Chapter 216: The Blood Demon Cult and the Nez Elder Council


    "I know about the Nez n. This matter rtes to decisions made by their upper echelons, and they will likely halt their infiltration of the Northern Lands for the time being."


    Charlotte pondered for a moment and then spoke.


    Decisions by Nez''s upper echelons?


    Sebas felt a slight stir in his heart.


    Reflecting on the attack on the Count''s estate and the usual tactics of the Nez n, he began to form some suspicions.


    "Sebastian, what about that Blood Demon Cult member just now?"


    Charlotte asked.


    Sebastian''s expression grew solemn.


    "Master, I was just about to report on this. After conducting further covert investigations in the nearby cities, we found that those nobles who had allied with the bloodline were not only coborating with the Nez n but also had connections to the Blood Demon Cult!""The Blood Demon Cult has also infiltrated the Northern Lands, but I am currently unsure of the extent of their infiltration. However, based on the traces left by the Nez n, it appears they are cooperating with the Blood Demon Cult."


    "Though, it seems there has been a conflict between the Nez n and the Blood Demon Cult, which might be rted to the Nez n''s retreat. We discovered signs of their battles during our investigations, including traces of dragon breath at the scene."


    "After discovering the presence of a dragon, I decided to withdraw the team, but during the retreat, we were attacked by that Blood Demon Cultist and the ck dragon, forcing us to organize a defense in the old castle..."


    Nez n''s infiltration of Castell involving the Blood Demon Cult?


    Charlotte frowned slightly upon hearing Sebastian''s report, yet felt a sense of realization.


    When investigating Castell’s silver mine, she had noticed that the necromancy used by the bloodborne named Gikode neither matched the Nez n’s style nor the documented techniques of the Vadat n. Instead, it bore the distinct characteristics of the Blood Demon Cult.


    Combining this with Sebastian’s findings, she now understood the situation—there was an involvement from the Blood Demon Cult.


    However, the reason behind the Nez n''s cooperation with the cult remained unclear. Was it a desperate measure or something else?


    From her in-depth exchanges with Nez and the recent investigations into the noble circles within her domain, Charlotte had roughly discerned the Nez n’s motives.


    After the Lc War, the Nez n faced severe survival challenges in the Starfall Kingdom. They were likely preparing to counter-attack the current ruling family supported by the Holy Court, aiming to regain their influence.


    In other words, the Nez bloodborne might be secretly preparing for a second Lc War.


    As for the role the Blood Demon Cult yed in this, Charlotte was unsure. Considering the cult''s usual objectives, it likely involved summoning the Bloodborne Archduke or destabilizing the Crescent Kingdom''s regime.


    The Blood Demon Cult... always eager to create chaos and disrupt order, it was the biggest dark force and source of disorder on the Crescent Penins.


    Charlotte thought for a moment and then asked.


    "Which city were you investigating, and who is the lord there?"


    Sebastian respectfully answered.


    "Master, it was Nord City, and the lord is Devon de Griss."


    "Griss family?"


    Charlotte''s gaze flickered.


    "Yes."


    Sebas nodded.


    "Griss, huh..."


    Charlotte lightly drummed her fingers on the armrest of the Blood Throne, her mind conjuring up the image of that Lady Viscountess Laura from the Griss family.


    "Master, have you thought of something?"


    Sebastian asked, noticing Charlotte’s thoughtful expression.


    Charlotte gently shook her head.


    "Not much, just pondering a question. When that Lady Viscountess of the Griss family sought an audience with me, she imed she was framed by the Leon-Castell family and attacked by the bloodbornes. At the time, I thought it was a tactic by the Nez n to bnce the power among Castell''s noble families. But now, it seems... it might not be the case."


    Sebastian''s heart skipped a beat.


    "Are you suspecting the involvement of the Blood Demon Cult?"


    "We cannot rule out that possibility."


    Charlotte considered.


    "Should we investigate the Griss family?"


    Sebastian inquired.


    "No rush. We are already in the process of scrutinizing the entire domain. Viscount Leon-Castell has started his investigations, and the Griss family is a crucial part of this. Before concluding investigations on other noble families, we shouldn''t pressure them too early. Besides, we don’t fully understand the Lady Viscountess'' true stance."


    "However, with the Nez n''s retreat, the Griss family might also react ordingly."


    "Let’s observe their next moves for now."


    Charlotte advised.


    Among the three major forces in Castell''s domain—the once prestigious Leon-Castell, the mostly sea-focused Roman-Four, and the militarily powerful Griss family—the Griss family was undoubtedly the strongest.


    Charlotte had always nned to deal with the Griss familyst.


    She assessed that if the domain’s nobles united to resist her, the g bearer would likely be Griss, as no other family had such prestige and power.


    Charlotte''s inspection actions were bound to face opposition from the nobles, especially the major ones.


    Pressuring the Griss family too much could escte the situation and even lead to war.


    Charlotte wasn''t aiming to exterminate the nobles, just to ensure their loyalty and reim the powers they had seized during the Castell family’s absence.


    War, being an extension of politics and thest resort, would inevitably damage the livelihood of Castell''s people and should be avoided if possible.


    However, if the Blood Demon Cult was truly involved with the Griss family...


    It might present a different scenario altogether.


    With this in mind, Charlottemanded.


    "Sebastian, withdraw the guards to the Silver Mine City, then monitor the Griss family covertly. Report any issues to me immediately."


    "At yourmand."


    Sebastian bowed respectfully.


    "And remember, don''t be too reckless. Safety first."


    Charlotte reminded.


    "Sebastian... understood!"


    Sebastian adopted an even more respectful and submissive posture.


    "Alright then, that''s about it for now. Call on me when there is more news."


    Charlotte said with a smile.


    With that, she waved her hand, and crimson mist began to spread throughout the dark night castle. Sebastian sensed a familiar force repelling him from all directions.


    His consciousness blurred as if traversing time and space. When the mist cleared, he had returned to the real world.


    Taking a deep breath, Sebastian stood up and exited the inner hall of the old castle. He then instructed the Castell guards who had apanied him.


    "Ry the order: Rest for half an hour, then we head to Silver Mine City."


    ...


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    In a ck temple.


    The temple was circr, surrounded by a ring of tall stone pirs. Each pir was engraved with ancient and mysterious carvings depicting constetions and fate, and beyond the pirsy an endless, starry sky.


    At the very back of the temple floated an ancient, dpidated stone door emitting a ghostly blue light. In front of the door stood arge conference table.


    A tall shadow stood in front of the conference table.


    His crimson gaze was fixed on the closed stone door, deep and far-reaching. After a long sigh, he turned around, sweeping his eyes over the three other shadows standing around the table.


    Seeing only the three shadows, he frowned slightly and said in a deep voice.


    "Only you three came?"


    His gaze lingered on one particrly tall shadow.


    "Alec, where are the other elders from Luna Ind?"


    The tall shadow smiled casually and said.


    "Grand Elder, the two old folks on the ind are not interested in this kind of meeting, so I had toe alone as their representative."


    The Grand Elder''s frown deepened.


    He nced at Alec and said lightly.


    "Tell them to stop tinkering with their nts. They are elves, but they are also part of the Nez. The Starfall and Luna Ind lineages are one. When the Day of Divinity''s Descentes, the Moon Goddess won''t be able to protect them. Only the grace of Lord Casey can shield us."


    Then, the Grand Elder looked at another shadow, who appeared quite old and stooped.


    Before he could speak, the old shadow spoke first.


    "Grand Elder, the other three elders have not yet awakened..."


    The Grand Elder sighed deeply.


    "Let them continue to sleep then. They did suffer greatly in the Lc War."


    Turning his attention to thest of the three shadows, he said.


    "Yorok, tell us, did something happen in the Roman Duchy or Castell?"


    "Grand Elder, indeed as you said, there have been some changes on my end..."


    Duke Yorok gave a slight bow and recounted everything that had transpired in Castell and his divination results.


    "Thorny roses? A holy symbol? Yorok, are you joking? This Coria pattern is everywhere. If it were truly a holy symbol of some God, why has no one discovered it for hundreds of years, only for you to find it now?"


    Among the three, the old stooped shadow frowned and said.


    Duke Yorok nced at him and said.


    "Maxim, if you don''t believe it, you can divinate it yourself."


    "However, without the sacred artifact bestowed by Lord Casey, I can''t guarantee what will happen."


    Maxim''s shadow gave him a deep look, then turned to the Grand Elder.


    "Grand Elder, whether or not there is a resurrected God, I believe we cannot give up Castell."


    "Castell''s power is indispensable to the Returning Star n. Controlling Castell will severely damage the Starfall royal family''s trade with the continent. We can control the Star-Moon Strait, preventing even the Holy Court''s fleet fromnding on the Starfall Ind!"


    Duke Yorok frowned and said.


    "Maxim, I have already reported my divination results. It is not a newly resurrected God but likely a god who has slumbered for hundreds of years. My divination has warned me that opposing it could bring disaster to our Nez."


    Maxim shook his head.


    "Yorok, divination results can be interpreted in many ways. Yours is not necessarily correct. Moreover, affected divinations might be erroneous, as time and again has been proven."


    "I do not find your reasons sufficient, or are you suggesting we abandon the Starfall Kingdom to avoid conflict with the Holy Court and move to the Eastern Yteds?"


    Hearing Maxim''s words, Duke Yorok''s expression darkened.


    "Maxim, are you using me of finding excuses to retreat?"


    "Isn''t that the case?"


    Maxim nced at him.


    Duke Yorok snorted coldly.


    "Havingmitted to the Returning Star n, I will not abandon it halfway. I merely wish to avoid adding another foreign God to our enemies, making an already precarious situation even worse!"


    Maxim shook his head.


    "An affected divination result is not necessarily from a God. Our sess in the Returning Star n has been smooth. If this were a God who has been dormant for hundreds of years, why were our prior calctions so sessful?"


    "Or are you suggesting we convene the Elder Council again for another joint divination?"


    "Yorok, given your rtionship with Eugenia, are you trying to use this to plead for that traitor?"


    Duke Yorok''s expression changed instantly.


    He coldly red at Maxim and said.


    "Maxim, watch your words! She is the Holy Maiden of our Nez!"


    Maxim snorted coldly.


    He was about to retort but fell silent at the Grand Elder''s calmmand.


    "Silence!"


    "Grand Elder, this concerns Nez''s future. Please decide!"


    Yorok bowed to the Grand Elder.


    The Grand Elder did not immediately reply.


    He closed his eyes lightly, faint starlight flickering around him as if divining something.


    The bloodborne elders watched him in silence, their hearts stirred.


    The Nez n excelled in divination.


    Aside from the traitorous former Holy Maiden Eugenia, the Grand Elder was the highest diviner in the n.


    After a moment, the starlight around the Grand Elder faded. He opened his eyes, his crimson gaze deep and distant.


    "Grand Elder, what is the result?"


    Maxim asked curiously.


    The Grand Elder''s gaze swept around the circle, and after a moment of silence, he said.


    "Notify everyone to dispose of all items with thorn and rose patterns."


    Maxim''s eyes widened, and Duke Yorok visibly rxed, letting out a sigh of relief.


    However, as he started to rx, the Grand Elder stopped him.


    "Yorok, Castell is crucial to the Returning Star n and cannot be abandoned. Since you are in charge of Castell''s affairs, you must bear this responsibility..."


    He looked at Yorok.


    "I trust you understand my meaning?"


    Yorok:...