537 Chapter 537: A Visi (1/2)

Both Kufa and I exchanged a glance, and then we burst out laughing.

”What?!” Rossetti demanded. ”What's so funny?!”

”You think the three of us are capable of destroying the vampire clan by ourselves?” Kufa snorted as he sat back down, folding his arms and leaning against the chair. ”Sorry, but if you want to commit suicide, do it yourself. Don't drag us into this reckless plan.”

”Have you forgotten how we got our asses kicked by the adult vampire? That big guy who got roasted by Headmistress Taylor? We couldn't even defeat one guy, and you want to go after the entire clan?”

I shook my head, trying my best not to sound too annoyed. Rossetti slumped in her seat, her hands at her side. I could see her bunching them into fists.

”But…but we can't do nothing!”

”Who says we are doing nothing?”

”Eh?” Rossetti stared at me blankly. I shrugged and turned to Kufa, smiling.

”We are keeping track of mercenary movements and seeing who are carrying the fight to them. Then we will follow the specific mercenary regiments and volunteer to join them. Isn't that right, Kufa?”

”Yeah.” Kufa nodded. ”I'm looking at the Midnight Order, who specialize in hunting vampires. The Hunter Association has already enlisted their help. They haven't mobilized yet, mostly because they are still gathering information and trying to track down the vampires and locate their hideout.”

”The Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan is really good at hiding.” I sighed as I sagged down on the table. ”This isn't the first time the Hunter Association has tried to root them out. I think they have been on their tail ever since the other two high schools were destroyed.”

”Yeah, but Saint Teresa Academy is…you know. An elite school of renown and no small amount of prestige. Rich kids go there, especially the children of nobles. That's what caused all this uproar. The parents are spending a lot more money to ensure they get their revenge.”

Class difference really sucked. It wasn't that nobody cared when the other two high schools were destroyed by the vampires, but the parents could do very little except rely on the authorities. However, the moment rich parents and nobles came into the picture, they were willing to empty their wallets and hire elite mercenaries and paramilitary organizations to wipe out the vampires. They sought vengeance for their beloved children, who they had devoted so much resources and time to grooming.

Somehow the whole thing made me disgusted, but there was nothing I could do about it. I wasn't very rich. Yeah, my dad earned quite a bit from his mercenary days, but people tended to misunderstand something. We didn't get to save those funds. Most of the money he earned had to go into procuring new equipment, maintain and repair broken weapons, secure fresh ammunition (for magic weapons) and fuel, purchase new vehicles – especially those lost during missions.

All these cost money. And they were taken out from the paycheck that the employers gave the mercenaries. What, you think they were going to cover all those expenses along with the big cheque they gave us? Don't be naïve.

That was why mercenaries were so expensive to hire. You weren't just paying for them to go into combat. All the combat expenses, such as traveling, vehicles, ammunition and weapons, and medical fees were all included in the transaction.

Also, the mercenaries also subcontracted other combat mages, such as volunteers like me, Kufa and Rossetti if we chose to follow them. Then they had to split the cash they earned even further. Even if we were ”volunteers,” we still need to be paid, or that would be illegal exploitation of labor. They had the right to refuse us if they didn't think they could spare the cash, but mercenaries usually didn't care because they needed cannon fodder and the like. Or interns. Also, they were always on the lookout for potential newbies that they could recruit into the core of their organizations. For the future, and all that.

”I see.” Rossetti was aware of that too. She straightened up, looking more determined. ”Then let's do that. Please keep me updated.”

”I will,” Kufa assured her. Then he looked sternly at her. ”And don't do anything reckless. We'll move together. Is that clear?”

”Come on…” Rossetti clasped her hands behind her head, looking annoyed. ”I'm not stupid, you know? Even if I'm a little…hotheaded, even I know that it'll be absurdly reckless for me to attack the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan on my own.”

Then she lowered her head, an expression of frustration on her pretty face.

”And besides, I don't even know where they are right now.”

”Yeah, the Midnight Order will find them,” Kufa promised. He glanced at me. ”Are the Silver Wolves participating in this one?”

”No.” I shook my head. ”Instructor Feng Hai says that they have a lead on the Dark Church. They are focusing on that for now. As dangerous as the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan is, the Dark Church cannot be forgotten. They have already attacked several cities. Can't blame the Silver Wolves for prioritizing them.”

Yeah, when I thought about it like that, I realized that the Dark Church was the greater threat. As callous as I might sound, what was a school compared to an entire city? Despite the atrocities the Crimson Blood Demonic Night Clan carried out, they hadn't assaulted anything larger than a school…

Wait, why were they attacking schools in the first place? That made no sense whatsoever. Shouldn't the vampires be attacking Hunter Association outposts instead? Hunter Association headquarters and the like? What benefits did they have from attacking schools? I guess it was possible that they intended to ensure that the students still in training wouldn't mature to become powerful enemies in future, so they wanted to first eliminate those with the potential to threaten them in future. That was the only reason I could think of right now.

”All right, then I guess it's time.”

After finishing my mango cake and mango tea, I rose from my seat. I had already automatically paid for the food and drink through electronic payments, the system automatically deducting the credits from my account when I made the order.

”Where are you going?” Rossetti asked, standing up to join me. I turned back to her and smiled.

”To pay a visit.”

*

Thanks to my glasses and smartphone, I roughly recalled the route that Nan Gong Zhao Yan took to her house, so it was a simple matter for me to retrace the steps. Like before, the train journey required an hour, but I reached my destination before I knew it.

As I approached the Nan Gong family's house, I could hear the faint sounds of the television drifting through the open window. Apparently they were watching the news.