Vera's Death, and the Truth?

Ansu stared at Vera's corpse, an indescribable rage sweeping through his entire body.

He clenched his fists, trying to stop his body from trembling.

Calm down, stay calm...

This is just a simulation; the tragedy hasn't happened yet...

I still have a chance to change this.

With a grim expression, Ansu gently picked up his sister and placed her on a slightly cleaner bench nearby.

He pulled out his notebook; he needed to know what had happened during these ten hours.

Just like before, the writing in the diary was twisted and strange, looking like nonsensical AI-generated text that was completely unintelligible.

But as Ansu flipped through the entries, he vaguely recalled the events associated with each record.

"I staked out with Freya until late into the night; Archbishop Terry still hasn't made a move."

"I talked with Celia, and she didn't find any abnormalities either; we can only wait for tomorrow's Academy Open Day."

"I returned home physically and mentally exhausted from staying up all night. Vera was very worried, but I couldn't explain it to her. I need to get some sleep quickly; I have to head to school in two hours."

Recalling this, Ansu let out a silent sigh. Vera had come to the school on the Academy Open Day to see him because she was worried.

He looked down at the floral dress Vera was wearing. This dress was the most expensive item in her wardrobe, bought for her by their adoptive father.

Perhaps she didn't want the students at school to look down on her, so Vera had specially dressed up, even wearing hair ties with cute little accessories on her blonde ponytail...

Ansu stroked his sister's pale gold hair, a cold killing intent already flickering in his eyes.

He would not let the mastermind go; he would overturn everything.

He continued flipping through the records, and new memories kept flashing back into his mind.

"After dawn, I forced myself to go to school. Kevin was preparing a performance in the auditorium. He told me that several archbishops from the Church and some social elites would be attending."

"It's almost nine o'clock, and the school is getting more and more crowded."

"The performance is about to start. I saw the 'noble' Celia among the guests. Her expression was a bit strange, as if she had something to say to me."

"But a sudden change occurred."

What happened next was indeed within Ansu's expectations; this was a trap set by the Church.

"The Church's armed forces suddenly took control of the academy, claiming that cultists were hiding here. No one was allowed to leave until they had been vetted."

"The scene was in total chaos."

"Aside from Celia, there were indeed cultists lurking in the auditorium. A massive battle broke out between the two sides, affecting many innocent bystanders. Kevin died a gruesome death."

"I haven't finished the investigation yet; I can't die here!"

The diary ended there. Images of himself narrowly escaping the battle between the two sides vaguely surfaced in Ansu's mind.

It seemed this was why he appeared on this shaded path, though his intention had been to escape outward rather than head toward the auditorium.

Ansu put away his notebook and hurried toward the auditorium. Regardless of the situation, he had to go back there now.

By now, the battle had already been decided. Around the auditorium, many cultists wearing silver masks were cleaning up the aftermath, finishing off the surviving clergy one by one.

A cultist not far from the entrance grabbed a Church monk by the hair. Ignoring his pleas and struggles, the cultist quickly slit the monk's throat with a sharp knife, sending crimson blood spraying everywhere.

When he saw Ansu walking toward him, the gaze behind the mask instantly became alert. Then, four cultists appeared around Ansu as if teleporting, surrounding him.

"Friendly! Friendly!"

Ansu quickly raised his hands in a 'French salute' of surrender, his gaze passing over the cultists to land on Celia.

Celia's noble gown was covered in blood. She was currently supporting a middle-aged woman, with many cultists clustered around them.

That middle-aged woman was Celia's teacher, Elder Samantha. Although she didn't look very old, she had actually lived for three hundred years.

"Ansu?" Celia noticed Ansu outside the door, her expression surprised.

After handing her teacher over to the other cultists, she appeared in front of Ansu in an instant.

Elder Samantha watched Celia's movements, curiously sizing up the boy who looked like a student.

"Lady Witch, what just happened?"

Celia ordered the cultists surrounding Ansu to stand down, then grabbed him and started walking out. "Didn't I tell you to leave? Why did you come back? It's dangerous here!"

Ansu knew it was dangerous, of course, but he had come to investigate. "I'm sorry, Lady Witch!"

"I need to know exactly what happened here and how Elder Samantha suddenly arrived. Only then can I figure out who the mastermind is."

"Why are you so stubborn?" Celia glared at Ansu. "It's already happened. Even if you find him, what then? With my colleagues and teacher here, you don't need to worry about this. The most important thing now is to escape; the Church's reinforcements are on their way..."

Celia gripped Ansu's hand tightly, wanting him to blend in with the students outside. "Go back now while the Church hasn't discovered you! I'll contact you after the heat dies down."

But Ansu's next words made Celia stop in her tracks.

"Vera is dead."

"What?" Celia froze for a moment, then remembered that Vera was Ansu's younger sister.

She knew the two siblings had a very good relationship, and she could read the suppressed rage in Ansu's expression.

It seemed that no matter what happened, nothing could stop him from continuing his investigation...

"Lady Witch, please tell me!"

"Fine..." Celia could only sigh, quickly recounting everything that had happened that morning to Ansu.

Elder Samantha had come today because someone told her the Chosen One had been found. That was why she had stopped her cultivation and immediately set off for the Royal Academy.

But she didn't expect that after she arrived, the Church's encirclement would follow immediately.

Ansu knew that Samantha placed the utmost importance on the matter of the Chosen One because that prophecy had always been a thorn in her side. Samantha believed that the Chosen faction would cause the cult's downfall in the future and completely destroy their great cause of revival.

It had to be said that from the perspective of the original plot, Elder Samantha was indeed right.

However, just as a 'Demon King' could never truly kill a 'Hero,' all her efforts were destined to be in vain.

"There's a mole in the cult. This mole used this method to lure Elder Samantha here so the Church of Holy Light would kill her." Ansu quickly figured out the entire conspiracy.

"I thought so too." Celia narrowed her eyes. "It seems most likely the work of someone from the Restorationist faction. I just haven't found out which one of her confidants was the one who notified the teacher..."

While the two were talking in low voices, the other members of the cult were observing them in surprise.

When had this witch ever been so kind to a subordinate? She was even trying to take him away without a word, as if she were afraid he might encounter even a hint of danger...

Samantha's expression was even more surprised. After all, she was familiar with Celia, and Celia's personality didn't seem like the type to care about others...

So, Samantha took a few more looks at Ansu.

"Who is he?"

A cultist nearby immediately replied, "He is the student Lady Celia chose, the informant responsible for investigating the Chosen One at the academy."

"Oh?"

Elder Samantha watched Ansu's figure thoughtfully. "Have him come over here for a moment."