Naturally, the knight was mocked about the young secretary, but when he explained his decision, they pondered it. Children who had entered the world and become vampires presented a serious internal problem. Initially, they were still treated like children, even though their only difference from other vampires was their very limited experience of past life—aside from their smaller size, as in every other respect, they were equal to adult vampires. The second problem was their size. They did not grow or change. Not at all. And this was not just a subjective feeling.
Seven-year-old Petya (Peter) had not grown even a centimeter. A sort of outcast caste of children had formed within the vampire community. They were cared for more than the others. They were protected more fiercely than anyone else, but no one considered them equals. This was the problem that needed to be addressed. Therefore, the girl's proposal was accepted, and she was removed from construction work and given a responsible position that excluded danger.
— The science advisor requests an audience, — the secretary announced in a flat voice.
— Admit her.
Maria entered without waiting for an invitation, immediately sitting comfortably in a chair and staring at Alexander, who continued to look out the window.
— And what do you want to discuss?
— I've conducted several experiments. I need your approval to continue.
— You want to kill someone again?
The girl laughed.
— This time it's more the opposite.
It turned out that the advisor had combined two facts: the need for vampires to consume living flesh and that food provides them with some level of satisfaction, albeit very small. After conducting a series of experiments with volunteers, it was found that if two vampires are given the same amount of blood from a single being, but one of them is also fed regular food, the vampire receiving regular food expends much less energy to maintain their life and retains more strength. Apparently, their bodies, like all other living beings, require various minerals, vitamins, and trace elements, and if they don't get them from food, the vampire's body recreates them through magic, using up their strength.
— So, I need your sanction for further experiments, and financial investment is required; I can no longer pilfer food from the dining hall and farm, — Maria concluded.
— How much more efficiently do we expend our energy if we supplement our diet with regular food?
— Savings are around fifty percent.
The triumvir merely whistled. The claimed figures were too significant.
— Are you sure?
— If I were sure, I would have reported it to the Council instead of coming to you. But if there are any changes, they will only be for the better, — Maria squinted and smiled.
So, what to do with this impudent woman? It was only left to approve further experiments and provide funding. As soon as the advisor's door closed behind him, it opened again, and Yulia was back in the office.
— Dawn is in four hours, and you have no more tasks. You can dedicate time to construction.
Olga's domain was suffering from a shortage of labor. Fewer than three hundred vampires had entered the world, and they were needed for other tasks in the settlement—gendarmerie, reconnaissance, the army, hunting, production, science. As a result, the pace of construction had slowed, and the plans had grown.
The fortress, which now had to be built, required a tremendous amount of effort. It was already clear that the promised deadlines were unattainable. To mitigate the situation, all available vampires were assigned to construction work, regardless of their current positions.
— You forgot about the financial documents that were submitted for the Triumvirate's review a few days ago.
— No, I didn't forget. You can review them before bed, — the girl said sharply.
For some unknown reason, Yulia was jealous of him towards Stefania, yet she had no sexual intentions towards the knight herself. Her love was purely platonic. However, this did not prevent her from sabotaging her boss's romantic life by every available means.
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