The Craving for Home

Chapter 37: The Desire to Go Home

After a rapid journey of three days and two nights, Murphy's caravan was finally approaching Cadman City again. At their current speed, they would arrive in another half an hour.

The silhouette of the large city, built on a plain between rolling hills and not far from a river, was already clearly visible.

Over the past two days, the Little Players had grown accustomed to logging in and out freely, managing their game time. They would leave one "Sentinel" online, and the others would log back in only when they reached a village or the caravan stopped to rest, to avoid wasting precious game time on boring travel.

The way the players logged off was also peculiar.

Murphy had specifically gone to see them. They lay on the backs of two large flatbed carts specially reserved for them, like people asleep. Occasionally, they would snore or turn over, simulating sleep with remarkable realism.

This proved that after the free login function was enabled, these guys could maintain their physical presence in this world for extended periods.

Although he didn't understand the principle behind this function, Murphy guessed that these "physical projections" could automatically absorb free-floating psionic energy in the world to sustain their existence.

Miss Femis's Psionic Manuscript had detailed explanations regarding Summoning Arts, and while it couldn't be directly applied to special summons like players, Murphy suspected the general principle was the same.

"You've spent two days with my Warriors. How do you feel about them?"

It was a cloudy day, without the bothersome sun, so Murphy sat on the moving carriage, wrapped in his hood, chatting casually with Maxim, who was driving the carriage.

Hearing Murphy's question, Maxim's face immediately turned serious.

"Not great, Lord Murphy. I admit your Warriors are very energetic, as if they never get tired, but they are too annoying and crazy.

Yesterday, they even followed me to the restroom, seemingly wanting to confirm that I also excrete.

And no matter when I have free time, those guys will surround me and ask me strange questions with those damned Computing Orbs.

They seem particularly interested in my private life and my white hair, which annoys me greatly.

I had to use the method you taught me, asking them to run errands for me, to finally get some peace."

"That's just how they are, full of curiosity and lacking caution."

Murphy sighed helplessly.

"Even though I repeatedly told them not to disturb the Young Miss, several fearless ones still went to tease Fimis last night. As a result, the Young Miss bound them with Psionic Bind and hung them in mid-air for a full half hour.

But you have to admit, they have a talent for running errands, right?

They can always find what you want in the fastest way possible using all sorts of damn methods.

How is their progress in learning swordsmanship with you?"

When this question was brought up, Maxim, who had been looking displeased, suddenly sighed.

He said with some melancholy, "Sir, it took me a full half month to get started when I first learned Blood Vulture Swordsmanship, and three years to master all the weapon techniques. Your Warriors have only been learning with me for two days and aren't taking it seriously at all.

Yet, they've already grasped the key points of Blood Vulture Swordsmanship.

Last night, I even saw them drive away those Gnoll Bandits, who were lured closer by food, with their nascent but already skillful swordsmanship. Compared to their learning ability, I feel like an idiot.

Are people from other worlds all as smart as them?"

"No, there are definitely idiots over there too. Fortunately, we don't need idiots," Murphy replied casually.

The Little Players' fast skill acquisition wasn't because they were all Martial Arts Geniuses, but purely due to their 1.5x super growth and learning ability creating an illusion.

This was likely an adjustment made by the Test Administrator System when creating the player templates. Otherwise, if it took months to learn a set of swordsmanship like Maxim described, the game aspect would be essentially dead.

The reality and hardcore experience players expected didn't conflict with their desire for convenience and laziness. How to finely balance these two was the core of whether a game could be engaging.

If this world were truly a game.

"I just learned a new sword technique."

Murphy stood up and patted Maxim's shoulder. "We'll spar when we get back to Cadman City. There's still half an hour, no more resting! Speed up and get back as quickly as possible. I've had enough of roughing it in the wilderness."

"Yes, sir, I'm also looking forward to returning to the city."

Maxim smiled and cracked his whip, urging the carriage to accelerate again.

Murphy, with a relaxed posture, walked on top of the carriage as if on level ground. With another light leap, he landed on top of Mirian's carriage.

The red-haired girl had also been bothered by the "fiery" Little Players who were constantly looking for hidden trigger quests for the past two days. She was now enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

As Murphy landed, she suddenly spoke.

"Murphy, can I hire your Warriors to escort me to Shardo Port? They're really enthusiastic, as if they'll do anything I ask with full energy. I prefer them to those gloomy mercenaries. Simple and active, enthusiastic and kind."

"They'll scare you when they turn evil, Mirian, and not right now."

Murphy replied, "My Warriors haven't fully adapted here yet; they're too weak. But perhaps in the future, they can become your personal bodyguards, as long as you can afford the price.

By the way, Mirian, when we get back to the city, don't reveal their true identities. Just say they're from Morland Village."

"I understand."

The red-haired girl waved her hand and said:

"Your Summoning Arts are clearly secret techniques. Don't worry, I won't blab about it. Besides, compared to Morland Village, calling them mountain folk from the northern regions is more fitting.

No one would doubt the strange actions of mountain folk, and their language is inherently obscure.

It's a perfect match for your Warriors."

"Thanks, I'll consider it."

Murphy opened the carriage door and jumped in.

He reached out and tapped the black coffin lid inside. A moment later, the lid slid open, revealing Miss Femis's displeased face.

She rubbed her forehead and said:

"It's daytime, Murphy.

I understand you're an unusual anomaly, eager to embrace the dangerous sunlight like the legendary 'Daywalker,' but I am a true Child of the Night. I don't like being woken up at this hour."

"It's cloudy today, Miss. There's no sun you hate. Perhaps you should try appreciating the world beyond the night. But I came because I wanted to ask for your professional advice on Summoning Arts and psionics.

Considering we'll be back in Cadman City soon, with your status, it will be difficult for an outsider like me to consult you again.

So please forgive my abruptness."

Murphy apologized frankly. The exasperated young lady waved her hand and said grumpily:

"I'd be grateful if you just managed your rude servants. The way they look at me like I'm some rare animal every time makes me very unhappy. They also call me strange names, like 'Loli.' I don't know what it means, but the look in their eyes makes me want to snap their necks."

"That's their way of showing they like you, Miss. You might not know it, but you're really popular among them."

Murphy smiled, looking at the "Vampire Rich Loli Dark Young Miss" who was frequently mentioned on the forums. He coughed and asked seriously:

"While reading your manuscript, I found a technique for summoning the 'Death Crow,' an otherworldly creature, for reconnaissance. I tried having it deliver items, but every time my summoned creature died, it would instantly disappear, causing the items it was supposed to deliver to go missing.

So I'm curious, is there any technique that can allow summoned creatures to leave a trace in the material world even after they die?

For example, a corpse that can persist for a short period..."

"You're agonizing over all this just to have the Death Crow deliver things for you?"

The young lady looked at Murphy with a subtle gaze. He nodded, and then she said with a "I don't believe you" expression:

"Don't be so tense. I won't pry into your little secrets. As for your question, it's quite solvable.

Have you heard of 'Tricksters'?

Those who dabble in dark arts like to summon Evil Spirits to possess their enemies, slowly devouring their minds and flesh until the Evil Spirit completely replaces the enemy.

The secret to why Tricksters' summoned creatures can exist for a long time is that they create a 'Core of Calamity,' which helps the Evil Spirit stabilize its physical projection.

Borrowing their method, create a core for your summoned creatures. This way, when they stop functioning, the psionic energy that constitutes their physical form won't dissipate immediately.

In your words, it would leave a 'corpse,' but it would only last for about a day at most."

Fimis's answer opened Murphy's eyes. He pressed further:

"Are there any requirements for making such a core?"

"No."

The young lady yawned again, her "show me the door" expression becoming more pronounced. She said:

"Any psionically sensitive material will do, and it's not difficult to make. If you really want to learn, I'll write a letter with the crafting method and send it to you once we get back to Cadman City."

"Then I thank you in advance."

Murphy got what he wanted. He stood up and glanced at the coffin placed nearby. "Madam Adele will awaken as a vampire tonight. I'd like to take her to meet my elder, Triss. But don't worry, Miss. If she wishes to return to your side, I won't stop her.

Consider it a work secondment.

I'm temporarily 'lending' you my offspring.

You only need to pay a symbolic fee. If you need it, I can even sign a formal 'labor dispatch' contract with you."

"There's no need, Murphy."

The young lady lay back down in her coffin. As she closed the lid, she said:

"Adele is already your offspring. Although I'm reluctant, as the daughter of the Blood Vulture Clan Leader, I haven't fallen so low as to snatch a clan member's offspring.

She will go with you!

Whether she wants to or not, because that's the family rule."

Silence fell again in the carriage.

Murphy stood before the two coffins, speechless.

After these two days of interaction, he had gained a deeper understanding of Fimis's personality.

This young lady was practically the personification of family rules. All her actions were based on the ancient doctrines of the Blood Vulture family. She could accept anything within the rules, even if there were hidden traps.

Murphy could now understand why the young lady had been so indifferent to the sacrifice of the sixty Midnight Hunters.

To her, it was a necessary sacrifice for the family, and more importantly, a tribute to dogma and rules.

She wouldn't even consider Murphy's unsavory role in the matter.

Because Murphy had brought a hard-won victory to the family.

That was enough for her to overlook the unreasonable aspects.

Dealing with someone principled like this was a pleasure. At the very least, Murphy was no longer as resistant to the young lady as before; he even thought it wouldn't be bad to work under her.

After all, as long as she followed the rules, this young lady was quite reasonable.

Moreover, in her worldview, there seemed to be no concept of "clever tricks," meaning exploiting loopholes in the rules. Such behavior was acceptable to the young lady.

Therefore, if he could get on Miss Fimis's good side, his and Triss's situation within the Blood Vulture Clan might also be greatly improved.

Murphy stepped out of the carriage and gazed in the direction of Cadman City.

He could vaguely see the silhouette of the city under the dark clouds, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He had been away from home for eight days, one day later than he had promised.

He was definitely going to be nagged by Triss when he got back. He could only hope that the useless woman hadn't starved herself to death during his absence.

But then again, given Triss's occasional absentmindedness and generally unreliable nature, she probably got along great with his Little Players?

"Target coordinates clear, target location confirmed, communication channel open! Plan D enters Phase One!"

With a crisp report, in the command hall of the Pioneer Fortress in the East Prussia region, a psionicist, dressed in military attire, began to cast a spell before General Loren. As the psionic computing orb on his chest pulsed, a reconnaissance spell, looking down on the ground from high above, was activated and reflected like a mirror before the general and his officers.

The reconnaissance spell clearly showed a high-altitude image of Cadman City, the stronghold of the Blood Vulture Clan and the capital of the Transylvania Region, nearly three hundred kilometers away.

The psionicist continuously adjusted the angle, allowing the general and the commanders to see the city in its entirety.

Beside them, a group of psionicists from the Ring Tower, clad in black robes, were busy working through a massive psionic communication network formed by computing orbs, with new commands being issued from time to time.

"Target information compiled at White Cliff, Evocation Tower 01-03 in position! Evocation Masters are on standby!"

"Cadman City's corresponding Astral Plane coordinates have been calculated! No interference in the mutual mapping! The next phase coordinate shift is in 6 hours! Plenty of time."

"'Astral Tear' grand sorcery is ready! White Cliff Headquarters is conducting the final confirmation for Plan D, General! Please issue the order."

A psionicist in military uniform called out to General Loren, who stared at the city's reflection on the screen before him.

He narrowed his eyes and didn't issue the command immediately. Instead, he turned to look at an elderly man standing beside him, dressed impeccably, holding a black cane and wearing a tall hat.

He said:

"How does it feel to be about to witness with your own eyes the foundation that your kin spent 400 years building collapse in an instant?"

"The Blood Vultures are not my kin."

The grim-faced old man did not show as much respect to General Loren as the others. He stared intently at Cadman City, shrouded in the pale light of the overcast sky on the screen, and said in a low voice:

"Their shameful betrayal 225 years ago, which triggered the Second Night War, nearly destroyed my family and almost dragged the entire Vampire Race to ruin.

And the schemes these conspirators have plotted in the shadows will be repaid in the next few minutes.

If you must ask my opinion.

Then I will tell you that I anticipate what is about to happen more than anyone else."

"For this revenge, you even abandoned the blood feud from the Night War, violated your seclusion laws, and willingly chose to cooperate with the Ring Tower? As far as I know, during the late stages of the Second Night War and the subsequent 'Wolf Calamity,' the number of your clansmen who died at the hands of the Ring Tower was astronomical."

General Loren raised an eyebrow and asked again:

"To forget one ancient hatred for another, is it truly worth it?"

"Of course."

Old Edward, the Clan Leader of the Wolfsbane Clan, flashed a chilling smile from under his tall hat.

He gripped his cane, adorned with skulls, and said in a low voice:

"As long as the Blood Vultures are destroyed today, all sacrifices will be worth it. You, sir, simply do not understand what the Blood Vultures are truly doing, nor the nightmare that Salokdar's current madness will bring upon us.

I wouldn't even call it destruction; it's enough to be called 'Salvation' or 'Rescue,' words and descriptions that are out of place for vampires.

But I don't wish to reveal more. Stop playing games, General Loren, you know what I want.

Let me see!

Let me see what the Wolfsbane Clan will gain in return for pledging allegiance to the brilliant King Louis."

"Command confirmed!"

The half-dwarf general snorted.

He turned around, stroked his beard, and raised his hand as if gripping a war blade, then slashed downwards. He said in a deep voice:

"Plan D initiated! Let's bury the Blood Vultures in history, completely and forever!"

"Boom"

Several minutes later, a muffled sound came from the screen.

The terrifying psionic energy temporarily tore through the barrier between the material world and the Astral Plane. The sky and the earth trembled at that moment, and the power of the dark nebulae poured out. In the last second before the psionic reconnaissance was disrupted and dissipated, General Loren and Old Edward satisfyingly witnessed the scene of more than half of Cadman City being completely submerged and torn apart.

The two exchanged a smile, then picked up the fine wine handed to them by an orderly and raised their glasses.

"To victory, everyone!"

The general shouted:

"The war is over."

P.S.: Thanks to "Humenyan" brother for the Alliance Leader reward. The bonus chapter will be included in the launch day burst! Thank you, brother!