Staying with Effie was awkward, to say the least. Neither of us wanted to talk, which meant I was stuck alone with my own thoughts. And from what I managed to piece together from my memories, I had tried to recruit some people… but it didn't work out, because they hated and feared me for my previous actions.
That was a problem.
I needed an army, which meant I somehow needed new people—people who didn't know who I was. Luckily, next week was the winter solstice, which meant I had just enough time to prepare. In a week, I'd have the perfect opportunity to get my first soldiers.
I had an easy offer for any willing Sleeper. I was filthy rich, after all, and I had no real use for most of my memories. So why not give some random Awakened, say… a hundred soul shards and ten awakened memories?
Of course, I had to be careful about who I picked. I was rich, yes, but not rich enough to buy out a hundred Sleepers. I'd likely only need ten—ten decent Sleeper candidates. And by "decent," I meant every single one of them had to be capable of destroying any Awakened. Hard to find, yes… but with enough wealth and scheming, it should be possible.
The only issue was: how would I ensure their loyalty?
I mean, what was stopping them from betraying me instantly?
I thought about it for a moment. Then an idea formed.
What if I formed a contract? Like the one I made with Gunlaug… or with Feltan?
Yes. Yes, that could work. All I needed was the ability to learn how to do it myself.
I could try studying it alone, but I didn't have much time. Which meant I needed Feltan to teach me. I wasn't sure what the cost would be, though. Would we make a new contract? Edit the old one? Was it even possible to edit an old contract?
Well… I'd find out soon enough.
I finally decided to get up and leave.
"Hey, I'm going out for a while… thanks for helping me," I said.
Effie didn't even look away from her food; she just waved me off with a small shrug.
I wandered across the dark city three times, walking for nearly an entire day before realizing something very important: I had absolutely no idea where Feltan lived.
Great.
I needed to think. Feltan was an Ancient and powerful Sinner, which meant his blood was unique. I could sense blood. Using Envy heightened that ability even more. I had already modified Envy to give me 360-degree vision before… so why couldn't I enhance it again to sense blood all around me?
It could work. It could definitely work.
I sat down in the middle of the street and prepared to meditate.
Then I realized meditating out in the open in the Dark City was basically asking to be turned into nightmare creature snacks.
So, I summoned Beast and climbed onto the roof of a nearby building, settling down with Beast keeping watch. Only then did I start meditating again.
I reached outward, sensing the blood around me. I could see it, pulsing faintly in the darkness… but I needed to stop seeing and focus on sensing alone.
Slowly, bit by bit, the range expanded. It took a very, very long time, but eventually I could feel all the blood in the Dark City. That included the blood beasts… and Feltan's ancient blood.
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of opening my eyes and instantly lost the state. Meaning I had to meditate all over again.
Five hours later…
I finally neared the area where Feltan and his dogs stayed. I had to walk the whole way with my eyes closed. God damnit.
'You know, you could have just asked me to sense the blood for you instead of walking here blind,' Gluttony rasped in my head.
"Now you tell me," I muttered.
As much as I wanted to punch Gluttony in the face, he didn't have a face. So I just had to swallow my anger and keep going.
I carefully snuck past the blood beasts and climbed up above the spot where Feltan was staying.
"Damn, kid, why are you here?" Feltan's voice rang suddenly inside my head.
I jumped back, startled. "How the hell are you talking to me?"
"Oh, you know. Through your Sin lineage. If I'm close enough, I can transfer thoughts—and hear yours."
Oh, great. More people reading my mind.
"Yup, hate that just as much as you do, kid," Feltan added. "But you get used to it after a few centuries."
"Well, I don't have a few centuries. And also, stop listening to my thoughts."
"Can't. It kinda happens automatically. Anyway, why'd you come visit?"
"I want to learn how to make a contract."
Feltan sighed loudly, his voice echoing inside my skull.
"Well, you picked the worst sinner to ask," he grumbled. "Contract sorcery isn't my specialty. In fact, I'm probably the worst at it."
"You still know how to do contracts, right?"
"Yeah, but I usually get screwed over in them. Pretty badly."
God damnit. Why did it have to be him? But I was already here. No turning back now.
"Fine. Doesn't matter. Just teach me how to make this one contract."
"What is it?"
"I want to make a contract with some people—offer them memories and soul shards in exchange for their loyalty."
"Oof. Yeah, I can't do that."
"What? Why?"
"Listen, kid. Anything involving feelings is way above my level. But I can make a contract that ties their soul to yours, or make them owe you their deaths if they betray you."
"…Alright. Do that then."
"Okay buuuutttt nothing is free in this world, kid."
"God damnit."
"I want to implant one of my eyes into your left eye. In exchange, I'll teach you how to do contracts."
"…Why?"
"I want to see your life. I'm bored."
"Will I still be able to see?"
"Sure."
"Any negative effects?"
"No. Unless you want some."
I thought about the deal for a few minutes. In reality, it wasn't even that bad of an offer. So… I might as well accept.
"Alright," I said quietly. "Let's do it."
"Wait, I need the entire contract again. Lemme write this down. Okay…
'You, Alucard, Monarch of Crimson, asked me, the Sinner of Wrath, Feltan Zorkiel, to teach you how to make a contract that will connect your soul with the recipient's soul, with the specifics being the transfer of soul shards and memories in exchange for the recipient's soul in the case of a betrayal. And before I teach you this, you must first replace one of your eyes with my own.'"
Feltan took a deep breath.
"Did I get everything? Just say 'yes' and the contract is done."
"Yes."