The object of the enemy is revealed: to sow the seeds of suspicion and unrest among the people of the world, to inflame the hatred and distrust between the two races. As the order of Rosen Kreuz up the stakes, cooperation and goodwill between the Vatican and the empire grow imperative. Adept at intrigue and manipulation, insinuated deeply within both sides of the struggle, this new order leads all in a deadly dance. For AX operative Abel Nightroad, when friend becomes foe, foe will become friend. But can one man save the world when so many seek to destroy it?...

Based on a series of novels by the late Sunao Yoshida, which were subsequently transformed into manga adaptations, the neo-Gothic sci-fi adventure Trinity Blood is a 24-episode anime series recounting an epic battle between good and evil as bloodsucking vampires fight tooth and claw against emissaries of the Church with the earth as the prize.

Volume Four contains episodes 13 to 16:

The Ibelis II - Betrayal Blaze: Sister Esther, Ion and Radu flee from the execution squad and attempt to meet with Lady Caterina. Father Abel and Sister Esther attempt to help Ion and Radu escape. However, there is a surprise awaiting them. Someone they thought a friend is acting against them.

The Ibelis III - The Mark of a Sinner: Dietrich, aka the Puppet Master, takes control of the Inquisition air ships, and then uses them to attack the city. He also dispatches a group of his new assassins, known as Death Hunters, to attack Lady Caterina. Meanwhile, Abel, Esther, Ion and Petros race through the city to try and get to Caterina, but a traitor stands in their way.

The Night Lords I - The Return of Envoy: Esther and Abel accompany Ion back to the capital of the Empire. Once they reach their destination they head to Ion’s grandmother’s mansion, but when they get there they find that everyone has been slaughtered. Rushing around the mansion trying to find his grandmother, Ion confronts her killers, a small group of the Puppet Master's Death Hunters. They quickly dispatch the assassins, but Abel soon realises that one of them has a belt containing C4 explosives. With no time to spare Abel grabs his colleagues and dives out of the nearest window. However, this is just the start of their problems. Ion is now being accused of the death of his grandmother by the authorities, and once they catch up with him he will be killed as punishment for his crimes.

There are a couple of great comedy moments in this episode - including Abel feeling ill due to having pigged out on food from some dustbins, and the moment of sexual tension between Esther and Ion that Abel breaks by falling into a pond.

The Night Lords II - Twilight Of The Capital: Abel and Asta head to the Empress’ palace for a meeting that they hope will prove to the authorities that Ion in not guilty of the charges against him. Meanwhile Ion and Esther are searching for a trader who was employed by Ion's grandmother. However, when they find him he has been attacked by a group of Death Hunters, but is still alive... just. He imparts to Ion the name of who is responsible for his grandmother's death, much to Ion's surprise. But before they know what's happened one of the badly wounded assassins makes one final lunge for Ion, but manages to badly injure Esther instead.

Extras include the usual textless opening and closing titles and a few trailers for other releases.

Despite the serious lack of any real extras of merit, this represents yet another great collection of episodes from one of the best modern anime series.

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Nick Smithson