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!
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