Category: The Vampire Eldest Miss Thinks I Like Her

Side Story 2

It wasn’t surprising that the human world had progressed rapidly, transitioning from steampunk to cyberpunk in just two thousand years. While Jasmine still found it strange, she had to admit that humans were incredibly adaptable and innovative. They had achieved so much in such a short time, while vampires, after nearly ten thousand years, were still stuck in the medieval era. No wonder they had been overthrown.

The milk tea that Jasmine had helped develop two thousand years ago was still a popular beverage, a staple of everyday life.

It was worth mentioning that vampires were now a rare sight, on the verge of extinction. Adele had once read in a book that vampires might eventually die out due to their low birth rate, and it seemed that this prediction was coming true.

Honestly, Jasmine loved milk tea, especially after all these years of innovation. There were now countless flavors, rivaling those in her previous world. Of course, due to the presence of otherworldly beings and vampires, there were also some bizarre flavors, such as “Blood Explosion” and “Human Pinky Toe.”

These were flavors that Jasmine couldn’t even comprehend. Her favorite was still jasmine green tea with milk foam.

Unlike Jasmine, Adele wasn’t fond of this era. Jasmine’s blood had become too sweet. She was now a pitiful creature, forced to rely on Miss Golden for her supply of artificial blood, as the dwindling vampire population had led to a shortage. Thankfully, after two thousand years, Miss Golden had become a successful businesswoman. Otherwise, Adele wouldn’t even have access to artificial blood.

The rest of the time, she had to make do with Jasmine’s blood.

Jasmine’s blood was delicious, incredibly sweet, but after drinking so much milk tea, the sugar content in her blood had skyrocketed. At this rate, Adele was worried about getting cavities. She wanted to complain, but she had no one to talk to. After all, she was a recluse, only venturing out at night.

The good news was that there were now many humans who lived similar lifestyles.

But Adele didn’t want to socialize with those smoke- and alcohol-infused individuals. While Jasmine was out buying milk tea, she packed a small bag and bought a train ticket, secretly traveling to the city where Miss Golden lived. The city was now a dazzling display of neon lights, a sensory overload for a two-thousand-year-old vampire like Adele.

And it had changed so much that she barely recognized it. But thankfully, Miss Golden’s scent was still strong, and as a two-thousand-year-old vampire, Adele’s powers had grown significantly. Finding Miss Golden was child’s play.

Miss Golden, despite being a successful businesswoman, still ran a bar. When Adele arrived, Miss Golden was sitting at the counter, watching the bartender mix drinks, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Seeing Adele, she immediately looked behind her, but the woman who was always by Adele’s side was absent.

Miss Golden extinguished her cigarette, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Did you and Jasmine have a fight?”

Adele shook her head. “No, I ran away from home.”

Miss Golden was about to ask why, but seeing Adele’s expectant expression, she stopped herself. She took a cigarette from the pack on the counter and offered it to Adele. “Want one?” Adele declined politely. Miss Golden sighed. “It’s a special blend, infused with blood.”

“You know I only drink Jasmine’s blood.”

The bar was loud and crowded, the music throbbing, the lights flashing. Adele’s ears were ringing, but Miss Golden was used to it. Her life was so long that she needed distractions. And with so few vampires left, she had no one to talk to.

Thinking about this, she asked curiously, “What exactly is Jasmine? She’s lived for so long.”

“She’s human.”

“Then the heavens must have blessed her with cheat abilities.” Miss Golden’s words were surprisingly modern. She beckoned the bartender over. “A cup of black tea for this beautiful silver-haired lady,” she said. “With artificial blood sugar cubes.”

The bartender obeyed, and soon, a cup of tea was placed before Adele. She downed it in one gulp, then, to Miss Golden’s astonishment, she started acting drunk. Miss Golden was speechless. She had given Adele tea, not alcohol! But Adele was slumped over the counter, mumbling incoherently, “Jasmine is so mean! Drinking so much milk tea, and it’s all with sugar! She’s going to get diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure!”

—No, with her enhanced body, those human ailments wouldn’t affect her.

“Ugh… She’s drinking so much milk tea, her blood is too sweet now. It doesn’t taste as good as before…”

Miss Golden suspected that Adele had come here to brag about her love life.

With the dwindling vampire population, she could no longer indulge in blood as she had two thousand years ago. Instead, she had reverted to her primal instincts, using her beauty to charm both men and women, enticing them to willingly offer their blood.

But the people who were attracted to her in this bar were mostly unhealthy individuals, their blood tainted by alcohol and late nights. Jasmine was just drinking milk tea. Her blood would still be delicious. So, Miss Golden asked, “So her blood doesn’t taste good anymore?”

Adele blushed.

Miss Golden wanted to question her further, then she heard Adele say, her voice slightly embarrassed, “Of course not! Jasmine’s blood is still the best in the world!”

—Ha, women.

Miss Golden scoffed. Adele continued to whine, wanting Jasmine to quit milk tea, especially jasmine green tea with milk foam. She suspected that Jasmine loved that drink more than her. Miss Golden sighed. She just wanted Adele to leave. Usually, it was Jasmine who came to collect the artificial blood, but since Adele was here, she might as well take it with her.

She signaled the bartender, who understood. A moment later, he brought her a suitcase, which she handed to Adele. “Alright, take your things and go.”

Adele continued to pretend to be drunk. “No! I don’t want to go! She doesn’t love me! She only loves jasmine green tea with milk foam!” Miss Golden found her annoying, but thankfully, she spotted Jasmine in the crowd. She signaled Jasmine to come over.

Jasmine was wearing her maid uniform. The people in the bar assumed she was cosplaying, but it wasn’t unusual in a place like this. She approached Adele, who was wearing a lolita dress, and lifted her into her arms. Adele, still pretending to be drunk, buried her face in Jasmine’s chest, feigning ignorance.

Jasmine didn’t say anything. She picked up the suitcase and carried Adele out of the bar. Outside, the neon lights were still dazzling. Adele peeked out from Jasmine’s embrace, her voice hesitant. “Did you… hear everything?”

“Yes.” Jasmine’s single word was enough. Adele, her tsundere instincts kicking in, struggled in Jasmine’s arms. “So what if you heard it?! I’m right! It’s all your fault! You’re drinking so much milk tea, your blood is too sweet! What if I get cavities?!”

Jasmine’s grip was firm. Adele’s struggles were futile. She wouldn’t fall. Taking advantage of the empty street, Jasmine leaped onto a nearby rooftop, then she started jumping from rooftop to rooftop, her speed much faster than it had been two thousand years ago. After all, Adele’s strength had also increased, and she could now withstand higher wind pressure. Although she was still slower than when she was alone, using her supersonic abilities, she was still faster than a train.

Adele, despite her complaining, had thoughtfully cast a cloaking spell on them, preventing them from being detected by surveillance cameras. After two thousand years, cameras were everywhere. Humans had even developed AI that could monitor the entire city through surveillance footage.

Jasmine had once complained to Adele that humans would eventually create a robot apocalypse.

Adele hadn’t understood what a robot apocalypse was, so Jasmine had explained it to her. Adele had thought it sounded cool, but she had also been worried about the potential casualties.

They arrived home before dawn. Jasmine carried Adele to the bedroom and, before Adele could react, pinned her to the bed.

She kissed Adele, who instinctively bared her fangs, piercing Jasmine’s tongue with her consent. She sucked Jasmine’s blood, and a moment later, as always, she became intoxicated.

—She claims that my blood doesn’t taste as good as before, but she still gets drunk.

Only Jasmine had seen Adele in this state, so she knew that Adele had been faking it at the bar. She gently tilted Adele’s chin up, and Adele, her eyes now filled with tears, looked at her pitifully.

“You won’t get cavities. And my blood is still delicious.”

In this state, Adele would agree to anything Jasmine said. She nodded vigorously, remembering that time she had seen Miss White drinking a bag of blood purchased from an underground clinic… Hmph, I would never stoop to that!

They went from kissing to… other activities. Even after two thousand years, their bodies intimately familiar, Adele even knowing the exact number of strands of hair on Jasmine’s head, their passion hadn’t diminished. Adele’s little tantrum had been a joke, a test of their love after two thousand years. They were still each other’s most important person.

Adele also realized that at two thousand years old, she was nearing the end of her natural lifespan. But she could still live for another five or six hundred years, perhaps even eight or nine hundred if she was lucky. With Jasmine by her side, two hundred years wouldn’t feel long. Her life, when she thought about it, had been quite fulfilling.

And Jasmine truly loved her.

Except for…

“Jasmine, I want to drink more blood.”

“No.”

“Eh?! So stingy!”

<The End>

Side Story 1

Spark Village was a small, remote village in the north. However, it held a significant place in modern human history, as it was the birthplace of the movement that had led to their liberation. Even today, two weathered statues stood tall in the village square, a testament to this legacy.

The events weren’t that ancient, but to humans, they were shrouded in a hazy past. It was said that five hundred years ago, Dawn Lady, a human, and Lady Adele Blake, a vampire, had joined forces to overthrow the Council of Elders, the tyrannical rulers of the land for countless years, securing a future for humanity.

People held them in high regard, but five hundred years was a long time for humans, so long that even their reverence felt distant, as if these figures were mere legends from a bygone era. Lady Adele Blake, as a vampire, might still be alive, but Dawn Lady, being human, must have long since passed away.

The statues, weathered by time, had become worn and faded. Only the village chief and his wife would regularly clean them. Today, as the village chief was preparing to clean the statues, he saw a young maid, a recent arrival to the village, standing before them, gazing up at their faces.

He approached her. “Miss Jasmine,” he said, “what are you doing here?” The maid, named Jasmine, turned to face him. Her short black hair framed her delicate features. Although her expression was neutral, the village chief couldn’t help but think that she was a good person.

After all, on their first day in the village, Jasmine and her mistress had driven away a group of otherworldly bandits who had tried to extort them. Miss Jasmine was truly remarkable. Despite her small stature, she possessed incredible strength.

“Just looking,” she replied simply.

The village chief also looked up at the statues, a smile appearing on his face. “Are you admiring the statues of Dawn Lady and Lady Adele Blake? You’re still young, so you might not know the story. But the reason we humans can live in peace and prosperity today is all thanks to these two ladies.”

Jasmine seemed to choke back a response. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent. She turned and walked away, a basket in her hand, filled with freshly baked bread. She returned to the house her mistress had purchased and entered.

Despite the bright daylight, the house was dark. Jasmine turned on the lights, then she sat down and ate her lunch. She had wanted to tell the village chief, “Those statues are hideous! Even if Adele and I stood right here, no one would recognize us!”

But to maintain her persona, she had kept her thoughts to herself.

Later that night, after Adele woke up, Jasmine even took her to see the statues. As they walked back, making sure no one was around, Jasmine grumbled, “Those Human Resistance Army guys must have had an ulterior motive. Why did they spread the name ‘Dawn Lady’ instead of ‘Jasmine’? They knew I was your maid, Jasmine!”

Adele, holding a small parasol, moonlight glinting off her silver hair, wasn’t bothered. After all, her own name had been accurately preserved in history. And many girls had been named “Adele” in her honor, a tribute to her contributions to humanity.

“But that’s what you wanted, Jasmine. You insisted on using the name ‘Dawn Lady’ to be remembered throughout history. You’ve achieved your goal. If those Human Resistance Army guys knew how dissatisfied you are, they wouldn’t be able to rest in peace, even in heaven.”

Jasmine pursed her lips, unable to argue. Adele was right. It was Jasmine who had chosen to use the name “Dawn Lady,” and they had faithfully preserved her legacy.

They had spent five hundred years exploring the world, visiting every corner, from the highest mountains to the coldest regions. And now, after all their travels, they had returned to Spark Farm, which was no longer a farm, but a peaceful and tranquil village.

They planned to stay here for a while, perhaps ten years, perhaps thirty, then, before anyone noticed that they weren’t aging, they would move on to another place.

Honestly, moving around was a hassle, but staying in one place for too long would raise suspicions, so it was better to be proactive.

The world had changed significantly in these five hundred years. The vampire population had dwindled due to the war. The Human Resistance Army had played a role in this, but the main cause had been infighting among the vampires themselves. Driven by a desire to prove their dominance, they had waged war for a hundred years.

After a century of bloodshed, the vampire population had been decimated. They finally realized the need for peace and sought to replenish their numbers, only to discover that most humans had fled to Adele’s territory.

Initially, they had been afraid of Adele and Dawn Lady, but realizing that they were gone, they had launched an attack, only to be defeated by the Human Resistance Army’s new firearms.

And with their low birth rate and the heavy losses they had suffered during the war, their extinction wasn’t far off. However, some vampires, more level-headed than others, had survived, even establishing their own territories, coexisting with humans. Miss Golden and Miss White were among them.

Adele and Jasmine had even visited them. Miss Golden seemed to have accepted the current situation. Vampires were a cold and heartless race, their only compassion reserved for children. But the infighting had been between adults. Children hadn’t been involved. So, even now, Miss Golden didn’t seem to care. She had even said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “You two… are a couple, aren’t you?”

After all these years, Miss Golden had finally figured it out.

Miss White, however, was more difficult to deal with. After all, her brother had been killed by Jasmine. She surely wanted revenge. But unfortunately, she lacked the power. And she had rejected the fiancé her family had chosen for her, deciding to go her own way, taking her maid, who had been given the “White” surname, with her. She had purchased a small farm and had worked hard to build it into a successful enterprise.

Whenever Adele and Jasmine visited, the two pairs of mistress and maid would bicker and glare at each other, but they still checked on each other occasionally, just in case one of them died and needed someone to bury them. Thankfully, they were both still alive and well.

It was worth mentioning that the Blake family was now led by the Second Miss, who was said to be a formidable ice queen.

Adele and Jasmine, still bickering, returned home. They had been living in this village for a long time. It was peaceful and tranquil, and they both enjoyed the atmosphere. But one day, the peace was shattered by the sound of a car engine. Jasmine, who was buying lunch, saw a crowd gathered at the village entrance. Curious, she approached them.

The village chief explained, “It’s said that a prominent figure from the capital has come back to retire in the countryside.” Jasmine chuckled. “So this village has produced important people?”

The village chief puffed out his chest with pride. “Of course! Many prominent figures have come from this village. Like Barbara, the cornerstone of the institute, and…” He rattled off a list of names. As he spoke, the sound of the car engine grew louder. Human technology had advanced significantly in these five hundred years. Cars were much better now. Even Jasmine could feel the improvement in the suspension.

But their appearance hadn’t changed much.

The car stopped at the village entrance. The roads in the village were too narrow for it to enter. The prominent figure, who had come to retire in the countryside, wanted to pay a visit to the village chief, but their actual residence was located further away, a newly built house.

The car door opened, and a frail, elderly woman emerged, supported by the driver. She approached the village chief with difficulty, wanting to speak, but her eyes, clouded with age, suddenly lit up as she saw Jasmine. She pointed at Jasmine, her voice failing her. Then she fainted. Jasmine, implicated in this incident, was taken away, to be questioned after the old woman regained consciousness.

Adele wouldn’t be waking up for a while, so Jasmine had plenty of time to play along. The old woman was taken to her house and laid in bed. The doctor examined her and announced that she had simply fainted from excitement, that she was fine. Everyone was relieved, and Jasmine was released.

But Jasmine still wanted to wait for the old woman to wake up and ask her if she recognized her.

Honestly, very few humans still remembered her. Perhaps only the descendants of those who had been involved in the movement might have some old drawings or stories passed down through their families. Jasmine guessed that this old woman was one of them.

After two or three hours, Jasmine, having finished her bread, saw the old woman stir. She looked at Jasmine, tears streaming down her wrinkled face.

“Is… is that Lady Jasmine?” she asked, her voice weak.

“Yes. Whose descendant are you?”

The old woman, receiving confirmation, wiped away her tears. “Lady Jasmine, my ancestor was Bella, Miss Adele’s maid.”

Bella, that stubborn maid… her descendants had become prominent figures. Jasmine saw a glimpse of Bella in the old woman’s eyes. She also realized that the old woman didn’t have much time left. “Lady Jasmine,” the old woman said softly, “we… we’ve been waiting for you. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Jasmine thought for a moment. She could reveal her true identity and ask Bella’s descendant for money, or she could comfort this dying woman. She chose the latter. “I don’t need anything. I’ve heard about your accomplishments. When you go to heaven, you’ll be able to face your ancestor with pride.” She didn’t actually know what the old woman had done, but knowing Bella’s personality, her descendants must have been overachievers.

The old woman was stunned, then she smiled.

She chatted with Jasmine for a long time, sharing stories about her family and their legacy. After finally escaping, Jasmine returned home and hugged Adele tightly. Adele was confused, but Jasmine felt a surge of gratitude.

If she had lived this long life alone, it would have been unbearable, a lonely existence. But thanks to Adele, her long, cheat-filled life had become meaningful.

Chapter 135: We’re Retired! (End)

The meeting ended in complete failure. None of the Thirteen Clans’ plans came to fruition, and a new Council of Elders was not established. Thanks to Adele’s instigation, the high-ranking nobles refused to accept another tyrannical ruling body.

Besides, the Council of Elders had never truly represented them. For centuries, they had only recruited members from the heads of the Thirteen Clans, excluding everyone else. And with the increasing importance of money, many nobles had gained power and wealth. Although they were still far from the level of the White family, the top-ranked clan, they were no longer as weak as the Blake family, the bottom-ranked clan.

From now on, it was every vampire for themselves.

Adele returned to her territory with Jasmine. No one informed the approaching vampire army that the Council of Elders had been destroyed, that there was no need for them to continue their march. Even the general hadn’t thought to question their orders. Their plan was clear: to use this army to strengthen the Human Resistance Army.

Without experiencing the crucible of war, the Human Resistance Army would remain weak and inexperienced. Although Adele sympathized with the weak, she wouldn’t coddle them. They had to become strong. But once they were strong, Adele might no longer protect them.

Jasmine also believed that if humans became powerful enough to fight vampires on equal terms, there would be no need for protection. They could finally retire.

After the Council of Elders was completely dismantled, Jasmine went to the city where the institute was located and brought back all the humans who were willing to leave. Barbara, her face beaming with joy, even hugged Jasmine. “I knew you could do it! I knew you could!” She was so excited that her glasses fell off.

She quickly retrieved them, then she heard Jasmine say, “The little girl misses you very much.”

Barbara hadn’t intended to cry, but hearing those words, tears welled up in her eyes. She also missed the little girl. They had been separated for far too long.

There were people like Barbara in this world, but there were also those who were blind to reality, clinging to the belief that vampires would rule forever. Jasmine had no intention of saving them. They would have to fend for themselves.

With the researchers reunited, they worked tirelessly, developing new technologies. The vampire army, facing the Human Resistance Army’s counterattack, was routed. Firearms were truly game-changers, especially when combined with sunflower extract, which was highly toxic to vampires. And they were also effective against otherworldly beings.

No matter how powerful they were, they were still flesh and blood. They could be injured by bullets.

While Adele was sleeping, Jasmine discreetly patrolled the territory during the day. She was pleased to see that everything was progressing smoothly. When she returned, the sun was setting in the west, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.

The setting sun bathed Jasmine in a warm glow. She hadn’t seen such a beautiful sunset in a long time. She was mesmerized. She sat down on a hill near the manor, quietly enjoying the view.

After a while, she heard footsteps. She knew it was the Commander, so she didn’t react. The Commander sat down beside her, joining her in watching the sunset.

They sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the horizon. After a while, the Commander spoke, her voice soft. “The first time I met you… it was also at this time, wasn’t it?” Jasmine replied, “I don’t remember.”

The Commander chuckled.

Of course, Jasmine remembered. She had a good memory. But there was no need to dwell on the past. Especially since the Commander had been in such a desperate state back then. They watched the sunset in silence for a while longer. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jasmine stood up, dusting herself off. “I should go back now,” she said. “The sun is setting.”

The Commander shook her head. “No, dawn is coming.”

Jasmine looked back at her, her hair ruffled by the evening breeze. She understood what the Commander meant. Dawn was coming for humanity. And she was also referring to their first encounter. When she had been at her lowest point, it was Jasmine, as Dawn Lady, who had saved her.

There were those within the Human Resistance Army who believed that Dawn Lady should become the new ruler, ruling over humanity alongside Adele. The Commander’s words indicated that she now agreed with this sentiment. She knew what kind of person her savior was, how noble and selfless she was. And she also approved of Adele. She knew that Adele, as a vampire, could live for a long time. Under her rule, the Commander could rest assured.

After all, as a human, the Commander’s life was short.

But Jasmine said, “Dawn can only exist at daybreak and in people’s hearts. It will also fade away.”

The Commander was stunned, then she laughed again.

Jasmine had rejected her suggestion. She didn’t want to be tied to a throne. She wanted to travel the world with Adele, as lovers. Honestly, Adele’s workload was already too heavy. Seeing her chained to her desk, working non-stop… it made Jasmine’s heart ache.

Yes, they could live for a long time, but that didn’t mean they had to work for that long, did it? There was a legal retirement age in her previous world, and she didn’t want to delay her retirement.

She returned to Adele’s room. It was completely dark now, no trace of sunlight. She opened the curtains and started brewing tea for Adele. After a while, Adele emerged from the bedroom, wearing her nightgown, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She yawned, approaching Jasmine and hugging her tightly.

“Jasmine…” she mumbled, yawning again. She wrinkled her nose, smelling the black tea, and her energy levels increased slightly. Half an hour later, she was back to her usual energetic self.

She changed into casual clothes and went to the study with Jasmine, where she immediately buried herself in work. Honestly, the territory’s economy wasn’t doing well. Due to Adele and Jasmine’s actions against the Council of Elders, many vampires were boycotting Adele’s products. Although some nobles were still secretly purchasing cosmetics through other channels, the clothes weren’t selling at all.

But it didn’t matter. They could develop new products.

And the most pressing issue now was the collapse of the banking system after the Council of Elders’ demise. The currency situation was chaotic. Some people were still using the old banknotes, while others were using the new ones. Adele, with a wave of her hand, implemented a new currency policy in her territory. The institute, following Jasmine’s suggestion, started producing new banknotes with enhanced security features.

To attract more humans, Adele even had them build factories and print flyers, using words, pictures, and maps to inform humans that her territory welcomed them, with the Human Resistance Army as their protectors.

Adele’s days were filled with work, her schedule relentless. Time flew by, and the turmoil outside their territory gradually subsided. But every time Jasmine mentioned retirement, Adele would say, “Wait a little longer.”

This “little longer” turned into many years. By the time the Commander’s hair had turned white, and she had passed away, Adele finally realized that fifty years had passed. Everyone around her had aged, except for her and Jasmine. The maids had been replaced, and the head maid at her manor was no longer Bella.

The youngest researcher at the institute now had wrinkles and a granddaughter who had inherited her legacy.

At the Commander’s funeral, Adele suddenly realized that only she and Jasmine still looked young. For the first time, she truly understood the brevity of human life. And she was grateful that Jasmine, with her extraordinary power, could stay with her forever.

Over these fifty years, Adele’s territory had expanded significantly. Outside, vampire nobles were fighting for territory, plunging the land into chaos. Humans, suffering under their rule, fled to Adele’s territory, seeking refuge. The Human Resistance Army had also gone through several generations of soldiers.

Adele’s territory was like a safe haven in a turbulent world, a sanctuary for the weak and oppressed. Adele estimated that this war would last for another hundred years, then a new era of peace would dawn.

The development of her territory was now on track. Each department was functioning smoothly. Even without Adele’s direct involvement, things would continue to progress. Perhaps there would be some initial confusion, but over time, people would adapt to life without her leadership.

But Adele was a creature of habit, a workaholic with a motherly instinct towards her territory. She was still reluctant to let go. But at the funeral, Jasmine sensed Adele’s desire to retire. After fifty years, having surpassed the legal retirement age in her previous world, Adele was finally ready to retire.

Jasmine wouldn’t let her back out now. She confronted Adele directly. “Adele, it’s time for us to retire.” Adele blinked, her voice hesitant. “But… there’s still so much work to be done…”

“Work is never-ending. It’s time to let them grow on their own.”

Adele was silent for a moment, her brow furrowed with worry. “But what if I let go, and they’re oppressed by the vampires again?”

“They won’t be. They’ve grown stronger. It won’t happen again.”

“But what if… what if they become too powerful and start oppressing other races?”

“Then someone like you and me will rise up and overthrow them.”

“But…”

“No buts.” Jasmine silenced her with a kiss, her tone slightly exasperated. “Adele, it’s time for us to retire.”

After almost a hundred years together, Adele could still be rendered speechless by Jasmine’s kisses. She made a small sound, but couldn’t form any words. Jasmine pressed her advantage. “You asked me before what I planned to do after retirement. I didn’t tell you then, did I?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll tell you now. After retirement, I want to find a peaceful village and live a simple life. After a few decades, we’ll move to another place. And just like that, we’ll spend our long lives together.”

Adele was finally convinced. The next evening, when the maids went to Adele’s study, finding her absent, they opened the door to her room. A letter lay on her desk. The first page read:

Don’t look for us. We’re retired!

Chapter 134: Don’t Forget About Me

Near White Castle, Jasmine gently set Adele down and carefully adjusted her dress.

Adele had changed into a deep red gown before leaving the manor. The skirt was voluminous, with six layers of fabric that flowed like clouds, but the waistline was cinched, creating an A-line silhouette. The wide, flowing sleeves added to her regal presence.

Jasmine retrieved a matching hat from the suitcase and placed it on Adele’s head, completing the ensemble. Adele, in this outfit, exuded an aura of power, her presence commanding attention. The skirt is so big and long, it’s like a Roomba, Jasmine thought to herself.

But it was undeniably beautiful.

Adele took a deep breath, then, with Jasmine, in her maid uniform, by her side, she approached White Castle. Two servants stood guard at the gate. Seeing Adele approaching gracefully, they were unsure what to do.

Should they open the gate and let her in? But nobles never walked in. They were always escorted in carriages. But should they refuse her entry? Her attire and aura clearly indicated that she was a high-ranking noble, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

As Adele drew closer, they had no choice. They didn’t want to risk offending her and being punished, so they opened the gate, bowing respectfully as she entered.

Jasmine, sensing the concentration of vampires within the castle, led Adele towards the meeting room.

Naturally, some servants tried to stop them. After all, not all servants were as clueless as the two at the gate. But with Jasmine’s protection, Adele didn’t even have to lift a finger. Jasmine swiftly subdued them with her threads, tossing them aside before they could even approach.

They soon reached the meeting room. It was silent within. Adele knew they had heard her footsteps and smelled her scent. Jasmine stepped forward, preparing to open the door. They exchanged glances. Adele, her chin held high, nodded, and Jasmine pushed the door open.

In the dimly lit room, countless pairs of crimson eyes glowed, their gazes fixed on Adele, creating an invisible pressure. Jasmine quickly assessed the situation. There were far more vampires than just the heads of the Thirteen Clans. High-ranking nobles and lords from across vampire society were present.

Adele, undeterred, entered the room, her head held high, her hand gently lifting the hem of her skirt. The room was more of an auditorium than a meeting room. Vampires always favored grand, imposing structures with a touch of religious grandeur. At the front of the auditorium was a raised platform, with long tables on either side. The head of the White family stood behind the platform, flanked by the other twelve clan heads, six on each side.

Rows of seats filled the auditorium, every seat occupied. And along the walls stood vampires in various attire, some heirs to the families, some trusted advisors. They stood silently, their presence adding to the solemn atmosphere.

The sound of Adele’s heels clicking against the marble floor echoed through the silent room. All eyes were on her. The White patriarch, after glancing at Adele and then at Jasmine, finally spoke. “Miss Adele Blake, what brings you here?”

“A gathering of nobles? I couldn’t possibly miss it. I am, after all, a lord recognized by the Council of Elders.”

Her words sparked murmurs among the nobles. Although she was stating a fact, everyone knew that the Council of Elders had already issued a decree, dispatching an army to suppress her. Whether she would remain a lord was uncertain.

But then again, the Council of Elders was currently missing, their fate unknown, and Adele’s title hadn’t been officially revoked. So, she did have the right to attend this meeting.

The White patriarch frowned, then he looked at the Blake patriarch, who was sitting at the edge of the table. They exchanged glances, and the White patriarch sighed. “Then Miss Adele Blake, please have a seat.”

He seemed to have conceded, but the auditorium was full. There was no seat for Adele. But Adele didn’t mind. She walked towards the platform, approaching the Blake patriarch’s seat. She ascended the steps, her presence commanding attention.

Adele, the daughter, stood tall, while the Blake patriarch, her father, remained seated. He looked at her, then at Jasmine standing behind her, his face a mixture of anger and fear. Then he heard his daughter say, “My dear father, do you remember what I said before?”

What had she said? The Blake patriarch remembered it all too well. Those words even haunted his dreams. Only this once. Next time we meet, I won’t spare you.

He swallowed hard, feeling a cold sweat trickling down his back. Without hesitation, he stood up, but to save face, he mumbled an excuse. “I… I have some urgent business to attend to. I’ll have to excuse myself.”

Without waiting for a response, he fled, his pace quickening as if he were being chased by a ghost. After he left, Adele gracefully adjusted her skirt and sat down in his seat.

His advisors, seeing their master depart, also left. Jasmine naturally took her place, standing beside Adele. Coincidentally, she was now standing next to Miss Golden.

The Blake patriarch’s departure sparked whispers among the nobles. Miss Golden, seizing the opportunity, leaned towards Jasmine and whispered, “I underestimated you, Dawn Lady.” Jasmine glanced at her, but didn’t reply.

The White patriarch called for silence. After the murmurs subsided, he continued, “The Council of Elders is currently missing, their fate unknown. We should…” He was interrupted by Adele. “The Elders are dead.”

Her words stunned the room. They stared at her, their expressions a mixture of disbelief, fear, and greed. The White patriarch looked at her, his brow furrowed.

Did he not know that the Elders were dead? He probably did. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have overstepped his authority, summoning all the high-ranking nobles to his castle for this meeting. But he couldn’t acknowledge it publicly. The Council of Elders still held immense power and influence. Announcing their deaths would create chaos.

He had intended to keep this a secret, but Adele had just exposed it. He tried to maintain control. “Miss Adele Blake, there are some things you shouldn’t joke about.”

“I’m not joking. The Elders of the Council of Elders are dead. Killed by my maid, Jasmine.”

Hearing this, Jasmine stepped forward, leaving the ranks of the other attendants. Meeting the gazes of all the vampires, she curtsied gracefully. To their credit, they didn’t seem surprised, as if they had already known that this seemingly weak human was capable of such a feat.

But their eyes were now filled with fear.

Adele stood up and approached the platform where the White patriarch stood. He was taller than her, but his aura was weaker. After all, he was wary of Jasmine, who was standing behind Adele.

Jasmine returned to her position, her gaze fixed on the White patriarch, as if daring him to disrespect Adele.

“Mr. White, your information seems to be outdated. I’m now questioning your qualifications to lead this meeting. I’m much more informed about the current situation. Perhaps I should take over.”

What could the White patriarch do? Just like the Blake patriarch, he had no choice. He stepped aside, his lips pressed together. After he left the platform, Adele ascended the steps, her dark red skirt covering the floor mat. She placed her hands on the railing, her crimson eyes scanning the room.

“Then let me be blunt. The Elders are dead. The Council of Elders no longer exists. We are free from their tyranny.” Her words were tempting. The Council of Elders’ recent actions had caused widespread discontent among the nobles. Their demise was seen as a blessing.

But they wouldn’t accept Adele’s leadership. The reason was simple: she had achieved this not through her own abilities, but through her alliance with the Human Resistance Army, relying on the power of their infamous leader, Dawn Lady.

Her actions were considered treason. No vampire would follow her. But Adele didn’t care. She wasn’t interested in ruling over vampires. Why would she need their loyalty? She smiled, her confidence radiating. “I know many of you despise me, even wish me dead. And some of you are still loyal to the Council of Elders. But I have no intention of creating another tyrannical regime.”

“Since the Council of Elders’ rule has ended, there should be no successor. From now on, you will earn your wealth and your blood through your own efforts.”

For the first time, Adele revealed her true ambition to the vampires: to dismantle the existing order of vampire society. Only then could humans and other vulnerable beings survive and thrive, achieving true equality.

Even if she would be vilified in the future, she would gladly accept it.

Chapter 133: What Only Adele Could Do

Strangely, Jasmine felt a pang of sympathy. Perhaps because this woman was Adele’s grandmother. She shook her head. “Mr. White said that if I killed him, I should spare his sister.”

Lady Blake was stunned. “You agreed to his request?”

“I didn’t.” Jasmine would never agree to such a thing. But she still chose to spare Lady Blake. “Go,” she said.

Lady Blake’s expression was complex. “You’re just… letting me go?” Jasmine nodded. Facing Adele’s grandmother, she was surprisingly talkative. “You can’t do anything anyway. You’re too old. And from the look on your face, you don’t even want to live anymore. Don’t do anything evil. If you do, I’ll kill you.”

Lady Blake chuckled bitterly. “You see right through me.”

Jasmine didn’t reply. She turned to leave. Lady Blake called out, “Where are you going?”

Jasmine looked back at her. “Back to my lover.” She didn’t need to explain. Lady Blake knew who she was referring to. Lady Blake’s expression was unreadable, but her thoughts were irrelevant to Jasmine.

As she had said, she was returning to her lover.

Jasmine was fast. Although she was covered in dirt and debris from the battle, she still managed to reach Adele’s territory before sunrise. From afar, she saw Adele waiting for her at the door, just like before.

Back then, it had been sunset. Now, it was almost sunrise. The sky was already tinged with the faintest hint of light. Adele, wearing a thin nightgown, stood at the door, and the moment she saw Jasmine, she ran towards her, just like before.

The faint light, filtered through the morning mist, was still dangerous for Adele. Jasmine didn’t want her to be harmed, so she stepped forward, catching Adele in her arms and retreating into the shadows.

Her movements transferred some of the dirt and debris onto Adele, but Adele didn’t care. She reached up and kissed Jasmine, her kiss urgent and desperate, ignoring the servant who emerged from the manor.

The servant, seeing them, was startled, then she quickly retreated, disappearing back into the manor.

After a long time, Adele finally released Jasmine. Jasmine noticed that Adele’s eyes were filled with tears. She looked so pitiful. Jasmine wiped Adele’s cheeks, her own hair, still damp with mud, brushing against Adele’s skin.

Jasmine’s clothes were also covered in dirt from the underground chamber, and their embrace had transferred some of it to Adele’s nightgown.

“You’re all dirty,” Jasmine said softly.

Adele cupped Jasmine’s face, her eyes scanning her from head to toe, then she said, “Jasmine, your hair is singed, and you’re covered in dirt.”

Adele was observant. Others might not have even noticed the singed strands of Jasmine’s hair.

Jasmine nodded. “Just a bit of singed hair.”

Adele turned and led her inside, their hands clasped. They walked through the manor, reaching Adele’s bedroom. Adele made Jasmine sit down, then she went to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with warm water. When it was full, she called Jasmine in.

Jasmine felt a twinge of guilt. She had snuck out while Adele was sleeping, and now she was back, covered in dirt and looking disheveled. She hadn’t expected to be so messy. Defeating the Elders hadn’t been difficult, but escaping from the underground chamber had left her looking like a disaster.

Feeling guilty, she obeyed Adele’s every command, even undressing in front of her and settling into the bathtub. Adele wanted to help her bathe, but she was terrible at taking care of others. She scooped up a ladleful of water and poured it over Jasmine’s head, washing away the dirt from her hair, but also making the bathwater murky.

Adele pursed her lips, her expression unhappy. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back any longer. They rolled down her cheeks, splashing into the bathwater. Jasmine panicked. She didn’t know what was wrong, but she knew that Adele was crying because of her.

She scooped up some warm water and gently wiped Adele’s tears. “Adele, don’t cry. I’m back, safe and sound.”

But Adele continued to cry, her voice choked with sobs. “Jasmine, I’m so useless. I can’t help you. I couldn’t go to the capital with you. I can’t even bathe you properly!” She looked so pitiful, so heartbroken. Jasmine felt a pang of sympathy. She kissed Adele’s eyelids, wiping away her tears.

Vampire tears tasted the same as human tears, slightly salty.

Before Adele could even blush, Jasmine comforted her, “You’ve done so much, Adele. You’re amazing. There are so many things I can’t do that you’re doing.”

Jasmine rarely spoke such sweet words, and Adele was stunned, her tears ceasing. But then she asked, “What… what can’t you do, Jasmine?” In Adele’s mind, Jasmine was incredible. A human with the power of a god… If that wasn’t incredible, what was?

Moreover, Jasmine’s noble character, her unwavering belief in protecting the weak, and her brilliant ideas… they all made Adele admire her. So, after Jasmine’s comforting words, Adele couldn’t help but ask.

Jasmine chuckled. She was supposed to be an ice queen, but around Adele, she found it easy to smile. “There are many things I can’t do,” she said softly. “For example, if I had to manage the farm, it would be a disaster.” She meant it. After all, she was a master of laziness. She was too lazy to even take care of herself. How could she possibly manage a farm?

And Adele’s territory was so vast. If Jasmine were in charge, it would be a complete mess.

“And there are many things only you can do,” Jasmine continued. “For example, the next step in our plan… dismantling the vampires’ current system. That’s your task.” All Jasmine could do was use brute force to overthrow the Council of Elders. But if the concept of the Council of Elders still existed in the vampires’ minds, they could simply elect new clan heads as elders, forming a new Council.

Thanks to Adele and Jasmine’s efforts over the past few years, the Council of Elders’ influence had already diminished significantly. And the nobles had realized that the Council was hindering their interests, even exploiting them. In this situation, they wouldn’t allow a new Council to be established.

But without the Council of Elders’ leadership, vampires were essentially a disorganized mob. How could they possibly fight the Human Resistance Army?

Adele wiped away her tears and nodded resolutely. She would take care of this. She didn’t cause any more trouble, and without her “help,” Jasmine quickly finished her bath and returned to the bedroom.

After Jasmine finished bathing, Adele also went to bathe. She emerged with her hair dripping wet. Jasmine suddenly thought: What if I had let her bathe me? And then made her dry my hair? How would she have handled it?

She would have been flustered, unsure where to put the towel, how to dry Jasmine’s hair properly. Adele, who couldn’t even dry her own hair, wanting to bathe and dry Jasmine’s hair… that was too much to ask of her. Jasmine suppressed a smile and patted the space beside her, inviting Adele to come closer. She would dry Adele’s hair for her.

Adele obediently sat beside her, leaning her head against Jasmine’s lap, as docile as a cat.

The next few days were peaceful and enjoyable for Adele, but this tranquility wouldn’t last. Adele’s informants reported that the Thirteen Clans, having lost contact with the Council of Elders due to the incident in the capital, were planning to hold a meeting to elect new elders.

Adele, twirling a strand of hair, knew it was time for her to make her move. Before leaving the territory, she summoned the Commander and the other leaders, informing them that the vampire army was approaching. Because the Council of Elders was out of contact, the army hadn’t received orders to retreat. They were still marching towards Adele’s territory.

The Commander nodded, her expression calm. She said to Adele, “You won’t blame me if I bury those vampires at the gates of your territory, right?”

“Of course not.” Adele shook her head. She wouldn’t shed a tear for those vampires. She knew that in their eyes, this was just a routine suppression, a simple task of crushing the weak. She had no sympathy for those who sought to oppress others.

The Commander smiled. She had come to respect Adele, her ideals, and her leadership. Adele was a true vampire, one who cared about other races, and her convictions hadn’t wavered in all these years. She even expressed concern for Adele. “Take care.”

“I will.”

Adele, as always, departed with only Jasmine, a suitcase in hand. They didn’t know the exact location of the meeting. Adele’s informants weren’t that well-connected. But Miss White, eager to help, sent Adele a message using magic, informing her that the meeting would be held at White Castle.

It made sense. After all, the White family was the most powerful clan. Jasmine swept Adele into her arms, and like a bird soaring under the moonlight, they sped towards White Castle. It was time for Adele to take center stage.

Chapter 132: Solo Speedrun

As Jasmine’s voice echoed through the chamber, she tightened her grip on the threads, shattering the thirteen coffins. A swarm of bats erupted from within. Jasmine almost laughed in disbelief. They’re trying to escape before even fighting? Truly a cowardly bunch.

She didn’t know how long these vampires had lived, but they were surely older than the oldest recorded vampire, who had lived for twenty-eight hundred years. After all, even the puppets they had put in their place were two-thousand-year-old geezers.

But transforming into bats wouldn’t save them. Jasmine had already figured out this trick. She quickly ensnared the bats with her threads. Realizing that this wouldn’t work, the bats coalesced, reforming into their human forms, then they unleashed flames, incinerating Jasmine’s threads.

Despite their cowardice, they were skilled fighters. They had immediately discovered that Jasmine’s threads were vulnerable to fire. The air filled with the smell of burning protein as the threads turned to ash.

One of the vampires smirked at Jasmine, his expression mocking. Is that all you’ve got?

Of course, Jasmine had more tricks up her sleeve. Although threads were convenient and one of her most frequently used weapons, her true strength lay in her own body. And she had brought something special for these ancient beings.

As the threads burned, two pistols slid out from beneath her maid skirt. She caught them, then, without hesitation, she fired at the vampires, who were hovering in the air, their bat wings flapping. They really do have a lot of abilities, Jasmine thought. Even bat wings. They resembled the vampires she had seen in movies and TV shows from her previous world, both in appearance and abilities.

Sparks flew as the bullets left the barrels, their trajectories clearly visible in the darkness. Most of the vampires dodged the bullets, but one foolishly tried to catch a bullet with his hand.

It was a terrible decision. Although the bullet didn’t penetrate his hand, the sunflower extract burned his flesh, adding the smell of burnt flesh to the air, mingling with the scent of burning threads and gunpowder.

The vampire screamed in pain, his words unintelligible to Jasmine. She guessed it was an ancient vampire language. She didn’t understand it, but she had heard Adele mention it occasionally. The intonation was similar.

So they really are ancient beings, survivors from a bygone era.

Realizing that the bullets were a threat, they no longer tried to catch them. They simply dodged, avoiding any contact. Jasmine’s pistols roared, the chamber emptying quickly.

Although the researchers at the institute had developed automatic firearms, the magazine capacity was limited. She had to reload. She dropped the suitcase she had been carrying, kicking it open. With agile movements, she grabbed a new magazine and reloaded, then she closed the suitcase with a swift kick and slung it over her shoulder.

Her movements were impressive, but the Elders weren’t fools. They realized that the suitcase, filled with bullets, was the true threat, so they focused their attacks on it.

Jasmine dodged their magic, while they dodged her bullets. She held her own against the thirteen Elders, sparks flying as bullets ricocheted off the walls, their magic illuminating the chamber in a dazzling display of light and sound.

But her ammunition was finite. And when she stumbled, one of the Elders seized the opportunity, blasting her suitcase apart. She had managed to toss it away just in time, avoiding the explosion.

She landed on the floor, her movements momentarily halted.

The thirteen Elders were still unharmed, their wings beating, their expressions mocking. “You’re quite skilled, human,” one of them said. “You managed to find us and even injure us.” Jasmine’s speed and accuracy had forced them to take risks to destroy her suitcase. Although they weren’t seriously injured, they had sustained several minor wounds.

The bullets themselves hadn’t caused much damage, but the sunflower extract had burned their flesh. If the firearms were this effective against the Elders, imagine their power against other vampires.

To Jasmine’s surprise, they were speaking modern vampire language.

But it made sense. If they couldn’t understand it, they wouldn’t even know when someone was insulting them. How embarrassing would that be?

Jasmine didn’t reply. She simply dropped the two pistols. Her gunslinger act was over. Now it was time for her One-Punch Man routine. She cracked her neck, the sound echoing through the chamber.

She focused on one of the Elders, who suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He felt like he was being hunted, and he was the prey. Before he could react, Jasmine lunged forward, her strength so great that she created a large hole in the floor. Before the other Elders could react, she had grabbed the vampire she had targeted, one hand gripping the magic stones embedded in the ceiling, the other hand clutching his head.

She smiled, a predatory grin. She twisted his head, ignoring his screams, until it detached from his body. A moment later, he turned to ash, scattering on the floor.

With a graceful flip, she landed beside the ashes. She looked at the remaining twelve Elders. “You’re not that strong,” she said, her voice mocking.

Her words enraged them. They realized that this human was different from the challengers they had faced before. They attacked her simultaneously. Jasmine smiled, a true warrior’s grin. She had been holding back earlier, testing the firearms’ effectiveness in combat. Now that she knew their power, there was no need to restrain herself.

She easily defeated the twelve Elders. They turned to ash, and she landed on the floor, the chamber now in ruins. She clenched her fists, stretching her muscles. She had to admit, those twelve Elders had been somewhat challenging. She had even sustained a minor injury during their final attack.

A few strands of her hair had been singed.

After defeating them, she felt a sense of emptiness. She was too strong, her power surpassing anything in this world. She felt a fleeting moment of loneliness, like the countless protagonists in stories who had become invincible, only to find themselves without worthy opponents.

But then she thought of Adele. Having no opponents was a good thing. What if those thirteen Elders had been incredibly powerful, forcing her into a life-or-death battle? What if she had died?

How would Adele survive without her? She might even choose to die with Jasmine. Or she might spend her long life searching for Jasmine, becoming a lonely, ancient widow.

Jasmine couldn’t bear to imagine such a scenario.

She searched the ruined chamber, even using her pistols to knock on the walls, but she couldn’t find a way out. There was only one solution, just like she had imagined: punch her way out.

She took a deep breath, focusing all her strength into her fist. She had never used her full power before. Her fight with the Elders had been just a warm-up. The ground beneath her feet cracked under the immense pressure, debris floating in the air.

Then she launched herself upwards, her fist slamming into the ceiling. Countless magic stones shattered, their fragments raining down, their sound drowned out by a deafening roar.

The next moment, she felt the earth above her give way. Soil and rocks rained down on her, but they felt soft and yielding, like clouds, as her fist shattered them.

She burst through the surface, soaring into the air. It was still daytime, the stars twinkling in the dark blue sky.

She saw the vampire capital below her, shaking violently, buildings collapsing. Unprepared vampires and otherworldly beings were crushed beneath the rubble.

—Perhaps… I went a bit overboard.

She felt a twinge of guilt, but then she thought, The innermost walls are off-limits to humans. And the tremors wouldn’t be as strong further out. The human servants should be fine. And as for the vampires… well, it doesn’t really matter if they’re injured, does it? Besides, they’re strong. They should be able to handle it.

She spotted a swarm of bats emerging from the bunker, coalescing into human forms as they reached the surface. She saw a pale figure with long silver hair, now tangled and covered in dirt. That must be Adele’s grandmother, she thought.

There were also several other vampires she didn’t recognize, but their green and gold hair revealed their identities. Jasmine landed gracefully, then, without hesitation, she sent them to join the Elders, leaving only Adele’s grandmother.

She approached Lady Blake, stepping over the rubble. It didn’t really matter if she killed Lady Blake or not. For Adele’s sake, she could spare her. Lady Blake, facing Jasmine, seemed surprisingly calm.

She stood up and looked at Jasmine, her voice steady. “Is White… still alive?”

Jasmine shook her head. Lady Blake’s expression turned sorrowful. “Is that so…” She smiled at Jasmine. “Then what are you waiting for? Take my life as well.” Jasmine, looking at her, knew that even if she spared her, she wouldn’t live much longer.

Chapter 131: Time to Wake Up the Party

Hearing Jasmine’s words, the vampire inside opened the door without hesitation. He was greeted by a human maid. Yes, Jasmine was committed to her role. She had come in her maid uniform. Tonight, it was Jasmine, the human maid who had worked at Blake Castle for years, who would dismantle the Council of Elders, not Dawn Lady, the leader of the Human Resistance Army.

Well, she was also Adele’s human maid, Jasmine.

At first glance, her attire seemed appropriate. After all, she was a maid. It was normal for a maid to deliver a message. But upon closer inspection… she was human. How could there be a human maid on the thirteenth floor of the Council of Elders’ bunker?

And… didn’t this woman look familiar?

The vampire felt a chill run down his spine, his back breaking out in a cold sweat. He sensed danger, but he knew he had to remain calm. He forced a smile. “Have we met before?”

—Oh, look at his little trick, trying to make me relax my guard so he can hypnotize me.

Jasmine immediately saw through his ruse. But it wasn’t necessarily her that he was worried about. After all, she was just a human, a weak and insignificant creature. They had probably received a report from the Blake patriarch, confirming that she was Dawn Lady, a powerful human. But even so, they wouldn’t believe that she could defeat them, vampires who had lived for two thousand years.

This was the arrogance of the strong.

Perhaps he suspected that there was another powerful vampire backing her, maybe even Adele hiding nearby. Even though she had defeated the Blake patriarch, they wouldn’t consider her to be truly powerful. After all, the Blake patriarch was just a child to them.

“Yes, Sir, we have met.”

As she spoke, threads shot out, binding his limbs and pulling him back. Jasmine stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She looked down at him, her expression cold and impassive. “Where’s the entrance to the Elders’ chamber?” she asked, her words sending a chill down his spine.

A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. He finally realized: it was Jasmine herself who was powerful, not some other entity. And he couldn’t understand how she knew that the Elders weren’t here, that they weren’t even true elders.

He tried to feign ignorance. “What are you talking about? I am an Elder of the Council…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You vampires are terrible at scheming.” Jasmine truly believed this. Their schemes were childish, like children playing pretend. They wouldn’t even survive three episodes in a palace intrigue drama. But it was understandable. Vampires were all brawn and no brains, believing that strength was everything. Except for those who had chosen to embrace laziness due to their lack of power, like some wives and husbands who had married into other families, they were all workaholics, obsessed with increasing their combat abilities.

They believed that in the face of absolute power, schemes were useless.

They were right, but they weren’t powerful enough to make this a universal truth. If they were as strong as Jasmine, perhaps it would be. Their occasional attempts at cleverness were simply… childish.

These puppets placed on the front lines were too obvious.

The vampire, realizing that he couldn’t fool Jasmine, shut up. Jasmine didn’t have time to waste. She threatened, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you. But if you cooperate, I’ll spare your life.”

The older the vampire, the more they feared death. Living in this dark, dreary bunker, enduring a monotonous existence… Jasmine couldn’t understand it. But using this as a threat should be effective.

However, the vampire’s reaction surprised her. He was a brave one, completely unfazed by her threat. Jasmine narrowed her eyes, tightening the threads, digging them into his flesh, drawing blood. But he remained silent, his expression defiant.

Jasmine thought for a moment, then she changed her approach. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill Lady Blake.”

This time, his expression changed. Panic flickered in his eyes.

So even vampires can experience true love.

Once his weakness was exposed, he was at her mercy. He didn’t care about his own life, but he was terrified for Lady Blake’s safety.

He finally agreed to lead her to the Elders’ chamber.

Jasmine released him, then, out of curiosity, she asked, “Are you Adele’s grandfather?”

“Adele Blake?” He repeated the name, then shook his head. “No, I’m not her grandfather. I killed her grandfather.” As they walked towards the Elders’ chamber, he started reminiscing, as if he rarely had anyone to talk to. He couldn’t seem to stop talking. “I was the heir to the White family back then. I fell in love with her at school. But she was also the future head of her family. We couldn’t be together…”

“Ah, is that so?”

Jasmine hadn’t expected him to be the former head of the White family, but now that she looked closely, she could see the resemblance to Miss White. She responded to his ramblings with neutral expressions, then urged him, “Hurry up! How much longer?”

“You’re so impatient.”

He continued recounting his love story, filled with drama and twists, like a soap opera. Jasmine listened patiently, her expression unchanged. She wasn’t worried about him leading her into a trap. A powerful being like her had nothing to fear.

He finally stopped talking when he reached the part where he and Lady Blake had joined the Council of Elders. “We’re here,” he said. They were standing in front of an ordinary-looking room, indistinguishable from the others. There was no scent or sound emanating from within.

He took out a key, unlocked the door, and led Jasmine inside. To Jasmine’s surprise, it was a garden, similar to Lady Blake’s room, as Adele had described. The only difference was that there was a large, empty space in the center of the garden, piled high with magic stones.

Upon closer inspection, she realized that the magic stones were arranged in a strange pattern.

“This is ancient technology,” he explained. “A teleportation array. The Elders’ chamber is located further below, but it’s not connected to the bunker. You can only access it through this array.”

He explained how it worked, then he stood there, motionless. Jasmine was surprised. “Aren’t you going to run?” she asked. If the Blake patriarch could transform into bats to escape, surely this old geezer could too.

But he shook his head. “You’re going to kill me anyway. But if you kill me, you can’t go after her.”

His meaning was clear: Spare her, even if you kill me.

Jasmine was stunned. She knew he was deeply in love with Lady Blake, but she hadn’t expected his devotion to be so profound. He even smiled. “And to activate the array, you need the blood of the Thirteen Clans. Kill me, and you’ll have what you need.”

His smile was strange. Jasmine couldn’t understand its meaning, but she suddenly realized: he wasn’t happy in this vampire society. He had fallen in love at a young age, but their love had been forbidden. And after countless years, he had finally found a way to be with her.

It was a tragic love story, but Jasmine wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. Their love might be beautiful, but it was built on a foundation of countless lives lost. Jasmine felt no guilt.

She acted swiftly. He collapsed onto the magic array, his blood seeping into the stones, his body slowly turning to ash. Jasmine stepped into the array. The magic stones glowed brightly, and she felt a wave of dizziness.

A moment later, she found herself in a dark room. After her eyes adjusted, she realized it was a vast, empty chamber. It was a typical vampire room, but what surprised her most was that it was completely empty, devoid of any furniture or occupants.

For a moment, she thought he had tricked her, teleporting her to some unknown location to buy time for his beloved. But then she noticed something. Thirteen coffins hung from the ceiling.

They were medieval-style coffins, the kind vampires slept in. Jasmine guessed that the Elders must be inside. She hadn’t noticed them earlier because the ceiling was also embedded with countless magic stones, concealing the black coffins.

Having located her targets, Jasmine cracked her knuckles. It was time to wake up these ancient beings.

She was a polite person. When visiting someone’s home, it was customary to announce your presence. And she was sure that the Elders were awake. She extended her hands, black threads spreading out like a spiderweb, ensnaring the thirteen coffins.

This was a sealed room. The only way out was probably known only to the Elders. But Jasmine didn’t care. He had said that the Elders’ chamber was located underground. After dealing with them, she could simply punch her way out.

This would be a fitting tomb for them.

Like a conductor, she raised her arms, the faint glow of the magic stones reflecting off the threads. Her voice, clear and sharp, echoed in the vast chamber. “Time to wake up the party, ladies and gentlemen.”

Chapter 130: Time for Action!

This was Jasmine’s plan all along. Initially, she had intended for the Human Resistance Army to gradually gain strength through strategic battles, after all, she was planning to retire after twenty years. If the Human Resistance Army was defeated after her retirement, wouldn’t she have to come out of retirement and fight again? No, absolutely not.

Jasmine had two options: the Human Resistance Army could slowly chip away at the vampire regime, or she could single-handedly take down the vampire leadership. After getting together with Adele, she had replaced the first option but retained the second.

Now was the time for her to speedrun this dungeon.

Although Adele believed in Jasmine’s strength, she was still worried. After all, even her own father had hidden tricks up his sleeve. Who knew what the Council of Elders might be hiding? But Jasmine wasn’t concerned. She trusted her own strength.

Or rather, she trusted her cheat abilities.

Sometimes, Jasmine wondered why she had been given such powerful abilities, and just how powerful they truly were. Perhaps a benevolent deity, hearing humanity’s pleas, had sent her to this world, granting her these powers.

And she believed that she was the strongest being in this world.

Otherwise, what was the point of her being here?

She reassured Adele, who sighed. Jasmine continued, “I don’t intend to fight a prolonged war with the vampires. I’ve been working for humanity for over ten years now. It’s time for me to retire. After this mission, we’ll tie up loose ends, and then we’ll retire together.”

These words were as ominous as “When I return, we’ll get married,” but Jasmine didn’t care. She was strong enough to break any flags she might raise. Seeing her unwavering confidence, Adele couldn’t argue.

She even smiled and said, “Alright. Just remember to bring back plenty of magic stones.”

Jasmine agreed.

She didn’t immediately head for the capital. Instead, she stayed in the territory, helping the researchers at the institute fine-tune the firearms. Honestly, the latest firearms they had developed had a steampunk vibe. The brown barrels were adorned with gears and roses, resembling flintlock pistols, more cumbersome than modern firearms.

But they felt much better in Jasmine’s hands, and misfires were rare now. She decided to take two pistols and a box of sunflower-soaked bullets, preparing to play the role of a dual-wielding gunslinger.

Jasmine stayed in the territory, enjoying Adele’s company for a few days, then, while Adele was sleeping during the day, she quietly slipped out of the room. She had promised Adele that they would say goodbye at night. After all, the Council of Elders resided deep underground. Day and night made no difference to them. But only at night could Adele bid Jasmine farewell.

But Jasmine didn’t want to. She didn’t want to say goodbye, afraid of jinxing herself. Despite her outward confidence, she was still slightly apprehensive. Am I really… strong enough to single-handedly take on the entire Council of Elders?

No… I can do it.

She reassured herself. After all, she was Dawn Lady, Adele’s lover, a transmigrator, a being with cheat abilities. If she couldn’t even defeat the Council of Elders, this world would be too cruel. Even if it were written as a novel, readers would criticize it.

Before leaving the room, she leaned down and kissed Adele’s forehead. Then she went to her old room, the one Adele had converted from a small study when Oakham was still alive. She hadn’t used it much in recent years.

She had hidden a small box in this room. She pulled it out from under the bed and checked its contents. The box was lined with red velvet, upon which lay two rows of glass vials, sealed with cork stoppers. The dark red blood inside the vials, motionless, shimmered against the velvet.

This was Jasmine’s blood.

She had prepared it for Adele. It felt a bit like making arrangements for her death, but she had to leave something for Adele. Even though Jasmine didn’t believe she would lose, she had to be prepared for the possibility of not returning. She had prepared her blood for Adele, in case she became too hungry.

And her blood was incredibly potent, capable of accelerating Adele’s healing. If the vampire army attacked before Jasmine returned, her blood could at least provide Adele with some protection.

She placed the box in the drawing-room, then she grabbed the two pistols and the box of bullets and left. The midday sun was bright, casting a long shadow behind her, like a lone warrior embarking on a perilous journey.

Jasmine spat twice, dispelling the ominous thought.

She wasn’t going on a suicide mission!

She arrived at the capital and noticed that the atmosphere was different from her previous visits. Even the air was thick with tension. But the otherworldly beings guarding the innermost part of the capital seemed lax. Jasmine, crouching in a corner, overheard a conversation between two of them.

“Do you think… we should still support the Council of Elders?”

The other one, hearing this, quickly looked around. Jasmine retreated further into the shadows, making sure no one was nearby, then she listened intently. “Don’t say such things! If the Elders hear you, you’ll be executed!”

The first otherworldly being scoffed. “They won’t hear us. They never leave their bunker.”

He was right. Those cowards would never venture outside, Jasmine thought.

The other one sighed. The first one continued, “Honestly, I don’t even know why we’re still here. Those fools outside are causing chaos with their counterfeit banknotes. We’ve been stuck in the capital, bound by our contract with the Council of Elders. We never even had a chance to touch those fake banknotes. And yet they made us hand over all our money, then they deducted a portion of it, claiming it was for… something. What’s the point of being on this patrol team? It’s tiring, and the pay is terrible.”

The other one agreed, his tone also disgruntled.

It seemed that no matter where you went, it was the same. Workers always felt that they were underpaid and had grievances towards their superiors. The events of the past two years had even made the guards in the capital start slacking off.

One could only imagine the level of resentment towards the Council of Elders in other places.

And it wasn’t just the hired otherworldly beings. Even the vampires probably felt the same way.

In this situation, if the Council of Elders was overthrown, it would be difficult for them to regain their power. Once they were gone, leaderless, the vampires would be easier to deal with, and there wouldn’t be any lingering threats. After a while, Jasmine and Adele could finally retire and travel the world.

Jasmine looked at the entrance to the bunker. The Council of Elders didn’t fully trust otherworldly beings. Those hired guards might betray them. So, during the day, they kept the bunker’s entrance closed, not even allowing the otherworldly beings to stand guard. This was a bit tricky. If Jasmine made too much noise, would the vampires underground have a secret escape route?

She had no choice but to wait. As the sun set and darkness enveloped the land, the bunker’s door slowly opened. While the vampire patrol team was changing shifts with the vampires inside the bunker, Jasmine dashed inside, her movements too fast for even vampires to see. They only felt a gust of wind, ruffling their hair.

Jasmine, inside the bunker now, heard their conversation. “Wasn’t that wind a bit strange?”

They were about to report it, but then one of them said, “Forget it.” From his tone, Jasmine could tell that they were also dissatisfied with the Council of Elders. If they had been truly loyal, they would have reported this unusual event.

Jasmine navigated the bunker, using her abilities to avoid the countless surveillance cameras, quickly passing through the first ten levels. After reaching the eleventh level, she noticed an increase in the number of vampire servants. How extravagant, she thought. Using vampires as servants. These vampires were probably from fallen noble families, their pride swallowed as they served the Council of Elders to make a living.

But even with the increased security, it didn’t matter to Jasmine. She evaded everyone and reached the thirteenth level. Honestly, finding the Council of Elders’ chamber had been a challenge. The air underground was stale and stagnant, making it difficult for Jasmine to use her sense of smell. And the doors and walls were thick, muffling sounds and blocking scents. Even her enhanced senses were severely hampered.

But she had eventually found it, after searching every room. She noticed that thirteen rooms were locked, including the one Adele had visited before. Jasmine remembered where the bracelet had stopped. It had been inside that room.

This was strange…

Thirteen rooms… those should be the chambers of the previous heads of the thirteen clans. Which meant… the Elders weren’t here. Perhaps there was another passage, a secret route leading to their true location.

Jasmine figured this out. She knew she had to take a risk, to find someone and ask them where the Elders were. She decided to target the unlucky fellow who had tried to hypnotize her during Adele’s previous visit.

She remembered his scent. Following the faintest whiff emanating from under the door, she located his room. She knocked gently on the heavy door.

An irritated voice responded from within, “Who is it?” The thick door didn’t muffle the sound.

“Sir, Lady Blake invites you to join her for tea.” Thanks to the vampire’s inadvertent revelation during their previous encounter, Jasmine knew exactly what to say to lure him out.

Chapter 129: Only This Once

It wasn’t surprising that the traitor was the vampire traitor. After all, he had betrayed his own kind before, providing assistance to the otherworldly beings and Jasmine’s team. It was only natural for him to betray them as well, selling them out to the Council of Elders for a greater profit.

After reading the letter, Adele handed it to Jasmine, letting her read it.

Jasmine scanned the letter quickly. The Council of Elders had learned a lot from the vampire traitor, such as the fact that the first batch of counterfeit banknotes had originated from Adele’s territory. They also knew that Adele had been secretly purchasing large quantities of goods, including metal products and magic stones.

Normally, purchasing these items wouldn’t be a problem, but Adele had been doing it secretly, through unofficial channels. This had aroused the Council of Elders’ suspicions. They had instructed the Blake patriarch to apprehend Adele and bring her to the capital for questioning.

As a loyal servant of the Council of Elders and the head of one of the Thirteen Clans, Adele’s father hadn’t hesitated to betray her. In his eyes, his own interests were paramount.

Moreover, if Adele was punished, she might be stripped of her noble status or even sentenced to death. Either way, her territory would be inherited by her closest blood relatives: the Blake patriarch and his wife.

Adele had once been his pride and joy, a source of profit and the future head of the family. She had been invaluable to him. But faced with the temptation of personal gain and the pressure from the Council of Elders, he had chosen to betray his own daughter.

After all, she wasn’t his only daughter. Adele had a younger sister, a daughter who was more… vampire-like. Even if Adele died, the Blake bloodline would continue. And he and the Blake Lady were still relatively young. With a little effort, they could surely have another child.

But he hadn’t expected that he would fail to apprehend Adele, that she would even injure him, and that her human maid would be so incredibly powerful. During his captivity, the Blake patriarch had gradually calmed down. He started analyzing Jasmine, and a thought occurred to him: Dawn Lady.

As the head of one of the Thirteen Clans, he had access to a lot of information about the Human Resistance Army, including their leader, Dawn Lady. But initially, he had dismissed the possibility of Jasmine being Dawn Lady. Their ages didn’t match.

As far as he knew, Dawn Lady had first appeared when Jasmine was still a young girl. How could a mere child be the infamous Dawn Lady? Based on their estimations, Dawn Lady should be a mature woman, at least forty-five years old.

It couldn’t possibly be Jasmine! She was just a child!

But now, thinking about it carefully, her abilities and power matched Dawn Lady’s perfectly.

This realization made the Blake patriarch’s expression turn grim. He hadn’t expected Jasmine to be so audacious, to be working with the Human Resistance Army, plotting against vampires.

After reading the letter, Jasmine decided it was time to leave.

Although there were no surveillance cameras inside the Blake patriarch’s study, there were surely cameras outside his room. It wouldn’t be long before someone noticed something amiss and came to check on the patriarch.

They had to leave. They couldn’t stay here any longer.

It was a shame about Adele’s suitcase, but she didn’t mind. It only contained clothes and jewelry, a negligible loss compared to her wealth. And… they could acquire much more valuable items from her father’s study.

Her father had betrayed her. She would betray him in return.

“Jasmine, let’s search the study. There must be a lot of magic stones here, and maybe even some magic items. Let’s take what we can and leave.” Hearing this, the Blake patriarch, bound and gagged, struggled furiously, but he couldn’t stop them.

Jasmine, following Adele’s instructions, found a small suitcase and filled it with valuable items from the study.

After they had gathered everything they could carry, they turned to look at the Blake patriarch. Only then did he realize the gravity of the situation. When it had just been him and Adele, he had been ruthless, but now, the tables had turned. He was at their mercy. His life was in their hands.

Jasmine looked at him, her expression cold. “What should we do with him?” she asked Adele. Jasmine’s solution was simple: kill him. He was clearly not a good person, having drunk countless humans’ blood and oppressed countless others.

But he was Adele’s father. They were bound by blood. And Adele had been raised by him.

In this situation, Adele probably couldn’t bring herself to kill him. She was a kind soul. Jasmine knew this.

But the Blake patriarch didn’t. He looked at Adele, his eyes pleading, his pride as a powerful vampire shattered. He wanted his daughter to spare him.

—Vampires are truly a cowardly race.

Jasmine couldn’t understand it. Vampires were immortal. The Blake patriarch had already lived for a thousand years. If it were Jasmine, she would have felt that she had lived long enough. Without Adele, she would probably have ended her own life after a few hundred years. Only Adele’s presence gave her a reason to live for another two thousand years.

But she couldn’t understand how someone could be so terrified of death, so much so that they wouldn’t even leave their home. And she couldn’t understand why the Blake patriarch, who had lived for over a thousand years, would be so afraid of death.

Perhaps it was because the more you had, the more you feared losing it. Upon death, everything you had possessed would vanish.

Seeing her father’s pathetic state, Adele was momentarily stunned, then she composed herself. She looked at him, her voice soft. “Only this once. Next time we meet, I won’t spare you.”

The Blake patriarch seemed to be in disbelief, but relief washed over his face. Then Jasmine knocked him unconscious. She gathered their belongings, then she extended her hand towards Adele, who took it, leaning against Jasmine’s shoulder.

The next moment, Jasmine swept Adele into her arms, then, shielding her with her body, she crashed through the study window, her footsteps silent as she leaped across the courtyard, like a bird taking flight, escaping Blake Castle. Adele, nestled in Jasmine’s embrace, sighed softly. “Am I… too indecisive?” she asked.

Jasmine knew what she meant. Her father had betrayed her, and yet she had spared him.

Jasmine chuckled, her voice a comforting presence above Adele’s head. Adele couldn’t see her expression, but she could hear the amusement in her voice. “Because you’re Adele. That’s what you would do.”

Honestly, Adele’s actions were a bit too saintly, but Jasmine didn’t mind. Because that was who Adele was. She was kind and compassionate. She could never bring herself to kill her own father. And she had said that she wouldn’t spare him next time. Jasmine would trust her.

Adele was truly a wonderful girl: kind, compassionate, principled, but not overly naive. And sparing the Blake patriarch once meant nothing to Jasmine. If he dared to betray them again, taking his life would be as easy as plucking a flower.

So, Jasmine was willing to indulge Adele’s whims. It was a trivial matter. Adele could do whatever she wanted.

Adele, reassured by Jasmine’s words, hugged Jasmine’s neck tightly, seeking her warmth. Jasmine was fast. Although she had to control her speed for Adele’s sake, not using her supersonic abilities, she was still much faster than an airship or a carriage.

They arrived at the manor in their territory before dawn. Although the sky was still dark, sunrise was approaching. Adele should have been sleeping. But the events at Blake Castle had made her anxious. Her father had probably guessed Jasmine’s identity. When he woke up and reported this to the Council of Elders, they would surely take action against them.

Seeing her worry, Jasmine gently pushed her onto the bed. “Your mind is racing. You won’t be able to think clearly. Just get some sleep. We can figure things out when you wake up. And even if the Council of Elders wants to take action against you, it’s almost dawn. They won’t be able to do anything during the day.”

Jasmine’s words made sense. Adele, clutching Jasmine’s clothes, pulled her down onto the bed, and they fell asleep together. When Adele woke up, she received a message from Miss White. She didn’t know much. If she had known that Adele was working with the Human Resistance Army, she wouldn’t have sent a message. After all, Dawn Lady had killed her brother.

But Miss White didn’t know. She only knew that the Council of Elders was sending an army to suppress Adele’s territory.

She had sent this message to Adele using magic. Adele, after reading it, showed it to Jasmine. She fell silent. According to their plan, they would eventually clash with the Council of Elders’ army, but not now.

Jasmine hugged Adele. “Don’t worry. It’s time to use my method.”

“What method?”

Jasmine smiled confidently, cracking her knuckles, her usually cold eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. “Brute force.”

Chapter 128: Second Nature

In that moment, as she met Jasmine’s gaze, the head maid felt a surge of fear. She had to admit, she was intimidated by those black eyes. But her master’s orders were absolute. The patriarch had given a command, and she had to obey.

She extended her sharp fingernails, lunging towards Jasmine.

Simultaneously, the other low-ranking vampire maids, following her lead, pounced on Jasmine, ready to tear her apart, to make her scream.

They knew that the young mistress doted on this human maid, even taking her from Blake Castle and keeping her by her side for all these years. But even if they tore her to shreds, the young mistress couldn’t punish them. After all, this was the order of the young mistress’s father, the Blake patriarch.

Facing their attack, Jasmine stood motionless, her expression unchanged.

The head maid, seeing Jasmine’s lack of reaction, thought, I was overthinking it. She’s just a human. Those black eyes are just… unsettling. That’s why I remembered what the previous head maid said.

No matter how she looked at it, Jasmine was just an ordinary human. A weak and helpless human.

The head maid relaxed. But the next moment, Jasmine vanished. She blinked, confused, then she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and everything went black.

Having knocked out all the low-ranking vampire maids in an instant, Jasmine dusted her hands, as if removing nonexistent dirt. She had become more merciful, embracing Adele’s ideals of peaceful coexistence between humans and other races. Otherwise, she would have killed these vampires who dared to attack her, not simply putting them to sleep.

She turned and ran towards the study, her nose catching a whiff of blood. The scent was coming from the Blake patriarch’s study. Worried, she increased her speed.

But when she opened the door, she saw Adele and the Blake patriarch facing each other. Adele’s clothes were slightly disheveled, but she was still unharmed. The Blake patriarch, however, had several scratches on his body.

Jasmine paused. Both vampires turned to look at her. Realizing that Adele had the upper hand, Jasmine decided she didn’t need to intervene. She looked at Adele, but before Adele could speak, the Blake patriarch shouted, “What are you doing here?! Someone!”

To prevent anyone from hearing his call for help, Jasmine quickly closed the door and entered the room.

With a flick of her wrist, threads shot out, binding the Blake patriarch, even gagging him. He collapsed on the floor, a helpless black mummy. Seeing her father in such a state, Adele was speechless.

“What happened?” Jasmine asked, turning to Adele.

Adele smoothed her clothes, ensuring that she still looked presentable, then she sat down on the sofa. She gestured for Jasmine to pour her some tea. Jasmine, using the tea set in the Blake patriarch’s study, brewed the tea, then she took out an artificial blood sugar cube from her pocket, adding it to Adele’s cup and stirring it gently.

As Jasmine placed the cup on the coffee table, Adele was smoothing her hair. She paused, picked up the cup, and took a sip. After calming down, she sighed. “It seems the Council of Elders has discovered what I’ve been doing. There must be a traitor.”

This confirmed Jasmine’s suspicions. She nodded, then she and Adele, as if the Blake patriarch wasn’t even there, started discussing who the traitor might be.

This gave the Blake patriarch a false sense of hope. He stared at them, his eyes narrowed, then, taking advantage of their distraction, he transformed into a swarm of bats, attempting to escape.

But it was futile. After all, he was facing Jasmine, the most powerful being on Earth. Her threads were not only incredibly strong, but also incredibly agile. As he transformed, the single thread exploded into countless tiny threads, ensnaring the bats and pinning them to the floor.

Jasmine stood up and approached the trapped bats, her cold, black eyes reflecting their frantic movements.

She couldn’t help but poke one of the bats with her finger. It was quite fluffy. Perhaps in a few hundred years, Adele would also learn this ability, maybe even transforming into a large, plump bat that Jasmine could cuddle.

The bat she had poked squeaked angrily, struggling against its bonds, but the threads held firm. After a while, it gave up, its movements ceasing.

Honestly, the fact that vampires could transform into bats to escape wasn’t surprising to Jasmine. It was a classic vampire trope in movies, TV shows, and anime from her previous world. They could also transform into rats, spiders, and other creatures. Jasmine had been prepared for this.

But she hadn’t seen any vampires use this ability in all the years she had been in this world. This was the first time. She guessed that it wasn’t a common ability, only accessible to vampires with a certain level of power. The vampires she had encountered before, including the White heir, hadn’t possessed this ability.

The Blake patriarch, however, was the head of one of the Thirteen Clans, one of the most powerful vampires in society. It was no surprise that he possessed this ability. Perhaps he had other tricks up his sleeve as well.

After a while, Jasmine loosened her grip on the threads, and the bats coalesced, reforming into the Blake patriarch. He was breathing heavily, clearly exhausted by the transformation.

Jasmine returned to her seat, seeing the disbelief on Adele’s face. Why didn’t my father teach me this ability? After Jasmine sat down, Adele cleared her throat and continued, “Father was going to tie me up and take me to the Council of Elders, but I refused. We had a disagreement, and then we fought. He wasn’t paying attention, so I managed to injure him. He even bled a little.”

It sounded incredible. After all, Adele was just a young vampire, not even a hundred years old, while the Blake patriarch was an ancient being. Logically, Adele would have been the one injured and bleeding. And vampires had a keen sense of smell. There were so many vampires in Blake Castle. They would have surely smelled the blood. But since the scent was coming from the patriarch’s study, everyone would assume that it was Adele who was injured, not the patriarch.

Everyone in the castle probably knew that Adele was going to be imprisoned upon her return. The Second Miss’s hesitant expression earlier now made sense.

Adele is truly strong. As expected of the girl I raised.

“So, who’s the traitor?”

Adele shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Jasmine stood up again and approached the Blake patriarch, who was probably rarely in such a state of disarray. He stared at Jasmine, his eyes filled with hatred and fear, unable to comprehend her power.

Jasmine guessed that he probably thought she was some kind of monster disguised as a human, that Adele’s human maid, Jasmine, had been replaced by something else. After all, the human named Jasmine had been brought from the childcare institution by Adele under the watchful eyes of the Blake couple. She had been undeniably human.

Not like this… this creature who could manipulate strange threads…

Seeing his expression, Jasmine knew that he wouldn’t reveal the traitor’s identity. But it didn’t matter. If he wouldn’t tell her, she would find out herself. She searched his study, easily bypassing the traps and mechanisms he had so proudly devised.

She quickly found the letter from the Council of Elders and brought it to Adele.

The Blake patriarch had watched the entire process. Initially, he had been dismissive, believing that Jasmine could never find his hidden letter. Then he had become anxious, seeing Jasmine’s confident demeanor. And finally, he was filled with disbelief as Jasmine, with ease, located the letter.

He remembered the countless nights he had spent creating those traps and mechanisms, paranoid about someone discovering his correspondence. Even his most trusted subordinates had thought he was being ridiculous. Who could possibly breach Blake Castle’s security, enter his study, and read his letters?

But for some reason, he had been worried. And now he realized: his worries had been justified. Look! This woman had just found his secret letter!

Jasmine, sensing his gaze, turned to look at him, then, as he watched in horror, she smiled triumphantly.

After all these years of playing cat and mouse with the Blake patriarch in his study, she knew exactly where he would hide his letters and what kind of traps he would use. It was second nature to her. She turned to Adele. “So, who’s the traitor?”

Adele’s expression remained neutral, but her answer was both unexpected and unsurprising. It wasn’t anyone from their territory, nor was it one of their informants.

“It’s… the one from the airship company.”

Jasmine gasped. Ah, the vampire traitor.