Sensing Xiu's official and businesslike attitude, Maggie calmed down.

Even if Xiu had directly asked her to help deal with the Ice Mermaid's branch, she wouldn't have been able to refuse, especially since he had offered to help.

Considering that this deal was entirely beneficial to her and would even provide her with an additional asset, she agreed without hesitation.

"good."

Xiu looked up at her and added.

"You have to give my treasure back to me after this is all over."

"Your body has recovered, giving it back to me won't affect your life."

His voice was so pleasant that it almost made one overlook the emotions in his words, but Maggie still detected a hint of resentment in it.

"Actually, I can return it to you right now."

Hearing Xiu say that, she felt a little guilty.

"No, we can't get it back now, we have to wait..."

Xiu seemed to want to say something, but he hesitated for a long time and didn't say anything. He just looked very depressed.

"I understand. I'll return it to you once I find a way."

Maggie immediately understood. Xiu must have said that because of some reason, the precious thing couldn't be separated from her for the time being.

"Um."

Xiu's expression finally softened, and his handsome face, which was so striking it was almost infuriating, regained its aloof and godlike demeanor.

Only his gaze subtly swept over Maggie's chest.

He could feel his heartbeat returning to normal in his chest.

Only when you get close to her, or rather, when you get close to the Heart of the Ocean.

...

Far away in the capital of the Kingdom of Arnold, the moon hung high in the sky, and a blood-red eye opened in the darkness, looking down at the kneeling vampire below.

"Your Grace, I promise next time..."

He looked terrified and kept kneeling and kowtowing, but before he could finish speaking, his head flew off, rolled several meters on the red carpet, and finally stopped at the feet of a female vampire.

"Your Grace, please don't be angry. It's the fault of these good-for-nothings."

Lilia walked slowly forward with cat-like steps, sat down next to the man above, and placed her soft, boneless hand on his chest.

"Edith was killed, the plan to seize the Kingdom of Arnold failed, Greta died, the city under her control was lost, and this assassination mission also failed."

"Is there anything else to say?"

The man grabbed Lilia's mischievous little hand, his tone icy and his eyes flashing with cruelty.

"Or, Your Grace, how about I go and kill her myself?"

Lilia spoke with a hint of coquetry, gently shaking the man's arm.

"She's just an ordinary human being. Even if she has decent talent, she's still only a mid-level mage. She has the protection of the temple, but there are times when she's alone. Don't you think so?"

She coaxed the man softly, her tone charming and alluring.

Finally, the man's expression shifted slightly, his coldness dissipated a little, and he turned to look at Lilia, reaching out to hook her chin.

"Let's wait and see."

After he finished speaking, he exerted a little force with his arm, and Lilia fell into his arms.

Moonlight streamed through the castle windows, revealing two overlapping figures on the main seat.

The castle was quiet; not a single vampire or blood servant dared to speak, all remained silent.

The blood servants lowered their heads, not daring to look up, and quietly withdrew from the hall, leaving the space to the masters of the castle.

Only after they left did they dare to look at each other.

It was clear that they both saw the fear in each other's eyes.

The Duke is very angry tonight. If it weren't for Lady Lilia, many more vampires and humans would probably die.

Recently, because of the Holy Maiden of Light, fewer and fewer humans have been captured and brought back to the castle. If they are not enough to satisfy the Duke's anger, then they will be the ones who suffer.

Even the vampire viscount sent to assassinate the Holy Maiden failed. I really don't know what kind of person the current Holy Maiden of Light is.

Little did they know that a figure was standing on a withered tree branch outside the castle. By the moonlight, they could see that she was just a teenage girl.

Her pure white skirt fluttered in the blood-scented night wind, and a flash of light revealed a silver pistol clutched in her hand.

"That woman really wasn't lying."

The childlike voice was clear and distinct under the desolate night, innocent and pure like an angel who knew nothing of the world.

"She's very capable, don't underestimate her."

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind the withered tree, responding to Gillian's sigh in a low voice.

"Of course I know that daring to enter my hunting grounds already makes me much better than those good-for-nothing nobles."

Gillian pouted and couldn't help but complain.

"Now is not the time to attack here. The vampires probably have other strongholds. We can't alert them."

The man was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a leather jacket covering his strong and powerful body; the entire outfit was designed for ease of movement.

"...Even without other strongholds, we wouldn't be able to take this place. The Vampire Duke is no pushover."

Gillian immediately looked speechless upon hearing his words, staring at the man as if he were a madman.

"So, do you want to collaborate with her?"

The man asked.

"Forget it, my older sister isn't doing too well right now, and the risk of cooperating is too great."

Gillian waved her hand without hesitation, rejecting the offer.

Any organization with even a slight intelligence network knows how dire Maggie's situation is; no organization has any hope for her.

Whether it's the Green Tower, the Blood Hunter Guild, or... the Silver Wheel.

Of course, if she were truly completely unknown, no one would even pay attention to Maggie.

Maggie is now on the watchlist of various organizations.

"But she helped me before, so if she asks me for help, I will help her."

Gillian said this.

There is a difference between providing timely help and adding to someone's success.

The man's eyes reflected the full moon in the sky as he whispered a reminder.

"We'll have to wait and see; she hasn't shown her true value yet."

Gillian's tone was meaningful.

"President, sometimes I wonder if you are really only twelve years old."

The man stared silently at Gillian's face for a long while before slowly speaking.

"This is already the umpteenth time I've received criticism this year, and now even you are..."

Gillian sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

"That's why I don't like showing up in the guild; it destroys all my prestige!"

The little girl scratched her head in frustration, then looked at the man and sighed helplessly after a long while.

"Forget it, go to the temple and tell her that Lilia is going to attack her."

A faint look of speechlessness appeared in the man's eyes, as if to say, 'Who was it that just said she wasn't valuable enough now?'

"knew."

But he didn't say it aloud, silently agreeing to Gillian's words.