Crazy Zen then remembered, the Blood Ring Curse Seal is structured like a pyramid, interlocking ring by ring from top to bottom!
Emperor Gustav, commanding Prime Minister Oxensterna, Marshal Horn, Schroeder the Scholar, and several trusted generals of the Blood Ring Guard.
While the Blood Ring Generals fighting outside are under the command of Marshal Horn.
Each Blood Ring General commands a group of Blood Ring Elite Leaders, like Heavy Hammer Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Heavy Cavalry, and so on, each with their own Curse Seal.
And each Blood Ring Elite Soldier holds the authority to command the lower-level Dead Plague!
This presents a problem:
When a high-level Blood Ring, betraying the Blood Ring Fortress, his subordinates within the middle and lower Blood Rings will also follow the betrayal without hesitation.
"But... this doesnât make sense! The Queen belongs to the high-level Blood Ring, she should be under the Emperorâs Curse Seal! How could she issue orders against the Blood Ring Emperor, like commanding you to protect this island?" Crazy Zen exclaimed.
Suddenly, a clear voice from Bai Pu came from within the bunker door:
"Iâve obtained the consent of the person involved, so I can help you clarify this issue."
"Speak quickly!" Crazy Zen, having lost his usual patience, urged.
"At this moment, the Alchemy Master helping me with the heart transplant is named Qin, you should know her? Her real identity is actually the Princess of Brandonburg, who married into the Swedish Royal Family over ten years ago to become the Queen. Of course, she is also the nominal mistress of the Blood Ring Fortress."
Bai Puâs voice was steady and clear: "Youâre still wondering why Qin can free herself from the Blood Ring Curse Seal. Itâs simple, Qin is a Qualified, not a Mutant. She was never bound by the Blood Ring Curse Seal. Incidentally, the Blood Ring Curse Seal was researched and developed by Qinâs Flesh and Blood Alchemy Master team.
"Qin has been searching for a Qualified to help her daughterâPrincess Christina escape the fate of the Flesh and Blood Plague Mother.
"To achieve this, Qin secretly severed ties with the Blood Ring Fortress, leaving her personal maid to wear the Queenâs garb and disguise herself as the Queen. Emperor Gustav, to avoid a royal scandal from leaking, begrudgingly acknowledged this by pinching his nose. Emperor Gustavâs ambition is to conquer the world, he cares not for emotional ties. He merely marginalized the knights of the Queenâs lineage.
"I have always contemplated the worst-case scenario, which is your backstab. I must admit, you are no stranger to backstabbing, having backstabbed Cao Zhang in the Three Kingdoms: Chibi scenario, as well as backstabbing within the Blood Ring in this world, and ambushing the Overlord in Signa District... therefore, I have to guard against your backstab.
"Thus, when I infiltrated the Royal Alchemy Academy, which is also the Blood Ring Palace, I asked Lady Yvette to bring Qinâs secret order, and she found Guardian Knight Mr. Gawain. The rest, you already know."
As Bai Pu recounted Crazy Zenâs series of backstabbing acts, Crazy Zenâs face turned alternately green and white, and he couldnât help but shout: "Shut up! The Three Kingdoms World aside, in this world, whether infiltrating the Blood Ring to pass along information or ambushing the Overlord to help you deal with rivals, I am aiding you! You are the last person entitled to accuse me of backstabbing!"
"You are right. This is also the reason I am willing to explain things to you. After all, my consistent principle is... Equivalent Exchange." Bai Puâs calm voice echoed from beyond the bunker door.
Crazy Zen squinted his eyes and calmed down. He slowly said, "Gangxin, donât get too smug. Right now, I can still destroy everything, by directly passing on this islandâs location to the Blood Ring!"
"You donât need to pass it on anymore."
Bai Pu responded casually, "Your ship and Mr. Gawainâs ship have both arrived on this island one after the other, the Blood Ring people arenât fools, Prime Minister Oxensterna is reputed as âthe most intelligent politician in 17th-century Europeâ, his personal command of the fleet search is astoundingly efficient. With such obvious clues, the Prime Minister might already be on the path here."
Crazy Zenâs expression changed slightly, as he thought it through, Bai Puâs words seemed increasingly logical! He refrained from speaking further and led his men away, steering their warship in response.
Gawain did not stop him, as his duty was to guard this island, and unless new orders were given, he would not take unnecessary actions.
In a short while, a line of sails appeared off the southern coast.
Soon, Blood Ring warships appeared on the horizon.
Duke Axel Oxensterna, Prime Minister of the Blood Ring Empire, stood at the prow of the flagship.
This was a man in his fifties, wearing a black round hat, donned in a humble black robe with white lapels, his chin covered in thick gray-white beard.
Despite his simple attire, he exuded an aura of undeniable wisdom mixed with authority, making him a central figure and focus no matter where he was.
He was a born politician.
Members of the Hidden Snakeâs Dragon and Snake Squad stood beside him.
The Hidden Snake diligently reminded the Prime Minister not to fall under Bai Puâs influence through the Princess this time, as Schroeder the Scholar did, infected by the Flesh and Blood Plague Mother, leading to his pointless demise.
"You are quite right, I have already taken preventive measures." Prime Minister Oxensterna replied warmly, "Rest assured, I have participated in the Princessâs research and understand how to avoid deep infection by the plague. Poor Mr. Schroeder, had he worn a lead wire suit, the outcome would have been different."
One Blood Ring General asked for orders: "We have located Horseshoe Island, shall we commence bombardment?"
"No, we will land directly and reclaim the Princessâs Lead Coffin with blade and sword." Prime Minister Oxensterna halted the bombardment, given that the Lead Coffin was still on the island, any damage would be troublesome, and if the Princess were hurt or killed, it would be even more problematic.
Crazy Zen led a Blood Ring warship ahead to meet them.
"Prime Minister! The enemies who hijacked the Princessâs Lead Coffin are hiding in the basement on Horseshoe Island ahead!" Crazy Zen shouted from afar, "They have the Queenâs line of Guardian Knights protecting them!"
"Itâs âEmpressâ."
Prime Minister Oxensterna corrected him gently, "This is no longer the era of the Kingdom of Sweden, it is the Blood Ring Empireâs era."
Hidden Snake coldly demanded: "Since you knew about this place, why did you not report it to the Prime Minister in the first instance?"
Prime Minister Oxensterna raised a hand and said, "Now is not the time to fuss over these matters. Oneâs loyalty will be demonstrated in the upcoming battle to reclaim the Princessâs Lead Coffin."
In truth, Oxensterna considered Crazy Zenâs action as "merit-stealing"; he did not reproach during the clash. However, the Prime Ministerâs regard for Crazy Zen had significantly diminished, though he did not outwardly reveal any disturbance.
Crazy Zen was aware of this, although his purpose was already accomplished!
As long as the native force was exploited to neutralize the Queenâs Guardian Knight Order, Crazy Zen still had a chance to seize the heart tissue from amidst the flames.
The Blood Ring warships landed, and squads of Blood Ring Elite Soldiers disembarked under the command of two Blood Ring Generals.
The Queenâs Guardian Knight Order launched an attack at first opportunity, disregarding the overwhelming disparity in strength!
Confronted with the mortal struggle of Gawain and the Guardian Knights, Oxensterna wasted no time, ordering the two Blood Ring Generals to lead separate elite Imperial Guards to encircle and partition the Guardian Knights, preventing them from continuing to protect the bunker door.
As for Crazy Zen, already distrusted, he was dispatched to confront Guardian Knight Gawain.
Only the Hidden Snake Squad accompanied Prime Minister Oxensterna to the bunker door.