The Rise of the Forgotten: The Rise of the Forgotten, #3

By Wesley Wang

In the vast world of fantasy literature, Wesley Wang's "The Rise of the Forgotten" emerges as a distinctive gem. This novel presents a tale that is both deeply rooted in reality and expansively fantastical. Wang, with his attention to detail and vivid imagination, spins a captivating story filled with mystery, resilience, and strategy from the outset.

The narrative unfolds with a young man's harrowing escape from a fate he didn't deserve, propelling him on an epic journey of discovery and valor. Revealed as the last descendant of an esteemed noble family, and under the wing of an enigmatic protector, he ventures into a realm laden with covert plots and timeless sorcery. Navigating through the intricacies of magic and combat, his every choice and newly formed alliance bring forth insights that upend his views on the world and his destined role within it.

"The Rise of the Forgotten" is remarkable for its intricately designed Western fantasy landscape, drawing readers into a world where the magic systems are complex, the cultures are richly varied, and the map of empires and domains is drawn with precision. Through Wang's storytelling, readers embark on a voyage across a broad spectrum of emotions and societal intricacies, delving into themes of identity, authority, and salvation, all set against the canvas of ancient mysteries and divine conspiracies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wesley Wang
• Release date: Apr 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224987801

Book preview

Chapter 1

For someone like Leo, who had a team of top-notch fighters, it was easy to establish a solid foundation in a place where strength was valued above all else.

With a Lord-level python, a Dominator-level Sphinx, Count and Viscount-level vampire servants, and that terrifying Omega-level woman, they could easily conquer a smaller kingdom. However, when it came to facing the Holy See and the sacred Gabriel Empire, these forces were far from enough.

After the exhausting battles, Leo was completely drained. His god-like fighting stance was something even Bob couldn't comprehend. To be honest, when Leo stormed the Heretic Judgement Hall, he had a great chance of defeating Bob, even at his peak, or even Prince William. But it seemed like it was all just a series of coincidences. Was it the amplification effect caused by the activation of the Holy Scripture? Or was it the powerful effect of the contract itself?

No one knew.

After conducting a series of investigations on the town of Emerald, Leo realized that his goals were quite ambitious. Unlike Hera City, which had an arena for quick wealth accumulation, there were no wealthy lords or nobles like the Brook family here. In other words, most of the people here were penniless.

For Leo, the role of gold coins was extremely important. Although he still had a few thousand coins left for emergencies, it was not enough even for a carefree life of indulgence, let alone fighting against the Vatican and the Holy See. Leo had considered returning to Byzantine directly, but his political intelligence had improved after a series of events. He was already a well-known figure on the continent, and appearing casually in other empires could easily lead to trouble and war. Rescuing Bob was also something that the Byzantine religious tribunal could not tolerate.

So all he could do was quickly establish a foothold in this underestimated area on his own. In politics, one only had a say when they held a sharper sword than anyone else. Relying solely on the title of a duke's son wouldn't intimidate those powerful institutions.

Moreover, the almost withered purple iris couldn't bear any more burdens.

Leo took out a parchment and pointed out several short-term goals he had set for himself to Bob, who was standing beside him. However, the Dark Queen, who chose to stay by Leo' side despite not having fully recovered her strength, seemed uninterested in these things.

Does it have to be this complicated? She glanced at the short-term goals and blinked her red eyes. Using the most direct method is much easier than all these twists and turns.

Leo helplessly looked at Bob, who stood by the window with her long legs. He took out a quill and crossed out a few steps that this queen, who had always disdained using unnecessary means, found troublesome. He dipped the quill in ink and was about to write something when Bob reached out and took the pen, drawing a few circles on his parchment, saying, Deal with these first.

Leo stared at the circled goals for a few seconds, then nodded. I'll follow your lead.

One minute later, the two of them, fully equipped and ready, disappeared from the wooden house on the outskirts of Emerald.

...

The strategist's job is to simplify complexity, and Bob's words seem to resonate with this idea. When the flying dark-striped python carrying Bob and Sphinx landed in the forest thirty kilometers outside of Emerald City, he promptly handed over command to the Dark Queen.

Compared to other species, the Queen seemed to possess a heightened perception of the vampire race.

Despite her diminished power, she still possessed at least a level I terrifying strength. At this moment, she wore a pair of black high heels specially purchased from Leo, along with a leather jacket, giving her an unparalleled presence in the dark night.

Ahead of them was an ancient castle that appeared exceptionally old and abandoned, with the moonlight casting a sense of centuries-old desolation upon its weathered structure.

This was the first step of Leo' plan: to search for the most suitable location nearby to establish their headquarters, preferably a vampire castle or a ruined building.

Thus, this castle, still inhabited by vampires, became Leo... or rather, Bob's first prey.

Boldly entering the castle, disregarding the activated alarm magic array, Bob led the way, walking straight to the seemingly closed doors of the ancient fortress and striking them with a palm.

Dust filled the air, accompanied by the sound of bat wings flapping as they flew out of the castle. The oppressive and fierce aura weighed heavily.

Click.

With a slender waist swaying, the graceful Bob entered the castle, slightly lifting her chin.

Everyone, get out.

The Hollyr family, a pitiful clan that had been nearly completely destroyed by the Holy Gabriel Empire's heresy judgment three hundred years ago, had become the first sacrifice of the heretic extermination. They had since retreated to this desolate and uninhabited forest, living in seclusion and recuperating. However, three hundred years were not enough for a fallen vampire clan that was already not considered a top-tier family to fully recover.

And so, today, the Hollyr family, which had just managed to increase its numbers from a meager twelve members to twenty-seven, encountered an unimaginable calamity.

The castle gate was destroyed, which was tantamount to a blatant declaration of war against the owner of this territory. Grace Hollyr, the most powerful lord of the estate, angrily emerged from the underground tomb of the castle. Two guards, who were actually bloodline vampires, charged towards the figure standing at the door.

The woman with red eyes was a clear identification signal for dark creatures, but Bob's actions were never friendly from the beginning. She believed in one principle: violence solves everything. And she acted accordingly.

Facing the shadow rushing out of the darkness, Bob leaped in an instant, moving so fast that only a blur remained. One second later, with her black hair flying, she landed gracefully and rose slowly, her gaze cold and indifferent.

Behind her, the three bloodline vampires that had just charged out fell to the ground like rag dolls. The bodies of the two guards turned into a pile of debris, while Grace, the lord, managed to survive due to his slightly stronger power but remained unable to get up.

Bob took a step forward, her high heels echoing crisply in the silent hall of the castle. Lifting her foot, she directly stepped on the chest of the Hollyr family patriarch. The Dark Queen declared her ownership of the castle in her unique way.

No matter what surname you have, no matter how glorious your family once was, this castle now belongs to me.

Grace, who was being pressed down and almost unable to breathe, didn't even have a chance to say a word before he was stripped of the family castle he had spent three hundred years building.

To be unlucky to this extent was truly one of a kind.

Leo walked over from the side, his massive dark-patterned python body pushing aside the shattered debris. His huge head stared at the unfortunate soul lying on the ground, while Sphinx wagged her two folded ears and tilted her head, sniffing near Grace's head.

I—

My name is Bob. Remember it clearly.

Poor old Grace had intended to say something, but after hearing that name, she completely lost the will to resist.

Leo effortlessly entered the enormous castle, which was even larger than the Brook family's ancestral mansion. This would be his first stronghold.

...

"After sunrise, in the three-story study known as the 'Cosette Pearl,' Bob sat in the armchair that once belonged to the Hollyr family, complaining to Leo with a hint of helplessness.

Having a split personality was torture for Bob, and even more so for Leo. It was not easy for anyone to understand and deal with two different mindsets for the same person, especially when that person was someone as powerful as to potentially influence Leo's future development.

Bob's dark eyes seemed unaware of what her body had done under the control of her alter ego, but she was not slow-witted. Seeing the trembling vampire servants in the hall, too afraid to speak in front of the Dark Mark Python and Sphinx, she knew that this was not Leo's usual style.

What advice would you give? Leo asked.

Feicui is poor, but even in the poorest places, there are always wealthy individuals and substantial gray income, especially in these lawless areas. I don't oppose you establishing a base here. After all, being too conspicuous in Feicui is not ideal. But what will you do next? Become a leader without real power?

The noble lady took a sip of Ceylon milk tea, which she had somehow found and brewed, and elegantly said in the sunlight, Money, slaves, control—these things can only be squeezed out from Feicui. If you don't do it this way, you'll have to cross several mountains and cause trouble for those Uther lords. Trust me, Uther monarchs who protect their own won't let anyone interfere with their internal affairs.

If you didn't say that, you would have single-handedly destroyed Feicui tonight.

Leo had his own plans and would not blindly follow others, but he did realize that he had underestimated a small town in a lawless area.

May I offer a few more words without you resenting me? Bob leaned forward, her expression innocent. Fortunately, she wasn't wearing a noble dress, or else the cleavage on her chest would have shown Leo what the abyss of desire meant.

I dare not. I just want to understand why you are willing to consider these issues for me. Leo squinted his eyes and took a sip of milk tea. We only have a contractual relationship and no common ceremonial goals. I don't expect you to selflessly dedicate yourself to me just because I saved you once.

Very well. Those who understand their position will always go further than fools who aim too high. Bob put down her delicate teacup and gently wiped away the nonexistent milk stain at the corner of her mouth. In a way, your current situation is similar to mine. Do you understand what I mean?

Yes, perhaps I am even higher on the wanted list of the Inquisition than you are.

Leo self-deprecatingly remarked. In just a few days, he had matured his understanding of this world far too much. While he couldn't say that he was universally despised, he was certainly not far from it in the holy Gabriel Empire.

So, the two of us are 'in the same boat.' By helping you, I am helping myself. Bob's smile was enchanting, but it didn't make Leo feel any warmth or sincerity. It was instinctual. He wasn't a young nobleman who could be easily fooled by a few words. Two wolves in the forest, unless they belonged to the same pack, had no possibility of cooperation.

I am facing the Holy See, the Inquisition, and possibly...inevitably, the army of the holy Gabriel Empire. And 'she' killed dozens of clergy members of the Holy See to avenge the sins committed by the Church against her family. So...Bob, please tell me, what is your purpose? Is it the same as mine?

Facing Leo' forceful questioning for the first time, Bob lowered her head and looked at the teacup in silence for a few seconds before smiling and answering, Just one person. His name is William Clement.

Still smiling, this young lady who always presented herself as a noble carried an unprecedented aura of danger.

Chapter 2

Connor Mix did not join Leo in the appropriation operation of Cosette Castle. Instead, he began his investigation of Feilengcui alone as night fell.

He understood very well that he had no way out after being tied to Leo' chariot.

A few days later, at sunset, Leo and Bob appeared in Feilengcui again. A stack of thick parchment was already presented in front of Leo.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Leo handed the information about the true power holders in Feilengcui to the red-eyed Bob. She sat quietly next to Leo, took it, and lowered her head to read, showing less of her previous fierceness.

To be honest, compared to the Bob during the day, Leo had a better impression of this once arrogant but now quiet and introverted queen. She was used to solving everything in her own way without considering others. Her existence, or rather the existence of this dominant personality, was born out of the desire to fulfill Bob's crazy revenge plan.

However, when the wish to eradicate the Heretic Judgment was fulfilled by Leo, she seemed to be lost. As a result, her emotions were no longer volatile, and her inner self gradually became calm. However, it seemed that the queen's hatred for the Heretic Judgment and the Church was stronger, and she never mentioned Prince William Clement, not even a word.

Coincidence?

The fragmented personality seemed to be unaware of the specific actions of the other personalities within it. Leo felt like he was gradually touching upon a truth that even Bob herself might not fully understand.

At this moment, she seemed to be considering something with a pouting mouth after reading quietly. When she raised her head, the frowning expression of the dark queen suddenly became a bit cute in Leo' heart, making him feel strange.

Why do you even need to ask me what to do? It's just a matter of who to kill first and who to kill next.

This answer made Leo, whose mood was already delicate, rub his temples. Indeed, she was still herself, the queen who could never become a princess.

Then let's write down the plan and take a look?

Passing a feather pen, Leo added, Rate the difficulty as you see fit, then we'll take care of them one by one. How about that?

Looking at the feather pen in her hand, Bob replied, As long as we can make those charlatans regret their actions, I'm in until the end.

However, just three minutes later, when Bob handed the parchment with the difficulty rating and battle plan to Leo, who was preparing to study it seriously, Leo burst into laughter because... the handwriting was truly atrocious.

No laughing allowed.

Angrily, Bob blurted out three words through gritted teeth, her pretty face slightly turning red... And miraculously, she didn't explode and kick Leo out of the castle. Instead, she just sat there, clutching her black cloak tightly.

And this scene left Leo, who had raised his head to say something, momentarily stunned.

Although someone's taste had been struck by lightning and was equally atrocious, he was still captivated by the vulnerable side that this strong-willed queen had revealed. He didn't have many adjectives in his mind, he just simply thought that Bob, who was now slightly lowering her head with a hint of shyness, was beautiful.

Blowing gently on the parchment with Uther's messy handwriting, Leo carefully folded it and put it in his pocket. He stood up, trying to appear serious, but couldn't control the strange curve of his lips. You wrote it very well, so let's follow your plan, Miss Bob.

Call me Bob, you bastard.

The tone of the queen wanted to be tough, but unintentionally added a hint of imperceptible tenderness.

...

The streets of Emerald City were quite simple. Three horizontal streets intersected with three vertical streets at right angles. There were seven brothels, four taverns, two blacksmith shops, ten various grocery stores, two wine cellars, one cemetery, one mercenary guild, and over twenty residential buildings. There were no churches or official imperial government departments.

These buildings made up the entire town of Emerald City, with the core centered around the mercenary guild and the brothels. The rewards from the former directly determined the popularity of the latter. The population was small, with only around two hundred permanent residents, and about forty to fifty of them were prostitutes.

Connor walked along the streets at night, leading the way, with Leo carrying a short sword and a staff at his waist following behind. Compton, silent as ever, trailed behind, while Bob walked beside Leo. At this moment, the two of them had no hierarchical relationship, but they respected and helped each other. It was simple, yet there was also an indescribable emotional connection between them.

The sound of high heels tapping on the ground echoed through the quiet street, like the knock of the Grim Reaper at the door. Turning onto two more streets, the bustling red-light district of Feilengcui's Third Street was livelier than anywhere else at this hour.

In the cold air, the exposed prostitutes tried their best to entice passing customers, while Connor, exuding an aristocratic air and the charm of an older man, appeared and immediately attracted a crowd of women with deep cleavages.

Leo raised an eyebrow as he watched Connor, who always had a serious expression, surprisingly grope a woman's breasts and slip a gold coin into her cleavage. Then, he pointed to the people behind him and gestured towards the largest house in the area, his smile ambiguous.

The woman, who was nearly dizzy from being hit by the gold coin, screamed and wished to kneel down and serve Connor, the god, right away. However, she noticed the cold expressions on the faces of the people behind him, especially... there was even a woman among them whose beauty and temperament could easily surpass the most beautiful prostitute on Third Street. This made her restrain herself.

Holding up the hem of her cheap dress, she swayed her plump buttocks towards the brightly lit house.

The group silently followed behind, listening to the vulgar language of the surrounding prostitutes. Each person had a different reaction—Compton didn't even show an extra expression, while Leo looked curious but was also bothered by the strong scent of perfume, causing his eyes to sting. Bob, on the other hand, was already capable of killing with her gaze, her fingers slightly clenched—fortunately, the rouge and powder knew their place and didn't really think that this beautiful woman was a strange customer seeking death.

The largest building in Feilengcui Town was not a hotel, but a private residence— in other words, the center of power in the entire town was concentrated here.

The Brotherhood, an organization composed of bandits, deserters, and mercenaries, was the town's largest armed force. It controlled the mercenary guild, brothels, and taverns, the only few institutions that could provide profits. Of course, everything had to be balanced and not exploited too much, otherwise Feilengcui would not tolerate the emergence of a tyrant who upset the balance. If you went too far, someone would naturally overthrow you.

And that was exactly what Leo had to do now.

Should he use diplomacy or force first?

In a place where Bob was present, this kind of situation would hardly occur.

So, when Edwin Van Cleef, the leader of the Brotherhood, was enjoying himself on his large bed, the door that no one in Feilengcui Town dared to open on their own initiative was kicked open by Bob, who had endured to the extreme and had a frozen expression!

A remote town was just a remote town. The palace that tried to create an atmosphere of a feudal emperor had an exceptionally strong imitation feel, but the person on the bed was indeed the real deal—Leo felt that the scene before him involuntarily reminded him of a strange scene he had witnessed during a hunt in the forest.

That was supposedly a scene of mating between hermaphroditic star-nosed moles, completely subverting Leo' understanding that animal mating must be between a male and a female and must be one-on-one.

The heavy wooden door was kicked open, and the various indescribable moans and screams in the room, along with the visually shocking positions, stunned the people outside for a few seconds.

Who?!

As the leader and a powerful swordsman, Van Cleef was not a fool. He knew that if he used force to rise to power in the town of Feralas, he had to be prepared to be overthrown by force. So, while he loudly asked the question to buy time, his body instinctively reached for the curved blade that had never been more than a meter away from him!

However, his movement completely froze when a pale hand appeared.

Count-level vampire Connor stood beside him, gripping his wrist as he reached for the curved blade. And with a gentle wave from the young man who had just entered the room, that hand, which had killed countless people and bedded countless women, was completely snapped with a crisp sound.

Lord Van Cleef, I have something to discuss—

Leo didn't even finish his sentence before he noticed Bob striding over to the little bird who was still inside someone else's body and slapped him on the chest!

Heaven help us.

The women who had been favored by the leader of the Brotherhood turned their heads, only to find that the strong man who had just been ravishing them had disappeared half his body under the palm of this stunning beauty in front of them.

Blood and intestines sprayed in a radial pattern onto the entire large bed. This swordmaster, who wanted to say a few more words, had already turned into a pile of flesh before he could even let out a fart!

Damn, this woman is truly insane.

Chapter 3

Leo pursed his lips and sighed, his prepared lines completely useless. He felt frustrated, but Bob suddenly turned around and asked, What? Do you think I did something wrong?

Cough, cough, no, you did everything right. This guy should go to hell—oh, I mean... should... should die.

As Leo realized that hell was the name of Bob's prison cell, he immediately sensed his mistake. However, his tongue tied, and he couldn't find the right words to say. This annoyed Bob, who coldly snorted and turned her head to look out the window, ignoring the women on the bed covered in body remnants who couldn't speak.

Awkward coughs filled the room.

In the end, Connor read the situation and broke the tension. He let go of the remaining half of his arm and reached out to pat the face of a blonde woman in front of him. He said, Who has the authority to summon all the high-ranking members of the Brotherhood? Don't lie or pretend not to know. You know what will happen to you.

To be honest, the prostitutes in Feilengcui were used to violence and death. They all earned their living from the bloody money of their clients. However, slapping to death the strongest woman in Feilengcui without saying a word was an incredibly shocking act. So, these women, who were more skilled in bed than in appearance, were still in shock.

You have one minute.

Connor dramatically took out an exquisite hourglass and gently turned it over, holding it in front of the three of them with his finger.

She...

As expected, the two women with impressive chests both pointed at the woman with a shapely rear end who was still sitting on a half of a corpse. The latter had seductive eyes, ample bosom, and a fair, tight skin, making her the most outstanding among the three. When she saw her good sisters betraying her, she wanted to say something, but found herself being choked and lifted by another silent man.

The suffocating feeling made her struggle desperately as she was lifted in mid-air, her naked body exposed. She tried to pry open the cold, pale hand gripping her, but all she heard was a whisper in her ear, Within ten minutes, tell me everything you know, or you won't have the same lucky death as Van Cleef.

The woman, known for her beauty and skill in bed, was completely dumbfounded. Especially when she found herself naked in front of three men, their eyes looking at her as if she were a corpse. The confidence she had accumulated from seducing countless men with her body was shattered.

...

The next day.

There seemed to be a slight change in the atmosphere of Feilengcui.

A head, no longer bleeding, was hung at the entrance of the Mercenary Guild. This was a tradition in Feilengcui. After the previous ruler was overthrown, his head was hung here, and there was no need for any other announcements.

For the various people in Feilengcui, such changes were nothing out of the ordinary. It was normal for a change of power to happen every three to five years, or even every one to two years. So everything remained the same.

The Mercenary Guild, brothels, and taverns still collected their shares according to the old rules, so they didn't have much impact on the town. In the eyes of the residents of Feilengcui, becoming the underground leader of Feilengcui meant nothing more than making some money and enjoying the company of a few prostitutes trained by countless men before they died.

The premise was that these people could do something practical, like stepping up when the town was attacked. It was their duty, and if they didn't do it, there would naturally be someone discreetly reminding them.

However, this new leader seemed to have no intention of appearing in public. Since Van Cleef's head was hung at the Mercenary Guild, there had been no news about the new leader, not even his name.

At this moment, Leo, who controlled the gray income of Feilengcui, sat in the study of the castle, continuing his next plan and deployment on parchment, while also working on building his own intelligence network.

The dark-patterned python was assigned to work outside the castle due to its large size and unique abilities. Over a hundred members of the Brotherhood were hard at work outside the castle, with a twenty-meter long, winged dragon snake overseeing them. It was safe to say that no one dared to slack off.

Do you feel like there's nothing to do? Leo asked Bob, who was sitting in a armchair, staring out the window. It was nighttime, and Leo always kept his distance from Bob during the day, but his tone was much more natural towards her at night.

Bob remained silent for a moment before answering, I feel lost because you've made my existence largely meaningless.

Killing? Revenge? Leo was not a psychiatrist specializing in studying multiple personalities, so he didn't understand the conditions and significance behind the emergence of multiple personalities. This led to his confusion about what Bob's words meant.

In the eyes of the world, it seems like my purpose is just that, but my appearance... it's an involuntary choice for this body.

I have an idea, Leo said after a moment of contemplation. In my life, several wise mentors have all told me the same thing: books are the best shortcut to avoid detours and discover new paths. If you'd like, I can recommend some books for you to read. It doesn't have to be the 'Old Testament' to guide the lamb; any book can have an effect.

You sound like one of those annoying charlatans, Bob stared at Leo, her tone still forceful. But he didn't flinch, instead offering a faint smile. In the end, the dark queen who had never stopped killing since the day her personality was born chose to compromise. She shrugged her shoulders and said, Well, people are endless, so I might as well listen to your advice.

There was a brief silence in the study. Bob noticed that Leo was frozen like a statue, and suddenly felt that she had been too easily swayed in front of him, making her face feel a bit awkward. Fortunately, Leo was not easily infatuated. After a slight surprise, he turned around and picked up the Collection of Papal Bulls from the bookshelf, saying, Understanding your enemy is more important than killing your enemy. I recommend this book.

Bob, feeling somewhat embarrassed, regretted her hasty words. But now it was too late to take them back, so she reached out and took the book. Looking up, she saw Leo looking sincere, and she couldn't help but sigh at herself for overthinking.

Her fingers, which had taken out countless enemy hearts, brushed over the old pages of the book. Since the day this personality was born, she had hardly read any books or written any words. By the candlelight, she opened the pages, revealing a previously unseen elegance that surprised Leo, who was holding a feather pen.

The woman in front of him was not the typical noble with precise and proper movements. Instead, she was the true elegant side of Bob, the queen personality.

The queen lowered her head and flipped through the book in silence, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere. Leo turned his gaze back and let out a soft sigh, but he was also considering another puzzle that puzzled him.

How much longer until his identity was exposed?

Connor had left Feicui Town and went to the nearest territory of Lord Gabriel. His purpose was to investigate the situation within the holy Gabriel Empire. Feicui Town seemed isolated from the world, and it was only today that someone knew about the fact that the Pope had passed away. As Leo, who was about to establish himself and develop in this unknown location, the most urgent matter at hand was to delay the discovery of his true identity by intelligence organizations, regardless of which country they belonged to.

Leo was only sixteen years old this year, far from being a lord who had held a high position for many years. But now he had to put himself in the position of a ruler and a leader of a faction, learning to deal with everything and control everything.

In front of him was a detailed plan of over ten pages that he had customized based on books and manuscripts he had read before. However, there were still many blank spaces due to his lack of experience. Nevertheless, the outline was already visible, with only the title of the stack of parchment paper still empty.

Until now, Leo had not given a formal name to the so-called organization he led. But at this moment, he lifted his head and saw the Dark Queen Bob gently flipping through the pages of the Collection of Papal Bulls. Then he looked out at the deep and silent night outside the window, reached out his hand, and wrote a title on the parchment paper.

The Night's Watch.

Chapter 4

The Sacred Gabriel Empire, the marvelous city of Medichi.

Miss Adeline Brook was unusually cheerful today. Despite the nation mourning the Pope's passing, she seemed unconcerned about the upcoming papal election. Sunlight poured into her study, casting a golden glow on the neatly arranged Masuo cards on her desk.

Among them, one card stood out with a void stamp on it, different from the others. Its name was Knight: Leo Roland. The card, now deemed useless, had no apparent difference in quality from the ordinary Knight cards that symbolized common soldiers. However, in Miss Adeline's eyes, the card was a person, and a person was a card. Her attitude towards the cards reflected her attitude towards the characters they represented.

Indeed, at this moment, Adeline was not engrossed in studying the history of the continental wars or the latest military papers of the empire, as she usually did. Instead, she opened a long-unused box of materials and began crafting a new custom-grade card.

A new, different card.

It lacked the expensive crystal core inlays of the City of Faith: Vatican, but had a simple and solemn gray background. The main material of this card was a small piece of cured Quel'Saya dragon leather, and it had a profound design painted by a private artist—a silhouette holding a black scepter, with a golden left arm, standing on the symbol of the Inquisition, gazing up at the moon in the sky with resolute determination.

Dark Apostle: Leo Wendell Sol.

A new surname appeared on the card, and its meaning was self-evident. After the Creed Organization directly released all information about Leo, the son of the Byzantine Duke, almost all of it was now presented before Miss Adeline's eyes.

Therefore, this unique Masuo card, bearing the title Dark Apostle, was destined to be her personal collection and would never appear in official card battles.

I overturn my previous judgment of you. Adeline gently imprinted intricate patterns symbolizing darkness onto the card using a magical seal. So, now, as you lurk in the treacherous corners, what kind of surprise will you bring me?

The final seal was Adeline's personal emblem. The terrifyingly intelligent yet outwardly innocent noble girl calmly imprinted her emblem on the edge of the card. Not all cards received this treatment; usually, the Brook family emblem was imprinted on the cards. The ability to use her personal emblem usually signified something significant.

The things symbolized by the cards had already become Adeline's own in her heart.

...

Byzantine.

The Holy See of the Patriarchate responded to the death of their archenemy, the Pope of the Vatican, and took advantage of the situation to launch a comprehensive counterattack in the continent-wide sectarian strife.

However, when the culprit behind the eradication of heretics, Leo, had his information presented in all the top institutions within the empire, almost everyone remained silent.

Edward III immediately sent a personal letter to Duke Wendell Sol, who had already gone to the front lines, in an effort to stabilize his emotions and prevent them from affecting his clear thinking about the war situation.

The leader of the Hawkeye organization, Duke Isara, made no statement.

The six giants of the Religious Tribunal remained silent as a group. The religious power institutions, including the Holy See, engaged in intense discussions for three days but no organization dared to be the first to express their opinion on Leo Wendell Sol, the heir to the duke and the young man who had slapped the face of the Holy See.

In the end, a secret document, confirmed and reviewed by the Patriarch, was submitted to Emperor Edward III of Byzantine, who personally announced the decision regarding Leo's punishment—

Treason.

Heresy.

Blasphemy.

These three charges were firmly placed on Leo Wendell Sol's name. The Religious Tribunal's recommendation for his punishment was simple—

Burning at the stake.

No one expected the outcome that Edward III eventually announced. On the day the news was announced, Klevi, who was studying quietly at the Constantine Pansel Magic Academy, went home and confronted his father, demanding that Count Auschwitz reject the emperor's decision. The count responded with silence.

On that day, Klevi stood not in the laboratory or library, but in his bedroom filled with books. He gently took off the emblem that symbolized honor and identity at the Pansel Magic Academy, never to wear it again.

Meanwhile, Andy, who heard the news in the military camp, remained unusually calm. It wasn't until the end of a day of training, in the late night when no one was around, that she took a deep breath and rubbed her cheeks. Her hands, calloused from