In name, everything in the Imperial Capital was under Theresia's watch.
In reality, however, the Seven Holy Bloodlines converged here, and each of the Seven Great Churches had its own sphere of influence. The Night Watch Bureau could only exercise basic control on the surface; it was difficult for them to truly intervene.
For instance, if an entire household was murdered in the Hearthfire District, the Machine Priests of the Reforging Flame would be the first to respond. The Night Watch Bureau would only act if an abnormal development threatened public order.
If the threat was minor, or nothing had come out into the open, the Night Watch Bureau would simply turn a blind eye.
Now, however, the Night Watch Bureau patrolled the streets all day, almost uprooting every supernatural power in the Hearthfire District!
The Reforging Flame had wanted to protest, but the other factions secretly fanning the flames easily drowned them out. Any attempt at defending themselves met with a concerted attack, and no one spoke up for them.
And when the Night Watch Bureau rode this momentum to gradually expand its reach, the other powers continued to watch the show.
The Seven Holy Bloodlines were powerful enough, and precisely because of that, they were not united enough.
By the time they realized what was happening, there was no one left to speak up for them. The Night Watch Bureau and the official authorities swiftly took control of more than half the Imperial Capital, sweeping aside all resistance.
When they tried to unite, the New Nobility's Parliament began issuing impeachment motions incessantly, leaving them scrambling and under attack from both sides.
Only then did the Seven Holy Bloodlines reassess their relationship with the Royal Family.
They had always believed that the Royal Family belonged to the same camp