679. Everything is... a scheme

"Cough, cough, cough—!"

Mortis took out a silk handkerchief and wiped away the unbecoming trace at the corner of his mouth before looking at Mofulei to confirm. "Eugene is dead?"

The news was so shocking that even the Blood Jade Wine with [Delicious LV8] he had just drunk seemed to have lost its flavor.

Mofulei did not raise her head. She only presented the stack of intelligence in her hands with both hands.

It was an urgent secret report from the northern border, placed before the emperor together with Duke Dean's latest message.

A group of tribespeople had displayed strength far beyond expectations.

Duke Eugene, who had gone to suppress them, had been killed almost right in front of Dean.

Mutant Puji, Fungal Carpet, Parasites, Blood Clan traitors advanced through unknown means.

The emperor reviewed the reports one by one, his gaze lingering a moment longer on the information related to Louisa.

"The Holy Scripture is actually in the Northern Territory—"

"Your Majesty," Mofulei asked in a low voice, "Dean's request for reinforcements—should we alter the current deployment?"

Mortis was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"No. Grant Dean full authority and have him take over the entire northern border. Until matters here are complete, he will need to hold on by himself."

"Yes!"

After taking another sip of the Blood Jade Wine Sigismund had most recently offered as tribute, Mortis revealed a heartfelt smile.

There was only one way for Blood Clan traitors to advance, and Mortis knew this better than anyone.

And now, the only ones who possessed the Blood-Stealing Ritual were himself and Vesalius. Beings like them, standing at the pinnacle of the bloodline, could not possibly leak this ritual.

Then the only possibility was the Holy Scripture, which had still not been found.

Since