Li De and Emi exchanged a look. Though tension ran high inside, their expressions remained calm and composed.
"Lord Witherbone, that’s truly good news," Emi said with a wide, genuine-looking smile.
"I too look forward to the day we obtain the artifact."
"Of course, Viscount Berna has gone to great lengths to ensure that nothing goes wrong," Witherbone shrugged. "Come with me, Lord Emi. The Dark Pact is so dull without you."
With that, he snapped his fingers.
A flash of ghostly blue light shimmered across the dark street—shrrrk!
The space ahead shattered open, and two skeletal horses, their eye sockets ablaze with soul-fire, emerged from the void.
Witherbone swung himself onto the saddle in one fluid motion.
"Lord Emi, follow me."
Emi gave Li De a quick glance before mounting as well.
Li De turned and looked at a nearby dark alley corner, sensing a faint yet dangerous aura. He shrugged lightly and unfurled his massive bat wings, taking to the air.
These people had been prepared—leaving peacefully wasn’t an option now unless they wanted to tear everything apart.
The cradle of Green City’s depravity—this was a land justice and light could never reach.
When night fell, unlike the silent streets of other districts, the West District finally came alive, as though this was what a real city should look like.
Even as midnight neared, people still roamed about. The darkness had little effect on the chaos.
Low-tier warriors in battered armor were tossed onto the street after drinking themselves unconscious, clutching white stone pillars etched with divine salvation motifs as they vomited. Any valuables they carried had long been swiped by thieves. The poor sods patting their empty pockets, drunk eyes full of regret, still searched for one more drink.
Streetwalkers in sultry red gowns flaunted their long, pale legs, beckoning passersby with dead-eyed smiles that didn’t reach their lifeless gazes.
Street gangs extorted protection money from shopkeepers, and when one crew stepped onto a rival's turf, chaos erupted. Blood spattered as limbs flew.
But the surrounding onlookers weren’t shocked in the slightest—they laughed and chatted, watching the gore as if it were street theatre.
This was the West District at night, in its rawest, truest form.
Of course, this land wasn’t just a breeding ground of crime—it was also a paradise for the rich.
Nobles in lavish attire, surrounded by guards, strolled into glittering brothels and taverns.
Slave traders swaggered through the streets with rabbitfolk and catfolk girls in tow.
Young noble heirs tossed away more Gold Pucks in one night at the casino than a commoner could earn in a lifetime.
As long as you had coin, you could buy any pleasure here.
Li De followed behind Emi and Witherbone, silently observing the West District’s culture.
It was the first time he had seen such chaos in this city.
Where there's sunlight, there are shadows.
Inside a tavern reserved for wealthy merchants and nobles in the West District.
Li De hadn’t expected their destination to be a luxurious tavern instead of a dark church or a hidden basement.
Standing quietly behind Emi, he calmly took in the scene.
Before him was a medium-sized chamber. The high ceiling was painted with a colorful mural of heroes slaying dragons—an epic and awe-inspiring sight.
Beneath his feet, a white velvet carpet embroidered with golden tulips made the flowers seem to bloom at his step.
The room's décor followed the standard style of medieval nobility—true elegance, unlike the modern-world mimicry.
Sculptures from ancient forest elves lined the room, their intricate carvings and detailed patterns showcasing impeccable craftsmanship. The elven aesthetic flourished in every curve.
At the center stood a long, oval white-maple table, three blades wide and ten blades long. Twelve figures sat upon ornate elven-made chairs.
Li De stood quietly behind Emi at the lower right.
Looking over the scene, he spotted the Necromancer Witherbone across the table—the powerful being who possessed a Bone Dragon.
At the central seat sat a white-haired, poised old man, exuding a grace that even nobles could not match.
A being on the cusp of Transcendence—Li De confirmed his power immediately through the attribute panel.
Beside him stood a towering figure two blades tall, clad in thick black armor, with muscles like forged steel—the northern warrior and Viscount Berna's chief guard.
The attribute panel showed rows of question marks for these powerful beings—Li De’s current level was simply too low to peer deeper.
Other seated figures included the Level 16 Eight-Armed Serpent Demon Roy Ackerman, Level 15 Dark Priest Stanley and Level 17 Dark Bishop Cologne of the Evening Bell Church.
As well as five cloaked, identity-concealing mystery members, one of whom was confirmed to be a Level 15 named Nelson.
Li De, playing the role of an obedient servant, betrayed no emotion. But in just a few short minutes, he had already gauged the strength of everyone present.
While he had heard from Emi how powerful the Dark Pact was, seeing it for himself gave him an entirely new level of pressure.
Viscount Berna, Grote, Roy, Stanley, Cologne, Nelson—six beings above Level 15.
This force could raze a city of 50,000 people with ease.
"Lord Emi, I sense something… familiar from your servant," Roy the Eight-Armed Serpent Demon narrowed his venomous green eyes at Li De.
Everyone turned in unison to look at the Vampire with fangs bared.
A mere Vampire? Why would a high-level demon find him familiar?
Emi shook his head slightly.
"Lord Roy, do you know my servant?"
Roy stared at Li De for several moments before frowning and shaking his head.
He felt something—but couldn’t place where he’d seen him before.
It was a demonic instinct, a royal Serpent Demon bloodline trait, and it rarely failed.
Outside, he wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the servant or extract the truth directly. But given this was Emi’s subordinate—and Emi was a Level 15 Shadow High Priest—he let it go.
While most Abyssal Demons were chaotic and bloodthirsty, the Serpent Demons were one of the few with cunning and restraint.
Li De, under the gazes of so many powerful beings, remained perfectly composed, his polite smile unwavering.
Once it was clear no one else objected, Viscount Berna turned his gaze away from Li De. A mere Vampire, and Emi’s at that—nothing to be concerned about.
Li De quietly exhaled.