"Sorry, I didn't expect to meet you this way." Ryan quickly regained his composure, apologizing, "I apologize for the disturbance. May the deceased rest in peace."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. Neferata's eyes widened momentarily, a wave of killing intent emanating from her before quickly dissipating. "Even Ebo Wallace doesn't dare speak to me like that, Ryan-Malcador. Do you know who is sitting in front of you?"
"The Queen of Lahmia, Neferata, as you introduced yourself." Ryan, having recovered from his initial shock, calmly took a seat opposite Neferata. "If you want my respect, you have a long way to go."
"...Interesting." Neferata twirled a lock of her golden hair, supporting her chin with her hand, her blue eyes fixed on Ryan. "Do you think I can't kill you?"
"If we don't want to turn the entire concert hall into ruins, you can't kill me, and I can't kill you either." Ryan shook his head, rubbing his chin with a look of resignation.
Neferata is the first vampire in the world, once a noble of the Nehekhara desert, known as the "Daughter of the Moon God" for her beauty and divine favor, and the queen of Lahmia.
Ultimately, during the Nagash uprising, Neferata succumbed to the temptation of eternal youth and immortality, drinking Nagash's elixir of undeath and becoming the world's first vampire.
Her story is very long, spanning thousands of words. In short, during this time, Neferata had entanglements with Arkhan the Black, her chief bodyguard Ebo Wallace, and Vlad von Carstein. After the Lord of Undeath Nagash failed in Nehekhara, Neferata was forced to flee, first to the pirate principality of Sartosa but was chased by the Tomb King army, then to the southern part of the World's Edge Mountains, leading her vampire followers to Silver Pinnacle and briefly allying with the dwarves there before eventually massacring them and taking over.
When Nagash first resurrected and attacked the Empire of Charlemagne, Neferata refused to assist him, sending only a few minions. She was tired of war.
For the next one to two thousand years, Neferata lived as a recluse, enjoying a luxurious life and quietly ruling her territory. She established the Lahmia Sisterhood and infiltrated human society, expanding her influence to maintain her current peaceful life.
Despite this, Neferata's power cannot be underestimated. Ryan, sitting opposite her, could feel the terrifying necromantic power of this ancient vampire, a pinnacle Saint-level entity. Due to Nagash's elixir of undeath, she could never approach the divine realm, but that didn't mean Ryan could easily defeat her. He even doubted if he could defeat Neferata at all.
Similarly, Neferata was wary of Ryan's power. The silver vortex within him was too dazzling and terrifying, and a Saint-level expert was secretly observing outside the door.
Thus, the Queen of Lahmia and the Duke of Mousillon faced each other, both wary of the other's power.
"I don't believe you came to Nuln just to kill this gentlewoman." Ryan glanced at the head on the ground, a masked beautiful woman who had been killed by Neferata before she could even react.
"Ebo visited my territory recently and told me some things." Neferata did not answer Ryan's question, looking at the woman's head on the floor as if it were garbage. "I wondered if I should give you a meeting gift. When I arrived in Nuln and found you looking for the Pleasure Seekers' cult and the gentlewoman, I thought you'd like this gift."
Ryan frowned, gripping Mjolnir. "I can't think of a reason why you'd help me, Queen of Lahmia. You're undead, and I'm human. We're destined to be enemies."
"You're half right. We're not friends, but we're not enemies either." Neferata seemed relaxed, swinging her long, slender legs hidden under her skirt, but her hand inside her sleeve clutched a dagger she had carried for thousands of years. "Whether we fight or ally depends on whether you want to hear what I have to say."
Ryan felt conflicted. His pride as the Primarch of the Grey Knights and his identity as the Emperor's son told him he couldn't and shouldn't negotiate with undead beings. However, the wisdom left by the Emperor suggested he could listen to what this vampire ancestor had to say. Dealing with aliens, even abominations, was not heresy in the Emperor's eyes but depended on how Ryan handled it.
Moreover, he didn't understand why Hal Harris, a vampire baron of the von Carstein family, was under Neferata's command. Hal Harris had vowed never to return to Bretonnia after Ryan released him post-Mousillon campaign.
Hal Harris gave Ryan a look, and after some contemplation, Ryan nodded. "I'll give you ten minutes."
"Ten minutes may not be enough, but it should be fine." Neferata smiled, gesturing towards the door. "Let the Dark Elf lady come in and listen too."
Ryan agreed. Dressed in a Golden Smile Concert Hall uniform with a blouse and pencil skirt, black stockings, and lace-up high heels, the Dark Elf Olica walked in, glaring at Neferata with intense hatred. "Master, I've sent Emilia away."
"Good. Speak, ancestor of the Lahmia." Ryan gestured for Neferata to continue.
"I say our interests align in one matter." Neferata's charming face grew serious as she raised a finger adorned with various gemstones and gold filigree. "You don't want the Lord of Undeath, Nagash, to resurrect, and neither do I. Do you agree with this?"
"Provisionally." Ryan wasn't surprised, understanding the mindset of vampires.
"So, I must say, you've done well. You've repeatedly defeated that fool Arkhan, forcing him to search the Old World for the Crown of Sorcery. Without enough sacrifices, resurrecting the Lord of Undeath is impossible. You even killed Mashu Bard, a pawn he spent decades preparing." Neferata's voice held a hint of pleasure. "Your actions have significantly delayed Nagash's resurrection. Well done."
"Wait a minute. I remember Arkhan is your lover, and Mashu Bard is his disciple?" Ryan interrupted Neferata.
"Mashu Bard is Arkhan's disciple, not mine. I was glad you killed him. Why would I be unhappy?" Neferata didn't mind. "As for Arkhan, yes, he's my lover, but he's too close to Nagash's will, almost losing himself. I'm glad you made him suffer."
"With a lover like you, Arkhan is truly blessed." Ryan mocked. "So, you want me to prevent Nagash's resurrection so you can continue your comfortable life? Do you think I'll let you go, undead?"
"I'm not like Vlad or Mannfred, who dream of ruling the world, nor am I a martial fanatic like Ebo." Neferata said indifferently. "I only want to maintain my current life. We both don't want Nagash resurrected. On this point, we can reach an understanding. I and my Lahmia Sisterhood will help you in this matter, and you need do nothing but continue to prevent Nagash's resurrection. I'll fully support you."
Neferata smiled. "After all, it's a knight's duty to fight evil. Am I right?"
"I could kill you first, then Arkhan." Ryan coldly rejected Neferata's suggestion.
"You won't." Neferata maintained her smile. "After all, you've painstakingly signed so many treaties with the Empire. Would you bear to see them all torn apart?"
"!!!" Ryan's pupils dilated slightly.
"I tell you, Ryan-Malcador, in the Empire, my influence reaches further than Karl Franz's." Neferata's simple words carried a terrifying truth. "With one command, I can have over twenty knightly orders from the Empire report to Altdorf or Nuln. Can Karl Franz do that?"
How has the Empire not collapsed yet?
It's a miracle, really.
Ryan silently cursed. He didn't retort because he knew Neferata was telling the truth.
"You also disrupted my plans in Estalia." Neferata continued. "Remember the Lahmia-blooded female vampire?"
"The Trident of the Sea God was stolen, and the messages from the Knights of Magritte were your doing?" Ryan understood. "You supported the Knights of Magritte's expedition?! Why?"
"To trouble Arkhan, of course." Neferata said nonchalantly. "The Knights of Magritte were supposed to launch an expedition to Arkhan's Black Tower in the desert. Naturally, they were going to their deaths, but a heavily armed knightly army of over ten thousand would be enough to make Arkhan scramble and force him back to Nehekhara."
"With a lover like you, Arkhan is truly blessed." Ryan repeated.
"Well, this meeting ends here." Neferata knew there was no need to continue, as the time had already exceeded ten minutes, indicating Ryan's attitude. "Chaos is our common enemy. We're not friends, but I'll personally deal with the Chaos cultists hidden in Nuln. Consider it a gift and thanks. As for other matters, I don't care. If you want to end me, feel free to lead an army to Silver Pinnacle for a decisive battle, but I think you might be too busy, being the future king of the knight kingdom. You might not have the time
or leisure for such a grand expedition."
"I will make the Pleasure Seekers' Association disappear from Nuln, I promise." With that, Neferata turned and left. In appearance and attire, she had no flaws, looking like a true noblewoman, leaving gracefully: "Goodbye, or never again, because next time we meet, we'll be true enemies."
The door closed, leaving Ryan and Olica behind.
Vampire Baron Hal Harris pretended to follow Neferata out but returned after a few minutes, clearly having something to say.
"Olica." Ryan spoke softly, still considering Neferata's proposal.
"Yes!" The Dark Elf raised her dark blue staff, creating a magical barrier around the room, isolating them from the outside. Olica continued to glare at the vampire baron with disdain.
"Mr. Hal Harris." Ryan wore a curious expression. "How did you end up under Neferata's command?"
The vampire baron looked resigned and frustrated. "Because of a mission."
"A mission?"
The vampire baron, after witnessing Mashu Bard's betrayal and Chaos dealings, chose to surrender, revealing Mashu Bard's secrets and stealing the Mousillon crown in exchange for freedom. Ryan, after conquering Mousillon, released him with the condition he never return to Bretonnia.
Ryan had also suggested Hal Harris go to Mannfred, becoming Ryan's spy within Mannfred's ranks.
Hal Harris accepted, joining Mannfred's ranks, but Mannfred, not trusting him, sent him to Neferata, pretending to be saved by Blood Dragon ancestor and sent to infiltrate the Lahmia vampires.
Neferata took him in and planned to send him back to Mannfred, making him a triple agent.
After much thought, Hal Harris concluded that both Mannfred and Neferata saw him as a tool, while Ryan kept his word. He sought Ryan's advice on what to do next.
"Follow Neferata's plan." Ryan took two minutes to untangle Hal Harris's complex situation. "Just relay any information about Nagash's resurrection to both Neferata and me. Ignore everything else."
"Understood." Hal Harris bowed, then turned into a plume of black smoke, disappearing into Nuln's night.
"Master..." The Dark Elf approached Ryan from behind, gently massaging his shoulders. "That undead woman is powerful. I don't have the confidence to defeat her."
"The vampire ancestors are not to be underestimated. Neferata, despite disliking combat, is formidable." Ryan frowned, pondering the pros and cons.
In direct combat, Ryan was unafraid, but vampires were dangerous because they could spend years, decades, or centuries devising a sinister revenge plan. Ryan had too many responsibilities to focus solely on guarding against vampires.
Olica kicked off her high heels, slipped into Ryan's arms, and whispered in his ear, "Master, temporarily allying with this vampire queen isn't a bad idea. We can prepare on two fronts."
"Two fronts?" Ryan hugged the soft, fragrant Dark Elf, curious. "What do you know, Olica? Tell me."
"Master, Neferata has a fated rival, her cousin when they were alive, now a mortal enemy. The ruler of the Palace of Lybaras in the Nehekhara desert, the first chosen of the Serpent Goddess Asaph, High Queen Khalida." Olica smiled. "I think Queen Khalida would be more than willing to help you deal with Neferata. Her goal is to exterminate all vampires, especially Neferata. They have a deep blood feud, with Khalida almost killed by Neferata and saved only by Asaph's blessing. If she knows Neferata's whereabouts, she'll definitely help."
"You know a lot, dear Olica." Ryan's frown relaxed, and he kissed Olica's cheek. "Very well, let's do that!"
"Master~"
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