Chapter 126: Watching the Show
Since the Council of Elders’ official newspaper had announced that the suspension of high-quality blood exchange would begin at the end of the month, many vampires had flocked to the bank headquarters, eager to exchange their money before the deadline. Adele, accompanied by Jasmine, also joined the crowd. As a lord with a vast territory, it was perfectly normal for her to be concerned about the blood shortage.
But in reality, she was just there to watch the show.
And she had dressed for the occasion. She wore a dark red gown, the skirt adorned with intricate black embroidery that shimmered under the moonlight, exuding an aura of opulence and grandeur. The corset cinched her waist, highlighting her slender figure, while the daring bodice design emphasized her ample bosom.
Jasmine, standing behind her, held a matching lace parasol, delicate lace trim cascading down its edges.
Although carrying a parasol at night was a bit absurd, it was all about aesthetics and elegance. Vampires would surely appreciate the effort. And the maid also had to be elegant. Otherwise, the parasol would look out of place.
Instead of joining the throng of vampires clamoring at the bank’s entrance, Adele sat at a nearby café, sipping coffee, her elegant figure a stark contrast to the chaotic scene unfolding before her. Jasmine stood beside her, holding the parasol, like a beautiful statue.
Adele, the spectator, had become a spectacle herself, her beauty captivating the attention of many. And it wasn’t just male vampires who were demanding blood from the bank staff. Female vampires, their status equal to men, many of them heads of their own families, were also present. It was perfectly normal for them to be concerned about the blood shortage.
Obtaining blood was important, but staying up-to-date on the latest fashion trends was also crucial.
Adele’s elegance caught the eye of not just the other ladies, but also Miss White, who was also there to watch the show. Adele hadn’t expected to see her here. Miss White, accompanied by her maid, who had been given the “White” surname, approached and sat down opposite Adele.
Jasmine sensed a hostile glare from the White maid. They had had a minor disagreement at school, but that had been a long time ago. Jasmine suspected that wasn’t the reason.
There was only one explanation: the White maid was envious of Jasmine’s elegance.
—Hmph, when it comes to being a professional maid, I won’t lose to anyone.
As expected, after glaring at Jasmine, the White maid turned her attention to the parasol, her eyes filled with longing.
Who wouldn’t want it? It was Jasmine’s design, a product of her modern knowledge and the maids’ craftsmanship. And it wasn’t mass-produced. Due to the materials and the intricate handwork involved, each parasol was unique. If you wanted one, you had to pay a hefty price.
Miss White, however, wasn’t interested in clothes or parasols. She had also been the top student at the academy, consistently ranked first in her year. Many had lamented that she and Adele hadn’t been in the same year, so they couldn’t compare their abilities directly.
They each had their own supporters, who believed that Miss White/Miss Blake would surely be the most successful.
Such discussions had only subsided after their graduation. Adele had become a rising star in social circles, a respected lord, while Miss White, due to her ranking, hadn’t been eligible to inherit her family’s leadership, remaining unmarried until recently, her engagement finally announced.
The difference in their paths was clear. In vampire society, where strength was revered, only the powerful earned respect. Everyone believed that Adele was now the more successful one.
But Miss White didn’t agree. She had never felt inferior to Adele. She asked, “Miss Blake, are you here to withdraw blood?”
“I imagine everyone here is,” Adele replied.
Miss White ordered a cup of coffee, and her maid immediately added a sugar cube, which Adele could tell was of high quality. Miss White, hearing Adele’s answer, hummed noncommittally. She stirred her coffee, waiting for the sugar cube to dissolve before speaking.
“But I don’t think that’s the case for you, Adele. You don’t seem worried at all.”
She had switched from “Miss Blake” to “Adele,” clearly trying to establish a closer relationship, paving the way for the next topic. Adele smiled. “What are your thoughts, Miss White?”
“Perhaps you’re like me, simply here to watch the show.”
Adele didn’t respond directly, instead asking, “Are you here to watch the show, Miss White? How amusing.” She hadn’t confirmed or denied her own intentions, simply deflecting Miss White’s probing. Miss White chuckled, knowing that Adele was cautious. So, she decided to offer a piece of information, hoping to gain Adele’s trust.
“To be honest, I’m the one who wrote the article on the front page of our family’s newspaper.”
This surprised both Adele and Jasmine. Based on the writing style, they had assumed the author was a mature male vampire, not a young lady around Adele’s age.
“I wouldn’t have guessed it was you, Miss White. After all, some of the language…” Adele hesitated, unsure if she should voice her criticism.
“Too vulgar?” Miss White admitted it readily. “I had to be careful, so I deliberately changed my writing style. But Adele, I have a question.”
“Please, ask away.”
“Every time I’m trying to decide what to write about, someone anonymously sends a detailed account of the incident to our newspaper. It’s always so timely. Do you have any idea who it might be?”
“Who knows?”
Adele took a sip of her tea, refusing to admit to anything without evidence. Those accounts were actually delivered by Jasmine, based on information gathered by Adele’s informants. But she would never admit to this. She wasn’t stupid.
And she was sure that Miss White had no proof. She trusted Jasmine’s abilities. No one could detect Jasmine’s movements. After all, Jasmine was the most powerful being in this world.
Adele maintained her perfect facade, her smile impeccable. Miss White, after observing her for a while, realized that she wouldn’t get anything out of her. She chatted with Adele for a few more minutes, then she turned to leave, but before she did, she said, “Adele, I’m on your side now.”
After Miss White was gone, Adele’s smile faded. “As expected of a writer,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “Such keen observation skills.” Jasmine, maintaining her professional demeanor as a maid, pretended not to have heard anything. Then Adele continued, “Unfortunately, she can’t see my true intentions.”
Sometimes, Jasmine thought Adele was a bit too dramatic, with her exaggerated words and actions. Those gestures and lines wouldn’t be out of place in an anime.
Jasmine felt that she had to step up her game. Otherwise, Adele might surpass her in chuunibyou levels. So, she said softly, “As you wish.”
Adele whirled around, her eyes wide with surprise. Jasmine’s expression remained neutral, but she raised an eyebrow at Adele, her meaning clear: See? I can be just as dramatic.
Adele, annoyed, turned away and continued sipping her coffee.
Honestly, coffee was terrible. Jasmine couldn’t imagine what coffee with blood would taste like. It was probably as repulsive as tofu with mayonnaise, a culinary abomination that would make Jasmine cringe.
Jasmine pondered Miss White’s words. She suspected that Miss White was suspicious, but she probably only believed that Adele wanted to overthrow the Council of Elders. Miss White’s departing figure had seemed excited. Perhaps she believed that toppling the Council of Elders was an impossible feat.
But Adele’s ambitions were greater.
She didn’t just want to overthrow the Council of Elders. She wanted to overthrow the entire vampire regime and create a world of peace.
Whether Miss White’s declaration was genuine or not didn’t matter to Adele. What mattered was that she could be used. That was enough.
While they had been chatting, the situation at the bank’s entrance had escalated. Many nobles were blocked from entering, and as high-ranking nobles, they were proud and arrogant. How could they tolerate being denied entry?
It quickly turned into a physical confrontation.
Jasmine watched closely. Initially, it had just been the security team blocking the entrance, preventing the vampires from entering. The vampires in the front row, pushed by those behind them, had inadvertently moved forward. The security team, assuming they were trying to force their way in, had drawn their weapons.
Vampires were still in the era of cold weapons. Their weapons were the swords they wore at their waists. In their minds, only low-ranking vampires needed such things. After all, their claws were their most powerful weapons. As the security team drew their swords, a fight was imminent.
Someone in the crowd, hidden among the vampires, launched a magic attack, flames engulfing a low-ranking vampire. Then, in the ensuing chaos, the vampires surged forward, overwhelming the security team and entering the bank. This was the headquarters of the vampire bank. Besides the low-ranking vampire guards, there were also noble vampires stationed here.
But they were outnumbered by the angry mob of nobles. The vampire guards were quickly subdued, and the nobles, their chests puffed out, marched inside, demanding blood from the bank staff. Facing a mob that had just defeated their superiors, the low-ranking vampire employees didn’t dare to resist. They could only comply.
But soon, facing the nobles waving their money, the bank’s blood reserves were depleted. The vampires, unwilling to leave empty-handed, but with no blood left to withdraw, were furious.
To vent their anger, they trashed the bank.
Leave a Reply to asdasdasd Cancel reply