Chương 32: Chapter 32 - Our first target

As Seraphina and Eclipse embarked on their journey to become stronger and assemble the new army for Twilight Sanctum, Bong remained engrossed in honing his skill proficiency. Meanwhile, within the Duke's mansion...

In a room softly bathed in the moonlight's glow, Victoria sat at ease in a chair beside an open window. The gentle breeze played with the curtains, creating a serene and tranquil ambiance.

Amelia, standing near the entrance, exuded an aura of utmost respect, her hands elegantly folded in front of her in the manner of a devoted servant. The moon's gentle radiance cast an air of sophistication and tranquility over the scene.

"So, what happened to Charles? I suppose no one really cares if that monster perishes," Victoria inquired of her maid.

"Yes, my lady. I successfully sent him to the dark forest, where he is certain to meet his end," The maid responded with a bow and an air of utmost respect.

"By the way, how did you manage to send him to the Dark Forest?" Victoria inquired with a mischievous grin on her face, clearly intrigued by the details of the plan.

"It was quite straightforward, my lady. I arranged for him to accompany the knights under the guise of a potential threat to our kingdom. A new monster had supposedly emerged, and being the son of the Duke, it was his duty to eliminate any menace. As you're aware, he's quite gullible and always seeks to establish his position within the family. Manipulating him was remarkably easy," Amelia explained, her tone respectful as she shared the details of the scheme.

"Pardon my curiosity, my lady, but I must ask: why did you choose to eliminate Charles first? He didn't seem to pose any threat to your current plans. He's rather weak and wouldn't require much attention," Amelia inquired respectfully, seeking to understand Victoria's motivations.

"Nothing personal, my dear. I was simply frustrated by my inability to eliminate Sebastian. I have no intention of allowing any potential threats to linger. One by one, I will eliminate anyone who dares to stand in the way of my son's rightful claim to become the head of our family and the future husband of the princess," Victoria explained with a sinister smile, her words carrying a resolute determination.

Despite Victoria's attempts to eliminate Charles, who posed no real threat to her, he not only survived but also grew stronger.

Alongside Seraphina, he embarked on a journey through the forest to enhance his abilities and recruit humans for their newfound army. During their adventure, they stumbled upon a human village nestled within the heart of the woods.

The duo found themselves perched on a tree branch, overlooking the small village below. With only a handful of villagers residing there, they observed a troubling scene unfold.

Soldiers were forcibly abducting young girls from the village, and the helpless villagers stood powerless against their might. The village was in the midst of a crisis, and the people were desperately in need of aid.

"Seraphina, I think it's time we intervene and offer our assistance," Eclipse suggested, his voice carrying a blend of concern and determination.

"I'm not entirely certain. Our master did advise us not to involve ourselves in situations that could jeopardize our future plans. Besides, those soldiers seem to be associated with a nearby baron lord's army," Seraphina replied, her tone carrying a note of caution.

"But they could potentially become part of our future army. They do appear to be quite strong," Seraphina added, acknowledging the strength of the soldiers.

"Perhaps we should consult our master before deciding how to proceed in this situation," Seraphina suggested, recognizing the importance of seeking guidance.

Eclipse nodded in agreement with Seraphina's suggestion.

"Master, greetings. We seek your counsel," Seraphina communicated telepathically to Bong.

"Whoa, who's there? My inner demon trying to interrupt my training session? Nice try! Well, if you're brave enough to challenge me, then step up! I'll give you a taste of my winged fury! " Bong said with a mischievous grin, playfully shadowboxing with his wings as if preparing for a showdown with his imaginary foe.

"Master, umm... it's me, Seraphina. I'm actually communicating with you telepathically. You know, all Vampires under your command have this ability to connect with you directly using our minds," Seraphina explained with a touch of amusement, trying to clarify the situation.

"Haha, you think I didn't know? I was just kidding around, trying to catch you off guard," Bong chuckled, attempting to play off his earlier confusion with a lighthearted twist.

[ALERT]

[Oops! Busted]

"I'm pretty sure you were just waiting for the right moment to surprise me with this telepathy trick, weren't you?" Bong muttered with a grin, his tone a playful blend of faux indignation and amusement.

"Master? Are you there?" Seraphina's voice echoed in Bong's mind, a hint of uncertainty in her tone as she waited for his response.

"Yes, I'm here! Just caught me mid-training, you know, catching my... uh, bat breath. So, what's up?" Bong's voice chimed in humorously, a touch of playfulness in his tone.

Seraphina proceeded to relay the situation to Bong. She explained that they had stumbled upon a village where soldiers were capturing young girls against their will. These soldiers appeared to be affiliated with a nearby baron lord's territory. The village was small, and its inhabitants seemed utterly powerless in the face of this threat.

"Hmm... You have my permission to intervene. My bat creed dictates that we shouldn't let evil deeds go unpunished. If those soldiers are causing harm, turn them into Vampires under our command. It's likely they're following the orders of an evil Baron. Once we deal with them, we can set our sights on taking down the Baron as well," Bong responded with determination and a sense of purpose and was infuriated by the soldiers' behavior.

"Understood, Master. We shall follow your command," Seraphina replied with a respectful tone, acknowledging Bong's orders.

"She's certainly displaying some manners in front of her junior. Well, whatever works for me," Bong muttered under his breath, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Eclipse, the Master has given us the order to proceed and turn those soldiers into our new army. They will be under our control," Seraphina said with a sinister grin, her smile carrying an eerie aura, as if she was relishing the thought of the upcoming transformation.

"So, how was she doing that telepathy thing? Do I need to squish my brain with my wings or something? Eee..." He comically mimicked using his wings to apply pressure to his temples, as if attempting to activate his telepathic abilities through sheer physical effort.

[ALERT]

[Oh gosh, you do not have to show such behavior. Just think of the companion you want to communicate with.]

"Oh, really? Well, that's way easier than squishing my brain. Thanks for the tip, System." Bong let out an embarrassed chuckle.