Making the fat Lizard Lord Adam's deputy—tasked with going to assume his position—solved the problem of Adam's appointment.
Though the Lizard Lord's loyalty remained uncertain, if Smoke deemed it feasible, Adam had no reason to refuse.
With the basic plan set, and the team swelling rapidly, Adam had them start digging a new basement. He pulled Smoke aside, casting an area in soundproof magic.
"Smoke, is the fat one reliable?"
Smoke glanced at the Lizard Lord, sweat streaming down as he labored over the tunnel.
"I think he should be fine."
Adam shook his head slightly. "I still don't understand why he follows me. He's barely surviving as it is, isn't he?"
"Normally, that would be the case," Smoke hesitated. "But the Lizard Lord is… special."
"In what way?"
Smoke looked again at the sweating Lizard Lord, bare-chested and straining with all his effort. Compared to the vampires around him, his strength was negligible—so every movement demanded extraordinary effort.
"He's a lord. A fallen one, as you know."
Adam nodded.
"Even in his decline, he has small ambitions. He could have abandoned that worthless territory and lived comfortably in the capital with the subsidies Musa granted him. But he didn't. He stayed to protect his land and support his soldiers. That's why he became a robber."
Smoke paused, eyes fixed on Adam.
Adam understood. This fat, ambitious man—once limited to the desert—saw his world expand when he encountered Adam. Previously, his scope was small, his dreams confined to survival and local power. Now he realized the magnitude of real strength.
The Lizard Lord hadn't given up. He labored, striving for growth. And in that effort, Adam detected a spark—tenacity and hunger to rise.
Adam's lips curved slightly. Leading wolves was far superior to leading lambs. Smoke, Kurumu, and even the Lizard Lord—they all carried ambition. While such subordinates demanded vigilance, it was better than weakness. Especially when facing opponents who were formidable beyond measure.
"By the way," Smoke said, "I found something at the Klemasha estate—records of vampires rapidly mastering grimoires."
"Anything valuable?" Adam asked.
Smoke nodded. "Vampires need blood to study. More blood speeds up learning. That's known. But as grimoire levels rise, the benefit of more blood diminishes. Human blood is limited and can't be consumed in excess without causing panic."
"And your solution?" Adam leaned in.
Smoke lowered his voice. "At the estate, I observed you—your body can consume other vampires' blood directly, just as easily as humans'. The effect is magnified hundreds, even thousands of times. If used properly, this could accelerate grimoire study—provided the donor is powerful enough."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "And… consent?"
Smoke's gaze darkened. "They must be willing. Completely willing. Any coercion nullifies the effect."
A pause fell. Adam stared at the ceiling, mind racing. To gain such power, he would wield the choice of life—or worse—over another vampire. The weight of that authority pressed on him, a cold gravity he couldn't ignore.
Finally, he spoke, voice calm but deliberate. "I'll consider it when the time comes."
Outside, the last rays of sun sliced through the basement window, shadows stretching across the digging crew. The Athenaeum awaited.
Adam turned as Yu Jia barreled through the soundproof boundary, plopping down next to him without hesitation.
"You intend to keep all of them?" he asked, gesturing at the bustling team.
"Yes."
"My cloning vats can't feed this many vampires."
"Then expand. Money isn't the limit."
Yu Jia shook his head. "It's not about money. Cloning new blood cows takes time. Right now, every single one is starving. I don't even have extra vats."
"No vats?"
"Then we capture humans."
"And what about vats?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Too few, and custom orders from the First City are impossible. It would take years, though there's still a way… slow."
Adam's eyes fell on Kurumu, glancing over from his work. A signal brought him over.
"What is your order, my lord?" Kurumu asked.
"The blood supply is tight. Feeding outside is too risky. Can you manage it?"
Kurumu nodded. "Yes, sire. We can purchase from other vampires who extract blood from their caged humans. I have contact with a local vampire viscount. Direct purchase of slaves is also possible. The local vampires rarely 'hunt' outside."
Adam nodded. "Good. Ensure the supply is safe, steady, and undiscovered."
"Yes, my lord." Kurumu bowed, task accepted.
With that settled, the only thing left was to wait until sunset—and the Athenaeum beckoned.