Chapter 124: Growing Dissatisfaction
The newspaper was established by the Council of Elders, and subscriptions were mandatory for all nobles. Adele was no exception. She had to purchase a copy every month. But as the newspaper’s profits grew, other companies followed suit, with the White family being the most enthusiastic.
As expected of the White family, consistently ranked first among the Thirteen Clans for a thousand years. They were quick to capitalize on any opportunity to make money. And their tabloid was published twice a month, its content always sensational. Most importantly, it was the same price as the Council of Elders’ newspaper: ten silver coins per month.
To gather more information, Adele subscribed to various newspapers, including the White family’s tabloid. Of course, her most important source of information was her own network of informants.
The article in this month’s tabloid made Adele smile. She sat in her study, the newspaper spread out on her desk, even inviting Jasmine to read it with her.
Jasmine, curious, leaned closer, perching on the armrest of Adele’s chair, her eyes scanning the article. The White family’s tabloid had dedicated an entire page to this story, written in a humorous tone. The author was clearly a vampire, a high-ranking one at that.
The story was simple: a minor noble, through some stroke of luck, had acquired a large sum of money. He had gone to his local bank to exchange it for high-quality blood, but the bank had told him that they didn’t have any in stock. So, he had booked a private cabin on an airship, traveling to the regional headquarters of the bank.
He had demanded the best blood, but when the bank presented him with their selection, he had been dissatisfied. He wanted human blood. After much back and forth, the bank had finally produced what he wanted, but the price had been exorbitant. He had spent almost all of his money to purchase a single 300-milliliter bottle of blood.
Afterwards, he had complained loudly outside the bank, even making disrespectful remarks about the Council of Elders, resulting in his arrest and punishment. The blood he had just purchased was confiscated. In the end, he had gained nothing, losing both his money and the blood, and even incurring a hefty fine.
The author had written about the minor noble’s nouveau riche behavior in a mocking tone, but it was a true story. Adele’s informants had confirmed it. But even with the humorous writing style, Adele could see the underlying message.
The author’s words revealed his own feelings: his longing for wealth, his frustration at being unable to afford a bottle of blood despite having so much money, his anger at having it all confiscated. Both Adele and Jasmine could sense it clearly.
Others would also notice: since when had a 300-milliliter bottle of high-quality human blood become so expensive? The fact that the minor noble could afford a private cabin on an airship meant that he wasn’t poor, and yet he had only been able to purchase a single bottle.
And 300 milliliters… how many vampires could that even satisfy? They were nobles! Why should they have to grovel like beggars, grateful for scraps, when they couldn’t even afford blood after finally acquiring some wealth?
After reading the newspaper, Adele accepted Miss White’s invitation to a party. Miss White was Adele’s senior from the academy. They had met a few times, but Adele didn’t remember her very well. Her brother, however, had left a more lasting impression, almost becoming Adele’s fiancé.
Thankfully, Jasmine had eliminated him.
Adele wasn’t attending the party to reminisce with Miss White or to mourn her brother. She simply wanted to see firsthand how the public opinion was shifting. Social gatherings, especially those of nobles, were always the fastest way to spread information.
And most importantly, she could also promote her own products. After attending Miss Golden’s engagement party, Adele’s territory had received numerous orders for clothes and cosmetics. This trip would surely be just as profitable.
Adele, in high spirits, donned casual clothes, grabbed her suitcase, and set off with Jasmine. This time, she didn’t arrive a week early, as she had done for Miss Golden’s engagement party. After all, she wasn’t particularly close to Miss White. Arriving a day early was sufficient.
Many familiar faces were present. Because this was a private party hosted by Miss White, only people of their generation were invited. Their parents weren’t present. Miss Golden and her fiancé were also there. She greeted Adele, explaining, “It seems they’re looking for a suitable husband for Miss White.”
Adele nodded, indicating that she understood. She had already guessed as much. Miss White was marrying into another family, so there was no need to rush the process. Now that the abilities of this generation had become clear, it was time to find a husband for her.
Adele changed the subject. “Speaking of which, I heard you’ve started managing the Golden family’s farms.”
Miss Golden’s enthusiasm waned. “Yes, but it’s not like you. You have your own territory. I can only work within the confines of my family, under the shadow of my ancestors.” Adele, her tone suggestive, said, “I wish money would fall from the sky.”
Miss Golden understood her meaning. She chuckled. “I wish money would fall from the sky every day. I would eat it all up, leaving no crumbs behind.”
Adele smiled. “Likewise.”
Jasmine, of course, hadn’t neglected Golden territory. She was sure that the Golden patriarch had also confiscated a large amount of counterfeit banknotes. But they hadn’t figured out the source of the money yet, so they were probably worried. But regardless of their concerns, they would still use it. After all, it was free money.
Miss Golden’s words confirmed that the Golden family hadn’t reported this to the Council of Elders. Everyone thought the same way: it would be foolish not to use free money.
Adele changed the subject again, bringing up the article in the White family’s tabloid. Miss Golden hummed in agreement. “That nouveau riche… he must have been hit on the head by a money-filled pie. He forgot his place, daring to ask for high-quality blood.”
“But blood is so expensive these days. Even after being blessed by a money pie, he couldn’t afford it.” Adele took a sip of her black tea, continuing the conversation. The young Green boy, clueless, looked at them blankly.
Hearing Adele’s words, he finally chimed in. “It’s true. It’s so expensive. Even our family has been buying less blood than before.”
Miss Golden and Adele exchanged glances. Another fool.
Miss Golden patted her fiancé’s head, her tone playful. “Then I’ll have to find a way to make more money. Otherwise, when you graduate and we get married, I won’t be able to afford your blood.”
The young Green boy, hating to be treated like a child, pushed her hand away. “Don’t treat me like a kid! I know what’s going on! It’s the Council of Elders who lowered the…” He stopped abruptly, silenced by Miss Golden’s sharp glare. “We don’t speak ill of the Council of Elders.” She glanced at Adele, seeing her neutral expression, and relaxed slightly.
After a few more meaningless exchanges, Miss Golden and her fiancé excused themselves.
After they left, Jasmine cleared their cups, pouring herself a cup of black tea, without sugar. Adele, her expression amused, said, “It seems not just the Blake and Golden families, but even the Green family has complaints about the Council of Elders.”
The Blake and Golden families were both weak, ranked last and second to last, but the Green family was more powerful, ranked somewhere in the middle of the Thirteen Clans. Adding the White family, whose newspaper had published the article, that made four clans who were clearly dissatisfied with the Council of Elders.
Adele didn’t believe that the remaining clans were completely loyal. If they were, the Council of Elders would have taken action by now. The banks would have implemented new policies to address the situation. But so far, the Council had been silent.
Their informants, their eyes and ears, were choosing to remain deaf and blind.
Jasmine sighed. “When you sit in a position of power for too long, you tend to ignore the ambitions and grievances of those below you.” Yes, the Council of Elders had ruled over all vampires for far too long. These complaints weren’t new. Being constantly oppressed for thousands of years… even if they eventually joined the Council of Elders, becoming new elders themselves, the memories of their oppression wouldn’t fade.
And once they became elders, they would simply perpetuate the cycle, oppressing their former families. They might claim to represent their families, but the moment they joined the Council of Elders, they severed ties with their families, siding with the Thirteen Clans.
And vampires weren’t exactly known for their political maneuvering or palace intrigue. The Council of Elders hadn’t bothered to maintain a balance of power among the clans. The White family was powerful, while the Blake family was weak. The scales had been tipped for a long time. Surely the weaker clans desired to rise in the ranks.
Not only were the Thirteen Clans and the Council of Elders not united, but there were also divisions within the Thirteen Clans themselves.
At the ball, Adele declined all dance invitations. Even when male vampires approached her, she refused. Adele Blake, the heiress of the Blake family, young, beautiful, talented, and powerful… this was common knowledge. And her ability to amass wealth in recent years was undeniable. Even those who knew they were unworthy of being her fiancé still hoped to become her lover, hoping to benefit from her success.
But to Adele, they were all repulsive.
If it weren’t for her plan to stir up trouble, she wouldn’t have attended this ball. She had a lover, the most beautiful and captivating woman in the world, far superior to these pathetic men.
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