Even in the Luna Coast City-State close to the Theocracy, bloodbornes still lived there, a fact Charlotte had known since she was in the Borde Duchy.
Not only that, but she also knew that the bloodbornes active in the Luna Coast City-State belonged to the sa Shedite Clan that followed the Dark Path.
In other words, they were likely mbers of the Blood Demon Cult.
However, the presence of Blood Demon Cult mbers at such a welco banquet was quite subtle.
This wasn’t the Crescent Kingdom; it was the Yunnete Peninsula, the strongest stronghold of the Holy Court on the entire Myria continent.
Not to ntion, Charlotte had sensed no less than six instances of solidified divine blessings in the banquet hall alone, which visibly made Sebastian uncomfortable upon entering.
Even as a re blood retainer, Sebastian was significantly suppressed. Charlotte could even sense a hint of pain through their contract link.
Thanks to these solidified blessings, the holy power in the banquet hall was rather thick, and only Charlotte, as the True Ancestor of Blood and possessor of the Gospel of Blood, could remain immune.
In such a setting, even Sebastian couldn’t stand it, let alone ordinary bloodbornes.
Yet, in this very place, Charlotte sensed the presence of bloodbornes, piquing her curiosity.
With this in mind, she diverted part of her focus to delve into her awareness, using her blood sense to probe around. She quickly pinpointed the targets.
There were only three, and their strength was approximately at the Silver Moon tier, likely aided by items that could suppress holy power.
Their positions were delicate, with each of the three located equidistantly from Charlotte in different directions.
Moreover, their gazes occasionally flitted over her.
Oh.
So they were targeting her.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning ignorance, and continued to chat amiably with the Chief Consul of the Luna Coast City-State.
anwhile, a certain butler, who was hesitating whether to request permission from his master to leave the banquet hall for so fresh air, heard the majestic and pleasant voice in his mind.
“Sebastian, three Blood Demon Cult flies have co buzzing in. Take care of them.”
Sebastian paused, glancing at a certain “Saintess” who was chatting and laughing with Calabretta.
His expression flickered with a trace of contemplation, then he subtly nodded and quietly retreated. Charlotte continued her conversations with the city-state nobles who approached her.
The banquet lasted about three hours.
As she was just passing through, Charlotte didn’t delve deeply into discussions with the Chief Consul, Catherine.
She rely made acquaintances and expressed a willingness for future cooperation.
The Luna Coast City-State was a comrcially thriving nation, managing routes to the east, which provided ample opportunities for collaboration with the Starfall Kingdom that exported magic devices.
Naturally, Charlotte only expressed her intentions, the specifics would be handled by the accompanying envoy group.
With a major power’s queen visiting, the security for Charlotte’s visit was thorough. Though she sensed a few prying flies, nothing unpleasant occurred during the entire banquet.
After the banquet, Charlotte, guided by attendants, stayed in a mansion designated for foreign dignitaries.
…
Night fell.
The bustling Cataglia fell into silence.
Charlotte, having changed from her gown into casual attire, stood on the balcony of her bedroom, downing a goblet of red extraordinary blood while extending her senses.
Hmm, many protective formations were activated, and there were extraordinary knights patrolling outside the estate.
However, the knights patrolled only the periter and didn’t enter the estate.
In other words, there was no surveillance.
This was reasonable since this wasn’t an enemy country to the Starfall Kingdom, and there were no conflicting interests between the two nations.
Charlotte’s curiosity still lay with the Shedite bloodbornes she sensed at the banquet.
A hoarse cat’s ow echoed, followed by the thud of sothing heavy landing beside Charlotte.
Charlotte didn’t turn around but set down her goblet and said,
“Do you always prefer the windowsill?”
“Uh, ow, it’s a habit, Lady Charlotte. I’ll change next ti.”
It was the black cat, Nice.
Charlotte glanced at him and then asked,
“Found it?”
Nice nodded.
“Yes, found it. Just as in my simulation, it’s located in an abandoned ruin seventeen kiloters northeast of Cataglia.”
“And Albrecht? Why hasn’t he returned with you?”
Charlotte asked.
“He… he’s still investigating inside the Ancient Temple.”
To explain, Charlotte had chosen Cataglia as the entry point to the Yunette Peninsula not just because it was the capital of the Luna Coast City-State.
According to Nice’s model, the Ancient Temple of the Luna Coast City-State was near Cataglia.
After Charlotte’s landing, she dispatched Nice and Albrecht to investigate, even giving Nice a trace of her blood divine power for local sensing.
“You didn’t summon directly and instead returned separately while he continued investigating. Did sothing go wrong there?”
Charlotte continued to ask.
Nice sighed.
“You are right. We did find the ruins, but… they were already emptied.”
“Emptied?”
Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.
“I rember you saying that the Ancient Temple in the Luna Coast City-State hadn’t been discovered.”
She said.
Nice sighed again.
“Theoretically, yes. But it seems… soone got there first. Judging by the damage on the restrictions, it happened not long ago.”
“Albrecht found Shedite Clan markings and remnants of holy power from the Holy Court near the ruins, so… he suspects the Shedite Clan bloodbornes discovered the ruins first but were intercepted by the Holy Court.”
“Shedite clan and the Holy Court, huh…”
Charlotte recalled the three bloodbornes spying on her at the banquet, wondering if Sebastian had caught them.
After so thought, she nodded.
“Let’s go. Show .”
“Uh… you want to go personally? Shouldn’t I disguise and go instead?”
Nice asked.
Charlotte shook her head.
“No need. The Luna Coast City-State follows the rules.”
With Nice guiding and Albrecht as the locator, Charlotte soon arrived at the ruins they had discovered.
Countless bats swirled at the shattered entrance, quickly coalescing into Charlotte’s form.
“Your Majesty True Ancestor!”
Albrecht, who had been inford and was waiting at the entrance, bowed respectfully.
Charlotte nodded slightly and asked.
“How is it?”
Albrecht shook his head.
“Everything has been thoroughly emptied. I’m afraid the Faceless Statue you seek has also been taken.”
Charlotte frowned.
She had chosen this route specifically for the Faceless Statue. Though she had suspected the worst after Nice’s report, she still held a glimr of hope.
“Did you find anything else?”
Charlotte asked.
Albrecht hesitated, his expression ambiguous.
“It seems that the local Shedite Clan discovered the ruins first. They… might have reached an agreent with the Holy Court.”
“Oh? What makes you say that?”
“Although there’s residual holy power in the ruins, there’s no sign of a battle. The tis of the holy power and Shedite markings are close, indicating they cooperated. Apparently… they didn’t oppose each other.”
“Has there been no news from the Blood Demon Cult?”
Charlotte frowned.
Albrecht sighed.
“Your Majesty, this… probably has nothing to do with the Cult.”
“Oh? Nothing to do with the Cult? Didn’t you find Shedite markings? And I rember, the Luna Coast City-State was once a base for the Blood Demon Cult.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
Albrecht explained.
“As you said, that was in the past. That was hundreds of years ago. The bloodbornes in the Luna Coast City-State cut ties with the Cult over a century ago. Now, they are just bloodbornes with dark bloodlines.”
Charlotte’s heart stirred.
“Oh? Are you suggesting that the bloodbornes of the Luna Coast City-State… might have allied with the Holy Court?”
Albrecht nodded.
“Though it sounds unbelievable, there is indeed such a rumor within the Cult.”
Charlotte fell into deep thought.
She recalled the mory she had read from Albrecht, “searching” for details and finding there really was such a thing.
This indeed surprised her.
The Holy Court and Bloodborne were mortal enemies.
Alliance? Impossible, at least to any devout believer.
However, nothing is absolutely impossible.
Charlotte had already turned Harald from another tiline into a bloodborne during the last embrace. In a sense, the Holy Court might indeed be an extension of the blood clans…
“Your Majesty, should we continue investigating or… track the recent movents of the Holy Court?”
Albrecht asked.
Charlotte pondered. The three bloodborne presences she sensed at the banquet resurfaced in her mind.
After a mont of contemplation, she said,
“Let’s return first. We’ll wait and see. Maybe… Sebastian will bring us so other information.”
As if in response to Charlotte’s command, the mont she finished speaking, she heard Sebastian’s prayer.
The three Shedite bloodbornes spying on her had been captured.
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