ATAPOW Chapter 215
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Chapter 215: I’ll Like to Join You
The flickering flames in the fireplace cast specks of light onto the gold and jade bricks, creating a display that resembled a starry sky.
Amidst the hall of luxury and debauchery teeming with the scent of decay, the atmosphere was swallowed by absolute silence.
The arrogant and impudent trolls, who were devoid of any sense of etiquette, looked as though they had been force-fed molten lead. They did not dare breathe in the oppressive air, which felt as if it could solidify at any moment.
This phenomenon also extended to the Asiatic Cat Girls, which had been powerlessly swept into the trolls’ clutches.
Everyone’s gazes converged on the purple-haired girl, who merely responded with a nonchalant yawn after coming to a standstill at the hall’s entrance.
“Um… that was just a joke. I hope our esteemed vampire guest won’t take it seriously,” Kamron said, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead. As the one facing the brunt of the pressure, he tried to project an image of composure in his tone.
“Is that so? Hmm~ It seems like there’s a party going on here. Do you have something important to discuss amongst yourselves? If that’s the case, it’s best I don’t disturb you then.” The purple-haired girl said, cradling the doll in her arms. Her slender fingers lightly pressing against her lips, and her slightly knitted brows gave her an appearance of deep contemplation.
“No matter, it’s nothing urgent anyway. I presume Your Excellency has something you needed to talk about, having made the long trip here. Would you be so kind as to stay for a moment?” Kamron let out a deep sigh and promptly denied, mindful not to offend the two girls who appeared to be no older than sixteen.
It was impossible to determine a vampire’s age and shrewdness based on their appearance and demeanor.
The physiology of these immortal, frightening creatures would cease to develop after reaching a certain age. One would be a fool to try and differentiate the precise age of a vampire by their appearance.
The upper echelons of their clans were all Oscar winners when it came to disguises. If they removed their masked facades, it was likely they would not even recognize their original appearance.
The trolls on both sides participating in the gathering fell silent, afraid of attracting trouble.
It was a biological creature’s instinct to dread the traumas of the past. Even the reckless and conceited trolls, who were normally fearless and held everything in contempt, were no exception.
The trolls had arrived in a domineering manner, with time and place on their side. After vanquishing the scaled humanoid tribes and seizing control of the continent’s epicenter, their self-confidence swelled, causing them to set their sights on dominating the entire land.
Their rise to glory was cut short before they could fully realize their ambitions. The vast lands they had forcefully plundered were taken away, and their tribe nearly wiped out. This downfall was the direct outcome of their assault against an inconspicuous and mysterious vampire clan.
Following their crushing defeat and forced retreat to their capital, the trolls would never forget the silver-haired devil whose outward appearance was a complete mismatch with her personality.
From that point onwards, the name Lilias Lasombra became a nightmare in the hearts of all trolls, to the extent that it turned into a legend passed down through generations.
According to ancient books and records, the Scarlet Queen had personally led her troops into battle. Her strategies were peculiar and nearly incomprehensible, with a power that was beyond measure.
As a result of this incident, the vampire race had conquered and acquired a large amount of territory, solidifying their position as the leading race among demons.
Therefore, it was understandable that the vampire race was a psychological trauma for the trolls.
‘Unless it’s an absolute last resort, do not offend the vampire race.’ This mindset had been handed down through generations, from the trolls’ ancestors to their youth, and continued to endure to the present day.
“Hmm~ Is that so? It’s great to hear that my arrival didn’t interrupt your elegant hobbies.” The purple-haired girl said, her arms wrapped around a doll. Her dreamy tone, alongside her bleary eyes, made her seem like a little dormouse that wasn’t fully awake.
However, despite her indolent and vulnerable appearance, not a single person in the castle hall dared to hold the slightest contempt for this vampire girl.
“I am Kamron, from the Yellow Deer Clan, a vassal of the Troll Tribes. I’m currently serving as the governor of Nolan City. May I be so bold as to ask for your esteemed name?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Tina, an insignificant junior from the Leforno family.” The purple-haired girl slightly lifted her skirt and bowed.
“Well then, Miss Tina. May I ask if the purpose of your long journey here is to represent yourself or the will of your country?” Kamron was cautious with his words and actions, using various honorifics in a clumsy manner.
Apart from the surname of the vampire royal family, Kamron had limited knowledge about their race and was unaware of the significance associated with the surname Leforno.
However, considering the fact that the girl before him was wearing a purple, ice-silk long dress, it wasn’t hard for him to infer her identity.
Fortunately, she seemed to be incredibly proficient in the troll’s language, which allowed them to communicate with ease.
“Hmm, how should I put it… You can think of it as an expression of my clan’s will.” Tina said, with her head tilted and her finger lightly pressed against her lips in contemplation.
“Is that so? In that case, may I ask what business brings Your Excellency to this place?” Kamron let out a slight sigh. However, her next sentence flooded him with anxiety and, at the same time, heightened his vigilance to an unprecedented level.
“Well, it’s just a small matter, really. I’m here to kindly ask everyone in this place to go back to their homes.” Tina’s lazy and dispirited voice delivered these words which sounded like a subtle threat, implying that a war might be inevitable should her request be ignored.
“! What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?!” Kamron’s face twisted in a mix of shock and anger as his brows instantly furrowed. His fist struck the table with considerable force, causing the cups atop it to rattle.
“Hmm? Was I not tactful enough in delivering the message? My apologies~ Tina isn’t particularly good with words, so may I ask Sir Kamron to forgive me if I offended you.” Although Tina was initially caught off guard by his response, she quickly followed it up by offering a heartfelt apology.
“If Miss Tina’s purpose here is only to deliver those words, then you may take your leave…” Kamron let out a deep sigh as he composed himself in preparation of sending the guest out.
To be completely honest, if the girl standing before him were no vampire but an emissary of some other race, he would have probably pinned her to the ground and used her as an outlet to vent his anger by now.
Although vampires were beings he absolutely could not afford to provoke, this situation had a direct impact on the reputation of his race.
How could he possibly explain things to his comrades back home if a single sentence was enough to force him to retreat with his tail between his legs?
While the trolls refrained from provoking vampires, it didn’t mean that they feared them. If one word from the vampires could make them abandon their weapons and gear and flee in panic, they might as well hand over their hometown on a silver platter.
“But Tina is also trying to look out for the safety of everyone here. Are you really not going to give it a second thought, at least?”
“?? What do you mean?”
“I’m being very clear though.” Tina said, tilting her head while carrying her doll. “Based on the intelligence I’ve received, a warmongering faction among the thirteen vampire clans is planning to mobilize their might against Nolan City. Since all of you would have to wage war far beyond the comfort of your hometown, you won’t be able to replenish your small number of troops, and the overly extended battlefront would make it difficult for you to receive timely assistance. While I may not mind much, do all of you truly intend to confront us under such unfavorable conditions?”
“What?!” Kamron was taken aback. “Are you telling the truth??!”
“This lady would not lie to you, I swear in the name of the Scarlet clan, Lasombra.” Even as she made the oath, Tina’s appearance remained dispirited as if she was about to fall asleep.
“…Miss Tina, why are you revealing this information to us outsiders? Wouldn’t it be considered a betrayal to disclose such secrets in advance?”
“Not at all.” Tina replied, pouting her small lips as if she had taken this matter extremely seriously. “How could it be called a betrayal when this lady has no loyalty to the Setis Clan?”
“…In that case, Miss, what do you suggest we do?” Kamron looked at Tina with a deep gaze. It was evident from his tone that he had begun to put a great deal of trust in her words.
A few days ago, intelligence had arrived, reporting significant disturbances in Setis Duchy, a region located past the vampire border. However, since the matter did not concern him, he had pushed it aside, not giving it a second thought.
“That’s easy. Abandon the city.”
“Abandon…” Tina’s frivolous and indolent tone caused his veins to throb in anger.
“Are you joking with me right now, Miss Tina?” Kamron seemed to have forced this sentence out through the seams of his teeth.
“This lady hasn’t cracked a single joke ever since I entered this hall.”
“…What happens next? Will this city remain under your jurisdiction from now on?”
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“…Please leave.” Kamron slowly spoke after a long pause. “If we can’t defend this city, then we’ll raze it to the ground!”
“Ah? Do you truly have the means to do that, Sir Kamron?” Tina gestured in surprise before asking with great curiosity in her tone.
“I…” Kamron fell into silence once more.
“The concept of retreat has never been rooted in cowardice; Rather, it’s a move to preserve your strength.” Tina’s gentle tone seemed to carry a deep significance.
“I understand your intentions, Sir Kamron. You wish to sacrifice yourself to uphold your country’s reputation, don’t you?”
“The leadership of Setis Duchy has shifted to the eldest daughter of Duke Setis. From what I’ve learned, the young Duchess, who appears virtuous and well-versed in etiquette, is actually a psychologically twisted and sick individual in private.”
“If the enemy didn’t surrender the way she desired, she’s likely to unleash her morbid obsessions on others. There’s a high probability it may lead to something like a second war with your tribes.” Tina’s mature words carried a strong sense of warning.
“? Is Your Highness Lilias really going to let this slide without any action?”
“The Imperial Household’s supervision over the Duchies has always been limited and inadequate.”
“…So, are the Setis Duchy your Excellency’s enemies?”
“Not necessarily so. I would say we simply have differing viewpoints. Besides, I’m just a junior from the Leforno Family.” Tina replied with a smile.
“Well then, Sir Kamron should make your decision quickly. I’m afraid you don’t have much time left.”
“Can you tell me, after staking over the city, how would you treat your own people?”
“Simple. Even though it’s very possible that she’s a psychotic lolicon, she wouldn’t go to the extent of being too harsh on her own kind. After all, if the Queen and the rest of us were to find out about it, she would inevitably be subjected to actions that would take away her influence and control.”
“…In return, can Miss Tina answer a few of my questions?” Kamron asked, seemingly unwilling to give up the city in such a submissive manner.
“As long as it falls within my knowledge, I’m happy to help,” Tina replied, an effortless light smile gracing her face.
“Your country claimed that your eldest princess is unable to attend court to receive ministers and foreign envoys due to an illness. I’m curious to know if that’s indeed genuine…”
“No comment.” Tina replied without the slightest bit of hesitation, a flicker of emotion passing through her otherwise indolent-filled eyes for an instant.
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“So, where did you go earlier? Can’t you stop letting people worry about you?” Lil’ Sha said helplessly as she caught sight of the person entering the basement.
“I went to take a walk… By the way, where is Miss Nael?” Ji Bai asked, taking the cross-shaped helmet from Lil’ Sha and putting it back on properly.
“What’s the matter? Do you need her for something?”
“Mhm,” Ji Bai said with determination. “I wish to join your organization and help you restore your country.”