497: Chapter 477 (Anti-theft Chapter) (Main text will be updated in a few hours)

Morton Empire, Linhai City, Swan Clinic.

"Old Swan, so... how much longer do I have?"

Baron Downton put down the inspection report that reeked of cheap ink, spread his hands, and asked calmly.

Opposite Downton, the old doctor's eyes shifted, and his voice trembled slightly: "Your blood report shows that the situation... is very pessimistic. Your hemoglobin content has dropped sharply, and your white blood cells are only a tenth of a normal person's."

"My Lord Baron, your infection is getting worse."

"You know... I'm not interested in these numbers," Downton stared into Old Swan's dim brown eyes and asked again: "So... how much time is left?"

Dr. Swan was silent for a moment, then finally spoke: "At the current rate of deterioration, you might only have a week left."

Seeing the black-haired youth's face darken, Old Swan couldn't help but shiver and said hurriedly: "This isn't my fault. Anyone bitten by the Kindred... has no way to survive..."

"Uh... even if... it was just a small bite, my dear Lord Baron."

Old Swan's gaze subconsciously landed on the black-haired youth's neck—there was a crimson neckerchief woven with dense Barrow patterns.

Only Old Swan knew that beneath this bright neckerchief were two small, unhealable holes, and the Lord Baron's vitality was rapidly draining through them.

"So... I can only wait for death?"

"From a medical standpoint, perhaps..." Old Swan carefully controlled his tone, trying to avoid offending this notoriously ruthless figure of Linhai City's underworld: "Of course... I've heard that those big shots in robes in the Inquisition might have a way."

"You mean... Holy Light? Purification?" Downton stood up, straightened his neckerchief, and the evening sunlight filtered through the curtains, landing on his pale, handsome face, adding a touch of crimson.

Old Swan hesitated for a moment and nodded: "My Lord... I've only heard rumors. You know... a small person like me can't get in touch with those high and mighty lords in the Inquisition."

No expression could be seen on Downton's face. He picked up the bronze cane lying quietly on the floor, and at the moment of leaving, he suddenly turned back and said softly: "Today... I was never here..."

Old Swan froze, then nodded quickly: "My Lord... I understand the rules..."

"You'd better..." Downton said flatly as he closed the door.

In the midsummer of Linhai City, it was most humid and sweltering, but the threat implied in those words still made Old Swan feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

The moment the youth left, Old Swan couldn't wait to open the curtains. Only when the setting sun, still carrying some heat, poured in completely did he feel his limbs were less stiff.

The Kindred... Baron Downton.

Neither was someone an unlicensed underground doctor like him could afford to provoke.

Moreover, now the two seemed to be mixed together.

...

Linhai City is divided into North and South districts by the canal that spans the city. The South District has many poor people, and the North District has many nobles, clearly demarcated.

However, Downton, as a Viscount of the Morde Empire, lived in the South District.

The entire Morton Empire knew that the specialties of Linhai City's South District were prostitutes and thieves. In the depths of every sewage-filled alley, there would be a sallow-faced woman still posing provocatively; in every bustling market, there would be countless pitiful and dirty pickpockets.

Even the new City Guard Lord last year—a Viscount of the Eaton family's pure bloodline—lost his precious sapphire ring on his thumb during his first incognito visit to the South District market. For this, the seemingly humble City Guard Lord did not hesitate to use the City Patrol Knights to sweep the entire South District.

Just the small pickpockets hung on the gallows numbered more than ten.

However... when those seemingly enchanting prostitutes and the seemingly scattered but actually opportunistic pickpockets saw the black-haired youth walking over, they all subconsciously showed a flattering smile and bowed from a distance.

Who didn't know that this seemingly thin youth, who had not yet had his coming-of-age ceremony, was a humble and elegant Baron on the surface, but in reality... the dark king of the South District's underworld.

The ruthless name of "Viper" Downton had spread throughout Linhai City since the great fire in the South District two years ago.

Especially... today the gloom like heavy clouds on the Baron's handsome, pale face made some who wanted to be bold and flatter him stay away.

The Downton family mansion is located at No. 01 Vanilla Street in the South District. Adjacent to it are only the canal that has surged for thousands of years and Linhai Mountain. This was built by the first head of the Downton family over several decades.

It's just... in the vast castle, the only one who could truly be called of Downton blood was Downton himself.

Seeing the young master return, the old servant hurried to meet him: "Young Master... that lady tried to kill herself again today."

"That lady found a silk ribbon from somewhere and hung it on the fireplace lamp. Fortunately, she was discovered by the maid who came to deliver food..."

Downton raised an eyebrow and asked: "Which lady?"

The old servant glanced carefully at the young master and said in a low voice: "It's... the one the young master invited from the North District half a month ago... Baron Ross's widow..."

Downton was stunned for a moment and waved his hand: "Release her..."

The old servant was dazed, but amidst the "thump-thump" of the bronze cane hitting the marble, the young master's figure had already entered the castle gates.

Just release her like that? You should know, this beautiful woman known as the Flower of the North District was captured with great difficulty, and the young master hasn't even touched her yet.

Baron Downton, who loved married women the most, actually let that plump and tempting Baroness go so easily?

Since that mysterious coma more than a week ago, the young master seemed to have changed into a different person.

If it weren't for the fact that his cold and indifferent nature hadn't changed at all, the old servant would have wondered if the young master had been possessed by some evil spirit.

...

The flames rising from several kerosene lamps lit up the entire hall. Three exquisite oil paintings hung on the wall; the men in the paintings all bore a slight resemblance to Downton.

Facing the pork knuckle carefully prepared by the chef, Downton felt it was somewhat tasteless—the so-called big meals of this world were too greasy.

Even after being here for more than ten days, he still couldn't appreciate the unique tastes of the noble lords of this world.

As the Lord Baron put down his silver knife and fork, the little maid serving nearby was startled and asked softly: "If it's not to your lordship's taste, the kitchen also prepared buttered mashed potatoes and cream of mushroom soup today."

Downton looked at the pretty little maid beside him named "Mary" and sighed lightly: "Forget it... I have no appetite today. You take this meal and eat it..."

"I wouldn't dare... Mary wouldn't dare..." The little maid didn't know how she had offended this most eccentric Lord Baron, and immediately thought of several "predecessor maids" who had been whipped to death by Downton. At this moment, even her voice couldn't help but carry a sob.

Downton waved his hand somewhat impatiently, and the hall immediately became silent.

Suddenly... a breeze lifted the sheer curtains in the hall.

Downton's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said flatly: "You go out first. If there's anything, I'll call you..."

Mary didn't dare to speak, picked up the tray, and retreated carefully.

As the gilded wooden door was closed, a thin figure appeared in the shadows behind the curtains.

A young man with a face so pale it was bloodless revealed a handsome, almost bewitching face in the light of the kerosene lamps.

With the appearance of the young man, a cold aura immediately spread through the hall.

In a flash, the young man sat opposite Downton.

"Lord Baron... how is the matter going?"

Chapter 2: Sequence 7—Bloody Reaper

This was the second time Downton had seen this young man.

To be precise, the second time since being reborn into this world.

Downton relaxed his unconsciously clenched fist and looked at the young man who was used to smiling but was actually extremely vicious, saying: "My Lord, I am still doing my best to search, but the information you gave is too little... my subordinates have checked many people and haven't found her."

"The grand underground king of Linhai City's South District actually can't find a little girl?" The young man was originally studying the patterns on the silver fork in his hand with interest. Hearing Downton's words, the smile on his face remained unchanged: "Or... do you think that little girl is a rare commodity to be hoarded and want to bargain?"

Downton was silent for a moment and said: "I wouldn't dare..."

The young man stood up, seemingly very curious about the oil paintings in the hall. He looked at the three generations of Baron Downton on the wall and smiled: "You certainly wouldn't dare... after all... your title as the underground emperor was earned by relying on us."

"What do you say, Lord Baron? The feeling of cooperating with our Kindred these past two years... hasn't it been good?"

Seeing the strange expression on Downton's face, the young man thought his intention had been achieved, then he withdrew his smile: "However... the Kindred's Kiss is not easy to handle. Even those official knights who walk tall in the Morton capital wouldn't dare say they can easily deal with the Kindred's Kiss."

"Seven days. You have seven days left to live. You'd better pray that your useless subordinates can find that little girl within seven days."

"Otherwise... in seven days, the Downton family bloodline will truly be severed."

The Kindred youth's cold words made Downton's eyes narrow slightly.

Facing this Kindred powerhouse who had once easily subdued his predecessor and bitten him, he naturally didn't dare to make any move.

Then, he spoke: "Please give more information, My Lord. After all, wearing a Locke dress and being around fourteen or fifteen years old... this information is too broad. Moreover, I think a girl dressed as a noble is too conspicuous in the South District. Perhaps she has already fled to the North District."

The young man grinned, revealing extremely white teeth: "I said she is in the South District... then she is in the South District... I can feel it."

Downton was silent and nodded.

The young man put down the silver fork in his hand and said flatly: "The cooperation with you these past two years has been good. I hope this cooperation can continue in the future. After all, you know, it's not easy for our Kindred to cultivate a blood servant who can walk in the sun."

Hearing the words "blood servant," Downton's fist hidden under the table unconsciously clenched a bit tighter.

"By the way, don't believe those boring legends on the Zette Continent. These silver knives and forks can't hurt us..."

Before he finished speaking, a breeze rose, and the Kindred youth's figure disappeared into the night.

In the heavy night, the midsummer wind poured in from the window, bringing the pungent smell unique to the South District.

Downton walked to the gold-rimmed mirror and loosened the meticulously tied crimson neckerchief around his neck.

In the bright mirror, two faint grayish-black holes loomed on his neck.

Only seven days left?

...

In the night wind, in the castle, the figure of a black-haired youth moved back and forth continuously.

The long, sharp rapier in his hand brought out points of cold light in the night.

Since the young master's mysterious coma, almost every night, the Lord Baron would practice swordsmanship until midnight.

Servants had already reported this to the butler, but the old butler was only gratified that the young master had finally started practicing swordsmanship. You should know, the first Baron Downton had relied on his superb swordsmanship to become a knight and thus enter the path of the Morton Empire's nobility.

"198..."

"199..."

"200..."

He swung the sword two hundred times in a row.

Sweat soaked his fine linen lining, and the hand holding the rapier trembled slightly, but Downton didn't have the sense of satisfaction after practice. Instead, there was a faint helplessness in his black eyes.

Having crossed over, no matter how he practiced, his swordsmanship seemed to make no progress.

According to the original host's memory, this is a supernatural world. Not to mention those distant ancient gods in ancient legends who still occasionally perform "miracles," even on the Zette Continent, one of the four continents, there are many alien races who believe in evil gods.

Just now, he had seen a Kindred Noble.

Wizards, Kindred, Werewolves, the Inquisition, the Four Great Temples—behind these eerie names is the manifestation of some kind of supernatural power.

In this eerie world, relying only on this amateur-level rapier skill, Downton didn't feel he could deal with supernatural forces.

At least just now... facing that Kindred Noble, he was like an ant.

It seems it can only be so.

Downton closed his eyes.

In the chaos of consciousness, there was an altar composed of twisted tree roots and ancient stones.

This altar had existed in his consciousness from the moment he crossed over.

In the endless void of consciousness, the altar was carved by the dust of time into a kind of otherworldly solemnity and mystery.

The feeling was so real that when his consciousness touched the altar, Downton's soul seemed to be soaked in a strange coldness.

This was a coldness that pierced to the bone.

[Whether to activate the Chaos Evil Sequence—Bloody Arbiter]

The line of text that suddenly appeared on the altar was the same as ten days ago, but Downton didn't hesitate and nodded gently.

The next moment, a black light enveloped him.

【Name: Downton】

【Age: 17】

【Sequence 7: Bloody Reaper (Not Activated)】

【Ability: In battle, by harvesting life, harvest life force from the target all at once to strengthen your own life intensity】

【Activation method: Sacrifice your own life, or harvest the lives of others】

【Life remaining: 7 days】

Sacrifice your own life or harvest the lives of others to activate the ability? It perfectly matches that Chaos Evil style of conduct.

Supernatural power is so precious, yet it seems within his reach?

Out of habitual caution, after hesitating for a moment, Downton withdrew from his consciousness.