The Gloomy Lands, Eternal Night Territory.
In the heartland forever shrouded in darkness, the most prominent symbol of this place was the ancient castle that stood silently atop the cliffs.
Dark, quiet, and not lacking in artistic atmosphere... this was precisely the most comfortable residence of the Vampires, the "uncrowned kings" of The Gloomy Lands.
Beyond it stretched vast, desolate graveyards, where weathered tombstones leaned every which way and dead trees twisted their branches upward like despairing arms reaching for the gray sky.
Occasionally, several pitch-black crows landed on the bare branches, letting out hoarse, grating cries as their blood-red eyes coldly swept over this lifeless land.
Along the graveyard path leading to the castle, a black carriage drawn by four pale, gaunt horses traveled at an unhurried pace.
The pale-skinned coachman guided the carriage with hollow eyes. A lantern hanging from one side of the compartment behind him swayed gently with the bumps, its dim yellow glow flickering in the deepening dusk like dancing ghostfire, stretching and shrinking the twisted shadows of the roadside trees.
At that moment, a hand wearing a black leather glove pushed open the carriage window, and a handsome man dressed like a noble rested his hand on the frame.
His lazy gaze swept over the scene outside as he said wearily, "How long has it been? The air here is still as rotten, stifling, and devoid of novelty as ever."
Another man chuckled from inside the carriage, his voice somewhat clearer. "What is it, my esteemed Sir Casimir? Are you still reminiscing about those fresh days of dealing with the filthy rats of the Rusty Keys?"
The Vampire noble called Casimir shrugged humorously. "Oh, I like your old-fashioned way of speaking, dear Deng Lun. At least those little rats knew how to struggle. They