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The noblewoman called "Alexia" looked Langli Baitiao up and down without any attempt to hide it.

"Miss, although I know I’m handsome, could you restrain yourself a bit?"

Langli Baitiao felt a chill; her gaze was like she was choosing ingredients, making him uncomfortable, and even his usual smooth banter came out awkwardly.

Alexia’s crimson eyes suddenly gleamed.

"Excellent."

"What’s so excellent? My dazzling looks?"

"Your life force is resilient. You are worthy to become food for my father. This will be the greatest honor of your humble life." Her voice trembled with excitement, entirely lost in her own world, barely acknowledging Langli Baitiao.

"Wait, I haven’t even—"

"Take this human away."

Alexia ordered coldly.

Several guards stepped forward, opened the cage, and roughly lifted Langli Baitiao.

"Easy, easy."

"Don’t grab my neck!"

"Brother, please, can I walk on my own?"

Langli Baitiao didn’t resist much but thought to himself, "Am I about to turn into a vampire? This could be interesting!"

Rather than despair, a sense of curiosity sparked within him.

His soul of reckless abandon burned brighter than ever!

Even if he dies, Langli Baitiao vowed to make a big show of it—anything less wouldn’t suit his style.

Langli Baitiao walked down the corridor, escorted by the guards.

He looked around, deeply impressed.

"Damn."

This "Vagrant Shelter" was much larger underground than he had imagined, extending endlessly downward. Hundreds of iron cages hung midair, filled with blood slaves starving and ruled by bloodlust, likely numbering in the thousands.

He was first taken to a private room where the guards washed him clean from head to toe.

Eventually, they escorted him to the end of a dim corridor.

A heavy door slowly opened.

In the corner, flickering lights cast a dim, yellowish glow.

In the lavishly decorated, dark and ominous grand hall was an intricately carved stone coffin at the center.

Alexia lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully.

"Father, here is your dinner for the evening."

The stone coffin opened slowly, and Duke Brad Lackman opened his crimson eyes, his lips curving into a slight smile.

It seemed his mood was high tonight.

Gazing at the captive Langli Baitiao, the pale duke leaned in, sniffing as if savoring fine wine, and asked hoarsely,

"I smell trickery on you. Why have you come here?"

Langli Baitiao couldn’t help but shudder, "Damn, you old perv, if you’re going to drink blood, just do it. I don’t provide other services."

The duke chuckled softly, revealing sharp fangs.

"You’re right. Once I turn you into a vampire spawn, everything will be under my control. This is the honor of your life; enjoy it!"

Langli Baitiao retorted, "You creepy vampires really are full of yourselves."

Unfazed by the human’s mockery, the duke smirked contemptuously,

"You mortals cannot comprehend a being of my immortality. I hail from centuries past; my origins have long faded into darkness. I was once a great general under whose eagle’s wings all of Anzeta trembled, yet I chose a more twisted path."

"And you shall serve as sustenance for my next step toward true immortality."

"So."

"Tremble, fear, revere!"

"When I rule this land, your blood will boil within my immortal body."

The duke caressed Langli Baitiao’s neck, relishing the moment.

He wasn’t speaking to the “food” before him but rather painting his own dream of eternal life, where he alone was exalted.

Unfazed by this vampire family’s tendency for theatrics, Langli Baitiao muttered, "Damn, why hasn’t this old geezer kicked the bucket already?"

But he was held firmly by the guards, unable to move.

"I am eternal."

The duke sneered before sinking his fangs into Langli Baitiao’s vulnerable neck.

Veins bulged as his blood was greedily drained.

An irreversible transformation began; his body visibly thinned, his skin turned deathly pale, and the light of life faded from his eyes, replaced by a red gleam.

"Excellent."

"Throw this insolent wretch into the dungeon."

The duke, still unsatisfied, released him and wiped his mouth with a fine silk cloth.

"Yes, my lord."

The now-lightened Langli Baitiao was carried back to an iron cage, like the other "blood slaves."

But he felt no sorrow; instead, he looked at the information flashing on his panel with glee.

[You have been attacked by Vampire Duke Brad Lackman, transforming you into a special template: Vampire Spawn.]

[Note: This transformation is irreversible.]

[Trait Gained: “Born of Death”: Most victims of vampire attacks become vampire spawn—a greedy creation filled with a vampire’s bloodlust and controlled by its creator.]

[If a vampire allows its spawn to drink its own blood, the spawn can become a true vampire, free from control. However, few vampires do this. Usually, spawn regain freedom only upon their creator’s death.]

[Trait Gained: “Undead Essence”: You no longer require air or food.]

[Trait Gained: “Regeneration”: You can recover from any injury unless struck by a weakness.]

[Trait Gained: “Spider Walk”: You can climb walls and hang from ceilings.]

[Vampire Weaknesses Acquired: “Running Water,” “Staked Heart,” “Sunlight Sensitivity,” “Fear of Holy Symbols.” Encounters with any of these may result in permanent death.]

"This template is amazing, combined with my Trickster class."

"Perfect setup for a master of stealth."

"Heh heh heh."

He was already envisioning how he’d wreak havoc and loot the mines.

"But first, I need to get out of here. As for that disgusting old vampire, I’ll make him pay one day."

Recalling the duke’s touch, a chill ran through Langli Baitiao.

"Damn, is this perv a priest or something?"

Muttering to himself, he pulled out his rogue tools from a hidden pocket and began picking the lock with practiced skill.

"Creak, creak."

The iron cage door shook, emitting a grating noise.

When the guards returned on patrol, they found the cage empty.

Langli Baitiao hung effortlessly from the ceiling, watching them with a smirk, thinking, "Bet you didn’t expect that—this is my escape route!"

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