Chapter 381
Chapter 381
The young vampires became flustered and exchanged glances after hearing Zeke's words. Although the Red Eye vampires were known for being fearless, the pressure emanating from Zeke was clearly unusual, making them hesitate to act rashly.
Just then, the tattoo shop door opened and someone walked out. It was a pale-skinned woman with tattoos covering her arms and neck, wearing piercings on her eyebrows and nose.
She lit a cigarette and took a drag, exhaling smoke with a WHOOSH. Then she spoke in a languid voice.
"He's our guest. Take that one away."
At the woman's words, the vampires were startled and dragged away the fallen member, disappearing somewhere.
She casually offered Zeke a cigarette. When he shook his head, she slowly finished smoking, ground it out under her foot, and said.
"Come in."
Zeke followed the vampire woman inside. The shop appeared to be a legitimate tattoo parlor with chairs everywhere and needles soaking in disinfectant.
"Want a tattoo?"
Zeke shook his head at her question.
"Boring."
She lazily tossed out the comment and led Zeke to the back of the building. Opening a door in the floor revealed stairs leading underground.
As they descended, she suddenly remarked:
"Heard you're Bacchus's brother, but you don't look alike."
Zeke didn't respond. The vampire woman didn't seem to expect an answer as she continued down silently.
At the bottom was a door. She knocked on it.
"It's me, Nicky."
The door slid open. Inside was a large bearded male vampire, also covered in tattoos, who ushered them in silently after checking them.
Surprisingly, the dark hall was filled with magical lights and dozens of vampires dancing intimately.
'What is this place?'
Zeke noticed humans mixed in, all with dazed looks from vampire hypnosis and soma. In one corner, vampires embraced while drinking blood from severed human heads before rolling around kissing each other.
Zeke realized this was a vampire feeding ground. He'd heard rumors of places where vampires lured humans into states of extreme pleasure before draining their blood. The thick scent of blood filled the air.
Ignoring it all, Zeke followed Nicky through the noisy hall to a quiet room.
"Zeke Draker."
Bacchus stood as Zeke entered. The vampires throughout the neutral city had sensed Zeke's presence the moment he arrived and quickly informed Bacchus.
When Zeke removed his shape-shifting cloak, returning to his original form, Nicky observed him closely and nodded.
"Now I see the resemblance."
Ignoring Nicky's comment, Bacchus said.
"Please sit. I prepared tea, knowing you were coming."
After Zeke sat and tasted the tea Bacchus skillfully brewed, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Good tea."
Zeke glanced at Bacchus's regenerated left arm.
"Is the regenerated arm giving you any trouble?"
Bacchus gave a bitter smile.
"Not particularly. Thanks to you, the Black Corps stopped pursuing us."
In truth, it wasn't so much Zeke's intervention that stopped the pursuit as Arthur Draker choosing to leave Bacchus and Carmilla alone. Since Zeke now knew about them, it seemed Arthur's side wanted to wait and observe. As head of an intelligence organization, Bacchus likely understood this.
While drinking tea, Bacchus asked:
"You came sooner than expected. I thought it would take longer."
Zeke replied:
"Killing two birds with one stone. I had business in the neutral city."
Bacchus spoke first.
"Because of the Alchemists' Association?"
Zeke set down his teacup.
"Are you investigating me?"
Bacchus shook his head.
"Being here, I naturally learned about it. I heard the Association has been having quite the headache lately over new medicine from Feinan Pharmaceuticals."
Zeke nodded calmly.
"Their strong reaction makes sense, given they've been profiting from inferior medicines."
"This isn't a trivial matter,"
Bacchus set down his teacup.
"The Association seems ready to fight desperately. As you said, if this medicine reaches the market, they'll quickly become obsolete."
"It's absurd to deny certification to a legitimate medicine,"
Zeke frowned.
"They have methods. They could claim soma as an ingredient risks addiction, or raise unknown safety concerns."
Zeke said dismissively.
"Pure nitpicking,"
"They'll do anything to block its release. Anyway... is that why you came? To find information to undermine the Alchemists' Association?"
Zeke nodded, though his true intention was to assess the vampires' intelligence capabilities by comparing their information with his past-life knowledge.
Bacchus handed over prepared documents. Zeke reviewed them, inwardly impressed.
'The information is more detailed and systematic than what I know.'
As a former Black Corps member, Bacchus excelled at handling intelligence. The documents meticulously mapped relationships between people and events.
Having anticipated Zeke's intentions,Bacchus said,
"This should be enough to rival the Syndicate,"
Zeke admitted.
"Honestly, your intelligence capabilities exceed my expectations,"
"The Black Corps was terrible, but good for learning intelligence work. Between Red Eye's continental network, subordinate organizations, and high-class brothels, we can provide results that would surprise even you."
"Where's Carmilla? I'd like to speak with her directly."
"She's unavailable right now."
"Still recovering after resurrection?"
Bacchus's expression shifted subtly.
"Something like that. Details are confidential, but communication is difficult currently."
"When can I see her?"
"In at least three weeks."
Bacchus gave Zeke a secure communication crystal and gestured to Nicky, who rose languidly.
"Contact us through this. Nicky will be the intermediary for direct meetings."
Observing Nicky, Zeke said.
"You seem more a mage than assassin or swordsman,"
Nicky replied.
"I'm an illusionist, If you were ordinary, you'd be crawling and licking my feet under my spell by now."
Thanks to his Indomitable Will skill, Zeke was immune to vampire illusions and seduction.
Bacchus spoke to Nicky.
"Nicky, I told you not to use illusions on just anyone."
Nicky turned away and flopped back onto the sofa lazily.
Zeke remarked.
"You have some interesting companions. Must keep things entertaining".
Bacchus shook his head as Zeke patted his shoulder before leaving the Red Eye hideout for his hotel.
The troublemaking twins returned much later that night, having spent the day delivering flowers to make amends for their mischief. They had no choice but to sleep quietly under Zeke's watchful eye.
* * *
The next day, Princess Melissa of Allensia visited Zeke's hotel.
"Welcome, Princess."
She appeared more mature and elegant than before.
"It's been a while, Sir Zeke."
When Melissa first dealt with Zeke, he was just a talented knight with potential. Now he had become legendary across the continent, setting unprecedented records. Though she had rational feelings for him before, he now seemed as unreachable as a star in the sky.
Unaware of her thoughts, Zeke ordered breakfast and they shared a leisurely meal.
Melissa said.
"I reviewed what you sent. The Alchemists' Association is being absurdly stubborn".
The Linehart Company, which Melissa owned, was set to distribute Feinan Pharmaceuticals' new medicine. However, they couldn't sell it continentally without the Association's certification.
Zeke said.
"Even if we speak with them, the Association likely won't approve".
Melissa was shocked.
"No, even if they refuse me, you are a knight of House Dreiker... Surely they wouldn’t go that far. I assume they’ll at least try to negotiate on pricing."
Zeke immediately understood the unspoken implication in her words.
‘Would they really risk retaliation?’
While the Association played rough, they were nothing compared to the Draker family. However, Zeke had no intention of using family pressure. He planned to reform the Association his own way.
"Princess, remember my contract with Cliff?"
It was an old agreement even Zeke had forgotten until recently. He had requested three favors from Cliff - a ship south to fight Don Juan, a Linehart ship to rescue Kali from the southern islands, and one remaining favor.
Melissa said
"Of course. Please continue".
"I want to create a new alchemists' association centered around the Linehart Company."