Chapter 1597: Land of Eternal Night (2)

Chapter 1597: Chapter 105: Land of Eternal Night (2)

“Secrets.”

Church remained as indifferent as ever. It’s hard to tell if he’s like this in private as well, especially with Afeiya.

“Church already let me know that once we arrive at the Land of Eternal Night, we shouldn’t bother him. He’s got his own mission.”

Bologue spoke up just in time to defuse the situation for Church. He didn’t know exactly what Church was up to, but considering Church’s ability to Walk in the Narrow Space and that suitcase he carried, Bologue guessed Church was part of the assassination plot against the Night King. The difference was that Church was likely to serve as a backup.

A round of applause echoed as Serey stood under the bright sunlight with an umbrella, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Get ready.”

Serey said, pulling out a key from his pocket and inserting it into the door standing bare on the beach, from which they had previously emerged.

Turning the lock cylinder and twisting the door handle, Serey slid open a muddled darkness. Unlike the writhing curvature they witnessed before, this time, Serey could sense the pungent scent of blood… He wasn’t sure if it was just an illusion.

At this point, hesitation was meaningless. Serey once again displayed that deliberate smile, stepped into the darkness without a word, and vanished.

Bologue turned to glance at the remaining members, following closely behind.

The members disappeared one by one into the Curved Path Gate until being the last one, Church closed and sealed the door, bringing a sudden stillness to the once-agitated island. Time seemed to freeze there, leaving only the rustle of wind through leaves and the relentless crashing of the waves.

Just like many times before, during the long-distance Curved Path Shuttling, after a brief moment of disorientation and blurred vision, Bologue’s senses gradually returned, revealing a scene of ruin before him.

“Where are we?”

Palmer painfully leaned against the wall, suspecting he might have some kind of “allergy” to Curved Path Shuttling, as his reactions were always far more intense than others.

Hinda was cautiously observing the surroundings. This squad was new to her, and it would take some time to adjust. Wei’er clung tightly to Bologue’s clothing, using him like a trusty steed.

Church simply vanished from sight, yet everyone knew he hadn’t gone far, only that he couldn’t be observed anymore.

“If I recall correctly, this used to be a wine cellar, which also served as my family’s basement.”

Serey spoke up, his pitch-black suit clinging tightly to his body, cloaking both Ether and blood scent. To an outside observer, Serey was indistinguishable from an ordinary person, detecting no sign of any extraordinary power.

“But as you can see, it’s now turned to ruins.”

Serey chuckled bitterly, “Upon discovering my betrayal, my father ordered my palace destroyed, my statues shattered, and my city razed to the ground.”

Bologue said, “So you hid the secret passage amid the ruins.”

“Indeed, a place that’s already been devastated can hardly be destroyed twice, can it?”

Serey searched the area, realizing it was more dilapidated than when he last left. Many passable paths were now blocked by rubble, seemingly trapping them deep underground.

“If I’m not mistaken, it should be this way.”

Serey stood before a buried corridor, “This will be troublesome for you, Bologue, but remember to maintain concealment. It’s been too long since I’ve been back, and who knows what changes the Rebellious Royal Court has made here.”

Bologue complained to Serey, “What’s the use of having a local like you with us?”

Serey smiled, “At least in other aspects, I’m quite reliable.”

Bologue raised his hand to manipulate Ether, striving to maintain Ethereal Concealment while commanding the materials along the way, subtly modifying their forms to avoid altering the external environment or attracting others’ attention.

Soon, a narrow passage opened amidst the ruins. Bologue led the way with the others following closely. After a brief advancement, Bologue broke through heavy brickwork, allowing dim light to fall and moist, cold air to flood their senses.

Palmer shivered, muttering to himself, “I’m starting to miss that sunny beach just now.”

“There’s no detectable external Ether reaction.”

Aimou’s voice sounded beside Bologue, who inhaled deeply and said, “Can you smell that? The heavy scent of blood.”

“Hmm… It doesn’t smell like the Night Race, more like ordinary people,” Serey squinted, like a connoisseur savouring fine wine, “So rich, it seems like a substantial population of blood citizens has formed here.”

Speaking of blood citizens, everyone present appeared more serious. As their understanding of the Night Race deepened, they all knew what blood citizens were, and their feelings towards Serey grew more complicated. However, the Night Race Lord seemed unaware, sidestepping past Bologue.

Bologue was just about to caution him against being reckless when Serey was already treading over rubble, returning to the surface. The sounds of him stretching echoed from above.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been here—it looks even more desolate than when I left,” Serey sighed, “Their hatred for me runs so deep.”

Bologue and the others crawled out from the ruins, looking up to see the sky blanketed with heavy clouds, a massive curtain concealing all light. The air was wet, cold, and occasionally sprinkled with drizzling rain.

Even the supernatural phenomena of the Angry Sea couldn’t possibly block the sunlight so completely. Bologue understood that it was the Dark Iron Curtain cloaking this world, since the birth of the Land of Eternal Night, it had shrouded this sinful land, allowing the remnant Night Race to survive.

Likewise, compared to assassinating the Night King, destroying the perpetual Dark Iron Curtain was Bologue and his party’s primary objective.

Once the blazing midday sun penetrates the clouds, warming the earth again, Bologue and his companions could purge vast swathes of the Night Race without spilling blood, cleansing the Land of Eternal Night entirely.

“Utterly destroyed—no trace of the past remains.”

Serey wandered amid the ruins, pausing and inspecting the decayed city while searching for other Night Race members. Yet after traversing some distance, neither Night Race nor even the blood citizens were visible.

“Oh! That over there!”

Serey noticed the shadowy outline amidst the fog, with thick blood scent riding the air currents from that direction. Bologue caught up, observing the building from afar.

“What is it?”

“I guess it’s the ruins of my palace,” Serey took a few steps forward, “But it seems they’ve converted it into a Blood Tax Station.”

Without waiting for others to question, Serey continued, “Yes, a Blood Tax Station, just as you might imagine, a…a mandatory blood donation center.”

After speaking, Serey laughed hoarsely, delighting in his grim joke, while others felt a chill run down their spines.

“I guess they’ve turned this place into a blood citizen ranch, just like humans raise livestock…”

“I know, I know, you don’t need to explain.”

Bologue interrupted Serey, anyone familiar with the Night Race was well aware of blood citizens and Blood Tax Stations.

Returning to this Land of Eternal Night seemed to rekindle Serey’s internal wickedness, adding a hint of madness to his demeanor.

Hinda released her hunting hound, a wolf-sized beast sniffing and searching amidst the ruins, while the hawk on her shoulder silently ascended into the sky, vigilantly keeping watch.

Bologue inquired, “Where do we go next?”

“To the Blood Tax Station first, to see if we can find any unlucky individuals to inquire about the situation here.”

Serey pointed forward and, noticing Bologue’s gaze, added, “Don’t look at me like that, asking for directions is the most efficient way, isn’t it?”

His voice turned serious, “Blood citizens are extremely valuable resources. If the blood citizens being raised here have disappeared, something significant must have happened within the Rebellious Royal Court.”

Bologue probed, “Such as?”

“Like a blood sacrifice.”

Wei’er suddenly spoke up from atop Bologue, “Thousands upon thousands of blood sacrifices, to awaken the Sin of Wrath.”