The Valentine Family's Central Headquarters loomed on the horizon like an architectural monstrosity built to crush any human sense of security. The entire structure dominated miles of vampire territory with absurdly high black walls, razor-sharp towers jutting out against the eternal sky of the Vampire Realm, and hundreds of windows illuminated by bluish lights that seemed like eyes silently watching all who approached.
Even from a distance, the place exuded absolute authority.
It wasn't just a military construction.
It was the physical symbol of the Valentine Family's power.
The dark version of an imperial palace created specifically to rule monsters.
The outer gardens were perfectly manicured, but there was no welcoming beauty in them. The geometrically pruned black trees, the dark fountains filled with reddish water, and the wide paths lined with ancient statues created a constant feeling of silent surveillance.
Everything in that place seemed to say exactly the same thing:
