My Vampire Harem Will Dominate Everything

"The Necromancer has withdrawn from Westside." Ezra spoke. "I first noticed his disappearance when I saw no signs of resistance at the Investigation Bureau attacking their assets. I investigated further, searching the entire area. There was no trace of him or his undead minions."

Yuri remained silent for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she absorbed the information. She tapped a finger lightly on the armrest of her throne as she thought. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but firm.

"Are you certain?" She asked, her gaze pinning Ezra in place.

Ezra nodded confidently. "Yes, my Lady. I\'ve checked every corner of Westside, every hidden alley and shadowed building. He\'s gone. There\'s nothing left of his presence."

Yuri continued to study him, as if weighing his words for any sign of doubt. But Ezra held her gaze, his expression unwavering. He was confident in what he was saying. After a moment, Yuri nodded, her decision made.

"Very well." She said, her tone decisive. "You are to take over the assets in Westside."

Ezra blinked at her words.

"But do not move in immediately."

Ezra raised an eyebrow slightly, curious but respectful. "Do you expect trouble?"

Yuri\'s lips curved into a slight smile, but it held not an iota of warmth. "One can never be too cautious when dealing with vampires like the Necromancer. There\'s no telling what traps he might have left behind."

"Control Westside\'s resources from Southside. This way, you won\'t be isolated from your allies, and if anyone contests your control, you\'ll have backup."

Ezra nodded in understanding. Moving directly into Westside could be a trap set by the Necromancer to draw him into a dangerous situation. Unlike the trap he was currently setting, this might be a place where he couldn\'t control all factors. By controlling Westside from the comfort of Southside, he\'d be able to manage the territory without exposing himself to unnecessary risk.

"Instead of taking a direct hand into things, use the Investigation Bureau. Keep them on Westside and by controlling them, we\'ll have their resources at our fingertips. This way, even with our absence, no one can tear Westside from our hands without a fight."

"The aim here," Yuri continued, "is not to dominate Westside but to keep it out of the hands of our enemies. We can\'t afford to let them use it against us."

Ezra nodded again, his respect for Yuri\'s strategic mind growing. "I will ensure that Westside remains out of their reach."

"Good." Yuri waved her hand dismissively, signaling that their discussion was over. "You are dismissed, Ezra. Keep me informed."

With a slight bow, Ezra turned and left the throne room, his mind already calculating the steps he would need to take. The Investigation Bureau was already on his hands but it wouldn\'t be good to reveal that fact. He\'d take his time taking control of them to reinforce the illusion that he hadn\'t been behind the original attack.

His mind was working as he rode the elevator back down the tower. He settled on a plan of action as he arrived at the correct floor, the door opening. He made his way to the teleportation room with a slight smile on his face. At least, he was still free to chase after his slush fund.

As he got to the teleportation room, he saw Ivo and Armand waiting casually outside the door. Their presence instantly puts him on guard. This was their home and it wasn\'t out of the realm of possibility that he\'d meet them but now, he knew they\'d been waiting for him.

"Ezra!" Ivo greeted him with enthusiasm. "Just the man we were waiting for, right?"

"Indeed." Armand said, a friendly smile on his face. "We didn\'t know we\'d be seeing him this quickly, did we?"

Ezra greeted them politely, not trusting their smiles. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked as he walked closer.

"Nothing much." Armand gave him a grin that didn\'t quite reach his eyes. "We\'ve actually got something here for you, don\'t we?"

"Yup." Ivo nodded, holding up a letter. "Addressed to the Old Museum. Whoever the sender is, they didn\'t know where you actually lived, did they?"

Ezra nodded, accepting the letter from Armand, his fingers brushing against the paper as he examined it. The envelope was plain, unmarked except for his name and the Old Museum\'s address.

"We didn\'t open it, if that\'s what you\'re wondering." Armand added with a chuckle. "You trust us, don\'t you?"

Ezra ignored the question, giving them a polite smile that carefully hid his suspicion. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

He tucked the letter into the inner pocket of his overcoat, nodding to both of them before stepping into the teleportation room. The doors closed behind him, sealing him off from the two vampires who, despite their outwardly friendly demeanor, always seemed to have their own agendas.

**********

Ivo watched Ezra Matten leave in amusement. Just like he\'d said, they\'d not opened the letter or made any attempts to see what it said. Whatever that was about, it was Ezra\'s business.

What he knew was that Ezra could definitely be turned to their side. He recognized a kindred spirit when he saw one.

Someone who was tired of being under the thumb of others. Someone who wasn\'t as loyal as Yuri would like to think. Which was why he hadn\'t told Yuri about their choosing of the Well\'s location.

If Ezra had told Yuri, it wouldn\'t be a big deal for him and Armand. They\'d had their excuses already set up and it was perfect. Everyone knew the best lie was the truth.

All he was doing was checking where Ezra\'s loyalties lay. And now he knew.

"Let\'s go, Armand." He said to his best friend. This wasn\'t the place to be reckless. Yuri was watching. She was always watching.