I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 283

Chapter 283: Chapter 285: The Arrangement that Influences the Fate of Dawn City (6200 words) Chapter 283: Chapter 285: The Arrangement that Influences the Fate of Dawn City (6200 words) The breeding farms, after a year and a half of development, had already set on the right track.

All matters, big and small, were operating according to well-established rules, and even with an expansion to six locations, no significant problems could arise.

This was the superiority that systematization brought.

After inspecting several breeding farms, Lide was very satisfied with the orderly scene. He encountered a type of half-magical plants named Bright Silver Grass when he was preparing to leave.

Indeed, it lived up to the moniker “Bright Silver.”

The broad palm-sized leaves had small pointed black barbs, and instead of the common verdant green of most plants, these leaves bore the same silver hue as silver puke.

A single Bright Silver Grass took up less than one square meter, at most the size of a washbasin, its dense leaves layered upon each other like pleated skirts.

In the middle stood five or six stick-like fruits, as thick as an adult's arm, resembling coarse rods, but the fruits were green, not silver–otherwise, they might have been called silver rods…

Lide, with his spiritual power spread, could clearly sense the Bright Silver Grass continuously absorbing the magic energy dispersed in the air, and all of the absorbed magic energy was channeled into the fruits.

However, to his disappointment, it truly was a half-magical plant. Bright Silver Grass could only simply absorb magic energy, lacking the purifying effect of full magical plants, which caused the magic within the fruit to be mottled and uneven.

An average mage who consumed it would probably suffer from the backlash of the chaotic and uneven magic energy in no time.

“Why haven't you discovered such a rapidly growing plant before, or why haven't I heard about it elsewhere?” Lide asked, turning to look at Randy beside him with a bit of curiosity.

In his view, Bright Silver Grass could be considered a strategic material; it could provide a significant amount of food for livestock, which was no trivial matter. If used properly, it could be as impactful for a power as an elite troop.

Randy looked momentarily taken aback before immediately responding respectfully.

“Sire, Bright Silver Grass is seldom seen in the wild and was only recently discovered by the lords of the Mage Tower.

This type of half-magical plant exerts an extremely exaggerated consumption of soil fertilizers. If there were no fruits, it wouldn't be much of an issue, but once the fruits appear, the plant requires intense fertilization every three days.

Otherwise, the Bright Silver Grass will absorb all the nutrients within a radius of over ten paces in the soil, even causing land to dry up and desertify…

The destructive effect of this half-magical plant on the land is severe, so even though it has beneficial effects, there probably aren't many who would want to cultivate it.

It is only because the breeding farms produce enough manure each day that we are able to plant it in large quantities.”

Upon hearing Randy's explanation, Lide nodded in realization. Fertilization was needed every three days, and from the sound of it, it was not a small amount that could satisfy the needs of the Bright Silver Grass.

Fertilizers were scarce in this world to begin with, relying on fertile soil to yield abundant crops. Faced with such a plant that directly destroys the land, ordinary farmers would rather die than cultivate it.

The high-ranking nobles would look down on such tasks, so even though the plant was valuable, it went unnoticed, and its potential worth remained unexplored.

“Very well, continue as you are doing. The breeding farms are one of the important industrial bases for our Dawn City in the future.

It is necessary to do the best we can.

And I,” he finished, and also patted Randy on the shoulder, instantly flushing the pig-raising magnate with excitement.

“You can apply to the City Hall anytime for any needs you have, and I will make sure the City Hall fulfills the needs of the breeding farms as soon as possible.”

Assured by Lide's comfort and guarantee, Randy immediately and determinedly responded as if taking an oath.

“Lord Kachar, I am willing to lay down my life in pursuit of your will.”

For this master who had given him everything, Randy's spoken words were no different from his innermost thoughts.

For Lord Kachar, he would defend the breeding farms with everything he had and would see the pig-raising business through to the end.

Lord Kachar, I will surely raise the pigs well, Randy silently vowed.

Lide didn't linger long in the breeding farms; they had already entered systematic management and no longer needed his excessive intervention.

Conversely, the lack of oceanic magic raw materials at the Crimson Mage Tower was a more pressing concern.

Creating Magic Scrolls wasn't simply about having Demon Beast pelts.

A Magic Potion concocted with seven or eight different Magic Materials, used to soak the Demon Beast pelts, allowed the pelts to absorb more magic energy,
and the Magic Potion made with over a dozen Magic Materials, used for outlining Magic Nodes…

Every production step was inseparable from Magic Materials.

Moreover, some Magic Materials were absolutely essential, without which the resulting Magic Scrolls would be defective and utterly unusable.

The Crimson Mage Tower was the financial reservoir of Dawn City; all the forces under Lide's command still needed the Crimson Mage Tower for financial support, meaning a single force shouldered the entire economic standard of Dawn City.

Hence, its importance was self-evident.

Back on the third floor of City Hall.

Lide unfolded a map of the southern part of the Nolan Country, his expression contemplative as he looked at the colorful representations on it.

Stanley and Harrison had been summoned by him; these two Bloodline were the inner and outer Power Holders of Dawn City, his left and right hands.

They stood before the office desk with Lide, looking at the expansive map laid out on the surface.

His finger glided across the slightly coarse paper, and Lide's gaze was profound.

“We are situated in the Far Mountain Range. Green City is in the central region of the southern province, with the Dwarf Hills underneath it.

If we connect our strengths in a triangle, Dawn City is at the top left corner, Green City at the top right corner, and the Dwarf Hills at the bottom.”

Dawn City's terrain was extremely concealed. The Far Mountain Range stretched tens of thousands of miles, across the Nolan Empire, Radiant Empire, and the Beastman Empire, and even on the other side of the Far Mountain Range, there were two more countries…”

Hearing Lide speak as if he were introducing the geographical environment, Stanley was somewhat perplexed and looked at him blankly, “Your Majesty, what do you mean?”

Lide smiled slightly, reached out and drew a line on the map from the location of Dawn City, cutting straight through the entangled borders of the Nolan Empire and the Beastman Empire, through the hills of the low mountains, all the way to the end of the low mountain hills–the ocean.

“The ocean?” Stanley frowned, “Currently, the Fishman Country has blocked the coastline for unknown reasons, and the environment there is extremely harsh.

Moreover, we are too far from the coastline, with a straight-line distance of almost 2500 kilometers…”

As they spoke, Stanley and Harrison seemed to have thought of something, they looked up at each other, and then turned their heads to look at Lide and said in unison.

“Centaur?”

Lide's smile widened, and he nodded with a confident tone.

“That's right, the Centaur.

The unique geographical ecology of the low mountain hills isn't of much interest to the Beastman Empire or the Nolan Empire, but they have overlooked a very special advantage of the low mountain hills–it connects to the ocean.”

Stanley looked at the marks on the map, his expression revealing some enlightenment.

“Your idea is to send the Centaur Tribe to the coast to help us obtain magic materials?”

This idea was quite… unexpected.

Centaur were standard land creatures, and on land, these beings were so dominant that they could almost be labeled as little tyrants of the land.

But at sea… with four hooves, the Centaurs could only be described as lambs.

“Would the Centaurs, with their weak fighting ability at sea, really be able to help us get magic materials from the deep sea?”

Both Harrison and Stanley were puzzled by this.

Lide shook his head, “Aren't there also the Fishman?”

“Fishman?” The two were even more baffled.

“Of course, this world isn't one where brute force is the only solution to problems,” Lide said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

“We're not enemies with the Fishman. The Far Mountain Range is too far from the ocean to have any fundamental conflict with them.

Without conflicts, is it possible to directly open a trade route?

The Fishman always have a need for materials…

It is said that the Fishman's forging skills for weapons and equipment can match the Centaur. Perhaps the Fishman, currently in conflict with the Nolan Empire, would appreciate sharp harpoons and lightweight armor that could speed up swimming…”

Stanley and Harrison felt as though a door had been opened to them.

They never thought that Lide's vision had already reached this level, their vast horizon only garnered their admiration.

“Your Majesty, your wisdom is enough to make the bright moon pale!

In this way, we don't even have to act personally, we can have the Iron Hoof Tribe send a Centaur merchant squad to trade with the Fishman Clan.

The Centaurs are standard land creatures and even metals are extremely rare among them, they hardly go to sea to fish and are unlikely to conflict with the Fishman Clan.

With no conflicts, it's not impossible to trade weapons and equipment for magic materials with the Fishman.

And it's not just magic materials–once this trade route is established, we could also transport more items needed by the Fishman in exchange for more precious resources available only in the deep sea.”

Harrison's eyes brightened upon hearing Stanley's words and he continued.

“With such a strategy, Dawn City will not only have the low mountain hills as a market but also the vastly larger Fishman Empire market.

We will be nourished by two enormous markets, and the resources we gain in the future will become greater and greater.

Moreover, there's a very clear benefit to this–breaking away from Dawn City's sole dependence on the Crimson Mage Tower.

Avoiding the situation where any problems in Green City would cause turmoil in Dawn City.”

Lide nodded in satisfaction at their additions.

This indeed was what true right-hand men are made of.

“Indeed, the Fishman Empire is definitely a partner with immense potential.

But let's not be too optimistic at the moment.”

However, Lide was not too hopeful, immediately throwing cold water on their ideas, “We're almost completely unfamiliar with the situation of the Fishman Empire, and we have no experience in dealing with Fishman.

For now, the first step is to clarify their nature and the corresponding needs.

This task can be handed over to the intelligence department to handle, you could let Frey who is still in the low mountain hills assist you.

Additionally,
we cannot relax our efforts in the low mountain hills either; it is an important resource point for us.”

Lide's thought process was not muddled; starting trade with the Fishman Empire was merely an intention for now. To really make it happen would require the investment of lots of manpower, resources, and energy.

Right now, all this is simply a concept without substance.

But it cannot be denied that the plan was indeed tempting–if a trade route through the low mountain hills could be opened up directly to the Fishman Empire, the Crimson Mage Tower could break free from the embarrassing situation of being dependent on others.

Because aside from a few magic materials found in the deep sea, other materials could be located on land and were not lacking.

Being able to establish a long-term cooperation, the Crimson Mage Tower would no longer face the risk of running out of stock, and by then, Dawn City would also be able to build its own Magic Factory.

Therefore, this matter was indeed worth promoting.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Clan Leader.”

Both people played the roles of tools quite well, immediately responding to the orders as soon as Lide issued them.

After arranging this critical task, Lide turned to look at Stanley, whose face was marked with vicious scars, and asked,
“Stanley, has the intelligence department received any important news recently?

How is the integration of the organizational structure of the Intelligence Command Center going?”

After the establishment of the Intelligence Command Center, Stanley, a former Evil God believer, had become the substantial manager–essentially the legendary intelligence chief.

Lide placed great value on Stanley, whose hands were soaked in blood and who, even before transforming into a member of the Bloodline, had fit the standards of the Evil God Camp more than those of the Bloodline itself.

Lide believed that having this man manage the Intelligence Command Center, an institution destined to involve a great deal of secrecy and even dark and bloody affairs, was perfectly suited to Stanley's style.

“Your Majesty, there are no important pieces of intelligence at the moment.”

Stanley shook his head, knowing that the important intelligence Lide referred to had to be at least Level 2 in severity.

Currently, the Intelligence Command Center categorized its intelligence into six levels, from Level 5 to Level 1, with Level 5 being the lowest and Level 1 the highest, and above Level 1 was a classification for top-secret intelligence.

Top-secret intelligence was only utilized when it involved the fate of Dawn City, or even when its survival was at stake.

Once issued, all secret lines of the Intelligence Command Center would spare no expense to ensure the intelligence was delivered, even using special methods to contact nearby Bloodline forces for protection, also at any cost.

“Currently, all departments within the Intelligence Command Center have been established.

The important ones are divided into four departments: Ming Department, Dark Department, Blood Department, and another unnamed department.”

Lide raised his eyebrows when he heard this. After his last communication with Stanley, he had left the Intelligence Command Center in his charge. Recently, he even went back to Earth to research a myriad of approaches on how different countries formed their intelligence agencies and provided them to Stanley.

Yet, this was the first time Lide seriously listened to Stanley give a report since the Intelligence Command Center was established.

“Tell me about them.”

Lide was all too aware of the power of intelligence. This was the future eyes of Dawn City, and it demanded the highest priority.

“Ming Department is the public department. I will personally train intelligence personnel who will then join the various forces under Dawn City, mainly Green City at the moment.

On the surface, these operatives appear to be members of large merchant houses or even Noble families, with various identities as their cover.

The main purpose of the Ming Department is to gather intelligence from the elite human class.”

“Dark Department operates in the shadows, responsible for infiltrating the Underworld to gather information for us.”

“Blood Department is the Intelligence Command Center's ace. Everyone in the Blood Department has transitioned to become members of the Blood-colored Blade.

They are specifically tasked with violently hunting down enemies, infiltrating secretive enemy locations to steal intelligence, or even directly capturing enemies by force.”

Stanley's face became extremely serious and earnest as he spoke.

“The last and most critical department, in my view, is one that will obtain high-level intelligence for the Intelligence Command Center in the future, potentially even affecting the fate of Dawn City.”

Lide was somewhat surprised to hear such an exaggerated statement, knowing that Stanley was neither prone to overstatement nor to boasting.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone grew somber.

“Speak.”

Stanley looked solemnly at Lide.

“You have always overlooked the point of greatest advantage and strength the Bloodline presents against humans, and the very source of humans' fear of the Bloodline… eternal life!”

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on Lide and Harrison's faces, Stanley continued to explain, “Or more precisely, the ability to grant others eternal life.

The Bloodline has several times in human history instilled fear in mankind, all due to the Bloodline's embrace.

Because the Bloodline can turn all humans into members of their own kind.

The lofty Nobles may be from the Bloodline, and so might the humans who greet them every day.

The Bloodline's embrace is too powerful a capability, granting humans eternal life. That is our most invincible weapon when facing humankind.”

Stanley's tone gradually grew excited, “I was once a dark priest for the Late Bell Church, a believer of the Evil God, deeply studying the psychology of human Nobles while in Green City.

I know what these Nobles, who possess boundless wealth and power, fear most, and that is–Death.

Death is feared by all living beings, but unlike other Life, humans' greed for wealth and power is among the top three across all races in the Radiant Empire's main Plane.

Yet it is their fleeting lifespans that force humans to confront the threat of death, and when facing mortality, their wealth and power will slip away bit by bit.

How can the Nobles, accustomed to luxury, endure such a state?

Thus, as they approach death, those Nobles in power often become particularly crazed.”

At that moment, Stanley appeared like a devout Believer, his eyes filled with a fervent gleam.

The Late Bell Church had once used this psychology to recruit countless nobles to act for us, although later on, due to certain events, it was exposed that we lacked the ability to grant eternal life, which greatly damaged our credibility.

But still, there were nobles willing to believe in us.

Different from my time with the Late Bell Church, our Holy Light Bloodline has the power to grant those nobles eternal life!

And once these nobles become part of the Bloodline, everything they have will belong to the Bloodline.”

At this point, a glint of ambition flashed in Stanley's eyes, “Your Majesty, this is the reason why the Bloodline has always been feared by humans.

We possess the power to grant humans eternal life–their temptation is simply too great…”
Upon hearing Stanley's words, Lide felt a sudden sense of revelation.

His thinking had indeed been limited; he had always viewed this world through the lens of Earth, forgetting that the essence of this world was one of magic.

It's not only through combat that the Bloodline could demonstrate its value–other aspects could perhaps be more domineering than battle.

From Stanley's simple words, Lide could faintly sense that ambitious drive.

Good, he liked such subordinates.

Let this dark network, which was about to spread throughout the entire Nolan Country, grow unrestrained.

Eternal life, not to speak of glory, if one could attain immortality, even the highly educated people of Earth, those modern humans who have undergone the information explosion, how many could resist such temptation?

This plan perfectly played to the strongest advantage of the Bloodline, and its feasibility was extremely high.

With proper handling, it could be foreseen that in a very short time, the Bloodline would establish a colossal, sky-reaching web.

And his title as the great dark boss would become a reality.

However, at this moment, Harrison furrowed his brows slightly, noting some flaws in Stanley's words, although they sounded promising.

“Marquis Stanley, I think not all human nobles are uninformed about this, right? While some are willing to pay any price for eternal life, surely there will be those who stand firm for their beliefs.

Those with convictions may well be far more numerous than the nobles inclined towards darkness. Humans don't dominate the Main Plane of Glory through simplicity.

Moreover, there are various sects within the cities sensitive to the Bloodline and Dark Life, and the Holy Power of the sects is irresistible to the Bloodline.”

Although the Bloodline can achieve the scenario described by Stanley, it is by no means simple.

The sects of the Light Gods alone within the human cities could cause significant setbacks to this plan.

The nobles, who have learned from so many historical losses, certainly won't remain idle.”

Stanley, not surprised by Harrison's rebuttal, looked even more excitedly at Lide.

“Harrison is right, but the reality isn't as you think.

Your Majesty, without you, the plan could be executed, but the efficiency would drop tenfold.

With your presence, the success rate of the plan will rise exponentially.

Because, the Holy Power of the Dawn Sect is harmless to the Holy Light Bloodline…”

This revelation brought a look of profound joy to Harrison's face.

Given that Lide, the God of Dawn, was the Ancestor of the Bloodline, and all Bloodline members bore the Bloodline descending from Lide, the Holy Power of the Dawn Sect was not only harmless, unlike other Light Powers which were lethal to the Bloodline, it was actually quite amiable to the Bloodline.

And this was the key for the Bloodline to withstand those sects.

After converting to the Bloodline, as long as they could find a way to carry the Holy Power of the Dawn Sect with them, the safety and secrecy of these Bloodline members would be greatly enhanced.

After all, no one could believe that a noble radiating Holy Power at all times could be a creature of Dark Life.

Lide could not help but be exhilarated by the thought.

Stanley's intelligence, capable of devising a plan to control players and indirectly invade Earth, proved he truly was a super boss.

This guy really had something.

Lide delivered the final verdict.

“This plan, with the Intelligence Command Center in charge, supported entirely by the City Hall, and the Dawn Sect following orders, needs to come up with a comprehensive and feasible scheme in the shortest time possible.

As for the Holy Power of the Dawn Sect, I will take care of it.”

At this moment, a broad smile spread across Stanley's face, “Your Majesty, please, I ask you to name this department.”

Lide nodded slightly; although this department was just starting out, it would surely be extraordinary.

Considering this future plan that was destined to create great waves, a chilling light flickered through his profound eyes.

“This setup has the potential to influence the fate of Dawn City, and a huge storm is sure to arise from it in the future.

I shall name it–'Shadow of Dawn'.

I hope each of you, lurking in the shadows, will become eternal and indestructible.”

From that day forward, an unseen dark hand began to stretch into the kingdom of humans.

Countless nobles, unable to resist the lure of eternal life, chose to embrace the darkness.

Behind them, a supreme boss was orchestrating everything from an extremely secretive location.

Chapter end