Warhammer Divine Throne

Chapter 413: Chapter 177, Invitation

”This is the head of the Vampire Witch, my Baron.” Demon Hunter Abel placed a head with auburn hair, full of ferocity and blood, in front of Laine: ”She was hiding in a nearby forest, frequently attacking passersby at night. She disguised herself as a beautiful woman, inviting those men into the forest for pleasure, then took the opportunity to drain them of their blood.”

”Ah, I see, well done, you all did very well.” Laine nodded, as he had dealt with these bloodsuckers many times before. He then gestured for Abel and Ju Le to sit down, noticing that Ju Le was injured, the young Demon Hunter’s arm hung limply in front of his chest, tightly bandaged: ”Could you briefly recount what happened? I’m all ears.”

”Hmm.” The two Demon Hunters sat down in the Baron’s castle hall, Abel sorted his words a bit, and then said: ”As Mr. Kasenberg has stated, about two weeks ago, rumors began to spread among the peasants about a beautiful woman conducting skin-trade on the paths near the forest. This was initially deemed harmless, but those who accepted her invitations had no clear memory of the nights and all showed symptoms of severe blood loss.”

”Ha, it seems this Vampire Witch was disguised as a human to suck people’s blood.” Laine nodded, recognizing the pattern of this Vampire Witch.

With such methods, the victimized peasants or civilians often dared not speak out and mostly chose to remain silent, thus giving the Vampire Witch her opportunity. As long as she controlled her blood thirst without killing anyone, she could stealthily lurk near the town.

Sitting at his main seat, Laine’s expression was quite helpless.

The Vampire crisis in Brittania was indeed serious.

These Midnight Nobles have largely infiltrated the lands of the Knight Kingdom, drinking human blood. Some Vampires really had grown weary of endless war and wanted to seclude themselves here, yet others, like the Red Duke, sought to overthrow the entire Knight Kingdom.

The control over Vampires in the Knight Kingdom was weak, many Vampires hid among the populace, and the peasants even attempted to shelter them.

This led to the unavoidable collapse of the peasantry system, as many Vampires followed the strategy of investing for long-term gain, often doling out small favors and gifts to the peasants to facilitate continued bloodsucking, some even periodically giving the peasants who ”donated” blood some Silver Coins.

The peasants, oppressed to the brink by the Master Knights, found an extra means of survival: selling blood.

”My Baron, are you listening?” Abel noticed that Laine seemed lost in thought and reminded him.

The Baron’s steward, Kasenberg, cast a stern look at the Demon Hunters. The tall, thin, bald steward with round-framed glasses was not friendly to the Demon Hunters, feeling they were being somewhat impolite.

”Yes, I’m listening, go on, in such widespread silence, how was this incident discovered?” Laine continued to ask.

Abel knew Laine was listening, the Demon Hunter nodded, sighed, and said: ”My Baron, the Vampire Witch is not a High-Rank Vampire. Sometimes she cannot control herself with reason. The situation this time was like this.”

”A half-grown boy could not resist the temptation of the Vampire Witch and followed her into an abandoned hut in the forest.”

”During the bloodsucking, the boy’s blood proved too delectable, and the Vampire Witch could not hold back, she drained the boy in one go, leaving a desiccated corpse.”

”The boy’s parents decided to report this to Mr. Kasenberg despite many peasants advising them to keep quiet, but he was their only son...” Abel didn’t continue, just sighed.

The Demon Hunters had mostly experienced many cruel and even crazier incidents, and they were accustomed to such ordinary Vampire hauntings. As such, their faces showed little sorrow or compassion. People always considered Demon Hunters as cold-blooded, not realizing the many horrors they had witnessed.

”So how did you deal with the Vampire Witch?” Laine asked next, cases like this being rather common to him as well.

”The garlic, sunlight, and crosses that people talked about do not actually harm the Vampire Witch much.” Abel nodded, the Demon Hunter continued: ”Vampire Witches dislike garlic just as humans dislike eating bark, it’s mere dislike, not capable of causing them substantial harm. Vampires dislike walking in sunlight, but it’s only dislike.”

”The truly effective tools against Vampires are Holy Water blessed by the church and silver weapons, those are the real means to defeat them.” Abel concluded, and then both Demon Hunters fell silent.

”Very well, Mr. Abel, the Demon Hunter, you have fulfilled your promise, now it’s my turn to fulfill mine. Kasenberg, give them the items.” Laine motioned for Kasenberg to bring forth the items.

The steward walked forward carrying a platter, on it were fifteen Gold Crowns and fifty Silver Shillings.

The Demon Hunters did not stand on ceremony, they needed the money: ”Thank you, Lord Laine.”

”You won’t be shorted of what’s owed to you.” Laine nodded: ”Neither will my promises. There are about ten days until Duke Boldro’s banquet. You may stay in the town, or look for other tasks nearby. We will set out a day earlier.”