Chapter 339: You look healthy.

The Cart then moved into a room, Lucian heard the door close behind them, the Vampire pushed the cart several meters forward, then, he stopped and...

He walked away.

Lucian frowned.

He thought that the Vampire was doing something, but then he heard the door open again, he heard the Vampire leave through the door and the door closed again.

For the next few seconds, there was only silence.

Lucian still didn’t move, worried that someone might hear him.

But...

How long was he supposed to stay here?

He wondered.

And as if she knew exactly what he was thinking—

[You can speak now.]

Aurelia spoke up.

"I am not selling myself for 16 dollars, I at least need 100. I know my worth."

Lucian was very quick to negotiate.

[...that’s the first thing you want to say?]

Aurelia couldn’t believe him.

[Also, 100 dollars?]

"That’s the starting negotiation price."

Lucian snorted as he slowly opened the compartment, the light blinded his eyes, which were now used to the dark. When he adjusted, he finally climbed out and straightened his back.

"Ahh..."

He let out a sigh of relief.

[Feels good, doesn’t it?]

Aurelia spoke with a knowing grin. Lucian’s mouth twitched.

"Yes, thank you for making me realise that standing straight was a luxury."

He snorted as he finally looked around the room and as he did—

His humour disappeared.

The chamber was enormous, far larger than he expected. There were stone walls reinforced with multiple layers of crimson formations, several glass reservoirs were placed all around the room, some were filled with blood, some were empty.

Thick lines connected them to the centre and at that centre was—

Varek.

Lying on an elevated black platform.

His limbs still hadn’t regenerated, which was interesting considering he was no longer in the artifact Enclave put him inside.

That meant... Arcelis was purposely restricting his regeneration.

"Huh."

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

[What is it? What happened?]

"Nothing, just considering your offer, I think I am underselling myself at 100."

Lucian answered and this time...

[Revenge, huh.]

Aurelia instantly understood what he was doing. He was getting back at her for her constant commentary by not telling her what he was seeing.

"Interesting..."

Lucian commented, making sure she heard it.

[...]

Aurelia didn’t say anything.

"Very interesting."

Lucian wasn’t letting it go.

[...you know I already know what you see, correct?]

Aurelia asked.

Lucian knew that.

She was the one who found where Varek was kept in the first place, of course she would know.

But it didn’t matter.

"Very, very interesting."

He repeated and Aurelia’s mouth twitched.

Just then—

"Who’s there?"

A voice was heard.

It was Varek.

[Your friend is awake.]

Aurelia chuckled. Lucian walked forward with a smile and—

"Yo mama!"

He greeted.

Varek opened his eyes and glanced at him. For a very short moment, he was confused. It didn’t seem like he was expecting to see Lucian of all people.

"You look healthy."

Lucian praised, knowing full well the man had no limbs.

Varek kept staring at him. There was open hatred in his eyes and Lucian—

"Remember me?"

Lucian asked innocently with a cheerful smile on his face, he even waved at him. That boiled Varek’s anger even further.

"Yep. He does remember."

Lucian nodded.

"I was worried blood loss affected your memory."

He commented with the same easygoing smile. As for Varek’s anger, Lucian didn’t particularly mind it. He was half expecting it considering the start of their relationship wasn’t the most lovable.

But now—

Lucian was going to change.

"Your family hates you, bro."

"..."

Varek stared at him in silence.

[Are you trying to anger him to death?]

Aurelia asked curiously.

[You do know we need his help, correct? You need to convince him to—]

"Help me."

Before Aurelia could finish her words, Varek spoke up.

"...what?"

Lucian’s face changed.

"I need your help."

Varek repeated himself and... the smile on Lucian’s face disappeared.

He looked at him again, his regeneration was being suppressed, that alone should have made everything clear to him.

Varek already knew House Arcelis had betrayed him.

He came to them thinking he could finally return home, his home, however, was already planning on betraying him and now—

"I need to get out of this place."

He was forced to beg a man who he once considered an enemy.

Lucian could still see hatred in Varek’s eyes, he could feel his anger too, yet... underneath it all was something bigger.

Fear and desperation.

"I’ll do anything you want."

The Vampire begged.

And—

[That was... considerably easier than expected.]

Aurelia commented.

"I had an entire speech prepared..."

Lucian could feel his moment slipping away from him. Varek kept staring at him, his eyes still desperate for help, in the end, Lucian sighed.

"Alright."

His expression became more serious.

"You already know they aren’t planning to let you leave."

He began.

"They’re deliberately suppressing your regeneration. They want you alive, but not healthy, apparently.

Do you know why that is?

Why are they keeping you alive?"

"My Third Crimson Ascension starts in two days."

"So you do understand what they are planning to do to you."

"I know enough."

Varek nodded as his face turned cold at the entire idea.

"How much is enough?"

"They plan to use my blood for further experiments. They’ll keep me alive, just so my body keeps producing more blood for them, like a material they can keep harvesting."

He spoke with clear hatred that far overwhelmed the hatred he had for Lucian.

Lucian nodded at that.

He didn’t know the complete details, but what he knew was more than enough for him to want to leave.

Desperately.

Lucian wasn’t sure whether telling him that House Arcelis planned to repeatedly drain his Ascension Essence until he potentially died would accomplish anything useful right now.

So he didn’t.

Instead—

"Neroth Vhalzaryn."

Varek instantly froze at the name.

Lucian did not miss that.

Instead, he looked into his eyes and—

"What do you know about him?"