The Fallen Vampire

Chapter 197: Lucia’s Mom & Dad

The guild building is one of the most frequently visited places in all of Ferran.

Other than joining the army, it is perhaps the one and only outlet for brawny cultivators and arcane users who are hoping to earn great money and establish a name for themselves as well.

They don't care if they are assigned missions to engage humans, hunt hordes of magical beasts, or even do battle against one of their own. All that really matters is glory.

Khazan Laguerre is guild master and a bull-demon. Though that may sound a bit more impressive than it actually is.

Really, his job is to act as something like a den mother; corralling the numerous men and women of the guild so that they can direct their energy into something more useful.

His wife, Zenith Laguerre, is a lamia. She also works at the guild, though she takes a more lax role as a bartender.

The two of them have quite a well-known relationship, as it is unusual for the serpent women to actually wed a man.

They usually find one they like and just keep them around for the periods where they go into heat. Like living vibrators with an impregnating function.

But for some reason, Zenith accepted his proposal, and the two of them have many children together whom they love dearly.

Their oldest daughter is already deceased, living to around 202 years of age, while their youngest has only recently turned eighteen.

Though they love their children, they understand that at times they must all leave the nest… but they still want them to come back and visit.

Perhaps this was why their middle daughter was a bit of a sore spot for them.

Not only did she go through a period where she didn't come to see them for six years, but she had run off and gotten married as well!

"I've told you to let it go already, we said we were sorry!" Lucia sighed.

"And I have already forgiven you, darling. But this furry bastard on the other hand…"

"Dad!"

Taira remained largely unphased by this barrage of hostility.

He was already more than used to it after all these years after all.

He still vividly recalled the day where he and Lucia were casually laying in bed and she suddenly sat up and said; 'I just realized that I've never introduced you to my parents!'

…Needless to say they had a very awkward 'Oh Shit' kind of moment.

Their first meeting was… an eventful one.

Khazan thought his daughter might have died somewhere without his knowledge.

But no, she was hidden away at some underground cave in the mountains; having orgies everyday and living a blissful newlywed life.

….So you can understand why he tried to kill Taira after first meeting him.

"Play nice, husband." Zenith purred. "You'll scare them into coming even less than they already do."

"Hmph… Don't see how that's possible, we only see them once every two years anyway.."

'And that's still too much..' Taira sipped his tea quietly and kept all of his private thoughts to himself.

"But dear, might I ask what is going on with your new addition up here?" Zenith gestured to the horns on top of Lucia's head.

The former lamia poked her chest out proudly and gained a superior air.

"Fufufu, should I tell you? Don't be too shocked but your daughter has become a bonafide dragon!"

To further cement her greatness, Lucia blew a small stream of bright green flames from her mouth towards the ceiling.

"A dragon…? Wow, that's great, sweetie." Zenith clapped. "Your brothers and sisters will be so jealous"

"Indeed… So, any grandchildren yet?" Khazan yawned.

Lucia couldn't help but feel as though her parents' expressions were terribly lackluster.

"What's with the two of you?? Your daughter just told you that she has become a supreme magical creature!"

Zenith shrugged. "Yes, and we're very proud, but to be honest we kind of expected something like this would happen one day when you showed up with that new tan and big tattoo all those years ago."

Lucia's jaw just kind of fell open; making Keran chuckle as she pecked her cheek.

As always, the group spent a short amount of time catching up on past and some current events; just as a way to make up for the past two years apart.

The conversation was polite and lighthearted, with Khazan only directly a minimal amount of glaring towards Taira.

But eventually, the group was able to get to the heart of their surprise visit today.

"We've actually come to you with a business proposal, Mom and Dad." Lucia finally said.

"Oh?" Zenith raised a brow.

Taira had been sitting silently with his eyes closed the whole time; just casually drinking tea.

When the time came, he calmly placed down his cup, and opened his eyes.

"Mother-in-law, Father-in-law… You are family, but I must stress to you something of dire importance. Everything that I am about to tell you cannot leave this room."

Taira was always kind of stoic and quiet in nature, but this was the first time that he had ever openly showcased it to the two of them.

So naturally, they were more than a little curious as to what could have promoted this level of secrecy.

"Alright, Mr. Fox… You have our word." Lucia's father pledged.

"…Aveena and I have decided to rebuild her sect. Make it better than it was before."

Now, the pair of parents understood the reason for all of the secrecy.

"Don't tell me you've come to poach guild members from us?" Zenith tilted her head.

"Not at all. What I need are your contracts." Taira said plainly.

Now, both of them were looking at the foxkin strangely.

Contracts were the lifeblood of a guild. It was how they made all of their money.

Asking for them wasn't much different from asking for the food out of their mouths.

"…I assume that you have something damn good to offer if you're making such an audacious request." Khazan leaned forward. "Let's hear it."

Taira remained calm and collected. "You'll receive a twenty percent cut from any missions we take instead of your usual ten. Provided that you submit them to us first."

"Thirty!" Khazan retorted.

Taira's eyes briefly glowed. "Don't mistake my willingness to bargain with you for an opportunity to take advantage of me. I assure you those do not exist."

"Why you..!"

Zenith held up her hand and her husband shrank back into his cage.

"…Exactly which contracts do you want?" She asked.

"Those from cloud rank, to mountain rank." (Lowest to highest)

"Mountain, hm? Our average mountain contract usually involves escorting some powerful noble somewhere quite dangerous, or killing a high class target, or wild beast horde."

"I'm aware." Taira nodded.

"And yet you still think the men you will recruit can handle that?"

"I'm already quite sure of it. Because neither Aveena or I will allow them to leave our sight if they can't."

Zenith nodded, feeling as though Taira's words were not just simple big talk.

"I don't see much of an issue with this, but we can receive up to thirty requests a day at times, and over half are time sensitive. If you take too long to respond, we could lose face with the public."

Taira reached inside of his ring and took out a paper scroll.

"In two weeks time, begin contacting us with this in the mornings and we will let you know the quests that we are interested in, and the ones that we are not.

For those we take, I can give you my word that my men will arrive within an hour upon accepting. Your reputation will see no issue. It may even improve."

Zenith was growing more impressed with every exchange.

Taira had formulated their plan perfectly, so she and her husband had no reason not to accept.

"…Alright then. You have yourself a deal, my son-in-law."

Zenith held out her hand, and Taira wasted no time in shaking it.