What a bastard! At a time like this, quit it with the stupid good-news-and-bad-news routine!

"What a coward!"

Watching the High Priest's consciousness vanish in a fit of rage, Murphy turned the gun in his hand back into a bracelet and sneered:

"He thought victory was already within his grasp, yet he didn't even dare show up in person to deliver his victory speech. What a spineless rat. No wonder you only dared hide yourselves in ever deeper darkness while I kept winning.

"That so-called miraculous comeback, your last-ditch effort, was nothing more than setting off all the troubles that were bound to explode sooner or later at the same time. But if I've already prepared for the bad things that are about to happen, what can you do besides throw me into a panic?

"Useless!

"No wonder you had such a huge advantage a thousand years ago and still got turned around by the Sons of Eden when they were down to their last bit of blood!

"No wonder you spent a thousand years hiding, only for old Edward to wipe you out.

"Original Sin really was blind. Then again, how much can I expect from the World-Enders? Not as if they've ever come up with many plans that made anyone sit up and take notice."

After giving them a thorough tongue-lashing, Murphy helped the newly awakened old gentleman sit up and prepared to treat him. The gunshot wounds he'd inflicted were fatal, but they weren't beyond the reach of a vampire who had mastered blood manipulation.

The next instant, however, Sir Ferdinand pressed down on his hand.

The old man looked at Murphy with a sense of release and spoke softly:

"I have to die. Sir, I have to die! Only then will Steiner lose one of his soul vessels. I can't live. I should have died long ago. This is the end