Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“Sheriff Sharan, we are not wishing you well. The new police inspector you brought back is running rampant in Narania, the homeland you once loved.”

Violet's expression turned serious. What had just happened seemed like a harmless joke to lighten the mood, though the others couldn't laugh.

"I understand the seriousness of the problem. So, what are your plans in coming to me?"

The hesitant crowd was eventually overwhelmed by the ever-present oppression, and the oppressed stood up.

"We know that there are many doubts surrounding the case that brought down the Bennett family. Sheriff Sharan, you are the true police inspector in our hearts, not some gloomy man with hay fever. We understand your feelings for the new inspector, but for the people of Nalania, for our homeland, please fulfill your oath. We will support the Bennett family's resurgence, just as we support you to become the new police inspector again."

Violet propped her chin up, her long legs crossed under the table.

“You intend to defy the kingdom’s arrangements. Ralf is the legally appointed Narancia Police Inspector.”

“But we can’t stand him anymore. He’s made Nalania terrible. For the sake of the people, we have to do this. Lady Sharan, we have prepared the ransom and taken care of the arrangements. If you agree, the current imprisonment of your father, the head of the Bennet family, will end very quickly.”

Violet's crossed fingers on the table indicated the unease in the female sheriff's heart. As if she had made a decision, Violet stood up, her tall figure looking straight at or even looking down at the people present.

“Ralph is indeed a rather unsociable and difficult man to get along with. He ignores my advances. To be honest, I’m actually a bit tired of him. Moreover, his disgust for Narancia makes me feel even worse. But I never thought that he would have such a big impact on my home.”

Violet's face showed a somber expression. She clapped her hands lightly, and the other sheriffs rose from their seats, standing around her like a rebellion gathering. Ralf was not good at managing people, and these colleagues in the sheriff's office, like the people of Narania, still obeyed Violet's orders.

"Now, I have no choice but to make this regrettable decision."

"Seize these rebels!"

The crowd that came to the police station to petition only showed surprise when they were violently pinned to the ground by the police officer.

"Shalan Bennett, have you gone mad! You've made a terrible decision; Narancia will be destroyed by him!"

Violet's face had been replaced by a sinister one; the gloom on her face was exactly like that of the fearful man.

"You nobles and wealthy merchants are truly... just as he said, as foolish as pigs and dogs, easily deceived by appearances. Are you surprised? Yes, even I, who have known you for over twenty years, cannot see through you, how could you possibly truly understand Ralph's inner self? You think Ralph is a lone wolf who is not good with words and walks alone? Well, he is, but this wolf from Cassandra has found someone worthy of trust."

Violet raised her head, a proud smile spreading across her face. "I am the one who dances with wolves."

“Ralph shared everything with me, the intelligence he uncovered, his actions and intentions.”

"I know far more than you malicious people do."

"Ralph is indeed allergic to pollen and dislikes everyone. But first and foremost, he is an excellent sheriff, so excellent that others overlook his flaws. He may hate the atmosphere of Narancia, but he would never let personal opinions dominate his work."

"As for the terrifying law enforcement you mentioned, ha, Ralph has increased the number of complaints to the Sheriff's Office tenfold, but cases of drunken disturbances and manslaughter have also decreased to a pleasant level. Oh, and there are those black-market industries lurking in the shadows, disturbed by Ralph. Evil lurks beneath the flowers; I once foolishly thought this was slander from those inferior people who were jealous of Narancia."

Violet threw a stack of shady documents in their faces.

"Look what my dear wolf has discovered about you: human trafficking, assassination services, smuggling of contraband such as poison, and bribery records. And what else have you done, my dear gentlemen? Oh, and Ralph cancelled those trade routes—those were the routes Mr. Verube had set up, weren't they? Can you explain why those routes you set up were so close to several bandit camps? Haven't you considered the losses—the lives and property of us merchants? Oh, of course not, because those were your and your bandit friends' profits. I guess you haven't paid taxes on them. Hopefully, the wealth you've amassed will..." "Enough to buy your head. And the new city, those workers, Sir Rand, your dangerous city planning, undertaken to save costs, was banned by Ralph. I didn't even know my dear wolf knew anything about architecture. Those workers can stay home with their children instead of being buried under the new city you touted. Sir Rand, you've been in charge of Nalania's punishment planning for twenty years, and the Sheriff's Office has never received a single report of a workplace injury, not even a scratch! Lord Tyrande knighted you because of your flawless planning, but what's the truth? Your title is built on Nalania's blood and bones!!!"

“Merchants, nobles, even without Ralph, I will still be that smiling, well-behaved police inspector, and you will still be those kind and approachable nobles. Narancia is so wonderful, so wonderful it makes me sick.” The sheriff who was detaining the criminals subconsciously increased the force, but the screams only fueled their anger.

"Oh, and the unfortunate Shakertin family, with trumped-up charges. Of course, my dear gentlemen, that was our plan, and you walked right into it. You were afraid, weren't you? Afraid that Ralph would find evidence against you and give you the same trial. You underestimated our new inspector."

Violet revealed a twisted smile born of extreme anger.

"Continuing our previous topic, Ralph has brought about some changes in Narancia, and I firmly believe that cleaning out some parasites and creating a little trouble will make my home better. Even if it doesn't, hehehe, as long as it reduces the number of hypocrites like you, I don't care if Ralph turns Narancia into another Cassandra!!!"

The group, their faces ashen, were escorted to their cells. Before leaving the police station, Violet called out to them.

Do you know what it is about me that makes me the angriest?

"When I was setting up this trap, I made a bet with my dear Ralph."

"I pretended to be unaware of the relationship problems and continued going to work, while Ralph personally visited and brought down the Shakertin family. We were betting whether you would come to me to complain or use your savage methods against Ralph."

"He won."

"What infuriates me most is that even though Ralph tore down your doors, confiscated your property, and openly spit on your ugliness, not a single one of you cowards dared to stand up and openly resist him!"

"You guys are afraid to mess with Ralf, but I'm easy to bully! Is that it?!"

When Violet arrived at Ralf's temporary residence in Narancia, five sheriffs were squatting like quails on the steps in front of the house. They were originally Violet's chosen people to protect Ralf.

"The police inspector told us to wait here. He's in the room and hasn't left."

Violet kicked him in exasperation, "I told you to protect him closely and never let him out of your sight!"

"But the police inspector said..."

Violet's veins bulged on her forehead; she was preparing to teach this obedient underling a lesson.

The door opened.

Ralph Bouler, having taken off his sheriff's uniform and donned a black overcoat, walked out the door carrying a long, narrow suitcase.

The sheriff's subordinates stood up and stood straight on one side of the steps.

When that gloomy face was exposed to the warm sunlight of Nalania, even the sunlight seemed to cool down a bit.

“You’re going on a long trip.” Violet stood in front of Ralf, head held high, blocking his path. Their eyes met, their noses only centimeters apart. “Even if everyone in Narania hates you, my bed will always welcome you. If your fragile heart is wounded, I can offer you some comfort right now.”

Ralph rolled his eyes. "Do you always have to steer the conversation in that direction?"

Violet nodded seriously, "The bloodline of the Bühler family is enough to make my stubborn old man like my father give in, and besides, we're in the honeymoon phase, it would be strange for us to sleep in separate rooms, wouldn't it?"

Ralph rubbed his forehead. "Did you add something to your memory again? Why didn't the psychological suggestion I put in your head work?"

Violet's eyes widened. "So, the lap pillow service you provided me every day had ulterior motives after all!!!"

Ralph's sclera is expanding.

"My original words were a head massage to relieve fatigue. So you call using grappling techniques to immobilize the thigh a knee pillow?"

"You didn't object, did you? So what did you do to me? How did you make me fall so deeply in love?"

Facing Violet's sparkling eyes, Ralf looked away. "I'm not rejecting you, Violet, but sometimes... no, you're always too enthusiastic. I want to strike a balance between business and personal matters. I've adjusted your feelings for me to the initial stage where we can communicate normally, every single time, but every time I hypnotize you again, it always returns to the threshold."

“I have no intention of twisting your thoughts, and your emotions don’t seem to be so easily twisted.” Ralph smiled.

"No wonder I feel like I'm experiencing first love every time I see you. Is this Ralph's unique 'flirting' technique?"

Ralph shrugged resignedly. "Take it or leave it. I think I'm getting used to it."

"The security situation in Narancia has entered a peaceful phase, my lady. Would you like to travel with me?"

"Honeymoon? Of course, darling, this is the first time you've been so proactive. Where shall we go? What shall we do?"

"Dagonris, the vampire hunter."

A sinister smile crept across Ralf Bouler's face, and in his pocket, a crumpled letter swayed in the sudden cold wind.

Chapter 474 The Vampire's Daughter

A few days later, two sheriffs riding tall horses and carrying official royal documents knocked on the gates of Dagonrisna, which had been closed all night, at dawn.

“We are envoys from the Kingdom of Hildersen. By decree of King Hildersen III, we need to speak with your mayor to discuss the ownership of this remote land of Dagonris. Please have your mayor come out.” The townspeople dared not disobey the advice of this seemingly high-ranking official, and scrambled toward the town. The iron bars used for spying were forgotten; through the square openings that could only accommodate half a face, one could see the damp, black mud-like earth of Dagonris.

The leading sheriff rode a black horse, his long, dark robe cascading straight down from his shoulders, enveloping him in shadow like a somber iron tower. But worse was the fleeting, chilling gaze from the top of that tower, a cold light that seemed to freeze warmth, as if he brought not discussion, but a conquest of death and wailing.

“You scared him, my dear. Even a real royal envoy wouldn’t be as arrogant as you.” Violet took off her hood, her wine-red hair turning a beautiful golden-red in the sunlight. Her smile hadn’t stopped since they set off, although it became even more exaggerated when she learned that their destination was vampire territory.

Upon receiving Kevin's plea for help, Ralph rushed to Dagonliss, providing the two with forged official identities. Ralph already had a preliminary understanding of Dagonliss's enigmatic nature. The town's relatively intact framework, sealed by ambiguous rules, was a testament to their presence. Having arrived a day early and observed the town extensively from the forest, Ralph had memorized the flow of people and any unusual occurrences. The seal's suppression had little effect on the two sheriffs; the hidden rules seemed more like clues waiting to be uncovered. And this was precisely Ralph's forte.

A convincing forged document could grant the two men access to the upper echelons of the Degonris administration, bringing them one step closer to the truth.

This is the first test to see if the rules will operate according to the procedures of the bureaucratic system.

If so, then Ralf, who has been in the industry for many years, has plenty of ways to turn this area into his home turf.

The cumbersome bolts and locks clicked one by one behind the heavy iron gate, and the gate to Drogonris slowly opened. Drogonris opened the door to welcome the first rays of sunlight of the new day, and also to greet Ralph with a twisted smile.

A scream rang in Ralf's ears, and a commotion broke out before him. He simply watched indifferently as the girl surrounded by the crowd became an observer. Just now, she seemed to have been frightened by Ralf's smile.

The girl with deep purple eyes. It was as if the prosperity of the entire town had been adorned upon her. With her exquisitely sculpted skin, beautiful face, and a noble gown that was still gorgeous despite being covered in dust, she seemed out of place with everyone else, like a swan stuck in the mud.

Startled, she lost her balance and fell backward. The townspeople reached out and caught the girl, saving her from the misfortune of being defiled.

Although the minor friction between Ralf and the girl at their first meeting was easily glossed over, the ever-serious sheriff wouldn't remain indifferent. Seeing the hint of shame and indignation in the girl's eyes, Ralf removed his hood, revealing his weathered but still handsome face. He lowered his voice and looked directly at the girl who had been rude to him.

"Could you please not block my way, girl? I need to see your town mayor."

For the first time, clenched silver teeth came into Ralf's view. The purple-eyed girl glared at Ralf as if she wanted to devour him alive. But she closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only a hint of hidden disgust and the indifference of someone in a high position remained in them.

“I am the mayor of Drogonris.”

Her mature-beyond-her-years-like answer carried a degree of credibility, and even an ordinary person, not necessarily captivated by her beauty, would be impressed by the noble air that seemed to grow with her very being. Unfortunately, she was facing a wolf that would bite anyone.

"According to regulations, a town mayor needs at least ten years of administrative experience. This position is elected, and even if the previous mayor resigns due to an accident, the job will be taken over by a qualified person nearby, or it will be managed by an elder nobleman in the fiefdom. You look like you're not even twenty years old, girl, unless you started practicing politics in your mother's womb. The law won't recognize that period of time."

“The law won’t punish evil either,” the girl’s voice held a hint of bitterness, along with a stubbornness fueled by negative emotions. “Dagonliss, the law can’t protect us. Even the previous mayor was killed by a vampire a few days ago.” The girl quickly revealed Dagonliss’s unique evil to the messenger, the eerie shrieks emanating from the majestic castle halfway up the mountain seeming to corroborate this claim.

"Vampires?" A glint flashed in Ralf's eyes, like a petal sinking into a deep, dark pool. "Could I interpret this as Dagonris's resistance to being incorporated into our country, a clumsy excuse..."

The girl smiled—the first smile Ralf had ever seen her give—but it looked no happier than tears. “You can use that as an excuse,” the girl said, stepping aside to make way. “The choice is yours. You can choose to turn and leave, or you can continue into Dagonris, become one of us, and experience everything here. From the moment you stepped into Dagonris, this land will not allow you to leave…”

Without a word, the gate, its markings carved into the earth, stood before Ralph, less than twenty centimeters from his horse's hooves; a slight tug on the reins would be enough to cross it. Ralph turned and exchanged a glance with Violet.

“A foolish trick, mayor.”

Ralf and Violet set foot on the land of Drogonris side by side.

“I won’t laugh at your choice, sir, but you will regret this decision, and soon.”

The illogical statement made Ralf frown slightly, but the horse beneath him seemed to be behaving strangely.

A sudden, violent panting drowned out all conversation; the horse's unusual behavior puzzled everyone. Ralph, riding on his horse, sensed even more unease. This once-docile black horse, purchased in Narancia, had suddenly become agitated, its gait restless, its head thrashing. Ralph could even feel its violently pounding heartbeat. The horse seemed like a ticking time bomb, gripped by fear, terrified of walking on this land.

The bomb exploded.

The black horse raised its forelegs and let out a loud neigh, as if reverting to its wild nature, following its instincts and galloping towards the area beyond Dagonris. The violent struggle could throw even the best riders off. Violet's horse also went into a similar frenzy, but the sheriff, sensing something was wrong, had already dismounted the moment it went mad.

Only Ralph held the reins tightly, still clinging to the mad horse's back, as they charged out of the territory together.

"No! Get down! You can't leave here!" The girl with purple eyes was pale. She was not afraid of the crazy trampling of the horses' hooves. Instead, she rushed forward and grabbed Ralph's trouser leg in the flying mud.

"Get down here quickly! Get down here quickly!!!"

In the end, Ralph and the girl fell into the mud together, while only the two mad horses ran away.

But the next moment, two shadows descended from the sky, instantly rushing towards Mad Horse, shrieking and brandishing claws simultaneously. Before everyone's eyes, two two-meter-tall gargoyles with moss-covered gray stone skin tore Mad Horse to pieces, carrying his still-bleeding remains as they flew towards the castle.

Blood rained down from the sky, soaking Ralf.

"what is that?"

"Hunting gargoyles. All living things that try to leave Dagonris will be torn to pieces by them. Dagonris is a pasture, and we are all food for vampires waiting to be slaughtered."