CA – Chapter 132
Chapter 132
Three days passed quickly. In the square outside the church, carriages lined up one after another, stretching all the way to the end of the street. Ever since Reese had infuriated her last time, Monica had been deliberately avoiding any contact with her. For the journey to the Central Church, she had planned to ride in the blonde bishop's carriage.
However, just as they were about to depart, Jennifer informed her that the Gosse Church's convoy would be delayed by a day.
Monica's plan fell through, and in the end, she could only reluctantly board Reese's carriage.
When Monica entered the carriage, Reese was already inside, propping her chin on her hand and staring absently out the window. She didn't even turn to look when Monica came in.
The carriage began to move with a gentle sway. Reese's carriage was the most luxurious and comfortable; no matter how bumpy the road, it wouldn't affect the occupants inside. Since getting in, Monica had turned her head to the other side, but she was sizing up Reese from the corner of her eye.
Usually, after she entered the carriage, Reese would have deliberately teased her with a few remarks, provoking her until her temper flared, and the two would bicker back and forth before stopping.
This was the first time she had been so silent.
Monica frowned, leaning back and sitting quietly for a moment, her gaze wandering around before finally settling on the tea set placed at the corner of the table.
She was silent for a moment, then reached out and took out the teapot and stand from the back. Back at the Bill Church, she would occasionally choose a bright and beautiful afternoon to brew a cup of rose tea in the garden and enjoy a moment of leisure.
But only when Reese wasn't at the Bill Church.
The clinking of the tea set made a crisp sound. Reese, lost in thought, was startled for a second. She glanced over, raising an eyebrow in surprise. She stared at Monica for a while before saying with a smile, "I don't really feel like tea right now."
Without looking up, Monica said coolly, "It's not for you."
Reese's lips curved into a light smile, her features softening with tenderness. Her jade-green eyes were like a pool of spring water.
Monica felt a little uncomfortable under Reese's gaze. She looked up expressionlessly and glared at Reese. "What are you looking at me for?"
"We might not have time for tea once we reach the Central Church." Reese's hand, resting on her lap, moved, and she took out a piece of parchment from her Space Gem. She gently caressed the rough surface of the parchment and asked in a low voice, "...Are you afraid?"
Monica was baffled. "Afraid of what?"
Reese chuckled lightly. Instead of explaining, she handed the parchment to Monica.
Monica took it and glanced at it, her tone complicated. "What is the meaning of this?"
The parchment was a letter of appointment to the position of bishop, and her name was written on it.
She had always been suppressed by Reese, losing her chance to go to the Central Church and remaining a mere priest until now. She had been furious about it before, but had since grown indifferent.
Monica didn't care much about these things anymore. She tossed the parchment back and said flatly, "I don't need this."
Reese didn't catch it, and the parchment landed on the table. She glanced down at it. "It has the Holy Daughter's seal. It's already in effect."
Monica: "..."
The teapot began to gurgle, and steam blurred their vision. Monica took the teapot off the stand. After a moment of silence, she said wearily, "When will you ever let me make my own choices?"
Something she had once desperately wanted, she had been forced to give up resentfully because of Reese's obstruction. And now that she no longer wanted it, the person who had blocked her path had tossed it in front of her like a piece of scrap paper, telling her she had to accept it whether she wanted to or not.
What was this? Compensation?
She had waited so long, not for an explanation or a word of apology, but just for this piece of paper?
A surge of anger welled up. Monica glared coldly at Reese, her eyes turning red.
Reese turned her face away, avoiding Monica's gaze. After a long moment, she said in a low voice, "I've prepared a manor for you in the Holy See's domain. Unless you absolutely have to make an appearance, you are to stay in the manor."
Monica stared out the window, expressionless, and didn't respond.
The carriage traveled for a day and a night. When they stopped to rest, a Holy Knight from the Gosse Church caught up to them from behind. Mario brought the man before Reese. The Holy Knight said with a grave tone, "Archbishop Reese, Bishop Grace's carriage was attacked by Black Witches while crossing the Staal River."
Before Reese could speak, Monica, at her side, couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Is Bishop Grace injured?"
"Bishop Grace is missing."
"What?" Monica froze, instinctively looking at Reese.
Reese nodded expressionlessly and gave Mario a look. Mario led the Holy Knight away.
"Grace..." Monica began, but Reese cut her off.
As she boarded the carriage, Reese said flatly, "Mario will send people to investigate the situation. The Pope's orders cannot be defied. We should get going."
Monica glanced back worriedly, then followed Reese into the carriage with a deep frown.
Near the Staal River, rows of carriages were parked on the grass. The horses, still in their harnesses, had been reduced to skeletons. Dark red blood stained the ground, and stark white skeletons were scattered around the carriages. A black mist lingered above, creating a sinister and bizarre scene.
Anyone seeing this would immediately think of cruel and bloody dark magic.
Jennifer stood not far away, looking at the fabricated attack scene with a complicated expression. She said listlessly to the blonde bishop before her, "...Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"Can't you go rescue them after you return from the Central Church?"
The blonde bishop had only informed her the day before their departure that she couldn't go to the Central Church, and had told her to swap out the chosen personnel to create the illusion of an attack.
Having known the blonde bishop for so long, Jennifer had become somewhat numb to her "boldness." Right now, she was just thankful that Tang Qiu had told her beforehand. Otherwise, hearing news at the church that the convoy had been attacked and the bishop was missing would have scared her to death.
"There won't be enough time then." Tang Qiu shook her head slightly.
Jennifer's brow furrowed, and she couldn't help but say, "But..."
Tang Qiu turned, patted Jennifer's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll be back."
"Until I return, I'm leaving the Gosse Church in your hands. Karen will help you if anything comes up."
At Tang Qiu's signal, Karen stepped out from behind her. She took Jennifer's arm and pulled her forward. "Let's go. Those frightened young priests and clerics are waiting for you to comfort them."
Jennifer let herself be dragged for a short distance before breaking free. She rubbed her arm and glanced back. The blonde bishop was walking in the opposite direction, accompanied by a petite figure.
She didn't know who the small, brown-haired girl was, but she had seen that the dark magic, which she instinctively loathed, had come from this person's hands.
A bishop of the Church was privately acquainted with a Black Witch... Jennifer felt conflicted.
Karen glanced at the silent, frowning Jennifer. After a moment's thought, she said, "Bishop Grace has her own principles. The useless regulations of the Church can't bind her."
"There are exceptions among Black Witches, too. Do you really think everyone in the Church is a devout believer dedicated to the light and protecting the continent of Statu?"
Jennifer shot her a look and snorted. "I don't need a lecture from you." An eighteen-year-old knight.
With matters at the church settled, Tang Qiu could head straight for the Gru Empire without any worries. She and Erin left the banks of the Staal River and met up with Lola and Kama, who were waiting nearby.
The Gru Empire was a great distance from the Gosse Empire. To save time, Tang Qiu had Lola force out her werewolf form. At the speed of a werewolf and a vampire, with each of them carrying one person, they could reach the border of the Gru Empire in a day and a night.
After Tang Qiu and Lola left with Kama and Erin, a tall, blonde woman arrived at the banks of the Staal River. She stepped over the scattered bones, walked to a carriage, and pushed open the closed door with a fair hand. Inside was another white skeleton, looking as if its flesh had been devoured by the dark aura.
However, in the blonde woman's eyes, these were clearly just skeletons randomly summoned by a Black Witch.
She withdrew her hand and looked around. Suddenly, she smelled something that made her frown. Her figure flickered, and she passed through a patch of woods, arriving at the spot where Tang Qiu and Lola had just met.
Ophelia sniffed the air, her eyes narrowing slightly. She scanned her surroundings, quickly determined the direction Tang Qiu had gone, and turned to give chase.
Tavis Town, Gru Empire.
Evan placed glass cups filled with fresh blood into his Space Gem one by one. He was quite patient, carefully examining each one before putting it away.
When Delia arrived, her eyes flickered at the sight of Evan. She quickly composed herself, walked to his side, and said in a low voice, "She still refuses to consume the blood."
"Oh?" Evan frowned. If Lucille didn't drink blood, she would grow weak. And if she was weak, her blood's regenerative abilities would also diminish, which was not good news.
He pondered for a moment, then said, "Next time, capture a few humans for her. Let her choose for herself." Some vampires have their own preferences when it comes to blood. At worst, he'd just have to capture more people for her; one of them was bound to satisfy her.
After placing all the glass cups into his Space Gem, he took out a blood-red scroll and handed it to Delia. "I need to return to the Blood Domain. Elder Eden was the one who initiated the creation of hybrids; I'm sure he'll like the gift I'm bringing him."
"You and Claire will stand guard here. If anything happens, use the scroll to summon me." Claire was another of Evan's descendants who was also staying here.
The other fourth-generation vampires had already returned to their own territories.
Delia looked down at the scroll in her hand and nodded. "Yes."
Evan's lips curved. With a wave of his hand, a blood-red vortex appeared before him. He stepped into the vortex, and both he and it vanished.
Delia waited until the vortex disappeared before looking up. She put the scroll into her Space Gem, then went to the room where Lucille was being held. Dismissing the vampire guarding the door, she took a fresh cup of blood and walked over to Lucille.
"Aren't you hungry?" She placed the blood next to Lucille's hand.
Lucille turned her head away in disgust.
Delia lowered her gaze and stared at her for a moment. Suddenly, she lowered her voice and said, "Elder Evan has returned to the Blood Domain. If Grace wants to save you, this is her only chance."
"Will she come for you?"
She waited a moment, but received no response. Delia pressed her lips together. "I didn't betray you. Elder Evan noticed something was wrong with you on his own."
"Grace and I met a long time ago. Something happened to her later, so she doesn't remember me."
"I have no reason to harm you." To be more persuasive, Delia bent down slightly, looked directly into Lucille's eyes, and said earnestly, "The one threatening your life is Elder Evan."
"And I don't want Grace to lose a friend like you..."
Lucille, who had been watching Delia coldly, cut her off. She said in a flat tone, "Is this your goal?"
To pin everything on Evan, to make her focus all her hatred on him.
Delia froze. "What?"
"Evan..." Lucille looked straight at Delia, her dark red eyes seeming to see right through people. She said faintly, "He controls your life and death. You want to kill him, don't you?"
Delia's expression changed slightly. She looked at Lucille in silence.
"You want to use Grace's hand to kill him." Lucille paused, then a thought occurred to her. She frowned suspiciously at Delia. "Why do you think Grace can kill a third-generation vampire?"
When Delia mentioned the blonde bishop, her tone was strange. It was as if she subconsciously believed a bishop or a werewolf could easily enter the castle of a third-generation vampire to rescue someone.
Why did she have so much confidence in the blonde bishop?
Delia avoided Lucille's probing gaze and said in a low voice, "That's a secret between Grace and me."
Lucille's eyes turned cold.
Failing to deceive Lucille made Delia anxious. She turned, slammed the stone door shut, and leaned against it, biting her lip. This was her only option.
If Grace came, she would have an ally against Evan.
If Grace didn't come, she would still not be free, but she would have gained Evan's trust.
Delia closed her eyes. She wanted to choose the former.
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