Chapter 270 – 269 Before the war began, Lord Murphy had gained

Chapter 270: 269. Before the war, Lord Murphy had already won another victory [1920].

(-Added for brother “Huo whole quite good” [19/20])
“The waves of destiny are always a heavy wash for warriors, and how can you shy away from trying to lead them to do really great things?”

Seeing that Murphy was still a bit hesitant about using the cute little players for testing psychic energy spells, Tris instantly rolled her eyes as she emphasized:

“Some of their characteristics are simply tailor-made for exploring the truth of psychic energy, little Murphy, you can’t constrain your warriors on how to spend their lives, that’s what you said yourself.”

“But you’re letting them serve as test subjects for you now, I can’t even think about what you dare to let them do in the future.”

Murphy gave a small spat.

He glanced at this slot-filled return scroll in his hand, and in the end, he didn’t return it to Tris, but put it into his psychic energy bag, and said to Tris again:
“This kind of consumable they might not refuse, and this time, I need at least 200 of them!”

“Well, that’s right.”

Tris nodded in satisfaction.

With her work here done, she nodded goodbye to the administrators and headed back to the Blood Wyvern Cloisters, escorted by Mad Bonnie.

Maxim also had to discuss with President Natalie and Ms. Laneia about laying down defenses in the city, with Count Andre joining in.

Murphy didn’t bother them as he and Miriam returned with Prof. Malcolm to the administrative courtyard in the outer city, reconnecting to Revernor’s viewpoint again on the way to observe the movements of the Jackal vanguard.

After a few minutes, he brought his view back and said to the somewhat worried Scarlet Consul Miriam:

“Those chaotic vanguards will reach the vicinity of Moorland Village in six hours at the most, the witch hunters are retreating towards Scarlet Fortress, and our lords who have migrated to the collective farms are retreating towards our city.

When they all enter the Scarlet Fortress, the number of inhabitants here will exceed 10,000 for the first time.

Therefore, you will have to coordinate the order of the residents, Miriam, and treat this ‘Jackal Attack’ as a drill before the arrival of the Black Calamity, which will allow them to hide in the safer sewers. If you need it, the Blood Vulture Cloister will also be opened as a temporary shelter.

In addition, I need you to penalize those administrators who ‘walked alone’ last night!

While they did indeed take credit for fighting against the Wolfsbane Clan, I don’t want this ‘underhanded’ behavior to become some bad tradition in Transylvania.”

“You have to look at it from another angle, Murph, isn’t this proof that the people have recognized your rule and the order you bring? Lord Lord.”

Miriam said in a long drawn out voice:

“They’re the ones who volunteered for the war. You didn’t see the way His Lordship the Greybeard and his foremen made an impassioned plea in front of me, and as far as I know, it’s rare to see such an unsolicited request for war in the last 400 years in Transylvania.

I’ll punish the administrators who went off on their own and send them to the collective farms to organize the building of strongholds there, but I think we can publicize this on the other hand.

For example, the bravery of the Transylvanians is reflected in the fact that even our civil officials are not afraid to fight to the death against an incoming enemy.

Trust me, Lord Murphy.

Our people will love this caliber of propaganda.

Having a cadre of humongous civil servants will give them the satisfaction of seeing it as a source of pride to boast about.

Oh yes, one more thing, Knight Shovan is back, his arms smuggling operation was so successful that just early this morning he escorted a shipment of old supplies from the border guards of the Kingdom of Canary Blossom back to the city.

Not only were there enough muskets and ammunition for the soldiers, but they even brought back 8 cannons for us!
My knowledge of these things is not specialized.

But I can tell that they should be small-caliber field artillery that’s well-maintained, so perhaps our soldiers should start learning to use this crystallized technology from now on.”

“Very good, even our Transylvanian cooks are so full of martial virtue.”

Murphy said slyly:

“More funds for Shovan and his lapel, I’ll need them to make another trip to the Cato and East Prussia regions after the Jackal Plague is over to bring me back more things like this, and by the way, tell the old soldier boys over there that I’ll be happy to hire them if they want to make a living off of their fighting talents.”

“With all due respect, my lord.”

Professor Malcolm cautioned at this point:

“I’ve traveled a great deal, but wherever I’ve been, old soldier boys aren’t trustworthy fellows, and they’ll hardly serve the purpose you want.”

“It doesn’t matter, once they’re here, some things are out of their hands.”

Murphy casually waved his hand with a hint of a smile and said:
“We are vampires.

We have many kinds of old ‘ancestral’ ways to cure their stinking problems, and I just need some professionals who know how to maneuver artillery.

After all, we Transylvanians don’t really like these fire-breathing contraptions.

In the face of the Black Plague, I can’t turn down these advanced weapons, and I have to make good use of the crystallized technology of the halflings to arm my lords and my soldiers.

But learning takes a process.

If you two have no misgivings about the next task each of you will undertake, then let’s all go our separate ways, the next three days will determine the future direction of this land.

I can’t promise you that if you pass this hurdle, the sea will be wide enough for the fish to leap, and the sky will be high enough for the birds to fly.

But I can assure you that as long as we make it through, a lot of things that could only have been planned as plans can actually be put into practice.”

Miriam and Professor Malcolm nodded, they were actually faced with a lot of questions but they were smart enough not to bring them up at this point.

In a situation where the Jackals were already pressing in with a large army and would be at the city in most half a day, raising all sorts of questions at this time would only be looking for a fight.

The small but elite administrative staff under Murphy’s command were all very smart.

After the two left, Murphy also moved his body, returned to the Blood Wyvern Corridor and completed today’s fencing training with Necessary Evil as usual, and then returned to his office.

Count Cadman, who had acted confidently outside, would have his face crumple this time.

With a small grumble, he sat back in his chair, poured himself a glass of wine, and unbuttoned the first button under his neck, only to have a familiar voice resonate from the shadows in the corner of the room before he even brought the wine into his mouth:
“Stressed out to this extent already? I’ve rarely seen you need to relieve yourself with a drink.”

Tris stepped out of the shadows playing with her Archduke scepter, carrying a bag of freshly made return scrolls in her hands, while Murphy put down his glass of wine as he plopped down on the table and spoke to Tris in front of him:
“I’m actually not as nervous as you think, I’m just a bit annoyed that there’s still no response from Count Sicco’s side, what a pity.

I was hoping to see the debut of the legendary Sicor Winged Cavalry in this war.

If we have that majestic and powerful maneuvering force, we will definitely be able to have more of an advantage when facing the Jackal Bandits.”

“Well, it’s true that they didn’t show up, but on the bright side, they didn’t add to the chaos at least.”

Tris dropped the scroll on the desk and fished out her own delicate little elven flask, she sat down rather relaxed on the edge of the desk and twisted off the lid to take a swig into her mouth.

Then stopping her movements again, she glanced down to see that Murphy’s restless hand was resting on her calf.

“Are you looking for a little courage?”

The Blood Vulture Archduke asked softly, while Murphy replied with his eyes closed:
“If you are willing to give me a little courage.”

He felt his fingers touch the smooth and slightly cold skin slinky curves and after a few seconds he said:
“I have a doubt that has nothing to do with the current situation in Transylvania, and I don’t think I should be pondering anything else in the situation at hand, but it’s a question that keeps lingering in the back of my mind.

Tris, what exactly do you think Venerable Lord Paying is up to?

I can understand him knocking old Edward and asking that bastard to give us a gift as a symbol of reconciliation, it represents the fact that the Venerable Lord used his power to make a small shelter for us, at least we don’t have to worry about the threat from the Wolfsbane Clan making small moves before the outbreak of the Black Plague. But why did His Holiness Pa Ying have to send the Blood Fear pirates, who have nothing to do with us, to support us as well?
The two clans, Blood Vulture and Blood Fear, didn’t have much of a friendship in past history, did they?”

“Hmph, you’re overthinking it, the Exalted Lord just wants to give those banished a chance to return to the continent, and the Blood Fear Clan has probably been waiting for this opportunity.”

Tris leaned down and reached out to stroke Murphy’s hair.

She said softly:

“Don’t worry little Murphy, you don’t need to think about any of this, it’s vampire housekeeping, it’s within my purview, so I’ll take care of those guys for you
And if your hand goes up my skirt any further, I’m going to have to punch you.

Be a gentleman, boy!”

“Who was it that just said they were going to give me a little courage? Planning to play the Goddess of Victory is actually just a start, you’re a crafty witch, Tris.”

Murphy bristled, relaxing his body against the chair.

He closed his eyes and nodded his lips as if in anticipation of something, and Tris looked around with a helpless expression leaning down to give him a peck on the corner of his mouth, but as she tried to pull back she realized that Murphy’s hand had taken hold of her slender waist.

That power bound her.

“Just stay here with me.”

Murphy said in a small voice, feigning pity:

“Look, I’m about to go out to war, and I don’t know if I’ll make it back alive this time, and if you’re a little off when you cast the spell three nights from now.

Maybe I’ll get thrown into the astral realm too.

Honestly, Tris, I think we’re just crazy to have to bombard our own territory in a hard search for a victory that won’t be much help to our situation even if we get it.

On the contrary, if we lose, then everything we’ve worked so hard to shape will go up in smoke in an instant.

I don’t know if the other lords had such a hard time developing their territories, but I’m certain that they definitely didn’t have as much difficulty as I did.

Alas, this ghost game is really too hardcore.”

“There’s never a legend that is casually molded, and there’s never a country that can be built easily, you’ve done a great job, Murphy.”

Tris whispered in his ear:
“Do you need more courage? Little Murph, let go of your heart and let me hear what you’re thinking right now.”

“You’ll be angry.”

“I won’t, trust me, I’m already planning to play your Victory, and I’m not going to start a fight and leave you here, good girl.”

“Okay.”

Murphy removed the guards of his mind, exposing his heart to Tris’s ears.

The Blood Vulture Archduke allowed Murphy to gather her into his arms, making it easier for her to press her head against Murphy’s heart as she listened to the voices that emanated from her heart, the scattered thoughts that pulsed above Murphy’s mind.

The good news was that the Lord of Lords wasn’t as stressed as she thought he was, the bad news was that that part of Murphy’s imagination about her was truly mortifying.

“It’s so undignified!”

Tris gave Murphy a hard stare, and the lord lord shrugged.

He had said before that Tris would surely be angry, so he planned to give a small explanation.

But in the next instant, the 450-something year old vampire lady in his arms rolled over and rode on Murphy’s lap, and she looked at him condescendingly.

Murphy was a little taken aback.

He then saw Tris ruffle her long hair, take his cheeks in both hands to lift the handsome face up, and lean down to kiss those lips so actively for the first time.

This sudden passion startled the vampire.

But it wasn’t a bad thing for him; Tris said she wanted to play Goddess of Victory for a bit, and Murphy finally understood what Tris meant.

Emmmm.

Now he really needed a little courage.

And greedy for more, as always, the wise Tris always knew exactly how to encourage the little man at home.

The Count’s hand became less gentlemanly with this seeming “encouragement”, like a bold adventurer crossing snowy mountains and plains, and following the darkness towards the legendary forest.

In the past, such explorations were clearly not permitted.

But this time it seemed that the Goddess of Victory had made a small exception for him, and he was able to caress the smooth porcelain skin without being prevented from doing so.

It was the first time Murphy had known that vampires could shiver and breathe heavily from such touch.

“Stop!”

After five minutes, Tris suppressed Murphy’s overly exploratory hand, she straightened her body to straighten her messed up clothes, looked at him condescendingly once again, and said:
“Greedy brat! Willing now to get that victory you must have for your Archduke?”

“I feel as if you are a legendary chimera tempting me to do something dangerous, but it is not impossible to talk, if this is a deal about courage.

If you’re willing to give me a little more .”

Murphy shrugged.

With another wicked grin on his handsome face that only came when he and Tris were alone, he took Tris by the waist and rather flirtatiously and boldly flicked at the neckline of his blouse, leaving the black garment open before his eyes, before placing a soft kiss on the delicate, art-like clavicle in front of him.

But no further .
The force coming from Tris’s fingers as she tightened her grip on his wrist signaled that she clearly wasn’t ready.

Murphy also seemed to regain his gentlemanly demeanor as he whispered:

“I will conquer the world for you, my Tris.”

“Heh, man.”

Tris bristled, but she didn’t push him away just opened her arms and tenderly hugged his head and whispered:

“I will stay at Scarlet Fortress and wait for your triumphant return, as you said, we have a long to eternal life to understand each other enjoying that companionship and embrace.

I know deep in my heart that you will not stop here, much less be defeated by a pack of stupid, savage jackals, and I know that Transylvania is only your starting point.

And I, for one, will be with you until the end.

Murphy.
I swear, I’ll be there for you.”

“So, are you finally willing to admit that you like me too? Cowardly witch-sama?”

“Well, it’s still just a liking, and you might have to work a little harder to win the love of a witch, young Murphy.”

(End of chapter)