Blood Flame Qi

If it had been the old Charlotte, he probably would have told the truth. But Charlotte was no longer so honest. He smiled faintly and said, "Perhaps Senior Menilman will join the navy."

Madame Pascal smiled slightly. "Perhaps!"

It seemed she had achieved some purpose, and she soon took her leave.

Charlotte stayed in the office for a while, handled some official business, then calmly skipped work and went home.

He had no date with Anne today. Miss Brittany was facing her final exams, and no matter how gifted she was, she could not ignore the university's rules. She would not be able to get out for the next few days.

Charlotte took a public carriage to Champs-Élysées Avenue, ate a meal first, then returned to Number 58.

Since his spirituality had improved, his cultivation speed had risen by another level. Bloody Glory was on the verge of a breakthrough, so the moment he returned home, he began an intensive round of cultivation.

Several hours later, the Bloody Vortex in his heart underwent an unexpected change. Countless tiny pale-gold runes emerged, forming a wondrous structure like a small golden heart.

A brand-new supernatural ability was quietly born.

—Blood Flame Qi!

Blood Flame Qi was the foundation of House of Adonis's vampire secret arts.

It was also one of the Thirteen Wonders of Bloody Glory created by the Great Human Philosopher of Blood Flame Qi, Protagoras.

Blood-colored flame qi rose from Charlotte's body, and the Vampire Hand Axe likewise emitted blood-colored flame qi. The two streams of flame qi resonated with each other from afar. The Vampire Hand Axe, which had been hanging on the wall since he returned home, flew up on its own like a weary bird returning to its nest and landed in its master's hand.

Charlotte was overjoyed. He opened his eyes, and the Vampire Hand Axe circled around his hands before shooting out as though hurled by an invisible giant hand, swift as lightning.

Just as the hand axe was about to bury itself in the wall, Blood Flame Qi erupted. It froze firmly in midair, its blade trembling with a faint hum.

With a gesture from Charlotte, it flew back into its master's hand.

This was the basic function of Blood Flame Qi, the foundation of House of Adonis's vampire secret arts and one of Bloody Glory's Thirteen Wonders!

Blood Flame Qi could burn an enemy's life force and feed that vitality back to its master. It could also amplify a weapon's lethality, creating an extremely subtle connection between weapon and master, allowing it to be recalled at any time by thought.

But what Charlotte was thinking of at that moment was definitely not recalling a weapon. It was a combat technique that the Great Human Philosopher Protagoras had never considered or developed, constrained as he had been by the limitations of his knowledge system.

—Void Item Control!

The thought of controlling a flying axe to kill enemies a hundred paces away made Charlotte's heart stir with excitement.

The previous owner had been mediocre with the sword and was not skilled in close combat.

Charlotte had inherited the previous owner's shortcomings, and he himself did not enjoy fighting people hand-to-hand.

If he could use Blood Flame Qi to control the Vampire Hand Axe and battle enemies from afar, Charlotte suddenly felt that he could make it work again.

The Empire's bureaucratic system gave preferential treatment to Transcendents. With their extraordinary powers, Transcendents found it easier than ordinary people to establish merit and advance through promotions.

Even better than the benefits offered by the Empire's bureaucratic system was joining the Orthodox Church. Holding a Divine Office granted all kinds of privileges.

Unfortunately, once someone joined the Orthodox Church, they could no longer lay hands on secular power, and their lives would be bound by doctrine. For instance, they could never marry or possess worldly property. It was terribly inconvenient.

Charlotte had crossed into this world, not to become some Western monk.

Having formed a bond with the Vampire Hand Axe, Charlotte had grown somewhat fonder of the weapon. He placed it back on the desk and returned to the sofa.

He cultivated Bloody Glory for a while longer. By four or five in the afternoon, Charlotte had eaten two croissants and was preparing to go out for a walk.

He had originally not intended to go out at all, planning to stay home obediently for the entire day.

But Bloody Glory had condensed a second supernatural ability. It was the foundation of House of Adonis's vampire secret arts and the most powerful of Bloody Glory's Thirteen Wonders. His surging emotions would not settle, and going out for a walk would be good for his physical and mental health.

Charlotte locked the door and turned from the alley onto Champs-Élysées Avenue.

This prosperous commercial avenue, stretching 2,600 pimis, remained bustling with people and carriages even at this hour.

There were still two or three hours before the shops on Champs-Élysées Avenue closed at four or five in the afternoon. The Empire of Fars had no streetlight system, so even its most prosperous commercial streets could only remain open until dusk.

Charlotte wandered for half an hour and entered four or five shops, but nothing caught his eye. Just as he was planning to browse a little longer before heading back, he heard someone call his name.

He looked up to see a slightly worn but stately, antique carriage racing toward him. A beautiful young girl with a touch of childishness still on her face leaned out the window and waved at him. It was none other than his former fiancée, Miss Sylvie Martin.

She was radiant and beaming, clearly having encountered something joyful.

Sylvie Martin had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and Charlotte had never asked about her whereabouts. Seeing how happy his former fiancée was, he could not help asking, "Miss Sylvie, what has made you so happy?"

The carriage stopped beside Charlotte. Another woman got down from it alongside Sylvie.

She was tall, light on her feet, and remarkably athletic in bearing. She looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her golden hair was coiled behind her head, and she wore a lady's hunting outfit while carrying a delicate, slender walking stick.

She had lake-blue eyes and finely sculpted features. She was a beautiful girl in no way inferior to Miss Anne Brittany.

Of course, she absolutely could not compare to Menilman Sumay. After all, that young lady was known as The Empire's First Rose. In the Empire of Fars, no gentleman would place another woman on equal footing with her. Such blasphemy could provoke a duel right in the street.

Sylvie introduced them to each other cheerfully. "This is my cousin, Sherlock Mecklen."

"This kind Miss Vinnie helped me find my lost luggage."

The woman placed one hand over her chest and gave a standard Imperial salute. In a soothing voice, she said with graceful composure, "Vinnie Arsenault, president of the Cat Detective Agency! I heard that Mr. Mecklen works at Kilmainham Prison. If we ever have a case involving your area of expertise, may we ask for your assistance?"

Charlotte smiled faintly and replied, "Of course. If you need anything, Miss Vinnie, please do not hesitate to ask."

Sylvie said happily, "As it happens, Miss Vinnie's detective agency needed employees, so she went to the city government to retrieve my records and transferred my employment affiliation to the Cat Detective Agency. I'm now an Apprentice Detective!"

Charlotte was slightly surprised. Although he had already broken off his engagement with his former fiancée, he could not help offering a word of advice. "Have you thought this through? The treatment for private employees cannot compare with that of government civil servants."

National public schools primarily trained talent for all levels of government, but graduates were also permitted to seek work on their own. However, private employees received comparatively poor treatment, so very few people were willing to give up an opportunity to work for the government.

Sylvie Martin said, "I've already asked around. I would probably be assigned to the countryside as a Third-Class Registrar, and there's a strong chance I wouldn't be promoted for years."