Chapter 444: Who are you?
Damon didn’t waste time. Once everyone had gathered back at the inn, he laid out the situation in crisp detail. There was no need for the others to hover around the city streets where he already had his senses locked on.
"Keep your eyes sharp, but don’t linger here. We need resources. So you guys can head over to the nearby villages, towns, and even roadside stalls. Buy whatever you can and strip them clean of anything useful. Herbs, ores, rare beast parts, talismans, tools, weapons. Buy anything of value."
While Damon was still not sure of the whole guild creation, he knew that operating one required a shit ton of resources. Mountains of resources. Not a handful. Not a pile. Mountains. One needed money to make more money. That’s just how things worked.
Damon, in general, did not have a good opinion about guilds. In his last life, when he was fucked over, his so-called friends, his guild mates, did shit all to help him. Most of them simply laughed behind his back at his predicament, and many even laughed right in front of his face.
When the times were good, they called you brother. When the times were bad, they stepped over your corpse to get ahead.
Guilds weren’t families, and they were sure as hell not bonds forged in blood or trust. They were businesses, and the second you couldn’t pay your dues in strength, coin, or usefulness, you were cast aside.
Damon had learned that lesson the hard way. That bitter taste still lingered, even now.
This time, if he built something, it wouldn’t be a guild in the traditional sense. It would be his. His fortress, his network, his people. Not a collection of leeches who could betray him when convenient.
After Damon dispersed everyone, he once again continued his training, all the while keeping an eye on the building. The next couple of days went by in the blink of an eye. Soon it was time for the auction.
Damon was pretty sure that this was when something big was going to go down. He sensed increased movements from the building. Finally, the vampires were making their move just like he expected.
After a while, Damon’s eyes widened in surprise. Even he did not expect this. About fifty or so C-rank vampires silently slipped out of the building without attracting much attention.
They seem to be wearing some sort of charm that hid their levels and their presence. He was only able to sense them for a fraction of a second before their auras and presence completely disappeared.
They walked out of the building like ordinary bloodlings. For the average demon or beastkin watching, they looked like nothing more than weak, fresh bloodlings heading out for a night’s prowl.
This meant only one thing. Someone high up in the vampire hierarchy was pulling these strings.
Damon’s grin widened. A secret auction already promised rare items and rare beasts, but if the vampires were moving in such numbers, then something truly priceless was about to change hands. It looked like he had arrived in the city at a good time.
Damon stood up and he too walked out of the inn, heading in the same direction. Everyone was headed to the Spire district. Soon, one of the vampires tore off the group and headed in a different direction.
Damon decided that this was a perfect opportunity to find out what the hell was going on. He slipped into stealth, immediately tailing the one who broke away. He did not have to follow the vampire for long. The guy went to a secluded alleyway and Damon quickly caught up.
He shadow stepped and appeared right behind the guy. He slammed the guy on the alley wall and opened his mouth when unexpectedly, a powerful force assaulted him. In a split second, the tables were flipped and a pair of strong hands held Damon down on the wall instead.
"Where are your manners, acolyte? Did they not teach you how to greet your elders?"
A woman and for the first time since entering the bloodlands, he actually felt outmatched in raw strength. Whoever the vampire was, she was extremely powerful. Perhaps peak C rank, or even brushing the threshold of B rank.
Damon’s crimson eyes narrowed. "Elders don’t usually skulk around in back alleys," he said coolly.
The woman smirked. She leaned closer, her breath cool against his ear. "Sharp tongue. Careful you don’t bite it off." She let her aura press heavier, enough that even Damon’s enhanced body creaked under the invisible weight.
Then, just as suddenly, she released him. Damon staggered forward half a step before steadying, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing him falter.
Her crimson gaze lingered on him, studying, appraising. "You’re not just some stray bloodling. You hide it well, but your essence is far too rich. Who are you really, and why are you sniffing around my people?"
Damon couldn’t really see the woman’s face. She had some sort of illusion spell activated. In fact, he couldn’t see anything about her at all and yet, her eyes seemed to see right through him.
"Hmmm? A noble? A blood hall Lord? Where the hell is Nieria?" The woman paused briefly before she spoke again. "You are not from here, are you?"
Fuck! The damned woman had come to the right conclusion in under a second!
For a second Damon was anxious if she could see through more of him but it looked like this was her limit.
"I don’t know who you are or where you are from but it would be best if you do not interfere with our matters tonight. We have no enmity with each other and for your sake, I hope it stays that way."
Damon smiled. "Sure. I was never really planning on interfering anyway. All I am looking for is a portal to the Crimson Mountains. Like you said, I am not from here and would love to meet and greet my fellow blood suckers properly."