Necromancer, but pre-collapse civilization

　It not only weakens the ability of countries to cope with the challenges posed by the moth to the flame, but also adds a great deal of uncertainty to this power struggle.

　With the covert support of these forces, the traditional powers' carefully planned crackdown on the Moth of Fire was not even officially launched when they were shocked to find that the Moth of Fire seemed to have foreseen their intentions and made thorough preparations to deal with them.

　Moreover, with the cooperation of these forces, the poisonous pupa troops repeatedly pierced the weakest links of these traditional powers.

　While the operations of the Poisonous Chrysalis Unit brought a bloody and extreme experience to traditional powers, they also exacerbated the internal contradictions within these countries.

　They're all old rivals in the political arena; who doesn't know who?

　These worldly-wise politicians knew perfectly well that the moths that chased the flame possessed such astonishing reaction speed and accuracy must have had an inside man at work.

　However, despite being fully aware of the mole's identity, in order to avoid igniting internal conflict and triggering a full-scale civil war in the current tense and fierce confrontation, the traditional powers have had to temporarily suppress their anger and are unable to take decisive and tough measures against those forces that are betting on the flame.

　This predicament undoubtedly exacerbates the already difficult situation of traditional powers.

　Under such circumstances, only the Mu Continent, with its profound industrial foundation and outstanding technological strength, was able to contend with the Moths of Fire and barely maintain a balance.

　Meanwhile, the other traditional powers were completely outmatched in this confrontation.

　The combination of fusion warriors and floating warships has become the invincible trump card of the Fire Moth.

　The Fusion Warriors have made urban warfare and counterinsurgency battles almost exclusively the domain of the Flame Chaser.

　The airships that survived the Eighth Great Collapse greatly compensated for the Moth's weakness in conventional weaponry, giving it an absolute advantage in its confrontation with traditional powers.

　Central Europe, southeastern Romania, Bucharest.

　Bucharest, as the capital of Romania and its political, economic, and cultural center, is renowned worldwide for its prosperity.

　But now, this city, with its more than 500 years of glorious history, has quietly changed hands.

　Faced with the fierce invasion of the vampire clan led by Beatrice, Romania's resistance seemed so pale and powerless, and it quickly became a paradise for vampires.

　In fact, it's not just Romania; many more small countries in Central and Eastern Europe have completely fallen under the absolute rule of vampires.

　Despite having to consider the reactions of other powerful nations on the planet, the vampire clan remains hidden in the shadows, maintaining a semblance of peace and order in these countries.

　But those high-ranking bureaucrats who have long remained hidden from public view are undergoing subtle, unknown changes in their behavior patterns, decision-making logic, and even their entire existence.

　These changes are like lights slowly going out under the night sky; though silent, they reveal a shocking truth to a few astute observers in their own unique way.

　The true rulers of these countries are no longer human beings.

　Getting back to the point, right now, in an old and magnificent mansion on the outskirts of Bucharest, a grand feast is being held exclusively for vampire nobles.

　At the banquet, countless handsome men and beautiful women dressed in gorgeous attire strolled among the guests, holding crystal-clear wine glasses filled with bright red liquid, chatting and laughing, and exchanging toasts.

　They complimented each other's outfits, danced gracefully on the dance floor, and shared their interesting stories and experiences.

　all of these

　Without careful observation, it is almost indistinguishable from an ordinary high society gathering.

　However, when these guests parted their lips to reveal their sharp fangs, or when the faint red liquid in their glasses revealed their true nature, the true face of this banquet became clear.

　While the young vampires on the dance floor were indulging in the ruler's luxurious lifestyle, a more tense meeting was quietly taking place in a secret conference room behind the banquet hall.

　This is the true power center of the vampire clan, where the rulers of the dark world sit around a huge round table engraved with the vampire clan's emblem.

　Inside the meeting room, there was none of the noise and extravagance of the banquet hall; instead, there was the sound of deep, powerful conversation.

　The vampire nobles either frowned in thought or discussed in hushed tones, deliberating on how to bring more countries and people under the dark rule of the vampires and achieve further development of their race.

　"Lady Beatrice."

　A handsome vampire in a deep red suit stood up and paid his respects to the host of the banquet.

　"Our foundations are firmly established in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is time to expand into a wider world. The human world is in turmoil, which is the golden opportunity for us to take advantage of the situation."

　Beatrice, the queen of the vampire clan, gently swirled the wine in her glass. The crimson liquid seemed to reflect the flames burning in her eyes, revealing her deep and unfathomable heart.

　“You’re right. The human world is like a broken piece of porcelain, and we are the force that can reshape it.”

　Her words exuded an unquestionable authority and confidence.

　"But before that, we must strengthen ourselves and find more reliable allies. Whether it's those traitors lurking among humans or that necromancer who wields mysterious magic, they are all people we should try to win over."

　Beatrice understood that although the vampire clan was doing well now, they were actually nearing the limits of their development.

　Anyone who dares to invade another human nation will face the iron fist of the human world.

　However, such a warning is too direct and sensitive to be made frankly in public.

　Therefore, she cleverly fabricated a reason—to find allies—as a strategy to delay the radical actions of the pro-war faction.

Chapter 425 The Vampire's Actions and Attractions

　After Beatrice proposed finding more allies as a prerequisite for expansion, the pro-war vampire nobles initially felt that her strategy was somewhat conservative, but after careful consideration, they ultimately chose to accept the proposal.

　These powerful figures who have risen rapidly among the vampire clans are all exceptionally capable, and their judgment and foresight are equally formidable.

　Among them were many wise individuals who were equally astute in recognizing the bottlenecks in the development of their ethnic groups.

　They knew that the development of the vampire race was severely constrained by the invisible boundaries of human society.

　As vampires who once held the pinnacle of power in human society, they are acutely aware of the strength and terror of humans, which is why they have long advocated for proactive attacks and preemptive strikes.

　These vampire elites fear that if they don't take advantage of the infighting between the powerful human nations and the Firemoths to weaken the overall strength of human society, the vampire race will face an unimaginable dark future.

　However, faced with Beatrice's strategy, the pro-war vampire nobles demonstrated a broader perspective that transcended factional disputes.

　They realized that while the power to divide the cake was crucial, its value would be greatly diminished if there wasn't a large enough cake to divide, or if the cake simply couldn't be made.

　Therefore, they decided to temporarily set aside their factional differences and jointly support this proposal, which is beneficial to the long-term development of the community.

　It is this sense of the bigger picture that transcends factional disputes that has led the vampire clan to achieve a glorious transformation from an insignificant choice for extending the lifespan of the elite, barely exceeding a thousand people, to a powerful force that dominates the European continent and effectively controls multiple countries.

　The world is a giant makeshift operation.

　In a world where everyone is trying to be the worst, not being the worst makes it relatively easy to stand out and achieve success.

　Getting back to the main point, with the pro-war vampire elites unanimously agreeing to Beatrice's proposal, a new problem was placed before the high-ranking leaders of these vampire clans.

　How to carefully select envoys to effectively win over allies and clearly define reasonable costs to gain the support of potential partners.

　The importance of choosing an envoy is self-evident.

　These envoys must be the best of their kind, capable of demonstrating the vampire clan's strength and unwavering resolve, while also possessing exceptional diplomatic skills to move hearts and minds with both reason and emotion, allowing potential allies to see the bright prospects and substantial benefits of cooperation.

　However, for those leaders who have transformed from human nobles to vampire nobles, their past prominent status and deep social networks do give them a considerable advantage in the selection of messengers, making this process relatively smooth.

　But the real challenge lies in how to accurately determine the cost of cooperation.

　This is not just a simple game of interests, but a strategic test of the vampire clan's long-term planning and wisdom.

　The previous top leaders of the vampires had to be keen to seize every potential cooperation opportunity, while carefully weighing the pros and cons.

　That's not all. They also need to deeply analyze the core demands and expectations of each potential ally, and based on this, devise a cooperation framework that can both inspire the other party's enthusiasm for cooperation and stabilize the fundamental interests of the community.

　In this process, any slight oversight or excessive concession could become a hidden danger, sowing uncertainties for the long-term development of the community.

　Now that we've reached a consensus to find allies to help us expand further, the next question is—how much are we willing to pay for this?

　A vampire nobleman asked in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

　"This is indeed a key issue."

　Beatrice nodded, her voice echoing in the empty council chamber.

　“We need to show sincerity, but we cannot allow the fundamental interests of the community to be harmed. We need to carefully weigh the balance.”

　"I believe we should develop different cooperation plans based on the strength and importance of potential allies."

　A vampire nobleman who had made great contributions to the prosperity of Mu Continent offered his own insights.

　"For powerful allies, we can generously extend an olive branch, such as sharing the co-governance of key territories as a solid foundation for cooperation."

　"As for those partners who may seem weak but have unlimited potential, we should use emotional bonds as a basis, promising them strong future support, technical assistance, and resource allocation to inspire their enthusiasm for cooperation..."

　These words, like a gentle spring breeze, inspired the vampire dignitaries present with even more ideas and strategies.

　The light of wisdom shone in the eyes of every vampire.

　Various plans and suggestions converged like streams into a sea, eventually forming a relatively complete framework for winning over potential partners.

　However, when the focus of the discussion quietly shifted to the necromancer who ruled over a vast territory and whose power was unfathomable, the air in the council hall seemed to freeze, and an indescribable sense of heaviness permeated the atmosphere.

　The vampire nobles exchanged glances, all understanding that winning over this powerful figure as an ally was tantamount to climbing an insurmountable peak.

　"What kind of being are we facing?"

　A senior figure in power muttered to himself, his voice revealing a mixture of awe and worry.

　"Even if our entire vampire clan were to come out in full force, our power would probably be nothing more than a drop in the ocean in his eyes, insignificant."

　These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, making everyone present realize that conventional methods of winning over a necromancer would definitely fail.

　They began to ponder what kind of offer they would need to touch the heartstrings of this necromancer and make him willing to fight alongside the vampire clan.

　“We may not be able to fight them with force, but we can find breakthroughs in other ways.”

　Beatrice's voice rang out again, her words revealing an indomitable tenacity.

　"Knowledge, secrets, or even some value that transcends material things... In this world, there are always things that even the strong desire to obtain."

　Canberra, Australia.

　"So, those vampires are willing to let me set up a [Territory-level Soul Collection Array] within their territory?"

　Upon hearing the words coming from the other end of the [Communication Badge], Prime Minister Keane immediately replied respectfully.

　"Yes, Your Majesty."

　"That's rather interesting..."

　The necromancer's voice came through the [Communication Badge], carrying a hint of subtle amusement and profundity.

　"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

　Prime Minister Keane asked cautiously, afraid of missing any clues or intentions in the other party's words.

　"What I mean is that their proposal is worth considering, but not unconditionally accepted."

　Moros was quite satisfied with the earnest sincerity the vampire clan had shown in their efforts to win his support.

　But... he wanted more!

　"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

　"Then it's up to you."

　After saying that, Moros severed the magical communication with Keane.

Chapter 426 Two People Who Are Honest with Each Other

　Having received explicit authorization from the necromancer, Keane's words carried an added air of undeniable power and confidence during his negotiations with the vampire clan's envoys.

　Faced with Keane's persuasive rhetoric and, more importantly, the undeniable strategic value of gaining the support of the necromancer, the vampire clan's envoy, after communicating with the clan's internal leaders, ultimately chose to compromise.

　In addition to allowing necromancers to set up territory-level soul-collecting arrays within their domains, the vampire clan further demonstrated its sincerity by promising to provide necromancers with a substantial amount of resources annually as a symbol of their friendly relationship.

　That's an astonishing fortune with a total value of 2000 billion Mu Continent currency.

　Even a necromancer who possesses vast territories and rules over hundreds of millions of people cannot ignore such a remarkable fortune.

　The vampire elite, represented by Beatrice, had a clear understanding of the terrifying power of necromancers.

　They knew that allying with such a being, though at a cost, would be key to obtaining immeasurable benefits and security in the long run.

　Time has proven the foresight of these vampire nobles and shown that all their sacrifices were worthwhile.

　The world fell silent when a large contingent of low-tier undead troops emerged from the shadows of the transport ships and assembled in the port of Constanta.

　Countless eyes were focused on this dazzling pearl on the Black Sea coast, witnessing this historic moment.

　Although these 800 low-level undead units do not pose a real threat to traditional powers and forces like the Firemoth, the power of the necromancers they represent is something that no one dares to underestimate.

　Before figuring out the necromancer's true intentions, no one dared to make any rash moves.

　Seizing this opportune moment, the vampire clan swiftly mobilized all its forces and launched a rapid and precise offensive.

　In just three days, through a series of meticulously planned decapitation operations, the vampire clan successfully planted their flag across numerous small countries in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, expanding their territory several times over.

　At the same time, the vampires did not forget to infiltrate those powerful Western and Eastern European countries.

　Using the alluring long lifespan of vampires as bait, the vampire clan successfully lured a group of humans who yearned to transcend the mundane and pursue eternity to join their ranks.