Provocation

"What does Your Highness want so many document tablets for?"

Normally, wouldn't a few replicas of the document tablet be enough?

Even if each of the seven nations were allocated a replica tablet, it would only be around four hundred, yet the amount Her Highness requested had doubled that.

This was not a small sum, and not only was the manufacturing process for a document tablet complex, but the materials alone were not easy to gather.

"Lola, you wouldn't understand. Just do it, and you will understand when the time comes."

Sitting high above, the Saintess revealed a mysterious smile.

Regarding the Seven Nations of the Holy Church, whether they were on her side or not, one phrase summed it up—never intend to harm others, but always be on guard against them!

As a ruler, she had to be prepared for such things.

If everything was replicated from a single tablet, then the tablets of the other six nations would naturally share the same fate as the original document tablet.

If a situation arose where she wanted to destroy a document tablet, she would offend all Seven Nations of the Holy Church.

But what if every nation's replica document tablet had its own unique original document tablet?

Wouldn't that mean she could control the life and death of another nation's replica document tablet at any time?

In this way, she would possess the power to threaten other nations without ever having to deploy a single soldier.

Of course, the prerequisite was that the other party did not cause trouble.

It was just like how the Pope held the seven original document tablets of the Saintesses, clutching the very pulse of every Saintess.

'I don't want to be like the Pope and demand tribute or anything.'

'I am simply adding a layer of insurance for my future and the future of the Kingdom of the Moon.'

"In that case, I shall obey Your Highness's Divine Oracle. It seems the nuns are going to be busy."

"What does this have to do with the nuns?"

"Because the document tablets are made by the nuns, and the secret formula for the document tablet is not allowed to be shared externally. They can only be produced within the Temple."

"Fine, fine. Then let everyone get busy."

Since she, the boss, was busy, shouldn't the people below learn from her example?

"Mmm... we've settled most of today's matters, haven't we?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The main issues today were the Eight-Nation Meeting and the trade of the document tablets. Other than that, nothing is particularly important, though there is one matter I must report to Your Highness."

"Speak."

"Your Highness, Erak has been found. However... that person is already dead in his home."

"Erak? Who is that?"

Suddenly, images of the flame-engulfed execution ground flashed through her mind. Scenes she didn't want to remember resurfaced, but they also reminded her where she had heard that name before.

"Is he the person Cyrus mentioned who had connections with the demon army?"

"Yes."

"What happened? Didn't I say I wanted him alive back then?"

"Erak had already gone missing the day before Cyrus was executed."

After a moment of thought, an idea surfaced that made her spine tingle.

"Was it... the very night we interrogated Cyrus?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The time of death was approximately six o'clock in the evening that day, just after we had left the interrogation room."

"Lola, are you saying... our movements were known to someone?"

"That is a possibility, though we currently have no evidence."

Because Cyrus was about to be sent to the burning stake, she had personally gone to the prison for a surprise interrogation the afternoon before the execution to find out how he communicated with the demon army.

And according to the timeline, shortly after she left the prison, the person Cyrus had named went missing?

"Investigate! Investigate this to the end!" Her voice involuntarily became majestic. Had she already grown accustomed to the feeling of being a ruler?

"Although I also want to investigate to the end, this Erak lived alone, and he died in his own home. Furthermore... the person who did it left no useful clues."

"The other party? You mean someone killed him?"

"Yes. According to the autopsy, it was a single fatal blow. A thin rapier less than a centimeter wide instantly pierced the heart, causing massive internal bleeding. Because the wound was so small, blood would not flow out in large quantities in a short time. By the time the blood coagulated, the victim would have already died from excessive blood loss. Therefore, it is very difficult to detect."

An assassination!

A blatant assassination!

Right under her nose, at the foot of this Brilliant City!

It was almost as if they were silencing a witness right in front of her face!

Less than an hour after she obtained the information, Erak went missing, and it wasn't until today that there was news, but the man was already dead.

The other party's method was incredibly swift, clean, and left no trace.

"Is this a provocation against me!"

In Brilliant City, in this city that she completely controlled, someone actually dared to provoke her like this?

A nameless rage... burned from the bottom of her heart!

If someone dared to do this, would they target her directly next time?

To be able to instantly kill someone with a thin rapier less than a centimeter wide without leaving a trace—if she encountered such a person, she might not even have a chance to react!

This was a talent, but anyone who could possess such a talent must be a certain noble. Was this... a threat to her?

They could have clearly let Erak flee to a far-off land or let him die silently. Since he had already gone missing, why did he reappear out of thin air?

Their meaning was... don't let me investigate any further?

Otherwise, the next corpse lying in the Temple... would be hers?

They... they actually dared to despise her so much!

Did they really think she was made of clay?

The corpse suddenly appearing today was clearly because of certain events that made them want her to know fear.

What could it be?

Recently, she hadn't made many moves against the nobles, only the reform of the slave system and... the demotion of Patriarch Garnet's peerage by one rank!

Barry Garnet!

And the matter of the Rowan family's third son being arrested.

Who was it? Who could it be... to actually use a corpse to intimidate her so blatantly?

And who was it that dared to have ties with the demon army?

"Lola, immediately begin investigating everyone with noble connections whom Martha met in the past year. This includes everyone Cyrus was in contact with during the past year. Clear up the entire network of relationships. I want to know exactly who was maintaining contact with both Cyrus and Martha at the same time!"

This person was absolutely crucial!

They could contact the witch Martha, contact Cyrus, and simultaneously communicate with the demon army outside.

As expected, the Kingdom of the Moon was rotten to the core.

"Investigate! Screen all of Erak's financial chains, including his personal connections! Do not let anyone suspicious slip away!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

This was no small matter. She could not allow someone who dared to provoke both divine power and imperial power to remain arrogant!

Cyrus had defected to the demon army and would inevitably suffer the erosion of demonic desire.

That feeling was not something an ordinary person could endure.

The same applied to Martha!

Even if these two could avoid the baptism with Holy Water, they still could not avoid the explosion of their own desires. There must be a channel.

Erak at the third stall of the slave market.

Cyrus of the Cavendish family.

Both of these people were inextricably linked to slaves.

Could there really be another demon spy within the Cavendish family?

Wait, if they attacked ordinary people, they would definitely violate the rules on the surface.

Then, what about slaves who were not circulated on the market but were specifically sent to Brilliant City?

Something was wrong. There was something wrong in all of this!

"Lola."

"Yes."

"Have Baker's people investigate some of the hidden slaves for me. Don't tell me there aren't any; I'm not stupid. Investigate the more prominent ones, for example, slaves born of royalty from southern cities. Focus on where people like queens, princesses, and noble daughters are sent. Then investigate the places where nobles frequently gather."

"Your Highness... I'm afraid that will be difficult."

"Why?"

"Clubs like those rarely hire commoners, and although Baker has some leads, he cannot cover everything."

A place where even Baker struggled to reach?

It seemed her hunch was correct. In the places where the light of Brilliant City could not shine, there was bound to be filth and darkness.

And this was precisely where she should focus her attention now.

Under the general trend, no one could stop the Decree of Distribution of Grace from dividing the nobles. But if something went wrong with the details, the Decree of Distribution of Grace might proceed normally, but she, the Saintess, might not live to see it.

So... how should she investigate?

Where should she start?

It was a feeling of having nowhere to begin.

Like a hedgehog curled into a ball, perfectly sealed.

If she couldn't strike proactively, then she could only lure the snake out of its hole.

But this required a suitable bait, a bait significant enough to make them open their mouths.

Since it was related to slaves, the slave register was naturally useful and could even be used as the bait this time.

But doing so might cause her intentions to be discovered early. Once those nobles knew she wanted to achieve slave liberation, she would likely face a collective counterattack from the entire noble circle!

She couldn't use the slave register directly.

"Does Your Highness... want to investigate the clubs where those nobles frequently gather?"

A massive pile of problems was stacked together in her mind, making her head feel dizzy.

Lola's single sentence sounded like heavenly music to her.

"Yes. Do you have any good ideas?"

"Your Highness might as well... go ask Lady Camilla."

"Ask... Camilla?"

That's right!

Go find Camilla!

Since those nobles were extravagant and lustful, it would surely be a huge burden on their bodies over time.

To find such a place, it would be better to go directly to Camilla, the alchemist.

She must have potions specifically used to enhance pleasure in her hands.

And typical nobles wouldn't actually use such potions frequently. After all, no matter how good the potion was, it still had an impact on the body.

Only those nobles who overindulged in lust would go to buy them.

As long as she could investigate where those potions went, she could filter out a group of people from a relatively recent period.

Then, based on the places these people frequently visited, she could find what she was looking for.

"Lola, I really love you to death!"

"Your Highness overpraises me."

She truly wished she could give this capable secretary a big hug.

However, although she now knew how to start, she had been noticed immediately the last time she went to the prison. This time, she absolutely could not go personally, otherwise, she would definitely be noticed by those with hidden motives again.

"Have Baker's people investigate. He must have leads in this area, right?"

"I believe Baker will not refuse, Your Highness."

Lola did not refuse again. Although Baker's hand might not necessarily reach into the noble circles, he could definitely find what they were looking for anywhere outside of the nobility.

Having found a solution to this matter, although she couldn't completely relax, at least now that she had a lead, the general direction could be narrowed down.

Returning to the bedroom, she dismissed the other nuns and sat alone by the window. The dim magic lamp overhead illuminated the room.

It elongated the shadow of the young girl sitting in the chair.

Flipping through the Biographies of the Saintesses of the Moon and seeing some parts that were clearly exaggerated, a smile involuntarily played across her lips.

Carefully reading the articles composed of a writing system completely different from Cathayan characters, she unknowingly became absorbed and lost track of time.

Outside the window, the moon had already reached its zenith. A cold wind blew against the window frame and brushed against the girl's shoulders, fluttering her silver hair which looked somewhat golden under the dim magic light.

As if sensing the slight chill, the girl's originally sleepy eyes became a bit more lively. She snapped back to reality and looked out the window.

It was already this late. If she kept reading, she might struggle to wake up tomorrow morning. It was better to sleep early.

Putting down the heavy Biographies of the Saintesses of the Moon, she stretched her slightly stiff limbs and walked toward the bed to change and sleep.

Her fingers were already on the first button of her Saintess's robe when a young nun's slightly immature voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness, have you already retired for the night?"

The voice was not only immature but also very faint. If she hadn't just been woken up by the cold wind, she wouldn't have heard such a small sound at all.

"Is something the matter?"

"Your Highness... news has come from the Snow Country. The Saintess of Ice wishes to speak with you."

"Mmm, then let's schedule it for tomorrow?"

The Saintess of Ice?

Elizabeth?

What did she want with me all of a sudden?

Whatever, let's just deal with it tomorrow. Drowsiness was already washing over her.

Sleepy time... sleepy time...

Ah... my dear, soft, big bed, here I come...

"Your Highness, Her Highness the Saintess of Ice is already waiting."

Ugh!

The motion of lunging toward the bed froze as she turned back to look at the door.

So urgent?

If it were any other country, she might ignore it, but the Snow Country had indeed put in a lot of effort in terms of sending troops.

Thirty thousand knights and fifty thousand infantry—it had to be said that the Snow Country had invested heavily this time.

This was almost equivalent to half of the Kingdom of the Moon's military power.

For such a good friend, she naturally could not be negligent.

Looking back at the soft and warm bed, she took a deep breath, made up her mind, and turned to walk out the door.

"Then what are we waiting for? Do not keep Her Highness the Saintess of Ice waiting."

When she arrived at the communication room and saw the 3D projection of the Saintess of Ice, Elizabeth, before she could even open her mouth to exchange pleasantries, Elizabeth suddenly asked a question, her voice carrying a hint of urgency and anticipation.

"Your Highness Luo Li, please forgive the late-night intrusion. I have heard... that you can regenerate severed limbs? Is this true?"