Ansu sat on the train, watching the scenery slowly recede through the window alongside Celia, silently contemplating their destination.
Solan Province was not actually that far from the Royal Capital, and it was far from being a desolate wasteland. On the contrary, it was home to many towns. However, according to Professor Duncan's theory, the territory of the demons was not much different from that of humans; human cities were built directly upon the ruins of the demon kingdom.
Professor Duncan was deeply convinced of his own judgment. After years of field research, he had narrowed down the location of the legendary ruins to the northern region of Solan Province, specifically near Oak Town.
Ansu felt that the final destination of this trip likely lay hidden deep within the vast forests north of Oak Town.
However, just as he was lost in thought, a system prompt suddenly popped up.
【System reward generating...】
【Due to the abnormal movements of the Echoes of Truth cult, the eyes of all parties have turned toward the Eternal City. Yet, no one knows that the surging undercurrents are merely the result of a lie that could easily be proven false...】
【The news of the Chosen One's appearance will cause subtle changes in the world's trajectory. Please accept your point reward.】
【Reward: 60 points】
【Remaining points: 128】
After reading the system prompt, Ansu stared at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, momentarily dazed.
Celia turned her curious gaze toward him. "What is it?"
"It's nothing." Ansu shook his head with a smile.
It seemed... he might have made things a bit too big?
...
The Eternal City, the Royal Capital, Saint Milton.
Saint Freya walked with hurried steps on the road leading to the Cathedral of Radiant Radiance.
Every time she returned to the cathedral, she had to cross the magnificent plaza beneath her feet, which was large enough to hold a hundred thousand believers.
Although she was incredibly familiar with this holy site, which held a place in the hearts of countless faithful, she still couldn't help but be immersed in its grandeur every time she passed through.
The massive statue of the Goddess in the center of the plaza looked down upon all living beings with an expression of pity. The ethereal hymns of the nuns from the cathedral, accompanied by the heavy tolling of the church bells, drifted slowly through the air. The entire plaza was enveloped in a sacred and solemn atmosphere.
This was the place where she had grown up, the Cathedral of Radiant Radiance in the Royal Capital.
Freya took a deep breath. After entering the cathedral, she pushed through the many believers and approached a monk dressed in simple black robes.
"Mr. Seance, my letter..."
The black-robed monk, known as Seance, saw Freya's hurried appearance and smiled, handing her a special urgent letter.
"You weren't even this anxious when you had an audience with the Pope a few days ago. What important matter could possibly make you rush over here so quickly?"
"It's... a small private matter of mine." Freya wore an embarrassed expression. After receiving the letter, she quickly walked to the side and quietly opened it.
「Freya, it's been many days. How are you?」
Seeing Ansu's handwriting, a smile slowly spread across Freya's face.
She hadn't seen Mr. Ansu for so long; she truly missed him...
「I apologize for taking so many days to contact you again. I have an urgent matter to inform you about.」
「By the time you receive this letter, I should have already set off for Solan Province with Professor Duncan and my boss. However, before I left, some trouble arose here, and I managed to trick the big boss into going to the Royal Capital.」
Seeing this, Freya's expression became much more serious. Although Mr. Ansu only used a pseudonym, she naturally knew exactly who that 'big boss' was...
Samantha, the cult leader of the largest cult organization on the continent, the Echoes of Truth.
「Even though she was deceived by me, I suspect she will realize it very soon. So, you know what to do, right? Please have the Church of Holy Light entertain this guest to their heart's content!」
「The city defenses of the Royal Capital are strictly guarded, and the Church's Sacred Cardinal Guard is not to be trifled with. I believe my big boss will enjoy a wonderful vacation. Of course, if you still can't kill her, I can accept simply dealing a heavy blow to her close associates. In short, I'll leave this matter to you!」
「Forever trusting you, Ansu.」
「'◡'」
Seeing Mr. Ansu's final sign-off and that crooked smiley face, the smile on Freya's face grew even softer.
Forever trusting me... Ansu?
Freya loved the feeling of being trusted, especially when it came from the Mr. Ansu she most respected and admired.
"Freya, what's written in that letter..." Seance watched Freya, who was hiding far away from him but couldn't stop smiling, and was truly surprised.
"Wasn't it a very urgent and important matter? Why are you so happy?"
"It's nothing... really nothing..." Freya carefully folded the letter and tucked it away with care.
After she returned, she was going to treasure this letter properly.
"It's... some important intelligence provided by a friend." Freya looked at the Pope's guard with a bit of embarrassment. After deliberating for a moment in her mind, she informed him of the news that the cult leader had arrived in the Royal Capital.
"Mr. Seance, if you were to personally take action, you should be able to kill Samantha, right?"
Freya looked at the monk in simple black robes before her.
Seance was the Pope's childhood friend. He had diligently accompanied and protected the Pope for over thirty years. During these years while the Pope was gravely ill, he had acted as the man behind the scenes, controlling the power center of the entire Church of Holy Light.
But what Freya cared about most was not Seance's power, but rather the fact that this mysterious guard of the Pope possessed strength that stood at the very top of the Church, a truly top-tier powerhouse.
"Oh?" Seance arched an eyebrow. "Your friend is quite well-informed, aren't they?"
Freya blinked. Did his words mean he already knew?
"Although the Church is not what it used to be, do not underestimate our intelligence network, especially when it concerns the safety of the Royal Capital." Seance looked down at the magnificent buildings of the capital outside the cathedral. "This Eternal City will always be a place where demons cannot lay a finger."
Seeing Freya's surprised expression, Seance explained, "Before you rushed over, someone informed me this morning that a large number of cultists had infiltrated the Royal Capital. But such movements..."
His expression grew increasingly puzzled. "They are truly a bit strange, as if they have been constantly searching... What exactly are they looking for?"
Freya naturally knew what they were looking for, but at the thought that the person they were searching for had already lightheartedly set off for Solan Province, she wanted to laugh...
As expected of Mr. Ansu.
"Since Mr. Seance is already prepared, then I can rest easy..." Freya nodded with a smile. "The cult organization has shown such blatant disregard for us. I hope Mr. Seance will not miss this opportunity to take down the cult leader in one fell swoop and remove a major threat to our Church of Holy Light."
"I have naturally made arrangements for that." Seance mused over Samantha's name and let out a cold laugh.
Inside and outside the Royal Capital, anyone with eyes could see that the Pope was about to pass away. His death would bring a massive power vacuum to the Church of Holy Light. This group of cultists, those hateful heretical dregs, surely wanted to take the opportunity to throw the Church of Holy Light into chaos...
After chatting about the cult for a while, Seance looked at Freya and suddenly asked about something else.
"I feel like you've grown a lot since you returned this time. It seems you've experienced many stories in Benalu City..."
Seance still remembered what Freya was like as a child. Although this girl held a noble status, she had a simple and kind personality, appearing without a trace of guile to anyone. But after returning this time...
He felt she had become much more serious and profound. In those pale gold eyes, there seemed to be many secrets hidden from outsiders.
"Yes, I have experienced much..."
Freya recalled her time with Mr. Ansu, and her heart grew even softer. She could hardly wait to see him again...
"By the way, Mr. Seance." Freya had already made a decision in her heart, and she looked at him with a serious expression. "I want to learn the strongest divine art of the Church of Holy Light, the God-Descent that can bring forth supreme power and dispel all heretical demons!"
Seance studied her with surprise, thinking he had misheard. "Are you sure?"
Such a supreme divine art was not something that could be mastered through simple study. Every time the Inquisition of Heresy performed this art, it was with the assistance of a holy relic and the combined casting of multiple church bishops...
"I'm sure!" Freya nodded with a determined gaze. "I believe in my talent, and I believe in my resolve!"
For Mr. Ansu's sake, she, Freya, could be capable of anything.
She would never be a burden to Mr. Ansu's cause!
Rate on N.U.
