EnCoffin Me Chapter 97
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 97
He gripped the silver cross tighter and opened his mouth to say something, but his lightbrain suddenly beeped. Alexio glanced at the sender. It was Augustus, the one in charge of security at the conservation center. If Augustus messaged him, it had to be something important.
The brilliant fireworks were slowly fading in the night sky, but the saint's gaze was warm as he watched him. Alexio clenched the silver cross firmly, resolved that once this was over, he would have a serious talk with the lunatic.
“Augustus just sent a message. He wants us to come over.”
The saint nodded without objection. The Carnival was over anyway, so he wouldn't hold a grudge against Augustus… Not a chance!
Alexio held the silver cross tightly all the way, which filled him with courage. The Carnival Plaza was very close to the conservation center, so they arrived in no time. Unlike the festive scene outside, many security personnel inside the center were hurrying about, conducting a final sweep.
This was the children's achievement, and Alexio had to commend it.
“Prince Alexio, Mr. Lucius.” Augustus greeted them with a smile, then asked, “How was the Carnival?”
Alexio glanced at the saint beside him. The saint puffed out one cheek slightly, his tongue pressing against it to form a small bulge, perfectly mimicking Alexio's frantic expression while dealing with the silver cross earlier.
Alexio: “……”
He looked at Augustus and replied, “Aside from dealing with a dog, it's not bad.”
“???”
Augustus hadn't quite figured out why he would deal with a dog in the Carnival, but Alexio had already changed the subject.
“What's the matter? The message didn't say clearly just now. Have the intruders been caught?”
Augustus then grew serious and nodded slightly.
“It's been confirmed that there was a problem with personnel from the southeast branch. They're all under control now. Unfortunately, a few committed suicide, which cost us some leads. The rest have been interrogated, but one of them…” Augustus shook his head, clearly troubled by that person. “He should know the most, but he insists on seeing you before he'll talk.”
Alexio nodded indifferently. He had already guessed what kind of situation that person was in.
Probably manipulated by Theo.
He gripped the silver cross tightly and stepped into the temporary detention room. Interrogation methods thousands of years later had improved, mainly focusing on psychological pressure. This detention room resembled the one Zhu Heng had been in before, with some devices scattered in the distance, making the room feel quite empty.
The person, firmly strapped to a fixed chair, heard the door open and slowly lifted their head, revealing a mysterious smile.
“You've finally come, my child.”
Alexio kept a blank expression as he sat down on the chair opposite the strapped man, calmly studying him. Beneath the man's ordinary appearance, Alexio faintly saw the image of the once handsome but cruel vampire father.
He fiddled with the silver cross and said casually, “I'm here now. Say what you need to say.”
Such an impolite attitude naturally did not please Theo. His smile faded, and a trace of darkness appeared in his eyes.
“I implanted a mental suggestion on this man,” Theo said softly. “As long as he doesn't see you, as long as he doesn't tell you what needs to be said, he will never reveal what you want to know.”
Alexio held the silver cross up in front of him, examining it. He liked the delicate little roses carved on it. The lunatic's craftsmanship was truly exceptional. After admiring it, he blinked as if he had just heard Theo speak.
“Cut the crap. What do you want to say to me?”
“……” Theo held back. Thinking of what he needed to say, he smiled.
“Do you want to be with your little friend?”
Just as Alexio understood Theo, Theo also understood Alexio. He knew that with Alexio's personality, he would never openly express such emotionally charged words. Perhaps his heart burned more fiercely than anyone else's, yet he wouldn't yield an inch verbally. That was Alexio.
But…
“I do,” Alexio answered seriously. He couldn't help but smile at Theo's puzzled expression.
“I want to be with him, past, present, and forever.”
His deep rose-red eyes were bright now, a glow that only appeared naturally when deeply in love. Seeing Theo's almost shattered expression gave him even more satisfaction.
“What? You thought I couldn't say it? No way.” He hid the silver cross in his palm, revealing a hint of sharp fangs. “It's only in front of him that I get shy. You're not him.”
Theo's expression at this moment was quite peculiar. He stared fixedly at Alexio, as if he had momentarily lost the ability to speak.
“You love him?”
“Yes.”
“That's impossible! It shouldn't be! He's just a playmate cultivated by the Holy Temple for you!”
“No, he's my destiny.”
The man controlled by Theo showed a terrifying expression. He struggled in the chair, veins bulging on his neck.
“A great vampire shouldn't fall in love with a human. You…” He suddenly broke free from that ferocious state, and a strange smile returned to his face as he gradually calmed down and relaxed his body again.
“That's fine… that's fine…” he said softly, looking straight at his child. “Then what I'm about to tell you should interest you quite a bit.
“Have you thought about… the issue of lifespan?”
Alexio sensed a cold trap hidden in the question. He hesitated for a moment but then regained his resolve.
“I will give him the First Embrace.” After a pause, he added, “He has agreed to accept it before death.”
“Ha… hahahaha!” Theo burst into laughter that echoed through the empty room, almost to the point of tears.
“First Embrace?” he repeated, “First Embrace? Hahaha! Accept it before death? Hahahaha!”
He laughed madly, and all the bitterness from hearing about the relationship earlier vanished, replaced only by a certain pity.
“He lied to you.”
Alexio's pupils contracted. For a moment, he wanted to stop Theo from continuing, but Theo spoke before he could.
“The Holy Temple's hunters cannot accept the First Embrace.”
A deathly silence spread.
“That's what… I wanted to tell you, my child,” Theo said, satisfied. “Humans are habitual deceivers. Have you ever considered carrying such a lie all the way to their dying breath, only to discover you can't turn them after all, forced to watch helplessly as they die…”
“…Shut up.”
Alexio took a deep breath to suppress the murderous intent rising inside him. Theo said no more, but that irritating smile remained on his face. He let Alexio think for a while, letting the despair ferment more intensely before speaking again.
“My child, admit it. He lied to you. Humans can't be trusted. In this world, we should be the closest.”
He unleashed his domain. At this moment, Alexio's mental defenses were undoubtedly at their weakest. Perhaps Theo could try planting a seed deep in his mind. He hated Alexio, hated that he had once killed him, but he had to soften his approach first. If Alexio gave him the First Embrace, then Alexio's mission would be over.
The domain spread. Outside the door, the saint seemed to sense something and frowned slightly. His hand was already on the scanner, ready to enter at any moment.
“…So what?”
Inside the door, Theo's domain was cut off midway. Theo looked at his child, barely concealing his astonishment. There was a faint sheen of moisture in the deep rose-colored red eyes, but the owner of those eyes still spoke with conviction.
“It doesn't matter if I die. From the moment I met him, my life has been as long as his.”
Incomprehensible… incomprehensible…
“You want to die with him? You are the last of the vampires! An immortal vampire!”
The conversation reminded Alexio of that dragon, the last dragon, who had fallen in love with a human princess yet never wavered. He gripped the silver cross tightly, fully understanding the dragon's feelings.
“So what?”
“Wh-what…”
“It doesn't matter, does it?” Alexio smiled. He didn't intend to continue arguing with Theo. After all, the manipulated man had said what needed to be said. With another interrogation, they should be able to get some answers. He stood up and turned to leave.
The invisible domain began to spread. Theo accelerated it, aiming the domain straight at Alexio's back. Alexio seemed to sense something, but when he looked back, he saw the manipulated man had simply slumped limply in his chair. Theo's spirit was nowhere to be found.
Despite his suspicion, Alexio didn't dwell on it and walked out of the room.
Deep inside the Holy Temple, blooming roses swayed in the night. A figure standing by the window, seemingly resting with eyes closed, suddenly spat out blood. Theo felt part of his domain had vanished. Shocked by this discovery, he hurriedly checked the domain's condition. The missing piece felt like a mysterious thorn piercing his fingertip, and he couldn't fathom the cause.
How could this be…
Unintentionally, he looked up and saw himself in the mirror. His eyes widened. Trembling, he raised his hand and touched the corner of his mouth—
There, wrinkles had appeared.
He shattered the mirror, breathing heavily. Thousands of shards scattered across the floor, each reflecting his aging face, sending his fury and fear soaring to their peak!
Why… what did he do to be attacked by time magic? Even more terrifying, the attack worked! It worked even on him, one blessed with divine favor!
Decay began to spread. Theo felt himself gradually drifting toward death, an experience he had never known before. He struggled, but found no way to resist. He smashed everything breakable in the room, then finally crawled on the floor, writhing humbly like a worm.
He was dying! He was dying! He was dying!
Never before had he been so clearly aware that death was imminent. Theo struggled, but his outstretched hand was already growing loose and slack. Just when he thought he would truly die there, a dim power descended upon his body.
Theo recognized the power. The first time, it had granted him divine favor. Now, it had saved his life.
【Fool.】The presence that granted him power reproached him.【What have you done? Saving you only increases my risk of exposure!】
What had he done… Theo thought slowly, and finally remembered.
He had attacked Alexio with his domain.
Inside the conservation center, Alexio stepped out of the room and glanced at the saint. The saint tilted his head slightly toward him, his gaze gentle.
“Was it Theo? What did he say?”
“Just some nonsense. He wanted me to give him the First Embrace.” Alexio didn't reveal the real conversation. He just looked a bit lost as he walked beside the saint. But soon, he composed himself and quickened his pace to catch up.
“I'm craving crayfish.”
“Fine. You order or should I? How many pounds?”
As they chatted like this, Lucius, who had already opened his lightbrain to order late-night food, heard that voice from the void once again. Previously, his memories hadn't returned, but now he knew the voice belonged to Pupil, to Qizhi. Since Qizhi had granted him divine favor and cooperated with him, naturally he could hear Qizhi's voice.
The voice brought excellent news—
【I have seen.】
【Detected violation by the God of Slander: Two counts.】
【Number of adjudication attempts remaining: One.】