The First Pope - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Recalling the witchcraft Chelsea had just used, Cynthia temporarily gave up the idea of turning and running.

Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, played with the white stone. Its warm, smooth touch slightly eased her foul mood. The cold wind, mixed with ice shards, blew against her, but surprisingly, Cynthia didn't feel very cold. She stared at Chelsea and asked in a subtle tone, "You want to be a Silver Knight too?"

The people in the cave had captured her for that very purpose.

From their conversation, the status of a Silver Knight seemed to be quite noble on this continent.

Chelsea shook her head in denial, her flat tone carrying a hint of indifference. "The Silver Knights are the Vampires' lackeys. I have no interest in working for the Vampires."

Vampires... Cynthia raised a hand to touch her neck. Although she hadn't asked for details, from what she had seen and heard over the past two days, combined with her conversation with Chelsea, she had already gained a preliminary understanding of the situation on this continent.

It seemed the Vampires were the masters of this continent, and humans had two roles: the Vampires' lackeys or slaves who could face death at any moment.

And she, a member of the God Race according to Chelsea, seemed to belong to the latter category.

As for the young woman before her who could use witchcraft... Cynthia's fingers gently stroked her chin as she suddenly said, "You're not human, are you?"

Chelsea didn't deny it. "I'm a Witch."

"Since you don't want to be a lackey for the Vampires, why are you so insistent on taking me to Stone Town?"

Cynthia watched Chelsea scrutinizingly, expecting her question might go unanswered. But surprisingly, Chelsea answered everything she was asked. "I have companions who were captured. They're being held in Stone Town."

Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"I need to find out where they're being held." Chelsea's tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather with Cynthia. "You're of the God Race. The Silver Knights will definitely lock you up together."

Cynthia praised her nonchalantly, "Not bad. A very meticulous plan."

If she weren't the tool being sent into the Vampires' den in this plan, her praise might have been a bit more sincere.

Even someone like Chelsea, who disliked interacting with people, could detect the faint sarcasm in Cynthia's tone. She looked up from the map at Cynthia, who was gazing at the sky, lost in thought, and on some strange impulse, she asked, "Do you have a better idea?"

Chelsea regretted it the moment she asked. Why was she asking a hostage for help?

A white mist filled the woods. Cynthia leaned against a tree trunk, her head slightly raised. Her long silver hair cascaded down to her waist over a tattered black robe. Two faint streaks of mud were smeared on the side of her face, but they couldn't hide her stunning beauty. Despite two escapes and being wrapped in a tattered, filthy black robe, there wasn't the slightest trace of distress about her.

This member of the God Race, who looked as weak as a human, exuded a gentle yet powerful aura, causing Chelsea to unconsciously cede control to her.

They had known each other for less than a day, and this legendary God Race member didn't seem to have any abilities.

Cynthia, who was busy plotting her next escape, heard Chelsea's question. Her golden eyes flickered, and she responded almost instantly, "I do."

She turned her head and smiled at Chelsea. The excessively beautiful smile added a certain persuasiveness to her words. "I have a better way."

Although Cynthia had no clue what this "better way" she mentioned was, she wasn't the least bit flustered. She walked toward Chelsea and said with a smile, "The sky is getting overcast again. There might be a storm."

She walked over and put a friendly arm around Chelsea's shoulder, coaxing, "Let's head to Stone Town first. We can discuss the rest on the way."

Chelsea followed Cynthia for a few steps, half-believing, half-doubting. "You really have a way?"

Cynthia nodded seriously. "It's definitely better than your plan." Seeing that Chelsea was still skeptical, she added with a smile, "If my plan doesn't work, at worst, you can just offer me to those nobles and use your own plan."

"You have nothing to lose, either way."

Thinking about it that way, it didn't seem wrong. Chelsea was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Alright."

Seeing her agree, the smile on Cynthia's lips deepened. As long as Chelsea was willing to communicate, that meant there was an opportunity.

As for the rescue plan... there was plenty of time to think about it on the road.

Ever since the gods left the Sitatul Continent, the place seemed to have fallen into ruin. The distinction between day and night was no longer so clear, sunlight appeared rarely, and the Slade Sea Region was perpetually shrouded in dark clouds. Hearing the muffled thunder in the sky, Chelsea glanced down at the map, pointed in a certain direction, and said in a low voice, "This way."

Cynthia glanced in the direction she was pointing and said in surprise, "Didn't we just come from that way?"

Chelsea stared at the map with a tight frown, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

A fair, slender hand reached out and took the map from Chelsea. Cynthia studied it for a moment, and a sidelong glance caught Chelsea standing there obediently, waiting for her to give directions. A flicker of a smile crossed her eyes. She deliberately raised a hand to rub her arm and muttered to herself, "It's so cold. This black robe is too thin."

Chelsea was silent for a moment, then expressionlessly took a black cloak from her Space Gem and handed it to her.

Cynthia took it with a smile and a word of thanks. She tossed aside the tattered black robe she was wearing. She had been worried the clothes underneath would be stained by it, but a glance down revealed her moon-white robes were still clean and tidy. This garment was a bit strange. Cynthia touched the pattern on the cuff, suspecting that her ability to stand here perfectly fine in such harsh weather had something to do with these clothes.

The heavy, warm cloak settled over her shoulders. Cynthia turned her head and nuzzled the soft fur on the collar, letting out a slow breath. Although she didn't care what she wore in difficult times, being a little more comfortable could still improve one's mood.

She pulled up the hood and carefully tucked away her long silver hair. Only after all this was done did she point northwest and say to Chelsea, "Stone Town is in that direction. I'll lead the way."

With that, she started walking forward.

Chelsea watched her back for a moment before starting to follow.

The map Chelsea had was surprisingly detailed. After studying it, Cynthia realized that at their walking pace, it would only take a day and a half to reach Stone Town. This was much shorter than expected. After some thought, Cynthia decided to lead Chelsea in a few circles nearby.

Based on her observations of Chelsea, she was ninety-nine percent sure the other woman wouldn't notice anything amiss.

Just as Cynthia thought, Chelsea really didn't notice that Cynthia was deliberately leading her in circles. After using witchcraft to divine that their general direction was correct, she stopped paying attention to the route. She was more curious about the plan Cynthia had mentioned. "What exactly is this plan of yours?"

Cynthia was studying the stone in her hand. Hearing Chelsea's question, she said absently, "First, tell me about the situation in Stone Town."

After spending a few days with Chelsea, Cynthia discovered that although she seemed cold, she was actually quite good-tempered. She never got angry when Cynthia changed the subject so abruptly.

"Stone Town is one of the holding areas for blood slaves being transported to Nobi City. It's guarded by a troop of Silver Knights, about forty or fifty of them. They are mostly young men who wear armor and use longswords. Ordinary summoned creatures can't inflict fatal damage on them."

Chelsea had specifically asked the witches in her clan about Stone Town before setting out. "Most of the people living in the town are imprisoned humans. There are passersby, but they are very rare."

Remembering something, she added, "There might be Vampires, too."

Although most Vampires live in cities, it's inevitable that some lower-class Vampires, who are unwelcome in the cities, run off to towns like this to indulge themselves.

After all, the Sitatul Continent was now controlled by the Vampires. A seventh or eighth-generation Vampire who might not even be able to get food in the Blood Domain could come to a remote place like this and enjoy treatment not much worse than that of high-class Vampires.

There were plenty of humans who wanted to be their lackeys; some even longed to receive the embrace and become Vampires themselves.

Vampires and Silver Knights... it sounded tricky. Cynthia put the white stone in her hand into the Space Gem she had gotten from Chelsea. Just as she was about to turn and say something, her arm was suddenly grabbed.

Chelsea pulled Cynthia behind a tree, took out a small, round cloth pouch, and stuffed it into Cynthia's hand. She whispered, "There are Vampires nearby."

Cynthia frowned and mouthed silently, "Where?"

The trees here were tall and large, their trunks completely concealing their figures. Chelsea pointed ahead. Cynthia followed her finger and, through the hanging branches and leaves, could vaguely see several dark figures not far from them, fighting over something.

A miserable scream reached Cynthia's and Chelsea's ears. Chelsea said in a low voice, "They're fighting over food."

The Vampires' food... was human, of course... Cynthia was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do Vampires often do this among themselves?"

"They probably come from different clans. Besides, low-ranking Vampires always have trouble controlling their emotions when faced with food."

Of course, it was also very common for high-ranking Vampires to fight among themselves. Although they could control their emotions, their personalities were even more bizarre.

As the Vampires fought over their food, their uncontrolled strength had already torn the meal to pieces, splashing crimson blood all over the ground.

Cynthia subconsciously averted her gaze, her eyes turning cold.

A group of brutal predators and helpless prey... The scene had no beauty to it whatsoever.

The scent of blood spread through the air. Cynthia raised a hand to cover her nose. Hearing movement from that direction, she glanced at Chelsea without a change in expression. Seeing her calm demeanor, the tension in her heart eased a little.

The footsteps faded into the distance. Cynthia followed Chelsea out from behind the tree. She looked down at the cloth pouch in her hand. Its faint, grassy scent made it seem like a sachet, but Cynthia didn't think Chelsea would give her something like that. "What is this?"

"Su Ye. It's used to mask your scent."

Cynthia looked thoughtful. "So that's why those Vampires didn't notice us?"

Chelsea nodded. "The sense of smell of eighth and seventh-generation Vampires isn't that sharp."

"Could you take care of those Vampires by yourself?" Cynthia asked curiously. "With your witchcraft."

She still didn't have a clear idea of Chelsea's strength.

Chelsea didn't answer the question directly. "I just want to rescue my people. I don't want to stir up trouble."

That sounded like a no. Cynthia tucked the pouch close to her body, walked to a hillside, and gazed at the distant town. A smile touched her lips as she said, "Since you only want to rescue your people, let's use the simplest method."

Chelsea came up behind her and asked, "What method?"

"We walk in and demand the people directly from the Silver Knights."

Chelsea glanced at Cynthia, her tone subtle. "This is your 'better way'?"

Cynthia gave her a slight smile, placating her. "Have a little patience, Chelsea. I'm not finished."

"The Silver Knights guard the blood slaves for the Vampires, so I imagine Vampires often come to the town to feed. Since there are multiple Vampire clans, it's unlikely they all know each other."

Those nobles just now, aside from their fancy clothes and pale faces, didn't look much different from humans.

Cynthia lightly brushed her silver hair back from her face, her red lips curving into a beautiful arc. She winked at Chelsea. "Can't we just disguise ourselves as Vampires and swagger in to demand our people? Human eyes can't distinguish Vampires that easily, can they?"

No matter how they snuck in, they would just be prey waiting to be targeted. But it would be different if they disguised themselves as Vampires.

The Vampires are the predators of this continent. Although Cynthia hadn't met any Silver Knights yet, she believed that as long as they could convince the Silver Knights they were Vampires, the knights wouldn't dare refuse any request they made.

After all, they were just another group of prey, dressed in armor and terrified of death descending upon them.

Cynthia's proposal sent Chelsea into silence. She lowered her gaze and thought for a moment before speaking slowly, "It seems worth a try."

She looked at Cynthia and said in a low voice, "You're very bold."

She had thought Cynthia would be frightened after seeing the Vampires tear apart and devour a human, but she hadn't expected her to be thinking of swaggering into Stone Town.

If their identities were exposed... she could escape, but this member of the God Race, who seemed to have no abilities, might not be so lucky.

"We have to go in one way or another." Either voluntarily or involuntarily. "But..." Cynthia raised a hand to her eyes and said with feigned regret, "my eye color is a bit unusual. I guess I'll just have to wait for you here."

Chelsea glanced at her. "I can cast a spell to change the color."

Witchcraft really was versatile. Her escape plan foiled, Cynthia calmly lowered her hand, nodded at Chelsea, and smiled. "Alright, then."

In truth, after seeing those Vampires, Cynthia had already dismissed some of her thoughts of leaving. Although Chelsea was a bit strange, at least she didn't eat people.

Most importantly, she was also a little easy to fool.

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