Incorrect. They did end up making a big fuss.

An hour later, Damon stood in the huge hall of a much grander castle, and staring down at him were two powerful C-rank vampires, two elders of the Valeross family. Power rolled off them in heavy waves. One was a broad-shouldered man in dark plate, scars running across his face. The other was a woman in a long robe, eyes cold.

Of course, there was also Alaric standing next to them. From the looks of it, he belonged to the same family.

The Valeross family controlled this particular mountain in the Crimson Mountain range, and Hinata mentioned that she was also a member of the same family. Since Damon had entered the crimson mountains through their family's territory, they were by default the ones responsible for his admission into the mountains.

The two elders watched him like animals watching a new piece of meat. The man in the dark plate folded his arms; the woman in the robe didn't move at all, but her eyes seemed to cut right through Damon.

"You arriving there right when Hinata is on the cusp of finishing an important mission for the family… isn't it all a little too coincidental? How were you, a mere blood acolyte, able to survive a clash with the demon lord's heir?"

Hinata hurriedly opened her mouth to support Damon, but the woman's cold glare made her shut up. "I am asking him." Demora Valeross said coldly. She stepped forward, eyes boring into Damon. "You will answer me directly."

Damon sneered inwardly. Sure, why not simply give them all of his secrets? Do they really expect someone to be that dumb?

He remained calm and responded with the same answer. "I came from the light-faction continent," he said. "I run a small blood hall there. We paid a fortune for Crimson Mountain reinforcements, billions of gold, in fact."

"I heard about the dark continent and received a quest to open up a portal. A group of us came through the portal. I merely happened to wander into the small demon city by chance to try and find a way to connect with the other vampires."

"Everything that happened was indeed a coincidence. I have never met Hinata before nor heard of her. The first time I saw her, she asked me to stay away from her and the other vampires for the time being. I intended to do the same, but the auction caught my interest."

"As for the demon lord's heir, I have no idea who he was and why he was there. I was equally shocked to find someone like that in that small demon city."

Demora's eyes narrowed. "Let's say I believe your words and your ridiculous explanation. Still, how do you explain the heir's sudden misfortune? What caused his condition to become like that out of nowhere?

Damon chuckled inwardly. Now they have finally come to the main point of this interrogation. He already knew that this was the main reason why he was dragged here. Countless new vampires enter these mountains every day, and they couldn't care less about it.

In fact, they welcomed the spread of the race. There was really no reason to question him like this. They wanted his secret. That too for free.

Damon only shrugged. "I am just a blood acolyte, my Lady. How am I supposed to be responsible for something like that? I simply got lucky, and that is the truth. Gathering 2.5 billion gold coins to pay for reinforcement for my blood hall is really my limit. I am not capable of doing something like this."

Alaric snorted. "No, my lady. Don't trust him. For all we know, he could be a spy planted by the heir to infiltrate the crimson mountains and gather information."

"Many new vampires come to the crimson mountain every day. Or so I have heard. You are free to come with me through the portal and take a look at my blood hall. I am not hiding anything."

Alaric shook his head firmly. "My lady, this man-"

"That's enough." Demora snapped at him. "This conversation is going nowhere, and I do not like to waste my time." Her gaze then landed on Damon again. "Young acolyte, you better watch your step. For now, I am granting you permission to step into the crimson mountains, but the family will be watching your actions. Any misstep and the next time there won't be a meeting to discuss your fate."

Damon bowed slightly. "Understood, my lady. Thank you for your hospitality."

Demora did not care for his words so much. She waved a hand, and the guards stepped forward. "Escort him," she ordered.

Alaric's face changed, but he did not say anything. The two elders immediately left after that, and Alaric too followed in their footsteps. Clearly, he was planning to talk their ears some more.

Hinata glared at him. "I don't understand what his problem is. Don't worry. There is nothing he can do. You can come with me now. I will get you everything you need and help you take a tour of the place."

Damon nodded with a smile. "I would greatly appreciate that. Thanks." He wanted to tell her that the vampire Alaric was probably causing all of this ruckus because she suddenly wanted to help him so much, but he decided to leave that part out. He had no plans to interfere in the affairs between these two. He did not want to step into any more mess than he already had.

"This way," Hinata said. She pushed open a heavy door and led him into another room. It was a big room with luxurious seating. "Can you wait here for a few seconds?" She then called over a vampire attendant, from the looks of it, another blood acolyte like himself, and walked out of the room with him, discussing something seriously.

A few minutes later, Hinate once again entered the room, and this time she was holding a bright ring with a crimson gemstone.

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