Two days passed quickly.
That night, two slightly larger bats flew in from the north, quickly blending into the swarm of ordinary bats that had long infested the dilapidated castle.
"Split up. Check the dungeons first," the brown bat said in a frequency humans couldn't hear.
"Got it," the black bat replied.
The two bats split up, circling the castle. Soon, the black bat made a discovery.
"Come here. Found the dungeon."
The brown bat immediately followed the sound.
They searched the entire dungeon but only found a single woman.
"Could it be her?" the black bat asked, hanging upside down from the ceiling.
The brown bat slipped through a newly-installed window railing, circled the sleeping Fengmi, then joined the black bat. "No way. Look at this cell—wooden door, shabby walls. No vampire would be kept here."
"Maybe a descendant from decades later?"
"Impossible. Look at her—sleeping like a log. A vampire?"
"True…" The black bat nodded. "Maybe the captured vampire is already dead."
"The intel said captured, not killed."
"Fine. You're stubborn. Maybe the Lizard Lord just exaggerated to impress his superiors. That guy's head is probably scrambled."
"Enough, Classical. I know you want to get back to Christine, but do take Baron's orders seriously. Since we paired up, I haven't been promoted in fifty years—still a second-rank vampire! Embarrassing, isn't it?" The brown bat's voice was laced with anger.
"Alright, alright. But if we search the entire castle and still find nothing…"
The two bats spread their wings and scattered, checking every window, every corner.
"No luck on my side!" the black bat shouted.
"Focus! Are you even trying?" The brown bat's patience was running thin.
Humans couldn't hear them, nor notice the bats in the ruined castle—but Adam could.
He stood on his balcony, observing the two flitting shadows, a fat man obediently at his side. At this hour, they were the only fully awake ones.
When the brown bat swooped toward the balcony, ready to slip inside Adam's room, Adam spoke.
"You're looking for me, aren't you?"
The brown bat froze, nearly crashing into the wall.
"Classical, could it be him?"
The black bat circled the balcony, uneasy.
"No way. Intel said captured. Look at him—free as ever."
"But he's watching us."
"Maybe he's just… a bat enthusiast."
Seeing the bats talking right in front of him, Adam decided to end the farce.
"I can hear you."
The fat man blinked in confusion behind him.
"He says he can hear us!" the brown bat said.
"Impossible. Maybe he's insane, talking to himself," the black bat said, still trying to deny reality. He wanted nothing more than to leave.
Adam sighed. Centuries-old vampires… sometimes wisdom doesn't match age.
He bared his fangs.
That was all it took. The brown bat shot onto the balcony, body scattering into points of light before reforming into human shape.
Short black hair, black eyes, angular Western features, pale skin—just like Adam. Dressed in a brown robe with a matching cloak.
Adam and the fat man were stunned. Vampires really could transform into bats… but why had he never discovered this ability? Adam wondered.
The fat man's face went pale. He dove behind the curtain before Adam could notice.
"Hello. I am Vine, a second-rank vampire under Baron Smoke," the brown bat said in human form. "And you are?"
Before Adam could answer, the black bat morphed as well: golden hair, blue eyes, copper-toned skin, a proud yet delicate face. His robe matched Vine's perfectly.
"We heard you were captured, came to rescue you… but it seems you don't need help. What happened?" Classical's tone was accusatory, frustrated at the sudden task.
"Your hair… eyes… skin…"
Adam blinked at Classical. Vampires were supposed to be black-haired, black-eyed, pale-skinned. Any deviation was considered heresy.
"Clearly a rustic! Coloring has existed for over a thousand years!" Classical glared. "I asked what happened, and you haven't answered yet."
"Oh, that intel? I had the Lizard Lord send it," Adam said. Makes sense—if vampires' features were publicly known, humans could easily track them.
"The Lizard Lord sent it? Does he know you're a vampire?" Vine asked, glancing at the bandits asleep below.
"Of course. I just killed dozens of his men. Now he's pledged loyalty," Adam said matter-of-factly.
Classical burst into laughter, full of contempt.
"You killed dozens? Even we vampires don't believe that! Figure out who you are first!" Classical sneered. A low-rank vampire had no chance alone against dozens, let alone subduing a Lizard Lord.
"Laughing already? You don't believe me?" Adam's voice was calm but deadly.
"Why would I?" Classical laughed again, meaningless mockery.
Adam raised a hand, pointing behind them to the trembling curtain.
"Ask him yourself."
Both vampires glanced over.
From the curtain, Fat Pig's sweaty, chubby face appeared, forcing a wobbly smile. "Hello… first time meeting you."
"He's human! He saw us!" Classical shouted.
Vine extended his long nails, frowning, ready to strike.
"Stop. He's my servant," Adam said.
Vine froze, but Classical bared his fangs and claws.
"Your servant? Who gave you the right to collect humans? I bet you're a bastard yourself, yet you show our kind to a human?" Classical spat, eyes on Vine. "Kill that human, and we take the bald one back for trial. Mission accomplished!"