Chris asked curiously, “Does Her Majesty the Queen know this Martin?”
The Queen smiled and replied, “Nowadays, few people know about the Martin family, but a hundred years ago, there was indeed such a family. Back then, the Martins were nobles of Oxwoods. However, for certain reasons, we stripped them of their title, and the entire family vanished overnight.”
Hearing this, Chris let out a bitter laugh.
Originally, Chris had thought he had found a lead on Susan’s whereabouts. He hadn’t expected the Martin family to have disappeared entirely.
The Queen looked at Chris with a serious expression. “Chris, if the person you’re dealing with is really from the Martin family, I advise you not to provoke them. I know you’re powerful, but the Martin family is not someone you can handle.”
Chris’ face betrayed a hint of surprise. “Your Majesty, didn’t you just say the Martin family disappeared overnight? Are you saying they still exist?”
The Queen explained, “The Martin family is an ancient lineage with formidable power. While they disappeared, they weren’t eradicated. Instead, they retreated into the Dark World.”
The Dark World again?
Chris couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
Why would the Martin family, part of the Dark World, kidnap Susan?
To Chris, Susan was nothing more than a useless old woman. What could she possibly have done to warrant such drastic action from the Martin family?
Chris suddenly asked, “Your Majesty, is the Martin family part of the Blood Clan?”
The Queen nodded. “That’s correct. The Martins are indeed part of the Blood Clan, and they’re one of the most powerful families in it. Within the Blood Clan, there are four Sovereigns, and one of them belongs to the Martin family.”
Chris was stunned by this revelation.
He hadn’t expected the Martin family to include a Vampire Sovereign.
After all, the strength of a Sovereign was comparable to someone at the Elysium level, not someone to be trifled with.
The Queen cast a glance at Chris and added, “That’s why I urge you not to provoke the Martin family. Otherwise, you’re likely to lose your life at their hands.”
Chris chuckled lightly. “Whether they’re part of the Blood Clan or not, the Martin family took my mother-in-law. I won’t let it slide.”
With that, Chris turned and left.
Watching his retreating figure, the Queen let out a wry smile.
“Mother, can’t you help Mr. Shelby?”
Princess Medusa, standing nearby, pleaded softly.
The Queen glanced at her daughter and sighed.
Though she didn’t want to get entangled with the Martin family, she couldn’t refuse her daughter’s request.
In a cold voice, the Queen ordered, “Summon the Captain of the Royal Guard immediately.”
Meanwhile, Chris had pieced together who had taken Susan.
But rescuing her wouldn’t be easy.
The Martin family wasn’t just a part of the Blood Clan-they had a Vampire Sovereign.
After leaving the palace, Chris headed to a bar.
In a private room at the bar, Chris waited for a short while until Austin Paige, the military attache of the Amerosia Embassy in Oxwoods, entered.
Austin Paige greeted Chris respectfully. “Master!”
Chris glanced at him and asked, “I want to know where the Martin family is.”
Though Austin Paige was officially a military attache, his secret identity was as the intelligence chief for the Springfield Crew in Oxwoods.
Chris had notified Austin Paige of his arrival in Oxwoods beforehand.
Hearing the question, Austin Paige looked visibly shocked. “Master, why do you want to know about them?”
Chris replied calmly, “Don’t ask too many questions. Just tell me where the Martin family is.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Austin Paige said, “Master, the Martin family is part of the Blood Clan, and they have a history stretching back over a thousand years. However, after a bloody incident a century ago, they disappeared from public view and retreated into the shadows. Their headquarters is now at Thornfield Castle on the outskirts of Brixton. The castle is extremely mysterious, and I doubt you can get inside.”
Chris frowned. “Why?”
Austin Paige shook his head. “I don’t know the details. I just know that even the people from Radiant Faith Chapel don’t dare trespass into Thornfield Castle. Why are you asking about the Martin family?”
Chris nodded slowly. “I see. My mother-in-law was taken by someone from the Martin family.”
Austin Paige thought for a moment. “I’ve received information that the Martin family captured a woman and locked her in the Dark Prison.”
Could that woman be Susan?
Chris immediately asked, “Where is the Dark Prison?”
Austin Paige replied, “In Wysteria, at the headquarters of the Dark World.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Chris left the bar.
Walking out, Chris now knew where Susan was being held.
Wysteria-a kingdom even older than Oxwoods.
As the heart of the Dark World, Wysteria was not an easy place to infiltrate.
But no matter the difficulty, Susan was his mother-in-law. Chris was determined to rescue her.
If he didn’t, Esther would undoubtedly be heartbroken.
The next day, Chris set out for Wysteria.
To avoid being noticed by the Dark World, he donned a simple disguise.
The Dark World’s influence was immense, spanning the entire globe.
According to Chris’s research, the Dark World had existed for over a thousand years and had an incredibly deep foundation.
However, in recent years, due to suppression from Radiant Faith Chapel, the Dark World had become more subdued.
From Austin Paige, Chris learned that the Dark World was headquartered on Mt. Saint Hall, located on the outskirts of Wysteria City.
Now, Chris stood near the Dark World’s headquarters.
Suddenly, a vampire appeared. Chris watched as the vampire approached a rock face-and vanished into thin air.
For most, this would have been shocking.
But Chris knew the rock face was the entrance to the Dark World.
Having been to Aethelgard before, he wasn’t surprised.
Chris suspected the Dark World, like Aethelgard, was a parallel dimension.
In other words, the Dark World wasn’t on Earth but in another realm.
Cautiously, Chris approached the spot where the vampire had disappeared.
He noticed a depression in the rock face, its surface smooth from frequent contact.
An idea flashed in his mind. A pair of black arms materialized where his real arms had been severed.
Chris placed one of the black arms into the depression.
In an instant, the rock face shimmered, revealing a massive black door.
This was the entrance to the Dark World.
Taking a deep breath, Chris stepped inside.