My Players Are So Fierce

After several minutes of communication, in Lady Lainnia’s tent, a blood crystal covered in runes hovered over the wooden table, glowing brilliantly.

It was an activated spirit device, possessing stronger remote communication capabilities than a Computation Bead and lasting much longer. It was said to be quite an ancient spirit technique, its mysterious nature evident just from its appearance.

Murphy knew Tris had several of them as well, but had never seen her use them nor knew where those runic stones connected to.

According to her, these items were created by the elders of the Sacred Blood Clan, the vampire clan with the most profound mastery of spirit energy among the seven clans. Their manufacturing process was too complex even for spirit sovereigns like Tris.

Therefore, they were rare and only circulated among a few important figures in the blood clan.

The most distinctive feature of this device was that it was a “one-to-one” communication tool. Once created, it would permanently bind to an individual’s spirit energy signature, in other words, like a “personal phone,” which naturally came with the risk of “private number leakage.”

“The Sovereign agreed to meet with you quite readily. The entire reporting and decision-making process was unbelievably smooth. Honestly, I can’t understand it,” Lainnia said to Murphy with a peculiar expression.

“What magic do those words hold? And what do they represent?”

“I’m certainly willing to tell you, though it means you’ll be completely tied to the same dangerous carriage as us. But my lady, are you sure you’re prepared to accept this secret?” Murphy stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the curious bow knight. He spoke with a dissuading tone:

“No, this isn’t a burden that you, a scout knight, should bear. Therefore, my suggestion is, why not go to your nighttime appointment with my loyal servant Maxim?

Those dangerous elements wandering the Anderma Hills must be cleared out. Important Transia facilities will be built there soon. I very much look forward to seeing you return victorious. The Wolfsbane gladiators in the fighting club are being consumed rather quickly, perhaps the Blood Rat Gang should replenish their stock as well.”

By this point in Murphy’s speech, Lainnia had roughly understood.

This “Dusk” likely referred to some secrets between blood clan leaders.

Though Murphy seemed quite down on his luck now, he was nominally an important leader of the Blood Vulture Clan. From this perspective, it made sense that the Sovereign would be willing to give preferential treatment.

In vampire society where hierarchy was clear, learning about dangerous matters often meant bearing heavier responsibilities. From this angle, Murphy’s somewhat arrogant advice could be understood as a kind of protective kindness.

With this in mind, the bow knight did not insist but instead left her own tent, leaving the space for conversation between Murphy and Lord Payne who was waiting somewhere on the continent at this moment.

When only Murphy remained in the tent, he first adjusted his attire, then stepped forward to hold the hovering spirit device in his hand.

As spirit energy was injected, the blood crystal quickly rotated and projected an image before Murphy’s eyes, like some kind of cool “holographic projection” device, projecting Lord Payne from the other side into the tent through woven spirit energy.

This was Murphy’s first real meeting with the legendary Sovereign Vernon Payne Cappadocia, and the image he presented indeed matched Tris’s description to Murphy quite well.

He wore no armor, only a blood-colored robe covering his straight figure.

With regular features, sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, he possessed the most traditional “androgynous beauty” of the blood clan. Though maintaining a gloomy and cold expression without emotion, that unrestrained black smooth hair falling over his shoulders truly added much “artistic” quality to the Sovereign.

Just not sure where he learned his painting skills, and how good they actually were? But judging from the elegant appearance and personality the clan leader displayed, he probably wasn’t a failed art student from another world, right?

However, when the Sovereign’s gaze fell on Murphy, the vampire lord’s random thoughts were immediately interrupted.

Even across the vast distance, the scrutiny of a Golden-rank powerhouse still crossed space to fall upon Murphy, making him feel a hint of pressure.

“Your spirit energy carries a trace of the Astral Realm,” Lord Payne spoke first:

“I heard from Lainnia’s report that you’ve become an Astral Summoner. That’s a very dangerous profession among spirit mage branches, especially when you encounter certain mysterious beings in the Astral Realm. You must be careful in choosing how to communicate with them.

Tris may not have told you about those potential hazards.

But my advice to you is to think carefully before letting yourself be marked with the Astral brand of some mysterious being, as it will directly determine your future path and methods of pursuing power.

However, given proud Palanno’s quite high evaluation of you, I believe you didn’t contact me tonight just to waste my time.

Speak, Murphy, what unsettling ominous news have you found in Transia?”

“First, thank you for your guidance regarding the path of power, respected Lord Payne.”

Murphy put on a humble, advice-seeking appearance, taking the Sovereign’s warning to heart.

Then without wasting time on small talk, he briefly but comprehensively recounted to Lord Payne the events that occurred in the Foul Swamp and the ruins of Seicob City. From the Sovereign’s furrowed brow, it was clear that the information he provided was indeed previously unknown to Lord Payne.

Especially when hearing that the victims of Seicob City had been forged into a dangerous army of death and were still under Dusk’s control, Lord Payne’s expression clearly turned angry.

Just not sure if this anger stemmed from his inability to tolerate such atrocities, or because this terrible matter was an undoubted disaster for the Black Plague defense system?

“The information you provide is valuable, but I require you not to act recklessly,” Lord Payne said to Murphy after several seconds of contemplation:

“I will dispatch a squad under my command that specializes in handling these matters to help you track Dusk’s traces in Transia. Before then, act as if you never knew about these things, and continue with your construction in Transia and army training.”

“You mean, you’ll take over this matter?” Murphy looked at Lord Payne and shook his head, saying:

“No, that’s not the result I want, Sovereign. Please understand, this matter has already involved the current Grand Duchess of the Blood Vulture Clan. Though there isn’t enough evidence, I can be certain that Tris plays a quite important role in Dusk’s series of plans. I can’t convince myself to stand idly by.

Perhaps in your view, I’m just a weak little lord, but I don’t lack courage nor can I tolerate a group of doomsday cultists running wild in my territory.

Eliminating them is my duty.”

The Sovereign didn’t respond.

He just stared at Murphy with a scrutinizing gaze, and after several seconds of silence, he said:

“So you already have some plans? Tell me about them, consider it providing me with another way of thinking.”

“My thoughts are simple, since they’re a threat, they must be dealt with before they cause destruction.”

Murphy frankly said:

“The gnoll warlock in Foul Swamp controls those corpse mages and dead through a command staff. Tris is already working on decoding the mysteries of the command staff, and I happen to be preparing to send my warriors to advance into Foul Swamp, to establish connection between Transia and the Barren Mountain defense line.

If we can extend our front line positions to the Blood Pact Knights’ area before the Black Plague breaks out, that means we can put the battlefield in the Dark Mountains, rather than conducting an inevitably dangerous defensive war on Transia’s soil.

From my shallow understanding of warfare, in the confrontation between spear and shield, the shield is always at a disadvantage. Therefore, I’d rather be the actively attacking side!

So if we must fight, I hope the flames of war can be lit in enemy territory.

I’m confident I can complete this in the next 4 months or so, but my current energy and resources are only enough to act in the Foul Swamp area.

Seicob City is an undoubted big trouble, it’s like an explosive barrel used by halfling engineers and dwarf miners, not knowing when it might explode and turn all my efforts to nothing. Therefore, that place needs your and the Blood Pact Clan’s powerful strength to pacify or resolve.

However, Tris provided me with a very subtle approach.

She told me before that such large-scale death spirit energy manipulation techniques and mysterious abilities like summoning Netherworld aura can only be achieved by the Moon Priests of the Sanghai Empire across the entire continent.

So I have reason to believe that all the bad things currently happening in Transia are related to those death followers far in the Land of Origin.

The source of this dangerous knowledge is all with them!

Since that’s the case, they should also bear part of the responsibility.

I hope to solve the problem from its source, so I seek your help tonight, wanting to use your connections and prestige to request the Moon Priests to set out from their Death Holy City and arrive in Transia before the Black Plague breaks out to deal with this mess!

Since they’re the experts, they should be able to and ought to provide us with more usable methods.

Perhaps they could even turn bad things into good ones.”

“Oh?” The Sovereign’s eyes lifted slightly.

He used his gaze to inquire Murphy’s meaning, and the vampire lord said in a low voice:

“What I mean is, if the enemy can utilize the power of the dead, why can’t we? Transia lacks everything except corpses.

No matter how prolific the gnolls are, they’ll definitely be at a disadvantage in a war of attrition when facing an army of emotionless undead. The undead sea tactics are terrifying strategies against any living being.

You see, the method to break through the Black Plague has always been in the hands of the Moon Priests, it’s just that they don’t seem to intend to reasonably use their knowledge and wisdom.

I don’t know what they’re thinking.

But since their precious knowledge has now been leaked to the gnolls, they should bear responsibility for it.”

“Hmm, I understand your thinking now. Your approach is bold but not impossible to try.”

Lord Payne stroked his chin and said:

“I will consider it.

If I make a decision, I’ll notify you immediately, but now, before you receive external aid, don’t provoke the dead in the ruins of Seicob City.

As for your plans regarding the Foul Swamp, I make no comment.

I think you underestimate the power of that foul land, but if you’re willing to try that’s also a good thing, after all in the previous 400 years, Transia’s rulers have never thought to expand their territory to the Dark Mountains region.

If you can accomplish it, then I’ll view you differently.

Palanno’s evaluation of you is correct, Murphy.

You are indeed a different kind of midnight walker, and I’ve already seen your uniqueness and potential. I will give you an answer within 3 days.

You can keep this blood crystal with you, I give you the authority to contact me at any time.

But I hope you won’t abuse this power.

At least don’t report to me some trivial matters that you can resolve yourself, my time is valuable.”

“I understand.”

Murphy responded:

“Using tonight’s situation as the standard, I won’t disturb you with any matters less threatening than it.”

“Very good, very intelligent.”

The Sovereign waved his hand.

That gesture very clearly meant “the emperor wishes to rest, all ministers kneel and withdraw.”

Murphy was also very sensible and didn’t continue to disturb him, but instead withdrew his spirit energy to end the blood crystal’s communication. He grabbed this small thing that had stopped spinning and played with it in his hand, tilting his head and thinking:

“They say Lord Payne is serious to excess and has no sense of humor at all, but I feel he’s actually not bad. Except for always keeping a gloomy face, the Sovereign’s particularly tasteful modeling would definitely satisfy the little players.

But why does the background of his projection feel so strange? It seems like some faith worship style secret chamber?

So where is Lord Payne wandering now?

Ah, now’s not the time to consider these things!”

Murphy threw the blood crystal into his pack and walked out of Lady Lainnia’s tent. Looking at the Astral Rift emitting purple ghostly light above his head, various thoughts floated through his mind.

The threat of Seicob City had been confirmed, so what followed immediately was to launch searches and containment of refugees there.

The stubborn mountain folk would likely not leave their forests, but the people wandering in the Seicob domain must be immediately relocated to Count Kadman’s domain, letting them stay far from the potential dangers that might erupt in Seicob City, while also letting them join in the reconstruction process of the Crimson Citadel.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

Considering that since the end of the Great Gnoll Hunt, his little players had been idle for almost a week, how could such laziness be allowed?

So, he must find more things for them to do. Having them lay bricks and spread mortar, plant fields and farm was obviously impossible, but searching for refugees, such small matters could be left to them.

Should he set up a points pool this time too?

——

“Pat”

The stopped blood crystal was placed by Lord Payne on the ancient stone table before him.

The uncrowned king of vampires stared calmly at the figure sitting across from him, wrapped entirely in gray-white bandages and wearing Moon Priest robes.

He said in a deep voice:

“You heard it, this is a report from the Transia front line! High Priest Bayak, can you still insist that your Moon Holy City’s death knowledge hasn’t leaked out?”

Faced with Lord Payne’s questioning, the Moon Priest before him remained silent.

Of course he couldn’t speak even if he wanted to, with bandages wrapped like a mummy this way, even his eyes covered, making one quite doubt this fellow’s current physical and mental state.

Therefore he used spirit energy vibrations as his response, and this response also made Payne, who came to “demand an explanation,” very satisfied.

The vampire artist rose abruptly and said to the “mummy” before him:

“Very good, as you said, an elite Moon Priest investigation team must depart within 7 days, first heading to the Blood Pact Knights’ defense line in the Barren Mountains, then departing from there to Transia.

The army of the dead beneath the ruins of Seicob City is your responsibility.

You must deal with it before the Black Plague breaks out!

Or according to little Murphy’s wild imagination, turn those awakened dead into power that we can use.”

“Sigh”

A long sigh carrying a rotting aura sounded from beneath High Priest Bayak’s unique attire. He nodded, watching Lord Payne leave this death moonlight secret chamber.

As an orthodox Moon Priest, Lord Bayak actually didn’t care much about the Black Plague, because it meant massive death, and in his view, death was a blessing, concerning the balance of all things.

He lightly tapped on the stone table.

Soon, a Sanghai girl wearing the same style priestly robe quickly walked into the secret chamber, bowing with a disciple’s etiquette before the High Priest waiting for instructions.

The cold spirit energy fluctuated again, making the Sanghai girl before him raise her head in surprise. She exclaimed:

“Leave the Holy City, head to the continent?

No, mentor, I’m trying to complete my report, the improved experimental ritual for safely summoning Cerberus has reached its final step.

That’s my graduation thesis!”

“Bang”

The mummy’s finger tapped the stone table with more force.

This meant this order could not be defied, making the girl wail helplessly but could only leave dejectedly.

She was one of High Priest Bayak’s most outstanding disciples, her talent in death rituals and Netherworld knowledge was rare in a hundred years, perfect to send her to resolve the trouble in Seicob City.

By the way, investigate how the mysteries belonging to the Death Moon leaked to a group of doomsday cultists?

Could it be that Dusk’s shadow has already quietly descended upon Sanghai Empire’s endless yellow sands under the protection of the Glory Sun and Death Moon?

Sigh, this is truly unimaginable chaos.