Chapter 165: Lance Would Never Traffic Vampires

"Don't worry, Hyperion. With the Detective and the Lawyer by your side, there's no way those thugs can lay a finger on you." Frey nodded.

He was always ready to lend a hand when his companions needed it. He simply hadn't expected the conversation to take such a sudden, unexpected turn.

Previously, they had anticipated a routine reception job where the three of them could simply perform reliably, as always, and see the guests off without a hitch. Instead, a conspiracy lurking in the shadows had come to light, and it was one involving the diplomatic relations between the Kingdoms of Hutton and Yaloran

If the three of them, model representatives of the Student Management Council, managed to expose an elite member of the Church of Resurrection while hosting the Yaloran academic delegation, His Majesty the King would surely have to commend them for such a feat. Of course, the reward money would be substantial, too!

"True. With you guys around, I feel like it's the enemy who's always in danger." Hyperion finally understood her role in the group. She was, in fact, the perfect bait. She was indispensable to the team's ability to maintain this virtuous cycle of rapid success and prosperity, ensuring they had everything they needed.

Frey announced, "We're the public face representing the new generation of Ikerite University. We absolutely have to bring glory to the school this time!"

Lance nodded sagely. "Exactly. Dean Lawrence will surely be deeply grateful to the three of us."

Hyperion held back a sigh. "...Just promise that if something goes wrong and you two decide to run for it, you won't leave me behind..."

As the trio continued to chat and walk toward the ground floor, the familiar sight of the sanctuary came into view. The arched ceiling and ornate stained-glass windows exuded a serene beauty in the quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the space.

They passed through the sanctuary toward the area behind the staircase and found a stone door tucked away in a corner. Adorned with an old iron ring, it served as the entrance to the underground wine cellar.

"Is this the place?" Frey asked.

Lance replied, "Yes."

Frey pushed open the heavy stone door, and a blast of icy chill rushed out to meet them. As the three descended the stone steps, they were soon greeted by the aroma of oak barrels. It was a unique scent born of the marriage between time and wine.

Upon entering the wine cellar and switching on the lights, they were greeted by rows of massive oak barrels arranged in perfect order. The lighting was dim and hazy, and the air was thick with the rich, mellow aroma of aged wine, which mingled with the distinctive scents of damp stone walls and old wood.

This Shadow Realm dungeon was well-stocked with everything, from premium ingredients to a wide variety of beverages.

"According to Sticella, simply dripping any kind of blood onto the cellar floor will trigger a reaction from the underground magical barrier."

As he spoke, Lance took a small vial from his pocket containing a few drops of blood shed by the Saintess of Destruction during her earlier battle. That blood couldn't be allowed to go to waste.

He then uncorked the vial and let a drop of deep crimson drip onto the open space in the center of the cellar floor.

The very next instant, the blood acted like a water droplet striking the surface of a still lake. Ripples of translucent red energy radiated outward from the center. The stone flooring began to hum faintly, hinting at a concealed mechanism.

Lance crouched down and pressed his fingers against the ground to sense the source of the magical formation. Moments later, his gaze shifted toward one side of the cellar.

He walked over and poured the remaining blood onto the ground. Instantly, pale-red magical ripples surged violently across the surface. The stone slabs beneath his feet emitted a deep, resonant rumble before slowly sinking downward, revealing the secret hidden beneath the wine cellar.

Embedded in the hollowed-out earth was a super-ancient magical device resembling a metal coffin. It was inscribed with complex magical formations and barrier arrays. The symbols pulsed and flickered as if alive.

Lance didn't rush to the next step immediately. Instead, he brought Frey and Hyperion to the underground coffin to examine the magical formations upon it.

Lance's emerald eyes were fixed intently on the spell circuits etched into the coffin, which were composed of ancient human magical runes. He sighed. "Just as I thought. This formation is identical to the one in that grimoire of Sealing magic I saw in the library. The only catch is that it's a Tier 5 spell. Even if I could understand or learn it, I wouldn't be able to cast it right now."

Once sealed within it, the target would be locked in a static state, unable to recover in any way. This spell was named Eternal Undying Punishment.

"So, once you reach Rank 5, will you be able to learn this spell and use it to seal the vampires?" Hyperion asked from the side.

Lance turned back to her and explained, "Theoretically, yes. The cost isn't fatal, as it merely drains a massive amount of the caster's mana and causes some backlash. However, the practical application of this seal requires the vampire to be immobilized first. It also necessitates a werewolf and a witch to act as mediums for the casting."

He had only grasped the surface-level mechanics of this incredibly complex ancient spell. He would need to study the finer details thoroughly once he returned to the real world.

Despite that, Lance felt a strange sense of confidence. Perhaps this spell would be the first one he could cast without the aid of enchanted cards. Of note, he was someone who couldn't so much as conjure a simple Fireball! When that day came, he would certainly have to show off to the professors of the Sages' College practical courses. This would prove that he, too, could wield magic.

Lance stood up, took a step back, and said to the two beside him, "As I understand it, since it is currently night, safely away from the sun, you two simply need to drip your blood, which acts as the key, onto the coffin. The seal will then automatically reverse its operation and disengage."

He paused and then continued, "Oh, and for a moment like this, we might as well activate the Shadow Realm Recording Program. After all, there's no need to keep the upcoming events secret anymore, and it'll serve as a teaser for the major livestream event scheduled for after dawn."

If the academic delegation from the Kingdom of Yaloran arrived at noon, they would likely be able to watch the livestream.

"Understood." Frey nodded.

Hyperion then asked, "Are the three of us going to subdue him together?"

Lance smiled with exceptional confidence. "No need. You two don't have to lift a finger. I can handle him with just a single sentence."

Hyperion nodded, though she remained skeptical. She was still prepared to step in front of Lance and protect him at a moment's notice. After all, she couldn't fathom how a Rank 6 vampire could be subdued by mere words alone!

Frey and Hyperion quickly pricked their fingertips and dripped a drop of blood each onto the coffin that held Viscount Augustine.

The very next moment, a profound silence fell over the wine cellar. All sound was swallowed by some mysterious force. Then, the center of the floor, where the coffin was embedded, began to emit a low, deafening rumble. The vibrations shook the entire cellar.

A brilliant red halo erupted from the opening stone slab, illuminating the entire cellar. The light looked ready to spill over and flood the sanctuary above. The magical fluctuations within that crimson glow grew increasingly powerful and overwhelming. It was a terrifying phenomenon that felt like an omen of impending calamity!

The coffin lid slid open slowly, releasing a blast of frigid air reminiscent of an ancient, frozen abyss.

The cold seemed poised to freeze every living thing in the cellar. Then, emerging from that chill, a hand that was bleached to a ghostly gray by the ravages of time slowly came into view. It was very gaunt. The skin was stretched tight over the bone and looked drained of all vitality. The tips of the vampire's black fingernails glinted with a deathly, chilling sheen.

Clutching the edge of the coffin, he slowly rose from the frozen abyss of time. His crimson eyes burned with intensity, gleaming in the darkness. They were sharp, profound, and utterly cold.

Viscount Augustine fixed his gaze upon the three figures who had awakened and liberated him. His face was as pale as parchment, devoid of any trace of color. There was only an undisguised, bloodthirsty intent. The vampire was ready to feed.

"So you are the ones who awakened me," Augustine slowly said.

His voice was low and chilling, and every word seemed to fill the wine cellar with a terrifying, oppressive weight, as if the grim reaper's scythe were already hovering over the trio's heads.

He was ravenously hungry. Even though these three had freed him, he still needed to feed. These three puny creatures were now entirely at his mercy.

Despite that, Lance remained as poised and elegant as a castle steward, smiling at Augustine as he said, "Viscount Augustine, we have prepared three humans for you, and Count Palokas is already waiting for you on the third floor."

He then opened his palm to reveal a ring belonging to the count. The malice that had previously lingered in Augustine's eyes vanished, replaced by a look of thoughtful contemplation.

That precious ring radiated the potent aura of a high-ranking vampire, and it was a presence that made even Augustine feel a sudden shiver of apprehension. A count would never entrust such a personal accessory to anyone other than a deeply trusted thrall.

Augustine murmured, "Count Palokas, you say..."

Since it was Palokas who had orchestrated his rescue, he certainly could not rashly harm the count's own thralls. Moreover, the count would naturally be aware of the hunger that accompanied the breaking of the seal, and had thus prepared sustenance for him.

It seems the count has prepared a generous gift for me, likely three rather fine human specimens.

Augustine smiled with satisfaction. Even within the cellar, he could sense that it was night outside. There was no reason to doubt the sincerity of these three in breaking his seal.

He finally intoned, "Take me to see Count Palokas."

"This way, please." Lance gestured calmly, inviting Augustine to ascend from the cellar.

Amid the gloom of the underground space, the vampire's figure swept past Lance like a black storm. His stride was firm and powerful, like a beast straining to break free from its cage, as he marched eagerly toward his "blood meal."

As the viscount passed by, Lance stole a glance at Hyperion and Frey. He smiled and gave them a wink. The message was clear: "He's doing this of his own free will."

Frey silently gave Lance a thumbs-up, exuding the brazen air of a human trafficker whose scheme had just succeeded.

Hyperion didn't dare join in their silent exchange. She simply kept her head down and walked on. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would one day be an accomplice to kidnapping a vampire as a vampire trafficker! The Goddess was watching her!