Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1401: Chapter 128: City Ablaze (Part 1)

Inside the palace, the Aristocrats of the Clan were discussing the way to eat the food before them.

Prepared for consumption was a girl frozen using special methods on her eighteenth birthday—when the crystal box opened, the naked girl appeared in the cold air before the Aristocrats.

The prolonged freezing covered her body with a thin layer of frost, even her hair and eyebrows were tinged with white.

Just like crystal.

“I’ve almost defrosted her.” The bloodsucker presenting the girl for the Aristocrats to taste took up a dagger, and then grasped the girl’s arm with pride.

This Vampire Nobility’s actions were so tender, as if pulling a dance partner’s wrist… then it gently slid the dagger across the girl’s wrist.

The blood that had solidified from freezing was so thick that there was no spraying… the fresh blood just seeped slowly from the girl’s wrist.

It lifted the girl’s wrist, gently kissed and sucked it for a moment, then raised its head to look at the Aristocrats beside it who were already struggling to restrain their instincts and revealed their fangs, smilingly saying, “My family, why wait any longer?”

They began to surround the girl who seemed merely asleep, huddling around her completely… they began to smear each other’s lips with blood again, as if indulging in bliss.

“Marquis of Guda, won’t you join us?”

The Marquis of Guda sat quietly aside, merely smiled in response to the invitation, then slowly stood up… as a vampire of considerable esteem among the Aristocrats, it should not appear unsocial.

It approached gracefully and leisurely, without joining the merriment immediately, only strode forward unhurriedly.

“Come, my Marquis, this is the best place prepared specially for you.” The hospitable Aristocrat who initiated the banquet gently slid the dagger over the girl’s neck—the blood would seep from the carotid artery faster than elsewhere.

It might actually be sincere.

The Marquis of Guda nodded with a smile—at this point, an untimely noise interrupted the Aristocrats’ delight… a rather rough sound of a door opening.

The door slammed violently against the walls on either side due to excessive force… appearing in front of the door was a bloodsucker wearing a Patrol Team uniform.

Upon seeing this, the Marquis of Guda’s eyes slightly brightened… the corners of its mouth also carried a subtle, secretive smile.

Momentarily, none of the Aristocrats could recall the bloodsucker’s name—but the interruption of their dining pleasure caused most of the Aristocrats to harbor dissatisfaction.

Yet they soon recalled one thing—before eating, they were actually discussing whether to prematurely awaken the Clan Duke.

The reason for awakening the Clan Duke was that Bazby, ignoring the opposition from the Aristocrats, had forcibly prohibited their normal consumption.

The initiator of this banquet’s face immediately flushed with anger, scolding the soldiers standing motionlessly at the door: “I believe you owe all the Aristocrats here a reasonable explanation! Truly, you should understand, even if your superior Bazby currently holds the Clan Authority, our status is still far nobler than yours… sir!”

Yet facing the Aristocrat’s reprimand, the Patrol Team bloodsucker at the door showed no reaction whatsoever… still stood motionlessly.

“Listen! This food has been stored and preserved by me from before, so it isn’t included in Bazby’s new regulations! Now, get out of here immediately!”

The angered Aristocrat snorted coldly… Earlier, Popoqi had hopped around most jubilantly due to dissatisfaction with Bazby’s new policies, and eventually was beheaded, feeling little for it, thus neglecting the Marquis of Guda’s proposal in mind.

But now even a lowly inferior Aristocrat dared to be so arrogant before it… feeling its authority and upper Aristocrat status had been thoroughly insulted, the banquet initiator pondered whether to endorse the Marquis of Guda’s suggestion… After all, once the Clan Duke was awakened, the consequences would be borne by the Marquis of Guda!

Finally, the bloodsucker at the door reacted… only seeing it suddenly take a step forward, then fall directly to the ground.

This scene stunned the Aristocrats in the room—moreover, the Marquis of Guda furrowed its brow, a trace of doubt flashed in its eyes… and its gaze swiftly transformed into shock!

Whoosh—!

A black flame emerged suddenly from the back of the bloodsucker lying on the ground, devouring the bloodsucker at a terrifying speed—in just a few breaths’ time, the Patrol Team soldier was burnt to ashes.

Nothing was left behind.

“What happened?”

The Aristocrats paused, then looked at one another.

“Who did it?”

They inquired among themselves in confusion—believing this was some Aristocrat who disliked and quietly ordered the killing… but who wielded such black flames?

Among the superior Aristocrats of the Clan, there seemed to be no such character.

Just as the Aristocrats were puzzled, a figure slowly appeared at the door… cloaked in black, with a face split in two—one side was the visage of a graceful classical beauty, while the other was burning with a black flame, extremely bizarre in appearance.

“The guards?” An Aristocrat frowned, “Guards?!”

But no reply came.

The black-robed woman surveyed the room, and when her gaze fell upon the frost-covered girl in the crystal box marked with bloodstains… her eyes turned stern and sharp.

“Why, would such filthy creatures exist in the world.” The black-robed woman’s voice was like a knife, “This must be a mistake by the creator, who thus created you.”

“How dare you!”

The black-robed woman suddenly waved her hand, thriving black flames emerged abruptly from her palm and then scattered like a fire kicked apart!

Regarding these black flames, none of the Aristocrats knew what they truly were—they even directly reached out to slap at them carelessly!

Of course, some used their cloaks attempting to sweep away the black flames.

Unexpectedly, these black flames were extremely mysterious, burning upon touch, fundamentally unquenchable—except for the few Aristocrats who dodged directly, those who touched the black flames were engulfed in raging black fire!

They were being burned at a terrifying speed by the black flames… fell to the ground, rolling in pain!

Agonizing screams filled the entire room, while the black-robed woman amidst these sorrowful cries slowly walked further into the room… Alongside the burning black flames, she also reaped the lives of the Aristocrats one by one!

The black flames at this moment received significant nourishment, practically flowing around her like a tangible entity!

A vampire Aristocrat fortunate enough to dodge the attack suddenly flashed and appeared behind the black-robed woman—charged toward her back!

But the flowing flames around the black-robed woman seemed to possess spiritual awareness—as this Aristocrat drew near, the black flames instantly transformed into a giant hand, swiftly gripping the Aristocrat tightly!

The ambushed Aristocrat at this moment screamed in agony, more harrowingly than those wailing aristocrats present… its body vaporized in an instant!

As one by one the Aristocrats were burned to ash by black flames… the remaining Aristocrats were instantly terrified.

They had enjoyed centuries of life at the height of status, having long forgotten how to fight — even the generations-long wars with the werewolves were merely discussions and laughter within the safety of their castle… indulging themselves.

They still possessed immense power, but had forgotten how to use it — no one would resist them, within the clan’s territory, apart from the Everlasting Heart Group, they were the highest echelons — even the Acting Archduke dared not slight them.

“Soldiers!”

A frantic Aristocrat dashed for the door.

But the moment it was about to rush out the door, black flames erupted from beneath the floor, sealing the exit completely — faced with such eerie and terrifying flames, the fleeing Aristocrat halted in horror.

Bang, bang, bang——!!

Simultaneously, black flames emanating from the black-robed woman began to consume everything within the room — the flames turned the room into a purgatory!

In the midst of the raging fire, the Aristocrats perished one after another… Marquis of Guda broke into a cold sweat, stealthily retreating; it finally realized who this intruding black-robed woman was!

The Vampire Slayer!

The soldiers sent by Bazby had long notified it of this — yet it concealed the information, failing to inform any of the aristocrats here!

Because it considered this Vampire Slayer merely an exaggerated rumor… perhaps even a scheme by Bazby!

It indulged in political maneuvers, never willing to submit under Bylegang. Now, with Bylegang’s unauthorized departure and the sudden transfer of Clan Authority to Bazby who wasn’t even an Aristocrat, it saw a prime opportunity to attack Bylegang.

But… the Slayer really existed!

And so terrifying… although these high-ranking Aristocrats had decayed, retaining only hollow strength, yet forgetting their combat instincts, they still surpassed the lesser nobility.

Forcing itself to calm down, Marquis of Guda analyzed the situation before making a final decision — it shouldn’t face this mysterious Slayer head-on.

It seized an opportunity, observing the flow of the flames, then abruptly spread its wings and dashed toward the ceiling, intending to break through and flee the palace!

It succeeded!

Instantly breaking through the first-floor ceiling, reaching the upper level of the palace… Marquis of Guda glanced back at the black flames below, quietly relieved.

But the next moment, its relief turned to soul-wrenching dread!

For, a hand composed of black flames reached out in an instant, seizing its body and dragging it back into the black firestorm!

In its final moments, Marquis of Guda harbored one profound regret… it shouldn’t have secretly withdrawn most of the guards from the palace or let confidants impersonate Bazby’s subordinates, just to excite the other Aristocrats into agreeing to awaken the Clan Duke.

Moreover, those confidants posing as Bazby’s men didn’t even get to start their plan before being swiftly exterminated by the Vampire Slayer…

Yet it was unwilling to die like this… amidst the excruciating burn of the black flames, the Marquis suddenly reached into its chest, ripping out its own heart, then with its last ounce of strength, hurled the heart!

Bang——!!!

Finally, the black flames filled the entire room, exploding and utterly destroying the lavish room… the palace’s outer wall collapsed halfway.

The Marquis of Guda’s heart, before being touched by the black flames, successfully landed on the lawn of the palace’s courtyard.

The heart continued to beat.

Suddenly, someone picked up the heart… within a pale palm, the heart pounded powerfully. Though the flesh was dead, the Marquis’s soul remained, its mental will preserved through the heart.

But this preservation was not permanent.

“It’s you!”

The pulsating heart echoed with the voice of Marquis of Guda — the Marquis discovered that the one who picked up its heart was none other than Bazby, Bylegang’s confidant it intended to eliminate…

Yet now wasn’t the time to show hostility towards Bazby, the Marquis hurriedly said: “Oh! Wonderful, dear Bazby, I didn’t expect it to be you! Quickly, take me to the blood pool! I need blood for rebirth!”

Holding the Marquis’s heart, Bazby looked on indifferently — he came tracking the Vampire Slayer but seemed to be a step too late.

“Bazby! What are you hesitating for! Quickly, take me to the blood pool! I need blood for my body rebirth!” The Marquis’s voice grew anxious again: “I will remember this favor of yours! Trust me, I’ll give you rewards beyond your imagination!”

“It seems you all have not been quite honest and compliant… deserved indeed.”

Bazby spoke coldly… meanwhile, he observed the diminishing black flames within the palace ahead.

Simultaneously, Bazby’s palm slowly tightened, grasping the Marquis’s heart.

“What are you doing! Bazby!! How dare you!!”

The Marquis didn’t get to be angry for long — for Bazby had already crushed the heart into pieces… thus, the Marquis was left with only a shrill final scream.

Its voice vanished quickly… the crushed heart began to ooze thick, dark golden blood.

With an emotionless face, Bazby tilted his head back, lifting the heart high above his mouth… and began to consume the blood squeezed from the heart.

The amount of this dark golden blood was scant, at most around a dozen drops… Once the blood was devoured, Bazby tossed the Marquis’s heart to the ground.

The heart shriveled instantly, finally dissolving into a puddle of blackish mud-like substance… signifying that the Marquis of Guda could neither be reborn nor would ever exist again.

Bazby wiped his lips, letting out a slow breath, murmuring: “High-ranking Aristocrats, no wonder they serve as the finest nourishment for the Everlasting Heart Group… little wonder Bylegang so generously kept you all.”

Speaking thus, Bazby lifted his head, seeing a figure slowly descending amidst the black flames.

“Traitor… we meet again.”

The black-robed woman… Meila looked at Bazby, her gaze turning sharper and more piercing.

Bazby paused in silence for a moment, then slowly said: “You… know me?”