This kind of service requires an extra fee.
“Sorry for the trouble. I haven't replied in so long; your master must be worried,” Li Xiuman said, attempting to change the subject.
In the end, he handed over several more pieces of dried fish, unsure of whether they had expired.
Only then did Shino finally agree to continue delivering.
Li Xiuman completely modified the leather envelope into a small pouch, hanging it around Shino's neck.
Then, Shino flapped its wings and flew toward the north.
It seemed this bit of weight was nothing to the owl. It had probably just been using it as an excuse to swindle some more dried fish out of him.
Don't worry, I'll lodge a complaint against you in my letter sooner or later, Li Xiuman thought to himself as he watched Shino's receding back.
Next, he retrieved 《The Skeleton's Magic Book》 and recorded some of his recent gains.
It was still in his own little cabin that he could think most peacefully.
After resting for three days, he went to the Reby Merchant Association to sell off some of the Tier 2 magic stones in his possession.
After all, he held shares in the Reby Merchant Association, so selling them here was both safer and more profitable.
Li Xiuman was incredibly shrewd.
Afterward, the vampires also returned from the dungeon one by one.
Only then did Li Xiuman learn that during his absence, this group of vampires had actually established an organization.
Its name was the Red Bone Organization.
Thanks to Li Xiuman, this organization had also established a deep cooperation with the Reby Merchant Association.
The organization's missions were to explore dungeons, gather materials, support adventurers...
And, of course, to serve their master!
“Master, how is it!”
Rorona and Jetis blinked their large red eyes, looking at Li Xiuman expectantly.
The surrounding vampires shared the same expression.
Being stared at by so many blood-red eyes, even Li Xiuman felt a bit uneasy.
“Or Master, perhaps you would prefer we call you...”
“The White Grim Reaper!”
“Pfft—”
Li Xiuman leaned against the wall, nearly collapsing on the spot.
What was terrifying was that this group of vampires actually looked at Li Xiuman with completely serious and expectant faces.
Don't they find this name cringey to the point of exploding?
Only kids in the oldest kindergarten class would find this name cool.
Is everyone in this world like this, or is it just the vampires?
If it's the latter, then it's fine.
But if it's the former, then this world really has no future.
“W-Who came up with this name?” Li Xiuman asked.
Once he finished speaking, row after row of eerie, large red eyes glowing in the darkness turned in unison to look at a single vampire.
As for why it was so dark in the middle of the day, it was because they were holding their meeting in the basement.
And they hadn't even lit any lamps.
What is with this atmosphere of villains plotting an evil scheme to destroy the world?
First, regarding that vampire—she was currently looking at Li Xiuman with an expression that was equal parts smugness, confidence, and anticipation.
“I recall your name is...”
“Replying to Master, my name is Mamarin.”
“Ah, Mamarin, is it? I will remember you.”
Li Xiuman added this vampire to his blacklist, hoping she would remember what she did today.
“The organization shall continue its activities,” Li Xiuman instructed. In the pitch-black darkness, his white skull reflected a cold, eerie light, and the blue fire in his eye sockets flickered. “But you are not allowed to mention my name to outsiders.”
This look was entirely that of a villainous mastermind!
All the vampires swallowed their saliva in unison.
As expected of Master, he is overflowing with majesty again today.
“Very well. Next, I am going to the dungeon. After all, your numbers are few and your identities are sensitive. It is best if you do not act too conspicuously in White Bear City.”
Leaving behind these words, Li Xiuman put on his armor as he left the basement.
He left behind only the group of vampires, staring at each other.
Only after Li Xiuman had completely departed did the vampires dare to continue their discussion.
“Mamarin, you are truly lucky. It seems Master is very satisfied with the title you came up with.”
“From the looks of it, Master has remembered your name. It's likely only a matter of time before you are granted a name.”
“Hehehe, not at all, not at all,” Mamarin rubbed her head, feeling a bit embarrassed by their words.
“But why does Master not want us to mention his name?”
“And what did Master mean by those words right before he left?”
At this moment, all the vampires turned their gazes toward Jetis again.
Jetis was the widely recognized intellectual backbone of these vampires.
She was the brain of this group.
“Sister Jetis, what deep meaning do you think Master had?” Rorona also curiously asked Jetis for guidance.
“Lord Rorona, you have already been bestowed a True Name by Master, so there is no need to address me as such. As for the two sentences Master just spoke... I wouldn't dare claim to fully comprehend Master's wisdom; I can only offer my own shallow understanding.”
Jetis coughed lightly, and all the vampires immediately stopped talking, waiting quietly for her to speak.
“Master's first sentence: 'The organization shall continue its activities, but you are not allowed to reveal my identity to outsiders.' On the surface, this sentence seems to suggest that he finds us troublesome and does not want to be associated with us. But Master took such a massive risk to rescue us before. At this point, how could he possibly be afraid of such trouble? Therefore, there must be a deeper meaning behind it.”
Jetis tapped her forehead with her index finger, initiating a brainstorm.
“Master hopes we can become his hidden strength! That is why he didn't tell us to stop our organization's activities, and wants us to distance ourselves from him as much as possible. In Master's grand design, we will play a crucial role at some point in the future!”
“Oh!”
All the vampires wore expressions of sudden realization.
After Jetis's analysis, all the vampires suddenly felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.
“And Master's next sentence: 'After all, your numbers are few and your identities are sensitive. It is best if you do not act too conspicuously in White Bear City.' This sentence, whether in its surface meaning or its deeper meaning, is linked to the previous one. Its deeper meaning also reflects how much Master values and expects from us. Even more, it points out our path for the future.”
How could that be!?
All the vampires gasped, their large, blood-red eyes widening.
A single sentence from Master actually hides so much information.
Consequently, they all pricked up their ears to listen intently, terrified of missing a single word.
“Undoubtedly, the reason Master spoke in such a roundabout way is also as a test for us. And... Master's benevolence. Master hopes we can decipher his deeper meaning and become a source of aid for him in the future. Yet, at the same time, he also hopes we fail to decipher it, so we can live peacefully under his protective wings.
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