Chapter 2031 Familiar Currencies

I hope that was enough to draw the attention of those ravens.

Adam thought to himself as he approached the Leroux Fortress.

The building stood atop a rocky rise overlooking the surrounding forest and the distant human settlement.

It was nowhere near as massive or imposing as Castle de Vile, but it still possessed the unmistakable grandeur of an ancient vampire stronghold. Its dark stone walls had stood for millennia, their surfaces worn smooth by time and weather.

Narrow towers rose toward the night sky, while pointed rooftops and gothic arches gave the fortress an ominous silhouette beneath the crimson moon.

The faint scars left behind by Adam's lightning spell were still visible.

To think the [Bird of Prey] did not manage to destroy this castle…

He was quite intrigued by the defensive formations protecting the stronghold. If he had the opportunity, he would love to study them for sure.

Several sections of the outer walls had been blackened, and thin cracks ran across the stonework. Broken windows allowed the cold night air to drift inside, while the lingering scent of ozone drifted faintly. Yet the fortress remained largely intact.

Adam entered through the enormous doors that stood open. There were no guards, no vampires, no ghouls; not even a servant could be seen.

How could they? He had butchered all of them just now.

As he stepped inside, his footsteps echoed through the empty entrance hall. The contrast immediately caught his attention.

Earlier, he had seen how the humans living in the nearby town survived with almost nothing beyond the bare necessities. Their homes had been plain and sparsely furnished, their lives reduced to mere survival.

This place, however, was the complete opposite.

Luxury was practically everywhere. The floors were made of polished marble, ornate chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, elaborate carpets stretched across the corridors, while expensive furniture and decorative sculptures stood along the walls. Even the doors were intricately carved.

So this is how vampires live, Adam thought to himself.

They do have a flair for the aesthetic, I'll give them that.

The people outside lived like cattle, while their masters lived like kings.

Adam continued deeper into the fortress. The vast corridor ahead was lined with paintings. He slowed his steps. The first portrait depicted two identical young women standing beside one another.

Another painting showed them seated together at an extravagant banquet. Another depicted them standing upon the fortress balcony beneath a crimson moon. Yet another showed the two sisters dressed in elegant gowns, their expression dignified.

Adam stared at the portraits for several seconds, then he couldn't help but snort.

Such vanity!

He shook his head and continued walking. His footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. For a fortress that had housed dozens of vampires only moments ago, the silence now felt strangely unnatural.

Adam walked to the heart of the fortress. Here was the great hall. On a raised platform stood two seats positioned side by side. He figured this was where the twins had operated from.

He walked past the seats. He had already located the treasury.

Before long, he arrived before the sealed doors of the vaults. With no care for secrecy, he destroyed the doors with a few earth magic spells. Finally, the insides were laid bare to him.

The treasury was far smaller than Adam had expected.

There were no mountains of gold, no endless rows of jeweled crowns or priceless artifacts accumulated from the ancient kingdoms.

The vampires had been trapped in this secret plane for millennia, with no reliable connection to the outside. Whatever wealth they possessed had come from those who had entered the secret plane - adventurers.

Those who had come seeking treasure, glory, or a way out, and had instead become food. Several wooden chests sat against the walls. Adam opened the nearest one. It was filled with some gold coins from some of the free cities.

Mixed among them were silver and copper coins bearing familiar crests and inscriptions. These were currencies that Adam had seen in Davos. Of course, working at the Rabbit Hole, he had seen patrons use all sorts of currencies.

Adam fell into deep thought as he studied the coins. And he couldn't help but wonder:

These currencies are from the cities on the West Coast.

Does that mean the entrances to the secret plane only open along western Centerra?

Huh… interesting.

The next chest contained gemstones. These were mostly small rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, along with a handful of larger ones. They were clearly taken from the equipment and possessions of adventurers who had died here.

There were also several pieces of jewelry like rings, necklaces, and bracelets that women had an interest in.

Adam moved deeper into the vault. Weapons were arranged along one wall. Most were ordinary weapons, while a few were Grade 1 artifacts. Nothing as powerful as the Morning Star, though.

Sadly, there were no potions, or material components, or anything particularly extraordinary.

Adam had half expected it. Still, these represented something that had once been valuable enough for an adventurer to risk their life obtaining.

Since you all have been so kind to leave your possessions behind, how can I ignore your sacrifices?

Adam swiped his hands and put away anything of value inside his sleeves. His storage artifact had limited space, so he only took valuable items that would help him when he returned to the outside world.

He was about to head deeper into the fortress to check if there were any secret vaults like the one he had found in d'Aubigny Castle, but suddenly he sensed someone's arrival.

The corner of his lips curled into a faint smile. He turned his head and glanced upward, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls and floors.

That was quicker than I expected, he thought.

Winds gathered around him as he wove a hand seal.

Oh well, I might as well cause some more havoc before I meet up with Luca and the rest.

The next moment, he disappeared.

Back in the great hall of the fortress, a gust of wind blew, and Adam appeared like a specter.

In the middle of the hall stood a burly man in black. He was so tall and big that even Adam was slightly taken aback. His skin was pale, and his eyes were blood-red.

Adam studied the vampire for a few moments and couldn't help but state, "Man, you are big!"

He looked around the place, his eyes squinting. "I was sure there was another one of youse. Now where—"

Adam's eyes slightly widened.

The big vampire had already attacked!