Leo, the Duke, said calmly, "Even though using the Arthurian method to condense your blood core might cause some issues that could hinder your future growth, I suppose you won't really care."
Charlotte's face lit up with joy, and he replied, "The mere chance to condense a blood core is already a blessing beyond measure. I would never dare to ask for more! I will never forget your kindness, Duke."
Leo waved his hand dismissively and said, "According to the empire's laws, you're not entitled to read the Blood Scroll. I'm only letting you have a look out of my regard for your potential. But remember, you must never speak of this to anyone, or I will personally see to it that you are killed."
Charlotte nodded repeatedly, thinking, "As expected, this labyrinth I created, despite its superficial game-like appearance, is fundamentally a classical labyrinth. It hasn't fully transformed into a game, and the NPCs aren't truly NPCs."
"I merely mentioned rescuing Duke Leo without actually carrying it out, and he already gave me the Arthurian Blood Scroll?"
As for Duke Leo's warning that using the Arthurian method to condense the blood core could cause future problems, Charlotte truly didn't mind—after all, he wasn't a vampire.
The Blood Glory technique was formidable enough to surpass even vampires. Protagoras, a human philosopher, single-handedly slaughtered thousands of vampires, wiping out six of the thirty-seven vampire clans, proving its extraordinary nature!
For example, using the Blood Swirl to enhance the power of secret techniques, the ability to study the thirteen clan secrets simultaneously, and the Blood Feast Meditation...
Charlotte had no intention of returning the Blood Scroll that Duke Leo had given him. After all, Leo wouldn't be leaving Machubi, so there was no point in returning it.
Charlotte tucked the Blood Scroll into his coat, turned around, and disappeared into the depths of the ruins. Duke Leo raised his long-range spatial rifle, and the battle resumed.
Harriet was severely injured in multiple places. Under Duke Leo's relentless pursuit and Charlotte's constant targeting, Harriet knew he had no hope of survival. Suddenly, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "I am Harriet Alva!"
"Mr. Aubrey Taudon Atwood, Miss Vinnie Arsenault, if you can hear me, please send a message to the empire: Byron has a great conspiracy, and Charlotte is a Byron spy..."
"Charlotte is a vampire."
He shouted repeatedly, his voice echoing through the ruins of Machubi.
Aubrey Taudon Atwood had long escaped Machubi, so he wouldn't hear these shouts.
Vinnie Arsenault, however, did hear Harriet's voice. She was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding why this duelist was trying to frame Charlotte.
Vinnie Arsenault knew Charlotte's background, as his cousin was in her detective agency. Moreover, both Charlotte and Sylvie were talents nurtured by the empire's educational system, making it almost impossible for him to be a Byron spy.
Especially since she knew that Charlotte practiced Blood Glory—someone who practiced Blood Glory could never be a vampire.
Sylvie Martin also heard these words. She was even less inclined to believe that Charlotte was a vampire, as she knew his family and what he was like growing up.
Though Charlotte had been acting strange lately, particularly with how quickly his strength had increased, Sylvie Martin would rather believe her former fiancé had summoned an evil god than believe he was a vampire.
Charlotte smiled faintly, unconcerned with such "slander," knowing full well that this was Machubi Fortress—a place where "screaming won't save you."
After reaching a tacit understanding, Duke Leo's aim became less precise, often shooting toward the three o'clock direction to force Harriet toward a particular angle, effectively "delivering him" to Charlotte. Duke Leo had been in Machubi for some time, so he had a bit of familiarity with the fortress labyrinth, and as an NPC, he had a bit of authority.
Charlotte seized the opportunity and dealt another heavy blow to Harriet.
After repelling Charlotte, Harriet suddenly stopped hiding, planted his sword in the ground, and shouted, "You vampires are after my life, aren't you?"
"I won't give you the satisfaction!"
"Mr. Aubrey Taudon Atwood, Miss Vinnie Arsenault, please ensure the empire gets this message! Charlotte is a Byron spy, a vampire..."
With a shout, Harriet slashed his own throat.
From a distance, Charlotte threw his Blood Rose, piercing the body of this imperial soldier at the same moment.
A few minutes later, Charlotte pulled his sword from Harriet's now withered body and picked up the man's military blade, silently giving him an imperial salute.
At least this man was a worthy soldier, hoping to deliver information about the Byron people to the empire in his final moments.
Although Charlotte couldn't allow him to return to Strasbourg alive, that didn't stop him from respecting an imperial soldier who fought to the very end.
Duke Leo suddenly noticed that his enemy and "loyal Qinnan" had both disappeared from his sight, and the paths in the fortress ruins had become clearer.
Overjoyed, he leaped high into the air, transforming into a swarm of small bats. This time, nothing obstructed him as he broke through some invisible barrier, flying higher and higher until he reached the clouds.
It wasn't like the previous times when his blood bat technique failed to lift him more than a few meters.
Flying far away, Duke Leo finally remembered his two servants and loyal Qinnan still trapped in the cursed labyrinth. But without hesitation, he accelerated, thinking to himself, "Your sacrifices were not in vain. When I return, I'll make sure your contributions are recognized by the military, and no one will erase your achievements."
At no point did the blood duke consider turning back to rescue them.
Charlotte watched Duke Leo fly away and unfolded the Arthurian Blood Scroll. After a moment's hesitation, he closed it again.
Duke Leo was right: real vampires should focus on condensing their blood cores to prepare for advancement to baron, but Charlotte wasn't a vampire. With two evil gods potentially descending at any moment and the third wave of assassins from the Beastmen Assassins' Guild on the horizon, he needed to boost his strength quickly.
Charlotte activated Blood Glory and slowly absorbed the life force he had taken, choosing to invest this time's gains entirely into his "Flaming Hand."
The "Blood Scroll 52" had seventeen pages in total, recording seventeen secret techniques of the Adonis clan. If he couldn't master the Adonis Scroll within the time limit, he would lose his author identity and have his soul taken by the returning vampire god Karnstein.
Though the urgency had been postponed several times, less than seventy days remained.
Compared to that, condensing the blood core was neither urgent nor essential.