Chloe and Ellie were still in shock from everything that had happened. From the moment they set foot in Le Nocturne, the world around them seemed to have shifted. They had seen luxurious places before, but there was something different here. It wasn’t just wealth—it was the aura of the place, the feeling that they were within the domain of an entity far beyond what they could imagine.

The patrons’ eyes remained fixed on Vlad. Many whispered among themselves, still stunned by what they had just witnessed.

"I’ve never seen anything like this…" one bartender murmured to a customer. "Vlad never bows to anyone… never."

"Who is that man?" murmured an elegant woman, her hands trembling as she held her wine glass.

Meanwhile, Chloe and Ellie exchanged glances, trying to process it all. Ellie, usually so carefree, now looked at Orion with a mixture of respect and curiosity.

"Alright… what the hell just happened?" Ellie finally said, crossing her arms.

Chloe nodded slowly, her eyes still studying Vlad.

"You told me you knew someone here… but I wasn’t expecting this. That guy… is he… a monster?"

Vlad let out a soft laugh, his tone filled with elegance.

"I prefer the term vampire, my dear. But I admit, some would indeed call me a monster."

Orion exhaled, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"Vlad, these two are Chloe and Ellie. They’ve helped me since I arrived here."

Vlad turned his gaze to them, studying them carefully, but without any hint of hostility. He then gave a slight nod of reverence.

"Ladies, a pleasure to meet you. If you’ve helped the young master, you have my respect."

Ellie blinked, surprised by his formality, and Chloe merely nodded, still trying to process her feelings about it all.

"Anyway, since we’re here, why not enjoy ourselves a bit?" Orion suggested, sinking into one of the leather armchairs. "It’s not every day you get to be in a place this refined."

Chloe looked around, still admiring the environment. Vlad, always the perfect host, snapped his fingers, and a waiter soon brought a bottle of the house’s finest wine. Without hesitation, Ellie took a glass.

"Well, if we’re going to enjoy ourselves…"

Chloe hesitated for a moment but eventually gave in, accepting a glass as well. Vlad simply smiled at their settling in.

Time passed in an oddly pleasant way. Orion relaxed, observing the surroundings; Chloe and Ellie chatted about how surreal it all felt; and Vlad, as always, maintained his impeccable posture.

Yet Orion knew they had to move forward.

He stood, placing his empty glass on the table.

"Vlad, let’s go to your office. We have matters to discuss before we leave."

Vlad nodded, understanding the seriousness in his young master’s voice.

"Follow me."

They crossed the hall, ascending a discreet staircase at the back of the bar. The corridor was bathed in soft light, the walls adorned with old paintings that seemed to belong to centuries past. At the end, Vlad opened a pair of dark wooden doors, revealing his office.

The room was as sophisticated as the rest of the bar but exuded a different atmosphere—a mixture of power and strategy. There was a large shelf of ancient books, a refined wooden desk, and a leather chair where Vlad clearly spent hours thinking and planning.

Vlad sat behind the desk, fingers interlaced atop the smooth surface. Orion pulled a chair to sit, while Chloe and Ellie hesitated for a moment before taking their seats.

"Now, let’s get to business," Orion said, his golden eyes reflecting the room’s light. "We need to discuss our return to England."

The mood in the office grew more serious. They had a plan to plot, and from that point onward, every step would be crucial.