When Rose Hightower regained consciousness, she found herself being carried at a breakneck pace. The wind whipped past her ears, rough fur brushed against her delicate skin, and the ground blurred beneath her. She estimated their speed to be around 60 miles per hour.

This ape vampire was remarkably agile, navigating the mountainous terrain with the speed of a cheetah on open plains. Judging by the sun's position, they had been traveling for two to three hours.

Estimating time, speed, and distance were basic skills for a Vampire Hunter, and she had received the best training. More importantly, she possessed an acute awareness of her own body, able to detect even the slightest changes within it.

The blow to the back of her neck had been precise, likely delivered with the edge of the ape vampire's palm, leaving no visible wounds. The tip of her finger had been nicked, but the wound was superficial, perhaps intended to draw a few drops of blood. Aside from that, she was unharmed.

The ape vampire had carried her with surprising care, ensuring she wasn't injured by the rugged terrain. It hadn't used excessive force, further suggesting a calculated plan rather than impulsive violence.

John Kane had already informed her about his encounters with ape vampires, having killed five in total. That's all the known males in the vicinity. So, who was this one? A chilling realization dawned on her.

Livia Simian, Lucius's wife, and mother of the four young ape vampires. Few knew of her existence due to her reclusiveness. But thanks to H.A.R.M.'s extensive records, Rose knew Livia Simian had been active around two centuries ago.

Does she know who I am? Does she even care at this point, having lost her husband and all her children?

Survival was paramount. The primary objective of every Vampire Hunter was to live another day. This unwavering principle had been drilled into her, saving her from countless perilous situations.

An abduction like this only ends one way - with my death. Yet, Livia had been careful, perhaps it couldn't make up its mind. Its motive is revenge, and its target is John Kane. It's not hard to discover that John's an orphan. It must believe I'm the only person he cares about, even though I'm not entirely sure how he feels about me. Or how I feel about him, for that matter.

A blush warmed her cheeks at the thought.

It didn't kill me outright but went through the trouble of this long journey. I must serve some purpose in its scheme. Until then, I should be safe.

Having pieced together the situation, Rose closed her eyes to rest. Futile escape attempts would only jeopardize her survival. Silence was her best resort. While her captor expended energy, she would conserve hers. As long as you're alive, there is always a chance to turn the tables. Her master's words echoed in her mind, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

… …

Meanwhile, the fox vampire, a perfect replica of Rose Hightower, flitted from the bedroom into the hallway. Despite being half-naked, she made no attempt to cover herself. This body wasn't hers, and she didn't mind any lustful stares.

Clutching her arm, she looked up with a flicker of fear, then sneered. "Very well, very well. I thought the Hightower family was lying to me, but it truly was you who killed my tiger lover!"

"Don't waste my time," I said coldly. "Where's Rose?"

Ignoring my question, the fox vampire continued her shrill rant. "I told you to sleep with that slut, to break her, to kill her! And now you've learned to kill us from her instead!"

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"H.A.R.M. truly knows how to train. To make you into such a killing machine, Colonel Hightower must have used plenty of expensive boosters! She turned my lap dog against me so easily. Her skills in bed must be quite something, huh?"

Rose and the fox vampire were identical in appearance and voice, yet one carried herself with natural grace, while the other was contrived and artificial. The fox’s eyes brimming with envy and malice. It was an unsettling sight.

I had already suspected Rose's connection to H.A.R.M. and her high rank, but the mention of Colonel surprised me. Hightower's only daughter should be around my age, no older than thirty, right? To achieve such a position at her age, she must have experienced extraordinary opportunities and endured immense hardships. And extraordinary hardships often entailed extraordinary suffering.

"You talk too much," I interrupted. "I haven't even eaten yet."

The fox vampire’s eyes turned cold. "You pathetic fool! A few kind words, and you're already eating out of her hand. Do you honestly think she cares about you? You're nothing but a pawn to her. And don't forget, with her master's influence, you could be executed for even laying a finger on her.”

I paid no heed to the fox vampire's warnings. My attention was fixed on the bells hovering before me. From start to finish, the foxvamp hadn't focused on them, yet they moved without a breeze. Even my perfected Blood Evil Sword Technique, channeled through the Black Silver, couldn't overcome their power.

These bells were less like weapons and more like protective talismans.

So this was the true extent of magic. No wonder North Cliff fox was a renowned beastvamp clan. Even a random second-generation member could reveal such wonders.

I dropped the sword and advanced towards the foxvamp.

"Stop! Don't come any closer! Don't you want to know where Hightower is?"

Perhaps my earlier attack had left a lasting impression. The fox vampire seemed hesitant to engage in a fight to the death.

But when she saw me continue forward, seemingly indifferent to Rose's whereabouts, she mistook my actions. Standing before her, I appeared to have no interest in Rose's safety. Seeing that I didn't attack, she sensed an opportunity.

"If you don't care about her, why not just kill her and be done with it? I'll take you to the North Cliff to hide... let's forget about the tiger incident... If you want to enjoy her body, there are ways..."

The fox vampire hesitated, then offered a proposition she thought I couldn't refuse.

In her mind, Kane had already crossed a line with H.A.R.M., there was no going back.

They were in this together now. Those damned H.A.R.M. captains had already infiltrated the county, and she was tired of the charade at the Hightower Mansion. It was time to bring this to an end.

Just as she was relishing this thought, she saw me raise my hand.

Slap!

My long, powerful fingers connected with the fox vampire's unsuspecting cheek. A surge of force, far beyond the capabilities of a First Realm practitioner, erupted from my fingertips, sending the seemingly delicate fox vampire flying. I seized her by the scruff of her neck and slammed her into the floor!

"If you're too afraid to kill her," I growled, "don't pretend to be tough."

The foxvamp lay on her side, her expression a mask of disbelief. Her features were contorted, her fox fur bristling, and her lips pulled back, revealing a chipped tooth. My forceful throw had partially revealed her true form.

When she looked up again, her fox-like face was filled with malice. "You're dead... I'll report you to my third great-uncle, and I'll personally flay you alive..." Having provoked both H.A.R.M. and the North Cliff Fox Clan, you're finished in Cascadia!

Her aura was rapidly fading, but the power of the bronze bells had intensified tenfold!

The fox vampire couldn't fathom why she and this woman, sharing the same face and clothes, had such drastically different fates.

No matter what happened, this woman always seemed to emerge unscathed. Even encountering her third great-uncle hadn't resulted in her demise. And now, captured by this corrupt cop, she remained unharmed.

Jealousy twisted into resentment in the fox vampire’s eyes. "Even you, a lowly dog, favor her! I can't kill her, but I can kill you first!"

Two short daggers materialized in her hands. With a metallic ring, she lunged at me.

However, in the next moment, the room filled with countless invisible strands of essence, solidifying at a visible speed. Like a swarm of suspended swords, they hung menacingly in mid-air.

A bone-chilling aura permeated the space, silencing the fox vampire's snarl. She gripped her daggers, her expression frozen as she stared at the young man standing calmly before her.

I stood motionless, my face pale but my eyes unwavering, like the surface of a still pond. With a subtle shift of my will, the fox vampire felt herself ensnared by my aura, as if an invisible hand had tightened around her throat, stealing her breath.

In a heartbeat, the countless strands of true essence descended towards her, a relentless torrent of power.