(For those wanting to see Norton's transformation - it's coming soon, but buildup is essential. A sudden transformation would be extremely disjointed. He can't abruptly change from a half-crazed person imprisoned by the Church for twenty years into a cold, cunning Vampire Lord.
Besides, Volume One is about Norton's birth, Volume Two is the Dark Age (Norton's Era). In other words, the entire first volume builds up describing Norton's transformation from an unstable person into a Vampire Lord, along with the end of the Mythological Era and the arrival of Norton's Era. So there will definitely be satisfying moments, and those wanting to see Norton transform faster will get their wish soon as major events are about to unfold. I strive to build a realistic world to construct a true legend.)
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The news Carl brought was somewhat useful to Norton.
Beyond helping him construct his worldview of this world, it allowed him to cross-reference and analyze information he'd heard from other sources to make final judgments.
As for what use it served?
Quite simple - knowing the Church was planning major moves meant Norton could be more cautious, extending the intervals between his hunting expeditions.
Knowing when the Church would hold Mass allowed him to avoid those times, preventing himself from being completely purified by God's holy light.
If asked whether Norton paid particular attention to any of this news, there was indeed one thing.
"What did the Church obtain from Holy Lord City?"Holy Lord City again.
Norton recalled the scene when he left Holy Lord City.
Although the streets had been cleaned of bones, the city's depopulation was so severe that not a single human voice could be heard on its streets, still testifying to its previous devastation. Norton had never heard any news about Holy Lord City in Rino City before.
For residents of Rino City, going to a place with such harsh religious devotion as Holy Lord City was pure suicide. This was the first time he'd heard news about Holy Lord City after such a long time.
What could the Church possibly obtain from a city destroyed by unknown causes?
Could it be the plague he previously suspected? Or perhaps the Werewolves hunting him?
Or maybe Holy Lord City's devastation wasn't caused by plague at all, but by some unknown Monster that the Church had now captured?
It couldn't possibly be that Father Mia had been captured by the Church, could it?
Norton beat his chest in frustration, filled with regret for some reason, feeling like he'd inexplicably lost out on a huge opportunity.
Could he take a look?
Couldn't see? Ridiculous - Norton actually didn't really want to see that much anyway!
Damn it, what exactly did the Church obtain?
Norton's life returned to its usual tranquility.
Exactly as Carl had said, just over three months later, His Holiness Adam flew into a rage.
He claimed that members of the 'Holy Eye' system were actually dull-witted and extremely foolish! Their upper ranks paid lip service while disobeying in secret, and their lower ranks were obtuse and ignorant, accomplishing nothing day after day!
This really couldn't be blamed on the Holy Eye members.
Norton clearly understood the Church's methods of training personnel, as did everyone present here, so its lower-level personnel should indeed be obtuse and ignorant. If they each became smarter than the upper ranks, the Church itself would lose sleep over it.
As for the upper ranks paying lip service while disobeying in secret - this was unavoidable. The drawbacks of policies made by a few intelligent people were this obvious. Without fresh blood for replacement, the Church would only decline generation after generation, with upper-level personnel becoming increasingly incompetent with each passing generation.
This was a common ailment of all empires after class solidification, but the Church's policy of relying on a few intelligent people accelerated the process.
If not for His Holiness the Pope possessing the Holy Inquisition Tribunal that was invincible in this world, the Papal States would have long been overthrown by surrounding kingdoms.
Within just one or two months after His Holiness vented his anger, Norton noticed increasingly more spies from the Boar Empire appearing in Rino City.
Others might struggle to identify spies, but with his super hearing, super vision, and super smell, he could easily observe their activities.
Moreover, people from the Boar Empire had different blood scent compared to Papal States residents. Whether because Papal States people had bathed in divine grace for too long, their blood always carried a decaying scent.
In comparison, people from the Boar Empire carried a fresh scent in their blood.
Through blood scent comparison, Norton also detected personnel from some other countries. However, their numbers were extremely small, nowhere near the massive quantity of Boar Empire personnel.
"Turbulent times approach - a season of many troubles!"
At the top of the towering Clock Tower, a slender figure stood at the highest point, surveying all around Rino City.
Although Rino City's scenery remained unchanged from before, for some reason, Norton felt he could detect a bloody scent in the air.
It seemed some terrifying disaster was about to occur.
This scent was faint and elusive, dreamlike and illusory, yet it made his skin tighten as if giving some warning sign.
This sensation felt quite peculiar to Norton.
Humans all have sixth sense - though seemingly elusive and intangible, it can sometimes be remarkably miraculous.
Norton wondered if Vampires didn't just enhance the five senses but actually strengthened the sixth sense as well, otherwise he wouldn't have such a strange feeling.
This sensation made his heart tighten somewhat, yet also inexplicably excited him.
If some major catastrophe was truly coming, wouldn't that mean Norton might finally get his chance to enter the church?
Although he firmly believed that as long as he lived long enough, he would eventually uncover the Vampire's secrets, this premise depended on it not affecting his current life.
Now with packs of Werewolves waiting outside to hunt him, forcing Norton to hide in Church territory, he no longer had that relaxed, leisurely feeling. If he continued living in humiliation by hiding and surviving, what difference would there be from living within the Church itself!
Damn it, I, Norton, will rise too!
Norton felt himself growing determined!
A strong musty odor accompanied by a light breeze drifted out from within the Clock Tower, entering Norton's nose and nauseating him.
Inside the Clock Tower, the pastries Norton had accumulated over these two years had reached the height of a brick wall.
The lowest layer of pastries had decayed and weathered, sticking together with the walls and wooden floorboards in an utterly disgusting manner.
But Norton thought it was fine - the more disgusting the environment, the less likely anyone would come.
"Chirp chirp..." Five bats circled and drifted erratically through the air into the Clock Tower.
Their bat family had gained three new members over these two years, which pleased Norton greatly.
Though not his children, he had watched each one grow up since childhood, when they used to enjoy hanging from Norton's chest, giving him a strong sense of involvement.
Considering that he and the original Small Bat would eventually separate due to lifespan differences, Norton specifically gave it a name.
"Coal Ball."
Typical Norton - he hadn't been a Vampire for many years yet already contemplated separation.
Carrying his suspicions about the future, Norton continued his undercover life.
As an immortal Vampire, Norton was destined for loneliness and boredom.
Perhaps after thousands of years, even his current memories would become history, and he himself would be unable to recall these present moments.
Moreover, people from the Boar Empire had different blood scent compared to Papal States residents. Whether because Papal States people had bathed in divine grace for too long, their blood always carried a decaying aura.
Even Norton's longing for Father Mia would eventually wither away one day...