In the villa of the O'Drake family, West District, Bekland. Upon being summoned, Emlin White removed his hat and unbuttoned his coat, then entered the living room and waited. Among the other noble blood relatives specifically summoned, Emlin surveyed the room and chose a seat, sitting close to a man whose nose was slightly crooked. The man had brown hair and bright eyes, a strong, defined face, and was casually flipping through a portfolio. He was Lord Ones of Bohyarl, the noble who had previously provided Emlin with information about the abandoned castle at the heart of the Drear Forest. Emlin had originally planned to visit this lord in the coming days, and now found himself here unexpectedly. After a moment's thought, he carefully began: "Lord Count, I'd like to know—where did you obtain the information about the abandoned castle in the Drear Forest?" "Wait—did your customer inform you that there were no ancient spirits dwelling there?" Oneas Bojal shifted his gaze from the portfolio and glanced at Emlyn. "No, that's not it," Emlyn offered without explanation, firmly reiterating his earlier point. "I'm simply curious about the source of that information—it doesn't sound simple at all." Oneas Bojal closed the portfolio and nodded slightly. "This isn't exactly a secret. I learned it from Lord Nibais. To be honest, I've never heard of such a thing before. It's hard to imagine there being a castle in the Delair Forest." Lord Nibais... Emlyn instinctively formed a thought: another test... But wasn't this test dangerously risky? Would it not ultimately come down to the "Fool" having to resolve it? Emlyn furrowed his brows, recalling the details he had previously considered, and cautiously asked, "My Lord Viscount, then, why didn't you go yourself to explore that castle?" I remember you're an archaeologist, and during this process, you're also gathering the extraordinary materials corresponding to the ancient spirits. "Eneas glanced at Emlyn with a look of surprise. "Lord Nibais told me that the area is quite dangerous—unless you hold the title of Count, it's best not to approach." "... "Emlyn's mouth hung slightly open, his expression momentarily stunned. He then suppressed his frustration and spoke softly, "Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Eneas chuckled. "Isn't this obvious? "Once the vampire family has secured the precise location and circumstances of a particular spirit, how could that spirit still exist without a special reason?" Seeing Emlyn still somewhat puzzled, he added, "Normally, such intelligence would indicate that there might be ancient spirits somewhere in the Drelle Forest—people have encountered them, but haven't been able to pinpoint the origin of their emergence." "This means that locating ancient, lingering spirits is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor, often involving time costs that exceed their intrinsic value—hence, they are able to survive to the present day. "I thought you'd easily spot the flaw in the information, and your customers would too; if they decide to act, they must do so with a clear sense of confidence." At the very first moment, Emlin found the Viscount's reasoning sound and utterly convincing, unable to dispute it, and felt himself and the "Magician" lady had been foolishly reckless, placing the burden of risk squarely on their shoulders rather than on the Viscount's. At the second moment, Emlin felt both embarrassed and indignant, filled with self-resentment. At the third moment, Emlin identified another issue: "Regardless of whether the information itself indicates any level of risk, the Viscount should clearly communicate that risk, because understanding the severity, origin, and manifestations of the threat is crucial for subsequent exploration—it is absolutely indispensable!" He had done it on purpose! In his mind, Emlyn made his final judgment, his crimson eyes slightly narrowed, and he tilted his chin slightly. "Indeed, that is easy to see. But what I truly wish to know is what hidden dangers lie within that abandoned castle." Oneas took the nearby tea, its hue nearly blood-red, sipped it, and said, "I'm not certain either. Lord Nibais never mentioned it." Emlyn's expression darkened, and he was about to offer a sharp remark when he suddenly noticed Count Casimir Odraga entering the sitting room and looking at him. "Emlyn, the distinguished figure has sent you to see Him." "Understood," Emlyn composed himself, pressed down the lower part of his waistcoat, and rose steadily. After ascending the stairs to the underground area, he finally could contain himself no longer and asked softly, "Count Casimir, which distinguished figure is it exactly? How should I address Him?" The middle-aged gentleman, Casimir, did not hesitate, responding with a tone full of respect. "His Grace, Duke Ormer." Duke Ormel... Emlyn instinctively straightened his posture, directing his gaze toward the lamp bracket on the adjacent wall, as if trying to confirm his bearing in the reflection on the metal surface. One of the three Dukes currently governing the House of Blood, an ancient power who has existed since before the Great Cataclysm, known as "The Full Moon," with a lifespan exceeding three thousand years—having once served under the Primordial Lilith! Undoubtedly, this is the very embodiment of the House's history and glory. After passing through one after another of the secret doors, Emlyn and Casimir arrived in a large hall of iron gray hue. The floor and walls were covered with lush grass and fresh grains, with numerous creatures crawling among the dense vegetation, making Emlyn feel as though he had left the city and entered the countryside, once again sensing the vibrant pulse of life. At first glance, the scene seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, many details appeared remarkably strange: on the grass, mouths like cracks opened, from which strands of fiber shot out to catch insects; leaves, rarely used as hands, now reached out to pluck nectar themselves; wheat and other grains, heavy and dense, occasionally emitted wailing cries from within; insects were divided into various categories, all unlike their usual forms—some bearing serpentine heads, others adorned with avian faces. The more one moved toward the center of the hall, the more vibrant and abundant these phenomena became, weaving together a lively, flourishing tomb. Kasimi bowed and departed from this iron-gray yet fresh and vibrant hall. Emlin stood there, hearing the rich voice from within the tomb ask: "In the morning, Nibais mentioned that you acquired the noble vassal-level extraordinary vampire trait?" "Yes, though it has been contaminated and requires purification." Emlin had not previously mentioned the spiritual contamination within the extraordinary trait, because he believed it to be a relatively simple matter for the vampire lineage—something confirmed by Count Kasimi. Duke Ormel nodded: "Good. I will personally purify that trait." He paused and then added, "Though the bloodline is a race of long-lived beings, it still experiences growth and aging, birth and death. Regardless, for any race, nurturing young members is an essential task. You have recently demonstrated exceptional talent and outstanding abilities, making you one of our top priorities. That is why I have come personally to meet with you, to assign you certain trials and challenges that will help you grow swiftly." Exceptional talent and outstanding abilities... Emlyn's chin lifted slightly again. In his mind, he murmured: Indeed, just as the Sir of "The Hangman" had predicted—there would be trials, tasks, and direct evaluations. With emotions swirling, Emlyn responded respectfully, "I am always ready." "Indeed." "Ormel's rich, resonant voice echoed from the tomb," "Your next task is to identify key members of the Rose Order hidden within Bekkanland. The clues are scarce, and many aspects will require your own investigation." "The Rose Order? Do they harbor enmity toward us, the Bloodline? It seems they have welcomed some adherents of the 'Primordial Moon'?" Emlyn had indeed learned much about the Rose Order during the Tarot gathering, but had deliberately withheld that information, not showing his extensive knowledge. "Beyond welcoming 'Primordial Moon' followers, they also hold a sacred relic of ours—one bequeathed by the First Ancestor. We must reclaim it." Ormel's tone carried a touch of seriousness. "The relic bequeathed by the First Ancestor... the Bloodline's sacred treasure... Emlyn spoke without hesitation: "Your Grace, I will make every effort to locate key members of the Rose Order within Bekkanland." "Ormel's voice softened: "Very well. You'll go to Casimir's and gather some intelligence, find your entry point." Emlin was already eager, yet he restrained himself, carefully asking, "My lord, do you know of the ancient castle at the heart of the Drelar Forest?" "Indeed, you wish to go there? That's quite dangerous," replied the blood duke Ormel. Emlin didn't offer an explanation; he simply inquired, "What kind of danger?" Ormel chuckled. "That castle may be older than my own years, even older than the Drelar Forest itself. I don't know who built it, but I know its foundations are sealed with a hidden power, concealing a great secret. Any living being who approaches it risks being eroded by the forces of decay. We once believed this connection stemmed from the Deep, but when a demon was cast into the castle, it too began to suffer the same erosion—its once cold, cruel nature transformed into one of madness and chaos." "Why don't you try to open the seal and find out what's going on?" Emelyn murmured to himself, but didn't speak. Duke Aulmer, known as the "Duke of the Full Moon," said no more, simply concluded the conversation and allowed Emelyn to leave the hall. PS1: Looking for ticket recommendations for a monthly pass this Monday~ PS2: Recommend a book: "The Commoner with a Sword Travels Eastward Along the River." It's written by an established author and falls under the fantasy genre with a delicate, nuanced style—excellent writing throughout. Summary: When he opens his eyes, he sees the wonders of this world—fox immortals, vicious dragons, emperors, generals, mystical arts, and deities—and also glimpses the past and the future.