Gospel of Blood

Chapter 369: His smile froze

Charlotte was genuinely curious about this matter. She knew her own affairs well—Thorny Rose was a symbol she had hastily borrowed when she was hung on the cross, originally just a pattern from furniture, and certainly not the divine symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood.

Since her transmigration, Charlotte had investigated the true symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood but found no results, as if it had been deliberately erased by the bloodborne.

When Albrecht entered the ancient Dark Night Castle, he did not immediately associate Thorny Rose with the True Ancestor of Blood but instead mistook her for “God Nyx.”

So how did he come to see Thorny Rose as the symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood?

Upon hearing Charlotte’s question, a look of unease appeared on Albrecht’s face.

Charlotte heard his inner thoughts, filled with questions like, “Why is the True Ancestor asking this?”, “Did I answer something wrong?”, and “Will she be angry and devour me?”

“True Ancestor, please forgive my sins. I have slept for too long, and my memory is somewhat blurry, so I failed to recognize your symbol, leading to many mistakes…”

“Seeing you again, I am truly excited and happy. Being able to pledge my loyalty to you again is the greatest honor of my life!”

“Praise you, great Progenitor! With your return, the bloodbornes can finally unite again!”

Charlotte: …

Lies. All lies.

Charlotte looked expressionlessly at this Blood Duke of demonic lineage lying boldly before her. She felt no emotion, not even the urge to laugh.

In Albrecht’s fervent praise, the only truth was that he really had forgotten what the symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood looked like, the rest was all false.

His real thoughts could be summed up in one sentence.

“A Demon of Hell can be flexible, the priority is to stay alive.”

However… forgetting the symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood?

Charlotte looked down at Albrecht, lost in thought.

Mortals might forget, but those with extraordinary powers had strong memories. Especially Albrecht, who was a Legendary Blood Duke and a Demon of Hell. How could someone of his strength forget something important without reason?

Moreover, the symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood was of utmost importance to bloodbornes!

Yet, this was the only truth Albrecht spoke.

He had genuinely forgotten. It wasn’t until he recognized the ancient Dark Night Castle that his memory resurfaced. In his memory, the symbol of the True Ancestor of Blood seemed to have always been Thorny Rose.

Could this be… a cognitive modification?

Charlotte’s heart stirred.

The Thorny Rose as the symbol was authenticated by the Gospel of Blood and was personally chosen by Charlotte.

Could it be that the Gospel of Blood could change the cognition of others, forcibly binding Thorny Rose with the identity of the True Ancestor of Blood?

Charlotte’s expression was inscrutable, a few guesses forming in her heart. At the same time, she had another question.

Speaking of the True Ancestor of Blood… shouldn’t it be Lilith?

Seeing Charlotte on the throne fall into silence, Albrecht grew even more nervous.

“True Ancestor, do you have any other questions?”

Charlotte snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.

Seeing the Dark Apostle who was quite apprehensive, she chuckled lightly and said,

“Albrecht, you seem… quite afraid of me?”

Albrecht’s face immediately filled with a flattering smile.

“How could I not be? You are the great and omnipotent True Ancestor. In your presence, I must naturally maintain respect and reverence!”

Charlotte didn’t comment, merely waving her hand to disperse the crimson mist in front of the throne. With the obstructing mist gone, Albrecht could see her appearance clearly.

Charlotte remained in her adult form. Albrecht’s expression flickered, his long-forgotten memories becoming clearer, and the figure in his mind completely merging with the one before him.

The True Ancestor! She truly was the resurrected True Ancestor!

Albrecht dared not look any further, quickly lowering his head, his heart trembling.

It seemed… his memory had indeed been modified…

Feeling Albrecht’s thoughts, Charlotte became more certain.

Without revealing her thoughts, she withdrew her gaze, looking down at him, her voice as lazy as ever.

“Albrecht, loyalty isn’t just words. Do you think… I should believe in your loyalty?”

Albrecht quickly bowed, his expression sincere and fervent.

“True Ancestor, my respect for you comes from the heart! Everything about Albrecht is in your hands, with just a thought, you can kill me. What reason or courage do I have to deceive you?”

Charlotte remained noncommittal and probed with a half-smile.

“Oh? Is that so? As a descendant of Abaddon, did you swear the same to him?”

“You jest, Abaddon is Abaddon, and you are you. You are the ruler of all blood descendants, he is but a Flame Demon granted power by you, a filthy traitor. How can he compare to you? Albrecht has never truly pledged loyalty to Abaddon, I was only forced to seek refuge under him as a demon, always waiting for your return!”

Hearing Albrecht’s words, Charlotte was a bit surprised.

This cowardly Dark Apostle indeed turned against Abaddon swiftly, having followed him for thousands of years but not hesitating to curse him.

As expected of a demon with a rebellious nature, even with the power of a bloodborne, the root hasn’t changed.

However, what surprised Charlotte was that not all of Albrecht’s words were lies.

Compared to his true thoughts, Albrecht… really never genuinely pledged loyalty to the Blood Demon Archduke Abaddon.

Charlotte was a bit skeptical. Without showing any emotion, she used the Crimson Star Sea to probe the depths of his mind and found that he indeed wasn’t a follower of the Blood Demon Archduke!

This guy is actually a non-believer!

Unbelievable, a non-believer not only joined the Blood Demon Cult but also became the Third Dark Apostle!

“Eh? You’re not a follower of Abaddon?”

Charlotte didn’t hide her surprise.

Albrecht bowed and explained.

“True Ancestor, Albrecht joined the Blood Demon Legion as a demon two thousand years ago. My power did not come from Abaddon but from the first legion commander of the Blood Demon Legion, Balov…”

“Albrecht was never in Abaddon’s sight. It was only after he fell asleep that I accidentally rose to the position of Dark Apostle.”

Charlotte didn’t know what to say. What he said was true. But who is Balov? A former bloodborne myth?

Charlotte didn’t press further. She looked at him and asked another question.

“Since that’s the case, what are you planning in Lutecia?”

Albrecht let out a long sigh, his face troubled.

“True Ancestor, you may not know, but Abaddon is cruel and tyrannical. Though he is asleep, he still has some control over the cult.”

“If I do not carry out the cult’s task of opposing the Holy Court, I will face severe punishment!”

“True Ancestor, please forgive my past offenses. I truly didn’t know God Nyx was actually you! I joined the Blood Demon Cult because I had no other choice!”

This was a lie.

The truth was that Albrecht sensed that the myths would return one after another and that the world would change drastically. He wanted to seize the last opportunity and use the power of the Blood Demon Cult to lay the foundation for his own plans.

His ostensible actions to avoid suspicion from Abaddon were just a front. His real goal in Lutecia was to infiltrate the Crescent Nobles and oppose the Holy Court, while secretly turning the nobles into his forbidden blood thralls to expand his own power.

As for joining the Blood Demon Cult out of necessity, that was nonsense. Albrecht’s situation was somewhat like those ruthless protagonists in the cultivation novels Charlotte had read in her previous life—loners who progressed alone but could bend and endure as needed.

The Blood Demon Cult was like a sect he had joined. Those protagonists never had feelings for their sects, using them merely as stepping stones and tools for their advancement. When it was necessary to abandon or escape, they would do so without hesitation.

Albrecht had ambitions. Although he had always been cautious, it didn’t mean he was content with his current situation. He wanted to take advantage of the world’s changes to advance further and reach the level of myth.

Albrecht’s leverage came from a statue. It was a faceless statue he discovered in an underground temple in Lutecia, containing the blood divine power.

Faceless statue…

Charlotte’s heart stirred.

No wonder the statue in the underground temple was a fake, the real one was with Albrecht!

Charlotte glanced at him without showing her thoughts.

She didn’t expose him. Even the most cowardly would fight desperately if pushed too far. From his inner thoughts, Charlotte knew the faceless statue was Albrecht’s deepest secret and bottom line.

For this, he was willing to endure, even if it meant being subservient, just to find a chance to turn the tables someday.

Of course, Charlotte wouldn’t allow a potential traitor to rise. Even though she considered using him as a tool, she had to retrieve the statue he possessed. Naturally, how to retrieve it would require skill.

Thinking of this, Charlotte chuckled lightly, her lazy voice turning serious.

“Albrecht, I can give you a chance to pledge your loyalty. I won’t pursue your past offenses or your disrespect.”

Albrecht’s eyes lit up, his expression instantly becoming excited.

“But…”

Charlotte’s tone shifted, her expression turning cold.

“You recklessly created forbidden blood thralls, disrupting the bloodborne hierarchy’s stability. You must be punished!”

Albrecht’s heart tightened, and he nervously asked.

“True Ancestor, how do you intend to punish me?”

Charlotte gave him a meaningful look and said,

“Since you like creating forbidden blood thralls so much, why don’t you experience being a blood servant yourself?”

Albrecht’s eyes widened.

“You… you want to make me your blood servant?!”

“What, you don’t want to?”

Charlotte’s gaze turned icy.

Feeling the oppressive bloodline pressure, Albrecht’s scalp tingled.

His mind raced, and he reluctantly said,

“True Ancestor, you mentioned that forbidden blood thralls disrupt the bloodborne hierarchy’s stability…”

Charlotte chuckled, her voice turning cold.

“Albrecht, let’s be honest.”

“I don’t really care about your loyalty, but I hate betrayal. I don’t trust you, no matter how convincingly you speak…”

“You’re interesting, and I’m willing to listen to you more, but that doesn’t mean I have patience.”

“You have too much demonic nature. Compared to a bloodborne, you’re more like a demon. If you don’t want to be a blood servant, that’s fine. More than a deceitful duke, I need enough bloodline power.”

With that, Charlotte casually opened the Gospel of Blood and activated the “True Ancestor’s Liberation”, preparing to take action and seize his bloodline power.

Feeling the drastic change in her aura, Albrecht’s expression changed, and he quickly shouted.

“I am willing! Albrecht is willing!”

“Great True Ancestor, becoming your blood servant is the highest honor. Albrecht is willing to accept your punishment!”

Seeing the sweat-covered, quickly submissive Albrecht, Charlotte smiled.

She withdrew the blood divine power, and a flash of light formed a glowing orb symbolizing the blood servant contract in her hand.

“In that case, sign the contract.”

She gently pushed the orb towards Albrecht.

Albrecht’s expression fluctuated. He looked at the blood-red orb, his heart filled with turmoil, but finally, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly absorbed it into his soul.

So be it… A Demon of Hell can endure and yield, knowing that fortunes can change. As long as he stayed alive and kept his trump card, given enough time and opportunity, he would find a way out. For now, it is best to submit!

Albrecht gave up resistance and chose to surrender.

However, he mentally noted today’s events.

He was cautious but also vengeful. In history, those Dark Apostles who were either killed, exiled, or sealed by the Holy Court, many had suffered setbacks due to his covert actions.

As the light flashed, Albrecht felt new shackles in his soul.

Suppressing his frustration and hatred, he took a deep breath, replacing it with an expression of respect and obedience, saying flatteringly.

“Great True Ancestor, now… do you trust Albrecht?”

Charlotte nodded slightly, satisfied.

“Good, you’re obedient. A good dog indeed.”

Albrecht: …

Seeing Albrecht’s somewhat forced smile, Charlotte felt quite pleased.

She extended her hand towards him and said playfully.

“Alright, now… hand over that statue you’ve hidden.”

Upon hearing this, Albrecht’s smile instantly froze on his face.