"What did you say?" Hinata was so sure what they would be walking into, but when the scouts came back with an unexpected report, her face completely changed.

Was Blood God telling her the truth all along? She did not think that he would be misleading them and tricking them into a trap, but she was pretty sure the vampire had genuinely wrong information.

But now it looked like it was she who was in the wrong.

"This is ridiculous!" Hinata gasped. "How could a city be so casually guarded? Aren't they basically just asking for it?"

One of her lieutenants, a tall Blood Knight with scarred cheeks and hollow eyes, nodded solemnly. "My Lady, the scouts confirm. No enchantments on the gates, no active sentries, just a skeleton crew of guards patrolling lazily. The city lord's mansion itself… lightly guarded, not even a barrier dome. It's like they're not expecting anything at all."

Hinata narrowed her eyes, stepping out from the thicket onto a high ridge that overlooked the outer city walls. The wind tugged at her crimson cloak as her mind raced. Could this really be happening?

She then remembered Blood God's words. Half of the number of cities they manage to capture would be theirs! So that person really meant it? Her heart raced in excitement. Here she was expecting to do a favor for him, but instead it was she on the receiving end once again!

She hurriedly took out another communication crystal. This time, one that was directly connected to the main family's elder. This issue was far too important to simply let it go.

A few minutes later, Hinata placed the communication crystal back in her spatial storage with a big smile on her face. Things were now in motion, and her heart was beating with excitement!

She might have failed miserably in her last mission, but this time everything was going to be different. She did not waste any more time and ordered her men to attack.

Hinata's elite force descended into the city silently. Dozens of blood mages and assassins scattered across the perimeter like wolves closing in on a limping prey. The few patrolling guards never stood a chance.

In the blink of an eye, they were already at the city lord's mansion. Hinata stood tall as she watched the gates creak open without resistance. Crimson mist curled from her fingers as she activated her blood sense, sweeping through the area like a sonar.

Still nothing. No hidden reinforcements. No collapsing formations. No flaring mana traps. It was exactly as reported, unguarded, unprotected, unprepared.

It was a gift. No, an invitation.

She couldn't help but laugh softly. "Blood God… just what the hell are you planning?" she murmured, eyes gleaming. But regardless of his grander scheme, this was now her moment. Her failure in the past would be buried here, beneath a mountain of corpses and many captured cities!

All of Hinata's men were trained vampires who had taken part in many battles in their long lifetime. They knew exactly what to do and achieved it most efficiently.

The mansion doors were kicked open with a loud crash, blood knights pouring in with blades drawn and spells primed. What followed was not a battle. It was a butchery.

The few guards present died too quickly to scream. The city lord, a portly man, stumbled from his chambers in disbelief, only to be struck down with a precision strike to the throat. The seal on his command ring was torn off and tossed to Hinata like a trophy.

She caught it mid-air. The entire operation had taken less than fifteen minutes. A whole city taken in silence just like that. As her men fanned out to secure vital points, the treasury, teleportation nexus, and communication arrays, Hinata took a deep breath.

The scent of conquest was sweet.

She turned back toward the courtyard, where her blood generals were assembling the civilians and lower officers. Other members of the family would have dealt with the situation differently, but Hinate did not like unnecessary bloodshed.

She personally considered it an act of weakness and cowardice when the strong targeted the weak and innocent. She also had no intention of taking any prisoners, not when the main family's underground chambers were already overflowing with them.

Everyone was given exactly five minutes to flee the city. Naturally, anyone who moved too slowly or tried to carry more than what they could hold in their arms was cut down and drained dry.

The city quickly descended into chaos. Hinata stood atop the mansion balcony, watching it all unfold with impassive eyes. Civilians scrambled through the streets, clutching what few possessions they could manage, eyes wide with fear and disbelief. Her Blood Generals enforced her decree with ruthless precision, neither cruel nor kind, just efficient.

Of course, there were a few who resisted. Small pockets of rebellion sparked here and there, some brave or foolish enough to take up arms. But once the vampires made examples of those defiant souls by tearing through them like wolves through sheep, no one else dared to follow. The rest fled, and within moments, the city was emptied of its former inhabitants.

This was no longer a city of the Light Faction. It belonged to the vampires now.

As the last of the stragglers either vanished into the distance or collapsed where they stood, Hinata closed her eyes. She did not think that things would be so easy, but it looked like this was her lucky day.

And that too, this wasn't even a random poor city. The treasury spoke otherwise. They had gained a lot in this raid, and this was just the beginning. What would happen if they really managed to capture multiple cities all in a single breath? Just the thought made her giddy.

The Crimson Mountains had been searching for a way to infiltrate the light faction continent for years now, and they finally have a way in! This was a big deal!

She took out the pulsing communication crystal again as her eyes gleamed. The others were here!

***

Mass Release Chapter 4 sponsored by RoastUberDroid

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