I Became The Vampire Progenitor
Chapter 169-2: Today, the Long Cord Is in My Hands (Part 2)

“What do they want?”

Li De frowned, noting Emi’s hesitant expression. He smacked his forehead with frustration.

“Don’t tell me… it’s the Magic Scrolls?”

Right now, the Crimson Mage Tower’s most valuable asset was its magic scroll production.

“Yes and no,” Emi said, both nodding and shaking his head.

“Viscount Berna, President of the Dark Pact, believes that the Crimson Mage Tower’s ability to mass-produce scrolls is due to possession of the legendary artifact—the Twelve Magic Scrolls.”

“So, they’re planning an attack on the Tower to seize the artifact.”

Li De’s frown deepened.

“Then why haven’t they attacked while I was away?”

Emi shook his head.

“Because they’re not sure if you carry the artifact with you.

And artifacts possess unimaginable power. They’re afraid that if threatened, you might use it to escape. If that happens, alerting you would make it harder for them to act later.

That’s why they’ve been stalling. They’re currently creating a weapon to suppress the artifact’s power.”

Li De’s face darkened. To think that even with absolute power, the Dark Pact was still this cautious—this organization was a real threat.

“Besides, this is Green City. A city with a Transcendent mage on watch. If they’re discovered, even Viscount Berna would pay a heavy price.”

Emi’s tone was deadly serious.

“The power of Transcendents is beyond our comprehension. No one dares ignore that figure.”

Li De nodded knowingly. In essence, the Dark Pact wouldn’t act unless they were sure.

They feared he’d flee with the supposed artifact. And in Green City, if a Transcendent got involved, they’d be finished.

Green City belonged to humanity. No matter how strong the Dark forces were here, they had to keep their heads down.

Because here, there weren’t just Transcendents—there were multiple Level 15s openly and secretly supporting the city.

If they launched an attack in Green City without being fully prepared, they’d be courting death. Even fully prepared, it’d be like dancing on a knife’s edge.

But here was the problem—he didn’t have any damned artifact!

He was being used as a scapegoat!

“What if they find out the Crimson Mage Tower doesn’t have the artifact?”

Li De pondered aloud. “Or… was their goal never the artifact, but just the scroll technology?”

He had hit the nail on the head. Li De didn’t believe these dark beings would take such a risk just for an artifact that might not even exist.

In contrast, the scroll business brought in tons of Gold Pucks every month—that was a real temptation.

Emi gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Lord Progenitor, your wisdom would make the Goddess of Night herself applaud.

The Dark Pact’s real goal is to obtain the Crimson Mage Tower’s mass production technique for magic scrolls. Lately, your scrolls have nearly monopolized Green City’s market. Everyone desires the wealth it holds.

The artifact is just a guess—an excuse.”

Li De sighed.

He’d long understood how tempting scroll mass production was to nobles and other forces.

It was a literal money printer—just throw in low-value mage apprentices, and out came glittering Gold Pucks.

In simple terms, it was a rapid way to generate massive wealth. On a larger scale, it disrupted the existing magic production system.

The profits were staggering—enough to incite anyone’s greed.

Li De had long anticipated trouble. Originally, he thought Green City’s nobles would be the first to stir and had even asked Vina to prepare for that possibility.

But he hadn’t expected to draw out such powerful and malevolent enemies instead.

Right now, Spark was the only Grand Mage publicly protecting the Crimson Mage Tower. But even he wouldn’t be enough against the Dark Pact’s power.

Li De had been marked by a pack of hungry wolves.

A storm was coming.

His eyes narrowed, and a fire ignited deep within his pitch-black pupils.

So what if you’re powerful?

The Dark Pact? And?

As the Vampire Progenitor, when have I ever retreated?!

The heavy pressure didn’t make Li De retreat. Instead, his blood burned with a fighting spirit.

Behind that seemingly calm exterior was a heart that never bowed.

Retreat? That word didn’t exist in his vocabulary.

Even if he faced an abyssal behemoth a hundred blades tall, or dragons with wingspans of dozens of blades—he would not flinch.

“Did you bring everyone I asked for?”

“Lord Progenitor, all the high-level combat power from Dawn City is here.”

Li De steadied himself—finally, some good news.

“Report.”

“The Cyclops Tribe: 6 members total. One Level 15 Cyclops Lord, five Level 10 Cyclops Warriors.

All second-generation bloodline descendants except Viscount Harrison are present. Six in total, all at Level 10.

Additionally, we brought 200 newly embraced Vampires and 400 Whispering Bats.”

Li De’s eyes lit up. When he’d messaged Emi to prepare for an upcoming battle, he’d asked him to bring Dawn City’s elite forces.

He hadn’t expected Emi to be so effective—not only bringing the high-level fighters but also the Vampires and Whispering Bats.

Now, Dawn City’s strength wasn’t weak.

They had two Level 15 elite fighters: the Cyclops Lord—Kosso, and the Shadow High Priest and blasphemer—Emi.

In addition, there were 11 high-level professionals above Level 10: five Level 10 Cyclops Warriors and six Level 10 second-generation Vampires.

That lineup was luxurious.

As for mid-tier forces, after removing the Bloodline Shackles, the 200 third-generation Vampires—who had accumulated decades of experience—had seen a substantial increase in their levels.

Now all were between Level 8 and 9. Although none had yet reached Level 10, these 200 high-level Vampires were a formidable force.

Finally, they had 400 Whispering Bats, most of them Level 7, with the highest reaching Level 9.

With this power, Li De could even launch a mid-scale campaign.

Even if he was still at a disadvantage against the mysterious Dark Pact, he now had enough strength to retaliate.

Most importantly, Li De held a trump card—Old Ghost Emi, a gold-tier mole who was already one of the Dark Pact’s leaders.

An infiltrator embedded deep within the enemy ranks—his value was immeasurable.

With a spy inside, even in a 0–7 mismatch, a battle was still possible.

Today, the long cord is in my hands.

[T/N: 长缨 refers to a long red cord/tassel traditionally attached to Chinese weapons like spears or swords. It symbolizes the power or means to subdue one’s enemies. In this case it would be “Today, the means to strike are in my hands.”]

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