Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Continental Summit Conference (1)
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"Then I'll head to the temple now."
"You've memorized the instructions, right?"
"Of course. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Good. You're dismissed."
"Yes."
At Mulro's response, the middle-aged man bowed politely and left the office with silent footsteps.
His demeanor was one of meticulously humbling himself to avoid offending anyone—the Duke Bright, known for wielding unchecked power in the Kingdom of Thalia.
He had come for a final report before attending the Continental Summit Conference as Thalia's representative.
As he departed, Heinz, who had been quietly seated in his chair, turned his gaze to Mulro standing at his side.
"He won't do anything foolish, will he?"
The Continental Summit Conference gathered the highest echelons from the Church of the Main God and various nations alike. A single misspoken word there could stir up needless trouble.
"Lord, that one's a pawn I've groomed since he was in swaddling clothes. No need to worry."
Mulro merely smiled with unshakable confidence at Heinz's words.
He hadn't used overt mind-control magic that might draw attention in public, but there were countless ways to bind a person.
Mulro, with his centuries of life, was a master of such arts—a veteran who hadn't failed even once in decades of experience.
"Hmm... True. In the current situation, they won't have the bandwidth to bother us even if something goes wrong. The continent's in such chaos."
The Kingdom of Thalia had contained the madness outbreak effectively through strict control of the Monster Forest, even mobilizing the Brocoslak Clan. Their casualties were minimal.
Monsters weren't confined there, so losses weren't zero, but compared to other nations, it was remarkably light.
Other countries lacked Thalia's swift response, tangled as they were in vested interests and political maneuvering, which only amplified the damage.
'On top of that, regions outside the west had undead uprisings to contend with.'
With support requests flooding in from everywhere, even the Church of the Main God was overwhelmed. They wouldn't have the spare capacity to act against Duke Bright, even if he ran his mouth.
'Come to think of it, this could be a good opportunity for the clan to step fully into the light.'
Already, the lower vampires of the Upersh Clan were trickling into Thalia via blood gates.
With two of the three great vampire clans united, they wielded influence equivalent to an entire nation—Thalia excluded, of course.
'Six True Bloods, two Sacred Bloods. Over a hundred Purebloods below them... Ha, it's absurd no matter how I look at it.'
A True Blood's blood magic power equated to level 7 or 8 on Earth terms.
Frigia had been level 7 before submitting to Heinz; Mulro was 8.
'But in direct combat, Frigia outclassed Earth's betas. Numerically, she'd be around 7.5.'
That gap stemmed from growth buffs and unique skills versus centuries of self-honing by an otherworlder.
Similar raw power couldn't match refined technique.
The betas might have closed it with more unique skill enhancements, but based on his experience, they hadn't.
'And that's pre-'Purified Blood Essence.' Now she's solidly level 8.'
Yet there were six such True Bloods.
No—clan leaders Mulro and Theodore deserved 8.5.
'Sacred Bloods are at least 9. Meaningless on Earth, where such levels are unheard of.'
This force could seize a major kingdom's capital—not just a minor power like Thalia—though as an elite few, they'd yield to full-scale human counteroffensives eventually.
But with a nation already secured, such risks were unnecessary.
'Speaking of Sacred Blood...'
Heinz sank deeper into his chair, eyes closing.
His mind replayed his post-Upersh Clan battle talk with Briky, the other Sacred Blood besides himself.
About her desires and endgame.
"Hoo... Let's watch and wait a bit longer?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
Her fate was effectively in his hands.
Devour her or take her under his wing.
All would bend to his will. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whoosh—
A purple flame erupted in the darkness.
In the sealed basement's center, it cast an eerie glow, projecting the shadows of encircling figures onto the walls.
Five grotesque shadows danced wildly in the flickering violet light.
A mysterious man watched silently from the gloom, then spoke.
"...As expected, Oldman isn't here?"
With absent members confirmed, the Oath of Reverse Heaven's secret regular meeting began.
🕯️ SECRET MEETING 🕯️ [No one's heard from him...?] [Kihihit~ Since when did we care about each other? Obvious reason—he croaked somewhere!] Some knew nothing due to distance or loose ties.
[Hmm, last contact mentioned unrest in the west. Small branches under attack.] [Heard the Church might be moving! Heresy Inquisitors, maybe?] Others sensed issues from slight contacts.
Their cell structure aided security but hindered info flow.
Branch leader troubles made quick assessment impossible.
[Hmm~ I dug up some info on that.] A sticky feminine voice drew attention. Her twisted shadow exuded strange allure as she savored the focus.
[Undead army hitting underground groups. Oddly targeting our affiliates.] Silence fell. Bad news.
[...Why...?] [Beats me~?] They trusted her intel sources.
[Ugh, zero hits on Immortal King predictions. Everything's off.] An abyss-'death' corrupted Immortal King should flood the continent in death, not hide this long.
Unforeseen revival aftermath. Underground attacks upended most plans.
"So Oldman fell to the Immortal King too?"
[Logical, no? He wouldn't vanish quietly otherwise.] The Immortal King wouldn't purge them as conquest obstacles.
More likely exploiting them usefully.
Either way, trouble for them.
[Hah! Idiots ruining everything! Marcos, Nurabe, now Oldman?] [Over a decade prepping, wasted before use! You lot too—nothing since I opened the abyss for madness!] [Pfft! Kihihit~ True. Pukuk...!] [Shut it before I rip your tongue!] [S-Sorry! Puhi—!] The burly shadow fumed, but the frivolous laughter persisted, souring the mood.
"Not wrong. Lately, we've been too cautious, eyeing the Immortal King."
His interjection after mulling the Immortal King mention silenced the bickering. They focused.
"Everyone knows about the upcoming Continental Summit Conference?"
[Of course. Too much buzz to miss.] "Our prep's done. Timing-wise... right during the conference."
[Hm? Your side... Ah.] Domains varied, but broad plans were shared. Details like timing were theirs alone.
[Khit! Wanna see those schemers' faces at 'countermeasures'! Shame to miss it. Kihuhut!] [Need help?] "No. Long in the works."
He scanned their shadowed interest, then declared firmly.
"And that's when the current order crumbles—starting point."
Soon after, the meeting ended.
The purple flame died, leaving thick darkness.
Swish—
The man ascended the basement stairs silently.
Light filtered in as the room brightened, but his steps continued.
Swish—
At the window, he flung the curtains wide.
Bright sunlight and bustling cityscape flooded in.
"...This view's ending soon."
Knowing the Immortal King targeted them meant no more leisure.
After unleashing preparations, he'd go dark, severing contact.
'Oldman knows little of us. His restrictions help, but Immortal King might counter. Better safe. ...Watch the others after.'
Till sunset, he gazed endlessly at the scenery.
Oath of Reverse Heaven's cell leaders appeared equal, but a de facto head existed.
This man held paramount sway—even imposing restrictions on some.
His location: Rohan Principality, nestled north against the Northern Mountains, in constant monster skirmishes. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Delegations arrived one by one at Roselia's Main Temple.
High officials with full national authority, reps from Mage Tower Alliance, Mercenary Guilds, and more.
Preliminaries were tough, but temple gates made transit swift once settled.
Included were heteroraces from Enamel Continent, ferried via High Elf Rapori's 'Forest Path' per church accord.
Elven Kingdom recognized the stakes, ties warmed by Cecilia incident, easing cooperation.
Thus gathered Auterica's leaders.
Here, continent's heart—the holy site.
Trouble for them would roil the world.
Their influence was that vast.
And that meant...
'Just leaving a strong impression here skyrockets Karma!'
This place was a goldmine.