Gospel of Blood

“To rescue her descendants from the bloodline curse?”

Charlotte was deep in thought.

After organizing Sigurd’s memories and considering the presence of the Northern barrier along with the various information she had previously obtained, Charlotte had a clearer guess about the Crimson Queen’s purpose.

If her judgment was correct, the Crimson Queen Rowena might want to completely solve the bloodline curse of the bloodbornes.

This likely wasn’t just aimed at the Harcos Clan but also at herself.

Perhaps… the restrictions over the Northern regions were not only to suppress other potential mythic entities but also to suppress the bloodline of the Crimson Queen herself.

In Sigurd’s memories, the Queen’s Palace had been collecting Myria Old Gods’ fragments for centuries.

These fragments contained the powers of the Old Gods, some even being fragments of divine core.

Based on her own experience becoming a Demigod, Charlotte guessed that this might be the Crimson Queen Rowena attempting to circumvent the bloodborne bloodline to ascend to Godhood by other means.

Having sorted out her thoughts, Charlotte also had a clearer understanding of the Harcos Clan as a whole.

However, there was still one question she couldn’t quite figure out.

Since the Crimson Queen Rowena was very likely trying to ascend to Godhood by other means and was clearly suppressing the bloodborne bloodline, then… why did she personally issue a divine decree, sending this team to the Free Tribe Alliance to seize the Faceless Statue, which contains the blood divine power and divine laws?

Moreover, according to the orders Sigurd received, it was “imperative” to obtain it.

Or perhaps, the Faceless Statue had another use for the Crimson Queen?

Charlotte had no clues for the time being.

However, although she had no clue about the Crimson Queen’s specific purpose, her next action plan became relatively clear as a result.

“This bloodborne squad is too weak, and now that I know their plan, their threat to the Free Tribe Alliance is also relatively limited. Plus, Albrecht is nearby, so I only need to remind Sebastian to retrieve the Faceless Statue and establish a connection of faith with the Free Tribe Alliance, which shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Continue with the plan, and after successfully establishing the connection of faith, inform the Starfall Kingdom to assist the Free Tribe Alliance in their migration.”

“As for this Harcos team… I can handle it myself.”

“However… there’s no need for me to rush off. The remaining power of Harcos is much weaker than I imagined. The fact that the Crimson Queen Rowena hasn’t shown herself for three hundred years and only gives orders through divine decrees is also strange. Perhaps… I can take this opportunity to delve into their ‘Sanctuary’ for some investigation.”

“From the memories I retrieved, the Harcos Clan, far removed from the mainland’s conflicts, is relatively pure compared to other bloodborne clans. They weren’t the main force in the historical rebellion against the True Ancestor. Moreover, the fear of the True Ancestor’s return in this bloodborne’s memory is even less than that of the Nez Clan’s bloodbornes. On the contrary… they fear the bloodline curse of the bloodbornes the most…”

“They are more wary than hostile towards the ‘prince’ behind the Starfall Kingdom…”

“The attitudes of believers often come from their Gods and are usually more ‘extreme.’ If the Harcos bloodbornes are like this, then… the Crimson Queen Rowena herself might not be impossible to communicate with.”

“Maybe, while investigating the specific situation of the Harcos Clan, I can even try to visit them in an official capacity as a representative of the Starfall Kingdom…”

“Of course, the premise is to hide my blood divine power well, change the aura of my bloodline power, and present myself as a God’s favored of a prince.”

Charlotte pondered.

This idea was somewhat bold.

But considering that the Crimson Queen Rowena hadn’t shown herself for three hundred years and her attention to the Harcos Clan wasn’t as high as Charlotte imagined, she felt this approach was quite feasible.

She had a vague premonition that perhaps… from the Harcos Clan, she could learn some information about the division of the bloodborne clans back then, and even investigate the truth about Lilith’s “disappearance.”

Going further… she might even get to meet the Crimson Queen Rowena herself.

The biggest risk in this would be the exposure of her identity.

But considering that the Crimson Queen was likely deliberately suppressing her own bloodline power, her sensitivity to the bloodborne bloodline would also significantly decrease. Charlotte felt this risk was controllable.

The Crimson Queen was a Demigod, and so was she. Even if communication didn’t go well, escaping would still be possible.

And if the Crimson Queen hadn’t shown herself for three hundred years due to some problem with herself, or if Charlotte’s own power could completely suppress her, then… maybe there was a chance to take this opportunity to subdue the Harcos Clan.

After all, based on the memories she retrieved, aside from the Crimson Queen Rowena, the mysterious Harcos Clan’s remaining mobilizable power might even be less than the Nez Clan’s.

Of course, the idea was beautiful, but Charlotte felt that its actual implementation might be very small.

The Harcos Clan’s rejection of the bloodline curse must have some reason she didn’t know. Even if she really wanted to subdue the Harcos Clan, she might have to first figure out the real reason why the Harcos Clan had become the way they were.

Thinking of this, Charlotte looked again at the bloodborne in front of her who had fallen into a deep sleep.

Previously, she didn’t dare to act rashly because she was worried about attracting the attention of the Crimson Queen.

Now, knowing that the Crimson Queen hadn’t been managing things much for three hundred years, Charlotte became much bolder.

After a brief hesitation, she mobilized her magic, casting a transformative spell, and took on Sigurd’s appearance. Then she swaggered towards the bloodborne camp.

“Why did it take you so long?”

Seeing the returning “Sigurd”, Sophia frowned slightly.

She was about to scold him, but then she saw that “Sigurd’s” eyes had turned a deep golden color.

Sophia was slightly taken aback.

Before she could say anything, a strong drowsiness overwhelmed her…

Soon, she joined Sigurd in unconsciousness.

Moments later…

Looking at the bloodbornes lying all over the ground, Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the Crimson Queen’s attention was indeed not high. Even putting so many bloodbornes into a “sleep” didn’t attract her attention.

Of course, this might also be because Charlotte didn’t forcibly control their minds, leave a mark on their souls, or trigger their bloodline power while avoiding probing it.

Looking at the bloodbornes lying all over the ground, Charlotte fell into deep thought.

Letting these bloodbornes go to the Free Tribe Alliance was definitely unrealistic.

If they found out her goal was to establish a faith connection with the Free Tribe Alliance, it would be troublesome. These bloodbornes obviously knew who the Free Tribe Alliance worshipped, which would almost blatantly tell them she was the True Ancestor of Blood.

It was strange. These bloodbornes knew that the Free Tribe Alliance worshipped the “True Ancestor of Blood”, but when someone in the Free Tribe Alliance awakened the “Totem Power”, it didn’t arouse their suspicion about the “True Ancestor’s return.”

If Sigurd’s memory could distinguish between the “True Ancestor” and the “Progenitor”, Charlotte would think that the Harcos Clan could tell the difference between her and Lilith.

To be safe, Charlotte didn’t want to confront these bloodbornes directly.

Since she had now confirmed that the Crimson Queen’s attention to these bloodbornes was not as high as she had imagined, Charlotte thought she might try to use the power of “dreams” to weave a fantasy dream for these bloodbornes.

Thinking of this, Charlotte sank into her consciousness and invoked the Gospel of Blood.

The blood divine power surged, further strengthening her 『Divine Ritual Counter』 ability, ready for any external interference. She then activated her divine power and expanded her mental world.

Her powerful mental force enveloped these bloodbornes, connecting to their consciousness and pulling everyone into her mental world…

…

Sophia had a dream.

In her dream, she led the palace guard to the Free Tribe Alliance to carry out a mission. But while resting during their journey, they were suddenly attacked by a mysterious force, causing everyone to fall into a deep sleep.

Sophia suddenly woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

Looking around, the forest was still tranquil, and the palace guards who had followed her from the Sanctuary were still sound asleep.

Sophia frowned slightly but didn’t feel anything was amiss.

Seeing the guards sleeping like logs, she darkened her face and shouted.

“Stop sleeping! Stop sleeping! We’re already very close to our target. Do you want to be discovered?”

“Get up! We need to keep moving!”

Hearing Sophia’s words, the palace guards woke up one by one.

Yawning, they got up and continued following Sophia towards the Free Tribe Alliance.

Their progress went smoothly.

According to the plan, they changed into Northern region residents’ clothes and successfully infiltrated the Free Tribe Alliance’s camp.

The tribe guards didn’t notice their identities, and they passed the inspection easily, entering the depths of the northern canyon.

Following the information provided by the Prophet, they quickly located the temple where the Free Tribe Alliance worshipped their statue and successfully sneaked in.

As their intelligence suggested, the statue the queen needed was enshrined on the central altar of the temple.

They lured the temple guards away and successfully obtained the True Ancestor’s statue before the envoys from the Starfall Kingdom arrived.

However, just as they were about to leave the Free Tribe Alliance and return to the Sanctuary, they were stopped by a mysterious extraordinary being.

This being had power far beyond that of a Blazing Sun.

Sophia’s team was no match for her, and even the statue they had seized was taken.

Under the astonishing magical and mental pressure of this powerful extraordinary being, the Harcos bloodbornes felt their brains swell, becoming drowsy, and their magical power was sealed, causing them to fall to the ground.

Just when everyone was in despair, thinking the mission would fail and they would be killed, the extraordinary being did not strike them down.

The mysterious being suddenly lessened her oppressive force, and the bloodbornes awoke as if from a deep sleep, regaining their consciousness.

They opened their eyes, looking doubtfully at the mysterious figure shrouded in a black cloak before them, completely unaware that everything they had just experienced was a dream.

“I have no intention of being enemies with the Harcos Clan. If you can meet my conditions, I can hand over the statue you seek.”

The mysterious being said.

Sophia’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She rubbed her temples and warily asked.

“Who… exactly are you? What are your conditions?”

The mysterious being removed her hood.

Under the hood was a young and beautiful face, golden hair shining like silk, and blue eyes as pure as the sky.

Seeing the face identical to the one in the clan’s portrait, Sophia’s expression changed slightly.

“You are… the Divine Queen, Charlotte!”

Seeing the suddenly tense blooodbornes, Charlotte smiled slightly.

She picked up her skirt and performed an elegant noble curtsey, then said warmly.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Charlotte de Castell.”

“Queen of Starfall, Lord of Castell, Agent of Nyx, and Contract Holder of the Nez Clan…”

“I come representing my Lord’s will to visit the Harcos Clan to discuss matters related to the Divinity Descent Day.”