186: contract

The negotiations with the Pope and his group will still take some time.

Lu Chen returned to the Eternal World once again.

He pushed open the door and entered again.

When he saw Nita, only a second had passed.

But for Lu Chen, he had truly spent several days in the real world.

Nita still showed some reaction.

It seemed that although Lu Chen had said he would leave for a while, he had been gone for less than a second.

Naturally, she would not know that Lu Chen had even been to another world.

"It looks like you're recovering well."

Lu Chen said as he walked over.

Nita remained silent.

Lu Chen looked at the young girl vampire.

He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's a pity we couldn't meet in a different setting; otherwise, a beautiful young girl vampire shouldn't look like you do right now."

Immediately after, Lu Chen scrutinized Nita and slowly recited a poem:

Scarlet silk skirt trails faint fragrance, icy gauze half-veils jade-like cool skin.

Moon-Soul gazes with amber eyes, a thousand years have not changed the old radiance.

Deep eaves of the ancient castle hide the eternal night, roses weep dew staining the remnants of makeup.

Silver spoon stirs crimson wine, wanting to drink but pausing, recalling heart-wrenching memories.

Ash-cold candlestick, stars about to fall, a lonely shadow wanders around the gallery.

Eternal life spell locks the exquisite bones, alone facing the dim window counting the night's frost.

Bloodline contract carves into the heart, mistakenly trading human words for the vicissitudes of life.

Night wind suddenly carries the distant bell sound, brushing away the white moonlight from the lapel.

After the young girl showed some reaction.

Lu Chen continued, "What a pity. A female vampire should be like what I described in this poem, not like you are now, slumped like a pile of mud. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you're just a soulless thing right now."

Lu Chen was provoking Nita.

Seeing that her eyes gradually began to show a spark of life.

He chuckled inwardly.

He said again:

"The magic tide is coming, troubled times are upon us; this is the time when heroes emerge! Look at your world, your country—the Emperor becomes an Incarnation of a Dragon to quell rebellions, and treacherous subjects inherit the Bloodline of devils. Aren't these things scarier than what you look like?"

"Won't people feel fear?" Nita asked, biting her lower lip.

"Yes, and no," Lu Chen explained. "What people fear more is reality, not these ethereal things. Many people, for the sake of power, would give anything to obtain supernatural abilities. For instance, this Bloodline of yours—don't they want to possess it? They do, they even want greater power. Therefore, it is never the unknown that is terrifying, but the human heart."

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Nita was somewhat confused. She clearly didn't fully understand, but she was very clear about one thing: the reason the person in front of her was saying these things was primarily to get her to pull herself together, rather than just rotting on the ground like a pile of mud.

But she just couldn't do it!

Her heart was broken, torn to shreds!

"...But I am a vampire, a member of the undead, a monster! A thing that feeds on human blood..." Nita mumbled.

"What's wrong with being a vampire? The Vampire race is something that naturally exists in this world. If I remember correctly, my information indicates that there is a Grand Duke under the Roman Orthodox Church who possesses the power of a vampire. He is even a frontline warrior defending against the East. Are you saying he isn't highly valued? I don't think so, right?"

The information about this world was all embedded in Lu Chen's mind.

In fact, the technology of this world was on par with his own world.

The level of magic was about the same, too.

But the history was like the European Middle Ages of his own world.

"...Is everything you said true?" Nita had never left Constantinople since she was a child. She had absolutely no way of knowing about the world outside the Eastern Roman Empire, and she hadn't read many books, so naturally, she didn't have much worldly experience.

But Lu Chen's simple words directly encouraged her, as if hope had been suddenly awakened within her. She seemed less resistant to her own Bloodline and her current identity as a vampire, and perhaps even felt a little bit of—secret joy?

This was also a type of extraordinary power, right?

It was something she possessed without even needing to go to a magic school to learn it.

But the price... was just too high.

For a moment, sorrow welled up in Nita's heart.

Because she no longer had any family in this world.

Completely gone.

She was all alone, and she was the one who had caused all of this with her own hands.

She had destroyed everything.

And she was the one who had killed... Nita didn't dare to think about it anymore!

She began to sink into an ocean of endless sorrow again.

"Why... why do you want to help me? Help me, an undead, a vampire, a monster in the eyes of humans, a bloodthirsty monster, a—ghostly creature." Nita looked gloomily at the fire in front of her; the fireplace's glow reflected on her face, revealing a complex expression.

"Because I need you to help me do something. I want to accomplish some things and I need a helper. You also want revenge, don't you? Especially since—you are a turned vampire, you must really want to find the person who ruined you, right?"

"Yes."

"Very well, we have an agreement. My ancestral home is the lair of that woman. My parents passed away a long time ago, and the servants there have all become her slaves and are all vampires. After all, that place is my property, and I want to take it back, so we can cooperate."

"I understand, I am willing to help you."

"But you must sign a Soul contract with me."

Lu Chen revealed his fangs.

It was very simple to deceive a young girl.

At the same time, he needed someone loyal to help him do things.

Especially a key figure from the card given by the Faceless Man.

Then he would just add another lock.

A Soul contract, at a time like this, shouldn't be too much, right?

Lu Chen didn't think it was too much.

Seeing Nita's stunned expression, Lu Chen spread his hands and explained:

"Your power is very weak right now. You need a teacher, and I am your best choice. After all, if the Church discovers you, you won't be far from death. You are not an existence like that Grand Duke vampire. Even if a Demon Hunter catches you, you would just be their bounty. You need to avoid so many dangers; isn't it good for me to protect you? And I'm not doing it for free."

Lu Chen continued to "induce her step by step," focusing on the angle of looking out for her.

He was practically like a bad uncle constantly tricking a little girl with lollipops.

But for such a naive little girl like Nita, she couldn't hear anything wrong with it.

A Soul contract?

No, this was a deed of indenture.

Only Nita would never realize it.

Because Lu Chen had made too many preparations; it looked like he was so considerate of her.

Even the magic of this Soul contract had been secretly improved by Lu Chen.

It was already different.

Lu Chen had already taken that Soul contract out of his pocket.

The clauses on it were densely packed.

After Nita took it and finished reading it carefully.

She asked:

"So, you provide protection and teach me to fight, in exchange for my allegiance, for a period of ten years?"

"Yes, ten years is enough for me. Many things I want to investigate will find their answers by then."