Early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Betty suddenly opened her eyes while sleeping on the large bed covered in a soft gray-white carpet.
Something was wrong, this wasn't a place she was familiar with.
Her jet-black eyes carried a hawk-like sharpness, and upon seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, she rolled over and grabbed the greatsword by the bed.
Her body bent slightly, like a leopard on alert, cautiously scanning her surroundings.
But the next moment, as if she remembered something, her expression suddenly relaxed. She threw the greatsword aside with lifeless indifference and lay back down on the bed.
Her long legs beneath the leather shorts looked particularly enticing against the soft gray-white blanket.
The only pity was that under the leather armor on her upper body, the completely flat plain took away much of that allure.
"Betty sis, what's wrong?"
Hearing the voice, Betty turned her head to see Isha curled up on the other side of the large bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking at her. Betty's face showed a hint of embarrassment.
"Isha, I'm fine. You keep sleeping. I'm just getting up to walk around."
"Oh~" Isha pouted slightly, then drifted back to sleep, still groggy.
Betty let out a faint breath of relief.
That was too embarrassing. Good thing no outsiders saw it.
She stood up, adjusted her clothing a bit, and was about to head out when her footsteps paused the moment she stepped past the doorway.
She turned her head to look at the luxurious carpet, where her weapon lay at an angle.
After thinking for a moment, she turned back and picked up the greatsword.
As a warrior of the Northern Highlands, having no weapon in hand made her feel more exposed than being naked.
Clack, clack, clack~
Betty stepped out of the room cautiously, the sound of her boots striking the wooden floor ringing out clearly.
Two vampire guards stationed in the corridor saw Betty and immediately bowed respectfully with a hand over their chests.
"Good morning, esteemed Lady Betty. Do you need us to take you to see Lord Progenitor?"
These two were among the vampires who had participated in last night's battle and had personally witnessed Betty slay the Magma Demon in a flash and destroy divine pressure with a single strike.
To the strong, even the inherently proud vampires maintained due respect.
Betty waved her hand casually.
"No need. I just want to take a look around."
Betty's opinion of vampires was quite neutral. She neither disliked them nor could say she liked them.
Living in the harsh environment of the Northern Highlands, just surviving took up most of the Northern people's energy.
As for other matters, Northern people had neither the time nor the interest to care.
And due to the barren and bitterly cold conditions of the Northern Highlands—combined with the explosively powerful combat abilities of Northern warriors—vampires had never once been seen there. Given that, naturally, they had little impression of what others called "demons."
To the Northern people, survival was everything. Nothing else mattered.
"As you wish. Shall we accompany…"
Before the sentence was finished, Betty waved her hand again.
"No need. Just stay here and protect Isha."
"Yes, Lady Betty."
Betty nodded and turned to leave with peace of mind.
Her ease around the vampires came entirely from the bond she had formed with Isha, during which they had mutually shared memories.
Isha's tragic past had made Betty see a reflection of her own childhood, stirring compassion within her. And what Li De had done for Isha made Betty feel a warmth she had never known before.
That's why she had so readily agreed to Isha's request to sign a soul contract with Li De.
Nothing happens without reason. What seemed like a beautiful outcome was merely the blossoming of seeds sown before.
If Li De had treated the golden-blooded little girl Isha purely with a mindset of exploitation, perhaps what awaited him wouldn't have been Betty's pledge, but the sharp blade of the Northern Valkyrie.
Betty understood that this Vampire Progenitor valued Isha greatly. On his territory, even if something happened to her, Isha would not come to harm. So she left without worry.
She wore a leather jacket on top, leather shorts, and boots on her feet.
Her tall, sexy figure, wild black eyes, and long hair loosely tied behind her head gave her a slightly tempered appearance, balancing her sensuality and wildness.
And this made her all the more eye-catching.
Betty descended the stairs. Everything in Li De's estate fascinated her.
Exquisite vampire statues, hollowed-out dragon reliefs on the walls, vivid oil paintings, stained glass windows at hallway corners, semi-circular white archways.
All kinds of aesthetic designs that made Betty, used to the rough architecture of the Northern Highlands, feel something entirely new.
Yet she didn't dislike this refinement. In fact, she liked it very much.
Stepping on the bluestone tiles, Betty walked out of what was to her an incomparably luxurious estate.
Two vampire guards greeted her and opened the grand doors.
Beyond the doors was a wide, clean street.
She had arrived in Dawn City late at night yesterday, when most residents were already asleep.
Now it was different. The sky had brightened, and the city's people were beginning to wake and prepare for the day's work.
As the doors opened, the scene of the street unfolded before Betty's eyes.
Li De's estate was in the very center of the city, the commercial hub—the most bustling and prosperous area.
Early risers greeted one another in small groups, holding steaming bread or wheat porridge.
Everyone wore smiles, their expressions relaxed.
Their clothes were clean and neat, their faces full of spirit. Even in the bustling crowd, there wasn't a single resident in ragged clothing.
What astonished Betty most was that the streets were impeccably clean, and there were no foul-smelling beggars by the roadside.
The scene left her in awe.
In an instant, Betty felt a strong interest in this city governed by vampires.
In the legends, weren't vampire castles supposed to be eerie, terrifying places filled with piles of human bones?
Why were there humans here? And why did they seem so free?
Betty saw no fear, no terror in the eyes of these people—in fact, she could clearly sense that the energy and spirit in them was completely different from what she'd seen in human cities in the North.
If there were one word to describe it, it would be vitality.
Yes, she could see vitality in their eyes. While in other human cities—even the better-dressed civilians had a cautious heaviness in their eyes, lacking that light, carefree feel.
Her curiosity thoroughly piqued, a certain handsome face appeared in her mind.
"Seems this vampire has a few skills after all."