The Conquerors Path Chapter 993 - 991-The Blood Queen.

As I gazed upon the vampire secretary, I pondered her fierce struggle to conceal the urge to leap onto me and drain my blood until waves of ultimate bliss crashed over her.

"Um... hello?"

My words snapped the vampire woman from her trance, prompting her to respond swiftly.

"AH! Yes... Come this way, the Lord is waiting for you."

Though her tone stayed professional and sharp, it might have rang truer without her discreet swipe at the drool on her lips. Suppressing a grin, I trailed after the vampire as she guided me forward. Still, I caught her glancing back at me now and then, as if barely restraining herself from abandoning her hard-earned status for a fleeting rush of ecstasy.

In the end, though, her reason triumphed, revealing exactly how she climbed to her present role—impressive self-control indeed. For a bit of mischief, I'd amplified the passive's influence solely on her, and as she directed me out of the chamber into a corridor bustling with occasional vampires passing by—to whom I dialed back the effects overall.

It merely sparked warmer, friendlier looks my way, until the secretary ushered me along the hall to what resembled an elevator, its doors sliding open. She remained outside as she announced.

"This is as far as I go. The elevator is already planned to take you to the top to meet the Lord. Hope you have a good talk."

"Thank you."

A smile accompanied my reply, making the reluctant woman pause yet again before she extended an item toward me while speaking.

"Here you go, this is a direct connection to my communication orb. If you ever want to get in touch about anything here, you can contact me."

"Oh sure."

I accepted the slip with those words, but when I tugged, the secretary held firm, her gaze locking onto mine as she emphasized.

"You can call me for anything... anything."

"Hahaha... sure, will do."

An uneasy chuckle escaped me in response, and only then did she release the slip. I pocketed it just as the doors sealed shut. Moments later, a subtle vibration began, signaling the ascent. The velocity exceeded my expectations, propelling me upward in under thirty seconds until the doors parted on a new level.

Stepping out revealed an entirely different realm, one radiating potent royal grandeur, complete with a pale gray moon hovering overhead and expansive vistas unfolding before me—a sprawling, awe-inspiring meadow suspended in the heavens, its stunning panorama stealing the very air from one's lungs.

At the heart of this domain sat a woman on a plush sofa, delicately sipping from a goblet of crimson liquid. She appeared as a strikingly mature vampire, her skin ashen like her kin's, eyes gleaming with blood-red intensity, and hair flowing like liquid crimson. What captivated most were the faint silver threads weaving through her locks, hints of ages long past.

Her features held undeniable allure, yet fine lines framed her eyes, enhancing that seasoned elegance. She looked to be in her forties, embodying profound, ripened beauty. Beneath her relaxed attire, her figure boasted voluptuous contours both above and below.

Without delay, I advanced from the elevator into this illusory domain, sensing the reality warp around me as I traversed the meadow, its texture as tangible as any earthly plain. Straight ahead I pressed on through the expanse. In mere minutes, I arrived before the woman, whose crimson gaze, flecked with silver, finally met mine.

For a being of such enduring lifespan, who had even attained the Imperial realm yet bore visible signs of time, one could only wonder at her true antiquity. Yet it posed no issue for me, given my escapades with deities whose timelines had blurred into irrelevance eons ago. She simply exuded the charm of profound maturity.

"It’s nice to meet the legendary Blood Queen Vixuola De Dracula."

Respect colored my tone as I offered a slight bow, which she dismissed with a casual gesture, a warm, time-tempered smile gracing her lips in reply.

"No need for the formalities. Here, have a seat."

At her invitation, I settled onto the seat opposite, easing into comfort while savoring the cool night's gentle gusts and the ethereal gray moon above.

"Want some blood wine?"

She inquired, gesturing toward me, but I politely declined with a wave.

"No, thank you, I just enjoy regular wine."

My refusal drew a smile from her, and with another flick of her wrist, a fresh glass and bottle materialized before me.

"Go on, have some."

I grasped the bottle that had appeared and filled the glass, watching a rich scarlet hue bloom like shadowed blood. Lifting it from the surface, an aroma wafted up, potent enough to intoxicate an ordinary warrior. A tentative sip brought a flash of astonishment to my expression.

"The Original Delcuse Von Vicar II from the blood war era?"

Surprise laced my question, turning the tables as Vixuola's own shock surfaced in her retort.

"You know the taste? I thought I was the only one in the world with its last existing creation."

Her statement made my mouth quirk as I probed further.

"And you took something out like that for a first-time meeting?"

Though my remark bordered on impertinence, it could pass for youthful boldness, and she countered smoothly.

"I just like to be dramatic, but you didn’t say how you know the taste."

The entire extravagant setting screamed her flair for theatrics.

"As someone wise, you should know, nothing in this world is always absolute."

My cryptic response evidently delighted her, eliciting a faint smile as she savored her blood wine. I mirrored her ease, reclining against the sofa to relish the mild winds, the flavor on my tongue, and the tranquil quiet. No words passed between us for several moments, until Vixuola at last broke the hush.

"I heard a lot about you from the past incidents, and everyone was curious about what level you lie in. And my... my... I am surprised, reaching Origin level 7 at your age. You have really hidden yourself."

"How!?"

Shock and alarm twisted my features, a reaction that clearly amused the woman as she explained, gesturing across the domain.

"The treasure you use to hide your Origin rank is quite good, but this is a domain under which no lies can be shown to me. Nothing can be hidden away from me. Thus, the moment you stepped in here, your lies were transparent to me."

My face contorted in dismay, a spark of fury igniting within at this revelation. The cunning elder relished the moment, pressing on.

"I can’t even begin to believe where the DarkNight even found someone like you. To reach such a level of power at your age, perhaps you even overcome the talent of Mira Lionheart."

Few would notice, but I caught the faint ripple in her aura and the brief stutter when she uttered Lionheart, as though the name chafed against her.

"How old are you?"

Her probing stare accompanied the question, and I seemed to wilt slightly before answering.

"Sigh... I am currently 24 years of age."

"That still makes you the greatest talent in the world right now, perhaps even greater than..."

She trailed off unfinished, but I detected a sharper edge of irritation in her this time, drawing an inner smirk from me. In truth, the notion of having Farah convert her into a blood angel for domination tempted me greatly, yet targeting a key war council figure so boldly carried too many risks.

The war councils guarded countless enigmas, and I couldn't recklessly alter just anyone. Only those I could dominate and surveil completely would do. Her abilities shone brightly, but for now, I restrained from such a move, though the future might bring different choices.