In the western part of Catalia City, within a rundown underground drainage tunnel.
In the dim corridor, a group of black bats continuously gathered, transforming into the form of Charlotte.
"Master, you have arrived."
Sebastian, dressed in a tuxedo, bowed respectfully.
Charlotte nodded slightly, then looked around, seeing a small hideout similar to the underground base of the Rose Association in Bold City.
Of course, unlike the Rose Association's base located in a manor, this was a hideout in the sewers, more dirty and rundown.
The moss growing on the ground and the thick dust on the debris further indicated this place had been abandoned for a long ti.
"Where are the people?"
Charlotte retracted her gaze and asked.
This was clearly the endpoint of Sebastian's tracking.
However, contrary to the ssage conveyed by Sebastian, she did not sense any other people's presence.
Sebastian's expression didn't look good.
He stepped aside to reveal a pile of ashes behind him.
Charlotte frowned:
"Dead?"
"Yes, they were burned to death by holy fire, it was... spontaneous combustion."
Sebastian said.
"Holy fire? You an, they had prohibitions left by the Holy Royal Court inside them?"
Charlotte inquired.
Sebastian nodded, with an inexplicable expression:
"Yes, when I used magic to forcibly read their mories, holy fire ignited on them, they... praised the holy and then turned to ashes."
"Your Majesty, it seems... the rumors are true. The Bloodline in the Moon God Coast city-states have really been recruited by the Holy Royal Court. Not only that, but the Holy Royal Court... I'm afraid they have also begun to suspect your true identity."
Albrecht, who ca along, sighed and said.
Charlotte was noncommittal.
She had already battled "Helios" twice. If the Holy Royal Court had indeed been infiltrated by the other side, knowing her secret was quite normal.
However, even if the Holy Royal Court was infiltrated, it was probably only partially.
Otherwise, there would be no need to monitor or test her in this manner.
At least... these Bloodlines wouldn't be sent by "Helios" because if it was "Helios," they should know using Bloodlines to track her, a True Ancestor, was almost like serving themselves on a plate.
Bloodlines skilled in dark magic are indeed suitable for surveillance and tracking.
But the prerequisite is that the tracking target is not her, the Blood True Ancestor.
"Master, this is my mistake. I should have waited for you to personally deal with them. I was too reckless."
Sebastian sighed.
Charlotte shook her head:
"It's not your fault, after all... I didn't inform you to keep them until I personally handled it."
With that, she gently closed her eyes, as if falling into ditation.
"Lord Charlotte, although these Bloodlines have died, there must still be other Bloodlines in Catalia City that have pledged allegiance to the Holy Royal Court. Perhaps we can start from here and further investigate their secrets!"
Nisi suggested from the side.
Albrecht also nodded:
"I agree as well, Your Majesty. Although I haven't been here in a few years, there are still several Bloodlines I know in hiding here, including a Duke."
"That Duke lives in an ancient castle on the outskirts of the city, very low-key. Except for a very few Bloodlines like us, hardly anyone knows his true identity. He is not a Bloodline of the Shedite, but from the Salem clan, which doesn't hate the Blood True Ancestor that much. He also has noble status and maintains good relations with so priests. Perhaps... we can get so information from him."
"Of course, if you are willing, with your strength and status, I think we could even recruit him under your banner!"
Charlotte slowly opened her eyes and shook her head:
"No need, I've already sensed it. These who turned to ashes... were the only Bloodlines in Catalia City."
"The only Bloodlines? How is that possible?"
Albrecht looked astonished.
His expression changed drastically, and then he couldn't help but say:
"Your Majesty, I..."
"You want to visit the places where the Bloodlines you know are hiding, don't you?"
Charlotte asked first.
Albrecht nodded:
"Yes, I want to investigate."
"Let's go together then. I'm also curious about what really happened here."
Charlotte said.
Leaving the underground drainage tunnel, Charlotte followed Albrecht to the residences of those hidden Bloodlines he knew.
Or more accurately, to the ancient castle as suggested by Albrecht.
The night had deepened, and the pitch-black moonlit night was very suitable for concealing their aura.
Following Albrecht out of the main city to the outskirts, they quickly arrived at the ancient castle where the Blood Duke was said to be hiding.
No...
It was no longer an ancient castle.
"How could this be? This... this is..."
Looking at the ruins before him, Albrecht's eyes widened.
Nisi stepped forward, cast a few shimring spells, and then retreated:
"Lord Charlotte, the reversal magic indicates that the destruction here... occurred less than two months ago."
"Less than two months, huh..."
Charlotte fell into deep thought.
After pondering for a while, she said:
"Sebastian, Nisi, Albrecht, go back and investigate, see if anything significant happened in Catalia City... no, the Moon God Coast City States, in the past two months."
"Your Majesty the True Ancestor, shouldn't we... check other places as well?"
Albrecht couldn't help but ask.
Charlotte cast him a glance:
"Do you think it's necessary?"
Albrecht fell silent.
Even the Blood Duke's castle was razed to the ground. The hiding places of other bloodlines... one could only imagine.
The night quickly passed.
A new day arrived, and Charlotte received invitation letters from the Nobles of the Moon God Coast City States, for banquets, salons, all sorts of events.
Of course, Charlotte declined them all, citing poor health and limited ti.
Half a day later, the three followers completed their investigation and reported back to Charlotte.
"Your Majesty the True Ancestor, the investigation is complete. Two months ago, the Holy Royal Court conducted a large-scale vampire hunt in the Moon God Coast City States, capturing many vampires who were active under the guise of Nobles..."
"About a month and a half ago, Catalia City was once placed under lockdown. There's news that a Legendary Level Transcendent battle took place on the outskirts, but the specific information has been sealed by the Holy Royal Court."
Albrecht stated seriously:
"Your Majesty the True Ancestor, the Holy Royal Court has taken action."
Charlotte's expression also turned solemn.
This outco didn't surprise her; in fact, she could even speculate that behind this strike on the bloodlines, the hand of "Helios" was likely involved.
After all, two months ago, she hadn't yet returned from another dinsion, whereas "Helios" was driven back by her at that ti.
The only thing she didn't understand was how the Holy Royal Court beca so knowledgeable about the vampire hideouts here.
Vampires are known for their concealnt. In a place like the Yonette Peninsula, where the Church's influence is strong, concealed vampires should be more cautious than elsewhere, yet the Holy Royal Court managed to eradicate the surrounding vampires in less than half a month, which is inconceivable.
In Charlotte's eyes, this would be difficult to achieve even with an insider; it's as if they have divine insight.
"Perhaps... they used the power of a Divine Artifact. After all, the Holy Royal Court is the strongest Church on the continent, with countless Divine Artifacts collected over the centuries. Perhaps... they possess so artifact capable of tracking vampires."
Nisi said.
A Divine Artifact capable of tracking vampires...
Charlotte's brow furrowed even more deeply.
She couldn't imagine what kind of Divine Artifact could possess such power to enable the Holy Royal Court to locate all the concealed vampires.
The Blood Holy Scripture could, but it is a Holy Artifact of the vampires.
Yet the Holy Royal Court achieved it.
At least, she couldn't sense any vampire presence around here apart from their own.
Even though she possessed the Blood Holy Scripture, which made her less afraid of the artifact's power, she still felt the presence of a conspiracy.
Moreover, much like the invitations to the succession ceremony, she could sense that this conspiracy... was likely also directed at her.
With that thought, Charlotte gazed in the direction of the Church Authority Country, then closed her eyes.
She imrsed herself in her consciousness, opened the Blood Holy Scripture, and invoked the Crimson Star Sea representing the vampires.
One by one, brilliant crimson stars appeared, but in Charlotte's perception, with her at the center, there was a large void.
Throughout the Moon God Coast City States... not a single vampire was present.
However, when Charlotte looked towards the more distant Star Sea, she once again saw densely packed stars.
That was the direction of the Church Authority Country.
But these stars seed to be shrouded in so mist, making them indistinct.
Even the spiritual connection between Charlotte and these stars, via her bloodline, seed faint, as if blocked by so force. Charlotte couldn't even summon them into the spiritual realm.
Many vampires had been captured by the Holy Royal Court and confined by so force, all held within the Church Authority Country.
Charlotte quickly ca to this conclusion.
After sensing for a mont, she opened her eyes.
"Master, did you... discover anything?"
Sebastian asked.
Charlotte nodded and said:
"If I sensed correctly, the vampires of the Yonette Peninsula should all have been captured by the Holy Royal Court and concentrated in the Church Authority Country."
"All the vampires of the peninsula captured? That's impossible!"
Albrecht exclaid involuntarily.
"Nothing is impossible."
Charlotte shook her head.
"Sebastian, inform the envoy group that after a good rest, we'll continue our journey in the afternoon, heading to the Church Authority Country."
She commanded.
After speaking, she pondered for a mont and looked at them:
"The Holy Royal Court probably does possess so Divine Artifact capable of tracking vampires, likely related to the bloodline. To ensure safety, I will temporarily seal your bloodline powers for the ti being."
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