I Became The Vampire Progenitor
Chapter 192: The Night Before the Rise of a New Overlord in Green City

Li De had personally designated a specific area to serve as the Hero’s Cemetery. Ordinary people had no right to be buried there, only those who sacrificed their lives for Dawn City were eligible for internment.

The burial began. Earth was laid over the coffins.

When the final gravestone was erected, Li De stood in silence, gazing at the forty-plus graves that now dotted the open land.

The residents who had come to witness the burial also remained silent.

But in this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Hearts, quietly, were drawn together.

That was the greatest function of the Hero’s Cemetery: it united the people and boosted morale to its highest.

As long as someone gave their life for Dawn City, they would earn the right to be buried there, to be remembered and honored by others.

This sort of arrangement was normal on Earth.

But in the world of Glory, it was exceedingly rare.

This was not a safe world, death was not something unusual.

Only those with exceptional achievements were remembered. Ordinary fallen soldiers or commoners could never expect such a grand funeral.

But people always yearned for something better. What warrior didn’t want their name to be remembered after a heroic death?

Dawn City's Hero’s Cemetery filled that void. It was easy to imagine how such recognition would inspire future warriors to fight with even more passion and resolve.

Li De didn’t deliver another speech. After spotting Isha in the crowd, he silently led the little girl away, leaving the rest of the citizens to mourn their heroes in peace.

Within the crowd, more than a few people stared at the newly erected gravestones with envy.

If one day they too could receive such a grand funeral, what regrets would they have left?

Thus, the hero’s funeral concluded perfectly.

The cohesion of Dawn City rose once again. And in the eyes of its residents, Li De’s stature had reached a point beyond words.

Even those who didn’t believe in the Dawn Order now saw Li De as a divine figure.

Only a god could do what he had done. To have encountered the great Lord Kachar in their lifetime, what a blessing. Praise the Goddess of Luck!

The dead were gone. Life had to move on.

After the funeral, Li De returned to City Hall and summoned all the key figures of Dawn City for a true high-level strategy meeting.

He was going to outline the city's development focus for the coming months.

The battle with the Dark Pact had altered many of Li De’s ideas. He planned to make changes to his previous development strategy.

For the first time, every heavyweight in Dawn City was present.

Second-generation bloodline descendants.

Fred, guardian of the Holy Land.

Harrison, City Hall Chairman.

Dylon, keeper of the Whispering Bats.

The female bloodline descendants Avi and Lucy.

Augustine the archer, and Odys, who oversaw population acquisition.

All seven vampires who had followed Li De for over a century had assembled.

Also present were Emi, Grote, and Betty. The city’s three top-tier combatants.

As for Kosso, who had evolved into a Bronze Cyclops, he could only listen to the meeting from the courtyard due to his massive size.

That enormous head of his loomed by the window. From the third floor, one only had to glance outside to see his giant eye swiveling attentively.

Li De saw this and a look of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

Dawn City now truly brimmed with talent. Compared to the bleak state of things when he first arrived among the vampires, it was like night and day.

In fact, even his teacher Spark, master of the White Tower and a Level 19 Grand Mage, would find himself pressed if he tried to go to war against Dawn City. Li De was confident he could crush the White Tower if it came to that.

And all of this, he had built piece by piece with his own hands.

“Grote, give a report on the Dark Pact and Viscount Berna.”

Inside the spacious office, everyone sat around a long oval table carved with delicate bas-reliefs. At Li De’s command, Grote stood.

The tall Northern warrior, standing over two blades in height was an imposing presence as all eyes turned to him.

Though the Dark Pact was over, Li De was already entertaining new ambitions.

Grote, once known as the Son of the North, began speaking under everyone's attention.

“Your Majesty, I came to Green City twenty-two years ago after leaving the North,” Grote began recounting his past.

“On the way, I encountered a terrifying magical beast tide. My companions suffered heavy casualties, and I myself nearly died.

Maybe it was the blessing of the Goddess of Luck, but Viscount Berna appeared at the most critical moment and saved me and the other Northern warriors.”

He paused, clearly still moved by the memory.

“After leaving the North, we had no place to go. At Berna’s invitation, I joined the Dark Pact and became his chief guard.”

Li De nodded, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

“How much do you know about Viscount Berna?”

Li De had always been wary of the graceful and elegant Viscount Berna.

Even though the man’s final target hadn’t been the Crimson Mage Tower, and he had enraged a Transcendent being, almost guaranteeing himself a death sentence. Li De couldn’t shake the feeling that Berna wouldn’t die so easily.

That deep-rooted wariness had never left his heart.

And now, with his sights set on snatching the prize straight from Viscount Berna’s mouth, he knew one thing, he needed to understand his enemy better.

But Grote, unexpectedly, shook his head.

“Your Majesty, I don’t know much about Viscount Berna.”

That response genuinely surprised Li De.

“How so?”

“Even though I was his chief guard, Viscount Berna never truly trusted me. He only valued me for my combat strength as a Northern warrior.

Even after over twenty years by his side, I still don’t know his true identity. I don’t even know his race or his class.”

Grote’s tone carried undisguised astonishment. “Viscount Berna is the most cautious man I’ve ever met.

He never spoke to me about anything outside of the Dark Pact. So perhaps… I don’t know any more about him than anyone else does.”

The room fell silent as everyone exchanged looks.

None of them had expected this answer. For someone who had served at Berna’s side for two decades to know so little, it was almost unbelievable.

Li De remained quiet for a long moment. He had always known Viscount Berna would be a difficult opponent. But he hadn’t expected the man to be this difficult.

Still, once he set his sights on a goal, there was never any turning back.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“I don’t care who he really is. What I want to know is this.

If Viscount Berna doesn’t return in the near future… do we have the ability to swallow the Dark Pact?”

Hiss.

Both Emi and Grote looked at each other in shock. Swallow the Dark Pact?

They had never even dared to consider such a bold move. Even though their current top-tier combat strength rivaled that of the Pact, trying to move in while Berna was missing still seemed far too risky.

“Your Majesty, this might not be the right time to act.”

Li De’s sharp gaze landed on Emi, who had just spoken.

“Why?”

Emi rose to his feet, pausing for a moment before speaking.

“The Dark Pact may be loosely organized, but it has always been under Viscount Berna’s absolute control.

No one but him knows its true secrets.

Those masked figures who attended the gatherings, only he knew who they really were.

Even the various factions operated by the Dark Pact could only be mobilized by Berna.”

He took a deep breath. “To put it bluntly, the Dark Pact is his personal creation.

We vice presidents were just people he pulled in for convenience.

No one knows why he founded the Pact. I’ve looked into it before out of curiosity.

The Dark Pact appeared very suddenly forty years ago, practically overnight in Green City. It wasn’t a local faction that slowly grew.

So now, with Berna missing, I don’t think it’s the right time to make a move.”

Li De understood the implication, too many unknown variables.

But he didn’t back down. He shook his head, his tone firm.

“That’s not the issue. It doesn’t matter how tightly he controls the Dark Pact.

I’m not even planning to inherit the Pact in its entirety.

What I want… is a new Dark Pact. One that is completely in my hands, even if it’s weaker than before.”

In the depths of his dark, focused eyes, there was a steely determination that could not be shaken. Once he decided on something, it would be done. No excuse or obstacle could stop him.

And right now, the time, place, and people were all on his side.

Viscount Berna had provoked a Transcendent being. Whether for his own schemes or not, his whereabouts were unknown, and it was unlikely he’d return soon, especially with a Transcendent on his tail.

Green City was right in front of him. The Dark Pact was within reach.

Most importantly, Emi, one of the Dark Pact’s vice presidents, was his bloodline descendant. Grote, Berna’s chief guard, was also his.

Another major member, Stanley the bishop of the Evening Bell Church would become his bloodline descendant in a month.

And Witherbone, the Necromancer, had already been captured.

The Dark Pact had never been so weak, so vulnerable.

If he didn’t strike now and take it, he wouldn’t be Li De.

And it didn’t matter how powerful or deeply rooted the Pact had once been, those were Berna’s assets, not his.

What he wanted was a force that would obey him completely. If the hidden factions couldn’t be taken, so be it.

It didn’t matter.

Even the surface-level assets would be enough for massive gains.

In Green City, the Dark Pact had long held one of the top positions among the underground organizations, even with loose management.

And now, without a master, the Dark Pact was a piece of honeyed bread, sweet and tempting.

After careful consideration, Li De made up his mind.

“I’m doing this.”

“Your Majesty, the Dark Pact is probably under siege by Green City’s military. If we act now, wouldn’t that be...” Grote said hesitantly.

Li De shook his head.

“No. I want to move because the Dark Pact is in chaos. If they were stable, how could we ever take them?”

A meaningful glint shone in his eyes.

“Their crisis may be our opportunity.”

“Grote, Emi, return to Green City in secret and go into hiding. Keep in mind, if any Transcendent intervenes in the purge, your top priority is to stay alive.”

“Once your safety is secured, begin quietly taking over the Dark Pact’s assets.”

“I want to see a new Dark Pact rise within a month’s time.”

“And when that day comes.”

“The Dark Pact… will have a new master.”