Gospel of Blood-Chapter 581 : The Vanished Bloodbornes

In the western part of Cataglia City, within a dilapidated underground drainage system.

In the dim corridor, a swarm of black bats continuously gathered and transformed into Charlotte.

“Master, you have arrived.”

Sebastian greeted, dressed in a tailcoat, with a respectful bow.

Charlotte nodded slightly, then looked around.

What met her eyes was a small hideout similar to the underground base of the Rose Society in Borde City.

However, unlike the well-maintained Rose Society base located in a manor, this hideout in the sewers was more filthy and decrepit.

The moss growing on the ground and the thick layer of dust on the clutter indicated that this place had been abandoned for a long time.

“Where are they?”

Charlotte withdrew her gaze and asked.

This was obviously the end of Sebastian’s pursuit. However, contrary to the message Sebastian had conveyed, she did not sense anyone else’s presence.

Sebastian’s face was grim. He stepped aside, revealing a pile of ashes behind him.

Charlotte frowned.

“Dead?”

“Yes, they were burned by the holy flame. It was… self-immolation.”

Sebastian said.

“Holy flame? Do you mean to say that they had a restriction left by the Holy Court inside them?”

Charlotte asked.

Sebastian nodded, his expression complex.

“Yes, when I used magic to forcibly read their memories, holy flame ignited on them, and they… praised the holy as they turned to ashes.”

“Your Majesty, it seems the rumors are true. The bloodbornes of the Luna Coast City-State have indeed been recruited by the Holy Court. Not only that, but the Holy Court also seems to be starting to suspect your true identity.”

Albrecht, who had followed, sighed.

Charlotte remained quiet.

She had already had two confrontations with “Helios.”

If the Holy Court had indeed been infiltrated by the other side, it was normal for them to know her secret.

However, even if the Holy Court had been infiltrated, it was likely only partially. Otherwise, there would be no need to monitor or test her in this manner.

At the very least, these bloodbornes were not sent by “Helios.”

If they were, they would know that using bloodbornes to track her, the Bloodborne Progenitor, was no different from offering themselves up as a sacrifice.

Bloodbornes proficient in dark magic were indeed suitable for surveillance and tracking, but only if the target was not her.

“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 tell you to keep them for me to handle personally.”

With that, she closed her eyes lightly, seemingly lost in meditation.

“Lady Charlotte, although these few bloodbornes are dead, there must be other bloodbornes who have defected to the Holy Court in Cataglia City. Perhaps we can start from here and further investigate their secrets.”

Nice suggested from the side.

Albrecht also nodded.

“I agree, Your Majesty. Although I haven’t been here for a few years, I still know a few bloodbornes hiding here, including a duke.”

“The duke lives in a very low-key ancient castle on the outskirts of the city. Apart from a very few bloodbornes like me, few people know his true identity. He is not a member of the Shadite Clan but belongs to the Szellem Clan, which is less hostile to the Bloodborne Progenitor. He also holds a noble title and has good relations with some priests. Perhaps… we can seek his help to gather information.”

“Of course, if you are willing, we can go further. With your power and status, I believe you can even recruit him.”

Charlotte slowly opened her eyes and shook her head.

“No need. I have already sensed it. These ashes… were the only bloodbornes left in Cataglia City.”

“The only bloodbornes? How is that possible?”

Albrecht’s face was filled with shock.

His expression changed several times before he couldn’t help but say,

“Your Majesty, I…”

“You want to go to those bloodbornes’ hiding places to check?”

Charlotte asked first.

Albrecht nodded.

“Yes, I… want to investigate.”

“Let’s go together. I am also curious about what exactly happened here.”

Charlotte said.

Leaving the underground drainage system, Charlotte followed Albrecht to the residences of the bloodbornes he knew.

More precisely, they went to the ancient castle suggested by Albrecht.

It was late, and the pitch-black moonlit night was perfect for concealing their presence.

Following Albrecht out of the main city to the outskirts, they quickly arrived at the ancient castle where the Blood Duke supposedly resided.

No… it was no longer an ancient castle.

“How can this be? This… this is…”

Albrecht stared in disbelief at the ruins before him.

Nice stepped forward and cast several flickering spells before stepping back.

“Lady Charlotte, the retrospection spell shows that this place was destroyed less than two months ago.”

“Less than two months…”

Charlotte pondered for a moment.

After some thought, she said, “Sebastian, Nice, Albrecht, when we return, investigate whether anything significant happened in Cataglia City… no, in the Luna Coast City-State, over the past two months.”

“Your Majesty, aren’t we going to check other places?”

Albrecht couldn’t help but ask.

Charlotte glanced at him.

“Do you think it’s necessary?”

Albrecht was silent. If the Duke’s castle had been leveled, the other bloodborne hideouts… could be imagined.

…

The night passed quickly.

With the new day, Charlotte received invitation after invitation from the Luna Coast City-State nobles—banquets, salons, and various events. Of course, Charlotte declined them all, citing health issues and limited time.

Half a day later, her three followers finished their investigation and reported back to Charlotte.

“Your Majesty, we have completed the investigation. Two months ago, the Holy Court conducted a large-scale hunt for bloodbornes in the Luna Coast City-State, capturing many bloodbornes who were posing as nobles…”

“About a month and a half ago, Cataglia City was once sealed off. There were rumors of a battle involving Legendary-tier extraordinaries in the suburbs, but specific information was blocked by the Holy Court.”

Albrecht reported solemnly.

“Your Majesty, it was the Holy Court.”

Charlotte’s expression also became serious.

This outcome did not surprise her. In fact, she could even guess that behind this blow to the bloodborne was probably the handiwork of “Helios.”

After all, two months ago, she had not yet returned from another dimension, while “Helios” had been driven back by her.

However, Charlotte was puzzled as to how the Holy Court could know the hiding places of the bloodbornes so well. The bloodbornes were adept at hiding, especially in places with strong church power like the Yunette Peninsula.

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The hiding bloodbornes would be even more cautious. Yet, the Holy Court was able to wipe out the bloodbornes in less than half a month, which seemed incredible.

In Charlotte’s view, this would be difficult to achieve even with insiders, almost as if they had divine insight.

“Perhaps… they used the power of a sacred artifact. The Holy Court is the strongest church on the continent, and they have collected countless sacred artifacts over the millennia. They might possess artifacts capable of tracking.”

Nice suggested.

Artifacts capable of tracking…

Charlotte furrowed her brows deeper.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of artifact would have such power to enable the Holy Court to find all the hidden bloodbornes.

The Gospel of Blood could, but that was a supreme artifact of the bloodborne.

But the Holy Court did it. At least, she could not sense any bloodborne presence nearby except for them.

Although she wasn’t much afraid of the power of artifacts with the Gospel of Blood in hand, she still sensed a conspiracy.

Moreover, just like the invitations to the inauguration ceremony, she felt that this conspiracy was likely directed at her.

Thinking of this, Charlotte looked in the direction of the Theocracy and then closed her eyes.

She immersed herself in her consciousness, opened the Gospel of Blood, and summoned the Crimson Star Sea representing the bloodbornes.

One by one, the colorful crimson stars appeared.

However, in Charlotte’s perception, a large area around her was empty.

Throughout the Luna Coast City-State… there wasn’t a single bloodborne.

However, when Charlotte looked further at the Star Sea, she saw dense stars again.

That was the direction of the Theocracy.

Yet, these stars seemed to be shrouded in some kind of fog, making them unclear.

Even the bloodline connection between Charlotte and these stars seemed vague, as if blocked by some power.

Charlotte couldn’t even summon them into her mental world. Many bloodbornes had been captured by the Holy Court and imprisoned, concentrated in the Theocracy.

Charlotte quickly reached this conclusion.

After sensing for a moment, she opened her eyes.

“Master, did you… discover anything?”

Sebastian asked.

Charlotte nodded and said,

“If my perception is correct, the bloodbornes on the Yunette Peninsula should have all been captured by the Holy Court and concentrated in the Theocracy.”

“All the bloodbornes on the peninsula were captured? That’s impossible!”

Albrecht exclaimed.

“Nothing is impossible.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“Sebastian, inform the envoy group that after resting, we will continue our journey to the Theocracy in the afternoon.”

She ordered.

After a moment’s hesitation, she looked at them again.

“The Holy Court probably has a sacred artifact capable of tracking the bloodbornes, likely related to bloodlines. For safety, I will temporarily seal your bloodline powers.”