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"I believe you."
When Akashiya Kahlua heard Max say that, she gave a small nod.
"There's one more thing…"
Her eyes flickered, a faint blush rising on her pale cheeks as she asked, a little embarrassed,"Um… the tomato juice I drank—did you buy it somewhere?"
Given what she knew about the human world, there definitely wasn't any tomato juice that tasted like that.But… maybe?After all, she hadn't been to the human world for nearly five years.
When she'd been chatting with Moka Akashiya earlier, she'd downed five glasses in a row.To be honest, she was completely hooked on that flavor now.It didn't just satisfy her thirst for blood—it was delicious.
"Tomato juice, huh?" Max raised a brow and smiled. "Sorry, that one's a special mix I made just for Moka."
"Oh…"
Kahlua's face fell in disappointment.So much for that hope.It looked like she'd never get to drink that tomato juice again—Unless she came to visit Moka more often.Then maybe she could enjoy it again…
The thought barely crossed her mind before she realized how it sounded—and immediately flushed bright red.
Max: "???"
Seeing her suddenly blush after looking so dejected, he squinted slightly, curious.What's going through her head?
He didn't dig into it, though.
Instead, he looked at her with mild curiosity and asked,"So, what's your plan for dealing with Fujisaki Miyabi once you go back?"
"Fujisaki Miyabi…"
Kahlua blinked, still flustered from before. After a moment of silence, she looked at Max and said seriously,"I'll find out what he wants with Moka first. If I can't make him back off… then I'll find a way to kill him."
As the saying goes—If you can't solve the problem, solve the person causing it.
"Kill him?"
Max smirked. "You're not his match. You couldn't kill him even if you tried."
"Why not?"
Kahlua frowned slightly.Sure, she wasn't as strong as Max, but she wasn't weak either.Among monsters in the demon realm, she was one of the few top-tier fighters.
And she had the Moon-Splitting Dimension Blade—a terrifying technique that, while sealed by Max's ability, was devastating when used.It was, after all, the signature move of Eastern Undefeated, one of the Three Dark Kings—a blade powered by spatial force, known as the Sharpest Edge.
So even if Fujisaki Miyabi had a few tricks up his sleeve, she didn't believe she couldn't take him down.
Max smiled faintly."Simple. He's ridiculously strong—probably on par with me."
"In all of the demon realm, there's only one person who can take him in a one-on-one fight."
Even though Miyabi's body was just a clone—only half the power of his real self—he'd once managed to seriously injure Eastern Undefeated in a single strike.
That was because this clone retained all of the original Alucard's intelligence, memories, and personality.The sealed main body, ironically, had none of those.
"How do you know that?" Kahlua asked, frowning. "And who's this 'one person'?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
Max had no intention of explaining further.
"…"
Kahlua stayed silent for a moment, then looked at him thoughtfully."What exactly are you trying to do?"
She didn't believe he was telling her all this just because.
Seeing her sharp gaze, Max's lips curved into a teasing smile.He met her eyes and said softly,"Tell me, Kahlua… do you want to become a True Ancestor?"
"!!"
Her pupils contracted, and she shot to her feet in shock.Her crimson eyes widened as she stared at him, disbelief written all over her face.
Seeing her reaction, Max's grin widened slightly.He'd only recently recalled something—that Kahlua had always dreamed of becoming a True Ancestor.
She'd even once considered killing Moka's mother, Akasha Bloodriver, to gain that power.
Now, locking eyes with Max, Kahlua forced down the swirl of emotions in her chest and asked warily,"You can make me a True Ancestor?"
"Maybe."
Max only gave a vague smile.
"…"
Her eyes flickered with hesitation.
Max didn't elaborate.
After a brief silence, Kahlua asked quietly,"What would I have to give in return?"
Seeing the fish finally nibble at the bait, Max smiled like a fisherman who'd been waiting all day."Simple. You just have to become mine."
"What—no way!"
Her expression changed instantly.She didn't even have to think about it before snapping back.
Max chuckled casually."Don't be so quick to refuse."
"You know exactly what kind of power we're talking about here—the strength of a True Ancestor. There have only ever been two in all of demon history."
"If you want that kind of power, there's only one way to pay the price—by becoming mine."
Technically, there were only two True Ancestors, because Moka barely counted as one.She had inherited that power—but hadn't awakened it yet.Only after awakening could one truly be called a True Ancestor.
"…"
Listening to his voice, dark and smooth like a devil's whisper, Kahlua's expression shifted.Her heart wasn't calm anymore.
He wasn't wrong.The power of a True Ancestor—the power said to rival the gods themselves—wasn't something you just stumbled upon.She wanted that power, badly.
But to get it by becoming Max's woman… that, she couldn't accept.
It wasn't that she hated him.She just refused to sell herself—no matter who it was for.
"How about this," Max said after a pause."I'll give you a few days to think it over."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer, Kahlua. Some chances, once you pass them up, they're gone for good."
Kahlua stayed quiet for a moment before asking,"Why are you doing this?"
"If there's really a way to make a vampire a True Ancestor, there must be limits or risks, right? Why not give that power to Moka instead of me?"
Her question made Max's eyes flash with amusement. Ah, so that's what she thought.
She clearly didn't know that Moka had already inherited True Ancestor power—and she assumed the process was rare, costly, maybe even dangerous.
Max saw no reason to correct her.
Smiling, he said,"Whether there's a price or not, that's not something you need to worry about right now."
"As for Moka, leave her to me—I have my own plans."
"And why you? Simple—I like you. So I'm giving you this chance."
He didn't bother hiding his thoughts.
He did like her, in his own way.Sure, she wasn't the most eye-catching woman around,but he was confident in his ability to shape her—bit by bit—until she became exactly what he wanted.
And besides…sometimes, the small ones are the cutest.
"..."
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