"That's right. I'm a vampire."
Seeing Li De's straightforward admission, Andabella actually let out a breath of relief. From the moment she saw him commanding the Whispering Bats, she had already been nearly certain of his identity.
Mysterious, powerful, and strikingly handsome, and most importantly, able to command Whispering Bats, which only vampires could rear.
As a Grand Scholar, Andabella possessed knowledge far beyond the average person. Whispering Bats were not exactly a secret to her.
She didn't know why, but she simply didn't want this man, who had saved her in her darkest hour, to lie to her. Li De's honest answer actually lifted her spirits considerably.
"Miss Andabella, aren't you afraid?"
Seeing the look of relief on her face, Li De found it a little strange. Since when were vampires not terrifying? Even girls didn't fear them now?
"Afraid? Why should I be afraid?" Andabella smiled, proud as ever even in the face of death, her chin lifting slightly.
"As a scholar who seeks knowledge and pursues truth, I'm very curious about vampires."
There's a saying I'm not sure I should say… Li De's expression stiffened as he looked into her shining silver eyes. It was like he saw the gaze of a doctor looking at a lab rat.
You're not planning to dissect vampires, are you??
Just then, a trace of regret appeared on the girl's face.
"But… I have to go."
"Go?" Li De frowned.
"That's right," Andabella's beautiful silver eyes stared directly into Li De's dark pupils. "Risel City hasn't been rebuilt yet. I can't just die here.
I need to go to the Nolan royal capital to find my teacher. He might know a way to repair the life I've overdrawn."
Upon hearing this, Li De instinctively glanced at the crimson cloak on her back. Just as he was about to speak, Andabella gave a bright smile, the pride in her eyes becoming more pronounced.
"Lord Ezreal, you've been staring at my cloak since the beginning."
Li De's face froze slightly. Was it that obvious? He smiled and shrugged.
"Well, it's a Legendary cloak. I don't think anyone wouldn't be tempted by Legendary gear."
"Unfortunately, even if I wanted to give it to you, I couldn't," Andabella shook her head.
"This cloak was once the banner that flew over the royal capital of the Risel Empire. It was forged by a demi-god level blacksmith over the course of ten years. When it was forged as a banner, it used the bloodline of the Risel royal family as a seal.
No one outside the royal family can use it.
Even now, though it has become a cloak, this trait hasn't changed."
As she spoke, the girl seemed to remember something and smiled faintly.
"The bloodline of the Risel royal family must remain pure and untainted. If I became a vampire, I wouldn't be able to use the Blood Cloak anymore."
Li De's expression grew a little strange. Does she have to be this smart? A slightly dumber girl would be more likable.
The girl continued softly, "Anyone else wanting to use the Blood Cloak would have to break its seal. But once the seal is broken, most of its power would be lost. The cloak would even drop from Legendary to Perfect grade."
Li De's lips twitched slightly when he heard that. Which bastard designed that function? Isn't that basically the same as a player's binding mechanic??
He immediately felt like he'd lost billions. That was supposed to be his cloak!
"However, I do know of another Legendary item."
Andabella's next words immediately reignited Li De's interest.
Another Legendary item?
"Where?"
"Nolan royal capital."
Li De looked into the girl's serious eyes and could only shake his head helplessly.
So close, yet so far.
"If my teacher can restore my lost lifespan, I will personally retrieve that Legendary item and give it to you. That item is related to vampires, and it greatly enhances vampire abilities. I think… it's called the Holy Grail of Night.
I found mention of it once while studying an ancient ruin."
A Legendary item related to vampires?
Li De's eyes lit up, and he looked deeply at Andabella.
As their gazes met, his heart trembled slightly, for within the girl's silver eyes, he saw pure trust and reliance.
Just like his little maid Vina.
That feeling… it was indescribably wondrous.
Also, and you might not believe this, but it looked like she hadn't wiped her eyes properly.
"I believe you, Bella."
Since he had made up his mind, Li De no longer hesitated. It wasn't because he coveted that Legendary item related to vampires. Absolutely not. He genuinely just wanted to help this beautiful girl. It had nothing to do with the Legendary item. Truly.
Letting Andabella leave wasn't an issue. The girl only knew the alias Ezreal that he had fabricated, and the fact that he was a vampire. Even if she leaked that, it wouldn't affect him.
Dawn City was still in complete secrecy.
"Lord Ezreal, you can trust me."
Andabella lifted her chin slightly, as if making a vow before the gods, her silver eyes full of determination.
The girl had regained her pride and confidence as both the City Lord of Risel and a Grand Scholar.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Andabella gestured toward the cave by the river, where the nobles of Risel City were being held.
"What do you plan to do with the nobles of Risel City?"
The moment the Whispering Bats took the crowd away from the valley, Andabella had realized that Li De's true target had always been the nobles of Risel City.
What she was curious about now was how he would treat them.
If Li De merely wanted to use them as food like commoners, it would have been unnecessary to go through all this effort.
There were commoners all over the war-torn borders, no need to waste such resources to capture nobles specifically.
"Bella, I'm not one of those dark, bloodthirsty, evil vampires. They won't be harmed.
I have a territory. These nobles will help me build it. Though I rule over countless commoners, I lack elite talents."
Li De once again demonstrated his inner parrot tendencies.
"I believe you, Lord Ezreal. And I will keep your secret. I swear it upon my soul and the bloodline of House Risel," Andabella looked seriously into Li De's eyes, her tone firm and unshakable.
Then she asked the most important question.
"How can I find you next time?"
Li De smiled slightly.
"If you appear in Green City, I'll know."
Andabella nodded, giving Li De a long, deep look, as if to imprint his face onto her very soul.
"I entrust the Risel family to you. Please treat my people kindly.
As for your Legendary equipment, I will retrieve it for you, even if it costs me my life.
And also… if possible, please send me to Green City."
Andabella didn't plead for the nobles of Risel. She understood the weight of things, even if her heart held concern.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of your people. And besides, your life was something I saved. Don't be so careless with my hard-earned efforts."
Li De smiled calmly.
With only one month of life remaining, Andabella departed. Li De sent Castro to carry this proud girl, who held her head high even in the face of death, to Green City.
And along with her, she carried something else: the thought that lingered in Li De's mind, how to obtain a Legendary item.
"City Lord Kachar… was that your lover?"
After the steel behemoth carried Andabella away, Sam approached Li De with a somewhat emotional expression.
Li De glanced at the shaman, but gave no reply.
Those eyes, filled with trust and reliance, made him shake his head helplessly.
Indeed…
Women really are the most terrifying lifeforms in the world.
Absolutely terrifying.