“Thanks for getting the door!” Lian shouted with all the sass she could muster, oblivious of the vampire feigning courtesy and patience. She was so focused on putting all the sweets that she was carrying on the table that she didn’t notice the tension in the air.

  “We have company lass.” Pops called out to her with a voice that was deeper than usual.

  This made Lilliana turn serious. The truth was that he only called her lass when he was either in a bad mood or was giving her a lecture and with the heavy tone that was currently set to default this ‘guest’ was not welcomed here.

  “What is she a new customer?” Lian asked as she finally noticed the vampire.

  “I’m actually here to meet you.” The vampire interjected as she approached Lian. “Emily House of Bathory.” The vampire offered her hand like a noblewoman expecting it to be kissed or at the very least gently held.

  “Lian Hughes.” She responded as she grabbed the vampire's hand like it was a normal handshake.

  Emily thought Lian was uncouth. She couldn’t believe she was here to recruit this backwater hick. She recounted all her accomplishments in her head as if trying to find some kind of justification for her being here. Graduated from Rainy Wind University, one of the top four universities in the galaxy, subdued countless insurgents, and even led successful raids against Silver Moon on several occasions throughout her long life. Yet all this did was anger her further, not that she let it show.

  “I thought that we had a meeting in two days?” Lian inquired. She didn’t care about Blood Garden but wanted to at least hear their offer, but this vampire rubbed her the wrong way. Ever since she was little Lian had an instinct for people.

  Like how animals could tell good people from bad people she knew when people were itching to fight. This allowed her to intervene in many bullying situations, which in turn led her to go ballistic and send other kids to the hospital. It was a problematic time for Pops to try to reel in her temper.

  While her temper was kept in check by the discipline Pops gave her when he taught her how to create things. Yet the instinct remains strong, and this vampire was sending off all kinds of warning alarms in Lian's head. The weird thing for her is that she couldn’t tell if it was because of the person or if it was the fact that she was a vampire.

  “I’ve been called back so I dropped by in hopes that we can talk now.” Emily gave a soft smile in an attempt to appear endearing, but all that was conveyed was a predator hoping for a weakness to be created and exploited.

  “I don’t see the harm if we keep it brief. I have to help Pops since he’s getting up there in age.” Lian guided Emily back to the sofa as Pops glared daggers for that comment.

  “I can guess what Spiritus offered you, but I believe Blood Garden can guarantee you a high rank from the start. Just imagine eternal youth and beauty, all yours. Status and prestige are ready for the taking. What do you say?”

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  During Emily’s sales pitch, she spoke with a grand gesture, giving off the idea that Lian should be grateful for this opportunity. Which is why she was confused and annoyed that Lian’s look spoke volumes.

  “That’s it?” Lian was genuinely not impressed. Maybe she would have been if she hadn’t met Lugh or Kon first. Maybe she would have been more open-minded if Emily didn’t ring so many danger warnings in her head. In the end, she was just disgusted that all that the Blood Garden representative had to offer was the notion that she should be grateful for the opportunity.

  “This is a good opportunity. So, what do you mean by ‘that’s it’?” The gentle facade was starting to fall apart as Emily’s inner beast began to surface, hungry and pissed off for being treated so lightly.

  “Well yeah. Tuatha sent Lugh as a representative and we ended up exchanging forging stories and ideas. He even gave me some samples of their common materials to mess with.”

  Pops couldn’t help but give a small smug grin when she saw the vampiric bitch’s reaction. Emily was in complete shock since Lugh was Tuatha's greatest craftsman and was expected to become the 11th person in the galaxy to hold the title Grandmaster Smith any day now.

  “Not to mention that the offer I got from Spiritus was to be adopted by their leader herself.” At this being just casually dropped Emily nearly had a stroke and Pops wasn’t too far behind despite hiding it better. “So how is a high rank in the weakest council faction compared to being the leader's adopted daughter of one of the council factions tied for 4th strongest with GAT?”

  Lian couldn’t help but feel smug at this. It was a guilty pleasure of hers to knock arrogant people off of their high horse, even if the method bit her back in the long run.

  “I suggest you don’t make this choice so casually. Joining either Tuatha or Spiritus means to stop being human altogether.”

  “Versus becoming something that has to feed off of humans like a parasite and has a history of oppressing others.”

  Emily had completely shut down and couldn’t think of what to say. When she looked Lian in the eyes she didn’t see someone that had just become arrogant after unlocking their system. This was the gaze of someone who would finish what they started, Gehenna or high water no matter the cost. A monster.

  “In time you will regret this choice.” This was all Emily said before she left.

  Pops and Lian sat in silence afterward like they were waiting for the air to cleanse itself before they said anything.

  “Adoption again?” Pops inquired with a teasing tone.

  “Best offer so far. Not that I plan on getting a fluffy tail any time soon.” She shuddered imagining such a thing and just felt embarrassed by the notion of it. Don’t forget animal ears. Just because she found it cute on others doesn’t mean she wants it herself.

  “Happy to hear it, Lilliana.”

  Pops placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure himself that he wasn’t losing her yet. Adopted or not this was his baby girl.

  *

  Emily was seething with fury. She hadn’t felt so embarrassed since before she joined Blood Garden centuries ago. Since she doubted that Lian would change her mind she was to switch to plan B. If Blood Garden can’t have her then no other faction will either. That Lust affinity can be dangerous if trained right.

  Since vampires have innate charm skills, they understood how powerful such an affinity could be. For now, she simply focused on how to get rid of Lian.

  She couldn’t just kill her, because on the off chance what she was told was true then doing so would draw the ire of Spiritus and maybe Tuatha if not Lugh himself. It’s no secret that Kyubi Kon has been looking for an heir for centuries and Lugh has been wanting to train a successor for his crafting titles.

  She sent out her familiars to find anyone that had a bone to pick with Lian. Everyone had an enemy or two. While she searched through them, she missed someone walking up towards her. She turned to see who it was, only to be surprised to see a high-ranking member of WIZARD.

  “I have a proposition for you.”