As Samantha listened to Ansu's intelligence, the excitement on her face grew more and more intense.
The gloom of her body's accelerating decay over the past few days seemed to vanish instantly. She wished she could teleport to the Royal Capital right now and immediately erase the existence that threatened her life in the prophecy.
She could not die. She could not die yet!
The more a person possessed, the more they feared death.
Samantha possessed endless wealth and loyal followers willing to die for her...
In terms of power, her Truth faction had been pursuing the supreme power of the gods. In terms of influence, the Restorationist faction had long since penetrated the noble classes of various countries. The Echoes of Truth influenced the Empire's situation from the shadows like a spider web. Samantha was the uncrowned queen of the underground world!
But only by staying alive could she continue to enjoy all of this.
Furthermore... Samantha thought of a girl's name with a strange light in her eyes.
After all this was settled, she still had a young and beautiful body to enjoy. She had already meticulously maintained her future vessel...
"Very well, Hermit, you truly did not fail my trust!" Samantha looked at Ansu with satisfaction. "Then, for this trip to the Royal Capital, you shall come with me."
"Everything shall be as the Cult Leader commands." A smile appeared on Ansu's face, but his heart had already darkened.
He certainly did not want to go with the old witch, because she would definitely discover she had been played later on. Staying by her side was just a matter of time before he met a violent end.
Ansu silently thought of the witch's anxious and angry voice before the teleportation.
He hoped Celia would be reliable...
"Pack your things now! For safety, we will first teleport to a stronghold in a neighboring province..." Samantha urged impatiently.
As her emotions finally stabilized and calmness reclaimed her mind, Samantha began to give instructions regarding the trip to the Royal Capital.
"Contact our noble followers in the Royal Capital. Then we will enter the Royal Capital under the guise of doing business. After that..."
Her gaze occasionally swept over Ansu, who kept his head lowered.
Suddenly, she frowned suspiciously, only then realizing something after the fact.
"Wait, Hermit..."
Samantha stared intently at Ansu and suddenly asked, "Why didn't you tell me such important information earlier?"
Why did he wait until several days after the Holy Maiden had left to report so late?
Ansu had long expected her to ask this, and he immediately put on an expression of embarrassment and lingering fear.
"I apologize, Cult Leader. I truly had no choice because Lady Celia..."
"Celia?" Samantha raised an eyebrow in surprise. "This involves her too? What happened to her?"
Ansu gave a bitter smile. "Lady Celia... she seems to have... during this period, she nearly imprisoned me, locking me in a place where no one could find me..."
"What?" Samantha's expression turned to one of astonishment.
She carefully observed Ansu's expression, and Ansu nodded helplessly.
"Imprisoned? Locked up?" Samantha pondered for a long while before finally realizing what was going on between the two of them. "You mean..."
Realizing this, she was even moved to a frustrated laugh.
That girl Celia... she couldn't have actually fallen for this brat, could she?
She actually wanted to imprison him... she certainly knew how to play.
Samantha indeed knew that the girl had always cared about this boy, but she had thought the girl had merely found a favorite toy. She hadn't expected her to care so much.
"You need not fear!" Samantha immediately put on an expression of taking charge for Ansu. "That brat is just throwing a tantrum. She wouldn't dare stop me on such a major matter."
She gave a cold snort. "Does she not know that I am the Cult Leader, and that I am her teacher? Rest assured, she still wouldn't dare act out in my presence!"
As soon as those words left her mouth, one of Samantha's magic items suddenly emitted a heart-wrenching cry for help.
"Cult Leader! Save me! Quick, save me!"
"Lady Celia has gone mad!!"
Samantha's expression changed, and she subconsciously glanced at Ansu.
Ansu wanted to laugh in his heart, but he couldn't let the old witch lose face like that, so he quickly said, "Cult Leader, that sounds like... the chief inquisitor's voice? Is he... is he alright?"
"That brat!" Samantha gritted her teeth. She immediately took out a teleportation item, and the mysterious, ancient disk instantly flickered with a ghostly blue light.
"We're going back!"
As she spoke, the two of them were immediately enveloped by a teleportation circle.
After another bout of dizziness, Ansu and Samantha returned to the small tavern where they had started.
Hurrying downstairs, the scene before them left Samantha furious.
Because her confidant, the chief inquisitor Scholar, had been beaten half to death by Celia.
"Where is she! Where are they?" Celia angrily lifted the chief inquisitor's head and slammed it into the floor again. The entire floor echoed with a terrifying vibration. "Speak! Where did they teleport to!"
"Celia..." Ansu silently watched the hysterical witch.
Her eyes were currently blood-red, and her entire body emitted a shivering, filthy aura. Her voice had already become hoarse with desperation.
"Celia!" Samantha looked at her with annoyance, a thick surge of mana suddenly swelling. "Stop at once! Have you gone mad?"
The two magical forces collided, and the tables and chairs in the small tavern were knocked over by a terrifying impact. Ansu quickly grabbed the stair railing, but even the wooden railing made a cracking sound of tearing.
But after just a moment, the magical power suddenly dissipated, and Celia looked toward the returning Ansu with surprise.
"Ansu... you..." She walked over anxiously, taking his hand and worriedly observing him from head to toe. "She didn't do anything to you, did she? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, really..." Ansu quickly comforted her, then leaned close to her ear.
"The Cult Leader plans to take me to the Royal Capital to find the Chosen One. But don't worry, with the Cult Leader there, this mission will definitely be safe. Just wait for our good news..."
"To the Royal Capital?" Celia looked at her teacher in surprise and immediately gripped Ansu's wrist tightly. "I will not allow you to take him away! Ansu is not going with you!"
"Celia! Just how long are you going to keep being so willful!" Samantha walked over, unable to contain her rage.
The fluctuations of magical power caused her old and ugly face to twist.
"This is the cult's most important mission right now. The Hermit must accompany me!"
Because the information about the Chosen One was provided by him, although Samantha already believed it, her cunning nature made her remain cautious. Therefore, she had to bring the Hermit with her to the Royal Capital.
"The cult's most important mission?" Seeing that Ansu had returned safely, calmness returned to Celia's mind.
She repeatedly turned over the words Ansu had just whispered, knowing perfectly well what he was trying to do.
Thus, a mocking smile appeared on Celia's face. "What 'cult's most important mission'? This is your own private matter. What does it have to do with the cult?"
Samantha's expression froze, and her face darkened further.
"Stop lying to yourself. Do you really want the cult to take risks with you?" Celia sneered mockingly. "Clearly, you're just afraid of dying! So you're doing everything possible to kill the Chosen One from the prophecy. But now that the cult is already in such danger, can't you be a bit more level-headed and discuss this with the elders?"
"I am the supreme leader of the Echoes of Truth. My life and death are the cult's life and death!" Samantha seemed to have even deceived herself. "Celia, do you intend to become an enemy of the cult?"
Celia let out a scoff. "You are merely the leader of the Truth faction, and you haven't even been the Cult Leader for long. Believe it or not, if I tell the elders the results of this divination, you'll be kicked off the throne the very next day. There are plenty of elders more suited for this position than you!"
"They wouldn't dare!!" Samantha glared at Celia, her old, clouded eyes already full of killing intent.
"Why wouldn't they? Where does your confidence come from?" Celia showed no fear, even revealing a faint smile. "Don't forget, your ability to intimidate those elders is largely due to my help. But what if I stop helping you?"
"You..." Samantha looked at Celia in shock.
"Ansu must stay by my side," Celia said calmly. "If you do not agree, I will inform the Council of Elders of your divination results and your physical condition. Teacher, this is your duty. How can a dying person lead the cult?"
Samantha stared at Celia with a gloomy gaze, but she finally fell silent.
On the other side, Ansu's face remained tense and uneasy, but in his heart, he was absolutely delighted.
He realized this was a win-win for him!
Beautifully done, Celia!
After such a threat, Samantha's attitude toward her would surely become unbearable. In this way... he not only lured the old witch away but also ignited the conflict between the two of them...
I’m truly winning big!
Rate on N.U.
