Elara…
Just before Elara's message reached the front of the altar, Lord Gregory, who had almost lost patience and wanted to investigate in person, finally received a message delivered by Captain Yang himself.
Emory, who was impersonating Captain Yang, was indistinguishable from the real one. His posture, habits, and expressions matched Captain Yang perfectly.
At that moment, he wore a fearful and nervous look, speaking quickly and in a low voice to Lord Gregory:
"Lord Gregory, after delivering those carriages to the Yan family, I rushed to the rear mountain's royal temple, but I was still a bit late. The situation there was beyond what I expected. Elara was badly injured and collapsed, and the members of the Blood Garment Tower were all dead. I didn't even get a chance to use the reincarnation incense you gave me. It seemed like they were..." He paused, glanced at Lord Gregory, and then added, "They were dealt with by another force..."
After finishing, "Captain Yang" lowered his head, waiting for Lord Gregory to scold or lash out.
But unexpectedly, Lord Gregory didn't get angry right away. He stared at "Captain Yang" and asked in a low voice,
"Were there any traces left behind by this third force at the scene?" His tone made it sound like this unexpected group was something he had anticipated.
"Captain Yang" shook his head. "No." Seeing Lord Gregory frown deeply and start thinking, "Captain Yang" carefully followed Elara's earlier instructions, tentatively saying:
"Lord Gregory… someone able to move in and out of the royal temple undetected, and take out the entire Blood Garment Tower so cleanly… could it be… that person from the north really has people watching?"
Lord Gregory glanced at him. That one look made "Captain Yang" immediately lower his head again, terrified, like he had asked something forbidden.
In truth, even if "Captain Yang" hadn't asked, Lord Gregory's biggest suspicion at the moment was still Regent Martin from the Northern Territories.
After all, only Regent Martin could move unnoticed into the temple during such a time and kill that many people so quickly.
So… was Regent Martin really connected to the last two remaining royals of the Plumera State? Or… would something terrible happen on his end if anything happened to those two? Was that why he wouldn't allow anyone to touch their lives?
This idea had long puzzled Lord Gregory. After piecing together various clues over the years, it was his boldest yet most reasonable theory.
Otherwise, he simply couldn't understand why Regent Martin, who had clear grudges with the Plumera royal family and ignored their internal rot, would still protect those two.
Even though this theory matched the current situation and had been among his earlier guesses, Lord Gregory still felt something was off with the scene at the rear mountain.
He frowned and thought for a couple of seconds, then looked coldly at "Captain Yang" and asked, "Elara was truly seriously injured?"
He directed the question at Captain Yang, but his gaze drifted toward the group of "Wei" guards kneeling behind Elara near the altar.
Seeing their pale faces, with blood at the corners of most of their mouths, which fit the known connection between the mysterious guards and their master, Lord Gregory clicked his tongue and withdrew his gaze with disdain and envy.
"Captain Yang" nodded. "Yes. When I realized something was wrong, I checked on Elara first. I confirmed she had been gravely injured and was unconscious before rushing to report to you."
"Good." Lord Gregory thought for a few more seconds, checking his expectations against the actual events. So far, everything had gone more or less as he predicted. And with Elara injured and unconscious, it wasn't suitable to take further action for now. He waved his hand to dismiss Captain Yang.
"You may go. Send in my personal attendant."
His real goal today had never been to kill Elara. He only wanted to use this as a test to see if Regent Martin would react, and confirm whether his years of careful speculation about the leverage he suspected were accurate.
Now, the results were halfway clear. The rest depended on what the people Regent Martin had sent back would report.
If the final result matched his expectations… Lord Gregory's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. Then he would finally have Regent Martin's fatal weakness in his grip.
Once he held that weakness and could choke Regent Martin's throat, who in the Plumera State could still stop him?
Everything he had ever wanted would soon be within reach.
With that thought, Lord Gregory grew more cheerful. After "Captain Yang" stepped back and his personal attendant came forward, he quickly and quietly issued a string of commands. He only stopped when a voice in the distance reported, "The princess was ambushed at the royal temple and is now seriously injured and unconscious." At that moment, amidst the shocked and noisy crowd, Lord Gregory waved to dismiss everyone.
The princess was actually attacked and injured during the most sacred divine bloodline ritual. As soon as this news reached the altar, the kneeling crowd raised their heads in shock. The previously quiet altar instantly turned chaotic.
"What? My sister! How could this happen to her?!"
Benedict, who had been kneeling on the other side, waiting quietly for the ritual to finish, dropped his incense sticks in panic and tried to rush off the altar to check on Elara himself.
The minister beside him quickly stopped him, speaking words of comfort while physically holding him in place despite Benedict's struggles.
This divine bloodline ritual was the holiest ceremony in the world. No matter what happened, it could not be interrupted.
Lord Gregory had expected something like this. He stepped back onto the high altar and calmed the crowd before turning to the nearly collapsing group of "Wei" guards.
"Go. Bring your master back. I've summoned royal doctors. They will examine the princess's injuries right here before the altar."
Even though he had "Captain Yang's" report and the guards' reactions to confirm Elara's serious injury, Lord Gregory still wanted to verify it with his own eyes.
Rear mountain.
The group of "Wei" guards ran swiftly to the royal temple in the rear mountain. The one leading them, "Uno," approached the real Uno and pulled the skin from his face to reveal his true identity. Then he strode quickly to where Elara lay in Uno's arms and asked anxiously,
"How is she? Is the princess really hurt?"
Before Uno could answer, Elara, who had been "unconscious," opened one eye and looked toward Damon.
"I'm fine. But Lord Gregory actually sent you here to fetch me? Hah. Well, that's fine. Your mission for today is done. Make sure no one followed you, then switch places with Uno's team and leave through the underground passage here. Use light footwork to descend. Those who can't use it, have Servant Yinon carry you down."