Chapter 31: Carlos

In the past few days, Twilight Town had changed a lot.

The large carriages of the Merchant’s Contract Alliance, emblazoned with the scales insignia, unloaded goods day and night.
People in neat uniforms shouted, piling up strange things that gleamed with a metallic sheen everywhere.

A large piece of land at the edge of town had been cordoned off.
The sound of clanging and banging never stopped, annoying people to no end.

What made people’s hearts tighten even more was the convoy from the Holy Blood Royal Court.

The clergy in magnificent robes and the knights with fierce auras patrolled the daily life of Twilight Town with an almost indifferent sense of detachment.

Their gazes swept over the farmers working in the fields, the old men mending fishing nets by the roadside, and the children chasing and playing.

“A wilderness devoid of faith, a soil barren of power, and a flock of muddle-headed lambs…”

This was the evaluation of the leading Blood-Robed Bishop, Carlos.
Twilight Town was indeed like a forgotten corner on the map of the Holy Blood Royal Court.

The people here rose with the sun and rested with the sun, following ancient and simple laws of survival.

They knew little about the power of contracts, and their reverence for the Holy Blood was limited to the weekly service at the Twilight Church.

And this service was more out of respect for Lilith, the Saintess, and a habit of seeking spiritual comfort.

This kind of faith, not from the depths of the soul, was, in the eyes of these clergy, a desert of faith, a barren land in desperate need of cultivation.

Carlos was very confused about his future.
He had just been promoted to regional bishop a short while ago, based on his outstanding political achievements and firm faith.

He should have been in his own rich and prosperous diocese, receiving the offerings of the lost lambs and enjoying the sweetness brought by power.

But what happened?
Damn God-Burying Society!

A sudden attack not only severely injured the Saintess, but also alarmed the high-level officials of the Royal Court.

A transfer order had sent him, a promising up-and-comer, to this godforsaken, remote place!

It was called protecting the Saintess and developing the faith, but in reality, it was equivalent to exile!

This meant he needed to spend countless efforts to enlighten this flock of foolish lambs and endure the simplicity and backwardness here.

What made his heart bleed even more was that, according to the rules of the Royal Court, in the place where the incumbent Saintess resided, his power as a bishop… a large part of it had to be handed over to the Saintess.

The thought of having to bow his head and listen to the orders of that yellow-haired girl, who was said to be eccentric and difficult to get along with, made a wave of suppressed anger rush to Carlos’s head.

His face darkened.
He irritably dismissed his attendants, just wanting to find a quiet corner to catch his breath and sort out this terrible situation.

He paced in the shadows of the side corridor of the church, turning a corner absentmindedly.

“Ouch!”

A small, thin figure bumped into him.
The Holy Blood scriptures and parchment scrolls in her arms scattered all over the floor with a clatter.

It was Maria.
She was clearly terrified.
When she saw who she had bumped into, she quickly squatted down to pick them up.

“My Lord Bishop, I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose! I beg your forgiveness!”

Carlos’s brow furrowed tightly, and he was about to lose his temper.
But his gaze swept over the girl’s forehead, and a thought quietly slipped into his mind.

The anger on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a compassionate yet solemn and dignified expression.

He didn’t pick up the books on the floor, but instead extended his hand, which wore a ruby ring, and gently placed it on Maria’s trembling head.

“O, lost little lamb…”
Carlos’s voice was low and magnetic, soothing Maria’s panicked emotions.

“There is no need to be so flustered. God loves all people, and especially pities those souls who grope in the darkness, yearning for the light.”

Maria stopped trembling and looked up in a daze, her eyes reflecting Carlos’s seemingly holy and solemn face.

“Look at this chaotic mortal world, where chaos breeds and heretics lurk.”

“The minions of the God-Burying Society are still spying in the shadows, to subvert the order of the gods and drag all beings into eternal delusion and destruction.”

His voice suddenly rose.
“And you! My child, you have bravely taken the first step!”

“The blessed Holy Blood flows in your body, and our Lord’s contract connects your soul. This is the grace of the Holy Blood for you!”

Maria’s breathing quickened, the confusion in her eyes replaced by a gradually burning fanaticism.

A strong enemy from the God-Burying Society had even severely injured the Saintess.
Maria had long felt that things would become more and more tricky.

And Carlos’s words had accurately struck her longing for the power of the Holy Blood.

As Carlos’s lips moved, he quietly activated a Blood Contract.
The words he spoke became more convincing, more bewitching.

“Do you feel it? You are no longer the humble dust in this wilderness. You are the chosen one!”

“Your piety, your courage, are destined to light the first holy flame in this desert of faith!”

“In the glory of the Holy Blood, you will gain power! Be reborn, and even… immortal!”

He deliberately emphasized the last two words, satisfied to see Maria’s pupils contract violently from shock and longing.

“Come, child,”
Carlos’s loud voice softened, the deceptive meaning in his tone becoming even stronger.

“Tell me, are you willing to become our Lord’s most loyal shepherd dog in this wilderness?”

“With your piety, lead more lost lambs back to the embrace of the Holy Blood? Your name will be sung along with the glory of the Holy Blood!”

Maria’s expression became extremely excited.
She bowed her head deeply, her forehead almost touching the ground, her voice fanatical.

“I am willing! My Lord Bishop! I am willing to dedicate my all, to serve our Lord, and to spread the glory of the Holy Blood!”

“Very good!”
The corner of Carlos’s mouth curled up.
“Now go and fulfill your duty, and wait for our Lord’s guidance!”

“Yes! My Lord Bishop!”
Maria, as if she had received the supreme mission, her face glowed with a pathological brilliance.

She hurriedly picked up the scriptures on the floor and quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

After sending away this pawn that had just been preliminarily placed, the frustration in Carlos’s heart seemed to have dissipated a little.

He straightened his magnificent blood-red bishop’s robe and prepared to go find Abraham.

This Shepherd was a famous strong person in the Holy Blood Royal Court, and he had arrived so many days earlier than him.
He wanted to probe the details about the Saintess and the nun beside her.

He had just turned around when his footsteps suddenly stopped.
At the other end of the corridor, two figures were slowly walking over.

Carlos’s heart tightened.
He immediately put on the most impeccable respectful posture and bowed slightly in greeting.

“May Her Holiness the Saintess be well. May the glory of the Holy Blood forever bathe you.”

Lilith’s footsteps stopped in front of him, her small chin slightly raised.
“You’re the bishop who just arrived? Carlos?”

“Yes, I am Carlos. By the decree of the Royal Court, I have come to Twilight Church to serve and stabilize the faith here.”

Carlos’s posture was extremely low.
To put it bluntly, he was just an administrator.
He was no match for the favorite of the Holy Blood.

“Is it monitoring? The old guys in the Royal Court, when did they become so concerned about me, a Saintess staying in a remote place?”

Fine sweat broke out on Carlos’s forehead.
He quickly explained, “Your Holiness misunderstands. The Royal Court is concerned about Your Holiness’s safety…”

“Alright.”
Lilith interrupted him impatiently, waving her small hand casually.

“I’m not interested in your roundabout thoughts. Since you’re here, go and tell the people from the Merchant’s Contract Alliance.”

“This is still the territory of the Holy Blood. Those treacherous merchants are not allowed to swindle the townspeople!”
Her tone was bossy, as if the bishop before her were the most lowly servant.

Carlos’s cheek muscles twitched.
He, a dignified regional bishop, was actually assigned to handle this kind of street dispute?
It was a great shame!

But he didn’t dare to show it in the slightest.
He could only suppress his anger and agree in a low voice.

“And, tell those people you brought to behave themselves. Twilight Church is my place, not the Holy City.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly, a chilling coldness in her azure pupils.

“If anyone dares to put on airs here, or scare my nuns… I don’t mind personally sending you back to the embrace of the Holy Blood.”

This naked threat sent a chill down Carlos’s back.
He had no doubt about the methods of this seemingly delicate Saintess.
The adults in the Holy City were still very secretive about her to this day.

“I understand! I will definitely restrain them strictly!”
He almost gritted his teeth as he agreed.

Only then was Lilith somewhat satisfied.
She continued to walk forward with Bai Jin, not even bothering to give him a second glance, as if it would dirty her eyes.