Chapter 159: Pawns of the Crown
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is activated!]
[Mind Worm's bloodline has been found!]
[Analyzing the purity of the bloodline….]
[Calculating…]
[The corpse has 90% purity of Rank-2 Mind Worm's bloodline Essence!]
[It is possible to extract the Mind Worm's bloodline Essence and one of its bloodline spells!]
[Would you like to use the 'Bloodline Devouring Ability'? Yes/No.]
"Yes." Raven didn't waste any time and clicked the notification.
…
[Bloodline Devouring Ability is on commence!]
[Randomizing the Bloodline Ability Extraction!]
[The system has found the corresponding Rank-1 'Mind Eye' spell from the blood essence!]
[Rank-2 Mind Worm's 'Mind Web' bloodline spell has been selected!]
…
[Host has absorbed a part of Mind Worm's Bloodline Essence!]
[Host's vitality power has been increased by 5.0!]
[Host's strength power has increased by 4.0!]
[Host's agility power has been increased by 4.0!]
[Host's body is undergoing a mutation!]
[The mutation will take 23 Hours and 35 minutes to complete!]
[Please stand by!]
…
Raven quietly lay on the floor and endured the pain for hours.
After a long time, he finally noticed that the pain started to fade and slowly sat up.
…
[Host has obtained Rank-2 'Mind Web' Bloodline Spell!]
[Mutation completed!]
[Host's body status has been updated successfully.]
…
'Oh? Mind Eye spell's efficiency has increased from five to ten times!' But what shocked him more was the main ability of the 'Mind Web.'
'I can split my mind into four threads and do different actions simultaneously. It's like parallel thinking.'
Raven could tell that his senses had enhanced to another level.
He then took a vial filled with swirling golden sparks, opened the lid, and gulped it in one go.
Within seconds, a strange spark appeared all over his body. Then, the lightning essence entered deep into his soul, improving his lightning affinity.
What shocked Raven was that he could feel the air, but his whole body felt paralyzed!
After an hour, he felt that the strange stiffness had disappeared, hurriedly opened the status screen, and checked the changes.
…
[Name: Raven Sillalus Jorvot,
Age: 23
Nationality: Zenith Empire
Title: 66th Prince of Zenith Empire, Rebel Prince.
Level: 17
Class: Radiant Warlock (7th Circle)
Life Pathway: Adept Alchemist, Adept Rune Wizard
Health: Normal
Lifespan: 300+ years
Attributes:
Strength: 66.0
Agility: 67.0
Vitality: 71.0
Luck: 0.5
Spirit: 199.9
Bloodline Spells:
Rank-1:
Iron Resilience, Poison Touch (Poison Immunity), Fortuitous Finder, Blood Control, Face Morph, Mind Eye, Cold Breath, Past Self, Eye of Destruction, Shadow Shift, Memory Seal.
Rank-2:
Rapid Regeneration, Eye of Annihilation, Ice Breath, Shadow Teleport, Poison Mist, Blood Bond, Elapsed Illusion, Mind Web, Shapeshift.
Additional Skills: Intermediate Spearmanship (3.0%), Ruler's Dominance (Beginner).
Affinities:
Life: Intermediate, Blood: Intermediate, Poison: Intermediate, Lightning: Prodigy, Darkness: High, Time: Intermediate, Ice: Genius, Spear: Low, Luck: Low.]
…
'I only need to get the corresponding spells of 'Fortuitous Finder and Memory Seal.' Raven pondered for a moment and decided to focus on the current situation.
He left the underground basement, the weight of silence following him until he reached the grand hall. The polished marble floor reflected the golden glow of the chandeliers, and the sweeping split staircase rose ahead like a path carved for nobility alone.
From the kitchen doors came hurried footsteps. Harold, the butler, approached with a slight bow. His hair was a little out of place, evidence of his rush.
"Lady Judith has agreed to meet you, my Lord," Harold said, catching his breath. "She awaits you tonight at seven."
Raven flicked open the lid of his silver stopwatch. The dial glimmered faintly in the light.
"Three o'clock," he murmured. "That gives me four hours."
With a dismissive nod, he added, "Prepare something light. I'll rest until supper."
Harold bowed again. "At once, my Lord."
Raven ascended the staircase, his footsteps steady. The corridor beyond smelled faintly of wax and lavender polish. Entering the master bedroom, he undressed and slipped into the steaming bath. The heat melted away the tension from his body.
Afterwards, he exchanged his attire for a plain robe and decided to rest.
He lay down, closed his eyes, and let three hours vanish.
…
At 6:15, Raven walked out of the room in his black formal suit. He descended to the dining hall where the long oak table gleamed beneath candelabras. The maids had already arranged the evening meal.
Roast pheasant and chicken, their skins browned to perfection, stood at the center alongside silver bowls of pea soup. There were plates of buttered bread, boiled vegetables, and a spread of grapes, figs, and apples. A decanter of dark red wine waited nearby, its aroma rich and earthy.
Raven sat at the head of the table. A maid immediately pulled out his chair, another set the napkin across his lap, while Harold poured wine into a crystal glass.
He ate without hurry, each gesture deliberate and proper. Knife in the right, fork in the left—never clattering against the plate. A sip of wine after bread, soup taken silently without slurping, fruit only after the meats were finished.
By the time he finished, the clock struck half past six. Raven dabbed his mouth with the napkin, rose without another glance, and the servants bowed in unison.
Without a word, he left the mansion.
The evening air was cool, the gas lamps outside already flickering to life.
Across the quiet street stood the opposite mansion, its windows glowing faintly.
'Haa, I'm feeling anxious now.'
Raven adjusted his coat and walked forward.
The guards at the entrance didn't even raise their spears when Raven approached. Instead, one stepped forward and opened the iron gate as if inviting him in.
A man in his sixties stood just beyond. Dressed in a sharp butler's suit, his back was straight, his expression calm.
"Thomas Holmes?" he asked for confirmation.
Raven's monocle shimmered faintly as he focused on him.
'Philip… no, Edward Raynor. Oh? He's already reached the Ninth Circle of Expert Rank?'
"Yes," Raven replied with a slight nod.
"Please follow me." Philip bowed politely and led the way inside.
The mansion was quiet, its halls draped with expensive carpets and decorated with gold-framed paintings. Soon they climbed to the second floor and entered a guest hall where a faint tea aroma lingered.
A woman sat waiting.
She was dressed in a flowing red gown, her black hair gathered elegantly at her back. Olive skin, a sharp, triangular face, and striking green eyes gave her an aura of both maturity and authority. She looked no older than her mid-thirties, though her presence was far heavier.
As soon as she saw him, she raised her cup slightly.
"Thomas Holmes… This is our first meeting, yes?" she asked, setting the porcelain teacup onto the table.
"Please, sit."
She waved her hand, and Philip quietly bowed before leaving the hall.
Raven inclined his head. "I'm honored to meet you, Your Grace." He bowed properly, then took the sofa opposite her.
Judith's gaze didn't waver. "May I know the reason for your visit?"
Raven nodded. "His Highness wishes to attend the Royal Crown Challenging Ceremony, Your Grace."
The words froze her for a moment. Then her voice turned grave.
"He should know His Excellency Ian is still furious at him, correct? If His Highness Raven dares show himself at the palace, the Royal Knights will arrest him immediately."
Raven's expression didn't change. "But His Highness also wants to see if his sister is doing well. He said—" his tone grew colder, sharper— "that he will not hesitate to kill anyone who tries to use her for political gain."
Judith's lips curled into the faintest smile. "The whole Empire knows the Rebel Prince's temper. No doubt Raven feels restless after hearing about Vera's envoy. After killing Prime Minister Gavin, he forced the Wizard Alliance and the Royal Family to tread carefully. If they wanted to use force, they could have done so already—using legal pretexts, like detaining his aunt again."
She paused, eyes gleaming with amusement. "But no one wishes to lose their head so quickly."
[Seems you've carved fear into their bones, lad.] Zera chuckled in his mind.
Raven leaned back slightly, keeping his voice steady. "There's one more thing. His Highness wishes to participate in the ceremony itself. He intends to fight for the next Crown Prince position."
Judith raised her brows, then shook her head. "The title holds little meaning now. Emperor Ian is still in his prime and will rule for two or three centuries. The crown prince inherits only if death befalls him, and within the capital, under Guardian Jorvot's protection, no one can kill him."
Her eyes flickered knowingly. "Of course, an anomaly like Raven might hold a way to do it. But I doubt he's foolish enough to endanger the Empire itself."
She paused, her voice cooling. "The real reason behind the Crown Challenge is simple: to send the Princes and Princesses into the coming war."
Raven's eyes narrowed. "To thin out the number of claimants?"
Judith chuckled softly, as though reading his very thoughts. "Emperor Ian recognizes only two true heirs: the late crown prince and Robert. The others—his countless sons and daughters—are pawns, valuable only to stabilize the Royal Family's standing."
Raven's jaw tightened. He had always known his father was cold, but to deliberately send his own children to die in war?
'What a pathetic excuse for a father. A capable emperor, yes—but the worst kind of parent.'
'Then I have no reason to attend the ceremony myself,' he thought grimly.
Instead, he reached into his spatial ring and withdrew several black-covered tomes, placing them gently on the table.
"These contain advanced elemental, spirit, and sword techniques for Her Highness Athena and Madam Shirley. I trust you can deliver them?"
Judith picked one up and skimmed through. Her eyes glimmered with admiration. "Epic-tier, hmm? Impressive. Nobles would kill for manuals of this level. I'll deliver them."
She hesitated, then added, "Speaking of Athena—the Sword Princess insists on joining the war. Shirley tried to dissuade her, but the girl won't budge. At least with these techniques, she'll stand a chance."
Raven's breath caught for a moment.
'Athena… Is she really planning to participate in the upcoming war?'
"What is her current strength?" he asked after a pause.
"Her Highness Athena recently stepped into the Late stage of Radiant Knight. Lady Shirley remains stuck at intermediate Radiant Rank. Her swordsmanship has stagnated these past years, especially after losing her wrist." Judith sighed softly. "But with these manuals, Shirley and Athena may yet reach the Expert realm in time."
Raven finally allowed himself a quiet breath of relief.
There was little left to say. He rose, bowed again, and Judith responded with the faintest smile.
Moments later, Raven walked out of the mansion into the cool evening air.
…