The Machine Race was the most hated race of the Blood Tribe.
Without exception.
The reason was simple.
This race possessed no blood for the Blood Tribe to feed upon!
This also meant that the Blood Tribe often found themselves at a disadvantage when battling the Machine Race.
At equal levels of strength, a member of the Blood Tribe typically could not defeat one of the Machine Race.
Because they had no way to suck blood, the Blood Tribe’s power was significantly diminished.
Unless a member of the Blood Tribe was far stronger than their mechanical opponent, or they attacked as a swarm to destroy them with brute force, victory was difficult.
And the ones most suited for that approach were, naturally, the members of the Brujah Clan, to which Carola belonged.
For those like the Tremere Clan, who specialized in Blood Magic—it wasn’t that most of their spells had no effect on the Machine Race, but the results were barely better than nothing.
Only corrosive Blood Magic could produce decent results.
Of course, the most pitiful had to be the Setite Clan.
Their specialties, seduction and corruption, worked wonders on other races, but when used on the Machine Race…
They were almost entirely ineffective.
The mages of the Tremere Clan had even researched this point, and their final conclusion was that it was simply due to the Machine Race’s unique nature.
Besides the lack of blood, there was another factor: many of the Machine Race’s parts were interchangeable among their members.
Furthermore, localized damage did not significantly impact their combat effectiveness.
On more extreme battlefields, they could even scavenge parts from fallen kin on the spot to make do.
This was nearly as effective as the powerful regenerative abilities of the Blood Tribe.
Consequently, when they heard mention of the Machine Race, the vampires in the Blood Moon Hall displayed various expressions.
“The Machine Race’s ‘Iron Court’ has been active near the border recently,” Edwin said, his voice slowly relaying the intelligence.
“Their scouts have already crossed the Black Iron Mountains three times, entering our territory.”
“What do those machines want?” a member of the Blood Tribe asked.
“Their objective is clear: the Pale Veins. The ore produced there is of very high quality.”
A hideous-looking vampire stepped forward.
He was a member of the Nosferatu Clan.
Although they were physically revolting, they were experts in stealth and intelligence gathering.
Unlike Carola, who was only targeted as an individual, the Nosferatu Clan as a whole was somewhat shunned by the other clans, though the others were careful not to show it.
It was simple: no one likes making friends with someone who holds all your dirty secrets and hidden shames in their hands.
However, you also had to worry that they might expose those secrets one day.
Therefore, you couldn’t openly ostracize them.
‘It was absolutely maddening!’
“We also need the ore from there to forge weapons. Besides, that is our territory. How can we tolerate another race mining it? Therefore, we must drive out that damned Machine Race scouting party!”
A member of the Giovanni Clan, dressed in magnificent and exquisite clothing, hurriedly stood up to voice his opinion.
It was no wonder he was anxious; their clan maintained its current status precisely because they controlled the majority of the Blood Tribe’s mineral veins.
One could say that the Machine Race’s actions were, without a doubt, a direct attempt to snatch wealth from their hands.
Such a thing could never be allowed!
“You can leave this matter to us,” Gregory spoke up.
“Our Brujah Clan excels at these types of tasks, however…”
Gregory reached out, rubbing his thumb and index finger together.
“We don’t work for free.”
“Rest assured! I will give the members of the Brujah Clan who go to battle a satisfactory price,” the Giovanni representative quickly stated.
Everyone understood this clearly.
“You want help? Fine. But if you don’t pay?”
“Heh heh~”
“The Giovanni Clan can go deal with it themselves!”
“Tock, tock, tock~”
Edwin’s fingers lightly tapped the armrest of his throne, producing a rhythmic clicking sound.
This drew the attention of the clans present.
“Driving away the scouts is merely an urgent matter that needs solving right now,” Edwin said, his gaze sweeping across the hall.
“Since the Machine Race has dared to cross the border three times, it indicates that the ‘Iron Court’ is already prepared for war. Therefore, we must also begin our preparations for war.”
A flurry of whispers erupted in the hall.
“Does Clan Leader Edwin have any insights?” the Giovanni representative asked respectfully, though a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.
He was calculating the potential profits and losses this war might bring.
“I have already sent word for the Malkavian Clan to come. We will let them perform a prophecy for us first,” Edwin said, looking every bit the calculating old fox.
The vampires in the room looked at one another, silently exchanging their thoughts.
‘Cunning old fox!’
“Creeeak~”
The doors to the Blood Moon Hall swung open.
Several members of the Malkavian Clan, who looked quite different from the other vampires with their purple hair and purple eyes, walked inside.
Among them was an acquaintance Carola recognized.
It was the same Malkavian member who had visited her castle last time—Raphael Malkavian.
However, Raphael was clearly not the protagonist of this moment.
The true protagonist was an elderly member of the Malkavian Clan whom he was currently supporting.
Supported by Raphael, the elder slowly entered the Blood Moon Hall, his violet robes swaying gently with every step.
His eyes were different from the bright, dreamlike purple typical of the Malkavian Clan; they were a murky dark purple, as if covered by a layer of mist.
His eye sockets were deep, and his cheeks were so gaunt that his pale skin seemed to cling directly to his skeletal frame.
Yet, the members of the clans present did not dare to look down upon this being.
This was the most powerful prophet among the members of the Malkavian Clan who had not yet gone mad.
However, looking at his current state, it likely wouldn’t be long before he fell into total madness as well.
Edwin had actually managed to invite this person?
It seemed the Ventrue Clan was indeed taking the matter of the Machine Race very seriously!
The members of the Giovanni Clan also felt a quiet sense of relief.
It was good they were taking it seriously; being ignored is what they feared most!
If that happened, most of the wealth they held might be seized by the Machine Race!
“Malcolm Malkavian, thank you for coming.”
Edwin leaned slightly forward from his throne to show his respect, which was considered a very solemn gesture in vampire etiquette.
Malcolm did not respond.
He simply scanned the hall with those clouded eyes, his gaze lingering briefly on each vampire before finally settling on Carola for a few seconds.
“Bring us the prophecy regarding the Machine Race!” Edwin said.
“Steel… cold steel…”
Malcolm began to mutter, his voice raspy.
“I see gears turning, I hear steam roaring… a flood of steel will cross the Black Iron Mountains…”
The vampires in the hall held their breath and listened.
“Red… there is red everywhere…”
Malcolm broke away from Raphael’s support and stumbled forward a few steps.
Raphael tried to step forward in concern but was stopped by a look from Edwin.
“The sky… the sky has turned iron gray… the moon is obscured… our power is waning…” Malcolm’s voice grew higher and higher, reaching a near-scream.
“I see it! I see it!”
His purple eyes suddenly erupted with a piercing light.
“Hahaha! So that’s how it is… we… all must…”
“Must what?”
Every vampire present pricked up their ears to listen intently.
However, Malcolm did not reveal the crucial detail.
Instead, he collapsed violently onto the floor.
“It’s over… everything is going to end…”
Malcolm lay on the ground, his eyes vacant.
His voice gradually faded until it became meaningless babble.
The eyes that had once seen through the future now held only a flash of madness, having completely lost all reason.
He had gone mad!