At their shameless request, we end up speechlessly standing there. It does not take a genius to understand what those senile old fools are thinking. But they clearly think we're the fools.

"Uh," Billy said for the sake of saying something. There is another pause while he thinks, then he says. "Say we agree to this, what's expected of us?"

"Nothing else besides what was offered." Igor replies with a straight face. That pretty much meant we will assist them by providing their key combatants with some of our basic original spells for free, and then some more even by allowing use of my Mana Towers. Not to mention our crafters, teleporter and budget; in that they may request to use said available services or funds. Besides that, we offered to help with their bat problem, and with any that comes after, providing they agree to offer similar assistance in our time of need. Lastly, we even hinted that further negotiations are possible.

"Yeah~, not happening." Billy said instantly. He called my name and gestures to their armor, "you gave them the spell?"

I gave each of them a glance, causing their currently equipped Trilattic Swarm to dissolve into ambient mana, revealing their previous gear. Then a few mental commands to my System Store's interface and their flinch is tell enough they got the notification. "Did you enjoy using the Swarm at their advanced mastery? Well now you're downgraded to using their Early versions. On the bright side, they're yours. Enjoy!"

"As promised," Billy continues. "Now you may go back to tell your seniors that they should hire more people to clean their smelly shit. It's one thing being weak or confused and lacking the resources to help. But to outright expect to receive assistance and refuse to assist in return."

"... the exit is right there." He added when all of team 6 refuses to budge—or rather, were rendered speechless.

"I am sorry, may I know what your plans are now?" Vara replies, giving Igor a glance. "Please, if you would give us time to convince my Dedushka and the council."

"I don't see the point," Henry says instead, in a calm but visibly irritated manner. "There is nothing much for us to gain from this alliance. I would dare say it could already be considered charity; a lot more was given than requested. While we only ask they–you, help should an emergency arise, one that might never even happen… No, we have no need for people who refuse to give and instead ask for even more. Cause no trouble and you may all stay to recuperate for as long as you wish. And when you're done. Well, as Billy said, you know where the door is."

I leave them to themselves and gestured for Henry to follow, together, we approach Billy. Eye contact with Kirana, Roy and Qara—who turned out to be Aya's aunt and their tribe leader—prompted them to approach as well. "Alright. So, should I pay a visit to these Vampires? Or should we just skip this place altogether now and continue onto the next?"

"Lets just leave them to their internal strife." Roy says aggressively. "Weed out the bad influence."

"That is a very tempting course of action. But I do worry about our future." Qara replies, "if one day the humans here prevails, we will have an enemy amidst ourselves. And if they lose, well, I believe that is an even worse enemy to have."

"I guess that means I need to pay them a visit." I say with a grin, "wonder if they'll try to attack me on sight to partake in my blood."

"I'm coming too!" Kirana chipped.

"Uh, sure I guess. Why do you wanna come?"

"To look for hot Vampire dudes… of course it's to help you!" She replies with apparent annoyance. "But both their male and female have always been portrayed as being very attractive. So I'm really curious too."

"Okay~," I turn to Henry, Billy and Qara in turn. "should we offer to ally?"

"That would depend on multiple situations." Qara said before the others.

It was then decided that since a lot of things are kinda situational with the former humans, and the negotiations with Solntse have fallen down the greed-drain, we will all go. As with the one Tower I had in the middle of nowhere, China. This one will be sealed in thick layers of stone and left as is for now. Soon, team 6 took their leave at about midday, and us 6 are soon on the way, each riding on our lovely spirit mounts. The location of our current target was no secret of the residents of Sol, evident by the way they cursed at them filthy traitors of humanity at every chance they got.

---

"Welcome humans." Exactly upon our arrival above the air of Luselene; the Vampire Territory. Five people fly up to receive us, they all stand atop a decently large swarm of bats that are, together, emitting a red aura-like effect in the shape of a platform to support their weight. One woman speaks in perfect English, "please state your purpose."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"How did you know we're coming?" I ask.

"We have our means." The same woman replies, she is mighty attractive! Sharp confident glint in her eyes and sporting a graceful figure, with her are two other women and two men. All equally attractive, if in their own different ways. "Well?"

"We're here to enquire about your plans going forward, and to see how you function as a race that predates on humans." Henry replies.

"Hmm, regarding our plans, you're going to have to ask our father." She replies cutely with a finger poking her cheeks. Then she grins in a beautifully menacing way, showcasing her fangs. "As for the latter, I can show you. More than that even."

"No thank you," Henry replies again. "May we speak with this father of yours?"

"Sure," she replies, still grinning wide, then gestures downwards to a large building. "Please~."

We land on a clearing nearby said building, clearly made available to accommodate landing fliers. Looking around, there are people out and about, humans. They have a slightly malnourished look in the way their eyes sink in and in how thin they are, but otherwise, they look decently healthy, happy even. I turn to look at our guide and hear her say, "yes, they are happy here. Their family is safe, they are fed well and all they have to do is run a bar that is catered to our kind."

Which I assume to mean, the bar offers blood related drinks, and said blood is provided by the human bartenders. "O~kay." Not my business if they're willingly doing so. Though I cannot discount the chance that they are willing from having no better choices.

We follow them into the large building, up a few flights of stairs, then down even more. Which is to say, they're taking us underground. There are plenty of people present in the building, some doing things that should not be done in an office. Though there seem to be some kinda biting involved, which probably meant it is something tolerated, maybe even expected here.

Now that I have my attention on Mana Sense, I push my Sense further into this building; it has a total of five floors, only two are above ground. There are tunnels leading to and from the lowest floor into various areas… lo and behold, these people think alike. I decided to address the lady guide. "Hey, can we just talk? We're not here to fight."

"Yes, of course." She smiles amicably. This caused the others to give me questioning glances.

Henry: So, is this gonna be a fight?

Zen: Probably, It's the Solntse meeting all over again. Isolated area, hidden enemies...

The others also gave me similar questions, to which I answered in a similar manner. Nevertheless, we follow on and soon arrive in a large meeting office. This time, three cloaked individuals occupy seats that are obviously positioned and reserved for their leaders, seated around and behind them are more important looking individuals, yet none are more important looking than the first three. The room is very large, lavishly decorated more for show than aesthetics. The walls are lined with Mural Fabrics that depict images of people in cloaks hunting various creatures. Such cringe! It is also worthy of mention that standing in formation behind said fabrics are maybe fifty or so people decked in combat gear. Evenly distributed along the walls.

"Welcome," one of the three said. I am pretty sure it is the left person. Our five guides dismissed themselves without a word and each took their own seat at different areas of the dimly-bright room. "We know your purpose! And I have a question, what makes you think we are in need of assistance? Mere original spells and human fighters do not interest us. Maybe if you offer us our preferred sustenance instead, we might agree to assist with protecting your people."

Several cloaked figures present chuckled at his words. Their confidence is making me grin mischievously. "We're herding Lepovine Domestifowls back home if you're interested. They make great steaks; and more like their bovine counterparts, they are even edible raw. Their blood is sweet and nutritious."

At my words, murmurs of disapproval arise from the crowd. "That's enough joking around." Middle guy says. "We know why you are here and we require no assistance. We were also informed of your inquiry regarding our plans for the future and the lives of our subjects. For the latter, you are free to roam our city for the rest of today as well as the next two… and, regarding our plans for the future…"

He looks to his left, which is our right, so not the lame-joker Vampire. "Yes, I shall explain and summarize them for you. First and foremost, like you, we wish to survive and witness the multiverse—to see our childrens grow and achieve the impossible, to embrace their happiness. Second, there is none. All else is possible should we continue to exist. And for that, we need to survive, to feed and to grow!"

All six of us stare at his passionate speech in awe. I have no idea what it is he said that awed the other, but I personally find him a little weird. Where does one go about learning how to speak something simple in such dramatic ways… unbidden, I started chuckling, before going all out laughing aloud. I know subconsciously that before The System's arrival in our Galaxy, there is no way I would have exhibited such disregard for someone's feelings and laugh at their passion. But strength changes everyone, and for me now, I see no reason to be too polite when they have made plans to attack us. Even if it has not happened so far.

"Sorry… sorry," I say amidst my fading laughter, there is no skin off my face to apologize for the slighting. I betcha there will be a follow up nagging from the Hen-dad.

"I see you lack respect for your elders." He replies. "You asked and I answered. What is this laughing business?"

"Please forgive my idiot friend here." Billy replied in my stead, "he grew in the forests, far from civilization. Unfortunately, that caused him to suffer from a lack of manner, table manners especially… But, forget about him. I'd say, what noble aspirations you strive for."

"If it is fine with you, may I inquire as to how you plan to achieve that?" Billy continues, "what of the humans?"

"Fear not for we shall take good care of our subjects. As for the rest of you that refuse to join or submit to our rule… They may rot in eternal woe for all we care." The same elder said.