After two hours had passed, Maria continued to wait in the hotel lobby, anticipating the completion of her foster father's business with Jas. However, she decided to make good use of her ti and began working in the lobby.
Her task was to transmit information about their current location in Germany to her master, Daniel, and his strategist, Odysseus, who were eagerly awaiting her updates.
Maria had strategically deployed approximately 1000 modified tal scarabs in the vicinity. These were the second generation of modified scarabs known as Spy Scarabs, a project initiated at her request for her division from Daniel.
The results had exceeded her expectations, as these scarabs were capable of transmitting both high-quality audio and visual data to her notebook and the command center located in Sector Alpha City, their ho base.
Her current mission was to establish the groundwork for a eting with a well-known vampire clan residing in Heidelberg, Germany.
According to the intelligence she had received from Envy, the Sanguinis Clan was renowned for their expertise in blood magic. Blood magic was a powerful branch of magic known for its potency but also its severe drawbacks on the user. It required sacrifices, typically in the form of fresh blood that still retained its life force.
Analyzing this information alongside her knowledge of blood magic, which Envy had facilitated access to through the Hightower Academy's server, Maria deduced that the blood in question had to be either that of the user themselves or blood that had been ticulously preserved to maintain its life force, a feat impossible using conventional technology.
Blood magic, due to its reliance on the life force and mana within blood, yields exceptionally potent spells, surpassing those cast solely with pure mana. However, it cos with a significant drawback: users of blood magic cannot utilize these techniques extensively, as they deplete their own blood as the source of power.
The Sanguinis Clan, a vampire clan specializing in blood magic, holds a unique advantage. Their vampiric nature exempts them from the limitations that human mages using blood magic face. Vampires can store ample blood within their bodies, maintaining its vitality over ti.
One might wonder why the Sanguinis Clan stands out among other vampire clans. The key lies in their preservation of knowledge from the 14th century. This heritage empowers them to conjure blood constructs from the mories of those they have consud.
Although these constructs possess only around 50% of the original strength, they cannot be completely obliterated as long as a source of blood replenishes their power. Moreover, the Sanguinis Clan can exert so control over the blood of their victims, extending to other vampires, even those of equal standing.
This reality has earned the Sanguinis Clan a reputation of fear among both vampires and mages throughout Europe. Consequently, they have received honors and nurous exceptional privileges from the Hightower, the institution of great renown.
Notably, the professor responsible for instructing blood magic at the Hightower Academy hails from the Sanguinis Clan, a recognition unparalleled by any other vampire clan in their relationship with the Hightower.
The connection between the Sanguinis Clan and mage clans is remarkable, even more so than their affiliation with vampires. This strong bond results from nurous intermarriages between the Sanguinis Clan and various mage clans.
Notably, the patriarch of the Sanguinis Clan holds a seat on the Hightower council as a High Councilor. This position elevates their influence to the apex of the European hierarchy.
Maria wasn't entirely certain about the reason, but it appeared that her master had altered his strategy. Rather than hastily seizing control of the mana fonts in France and Germany from the local Hightower branches, the new approach focused on establishing enduring connections with local forces first.
Only when circumstances permitted would they proceed to secure the two mana fonts. If not, they would exert pressure to impede the transfer of mana from European fonts to the Hightower headquarters.
Given this shift in strategy from her master and his strategist, they needed to prioritize negotiation over a more aggressive approach. Maria had been diligently working on this aspect.
She leveraged her skills and connections to acquire three false identities for mbers of a prominent human family, successfully arranging a eting with a representative from the Sanguinis family later that evening.
Maria continued her work for a few more minutes, finalizing the necessary preparations. Her foster father had yet to return from the task of imparting so much-needed manners to Jas. She took care of the hotel arrangents, ensuring everything was in order for the upcoming eting.
— Evening - Heiligenberg - Ruin —
Amidst the ancient ruins of Heiligenberg, Maria stood alone. The crumbling remnants of history surrounded her, their shadows deepening as night descended. The ruins, once a testant to grandeur, now whispered stories of the past in their weathered stones and overgrown vegetation.
Moonlight filtered through the broken archways and tumbled over moss-covered walls. The night air was cool and carried the scent of history and secrets long buried. Maria's presence added a touch of intrigue to the desolation, a lone figure waiting in the midst of this forsaken place.
She had co here alone, expecting her foster father, Vlad, to join her. She had sent a reminder ssage to him about the eting, and she had chosen not to delay the proceedings any further.
Maria arrived at the designated eting spot, following an unspoken rule of business that dictated her presence thirty minutes before the scheduled eting. It was a practice observed by seasoned businessn worldwide, and Maria, posing as a businesswoman under her assud identity, had embraced this tradition.
As ti ticked away, there was still no sign of the other party, just as her foster father, Vlad, had not yet appeared. Glancing at her wristwatch, Maria noted that they were now ten minutes behind schedule. The representative of the Sanguinis Clan had yet to arrive, but Maria chose to exercise patience.
She had anticipated this delay, considering the false identity she had assud—a human businesswoman representing a family eager to offer themselves as vampire thralls in exchange for longevity, and proposing a mutually beneficial trade with the Sanguinis family. In such a scenario, it was only natural that the Sanguinis family might look down upon them.
Maria waited patiently for so more ti until a man in a sharp black business suit strode into the ruined area, accompanied by a group of imposing individuals who appeared to be his bodyguards, given their evident strength.
"I heard that there are three people. Where are the other two?" inquired the man in the black business suit, addressing Maria, who stood alone amidst the ruins.
"They are attending to so rather urgent matters, which is why they might be a bit delayed. I apologize for this oversight on our part and hope you can forgive us for the inconvenience," Maria responded politely, bowing respectfully to the man.
The man, however, sneered at Maria, his gaze openly filled with desire as he shalessly appraised her body. He made no effort to conceal the evident lust in his expression.
The man proceeded to retrieve a docunt from his briefcase, scanning the information about Maria and briefly glancing at the profiles of the other two individuals. These details were, of course, fabricated information that Maria had ticulously prepared for this operation, ensuring that there was no way this man could discern her true identity.
"You are Maria Davis, the adopted daughter of Mr. Vlad Davis," the man in the black business suit read her profile and inquired, "Where's the gift, Ms. Davis?"
Upon hearing this, Maria promptly fetched the suitcase she had kept beside her and presented it to the man in the black suit.
The man opened the suitcase, and a brilliant, golden light spilled forth. He nodded in satisfaction, recognizing the value of the gold not only as a hard currency but also for its utility in various rituals and as a substitute magic material in the creation of artifacts.
After a brief inspection, the man in the black suit closed the suitcase and handed it over to one of his bodyguards for safekeeping.
"Thank you, Ms. Maria. I will accept this gold as compensation for wasting our ti. Now, our business is concluded. So... goodbye," the man in the black suit declared, as if he were about to leave.
Maria, however, understood that the man was rely putting on an act. He had no real intention of departing. Instead, he wanted to capture Maria's attention and assert his importance, implying that he was too busy to stay and wait for the other two "insignificant" individuals to arrive.
The sly smile on the man's face tempted Maria to slam her foot into it. Yet, no matter how strong the urge, she had to exercise patience. The mission to et with the higher-ups of the Sanguinis Clan was far from over, and thus, she could only feign the need to detain him.
"Wait, please wait a little! My lord! My father and the other one have not yet arrived!" Maria called out to the man.
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