Are they all materials solidified from biological matter?
she mused.
The stench of... gas?
Wouldn't it be possible for any spark to blow the entire floating city up into the sky?
It shouldn't be possible, there wouldn't be such an obvious weakness.
While she was thinking, Luca also came. He landed behind the girl and pushed her to signal her to move forward. "What are you waiting for?"
"...Where are my companions?"
"People who bring too much stuff have to go through another lane. Don't worry, it's just a testing procedure."
He ignored the narrow corridor and the cold wind from high altitude and walked around the girl.
"Come with me."
"It will probably take an hour or so, so I can use this time to tell you what you should pay attention to."
Chapter 172 Oujin Situation
Hearing him say this, Hitzfeld was a little surprised, because: "I thought that what you told me before was all."
Luca reappeared after faking his death, which was a kind of "pledge of allegiance". It meant that he decided to truly trust them, and their positions and pursuits were consistent at that moment, and they wanted to face the common enemy together.
So after describing how he faked his own death through the use of blood puppets—the person who went to the banquet was not Luca himself—as an apology, Luca also described in detail why he did so, as well as some of the information he currently knew.
This is only natural, otherwise how could there be a madman who would leak information just when he was about to get close to the exploration site?
Luca is not that kind of person, and neither is she. She would have asked even if Luca didn't say it himself.
"Agor's death made me secretly alert." She remembered what Luca said at the time. "At first, of course I suspected that the mechanical rebels wanted to silence me and prevent the news of the Knight's Tomb from leaking out, but this matter... You also know that I have no fixed place to stay. Because I have to travel around the earth with a certain mission, my knowledge is wider than theirs. I have been in and out of Oujin City many times. I quickly realized that the order to explore the Knight's Tomb should come from within Oujin, from His Majesty, so this has basically nothing to do with silencing me."
"Because it's obviously impossible for them to really kill everyone who knows about this. If they really want to do that, they should first rush to Oujin City to assassinate the King of Man. Killing us small fry is meaningless in blocking the intelligence."
"So I started looking for other reasons, and it was quite disturbing."
"Hitzfeld." He looked at the gray-haired girl first, "You should have guessed what my special mission is."
"Yes." The girl said, "The Governor and I have read the information you left behind. The reason you wandered around on Earth should be to collect the flesh and blood organs of various major clans, and bring the experimental data or living results back to heaven after completing the experiments."
"That's right. You are right." Luca nodded. "The lab you found in the Blood Mage Guild in Neptune City is not all of it. I completed nearly of the work elsewhere. That place is just the final debugging and storage location. Since Ou Jin comes to Neptune relatively frequently, I wait here. On average, I can go up once every years."
"I didn't think there was anything wrong with it until I started to connect all of our deaths to you." He narrowed his eyes and his voice became lighter. "That is... all the people who died in this kind of hunt knew you and knew your name."
A blood mage who could think of bringing a blood puppet to attend the banquet at the Governor's Mansion can be called cunning and treacherous. Since he could think of this, he would naturally doubt the purpose of the Mechanical Kingdom.
Why would someone be silenced just because he knew the name "Eshun Hitzfeld"?
Imagine that I have been committed to bringing them to Oujin City to pay homage to the Human King. Could it be that someone does not want these outsiders to go to Oujin?
But who are they?
Even if someone really doesn't want to do this, or in other words - just to cover up the news that "Aisun Hitzfell" came to the Kingdom of Corrupted Blood, and made a big fuss about this matter, how could the people who did it be their enemies - those sneaky mechanical rebels?
There were too many illogical things here, and Luca began to suspect that someone in the Kingdom of God was colluding with the mechanical rebels... He quickly connected this idea to the branch in Neptune City, which was the hidden secret room in the mechanical clock tower.
When he thought of this, he broke out in a cold sweat.
Because the one who told him that there was a secret room there was no one else but His Majesty the King, whom he trusted and respected with all his heart.
What if, according to his previous speculation, the person who betrayed the Corrupted Blood Kingdom and colluded with the machines to rebel was the Human King himself?
Some things cannot be thought about too much. After he had made a bad start, he gradually began to think about it: it seemed that there had never been a real battle on the front battlefield of Neptune City in these years. Most of them were just minor frictions. Even if a war between floating cities really broke out, it would be over within a few days, and it seemed that his side had never suffered any losses.
"It's actually Ou Jin who really creeps me out."
Hitzfeld still remembered how he said these words with a slightly trembling voice and a calm face.
"Oujincheng stays in a different location every year, so no one thinks about it."
"Everyone thought it was 'moving' and there were people on it controlling how it flew and how it docked."
"But the truth is not like that at all... because there is another possibility - that the change was caused by the earth itself!"
"The land of the Corrupted Blood Kingdom is alive. Every mountain, every river, and even the cities on the plains will have slightly changed locations every year when you visit them! It is these changes that cause the Oujin to dock at different locations - its own flight path has never changed! It is as precise as a mechanical clock!"
It is based on this speculation that we can calculate that Oujin City will pass by that stone wall this year...
Hitzfeld pursed his lips slightly, and had to admit that Luca had helped them a lot in this regard.
There is nothing much to say after that. Luca is certainly not crazy enough to suspect that the Human King has betrayed herself - because she is already the Human King, she dominates the Kingdom of God, and whoever she wants must die must die. Even if she has connection with the mechanical rebellion, she can just merge the two Kingdoms of God directly. This is not a bad thing. Instead, countless subjects should praise her.
But Oujin's flight trajectory was very suspicious, so Luca naturally suspected that someone inside Oujin had controlled the Human King, or was using the Human King's name to do things that were not conducive to the future and development of the Kingdom of God.
This was a perfect opportunity. Hitzfeld immediately introduced Xia Yibing's identity to him and revealed the news about the Oath Keeper family. Then he took advantage of the situation to add another layer of damage, allowing him to figure out for himself why the Imar family had failed in the hundred-year bloody battle.
With this transition, Luca was not too surprised when information about "Insel", "Undead Fleet", "Eclipse Church" and so on was revealed.
Instead, it suddenly dawned on me—then everything made sense.
He was not told about Alwin's intelligence, but it was enough for the two sides to formally conclude an alliance. Luca firmly believed that there was a problem inside Oujin City, and he wanted to check it out and eliminate it. Hitzfeld also promised to do his best to help.
Then Luca revealed some of the current situations in Oujin City.
"The Church's power in Oujin is almost zero. There is also a Blood Temple there, but how can I put it? That temple is dead."
"There are about 100,000 people on it. Every time they stop, some are taken in and some are exiled... They have their own ranches and plantations. And because they can fly, they are always above the clouds, and the crops there grow much better than on the ground."
"So they always look down on people on earth... Indeed, whether it's eating or wearing better clothes, and enjoying more sunlight, I would also feel superior. Life in heaven is very wonderful."
The above are all Hitzfeld's memories. She thought for a moment and continued, "According to your description, the situation up there will be very simple."
It is very simple.
The royal palace is closed, and only a few scattered people are trusted and qualified to meet the Human King directly or bring people to pay homage to him. In addition to the royal palace and the mansions of the wealthy families, there are ranches and plantations in the city. Outside of these, the most vast area is the residential area.
The big clans are called big clans, but in fact they are forces that have only recently been raised from the ground. They are die-hard fans of the Human King and have no political participation. Ou Jin is completely dictatorial under the Human King.
As for the church, it was mentioned before that it has been suppressed to the point of being a mascot. There are still subjects willing to worship there, but the Oujin Cathedral is full of servants of the Human King.
Thinking of this, Hitzfeld also realized that something seemed to be wrong.
Too straightforward and simple.
He had said before that the Human King often fell into a deep sleep and would not wake up until the birthday banquet... Then who was acting in power during this period?
"No." Luca shook his head.
"I didn't tell you about those 'Bloodsworn'."
"Let's put it this way. I suspect the traitor is hiding among them."
Chapter 173 The Bloodsworn
"'Bloodsworn'?" Hitzfeld frowned slightly and repeated the new term. "What's the difference between it and 'Oathguard'?"
"That's a big difference." Luca raised his eyebrows in pleasure, as if he was happy that there was finally something she couldn't guess. "I've also heard about the Hundred Years of Blood War and the Oath Defenders... According to you, the Imaer family once swore an oath to defend something... There's no binding restriction here."
"Then there is the 'Bloodsworn'."
"Of course... because this contract can only be established with blood." Luca nodded. "Whenever someone has made enough merits and passed all the tests to become a 'Bloodsworn', they will be given blood by His Majesty. As long as they swallow the blood and merge it with themselves, from that moment on, they will completely become a servant that His Majesty can truly trust."
"That seems to be a contradiction." Hitzfeld looked at him. "On the one hand, you call them 'truly trustworthy', but on the other hand, you suspect that there are traitors hiding among them."
She suddenly thought of something crucial and quickly asked Luca, "So you are the Bloodsworn?"
“I’m not!” Luca waved his hands hurriedly, “You’re kidding… I doubt them just because I’m not me!”
This person's shamelessness can be compared to that of Darent.
Hitzfeld continued to ask, "Since we have the means of control like the vampires, how could those people betray us?"
Blood race - this is actually a manifestation and summary of blood power.
Xia Yibing has been studying flesh and blood magic these days under the guidance of the inherited memory and Gu, and her progress can be described as rapid. It was with her support that Hitzfeld obtained a large amount of reference materials on this system, so she can keep up with the topic now.
To put it simply, after the ancient war of gods broke out, the queen of the Latadians, Zachariah, did not have time to return to Aisha Continent for support. There was only a drop of her blood left here, and this drop of blood was the gun-wielding queen that Xia Yibing first saw in the illusion.
The origin of blood mages is definitely not a good thing, and this system can be regarded as a representative of evil in any worldview. But as Luca argued with Blood Slayer Theo before, at least those who embark on the path of blood mages can still stick to themselves.
Even though they would step into some forbidden areas as their learning progressed, making themselves completely unrecognizable and looking like rotten monsters, at least that was from their heart and was their own pursuit.
There aren't many examples like this, and when they happen occasionally, the harm they cause is relatively minor.
Relatively speaking - the example of this comparison is definitely the evil god.
The evil gods are different. If these strange things are allowed to spread the mysterious road on the earth, as long as they enter the sixth level, the life forms walking on the road will begin to alienate and "burn" like fuel. This process is involuntary and uncontrollable. Their final fate is either to become the carrier of the evil god's will and be burned alive; or to alienate into some strange appearances that they dare not admit when looking in the mirror, and simply be absorbed by the evil god's body.
No matter how you look at it, the former option is better.
Therefore, the good and bad of things are reflected in comparison... Compared with the muddleheaded alienation and degeneration, although the blood mage is also disgusting, it is the best choice available at the time.
This is necessary - to put it in a way that is easier for Hitzfeld to understand, this is a dispute over Taoism.
She foresaw her own failure and the rise of the evil god, so there must be such a seemingly equally evil path, because only in this way can she compete with the mysterious path for believers, which is also to save all living beings on this continent.
Because of this, the King of Blood would disperse his body, splitting into billions from a drop of blood and integrating into every corner of the Elsa continent.
Every living being, even every piece of soil, is stained with the power of blood. It is the blood of salvation... it is the blood species... it is the power that all things possess, but it is difficult to mobilize by themselves.
Only blessed people - such as Imars, or people who possess knowledge - such as blood mages can control bloodkin. Bloodkin are the embodiment of blood source and the driving core of most flesh and blood spells.
Bloodseed is such an important thing. Hitzfeld also knows that the fastest way for blood mages to enslave each other is to pollute the bloodseed. Controlling a blood mage's bloodseed is close to controlling everything about him. And what Luca mentioned about "swallowing bloodseed and fusing with oneself" is a means no matter how you look at it. The Human King creates his true confidants in this way.
How could such a person betray?
That's a vampire. To a blood mage, a vampire is probably an organ more important than the heart. How could it betray him when it's in his control?
"You ask me? How should I know?" Luca said in an irritable tone.
"Didn't you say there was that guy? What was his name?"
"Yinsel."
"Yes - Yinsel, it was you who said that Oujin might be hiding such a person. He might be involved in all the conspiracies - including the Hundred Years of Bloody War, the exile of the Imar people, the rise of the Neang people, and even the Ancient God War. You told me so!"
"Then of course I would like to know where he is hiding." Luca gestured with his hands to her, "Your Majesty is also very important to him, right? I don't believe he has no arrangements in the city, there must be a traitor, and the most reasonable scenario I can think of is that he has some secret method to bypass the 'Blood Oath' and eliminate Your Majesty's control over the 'Blood Oath'!"
It turned out to be the case.
Hitzfeld understood what he was trying to say.
Just as she could enter Oujin City openly with the endorsement of Bislo and Luca, the identity of a Blood Oath Bearer was also an endorsement.
Because he is a blood-sworn man, he is trusted; because he is a blood-sworn man, he is free from suspicion.
It's very simple.
Dark under the lamp.
This is indeed a possibility, but after all, she has never seen those people, so she doesn't completely believe Luca's suspicion.
The two reached the end of the stairs while chatting. Luca held the girl's shoulders and led her to turn the corner, and they went into the third door on the right.
He was indeed very familiar with this place. After entering, he introduced it to her: "There won't be many people coming up in the first wave. Let's go this way and don't crowd with that little guy Bislo."
"Don't you like Mr. Governor?"
"He didn't do anything wrong, but I don't like the way he dotes on his children and pretends to be noble."
This involves something more philosophical. Hitzfeld raised his eyebrows but did not respond.
After going through so much, she no longer expects there to be a perfect person, just as she herself has many shortcomings, but she no longer cares about them.
Bislo can help. This determines whether they can finally defeat Yinsel - and the fate of the entire Elsa continent.
It’s helpless to say this, but compared to temporary gains and losses, this is indeed the most important thing.
It took the two of them some time to test and verify their identities.
This was a necessary procedure. The staff asked the girl a few questions in a dark, large room that resembled a steel plant in style. When they learned that she was a perfume maker, they gave her an extra look.
With the guarantee of the Governor and a high-level blood mage, she passed the trial without any problems. The main concern was "incense making".
"On behalf of all Oujin people, I welcome you."
The examiner stamped a form with his blood and handed it to Hitzfeld.
"In Oujin, beautiful looks and young bodies are nothing, only fragrance is precious... You have a big stage here."
Only then did Hitzfeld become certain that Luca was not lying to her.
