Read Novel Full Chapter 1313: Recognized
Chapter 1313: Recognized
Temuulen decided to be careful and not mention anything about the Black Tower since no one did. With his years of experience with this, he realized that it might have become taboo to even say its name.
From his observations, the people around the receptionist weren’t behaving like someone who had been forced to work under an enemy.
They all seemed completely normal.
For now, Temuulen accepted a random low-risk commission just to establish his identity.
Then he left the Guild.
His expression had become slightly more serious.
If the city has fallen, they are hiding it extremely well.
***
In the meantime, Altan entered the city through the eastern gate.
Unlike the other two scouts, he didn’t immediately begin investigating.
He simply walked around, visited a food stall, and bought a drink like a normal resident of the city.
He asked a merchant about the price of Spirit Stones.
He spoke with a group of adventurers about monsters near the city.
He even spent nearly an hour inside a crowded tavern listening to travelers talk.
And what he heard was surprisingly ordinary.
People complained about food prices like in any other city… There were also merchants complaining about taxes, and some adventurers complaining about the monsters.
Soon, he listened to a group of travelers argued about which kingdom had the strongest knights.
Nobody seemed particularly concerned about the strange tower.
Eventually, Altan casually asked the bartender about it. He just couldn’t contain his curiousness anymore.
“The black tower outside the city?”
The bartender shrugged.
“Yeah. It appeared recently.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“No idea.”
“Isn’t everyone worried?”
The bartender laughed.
“Of course we’re worried. But what are we supposed to do about it?”
Altan smiled and took another drink.
The bartender continued polishing a glass.
“Some people say it’s an ancient artifact. Others say it’s a fortress built by some powerful mage. There are even people saying a god descended there. Well, it’s not harming anyone, so there’s not a problem here…”
“Interesting.”
“Not really. People make up stories whenever something strange happens. Just don’t ask any more questions.”
Altan nodded.
He didn’t ask anything else.
Instead, he continued listening to his surroundings.
That was his specialty.
People rarely noticed someone who simply listened.
And after several hours, he realized something that bothered him.
Nobody was talking about the Dawnblades…
‘Are they really involved?’
Altan sighed… As far as the ordinary citizens of Atrium City were concerned, their city was functioning normally.
Altan finally left the tavern.
He looked toward the distant black tower.
Its upper portion disappeared into the mist, while several dark figures stood motionless around it.
‘This is really concerning…’
That was the question he needed to answer.
***
By nightfall, the three scouts had gathered their information separately.
Batsaikhan had spent the day observing the city’s merchants, guards, and transportation routes.
Temuulen had investigated the Adventurers Guild and several mercenary groups.
Altan had spoken with ordinary citizens, travelers, merchants, and tavern owners.
Their methods were different, yet they had all reached the same conclusion.
Atrium City looked completely normal, but somehow, Atrium City had stopped talking to the outside world.
***
Meanwhile, as the three scouts were completing their mission, Rene, one of Lisa’s Vampire Knights, walked through the streets of Atrium City with a completely different feeling than before.
Everything around him looked familiar.
The buildings, the shops, the streets, and even the Adventurers Guild ahead of him were places he had visited countless times.
But Rene was no longer the same knight who had once patrolled these streets.
He could feel the difference with every step.
His body was stronger.
His senses had become sharper.
Even his movements felt lighter, as if his body had finally been freed from limitations he had never realized were holding him back.
Rene clenched his fist.
‘This power…’
He could still remember the first time he had tested his strength after becoming a Vampire.
The result had shocked him.
His physical strength had increased tremendously, and his wounds recovered at a speed that would have been impossible for an ordinary human. Even his stamina had become frightening.
Most importantly, he could now feel the enormous amount of Blood Energy circulating through his body.
Rene had fought against powerful monsters before.
He had also witnessed Grand Knights fighting from a distance.
He knew very well how terrifying the difference between a Knight and a Grand Knight could be.
Yet now, he believed he could at least survive against one.
He might not be able to defeat a Grand Knight.
But if he fought carefully, he was confident that he wouldn’t be killed immediately.
“I should be that strong already… I’m so excited.”
This belief alone was enough to make Rene realize how much stronger he had become.
For now, he continued walking.
There was something else on his mind.
Lisa had given him a new privilege.
Rene was now allowed to create two Vampires of his own.
However, he couldn’t simply turn anyone he wanted.
His Blood Energy was still limited.
If he converted a stronger person, there was no guarantee that the resulting Vampire would possess much strength.
After all, the stronger the person he converted, the more Blood Energy was required to transform them properly.
With his current strength, Rene could only guarantee a proper transformation for someone around the Knight level.
If he tried to convert someone significantly stronger, his blood might not be enough to complete the transformation.
The result could be unpredictable.
The person might become a weaker Vampire than expected.
They might even become nothing more than a low-level Vampire or a thrall.
Rene didn’t want that to happen…
He only had two opportunities, so he needed to choose carefully.
‘Two Vampires…’
Rene looked toward the Adventurers Guild.
He knew the people there.
He had spent years in Atrium City and had interacted with countless adventurers during his time as a knight. Some had fought alongside him, while others had joined him during monster extermination missions.
He even knew several Gold-Rank adventurers personally.
But this time, Rene wasn’t coming here to socialize.
He was looking for someone.
As he approached the Guild, several adventurers recognized him.
“Sir Rene?”