However after she left, a disheveled Malek knocked on my office door a and ran in with a sheaf of papers and a weird looking metallic wheel that fit into his palm. I could see actual sweat drop for his body, or was that water, I couldn't imagine what would have been so urgent. That it would have forced Malek's still very much half dead body to start having biological reactions like sweating.

"I figured out how to open the gate to Transylvania!" oh! So that's why.

That was good news, though I'm not exactly sure how to react to it. With everything that's going on, I don't know if going in search of the vampire's old capital city was a good idea, but it was definitely something we had to check out. I'm not sure anyone of the vampires here would be willing to seat this one.

A lot of the vampires would emotionally invested in this, as this would be an opportunity for them to finally discover their origins and maybe find relics from their past and their true heritage. They would finally be able to return home and see the birthplace of their ancestors.

But we had danger knocking on our doors, and the moment I turn my back, Ethernalia Leonis could be in grave danger without me there to protect it. So unless the people coming for me follow me to Transylvania, Ethernalia Leonis would still be in danger. But that's not such a bad idea, this could be the bait that lures out all of my enemies, enabling me to take care of them at once, or at the very least know who's after me.

"Malek I want you to send a message to the leader of the purist vampire faction. Tell him that you've discovered the method to open the gate to Transylvania, and that he needs to join us on an expedition with a fragment of his map."

Malek nodded his head, but looked confused by the order. We had three pieces of the map, so it might be possible to stimulate the missing piece using technology, and the left over knowledge that the Ausolon clan has kept. But I was trying to kill many birds with one stone, and this was just a part of the plan.

"Also I want you to let it slip that you can open the gate, and that I was preparing an expedition to explore the old lands of the vampires. And that you have it on good authority, that there a multiple world level treasure buried within the ruins of the old vampire civilization, including a relic capable of opening gateways between universes and dimensions."

"My lord are you sure about this? There would be no small amount of enemies lurking around, and some of them might even get into Ethernalia Leonis. Is it really wise?" Malek asked with a troubled look on his face.

"Malek you have to trust me on this, I know exactly what this looks like, but try to believe I have a plan."

Malek was not exactly sure what to say. I could see it in his posture that he wanted to ask me about this elusive plan of mine, but he didn't know how to do so since I've given him the impression that I wanted to keep it secret. But that was not the case, I was trying to iron out the details to the plan, and make sure that nothing untoward happens during it's execution. Of course there's a lot of danger involved, but if done right it could a.s.sure the safety of our family and city enough to escape.

"Ethernalia Leonis will open her gates to the world for trade, tourism and recreation. Have an adventurers guild built, and give access to the dungeon below the palace, though I would prefer if you use a different entrance. Have hotels built, and a brothel too…..if anyone is interested, but try and keep the visitors out of the inner city, not unless they pay a lot of money or have a good enough reason to be there.

Next you have to issue quests into the black district, have them hunt the monsters there, harvest their body parts and blood, and pay them in ores. Also sell the ores we don't need, making money from them. As for the mineral mountain, I believe all your war machines would finally be put to good use, have them patrol and protect as much of it as they can. If they find any unauthorized miner arrest them....the first ten times, because I'm sure they'll a lot. And in the next ten to follow, shoot to incapacitate but not kill, and in the next ten to follow shoot to kill.

We would be making a statement to the entire world and universe. Ethernalia Leonis is open to the world, we have much to offer and we just need peace. However if you do not abide by our rules, the punishment would be death. There would be outrage, but you and Farina can have official agreements with mining companies for only one month, and for a very small piece of the pie for an astronomical price.

After that the final step would be the gates. Any visitor who wants to go in, has to pay a fee. They can go explore the land looking for treasure and the likes, and anything they find not of use to them, can be sold back to Ethernalia Leonis at a fair price. I know you might not like the idea of other races marching about the vampire's ancestral land, but this is the only way to keep our people safe long enough for us to become completely cut off from the reach of our enemies. We would have access to them, but they won't be able to hurt us anymore.

And once Ethernalia Leonis is open to the world, and people see that it has quite a lot to offer, and that we're quite capable of protecting ourselves, they would be hesitant to touch us. Alliances would be formed, trade agreements made within this two months, and then we would vanish. And only a select few in the world would have access to us, and only when it's required. I think it's time we stop isolating ourselves, and while it's true the first batch of people coming here would be the greedy, and selfish sc.u.ms of the universe, it would make a good show when they see us subduing them.

And as for the bounty on my head, I believe I can lead all the morons coming on a wild goose chase within Transylvania for the whole or two months, and I would be back just in time for us to literally vanish off the face of the earth. So what do you think?" I asked Malek as I sat back on chair, crossed my legs and placed my hands behind my head.

Malek looked tired, exhausted and I didn't blame him. Especially with everything he's been through lately. I doubt he would derive as much joy from inventing now, as he used to when his son was still alive. But he was the leader of the Ausolon coven, and he was no stranger to loss. Though never one as painful as this, I was sure Malek knew that his people and his city needed him, now more than ever seeing as we're about to throw our gates wide open to wolves in sheep clothing, and snakes in gra.s.ses.

"As usual your majesty you've come up with a well detailed yet still rough around the edges plan. Not to mention it's crazy and risky as all your other plans, but it might actually work. And I believe you're right, it's time for Ethernalia Leonis to become a part of the world again. And the funny thing about this whole plan is that, once the world becomes a little dependent on what we have, even if it's just a little for two months, we would be pulling the rug under them by moving the entire city to a place they can't reach, at least not without our intervention. It would drive them crazy and it would make us b.l.o.o.d.y rich and well protected. All I can say about this plan your majesty, is that you're sneaky b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and you're going to p.i.s.s a lot of people off." Malek replied with a small smile.

I couldn't help but shake my head as we both burst out laughing. It was like playing a huge yet elaborate prank, and while it's possible things won't go exactly according to plan, it would still cause enough trouble and shock to the world to keep us laughing for generations.

But this was the only plan we had at the moment. Ethernalia Leonis was stronger today than it was yesterday. The city was still expanding, its capabilities evolving and it's inhabitants growing in both strength and size. There was prosperity, and with it came peace and understanding. There was hardly anymore animosity amongst the different races, and I'm happy I was able to do foster such emotions.

And it was this goodness that I wanted to protect. Because this wad the world I wanted my children to inherit when they grow up. A place that was safe, and free from anger and heartache and all the worries that come with war and pain. And I was a vampire, which means I have an eternity to keep fighting to make not just the world, but the entire freaking universe a safe haven for not just them, but their own children too, and their children's children. For all the future generations of the Corps family that's to be born. For their sake....Ethernalia Leonis must prevail, and so must her king.