Chapter Two: The Deadly Truth

Three days later, late at night, I was dragged out of the tower by two guards.

"Lady Serafina summons you," the guard said coldly.

A sense of foreboding washed over me. This time, this method—something was wrong.

They took me to the underground chamber. Seraphim sat at a long table, a thick stack of documents in front of her. Julian stood beside her, a smug smile on his face.

"Damian, sit down." Serafina gestured to the chair opposite her.

I sat down, my hands clasped tightly together.

"Ten years," Serafina suddenly spoke, her voice eerily calm. "For ten years, I've slowly eroded the Lemaître family's wealth. Now, it's time to close the net."

She pushed the document in front of me: "This is the property transfer agreement. Sign it, and all assets under the Lemaître family—commercial companies, real estate, investment funds, overseas accounts—will belong to Camarilla."

I stared at the documents, my fingers trembling. "You're insane... This is Lemaître's three-hundred-year legacy..."

"I know," Serafina sneered. "That's why it was worth spending ten years planning this. Damian, you only have two choices: sign, and I'll spare your life; don't sign, and I'll make sure your father, your mother, and everyone in the Lemaître clan are all executed."

"You dare!" I stood up abruptly.

Julian pressed down on my shoulders, and the Bloodline Suppression Spell activated instantly. The terrifying power forced me to my knees.

"Damian, stop struggling," Julian sneered. "The bloodline suppression curse within you was placed there by Lady Serafina herself. With a single thought from her, your heart will stop beating."

I lay on the ground, panting in pain.

"Have you thought it through?" Serafina looked down at me.

My father's aged face, my mother's gentle smile, and the expectant eyes of my clansmen flashed through my mind.

I can't let them die.

"I...I'll sign..."

"Smart." Serafina smiled with satisfaction.

She handed me a quill pen. My hands trembled as I picked it up and signed my name on each document. Each signature felt like a piece of flesh being cut off.

Finally, all the documents were signed.

"Very good." Serafina put away the documents. "From today onwards, all of the Lemaître family's properties belong to me."

"You promised you'd let us go..."

"I did promise." Serafina stood up, walked over to me, and knelt down to look at me. "But Damian, you're too naive. You think I'll let you go just because you signed? You know too much."

My heart stopped.

"you……"

"Julian," Serafina said calmly.

Julian walked over, a silver dagger appearing in his hand.

"Wait!" I cried out in terror, "You can't kill me! If I die, those agreements will be null and void! The law states that documents signed under duress are invalid!"

"You're right," Serafina nodded, "So I won't kill you. I just want to... cripple you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she and Julian attacked simultaneously.

The Bloodline Suppression Curse erupted completely. Terrifying power surged in from all directions, frantically compressing my blood vessels, bones, and internal organs. I could feel my bloodline drying up and my power disappearing.

"Aaaaaah!" I screamed in agony.

"This is a bloodline extraction technique," Serafina said coldly. "It will drain all the bloodline power from your body, turning you into a cripple. You will live, but you will forever lose your power, never be able to cultivate, and will forever live like a walking corpse."

Pain overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. I lay on the ground, my body convulsing. My vision gradually blurred.

Just as my consciousness was about to fade away, I received a message from my bloodline.

Serafina's voice echoed in my mind, cold and mocking:

"Damian Flamel, if there were an afterlife, I would still choose you—after all, the Flamel family's wealth is the best target. Thank you for your dedication over the past ten years. Goodbye."

Anger, resentment, despair—all emotions erupted at this moment.

I hate it!

I hate her deception!

I hate her coldness!

I hate my own weakness!

If there is an afterlife... if there is an afterlife... I will make her pay the price!

I will make her taste what it's like to lose everything!

Consciousness was completely plunged into darkness.

But in the deepest darkness, a voice rang out—old and deep, as if from ancient times.

"My son... I have sensed your resentment..."

"You seek revenge?"

"want!"

"Very well... I grant you a second chance at life... Remember... your hatred for her will become your strength..."

Suddenly, light pierced the darkness.

I suddenly opened my eyes.

Familiar scenes came into view—the temple dome, blood-red candles, and nobles from the three major clans.

I looked down at my hands—whole, healthy, and full of strength.

I've been reborn!

I traveled back ten years to the moment just before the blood pact ceremony was about to begin!

Inside the temple, Serafina sat on her high throne, beautiful and haughty. Julian stood at the doorway, a familiar cold smile playing on his lips. Marcus leaned against a pillar, his amber vertical pupils scanning the entire hall.

Everything was exactly the same as in my previous life.

But this time, I won't make the same mistake again.

Lady Morgana unfurled the parchment scroll, her voice echoing through the temple: "Damian Flamel, you have drawn the blood pact. Are you willing?"

Serafina looked at me lazily, her eyes full of indifference. She thought I would kneel down excitedly and swear an oath, just like in my past life.

I took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.

The humiliation, pain, and despair of those ten years in my past life all surged into my mind. But this time, I will not be humble again.

"No."

A single word froze the entire temple instantly.

Everyone stared at me in shock.

Serafina's expression changed from indifference to surprise, and her eyes widened slightly.

"What did you say?" Mrs. Morgana was stunned.

"I said, no," I said, emphasizing each word, "I refuse this blood pact."

I placed the short black talisman on the altar.

Serafina stood up abruptly, her face ashen: "Damian Lemaître, do you know what you're doing? Refusing the blood pact is violating the laws of the progenitors!"

"I know." I looked at her coldly, a mocking smile playing on my lips, "But I also know that forming a pact with you will only lead to a terrible death."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

These words were like a slap in the face to Serafina.

Her expression shifted several times, finally settling into a glare at me through gritted teeth: "What do you mean by this?"

"The meaning is simple." I pulled a stack of documents from my pocket. "Seraphina Camarilla, over the past five years, you have embezzled the property of seventeen clans through commercial fraud, misappropriation of funds, and fraudulent mortgages. This is the evidence."

I threw the file on the ground.

Those were all things I stole from the secret room during the chaos before I died in my previous life—business contracts, bank statements, and loan agreements.

"And this too." I produced another bloodstained report. "Three years ago, my mother, Alice Flamel, was 'accidentally' injured. The truth is—you ordered someone to stab her with a silver dagger because she refused to transfer the core assets of the Flamel clan to you."

The entire room fell silent.

All the vampires stared at Serafina in shock.

"Nonsense!" Serafina screamed.

"Nonsense?" I sneered. "Then do you dare to let Parliament investigate your accounts? Do you dare to confront the witnesses from back then?"

Serafina's face turned completely pale.

She knew that what I said was true. But she didn't understand how I knew.

"Damian Flamel..." She stared intently at me, a flicker of fear in her eyes, "You...who are you?"

"Me?" I laughed. "I'm Damian Flamel. A man who has died once."

After saying that, I turned and left the temple.

Behind them came Serafina's roar, Lady Morgana's soothing voice, and the whispers of the nobles.

But I don't care.

In this life, I will no longer live a humble life.

Serafina, your end is nigh.