Chapter 201 - Change of Plan

Diyael was able to quickly gather all the centaurs in the village.

And once they came face to face to me, they all kneeled down, recognizing me as their lord.

THUD!

The sound of their heavy hooves settling against the hard floor echoed through the broad chamber before complete silence took over. Looking down at the tall, proud warriors bowed before my platform, I focused my senses to read their lingering mana and body language.

I can’t sense any negative emotion towards them. It seems like after travelling with us and living among us for a while, they came to adjust.

When they first arrived alongside Diyael, they had carried a subtle, cautious edge—the natural vigilance of soldiers treading on unfamiliar ground. But after watching us rebuild, eating the same rations, and seeing how my people operated with mutual respect, that cold distance had completely dissolved.

They realized that I wasn’t going to treat them as prisoners or slaves.

"Ease up."

I told them, and as soon as they did and had their full attention on me—

I gave them the choice to drink my blood as well and become vampires.

"I am offering you the same path I offered to Diyael and the others."

I said, my voice steady as I looked into their sharp eyes.

"By taking my blood, your physical capabilities will be drastically enhanced, and your lifespans will be bound to mine. You will gain the power needed to protect your kin and this land from any disaster that comes. However, doing so will permanently bind your allegiance to my core. You will be my subordinates, bound to my absolute word."

I took a short pause, letting the weight of the proposal settle in the room.

"If any among you wishes to remain as you are, I will not force you. The choice is entirely yours."

And not even half a minute after hearing that, they all already decided and accepted my offer.

The vice-captain of the centaur patrol stepped forward, his muscular lower body shifting as he pounded his fist firmly against his armored chest.

"Lord Verc, we have seen your strength with our own eyes."

The vice-captain declared, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.

"You stood against a Demon King when our own lands would have burned to ash. We do not wish to be bystanders while our leader and brothers fight by your side. We freely accept your blood!"

The rest of the centaurs echoed his statement with a collective, low growl of agreement, their eyes shining with genuine conviction.

I smiled and nodded my head.

SLASH!

I cut open a wound on my left palm once more, letting my blood drip into a clean silver bowl.

"Gather them up."

Then I had Diyael line up the centaurs.

... ... ...

One by one, the centaur warriors stepped forward, taking the chalice with both hands and drinking the dark, dense fluid without a single second of hesitation.

The moment the crimson liquid touched their lips, the raw energy within my blood began reacting with their natural mana, causing subtle dark veins to trace beneath their skin.

It didn’t take me long to make all the centaurs drink my blood, and after they did so—I had them accompanied to the recovering area where they could take the medicine to help them in the transformation progress.

Diyael personally escorted his kin down the main hallway, ensuring that Grainne’s team immediately provided them with the medicine to smooth out the internal shock of the transformation.

When Diyael came back—

"I will go to my office... Call Groo, Mamon, Tatum, and Jed."

I ordered that to him before heading straight to the office.

*****

I walked up the stone stairs leading to the upper tier of the newly constructed castle frame, pushing open the heavy double doors of my private office. The room was spacious, but it was still empty except for my table and some chairs.

I rested for a bit, letting my mana settle after dispensing so much blood over the past two days.

Then not long after that—the five arrived, knocking on the door.

Tok- Tok- Tok-

"Lord Verc, it’s Diyael. I have brought the others as requested."

Diyael’s voice carried through the thick door.

"Come in."

I called out.

The heavy doors creaked open, and the five of them stepped into the room. They immediately bowed their heads in respect before standing at attention.

"Sit down."

I said, gesturing toward the chairs in front of my desk.

They followed my instruction, pulling the stone chairs back and taking their seats, though their postures remained upright and alert.

It was Tatum who spoke up first.

"Lord Verc, is there an urgent matter regarding the perimeter walls or the patrolling schedules?"

He asked, his expression serious as he leaned forward slightly.

"The construction is currently moving ahead of schedule, but if you require adjustments—"

"Don’t worry, Tatum. Everything is fine."

I nodded my head and opened my mouth, cutting through his sentence with a calm, decisive tone.

Then after that... I told them about the change of plan.

"The original scope of our territory is no longer sufficient."

I stated, leaning back against my chair and resting my hands on the desk.

"Instead of connecting the village and the centaur tribe’s settlement with routes and outposts—we’re going to combine them. In short, the whole centaur tribe are to move into the village."

Diyael was surprised . His eyes widened slightly, his ears twitching as he processed the sudden declaration. He was the leader of the centaurs after all, and relocating an entire ancestral settlement was no small feat...

But he didn’t oppose the idea at all.

Bringing his entire population under the protective umbrella of our main fortress was the most logical step for their long-term survival.

"If that is your command, my lord, I will execute it without fail."

Diyael said, bowing his head firmly.

"Our people will pack their belongings and migrate to the main settlement."

"Good."

I nodded. But I wasn’t done with that.

"It won’t stop with just your main tribe, Diyael."

I continued, looking around at the five leaders seated before me.

"The smaller vassal tribes and allied beastkin settlements that reside around the centaur territory must be brought into the inner perimeter as well. We are constructing an absolute domain, and we cannot afford to leave isolated pockets of our allies exposed to external attacks."

I turned my gaze toward Groo and Mamon.

"And to do that, the construction will have to be slowed down for a bit."

"Slowed down, Lord Verc?"

Groo asked, scratching his thick chin with a heavy hand.

"The orc boys are ready to finish the secondary wall framework by tomorrow afternoon!"

"We need to adjust the wall blueprints to accommodate a vastly larger population."

I explained plainly.

"If we finish the wall now at its current boundary, we will just have to tear it down later to expand the city layout. We will pause the high-tier wall masonry temporarily and reallocate our forces to secure the routes."

I looked at all five of them, my tone leaving no room for error.

"Then the five of you—you will gather a group and pick up the rest of the centaurs, and deliver the news to the other tribes."

"You five will personally lead the escort force."

I commanded.

"Groo and Mamon will bring a detachment of turned orc warriors to handle heavy logistics and provide raw muscle. Tatum and Jed will oversee the medical support and supply wagons, while Diyael leads the way to his homeland."

"We will deliver your decree to every allied tribe along the border, Lord Verc."

Mamon spoke up, his sharp eyes glinting with determination.

"If any of the smaller tribes hesitate to move, we will explain the situation and ensure their safe passage back to the main fortress."

"Good."

I nodded, satisfied with their quick understanding.

"Prepare the supply wagons and organize your escort team tonight. You set out at first light tomorrow morning."

"UNDERSTOOD, LORD VERC!!!"

The five answered in unison, standing up from their seats and bowing deeply before turning to prepare for the massive migration ahead.

Seeing that I can’t live normally now anyway... I will build an ultimate fortress, along with the ultimate army.