Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 834 - 157: Eternal Youth (Part 2)

She asked Qina to sit at the table and extend her left arm, strapped the blood collection device onto her forearm, and then inserted the needle into Qina's vein. The blood drawing process lasted about ten seconds. After completing these steps, the head maid skillfully withdrew the needle and handed Qina a fresh maid outfit she had prepared.

What kind of fetish is this?

Other Shore lingered outside the annex for a moment, brainstorming. The only thought that came to mind was dark creatures like vampires. They're one of the most common dark creatures on the Empire's border, along with werewolves and witches, collectively known as the Dark Trio. More than seventy percent of the cases encountered by demon hunters are related to these three.

Could it be...

The Bloody Duke is actually a vampire?

In fact, as the Imperial Knight Commander, Other Shore didn't have much experience dealing with vampires. All her knowledge about vampires came from hearsay and occasionally stumbling upon some educational books in the Imperial Capital Library.

Despite how the Dark Trio flaunts their power over commoners, when they truly encounter the Empire's knight order, they disappear without a trace.

The more Other Shore thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She had heard that the higher the vampire's status, the more demanding they become about their blood sources. Those high-rank vampires are like epicures among humans. When they're no longer troubled by hunger, they start to seek blood sources from transcendents or nobles.

Other Shore tailed the head maid all the way until she entered a room resembling an alchemy laboratory.

Wood piled up caught fire, and the mysterious green liquid in the crucible began to bubble. The head maid poured the freshly collected blood into the crucible. The bubbling liquid quickly reacted, and a light pink smoke rose from it. The head maid carefully collected the gas into a conical container and capped it.

This act seemed like a trick of a witch or an alchemist.

And Other Shore was always a person of action. Suspecting the Bloody Duke might be a high-rank vampire, she began her verification process.

The books she read indicated that vampires are troublesome creatures. They love darkness and fear sunlight. Although some high-rank vampires have overcome the harm caused by sunlight, they still instinctively react to it.

Coincidentally, Mire-bloodthorn was in the manor today.

He was in his study, thumbing through a thick sheepskin book. The study was dimly lit, with only a crystal lamp on the desk for illumination. Perhaps due to prolonged lack of exposure to light, Mire-bloodthorn's skin was pale. Up until now, everything matched the descriptions of vampires in books.

Other Shore observed from outside the window for a while, then took out her makeshift "vampire identification little helper."

A mirror.

She stealthily adjusted the mirror, reflecting sunlight through the window, inch by inch, into the study.

First on the back of his hand, then slowly upwards, until the reflected sunlight reached Mire-bloodthorn's eyes. The sullen duke finally had a noticeable reaction. He raised his head, shot a gloomy look at Other Shore, then rose and walked step by step to the window.

"Hey, buddy!"

Other Shore's enthusiastic greeting caught Mire-bloodthorn off guard, suppressing all the harsh words he had been brewing along the way.

This was the first time in his life he encountered someone daring enough to climb the window and flash sunlight into his eyes.

"The guy in the black cloak commissioned me to help you. Nice to meet you, here's a gift for you."

Mire-bloodthorn frowned as he accepted the mirror, and Other Shore conveniently stepped aside.

This was a Knight Commander level strategic position. Fresh sunlight instantly shone on Mire-bloodthorn's face.

"Huh?"

Other Shore widened her eyes.

Mire-bloodthorn's skin didn't show signs of decaying. His discomfort should have merely been from the sunlight hitting his eyes.

The identification failed, proving it was all just a misunderstanding.

"May your meals be delicious and your body healthy! You carry on, I won't disturb you any longer."

Offering blessings, Other Shore swiftly leaped from the third floor, landing right in the midst of alerted guards encircling the manor. The guards turned green-faced, having no idea when Other Shore had snuck into the manor and climbed the library's third floor.

Facing the guards tightly gripping their firearms, eyes full of vigilance, Other Shore was momentarily taken aback and scolded, "How are you maintaining security if you didn't notice someone sneaking in! Who's in charge here? Step forward, you need to make improvements!"

...

It was another day when the celebration progressed with full fervor, and amidst the merry sounds, nightfall quietly arrived.

After dinner, several servants respectfully entered the room where Ethan and Lindong resided, bringing an invitation from the Queen. The Third Princess was also invited.

Clearly, the recent changes in the Third Princess have greatly pleased the Queen, which in turn brought Lindong closer to her. He

"Bathing?"

However, as a male, Ethan was not on the Queen's invitation list.

Although the maids' phrasing was elegant, filled with the noble air of the Royal Family's style, a simple translation revealed that the Queen was in a good mood today, whimsically inviting the Third Princess and Lindong for a bath together.

This touched upon Ethan's blind spot of knowledge, "Does the Royal Family have a tradition of bathing together?"

"In some places, they do."

Lindong explained, "For example, historically documented, Henry III's wife was passionate about bathing, and back then, Henry III specifically constructed a palace in the Royal Palace to serve as her bathroom to satisfy the Queen's hobby... What? Do you also want to go?"

"No? How could I? Of course not."

After running the mental translation, Ethan seemed to understand this invitation as something akin to good buddies meeting up for a bathroom break during recess.

Indeed, it is a way to showcase friendship.

Lindong thoughtfully said, "If you're interested, I can teach you tonight. Fill the bathtub with warm water in an hour and wait for me to return."

...

Lindong suspected that just like the wife of Henry III, Queen Elizabeth of the Silver Radiance Empire was also a person who loved the bathing culture. The Royal Palace had a bathhouse especially built for Queen Elizabeth. Upon receiving the command that Queen Elizabeth would visit the bathhouse tonight, the servants in the Royal Palace were bustling around.

The Third Princess and she arrived at the bathhouse entrance at the same time, where Queen Elizabeth's personal maid was already waiting.

The next steps were just the usual process of bathing and changing clothes.

Lindong slipped into the loose bathrobe prepared for distinguished guests by the servants and walked towards the bathhouse already filled with misty vapor.

The hot water had been renewed, also raising the temperature significantly.

In the foggy environment, visibility was greatly hindered.

Besides the steam, there was a lingering scent of rose and some faint, elusive smell in the air.

It smelled vaguely like blood.

Perceiving Lindong's sudden stop, a shadowy figure amidst the mist spoke, "What's wrong?"

The Third Princess was already soaking her body in the warm water along the edge of the bathhouse.

"This is a rare opportunity, the secret of eternal youth."

Queen Elizabeth smiled, "Everyone says you're quite the remarkable witch, seems the rumors are true. I suppose you've already sensed it—the secret in this water?"

Lindong did not reply.

She indeed had heard of "remedies" in certain places.

Young girls untouched by life were put into the bathhouse, granting eternal youth to those who soaked in it.

This was the secret Queen Elizabeth referred to, and perhaps the reason she looked not much older than the Third Princess.

"Aren't you going to try it?"

Queen Elizabeth extended the invitation again, which was the very reason she specially invited Lindong today, "Don't misunderstand, I have no malice towards your kind. In fact, I respect knowledgeable individuals like you... I'm looking forward to possibly sharing more secrets with me."

"Of course."

A smile appeared on Lindong's face as well, "I also know many other secret recipes that can help you maintain your youthful appearance."