Not daring to question it further, he promptly tossed it back into the fire pit.

The flames rose again, completely reducing that corner of the letter to ashes.

…

“You are the Dark Cavalry that gallops on the battlefield, speed is your second life…”

Bathed in the chill wind roaring by his ears, Clyde couldn’t help but recall the remarks of Marquis Garcia from the command podium when the Dark Cavalry was first established.

At that time, the Dark Cavalry, galloping on the Sky Ice Plain, was living up to such this creed — win with speed!

Under the leadership of Marquis Garcia, the Dark Cavalry was like a red-hot steel blade, no matter when and where, they could in the shortest time, with the fastest speed and the most brutal manner, pierce into the enemy’s chest, making their blood boil instantly.

Through countless battles and victories, the Dark Cavalry polished its name with the enemy’s blood and undefeated record into a brighter and more glorious one.

However, after the tragic defeat in the Shadow Gorge, Marquis Garcia left the Dark Cavalry.

This force also got a new commander, a new name, and a new style.

Compared to the straightforward style of Marquis Garcia, the style of Count Angler took the many Dark Cavalry warriors some time to adjust to it.

They are all veterans experienced in battles, and of course, can understand the situation, as well as interpret some simple strategies.

If the former tactics and strategies of Marquis Garcia were relatively easy to comprehend — to find the deadliest vulnerability of the enemy and then charge at it with the fastest speed and the most decisive manner, the style of Count Angler was rather inscrutable, and could even be described as unpredictable and elusive.

But there was one similarity between Count Angler and Marquis Garcia, and that was their unbeaten record in battle!

The decimation of a hundred thousand-strong Pegasus Army with only seven thousand remaining Dark Cavalry outside Silver Moon City, the beheading of the Troll Emperor outside the Troll Royal City after a thousand miles of raid on the Sky Ice Plain, and during the precarious civil unrest in the North Territory, he single-handedly turned the tide, leading his troops to defeat the seemingly numerous Rebel Army…

Although blood knight officers like Clyde initially struggled to understand the thought process of Count Angler, his continuous victories had already brought the Count a reputation among the troops that was no less than that of Marquis Garcia.

Thus, when Count Angler commanded the main force of the Blood Knight Army outside of Alfalfa City to follow the flow of Angry River and march towards White Dew City, not a single one questioned his decision.

In retrospect, Clyde still wonders if he was insane at the time.

A Blood Knight Army of less than two thousand, plunged single-handedly into the heartland of the Eastern Territory, aiming at a stronghold like White Dew City…

No one would think that they could possibly capture White Dew City, but oddly enough, no one doubted that Count Angler could lead them to conquer White Dew City.

It might sound hard to comprehend, but that’s the power of reputation.

With enough prestige, a commander can make his troops carry out any seemingly impossible orders.

The cold wind was piercing, but Clyde felt like there was a branding iron burning in his chest.

White Dew City!

The capital of the Eastern Territory!

The territory of the St. Prowse Family!

And also the place where Marquis Garcia was once imprisoned!

The disgrace of the Shadow Gorge can’t be washed away by the blood of the Pegasus Army alone!

After landing on the south side of Mount Althus, the Blood Knight Army seemed to be back on the Sky Ice Plain, regaining the sensation of galloping freely and piercing the enemy’s chest like a sharp blade.

Clyde gulped down a sip of hard liquor on horseback, shoved a few pieces of dried beef into his mouth, all without slowing his pace.

This was a basic skill for every Blood Knight, they could even sleep on horseback.

After dashing for five days and nights, Clyde was certain that White Dew City couldn’t be far away.

Suddenly, a low horn sounded from the front.

A chill ran through Clyde’s heart, he immediately slowed down his horse, however, the boiling blood in his chest became even more intense, because he understood —

Finally, they had arrived at White Dew City!