“You're just agreeing to it like that?” The other party's decisive attitude actually caught Freya off guard. Euphemia, however, nodded. “Of course! Hmm, is there any more detailed information? Tell me about it.”
After all, only by understanding the situation could she properly investigate the case.
Freya thought about it, and her very first sentence was another bombshell. “The target is a Rank Five General of the War Pathway. His base is in a run-down blue warehouse on Sanheng Street, in the southern part of the city.”
Euphemia: “?”
Upon hearing the words “Rank Five,” Euphemia couldn't help but shudder. “Wait, girl, are you sure? The enemy is a Rank Five extraordinary?”
Freya nodded her little head without saying a word. Euphemia's lips twitched slightly. “So, haven't you already investigated most of it? Why don't you just call the police and let the Special Service handle it?”
Here, the status of rogue extraordinaries in this world had to be mentioned. As long as they didn't cause malicious destruction, they could live completely normal lives. In fact, if they wanted to use their extraordinary powers to make a living, it was entirely feasible as long as they registered with the Special Service.
For example, opening a security company or a detective agency. During her one-month stint at the Special Service in her second simulation, Freya had learned of three such companies.
On the flip side, the Special Service strictly forbade rogue extraordinaries from holding private gatherings; if discovered, everyone involved would be arrested. However, as to whether such gatherings actually existed, Freya felt there must be. After all, such things were hard to ban completely, and these private gatherings, which likely traded in potions, were the primary way rogue extraordinaries were born.
Returning to the topic, Euphemia said, “If you're worried about exposing your identity as a rogue extraordinary, I can go report it. I'm an officially registered extraordinary... Wait, no, aren't you an ordinary person? So how on earth do you know all this?”
With her ability to ‘read people,’ Euphemia knew that Freya hadn't lied at all throughout their conversation; it was all the truth. But that just made it even more ridiculous!
Instead of answering her question, Freya said, “If we report it directly, we can't request a Mobile Squad without sufficient evidence. The Special Service will then send someone to investigate, but that will only alert the enemy, and might even get the investigators killed.”
“So if possible, I hope you can help me investigate the true identity of that Rank Five mastermind, as well as gather enough evidence to convince the Special Service to directly deploy a Mobile Squad. Can you do that?”
Euphemia immediately deduced: Does she have an acquaintance in the Special Service? She stroked her chin with one hand, wearing a thoughtful expression, and said, “Alright, I can try.”
Freya extended her right hand and said, “Then... a pleasure working with you?”
Euphemia also reached out and shook her hand. “Pleasure working with you, cute little boss! By the way, I still don't know your name.”
Freya realized she was right; they had talked for so long and she hadn't even introduced herself. “Ah, sorry about that. You can call me Freya. Oh, right, we haven't discussed the payment for this commission yet.”
Euphemia said, “Payment? Let me think... How about a hundred Ducats? You can use that money to treat me to a nice meal later, and we'll call it even.”
“Huh?” Freya was taken aback. Taking on such a dangerous, massive task, and she only wanted that much for payment?
Euphemia's eyes curved into soft crescents. “Because... helping a cute girl in need is the best reward in itself for me~ Of course, that being said, helping you complete this commission has benefits for me as well.”
Freya pondered for a moment and guessed, “Is this a method for digesting the potion of the Scholar Pathway?”
Just as the War Pathway could accelerate potion digestion through killing, the digestion method for the Scholar Pathway was to ‘uncover the truth.’
The scope of uncovering the truth was extremely broad. On a larger scale, it could be summarizing new mathematical formulas or discovering physical laws unknown to predecessors. On a smaller scale, even helping others find lost items counted. Therefore, Euphemia's current action of ‘solving a case’ naturally fell within this scope.
Euphemia didn't deny it and nodded. “Uh-huh~”
Freya then asked, “So, when do you plan to act? Can I tag along?”
Normally, a commission like this only required handing it over to a private detective and then waiting for the results as the client. However, Freya still wanted to be involved. She was mainly afraid that Euphemia would die along the way and fail to bring back any information. If she tagged along, even if they both bit the dust, she could still carry the gathered information into the next simulation.
Euphemia said, “Of course! But I need to go make some preparations. We'll head out this afternoon, how about that?”
The two agreed on a time and place to meet, and then Freya continued on her way to the Church of the Earth. She arrived a bit later than last time, but the situation here was virtually identical to before.
Freya walked toward the main entrance of the church. Looking at the devotee standing there like a door guardian, who was at least 1.8 meters tall, she felt slightly apprehensive. She didn't know if she would be able to get in this time.
Then, just as Freya reached the entrance, that arm once again blocked her path. Seeing this, Freya couldn't help but sigh. Was it not because of the War Pathway?
However, while she was thinking this, the trembling voice of the devotee beside her drifted over. “You... Ah, no, Your... what a pure aura! It's simply... simply... like the Mother Goddess herself is walking the earth!”
“Thud~”
As he spoke, the devotee actually fell directly to his knees right in front of Freya. Seeing this scene, Freya was completely dumbfounded.
Wait, dude, what on earth are you doing?
She had only changed her identity, but the difference between this time and last time was way too massive, wasn't it?
A moment later, the devotee scrambled back to his feet and said, “I will go inform the Archbishop immediately! Please go inside the cathedral and rest for a moment!”
With that, the man ran into the cathedral without looking back, leaving Freya standing there in a daze. For some reason, a sudden thought popped into her mind: If I just leave right now, what would that devotee's reaction be when he brings the Archbishop out only to find I'm gone?
However, she quickly dismissed the thought. After all, she was here for serious business, not to play pranks.
Freya also walked into the cathedral. The first thing that caught her eye was a spacious hall, with rows of old wooden pews neatly arranged on both sides. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of plants and trees. Whether it was psychological or for some other reason, simply stepping inside gave her a sense of relaxation and peace of mind.
Freya could see some believers dressed in worn, plain clothes, scattered across the pews with their hands clasped and eyes closed, murmuring prayers.
Aside from that, the most eye-catching feature was the three divine statues located at the end of the hall. The one in the center was towering, a full seven or eight meters high, posed in a lifting gesture that connected the floor to the ceiling, as if it actually served as a load-bearing pillar.
The other two statues looked much more normal in scale. The statue on the left was kneeling on one knee, touching the ground with one hand as if sensing something. The statue on the right was the only female among the three; her hands were clasped in front of her chest with her eyes closed, and a beam of sunlight happened to shine through the window onto this goddess, making her look incredibly sacred.
While Freya was observing the three statues, accompanied by a series of dull thuds, the devotee who had been guarding the door emerged from a side door inside the church, bringing the Archbishop with him.
In Freya's stereotypical impression, high-ranking clergy members were supposed to be frail, thin old men with white hair and beards. But this Archbishop was completely different from what she had imagined.
This guy's height was easily over two meters. The light green robe he wore looked almost like a compression shirt on him. On his exposed forearms and calves, incredibly distinct muscle lines were visible, far more exaggerated than any fitness enthusiast she remembered from her past life.
This “giant” quickly walked up to Freya, his massive frame completely blocking out the sunlight. Freya even had the illusion that the sky had suddenly gone dark.
“Thud!” Then, in the next second, just like the devotee from before, the Archbishop dropped straight to his knees right in front of Freya. Tears even streamed from his eyes. “This incredibly pure aura, this unparalleled sense of salvation... You must be the Saintess sent down by the Mother Goddess to guide us!”
“Please, this is my lifelong plea, you must join the Church of the Earth!”
This scene completely shocked not only Freya, but also the believers who had been praying on the nearby pews, all of whom now wore expressions of utter disbelief and astonishment.
However, as Freya looked up slightly at the Archbishop in front of her, another question inexplicably popped into her head: Even after kneeling down, this guy is still taller than me. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?
Freya shook her head to dismiss this stray, bizarre thought from her mind. Just as she was about to say something, the Archbishop, perhaps mistaking her head shake as a refusal, immediately grabbed Freya's small hands with both of his. “Please don't! I'll do anything you ask, but you must join the Church of the Earth!”
“No, no, no, I didn't mean to refuse,” Freya said hurriedly, genuinely terrified that he might accidentally snap her arms.
“Really?! That's wonderful! Thank the Heavenly Father! Thank the Earth God! Thank the Mother Goddess!”
Wait, are you reciting a menu? I'm the one who agreed, yet you're not thanking me?
Freya complained silently in her heart before saying, “Um... so what happens after I join the Church of the Earth? Do I need to do anything?”
Actually, Freya had also wanted to ask, “What do I get out of this?” but she felt that saying it so directly and bluntly would be a bit inappropriate.
The Archbishop said, “Your Highness Saintess, please come with me. I will introduce the Church of the Earth to you first.”
Freya wore an expression that was a mix of embarrassment and confusion. “So... why do you all keep calling me the Saintess...”
To say she was cringing would be an understatement; her toes were curling in sheer embarrassment.
The Archbishop said, “The truth is beyond doubt. Even if you were not a Saintess sent by the deities, everything you have done before, and the gratitude and hope others have projected onto you, cannot be faked. Based on these alone, you absolutely deserve the title of Saintess.”
However, this explanation left Freya completely baffled. What did he mean by “the gratitude and hope others have projected onto you”? Could he please speak in plain, understandable terms?
As they conversed, Freya followed the Archbishop through the side door of the cathedral and deeper into the church. After a brief explanation from him, she gained a general understanding of the Church of the Earth.
Simply put, the Church of the Earth worshipped three deities: the 【Heavenly Father】 who supported the heavens and bore the world, the 【Earth God】 who nourished the land and carried all creation, and the 【Mother Goddess】 who birthed life with love and gentleness.
The doctrine of the Church of the Earth was also very simple, summarized in a few words: do your best to help everyone in need, and perform as many good deeds as possible.
As for what Freya needed to do after joining the Church of the Earth? This was a religion, not a corporation. She was here to be the Saintess, not to clock in for work, so she actually didn't need to do anything. On the contrary, with her status as the Saintess, she could instead assign tasks to the devotees.
Hearing this, Freya couldn't help but say, “But I still don't understand why I'm suddenly the Saintess.”
Didn't she know her own limits? She was an atheist, for goodness' sake! Yet deities might actually exist in this world. If a person like her pretended to be a Saintess and the gods found out, wouldn't she die a horrible death?
However, the Archbishop didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he asked, “Are you aware of the Extraordinary Pathways?”
“Uh...” Freya was startled, not expecting him to be so direct. “I know a bit. Why do you ask?”
The Archbishop said, “Then would you be willing to drink a potion and embark on the Earth Pathway? Once you have consumed it, you will understand why I call you the Saintess.”
To this, Freya only had one thing to say: Since when did such good things happen? A free potion and a brand-new Pathway—how could she possibly refuse?
Freya immediately nodded, acting highly interested. “Supernatural powers? I've been interested in that for a long time. Is it really okay?”
“Of course.” The Archbishop led Freya into a room that looked like a reception parlor and said, “Please wait here for a moment. I will go retrieve the potion.”
About ten minutes later, accompanied by the highly distinct sound of heavy thudding footsteps, the Archbishop returned to the room carrying a box. Inside this box, six potion bottles lay resting quietly.
Rate on N.U.
