Crimson Heir: Shadows in Academia

2

Looking at the suddenly appearing foreigner, Alex Qi said with a slight tremor, "This... could you tell me first, are you a human or a ghost?"

"Hahaha..." Accompanied by a burst of laughter, the foreigner appeared eerily in front of Alex Qi, as if he had always been there. But just a moment ago, Alex Qi clearly saw him leaning against the telephone pole; he hadn't even moved his legs before appearing in front of Alex Qi.

Staring into Alex Qi's eyes, the foreigner said very sincerely, "Come away from here with me first, and then I'll tell you what I really am, okay?"

Subconsciously nodding, the next moment, the scenery before Alex Qi's eyes began to change rapidly, like watching a fast-forwarded movie.

After Alex Qi and the foreigner left, the already deserted street fell silent. Their disappearance was as abrupt as the foreigner's arrival.

If it weren't for the shattered beer bottles and spilled beer proving that someone had indeed been there, no one would believe what they had just witnessed.

When the scenery before him stopped moving, Alex Qi felt only one thing: dizziness and an overwhelming urge to vomit.

With a loud "whoosh," Alex Qi began to vomit violently, vomiting for several minutes before feeling a little better.

Wiping his mouth, Alex Qi straightened up, and the foreigner reappeared in front of him. This time, he said nothing, grabbed Alex Qi's right shoulder, and another scene unfolded like a fast-forwarded movie.

However, this time Alex Qi was clearly much better and even had the leisure to look up and carefully observe the foreigner.

He was dressed in a well-fitting dark blue suit, a white shirt, and a red bow tie. His hair was meticulously styled, clearly indicating a very serious person, though his face looked somewhat pale.

Looking at the foreigner who was pulling him around—yes, flying around—Alex Qi had just clearly seen him carrying him at breakneck speed. Each time his feet touched the ground, he would lift off and fly, until he fell back down, then touch the ground or a wall again to continue moving forward.

This scene resembled the light-footed martial arts in a novel. "Could this foreigner be a reclusive, hidden master?" Alex Qi couldn't help but wonder.

Just as he was engrossed in watching, the scenery before Alex Qi suddenly stopped changing.

What appeared in Alex Qi's field of vision was the furnishings of a room: a single bed, a computer desk, two single chairs, and a low computer with a laptop on the desk.

The foreigner, who had somehow already taken a seat in one of the chairs, was gesturing for Alex Qi to sit down as well.

After a slight hesitation, Alex Qi sat down opposite him. The foreigner watched Alex Qi sit down, then looked at him, took a deep drag on his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, and began to speak in a hoarse voice.

"I, you can call me Mike, the butler of the Fourteenth Vampire Clan, my full name is Mike Nicholas Farrar. During World War II, my patriarch and I were ambushed by members of the Scarlet Crusade, and my patriarch was severely wounded. He then shed three drops of his blood essence and instructed me to find a suitable successor for the family, directing me to ancient America. Only in America are Western supernatural forces unable to infiltrate, and only there am I safe. I've wandered America for over 70 years, searching for countless people. Recently, I discovered your blood is suitable, and I've been tracking and observing you. I've found you basically meet the requirements, so I'm taking the liberty of visiting tonight, hoping you can join the family and fulfill my patriarch's last wish. I would be eternally grateful."

After hearing the foreigner's words, Alex Qi didn't tremble or feel the fear he had expected, as if it were all meant to be this way (was this destiny?). He even calmly asked, "So you're a vampire?"

“Yes, I am a vampire, or more precisely, a vampire butler,” Mike answered simply and decisively.

Alex Qi was puzzled by Mike's purpose in seeking him out and tentatively asked, “So you've come to me hoping I'll become a vampire?”

After Alex Qi finished speaking, Mike immediately replied, “Yes, you have the potential to become the greatest vampire in history.”

Alex Qi still harbored doubts about his statement, but continued to ask, “Why don't you receive the inheritance of those three drops of essence blood yourself?”

This time, Mike's answer was tinged with melancholy: “Even then, one must be alive to receive it. The Fourteenth Clan's inheritance is passed down through descendants. The patriarch has no descendants and can only rely on the inheritance of essence blood. However, this essence blood must have a 99.99999% compatibility with the patriarch's blood to complete the inheritance. This is why I've been searching for an heir for so many years.”

At this point, Alex Qi was somewhat convinced by Mike, but still felt a bit resistant to becoming a vampire, so he politely declined, saying, "But I don't want to become a monster."

Mike seemed to have anticipated Alex Qi's response, replying quickly, "You don't need to worry about any of that. As the heir of the fourteenth vampire clan, you can walk in the sunlight and possess a shadow that vampires envy. You don't need to drink blood; you can eat and replenish your energy just like humans. You'll be practically a superhuman. Furthermore, after becoming a vampire, you'll be the sole heir of the fourteenth clan, inheriting billions of dollars in family wealth."

At this moment, Alex Qi's resolve wavered. He thought, "A vampire in the sunlight, a superhuman (which equals a beautiful woman?), a billion-dollar fortune—could it be any more tempting?" Then, considering the various embarrassing situations he faced due to his lack of money, Alex Qi decided to accept Mike's suggestion.

But Alex Qi never imagined that after becoming a vampire, he would face countless assassination attempts, several of which nearly cost him his life. The billions of dollars in wealth did exist, but he couldn't afford to go to Europe to inherit it. There were countless people in Europe who wanted to kill him, and they were all non-human; the billions of dollars were just a mirage!

Alex Qi was completely captivated by the rosy future described by Mike Nicholas Farrar, especially the mention of billions of dollars in wealth, and thus decided to join the ranks of vampires.