NOVEL WEB Chapter 613: Escape_2
"Could it be... the people from Red Lilac?"
"But since the Prince's ritual has been denied by the Roman Sword, the ritual has already failed. Is there any point in them taking action now? And... according to the intentions of the Roman Sword, it seems that the person who truly activates the Book of Contract may be more in line with the Divine Artifact's criteria."
"The Prince was about to reveal Castel's name when he was silenced. Could that be... the reason for the Prince's assassination?"
"But... that doesn't make sense either, given that Count Castel remains unharmed..."
The Nobles were not foolish.
After some whispering among themselves, the more astute among them quickly grasped the truth, while others were left with even more doubts.
However, regarding the true contract holder, the Nobles already had a vague answer in their hearts...
"Speaking of which... I have heard a rumor that the Countess married by the previous generation of the Castel family, was a member of the Royal Family of the Falling Star Kingdom."
A Noble said uncertainly.
"A member of the Falling Star Kingdom's Royal Family?"
Others pondered thoughtfully.
"Go back and check the identity of the Countess of the previous Count Castel."
Some of the sharper Nobles quietly ordered their attendants.
Meanwhile, an elder of the Roman family, who watched Charlotte depart, slowly withdrew his gaze.
He sighed deeply, commanding a nearby knight:
"Inform the Royal Capital of today's events and the Prince's tragic news through the Mage Tower; as for what to do next... let His Majesty decide."
...
Charlotte returned to the inn with Odosia.
By the time she arrived, Yulster was already there waiting.
"Lord... Lord Castel..."
He quickly paid his respects with great reverence.
Charlotte noticed his expression was somewhat somber.
She had a premonition and asked:
"The one who killed Prince Henry... was it your people?"
Yulster hesitated for a moment, then nodded:
"Judging by the aura... it seems so. It appears to have been Elder Alek of the Moon God Island faction..."
Saying this, as if worried that Charlotte might misunderstand, Yulster quickly added:
"True Ancestor! This was not in our plans. The Nais Clan had no intention to kill Prince Henry... Even if he had declared you as the true contract holder, the Nais Clan had no plans to be your enemy."
"This... Either it was the independent action of Elder Alek or a decision made by the Moon God Island faction. It has nothing to do with the Falling Star faction!"
Charlotte was somewhat surprised by Yulster's words.
She gave Yulster a peculiar look:
"It seems like there's instability within the Nais Clan itself."
Yulster, momentarily at a loss for words, conceded this fact.
It was well-known among the Bloodline that the Nais Clan was divided between the Falling Star and Moon God Island factions.
After closing her eyes and sensing the state of Albrecht, Charlotte spoke:
"Never mind, I don't care to get involved in this mess. I have some matters to attend to; make sure no one disturbs me." The most up‑to‑date version is on M4VLEMP4YR.
Yulster respectfully replied with an affirmative and withdrew after bowing.
Charlotte ordered Odosia to lock the door and stand guard outside, then entered her own room to connect with the Blood Holy Scripture and delve into her consciousness.
The Ancestor ritual had been interrupted, but her purpose for this trip was not yet achieved.
She wanted to check on Albrecht's situation and see if there was a chance to take the fully awakened Roman Sword into her possession.
If it were just an ordinary Divine Artifact, she might have fulfilled her agreement with the Nais Clan and watched them take back the Roman Sword. But if the Roman Sword itself was crafted by the Faceless Divine Statue... that was a different matter altogether.
...
In the Northern Land of the Romany Duchy, at a secret base of the Nais Clan.
Members of the Nais Bloodline in black robes gathered here, ready for action.
Accompanied by spatial fluctuations, a red circular Array slowly emerged, and a tall figure stumbled out of it, appearing in front of the Bloodline members.
It was a Cold Ice Elf with silver-blue hair.
However, unlike other Cold Ice Elves, his eyes were crimson, and under his faint breathing, two sharp fangs were visible.
This was a Bloodline Elf.
At this moment, the elf appeared to be quite disheveled.
He bore multiple sword wounds on his body, and it seemed that some powerful force lingered in the injuries, preventing the undulating flesh from healing the wounds no matter how his body tried to repair itself.
However, the Bloodline Elf seemed to pay little mind to his condition.
His eyes were bright as he looked around at the Bloodline, eager to test them:
"How ready are you…?"
"Lord Alek, everything is prepared, we can activate the Sealing Array at any moment!"
The Bloodline replied respectfully.
"Very good! Prepare to take action, it's going to chase after us soon,"
the Bloodline Elf said.
As his voice fell, another red Array slowly emerged in the void.
The Bloodline's expressions quickly became tense and solemn, all readying themselves to act.
But in the next moment, a slender voice came through the Array:
"Alek! You madman! Why did you kill Prince Henry!"
The Array's glow flickered as Duke Yoroc's figure slowly appeared.
Upon recognizing Duke Yoroc, the Bloodline all paused in shock:
"Lord Yoroc?"
Yoroc did not turn to the other Bloodline but fixed a hard stare on the nonchalant Bloodline Elf:
"Alek, I need an explanation!"
"An explanation? Lord Yoroc, I should be asking you. By allowing Castel to attend the ancestral recognition ceremony, are you eager for the Nais Clan to be infiltrated by the mythical being from the North?"
the Bloodline Elf chuckled, retorting.
Duke Yoroc's expression darkened:
"The cooperation with the North was a decision passed by the Elder Council. As for you, why act on your own initiative?"
"Don't you realize your actions could potentially ruin our Returning Star Plan!"
The Bloodline Elf chuckled again:
"So what? At least it's better than being infiltrated without realizing it. With Lord Cosy in slumber, the Nais Clan doesn't have the resources to stand against other mythical forces."
"You…!"
"Now, now, Lord Yoroc, take it easy. The Roman Sword is going to catch up soon. Though it can't use Teleportation Magic like us, I've been marked—after all, a Divine Artifact is a Divine Artifact, and we should prepare carefully for its retrieval."
Duke Yoroc glanced at the surrounding Bloodline and narrowed his eyes slightly:
"Are you planning to use force?"
"Hehe, it's quite furious right now, persuasion might not work. It's best to be fully prepared."
"Alek, I must tell you, today's ceremony seemed off; its power may not be as easy to control as you imagine."
"Are you suggesting it has regained strength? Hehe, Lord Yoroc, for all these years it hasn't managed to recover through the offerings of Roman descendants; one ceremony won't change much. Remember… only we can help it recover,"
the Bloodline Elf said, smiling.
Duke Yoroc furrowed his brow, about to say something more, when a silver radiance, carrying a furious pressure from afar, approached rapidly, accompanied by an angry roar:
"Nais! Halt right there!"
Watching the sharp silver light that nearly split the entire sky in two and feeling the vast, horrifying pressure—many times stronger than at the ceremony site—Duke Yoroc's eyes widened.
He made a quick comparison in his mind and suddenly felt that he might not be able to withstand even a few rounds against this enraged Divine Artifact...
In pursuit, the aura of the Roman Sword seemed to grow stronger and stronger!
Duke Yoroc swallowed subconsciously:
"Alek… are you really confident you can control it in its current state?"
However, the Bloodline Elf behind him did not respond.
Duke Yoroc turned around in confusion, only to see the Bloodline Elf's figure had vanished, leaving only a frenziedly fleeing black shadow and the Bloodline standing there, bewildered.
Duke Yoroc: …
"Alek! You bastard!"
he bellowed in anger.
"Lord Yoroc… do we still… set up the Array?"
asked the Bloodline, stiffly.
"Set up my ass! Run for it!"
Feeling the implicit lock of the Roman Sword, Duke Yoroc spat out, then also hurriedly fled into the distance…