Cherreads

Chapter 29 - Blood Money

– Blood (35 Units)

The codex chime rang clear and cold in Corven's mind, a faint metallic note that faded as quickly as it came.

The vampire's body lay twisted and lifeless beneath the glowing lamps of the alley, silver-burnt flesh still hissing faintly. Corven licked a drop of blood from his lip, rolling his shoulders with a pleased groan.

"That hit the spot…" he chuckled, his voice looser now, more relaxed.

Rose mirrored his satisfaction, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, crimson smeared across pale skin. "That feels better," she said, exhaling like someone finally free of a gnawing itch. Her irises flickered faintly, still tinted red.

"Good to hear," Irsted replied coolly, sheathing his massive greatsword with a practiced motion. The blade clicked into place, as if sealing away the violence of the night. "Now let's go before anyone sees us."

"Good call," Corven nodded, flicking his collar up as they turned to leave.

They didn't spare the corpse another glance. Come morning, the rising sun would handle the cleanup—no need to stain their hands any further. Time would take care of what was left behind.

As the three of them wandered through the quiet streets of Urzen, their path eventually led them back into the depths of Underzen. The descent was uneventful—until Irsted came to an abrupt halt mid-step.

"Ahh…" he groaned, stretching both arms high above his head. His spine cracked audibly.

Trish turned, raising an amused eyebrow. "Out of commission already?" she asked with a lazy laugh, slinging her bow across her back.

"We barely did anything, yeah," Irsted admitted, rubbing his eyes, "but it's still kinda late…" His tone was somewhere between exhaustion and satisfaction, like a merc who'd earned his rest.

"Oh, come on. The night's still young," Corven said with a grin, flashing a row of too-sharp teeth.

"Of course you'd say that," Trish replied, matching his smile. "Your kind don't even need sleep."

With a small huff, Irsted reached under his cloak and retrieved a rolled parchment, its outer lining engraved with soft, glowing runes that read [Communication] in an ancient glyph script. The glow pulsed like a heartbeat.

He tossed it to Corven, who caught it smoothly.

"We've got another job after this," Irsted added, his voice turning groggy but steady. "Want in? Your talents would be of use."

Corven spun the scroll in one hand and grinned. "If you've got the coin, then gladly."

"Good." Irsted gave him a nod, already turning to walk away. "I'll contact you with the scroll tomorrow."

Trish followed close behind, tossing a lazy wave over her shoulder. "Don't get yourselves killed."

That left Corven and Rose alone—two vampires under the faint glow of enchanted lanterns, surrounded by the pulsing rhythm of Underzen's nightlife.

Above them, towering buildings of blackstone and etched crystal scraped the cavern ceiling. Below their boots, the ground thrummed with muffled music, metal carts, and the murmur of distant conversations.

A massive subterranean metropolis sprawled before them, endless in size and opportunity.

The night, after all, was their domain.

"Well then," Corven said, slipping his hands into his pockets, "shall we?"

Rose gave him a side glance, her lips quirking. "What did you have in mind?"

A glint flashed in Corven's eyes. Mischievous. Calculating. "We flip this silver into something better."

Rose didn't miss a beat. "Are you planning on betting?" she asked, her voice dry with amusement. She knew him too well—their bond made his intentions practically transparent.

"Of course."

He reached beneath his tailored suit and pulled the silver-lined pouch free, giving it a playful toss before tucking it back beneath his coat.

"I'd rather risk it all and live a life of luxury than just live normally," he said with a casual laugh. "Boredom's not in my vocabulary."

The two of them set off, weaving through Underzen's intricate districts, passing potion stalls, taverns, and crude tattoo parlors that glowed with amber-light.

Their mission: find a local fight club or underground arena where silver could turn into gold—or get burned in blood.

But information here wasn't free.

They spent nearly an hour asking around, approaching shady vendors and half-drunk mercs. Most ignored them entirely. Others turned away without a word. Underzen's hospitality, it seemed, was as cold as its stone streets.

Eventually, they found him.

A sketchy-looking elf perched cross-legged on the edge of a cracked fountain, half-shrouded in a hood stitched with ember-thread. He sat surrounded by dusty crates filled with faintly glowing blue stones—mana stones, unrefined and probably smuggled.

His grin was sharp and unfriendly.

"Looking to double your haul?" he asked the moment they approached, snickering before adding, "Sorry, I don't know anything."

Corven narrowed his eyes, noting the deliberate tone. That snicker wasn't idle amusement—it was bait.

"Sure about that?" Corven asked, voice low.

The elf gave a lazy shrug. "Nope. Don't know nothing." His grin widened, showing filed teeth.

Without a word, Rose stepped forward, grabbed the pouch from Corven's coat, and plucked a single silver coin. She tossed it to the elf.

He caught it effortlessly, his hands quicker than they looked.

"Willing to speak now?" she asked, her tone calm but firm.

The elf's eyes gleamed as he tucked the coin into a hidden pocket. "You drive a hard bargain…" he said with a wink. "Sure…"

With a casual flick of his wrist, a quill shimmered into existence—feathered, glimmering with faint blue arcs of mana. He grabbed a crumpled parchment from beside him and, in a few fluid strokes, drew a rough map of the city.

An X marked a crooked alley, deep in a district they hadn't yet touched.

He held it out with two fingers. "Here. Pleasure doing business with you."

Then he leaned back, hands behind his head, like he hadn't just sold out a secret location in exchange for coin.

And Corven? He smiled.

The night was just getting started.

More Chapters