The Warden of The Witches

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Chapter 240: A Heartless Sister</ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Since he had promised beforehand, Aiden relayed to Ophelia his previous encounter with Kyle and the purpose Kyle had mentioned for coming to Silver City.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"That spineless fool is actually still working for the Progenitor?" Ophelia frowned upon hearing Kyle was under the Progenitor's orders to interfere with the Blood Moon Cult.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"What? Is there a problem?" Aiden noticed her reaction carried a hint of disgust.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Hmph, nothing. Back when we became blood-kin, we followed the Progenitor in the Netherlands for a while. Later I grew tired of being ordered around, so I discussed leaving the Progenitor with him, going elsewhere, finding some ruins to live in. But that idiot actually refused me, insisting on continuing to slave away for others... and nagged me constantly not to randomly attack humans." Ophelia crossed her arms. "I couldn't stand it, so I left on my own."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"And then you caused trouble everywhere for over a decade, finally getting caught in the autonomous state, right?" Aiden finished for her in a sarcastic tone. "Putting other things aside, his advice not to attack humans was quite right; otherwise, you wouldn't be here."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Ophelia wasn't exactly restrained when it came to feeding. Over the past decade, she had regularly ingested human blood, with hundreds of traceable victims, leading directly to her century-long sentence.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Hearing Aiden's sarcasm, Ophelia immediately glared fiercely at him: "None of your business!!"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Your brother told me he was involved in something major, potentially fatal. Now it seems that might not be an exaggeration. The Blood Moon Cult's Agent he's pursuing, as she just said..." Aiden glanced at the Countess lying on the bed, "...is an extremely dangerous individual. Aren't you worried about him at all?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Ophelia's expression flickered slightly, but the next second she turned her face away: "He brought it on himself! I don't care if he lives or dies!"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"What a heartless sister," Aiden shook his head and decided to try asking Ophelia for intel on the Blood Moon Cult. "You said you also followed the Progenitor? How much do you know about the Blood Moon Cult?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Not much. I just remember a bunch of blood-kin vying to serve the God of Death, plus a bunch of humans chasing immortality, vying to serve blood-kin. Nothing more," Ophelia replied irritably.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->This information wasn't much different from what Kyle and Abigail had mentioned, but just then, Countess Martha, lying on the bed, suddenly made a sound of realization.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"What is it?" Aiden realized she might offer useful intel and turned his gaze to her. "Do you have something to add? The more details you provide, the better for your future sentencing."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Well... In my memory, the cult has absolutely <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->no<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> mortals, only blood-kin," the Countess said, slightly stunned. "I once asked the Agent why they didn't recruit humans as servants, and he told me the cult doesn't need unreliable human followers..."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Impossible. When I first became blood-kin, the Blood Moon Cult always had more humans than blood-kin. This world never lacks humans wanting immortality... though I remember they didn't have many members to begin with," Ophelia objected.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The Countess shrank back, seemingly hesitant to argue directly with the Prince before her, and said softly, "But, the Agent said, humans are fickle opportunists, always changing beliefs for their own goals, always betraying, untrustworthy..."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Aiden fell into thought upon hearing this. Abigail had also mentioned the Blood Moon Cult comprised both blood-kin and humans seeking immortality, and Ophelia's description corroborated this. Many humans in this world idolized blood-kin; although this trend had been suppressed with the signing of The Covenant and the rise of Heresy Inquisition institutions, the allure of immortality still held a strong attraction for some. These humans would willingly serve blood-kin to receive the 'Embrace,' so there should be plenty of mortals eager to join the Blood Moon Cult.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Yet Martha Kayton claimed the <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->current<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> cult consisted only of blood-kin and even refused to recruit humans. The Agent's response sounded as if they had been betrayed by human members of the cult before...<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Speaking of which, the Blood Moon Cult created and manipulated by "Mr. Bloodcloth" five years ago seemed to consist <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->only<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> of humans, with no blood-kin.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->A possibility occurred to Aiden—perhaps "Mr. Bloodcloth" hadn't simply usurped the Blood Moon Cult's name out of thin air. Instead, he might have somehow wrested control over a portion of the cult, causing its human believers to switch allegiance to Mephilia and summoning the new Dominator into a mortal vessel. The Agent, having experienced the fickleness of human followers, no longer trusted them. In contrast, blood-kin, with their direct connection to the 'Death' authority, were likely less inclined to defect to a Dominator outside that authority.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->If "Mr. Bloodcloth" truly had poached followers from the original Blood Moon Cult, could it be... that this supervisor, the Agent of the God of Death, had encountered "Mr. Bloodcloth"?<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->It wasn't impossible!<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->If this reasoning held, investigating the current Blood Moon Cult might lead to clues about "Mr. Bloodcloth." This made capturing the Agent roaming the city even more crucial.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Moreover, Aiden had now confirmed the Agent was targeting Rose Iron Prison, probing its defenses, and even attempting jailbreaks. Even just out of duty, he had to find a way to handle this Agent.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->But, with Melissa suddenly gone, the Inquisition clueless and short-staffed, and Abigail only willing to engage in direct combat... trying to find a serial killer of unknown appearance within the city by himself seemed incredibly difficult.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I don't care anymore. That loser, insisting on slaving away for the Progenitor, risking his life against an opponent like this—let him die like the fool he is," Ophelia shouted irritably. "Enough, I'm going back to my cell!"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Aiden gave Veronica a look, signaling her to take Ophelia back.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Ophelia was relatively safe within the prison; as long as they didn't hand over inmates, a jailbreak was virtually impossible. The danger lay in the Agent's methods. If he orchestrated another hostage situation like this, it would be troublesome. Extra measures were needed to ensure the guards' safety...<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->But, was it necessary for the Agent to go to such lengths just to threaten Kyle Kaodo? How much importance one places on an opponent signifies how much of a threat that opponent poses. The Agent already possessed partial powers from the God of Death. How much threat could an ordinary blood-kin Prince pose to him?<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->A thought struck Aiden: visit Kyle Kaodo proactively to get clarity. Besides, he needed to inform the man about today's events anyway.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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