The hall of the Necromancer Comprehensive Vocational Center fell into silence.
The NPCs had already fled, the low-level players had all died, and the remaining higher-level players opened spellbooks of various styles and surrounded Hailuot.
The players here were, of course, all necromancers. As the number one figure in the Game World, Spirit Eater held a transcendent status in the hearts of all necromancers.
So when Hailuot said, "My elder brother, Spirit Eater,"
all the players here couldn't help but show their anger.
"Spirit Eater would never send someone to do something as filthy as massacring newbies."
"Kid, do you know that at least six out of every ten necromancers chose this class because of Spirit Eater? If you frame Spirit Eater like this, aren't you afraid you won't be able to survive in the necromancer community anymore?"
"Who sent you to Scorched Earth City to cause trouble?"
The players slowly closed in, preparing to gang up on Hailuot and send him to the Respawn Point.
Seeing that these people didn't believe "my elder brother, Spirit Eater," Hailuot could only prepare for a big fight. Either way, he was level one, and dying would only knock him down to level one anyway.
As the tension mounted and a battle threatened to break out, metal clanged and scraped outside the Necromancer Comprehensive Vocational Center.
A group of steel-armored Vampire Warriors then rushed into the hall. With their Longswords pointed inward, they surrounded the players preparing to brawl. The Vampires bared their sharp fangs, their eyes blood-red, and waited for the order to wipe out the troublemakers.
The players immediately backed off. Clashing with the Vampire Guard in Scorched Earth City was suicide.
A Vampire Warrior of Captain rank stepped in front of the players, swept his hostile gaze across the hall, and asked, "Who's causing trouble here?"
"It's him!" all the players said, pointing at Hailuot.
Then the undead NPCs who had been hiding also ran out, pointing fingers at Hailuot.
The evidence was ironclad!
The Vampire Captain stepped in front of Hailuot. Without seeing him make a move, the Vampire Captain cut both Corpseflower Poison Vines in half at the waist, then snarled, "Don't even think about resisting, weak human. Scorched Earth City accepts the existence of you Living Beings, but that doesn't mean it will tolerate your reckless behavior.
Come with me to the Vampire Castle and accept the Marquis's punishment!"
As the remains of the Corpseflower Poison Vines rotted away and vanished, Hailuot realized that the vampire warrior before him was vastly stronger.
So Hailuot held out both hands, letting the vampire put the shackles on him.
Then the Vampires escorted him out of the Necromancer Comprehensive Vocational Center amid the players' cheers.
On the way to the Vampire Castle, Hailuot contacted Spirit Eater: "Father, I've run into trouble."
"Weren't you going to Scorched Earth City to learn necromancer skills? What trouble could you run into?"
"I got into a dispute with other players in the hall of the Necromancer Comprehensive Vocational Center, released a Corpseflower Poison Vine, and because I didn't know how to control it, I killed a lot of newbie players. Now I've been captured by vampires and am on my way to the Vampire Castle to see the City Lord."
Spirit Eater replied quickly: "It's fine! The Lord of Scorched Earth City is the Vampire Marchioness Dorothea, and I have some rapport with her. When you see Dorothea, tell her you're my younger brother. She won't give you a hard time."
Hailuot said, "Telling those players that Spirit Eater is my older brother did nothing. Will telling the marchioness work?"
"The players probably won't believe you if you tell them I'm your older brother, but Dorothea is different. I'll send a Ghost Messenger to the Vampire Castle in Scorched Earth City to prove your identity in person."
Are the NPCs in the Game World this intelligent?
Hailuot didn't understand, but he could only trust his father. He replied, "Alright! Have you left the Olden Cemetery?"
"I've left, and I'm flying to my leveling zone now. Let me know anytime if something comes up."
"Got it, Father."
With his mind now at ease, Hailuot followed the Vampire Guard escorting him to the Vampire Castle.
The castle was built of hard Obsidian, and its towering spires loomed overhead, grim and oppressive. Countless red Bats hung upside down beneath the castle's eaves, their bean-black eyes greedily fixed on Hailuot's neck.
At the top of the stone steps, the towering castle's Main Gate stood open, with a crimson carpet stretching from the entrance to a high platform deep within.
On the platform, a female vampire sat in a chair of obsidian.
She crossed her long legs, clad in black silk stockings, and gazed down with ruby-like eyes. In her Left Hand, she held a glass filled with something that might have been blood or red wine. She exuded the noble, cold air of a high-ranking Vampire
with a hint of allure.
Escorted by the Vampire Guard, Hailuot entered the castle. The Main Gate behind him shut with a loud clang.
"My Lord Marquis!" The Vampire Captain bowed to Dorothea on the high seat, then said, "The human Necromancer who caused trouble at the Necromancer Comprehensive Vocational Center is before you. Please pass your judgment on him."
Dorothea looked down at Hailuot from the high seat and asked, "I didn't expect someone as weak as you to be wearing so many decent Magical Items. Tell me, what's your name, and why have you come to my Scorched Earth City?
If your answer satisfies me, I can grant you a painless death."
Hailuot lifted his chin and said, "My elder brother is Spirit Eater!"
At the mention of the name, Dorothea's expression changed. She lowered her crossed legs, leaned forward, and asked, "What did you say?"
Hailuot repeated it: "My elder brother is Spirit Eater. I am his younger brother, Bonecrusher."
Dorothea stared at Hailuot without blinking, and an almost frightening silence filled the hall.
After a moment, a smile appeared on Dorothea's face. She waved her hand, sending the entire Vampire Guard out. Once the gate closed again, she sat up straight and said, "You really do look a lot like Spirit Eater. It reminds me of what he looked like before he became a Lich.
Is he doing well these days? I've heard the Sorrow King favors him quite a bit."
Hailuot answered, "I haven't seen Spirit Eater in a long time. I only saw him briefly today. He's busy improving his strength. He gave me some Items and left.
Before he left, he told me to come to Scorched Earth City to learn magic."
Dorothea fell into a reverie. After a moment, she said to Hailuot, "Spirit Eater also began learning Magic in Scorched Earth City. He was talented—his strength grew at a pace far beyond my understanding. He was my most capable subordinate.
Ever since the Sorrow King took notice of him and took him away, I've realized that my current subordinates are a bunch of brainless fools. Most of them really are brainless."
Hailuot replied, "When I see Spirit Eater again, I'll pass along your appreciation for him, My Lord Marquis."
Dorothea looked at Hailuot. "Even though you're Spirit Eater's younger brother, committing a crime in my city still means you must accept punishment. You'll join my Vampire Guard and serve me."
Huh?