Chapter 124 Truth of the Empire

In the dead of night, the second-floor bedroom of Liechtenstein Castle was so quiet that only the faint sound of the breeze through the old window frames could be heard.

Moonlight streamed in from outside, covering the ancient carpets and furniture, casting a cold, silvery light.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, every corner filled with a sense of mystery.

"Your Highness Alexia, please calm down first. We can talk slowly," Ranch said in his usual calm tone.

Hyperion, who had remained silent throughout, was now frozen like a machine, her eyes wide as she turned to look at Ranch.

She had only hoped that Ranch could elicit some information related to Duke Migaia that might involve the Krete Empire, and she was just eavesdropping.

She never expected that Ranch would reveal such a huge secret in just a few words!

When Ranch told the princess that the Krete Empire would fall, Hyperion almost stopped him.

What Hyperion didn't expect was that Princess Alexia's reaction… confirmed it?

How did he know such a thing! And how much did he know about the secrets of the Krete Empire!

Hyperion's mood was incredibly complicated.

She was both delighted by Ranch's surreal reliability, and confused as to why Ranch knew everything, along with a hint of dreamlike unreality.

Among the three people in the room, Ranch was the only one who remained calm. Princess Alexia finally sat back down in her chair, dazed.

Although she didn't know what secrets Ranch held, she could no longer ignore his words.

"Is the Krete Empire currently controlled by Third Progenitor Duke Rasiel, Seventh Progenitor Marquis Helitier, or Eighth Progenitor Marquis Somerset?" Ranch asked, seeing that Princess Alexia had regained her focus.

He believed in being upfront and honest.

There were many details that could be discussed in the coming days.

He just wanted to quickly understand the information he cared about most.

"?"

However, Princess Alexia looked puzzled, obviously not having heard the names Ranch mentioned.

"Wait a moment."

Ranch thought that was likely. True names were incredibly important to vampires, so they naturally wouldn't reveal them within the empire.

If the progenitors found out that someone like him could rattle off the true names of the Thirteen Progenitors like dishes on a menu, they would probably come after him immediately.

Ranch briefly explained to Hyperion and left the bedroom alone, following the familiar route to the library on the second floor. The dim stone corridor stretched out under his feet, and he soon arrived at the library, which was well-stocked with paper and pens.

In a drawer in the corner of the library, he found paper and pencils, then sat down at the largest writing desk in the center.

The light was soft and dim, and the scent of old books filled the air with the sediment of history. He was the only one in this place seemingly forgotten by time.

Ranch began to draw portraits of the three vampires on the paper.

His fingers moved lightly on the paper, the sound of the pencil rubbing against the paper echoing in the empty library.

In his memory, the only vampire powerhouses who had awakened before the main storyline were these three.

Next would be Ninth Progenitor Marquis Bernhard.

Then, if the plot developed "smoothly," the vampires would find and unlock the seals of Second Progenitor Vampire Prince and First Progenitor Vampire True Ancestor, and there would be hope for the Blood Moon Calamity to reappear.

Ranch didn't deliberately portray them, but simply let the strokes flow with his memory. Rough lines gradually began to outline the figures on the paper. Although the drawings were casual, his strokes were simple and clear, as if there was a kind of magic that made the characters come to life on the paper.

After about a dozen minutes, he finally completed three sketches.

Ranch immediately stood up, took the three pages, and returned to bedroom 201 along the age-old corridor.

He pushed open the door and quickly walked back to the long table.

"These three guys are vampire progenitors and the culprits behind the corruption of the Krete Empire."

Ranch placed the finished portraits one by one in front of Princess Alexia.

They were a androgynous pretty boy, a sharp-looking young man, and a cold young woman.

However.

The moment she saw the three paintings, Alexia, who had calmed down, seemed to fall into a nightmare, her expression becoming extremely frightened.

Hyperion's gaze darted back and forth in surprise between Princess Alexia's face and the paintings.

It was the first time she had seen a painting personally drawn by Ranch.

Although they were just three casually drawn sketches.

Even Princess Alexia herself hadn't realized that each of these overly vivid paintings was like a miracle, as if they excessively triggered Alexia's fear from the soul, making her feel as if she had personally seen the vampire progenitors!

"...He, they." Alexia's voice trembled.

She couldn't understand why someone could understand the crisis of their Krete Empire to this extent!

The one she feared most was the young man whom Ranch called Eighth Progenitor Marquis Somerset, who was now their Krete Empire's Minister of Defense.

She had also seen the figure of Seventh Progenitor Marquis Helitier in the palace.

But Alexia knew that a Rank 8 marquis alone could not corrode the empire.

There must be a terrifying vampire she hadn't noticed, a higher-level existence, hidden deeper.

But she couldn't find him anywhere.

Until everything matched what Ranch had just said and drawn, she finally knew the answer.

The real mastermind was Third Progenitor Duke Rasiel—who looked like a freshman at Krete Royal Academy, gentle and friendly, completely indistinguishable from a normal human being.

Ranch actually said that this guy was a vampire duke?

Suffocating fear enveloped Alexia's whole body, making her cover her chest almost to the point of collapse, tears about to overflow.

She never expected that a vampire grand duke was playing games in the world so close to her, treating everyone like fools.

Even she, who thought she was closest to the truth, was only seeing the surface.

Was there still hope for this empire?

"..."

Ranch raised his hand, and Great Poet understood and released his summoning state.

If Great Poet continued to stay here at this moment, Princess Alexia probably wouldn't be able to think and talk normally anymore.

"Sorry… I tried my best to draw them sloppily."

He still didn't expect that these three paintings would bring such a big mental shock to Princess Alexia.

(End of Chapter)