They released their hands and stared at each other with mutual respect. For the first ti, Galak felt genuine admiration for a vampire besides Derek.
'As expected of Derek's son.'
"Shall we get going?" Jake asked, nodding toward a car parked a few ters away.
"Sure," Galak replied, glancing at the figure behind him as if silently assuring them. Galak and Jake entered the vehicle while their escorts boarded a separate one. The car Jake and Galak stepped into was autonomous, it lifted off the ground and shot toward the palace.
"Not much has changed on the vampire planet, but it seems you're trying to fix that," Galak said, sparking conversation.
"Haha, yeah, I guess. Vampires are so old-fashioned they don't even notice. We were once at the peak of technology and warfare, but it's crazy how quickly things slipped away," Jake replied with a sigh.
Galak paused before saying, "It all boils down to leadership. A stagnant leader only holds their people back." Jake understood the subtle jab at Old Man Duke, but there was nothing he could say—it was simply the truth. Though the old man wasn't terrible in his pri, he lacked foresight and ignored the broader picture, especially the race for scientific advancent, which led to Zunda's research being underfunded.
He had every resource at his disposal, yet never used them properly.
"Sigh, I can't deny that. But I'm here to change all that. I want to make the vampires great again," Jake said firmly.
"Great again? As in, through war or interplanetary conquest?" Galak asked. He knew he was treading a fine line, but he needed clarity.
"Haha, not that kind of greatness. That only breeds hatred. But if anyone dares to step on us, they'll learn the hard way. Still, I won't drag my people into war needlessly. What's the point of risking lives when I can go myself and reduce everything to ashes?" Jake said with a chuckle, making Galak's eyes widen.
"I admire your confidence, but isn't that a bit over the top? One man against an entire planet?" Galak asked, unsure if Jake was being serious.
Jake simply turned and gave a sly smile.
Soon, they arrived at the palace. Jake and Galak stepped out of the vehicle. At once, Galak's escorts and the mysterious hooded figure moved in behind him. Arthur and a few guards flanked Jake, while Amber disappeared back onto the watchtower.
Noticing the female guard was gone, Galak was stunned—she had slipped away without him noticing. It was the first ti soone had escaped his senses.
'Astonishing,' Galak muttered, just as Jake began leading him into the palace.
Inside, Jake was montarily stunned by the transformation. It was the sa palace, but it now looked like a grand hall prepared for a banquet. The throne area remained restricted, but the rest of the space was filled with luxurious tables, elegant chairs, and seductive maidens in sheer stockings, their pale thighs exposed. Nurous vampire lords were seated as well. When Jake entered, they imdiately stood.
"Welco, Your Highness," echoed through the hall.
'What the hell? How did they get here so quickly? Is this what it ans to be a good leader?' Jake thought in amusent.
Jake signaled for everyone to sit, then formally announced the arrival of the Dhampir King. The hall erupted into applause and cheers for Galak. He smiled throughout, baffled by how warmly the vampires were receiving him.
He recognized so of the vampire lords—they were known for their ruthlessness. Seeing them act so casually shocked him but also convinced him that Jake truly was an exceptional leader.
Suddenly, Jake's eyes caught sight of Zamira and Old Man Duke in the palace, seated right at the front row, exactly where he was about to sit.
'What the hell?! Didn't Zamira say she was going to stay at ho like I told her? And the old man—what is he doing here?!' Jake thought, feeling his plans slowly falling apart.
He gestured for Galak to take the seat prepared for him, then moved toward his own spot, right beside Zamira, who was seated next to Old Man Duke. Although Jake wasn't far from Galak, there was a noticeable gap between them.
"What the hell are you doing here, Zamira? And why are you dressed like that?" Jake asked, eyeing the lavish native attire she wore. A crown rested on her head, strands of beads cascading over her face—it was the queen's crown.
"Fufu, sitting beside my husband. What? Are you ashad of ?" Zamira teased with a mischievous giggle.
"Oi, Jake, surprised to see us, huh? Thought we would leave you to handle everything on your own?" Old Man Duke laughed heartily. "I'm not really here for business—just here to drink beer. Look, I didn't even greet Galak," he said, chugging from his cup.
"Dad~ take it easy!" Zamira scolded lightly.
Jake's eyes wandered, looking for the usual girls that always surrounded Old Man Duke, but they were nowhere in sight. Suddenly, the banquet began. Perforrs took the stage, and various events unfolded one after another.
Everyone was eating and drinking—Galak included, who seed to be blending in better than Jake had expected.
"So, Your Majesty, what do you think?" Jake asked, watching Galak lick his fingers clean after tearing into a chunk of at, then washing it down with a gulp of beer. anwhile, the hat-wearing figure beside him remained reserved, silently observing while eating slowly.
"Hahaha, I didn't know vampires could be this fun. My aura hasn't even stirred, and strangely, no one else's has either—that's shocking! So what do you say? Shall we form a pact? One where we support each other? After all, we are the sa. We were born from vampires. We only rebelled due to unfair treatnt and scrutiny toward subclasses. But now that things are changing, the Dhampirs are ready for a pact!" Galak's last words bood across the hall.
The crowd erupted in cheers and celebration. Jake and Galak shook hands again as the sexily dressed maidens brought out another round of beer and food.
Then, suddenly, Old Man Duke stood up, his face flushed red—clearly drunk out of his mind, wobbling as he tried to stay on his feet.
"I've got an announcent to make! My daughter, Zamira Mystro—the current queen of the vampires—is expecting a child with the regent, Jake Mystro! And not just any child, the one who's going to lead the vampires into the future!!" he declared.
As his voice rang out, the entire palace fell into silence. The room turned cold.
Jake and Zamira sat frozen, absolutely stunned.
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