Chapter 9: The Red Leaf Organization.

"We are descendants of the people left on earth, so we no longer have the power of the original vampire, am I right?" After hearing the story three thousand years ago, Uri glanced at Finn.

"We have not only lost our strength, but also our ancestors' aggressive and killing nature." Finn replied, then added: "Although Genesis stripped us of our power, we still retain our speed, longevity, and eyes that can see in the dark."

"Because they lost their power and became better than their ancestors, even better than many human beings, so I opposed the existence of the Red Leaf organization," Clement said.

"Dad, can you tell me more about the Red Leaf organization?" Uri curiously asked Clement.

"After the portal closed, humans discovered that some vampires still exist on earth. They knew that Genesis had stripped vampires of their powers, so they hunted down and killed these vampires for revenge." Clement continued the story.

"To make this more effective, humanity has created an organization of strong and combative men to hunt down the remnants of vampires. When someone discovers a vampire location, he will mark the place with a red maple leaf made of metal, hence the name Red Leaf organization."

Clement fell silent, listening alertly to the small noises and wind blowing outside the log house. He glanced nervously at Finn and blew out the candle. There was no light in the room, but only Clement could see nothing in the darkness.

Finn got up, pushed open the wooden door, and looked outside into the dark woods. After listening for a while, he went back to his chair and whispered:

"Just a skunk."

Clement did not re-light the candle. He reached for a cup of tea on the table, picked it up, took a sip, and continued:

"The Red Leaves Foundation operated openly for five hundred years. After that, the organization no longer released information about them, so it became a secret. Until now, no one knows the existence of the Red Leaf organization and the vampires other than the people they recruited to join the organization."

"Humans hunted the remnants of vampires for three thousand years?" Uri looked at Clement and Finn in horror.

"Yes, mankind has never forgotten its grudge against vampires for three thousand years." Finn sighed. "If we didn't have speed many times faster than humans, they would have killed us all."

"For the crimes of our ancestors, I dare not blame humanity." Uri took Clement's hand. "Dad, thank you for letting go of the hatred and carrying me for the past eighteen years."

"Hatred." Clement patted Uri's arm. He couldn't see anything in the dark, but he could still imagine the innocent face of the child he had raised since childhood. "It's been too long, and we should remove all hatred. Besides, the vampires left on earth aren't like their ancestors; they're better than the Red Leaf organization."

"Humanity has never let go of hatred towards us." Finn sadly stared at the extinguished candle on the table. "I fear it won't be long before the Red Leaves kill us all."

Clement laughed, his voice a little mocking. "Three thousand years, hatred is gone. The Red Leaf Organization no longer kills vampires out of hatred; they have a different purpose."

He looked in Finn's direction even though it was only darkness. "You better not let them catch you, or it will be more painful and humiliating than death."

Finn looked suspiciously at Clement. "Can you be more specific? They don't kill us out of hatred, so why are they arresting us?"

"I cannot disclose it because I made an oath when I joined the organization. Although I have always opposed their activities, I cannot betray my oath." Clement reluctantly replied.

"I understand." Finn did not continue to make things difficult for Clement. "Thank you for always being on our side. We wouldn't have to live in a mountain cave if everyone were like you."

Uri also knew not to continue the story about the Red Leaf organization; he took the initiative to switch the conversation to Finn.

"We are always in danger of extinction, so for three thousand years, did our previous generations not find a way to live for themselves?"

"All our previous generations have always found a way to live, but hope keeps dying with time," Finn replied desperately.

"They didn't find a way?" Uri wondered.

"Not without a way." Finn sighed. "It's impossible to find it."

Uri curiously asked Finn. "It? What is it?"

"This is secret only vampires know." Finn looked over at Clement. "But I don't consider you an outsider so I won't hide this from you."

"Don't worry. That secret could very well be my son's way of life; I will never reveal it to anyone else." Clement immediately spoke.

Finn leaned closer to Uri and Clement, lowered his voice very low, and whispered:

"In the ancient book recorded by the first generation. After the portal closed, Prince Nolan heard the voice of the Creator. He gives us one more chance, but it is tough to seize that opportunity. It's been three thousand years, and no one has found it."

"What chance is that?" Uri asked impatiently. "If given the opportunity, why didn't Genesis make it easy for us to find it?"

"Perhaps Genesis wanted to give the vampires a challenge?" Clement also tries to keep his voice low.

"The ordeal has lasted for three thousand years and over several generations. Genesis is too harsh for us." Uri's voice showed displeasure.

"It's only right that we have to pay for our ancestors' sins; I don't blame Genesis," Finn whispered. "He left us an opportunity that was already too benevolent. But for the past three thousand years, not even Prince Nolan and our previous generations have been able to find this opportunity, which is why I say our hope fades with time."

"Are you still looking for it now?" Uri leaned her body against the edge of the table and spoke quietly.

"Despite our despair, we always look for it, never giving up." Finn nodded and paused for a moment.

Uri and Clement waited in silence for Finn's following important sentence. Outside the wooden house, the wind still blowing through the trees sounded like someone was taking a walk in the woods.

Even though Uri knew there wasn't anyone near the wooden house right now, the sound of the wind still worried him. Compared to Clement and Finn, he was too immature.

"Don't worry; it's just the wind blowing." Clement took Uri's hand reassuringly.

Uri said nothing but tilted her head to look at Finn. The secret that Finn was about to tell made him extremely curious.