"What are we going to do?" Layla asked in a worried tone.

She also knew about The Purification. Their organization kept a close watch on vampires, and even their less relevant members had information about some legends and concerns regarding them.

Vicente said. "We don't have many options apart from strengthening ourselves and improving our control over the city, the province, and the kingdom. But if that really is the problem, and I feel it is, we have to be prepared for a difficult situation."

"We need to call for reinforcements from our organization's headquarters," Layla suggested as she looked at Jasmine.

Vicente commented. "It's not going to happen, Layla. Do you think that, amid such a crisis, the Congregation of Revelations will send experts to us in the weakest area of the continent?"

"He's right. We're alone in this problem." Jasmine commented as she remembered that she was due to be promoted very soon. But then she asked, "What if I'm sent to the focus of the calamity?"

Vicente and Layla looked at her in silence, not having thought of it before. "That would be dangerous for you. The Seidel Kingdom will be safer for everyone because of its distance from vampire territory.

By the time the worst comes to us, many deaths and battles will have already taken place and weakened both sides in the conflict." Vicente commented in a pessimistic tone.

"Your only way out, or rather our way out, is not to be transferred," Layla commented.

"That may be beyond our control." Jasmine sighed as she felt a terrible feeling related to her powerlessness to do anything about it.

"You'd better prepare for the worst," Vicente remarked soberly. "Anyway, let's get ready to fight together in the kingdom when things get worse.

Try to get as much information about the continent's situation as possible and try to make things easier for my family's movements.

I'll make some alliances and preparations for The Purification so we won't fall so easily or quickly."

"All right."

"But we still have more than four years to finish our planning. Now we have to worry about something else." He said as he looked at Layla.

This gray-haired woman remembered the vampire, who was also a big problem for them.

Jasmine already knew about this creature and asked. "What do you intend to do to deal with it?"

"The creature can't suspect that we're preparing for it. After all, we've been on the run for months, so it's natural for it to think that maybe we've already relaxed our guard and aren't preparing.

We have to look exactly like that.

I'll make plans and prepare my family, but we can't make any big moves. In the meantime, I need you two ready to help me when the vampire shows himself."

"Are you afraid he'll try to get away from you?" Jasmine asked.

She was a born tracker, while Layla had her super speed, which, combined, could form a magnificent duo against a fleeing opponent.

"Yes. Killing him will be difficult, but if he realizes that the possibility exists at some point in the fight, he may try to escape. I don't know what kind of cards he has up his sleeve, so I'd rather keep you two close."

"But how would we do that?" Layla asked. "He could arrive in the city at any moment. How can we be with you in time?"

"The day he shows himself, I'll make the whole of Saltsalt City tremble and realize the size of the problem we'll be facing. So I don't want you cultivating in seclusion until the vampire arrives. Watch for signs to move when he arrives. I'll alert the local forces so that they understand the problem when it hits us." Vicente said firmly.

"All right, we'll get on with it." Jasmine agreed while Layla nodded positively.

After that, they chatted about other matters, such as when he planned to hunt his next pentagram, minor things about their associates and subordinates, and his experiences after Casey and Layla left.

After a while, he would leave that temple, promising to return to see Layla soon, before heading towards the royal army's headquarters in this city.

After seeing his most important allies, he had fulfilled his responsibilities so that he could go and see Nova.

Nova was his first girlfriend and, in a way, one of his contacts in the army. But she wasn't as involved as the others in his problems and secrets.

However, it wouldn't stay that way for much longer. Amid the moment's needs, there was no longer any way for Vicente to protect her from certain things without involving her more directly in his business!

...

After getting permission from the army to enter the headquarters, Vicente was reunited with Nova months after leaving the place and not even communicating with her through letters.

Nova had been looking forward to seeing him again for a long time, and the moment she was alone with him in his office, she couldn't help herself and did more than she should have done inside a military installation.

After half an hour together but hardly any meaningful words, the two finished what they had done in those minutes and quickly got dressed.

When she had finished tidying up the mess in her office because of what they had done a few moments ago, Nova took a deep breath and sat on Vicente's lap in one armchair.

"I love you!" She said as she smelled her man's black hair.

"I love you too." He smiled at her.

"But then? Are you going to tell me about your trip?" She asked, quite curious, of course.

She knew a few things about Vicente's trip because of Layla and Casey's return. Even though she wasn't officially part of his family and didn't perform missions for them, she had heard some worrying things from Eve and Rory.

"I don't know if we should." He said as he looked sincerely into her eyes. "I'm hesitant to wipe that smile off your face." He ran one of his fingers over her pink lips.

She smiled even more exuberantly at him but was anxious to know the truth.

Vicente sighed and said. "I took revenge. I brought justice to my parents. However, as much as I've grown stronger, I've also encountered bigger problems.

Sigh! Nova, I didn't want to put you in the position of compromising with my family and becoming a soldier who abandons the law and becomes totally committed to herself. But unfortunately, we need that now. If we're not perfect in our short- and medium-term plans, even I will fall to the problems that await us."

He wiped the beautiful smile off her face, making her express great concern.

"From now on, we'll use all our cards to develop my family and prepare for the monsters in our path.

You will have to take care of our expansion from within the army. Use your position to open doors for my people and bring more influence to us, Nova.

That's our only and maybe last alternative."