1011: 343.
Blood Vulture Never Forgets_2 1011: 343.
Blood Vulture Never Forgets_2 They were clearly a “second-class” group situated between the ruling vampires and the commoners, despised by many but envied by even more.
Because the vampires belonged to the Eternal Species, in selecting new Ard Blood Servants they tended to favor those human descendants who had served the Blood Vulture Clan for generations.
This once again reinforced the pact among the Blood Servants, resulting in nearly all humans who could beco Ard Blood Servants 400 years later being born into families of staunch Vampire Worshipers with “pure roots.”
These individuals were not only the main military force of Transylvania in the past, but also the most critical ans for the Blood Vulture Clan to maintain their dominion.
With this issue in mind, one could understand the difficult choice now facing Maxim.
He was unsure of the attitude these Blood Servants, who had been loyally devoted to the old families, would take towards the New Blood Vulture Clan.
If they were unwilling to continue their obedience, then every one of these individuals would be a dangerously destabilizing elent.
Mark truly hoped it wouldn’t co to that, but if forced to make a choice, he believed he would swing the butcher’s knife without a mont’s hesitation.
“Salutations, Commander!”
The middle-aged man who ca ahead to negotiate with Maxim briskly stepped forward, saluting him with the standard Blood Servant gesture.
It carried a hint of a Servant’s obsequiousness to their master, but to these special people, such behavior was nothing out of the ordinary.
“State your identity, Soldier!”
Mark said.
The middle-aged man imdiately straightened up and responded loudly:
“Colonel Flanders Mackent from the Transylvania Blood Vulture Guard Squad, Third Voyage, salutes you!
Commander, my General, Lord Rudolph, has been gravely wounded in the battle against the Beilao, and upon their demand to surrender, left a will before taking his own life for the country.
I am now taking temporary command of the Third Voyage.”
“Hmm, you are the famous ‘Vulture’s Claw’ Colonel?
The most outstanding military officer among the Ard Blood Servants, I once considered you an idol, Colonel.”
Maxim had heard this na before.
He scrutinized the middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties.
When he had been Jed’s Blood Servant, Colonel Flanders used to be an “idol” among their group.
This military man, born into poverty, beca a Blood Servant at a very young age, and then relied on his Loyalty and Talent to rise above others within the Ard Blood Servants.
If it weren’t for the Decade War, he likely would be a leading figure among the Blood Servants by now, promoted to General and accorded the formal status of an honored mber of the Blood Vulture Clan.
However, Maxim could easily detect certain injuries lingering on the body of the middle-aged man and a hint of weakness left by brutal treatnt under harsh conditions.
The man seed to have aged a decade in an instant; wrinkles creased his forehead, and his hair had turned grey-white, as if he had lost his “highlight.”
Combining the explanation provided by the Thorn Clan, Maxim knew these were the marks left from when these prisoners were sent to the Great Wilderness of Nordtof to build a railway for the steam trains.
Facing Maxim’s praise, Colonel Flanders chose Silence, probably feeling that he, a defeated commander, did not deserve to be the “idol” of an official vampire.
“So, is this all that’s left of the Third Voyage?”
Mark asked:
“Were all the missing ranks lost during the hard labor in the Great Wilderness?”
“Not exactly, sir,”
sighed the Colonel:
“While being ordered around by the Frost Dwarfs to build railways in the harsh cold land was indeed no easy task, the Beilao, needing us for labor, wouldn’t kill us off at will.
The main reason why the Third Voyage has dwindled from 6,000 down to just 3,300 is that traitors erged among us!
While we persevered in the shacks of the Great Wilderness, the fall of the Blood Vulture Clan struck our hearts like a heavy punch.
More and more news followed, especially after learning of the destruction of Cardman City by the Pioneer Army, many of our spirits faltered.
The cunning agents of the Thorn Clan took the opportunity to extend an invitation; those utterly disillusioned chose to abandon their honor and glory and leave.
To prevent this situation from worsening, we organized a riot, but the inevitable brutal suppression that night cost us hundreds more.
But sir, I assure you!
All the soldiers who have returned to Transylvania with are loyal…”
At this point, the Colonel looked at Maxim and hesitated a mont before asking:
“The only question now is, does the still-existing Blood Vulture Clan still wish to accept us, the ragged remnants returning in disgrace, stripped of all honor?”
“Good question, I actually have a question to ask you as well,”
Maxim did not beat around the bush, looking directly at the Colonel, he asked in a deep voice:
“Whether we accept you depends on your attitude, I want to know, what is your view of the Blood Vulture Clan that has now risen from disaster to once again control Transylvania?
I can tell you outright, Colonel Flanders, the only thing the Blood Vulture Clan of today shares with the regi you once swore allegiance to is the na.
Today’s Blood Vulture Clan established by the Grand Duke of Cui Si and Earl Mo Fei adheres to a new order that conflicts with your worldview, and everything you know has vanished into the wind.
In this new era, you’re left with many choices.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers