The top of Kotei Mountain.

The boundless sea of clouds, the protruding mountain tops, are like islands suspended above the sea of clouds, and the entire fifteen "islands" are arranged in an arc.

Under the sunset, the castles on the top of the mountain full of traces of time are reflected in a dim red color, and there is a sense of loneliness that has gone through vicissitudes.

There will be no birds, no other creatures, and it will be as if everything is still except the rolling clouds.

There are a total of fifteen "islands", not that there are only fifteen ancient castles here, let alone that there are only fifteen 10,000-year-old blood clans living here.

In fact, some "islands" do have only one castle, but some "islands" are densely packed with castles.

This place has a very wonderful name - the clouds. Residing here are the entire Blood Clan Elder Council, a total of three hundred and sixty elders.

The status of the elders is also different, and there is the Great Elder who is the common ancestor of almost all the blood clans. There are also ordinary elders who are just the ancestors of a certain family. There are even some elders who have no descendants at all, but they also enjoy the supreme power among the blood clan.

Why would the Bloods, who are afraid of the sun, especially the elders with supreme power, choose to set their dwelling in a place where the sun can reach?

No one knows, at least not the average Bloodline.

Some Bloodlines also set their homes in a place where sunlight could shine, such as Jones's Serpent City. But that's because the area where the sun can shine is more abundant. But here it is clearly not.

Gradually, as the sun sets, the stars in the sky gradually appear, and darkness finally engulfs the whole world.

Horse-drawn carriages drove out of the clouds and stepped onto the "island" in the middle of the arc, where there was only a magnificent castle. It was the largest castle in the entire clouds, the Blood Keep.

Legend has it that the Grand Elder Bassalomu, the common ancestor of all the blood clans, resided in this castle.

Yes, Barsaromu, that sounds like an old human name. As for his surname, no one knows.

At this moment, in the carriage, Jones had changed into a black, gold-trimmed gown, with delicate embroidery on the collar and sleeves. He also wore a shawl on his shoulders. The whole design is based on the theme of his mark nine-petal snake pattern. There is a nine-petal snake flower coat of arms on the chest, a nine-petal snake flower pattern on the back of the shawl, and even on the collar and cuffs.

Of course, the Cross Skull Totem of the White Bone Holy Light Holy See is also indispensable.

Adele and Belle, who were sitting next to him, were still in their usual dresses, but they had changed into more solemn and elaborate clothes.

"Will we see the Grand Elder?" Jones asked.

"It should ...... No. Adair replied, "The Grand Elder rarely attends such hearings. Of the three hundred and sixty elders, there are usually only a dozen or so. ”

"Only a dozen, so few?"

"This time it's a big deal, maybe a little more. But it's certainly not much. ”

Belle on the other side interjected, "Sometimes I think that the elders don't seem to have anything else to do except this matter. If they don't even attend the hearings, what are they usually doing?"

"Hmm......," Jones thought for a moment, then asked, "Is there any news from your father?"

"New news?"

"It's about the hearing, can I just go straight to it? I don't have to do anything else?"

"Oh, they didn't give me any news. You don't have to worry, though. Adair spread his hands: "Even if he doesn't want to help you, he still has to take care of the investment in Giant Snake City, right? Have you calculated how much our Sambo family has invested in Giant Snake City? That's an astronomical amount." ”

"I don't think it's going to be a problem. Belle chimed in.

Jones nodded, turned his face sideways, and looked out the window.

All the carriages eventually stopped in front of the castle, which was as large as the palace complex.

After getting out of the car, in the cold wind, the vast starry sky and the sea of clouds appeared in front of Jones, as if he had changed the world at once. There is a sense of grandeur.

The bloods in the carriages around them also got out of the carriage one after another.

Among them is the Gangaro family represented by Tess, and there are dozens of blood clans. The Nicklaus family, represented by Prince Haritz, also has dozens of blood clans. There are seven princes of the Sambo family.

Of course, there are more of those slightly smaller families, all of whom are richly dressed and cannot be counted.

Dora and Quaint, who were sitting in the other two carriages, and the four lichs gathered around Jones. They all changed into freshly made dresses. Same style, same theme as Jones. Seven people stood out in the crowd.

"Aren't you going to say hello to your father?" Jones asked Adair.

"Well, I'll go. Adair took small steps and ran towards Prince Louis.

In the meantime, the butler had already come up to Jones and made a "please" gesture.

Nodding, Jones led the group up the long staircase.

It was a massive staircase with a width of fifty meters on each step, flanked by huge, blood-themed statues. There are forty-nine levels.

"I never thought I would be surrounded by so many bloods. Gu Yadu was a little panicked. After all, werewolves and blood are feuds.

Dora whispered comfortingly, "Don't be afraid, it's okay." No one will do anything to you. ”

Belle fell behind and slowly followed.

As for the four lichs, they are already talking about it.

"Have you been here?"

"No, never. Anyway, it looks pretty good here. It's the statue with teeth and claws, and it doesn't look righteous at all. ”

"Hmm...... Maybe the Blood Clan Elders want others to think they're fierce?"

"So what exactly are we supposed to do?"

"Just stand, we'll stand behind Jones. Show that we support him, and then we don't have to do anything else. ”

"Okay. It sounds simple. ”

Everyone in every family has already walked up the ladder, but the Sambo family has not.

Along the way, Jones quietly watched them, and he noticed that Adair seemed to be talking to his father about something. It didn't seem to be pleasant to talk about. Adair wanted to leave, wanted to walk towards Jones, but his hand was grabbed by Prince Louis.

Jones unconsciously stopped and watched from afar.

Belle hurriedly came to Jones's side and whispered, "Like, something is wrong." ”

"Did you say Sambo's house?"

"No, I mean something else. Belle lowered her voice and said, "Someone just came to me and asked me for the money to buy a place at the dinner party." They desperately wanted to have dinner with you, and now they are running to get the money back...... I think it's incredible. ”

Jones's gaze slowly slanted to the other side, and he saw a chubby Bloodfamily in a tuxedo kissing the bank slip in his hand happily.

"Hello. Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Jones turned his face sideways and saw a tall Bloodline in a gown with a mustache. Looks like a butler or something.

"Hello. The man repeated it again, and then continued softly: "I am the housekeeper of the Rizo family, and there is a bit of an urgent matter at home, so the master asked me to take the young lady back quickly." ”

"Something urgent at home?"

"Yes, there is a hurry. As he spoke, the butler was going to grab Belle's wrist.

Belle was startled and hurriedly took a step back.

The scene froze.

Jones quietly looked at the anxious butler: "He's not your housekeeper?"

"He is. Belle whispered, "But...... What can happen at home? Father shouldn't be in the High Court, right?"

"The lord asked Miss to go back quickly. The butler re-emphasized.

"I went back after the hearing. ”

"No, the lord means immediately, not a minute without delay. ”

"I repeat, I'm going back after the hearing, it won't take much time. ”

"Old man......"

Before the housekeeper could finish speaking, Jones had already stopped in front of Belle and said coldly: "Belle said that she would go back after attending the hearing, is there any problem?"

All of a sudden, the four lichs spiritually leaned in.

The butler was dumbfounded, so he took a step back and saluted silently. Don't dare to say anything more.

Taking Belle's hand, Jones continued to walk up the stairs with his own people. The butler was left standing in a daze.

"Master Jones, I think there's a problem. Dora whispered to Jones.

"Yes, I feel it too. Jones replied softly.

As far as the eye could see, the attitudes of the people around me seemed to change all at once.

Aren't the Gangeros, in particular, hoping to unite with Jones? At this moment, Tess happened to look at Jones with a hint of pride.

And the Sambo family...... Wait, what about Adair?

Jones' eyes widened sharply.

Yes, the seven princes are there, but Adair is gone!

Realizing this, Belle also panicked.

Dora whispered, "Lord Jones, what should we do?"

What else can I do?

They are already standing in front of the gate of the Blood Castle, what else can they do?

Jones could only bite the bullet and continue to move forward under the guidance of Adair's butler.

After walking through the stairs and passing the towering city walls, the next step is the spacious square.

It was an uninhabited, silent square. There is also a fountain in the middle that I don't know how many years it has frozen. This surprised Jones, and even wondered if the castle was originally here.

Large swaths of the Bloods walked up the steps, leaving a trail of vague footprints in the ice-covered plaza, and entered through the main entrance.

This is followed by a long trail. At the foot are rough stone bricks, with arched stone rings on top, and through the fences on both sides, you can see a frozen garden. Yes, the frozen garden, the vegetation is still there, but it is all covered with a layer of white frost, as if it will shatter at the touch of it.

Jones quickly noticed an important point.

"No one here?"

"This is where the elders live. ”

"No, I mean the elders of the ministers. I didn't see any of them. There were no guards and no servants. ”

"Well......" Adair's butler replied hesitantly, "I don't know about this, I've been here with the young master a few times, and it's all like this." ”

Gradually, the people who came to the hearing stood in front of a huge stone gate at the end of the trail.

At this moment, Adair suddenly squeezed in from a distance, trotting all the way. Behind him were several Sambo guards. It looks extremely embarrassing.

After the guards met Jones's eyes, they quickly stopped, not daring to go any further.

Crowding up to Jones, Adair panted and said, "They...... They say, "Your adoptive father is dead." It's actually your brother Richie who is sitting in the Lich King's place right now. ”

Hearing this, Joneston was stunned.

Adair continued, "My father told me that I should draw a line with you immediately, and even the Sambo family's investment in Mega Snake City, they are ready not to do so. This is the unanimous conclusion of the seven princes. Is it true?"

As he spoke, Adair reached out and wiped the spit that fell from the corner of his mouth. Then he looked at Jones in a daze.

There was silence all around, and everyone was quietly waiting for the stone door to open.

Belle beside her was stunned. Dora, Quaint, and the Lich, Jones' henchmen are very calm. Because they have known the news for a long time.

Jones was silent for a moment before asking, "Is my adoptive father's absence related to this hearing?"

"I ...... I didn't know, the news was so sudden that I hadn't reacted to what the ripple effect would be. The key is...... This news has been passed down by the Senate......" Adair eagerly reached out and patted his head: "You tell me first if this news is true." ”

Before Jones could reply, suddenly, a shrill roar came. In the midst of the tremors, bits and pieces of debris shook off the dome. The stone door slowly opened.

What appeared in front of everyone was a quaint hall with a grand scale like an arena.

Ring, enter the stone gate, and continue along the stone road, there is a platform full of totem carvings in the middle of the hall. Around the platform, there are stepped seats, which are large enough to seat everyone.

Directly in front of the platform in the middle of them was a suspended platform. Rows of high-backed stone chairs sit on it. The back of the chair in the center is a cut higher than the others.

At this moment, there were already figures sitting on those high-backed chairs. Maybe it's the backlight, maybe it's some kind of magic that Jones can't see their faces, let alone who they really are.

The Bloods who had come to the meeting swarmed past Jones, and after entering the stone gate, they walked through the passages on both sides of the stone gate to the stepped auditorium.

In the blink of an eye, only Jones and his party were left outside the stone gate. It's empty.

Adair and Belle were both horrified.

Jones stood silently, staring silently at the figure on the balcony.

The Bloods who had already sat in the auditorium were all watching Jones silently, and the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment.

"I see. After a while, Jones stretched out a hand towards Doru behind him: "Materials." ”

"Which one do you want, Lord Jones?"

"All. ”

"Good. Dora hurriedly handed over a thick stack of materials prepared for the hearing.

Taking the materials, Jones held them in his hands, pulled them hard, and directly tore them all in front of the elders. Then, it's a casual flick.

"Let's go inside. ”

In the flying papers, Jones led everyone to the middle of the hall step by step under the stunned gaze of all the blood clans.