Sofony did not dare speak. People said 'less talk, less err,' for a reason. Without any useful knowledge about the five hundred years old monster before her apart from the unsolved cases and crimes placed above her hair, she didn't dare open her mouth.

From history books, Bathory Erzebeth was a Country H n.o.blewoman and from the n.o.ble family of Erzebeth. She was extremely rich, owned and lorded vast areas of land in that kingdom, and had a stellar social position. Her life was supposed to be that of a typical married aristocratic lady.

Yet for some unknown reason, the high lady gained a tendency to murder and torture beautiful virgin maidens and later on, was recorded to have regularly bathed in their blood to retain her beauty and youth. Several caskets full of fresh blood and a number of badly mutilated women were found at the site of her arrest. It was because of this claim attested by more than three hundred witnesses that she gained the moniker 'Blood Countess'. 

The aristocratic lady then became an infamous legend that could terrorize people with just a mention of her name. 

She was a madwoman obsessed with her appearance and sacrificed her soul together with the many innocent girls' blood to the devil to retain it. Heck, there were even rumors that she was the ancestor of all vampires. No matter the rumors, what was confirmed by now was that she was the greatest female serial killer of all times. At least, publicly.

However, for now, how would this information be useful in this kind of situation? There was no way she could say 'Hi, I know you through our history cla.s.ses. Do you know? You are very popular now and several books, ill.u.s.trated series, and movies were created based on your amazing legend. Because of you that I know the greatest serial killer could actually be a woman! You're definitely amazing!'

Death would surely smile at her if she ever says the above-mentioned lines... The Level 5 system user her would not even know how she died. 

What she needed was a bargaining chip. If none existed, she had to make sure she doesn't p.i.s.s off this high person!

"How many years since you become involved in this world?" There was no change in Bathory's tone, but oddly, pressure could be felt from her words, even if the question was this simple. 

"Three years, lady." Sofony made sure her posture was correct as she remained seated on the red velvet sofa. 

The red-haired woman nodded. When the pastries prepared by the butler arrived, she began eating without forgetting to offer some to Sofony. The girl tactfully declined. 

"You must have some questions. Why don't you ask it now? I, from the older generation, am willing to be generous this once. After all, you're a very interesting girl."

'Where am I interesting? We just sat and spoken three lines each!'

After receiving that chastising and despising remark from the system, Sofony braved looking at the other in the eyes. She hesitated for a half a minute, before opening her mouth to ask, "Since Your Ladys.h.i.+p said so, I'd be impolite and take this offer."

"Go ahead. I don't mind being connected to a future colleague."

She had to suppress the weird expression threatening to appear on her face. After clearing her throat, she honestly said, "I'm on a mission to destroy the whole organization of immoral hosts in this empire. Your Ladys.h.i.+p is from Country H, or maybe B Empire, but I would like to know, are you with them?"

"No." The Blood Countess nonchalantly answered. The manner she said that word was akin to a girl denying that she was a boy. That's it. "I appear here to get a servant before visiting the king of your nation."

'King of Country F?'

The first person that came to mind was not her non-host supporter, Gio, but that enigmatic uncle of his. That person seemed to have suddenly vanished though. Due to this, even though, she had some time to visit the man, she couldn't since she doesn't know where he was. 

"Anyway, are you sure your current strength is good enough to wipe off an entire organization with a history like this empire's Catastrophe? Their leader is only a level weaker than the king of your country."

Sofony's lips parted. Alarms ringing inside her brain, she asked, "Who is the king of my country and what level is he?"

"Are you sure you don't know?" Bathory showed her a playful smile. The Countess' candle-like fingers were slowly stirring the inside of a teacup using a small white spoon. 

Like a hypnotized victim, she shook her head. 

The other woman laughed in amus.e.m.e.nt and repeated the first word that she told her when she took her seat. "Interesting. Interesting..."

Pus.h.i.+ng the teacup to her, Sofony looked at its clear brown surface, smelling its natural fragrance. Using her knowledge acquired from practices, she knew the quality of the tea was topnotch. After all, this was C Empire. One of the empire's specialties was tea making. The tea craftsmen here boasted millennia of experiences and wealth of knowledge. 

Though reluctant, Sofony accepted the tea and prayed there was no poison mixed in it. Even if she saw the countess drinking the same brewed tea, an immoral host could easily have his AI do the job for himself. There was no need to pop a pill or capsule secretly on it. 

"Little girl. I'm sure you're aware of how old I am. None of your thoughts and gestures could escape my eyes. But don't worry, I forgive you. You're young and didn't much about the world yet. You don't even know who the guardian of this region is."

Bathory carefreely chuckled. 

Sofony shook the chill in her heart by taking a deep breath. 

"I'm sorry. I'm just not used to this kind of situation. But Countess, may I know why you seem so nice to me?"

"You finally asked what I am waiting to hear." With the demeanor of a high lady from the older generation, the Blood Countess laughed again. "In exchange for telling you the reason and educating you a bit about how this world runs, I want you to promise me one thing."

The Silver's princess looked at the regally smiling lady for quite a long time, weighing the options in her mind. The point was, this woman seemed not hostile to her. But what was with this promise thing? She felt like there was something she must know!

Sofony closed her eyes. Her breathing was no longer as calm as it used to be. She was no longer getting a bad feeling, but she felt something important to her would be lost if easily compromised. 

'd.a.m.n, Sofony...' 

It had taken her a long time before realizing, 'Stupid fool. Just accept. From the moment she noticed you, you have no more chance to back out or escape. Either way, she could just kill you. The promise is like an exchange for your life.'

With a bitter smile on her lips, she opened her eyes and nodded to the Blood Countess. The latter showed her a smile opposite hers. 

"You made a good choice. I like you, young lady. This is why, allow me to reintroduce myself." The cheerful laughed coming out of those blood red lips made the girl stopped breathing for a while.

"h.e.l.lo. I am actually not the Blood Countess. I am Bathory Erzebeth for the first fifth of my natural life. But after that, I was more known as the Virgin Queen of B Empire, the last monarch from the House of Tudor. Nice to meet you, Princess of the East, my name is Erzebeth Tudor." 

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