Angela: A Heart of Remembrance

In fact, at the start of the competition, everyone was still agonizing over how to explain Ailas's crimes to the public. But now, they clearly no longer needed to worry. Almost everyone had witnessed Ailas become the red dragon's food, which not only gave them a new understanding of the terrifying and powerful nature of dragons, but also stopped them from thinking about anything else. After all, almost everyone had seen Ailas tear open the scroll and summon the dragon, and while spell failures are rare, they do happen. Therefore, most people accepted this explanation afterward. They, of course, had no idea what Ailas had planned, and the entire incident was suppressed before it even truly began.

Of course, this situation has its pros and cons. The advantage is that Ailas's problem no longer needs to be explained to the public. The disadvantage is... as the only mastermind deeply involved, it's impossible to get any information from him anymore. The red dragon devoured the snack so quickly that even Li Lin didn't have time to stop it before he had eaten it. Of course, it's more likely that he was too lazy to stop it. After all, given Li Lin's personality, he should have understood the red dragon's unpredictable nature. If he really wanted to save Ailas's life, he should have warned him when the red dragon captured Ailas.

Because the Red Robe Mage had already been eliminated, the guards who were supposed to control the various entrances and exits did not take any action as planned. Apart from the initial few members who went into action, the rest obediently stood still and carried out their duties. They waited for a signal, but it never came. Thus, until the three old mages led their personal guards to completely subdue the guards, they did not take any drastic action. Those who were initially responsible for leading the riot had already been thoroughly killed by Angela.

"You've done a really great job this time."

Angela, who gently sat on his lap and proudly raised her little head, said with a smile to Li Lin.

"Well done."

If Angela hadn't led the two sisters to infiltrate the stone tower and eliminate those restless rebels, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

"Of course, Master."

Angela squinted her eyes like a cat, enjoying Li Lin's desire.

"Whatever your command, whatever it may be, I will do my utmost to fulfill it."

"I don't believe I actually possess such personal charm."

Li Lin gave a wry smile. In fact, ever since he got together with Angela, he had noticed that the little girl seemed to have some kind of inexplicable fanaticism. Although she always sought and enjoyed herself within the limits that Li Lin could accept, whenever Li Lin assigned her any task, Angela would completely abandon her usual arrogant and ruthless attitude and act with a passion that was completely impossible for ordinary people. He remembered that when he was living on Earth, he once watched a TV program introducing Western European royal treasures, and he casually mentioned that the blue agate was very suitable for making magical artifacts. Angela actually left that very night and spent three days stealing the agate from the museum and giving it to Li Lin.

Li Lin knew very well that although the little girl had signed Familiar Contract with him, the powerful and terrifying strength she possessed prevented the magic from this "other world" from fully taking effect. Li Lin and Angela's master-servant relationship wasn't very strong, and he couldn't use Magic Power to force Angela to act according to his will. However, Angela performed far better than a true familiar. Li Lin had always been puzzled as to why Angela did this. In terms of age, although both had experienced unimaginable times, such experiences at most only granted them the status of equals. In terms of status, Vampire Species and Arcane Mage seemed to be roughly equal. Yet, Angela seemed to enjoy it, and even Li Lin couldn't fathom the little girl's thoughts.

Why do this?

He held Angela in his arms; her petite and adorable body was somewhat cold from not having been fed. Back on Earth, Li Lin hadn't intended to ask Angela this question. At that time, he thought this cunning Vampire Species was merely trying to use passion to gain his freedom. But now, it seemed clearly different. Angela had come to this world with him, and obviously intended to stay by his side, so Li Lin had to ask her directly.

After all, he didn't think Angela would do that out of some inexplicable enthusiasm.

Faced with Li Lin's question, Angela remained silent for a moment, then shook her hair and shrank closer to Li Lin.

"Indeed..."

Angela's voice carried a chilling undertone—like the coldness of a tomb.

"Even though you, Master, do possess immense power, I am True Ancestor at the pinnacle of the Vampire Species. To me, humans are merely like rats; our very nature is different. Of course, you, Master, are an exception. You are not a human from that world, which is one of the reasons I accept you... However, if I were to ask why I am doing this, it is probably because you are doing what I want to do but cannot."

I don't quite understand what you mean.

Li Lin frowned. He could vaguely guess what was going on, but he still asked.

"That's true..."

Angela squinted.

"Although I do not understand the principles of magic, at the moment the contract was signed, I felt your rage, your hatred and anger towards humans, those lowly and barbaric species. I felt your vengeful intent from the depths of your soul, that killing intent as cold as ten thousand years of ice and your anger as fiery as Hell, which captivated me."

As she spoke, Angela moved her body, turned around, and looked into Li Lin's eyes.

"Master, it is precisely this quality of yours that attracts me. What you are doing now is something I once wanted to do but could not. However, I have lost an opportunity once, and I will not lose it a second time."

As she spoke, Angela suddenly leaned forward and kissed Li Lin's lips. Her sharp teeth pierced Li Lin's skin, and blood immediately gushed out.

In that instant, Li Lin felt as if boundless darkness had enveloped him. The memories that appeared in his mind were not his own; they were of a girl, from an unrecordable era, walking alone across the land, her pain and anger palpable. Her ideals and hopes had been stripped away by reality, leaving only the flames of rage and a heart on the verge of collapse. The gods did not favor her, nor did humanity help her. The girl, through her own efforts, survived time and again on the brink of death. With each survival, her hatred and despair for the world grew deeper within her.

Angela slowly walked away, gazing into Li Lin's eyes. In those bright red eyes, there was something new that she hadn't seen before.

"This is my past, Master. Although I have been waiting for your inquiry, I never expected you to bring it up at this time."

Angela paused for a moment before continuing.

"I do not intend to destroy all of humanity; those vermin are not worth my extermination. However, their deaths will bring me pleasure; the more humans die, the more satisfied I will feel. Master, I know your plan, a plan that will unleash a bloodbath across the entire continent, causing countless deaths. Their lives will be the best medicine for me to satisfy my pain. Moreover, it is normal for a superior race to govern a lower race; I alone cannot do it, but you are different."

"In this respect, we are indeed the same."

Savoring the soft touch and the rusty, bloody taste on his lips, Li Lin did not avoid Angela's gaze. Indeed, Angela's anger and past experiences were different from his own. But at this moment, the path they had chosen was the same. They both needed to devour a large number of lives to heal their broken wounds and pain.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; blood for blood.

Angela will never forgive the humans who hurt her, and Li Lin will never forgive the humans who occupied his country and slaughtered his people.

This is what binds them together.

"But don't forget, Angela..."

Li Lin gently caressed Angela's delicate cheek, giving her a serious warning.

"Enjoying something doesn't mean becoming addicted. Never become addicted, or even I won't be able to help you then."

"Please don't worry about that, Master."

Angela laughed even more heartily.

"Just as Sister Nia could wait for you for a thousand years without growing weary, I will absolutely not become addicted to this, to the point of losing my reason and self-control. I am not human, and I do not possess the fragile thoughts of humans. Likewise, I will not indulge in unrestrained gratification like humans do."

"It was indeed impolite of me to try to understand Vampire Species using human thinking methods."

Li Lin said with a wry smile, then pressed down on Angela between his legs.

"However, I had no intention of expressing my apology in this way."

"Can't you even consider this a reward from you?"

"Rewards should be given when no one is around."

As he spoke, Li Lin pointed behind Angela, where Fina was standing awkwardly at the doorway, unsure whether to come in or go out.

"Hmph, what does it matter?"

Angela glanced back at Fina, her displeasure evident.

"Anyway, she'll be one of your bedmates sooner or later, so it's not a bad thing for her to get familiar with your techniques early on."

Although she said that, Angela still nimbly jumped off Li Lin's legs, clearly having lost her previous interest.

What's the matter?

Li Lin shook his head helplessly, then turned his gaze to Fina, who was standing at the door, trembling with anxiety.

"Well... Miss Nia and the three mages have discovered some problems and would like you to take a look..."

Although Fina had vaguely overheard some of their conversation and knew it wasn't appropriate to disturb them, she had no choice but to do so at the moment.

Li Lin stood up and nudged Angela was sulking beside him.

"Let's go see what happened."

Then, he said in a deep voice.

After Ailas's death, everything he owned was "naturally" kept safe, and the subsequent search was handled by the three old mages. After all, Li Lin, as an ally, had already provided them with ample assistance, and now it was up to the three old mages themselves. Since the Mages' Association had suffered a loss in silence, they wouldn't be making any major moves in the near future. The mages conducted a thorough search of Ailas's residence and offices, and eventually discovered several suspicious points.

"This is not the intention of the Five-Nation Alliance?"

Li Lin frowned as he looked at the old mage before him.

What does this mean?

"We've found this."

Nia placed a half-destroyed seal in front of Li Lin; it appeared to have originally been used to seal letters, but only half of it remained.

"This is not the seal of the Five-Nation Alliance, but the seal of the southern nation of Kudel, which is also the location of the Red Robe Association."

"Moreover, we just received news from the merchants who entered the city."

One of the three elders took over Nia's words.

"Relations between Kudel and the northern kingdom of Lalia have gradually deteriorated due to disputes over resource extraction rights in the Shadow Canyon, leading to recent friction between the two countries."

"So you believe that this riot, led by the Red Robe Mage, was launched to control the City of a Thousand Towers from Lalia's rear, and then launch a pincer attack?"

Perhaps it was the overt mockery in his tone that made the three elders' expressions turn sour. After all, the implication was far too obvious. If the plan failed, anyone with a modicum of common sense could guess the possibility. Was such an obvious possibility really so easy to anticipate?

"At least it's one possibility."

As Nia spoke, she gave the three elders a way out, then she slowly walked to Li Lin's side, her brows slightly furrowed.

"However, what worries me is that."

Following the direction of her finger, Li Lin noticed a relief sculpture in Ailas's bedroom. It seemed that this was why she had made him come all this way; otherwise, there would have been no need for such trouble.

"What's this?"

Li Lin stared intently at the relief, unable to decipher its meaning, but soon he found a familiar symbol in a corner of the relief.