Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 315: Interrogation of Nothingness
It was not until Holdwell finished transcribing that he heard a faint voice behind him:
"You have beautiful handwriting, Mr. Holdwell."

A hand stretched out from Holdwell's neck, reached directly for the secret note paper on the table, and picked it up in front of Holdwell.

"...!"

Holdwell was stunned. He suddenly felt a chill on his back and turned around abruptly.

But he saw nothing - all he could see was the wall with shadows cast by the dim light, and the shadows on the wall were rustling and shaking with his movements.

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a faint golden light out of the corner of his eye.

His whole body immediately "floated" up - a huge, irresistible force was lifting his neck into the air, like lifting a puppy.

"I know you are a 'Sequel Killer', right? I am very interested..."

The voice then came from behind Holdwell's ear, "Come with me, Mr. Holdwell. You seemed to have mentioned 'Villino' just now? Tell me more, I won't abuse you."

"..."

"who are you……"

Holdwell made a hoarse sound, but because his neck was completely strangled, he had difficulty speaking and his voice was intermittent.

However, before he could hear the "intruder"'s answer, he suddenly felt his consciousness begin to sink, and his senses quickly dulled and drifted away, until he could see and hear nothing.

And just before Holdwell's consciousness completely disappeared, he suddenly felt cold.

He realized that he had been "forced" to leave Lacey Manor and the villa.

As for where he would be taken, Holdwell could no longer think any further.

……

El Dorado Bank.

Two cloaked figures then appeared at the door of the bank.

Next to them, there was a large hemp sack propped against the wall. It was bulging, as if it was filled with something heavy.

Luo Xiu walked up to Index, picked up the sack with one hand, and then said to Index:
"Just like before, you just wait here. If there is anything unusual, notify me immediately."

"Understood." Index pulled the large hood and nodded.

She then quickly hid in the nearby landscape forest, and her figure soon disappeared in the shadow of the city.

Luo Xiu picked up the "Holdwell" sack, looked at the closed door of the bank which had stopped operating today, and easily climbed in.

Standing in the courtyard, Luo Xiu looked up—

As expected, on the third floor of the bank's main building, the window of the "President's" office was still lit, and the "delusional pseudo-President" Qiao Dewen had not yet rested.

He quickly planned a route in his mind. Luo Xiu's "Mark of the Domination" was now connected to Fenrir, so he picked up the sack containing "Hodwell" and quickly blended into the shadows.

The stealth operation in the dark environment went quite smoothly. Luo Xiu quickly led Holdwell through the bank's wall, into the interior of the bank building, and went straight to the third floor.

His footsteps were silent and did not attract the attention of some night staff in the bank. He soon reached the third floor and stood in front of Qiao Dewen's office.

"Dong, Dong." Luo Xiu grabbed the mouth of the sack with one hand, used his free right hand to knock on the door twice, and then turned the handle.

The door of Qiao Dewen's office was not locked. Luo Xiu pushed it open and walked in.

But he didn't see Qiao Dewen at first glance, but the colorful mist that filled the entire room.

Just by inhaling a tiny bit of mist, Luo Xiu immediately felt a little dizzy. The scenes he could see in front of his eyes began to change and distort unnaturally. This sense of unreality gradually became stronger, as if it was about to transform into reality.

...Is this the self-protection method used by President Qiao Dewen? Luo Xiu couldn't help wondering. He immediately turned his spiritual power to block his perception and said softly but clearly:
"It's me, Ross Carlos. Mr. Qiao Dewen, I have something to talk to you about."

As he spoke, he reached out and took off his hood, completely revealing the face of "Rosius Carlos".

"..."

In the dense fog, Luo Xiu seemed to hear the sound of a sigh of relief. The thick fog gradually faded and dissipated. The distorted real feelings began to fade rapidly, and the feeling of fainting also gradually disappeared from his mind.

The scene in the room finally returned to the one that Luo Xiu was familiar with - a set of simple desks and chairs, solid wooden bookshelves, a tea table for guests and three sofas... but Qiao Dewen was still nowhere to be seen.

The next moment, the voice of "Qiao Dewen" came from above Luo Xiu's head:
"I am a little nervous. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

"You know, no matter my public or secret identity, there are always people who have bad intentions towards me. I must always be on guard against them."

Luo Xiu raised his head and saw Qiao Dewen climbing up the chandelier on the ceiling. The half of his body that was barely visible had merged with the surrounding scene.

...like a chameleon clinging to a chandelier.

But Qiao Dewen's face was not "hidden", and he was making a somewhat apologetic expression towards Luo Xiu.

"I understand you."

Luo Xiu smiled and nodded, "Me too."

While Luo Xiu was responding to him, Qiao Dewen jumped down from the chandelier. There was no sound at all when he landed, and then he lightly brushed off the fine dust on his clothes.

"That was the 'Dream Weaving Mist', which makes people see hallucinations and gradually want to fall asleep."

Qiao Dewen smiled awkwardly and said, "But for saints like you who have entered the 'Fivefold Fate', it will at most make you feel dizzy... Don't worry, it won't leave any sequelae."

"so……"

Qiao Dewen walked to the door, closed and locked it, turned to face Luo Xiu, and asked nervously, "Sir Luo Xiu, what do you want me to do this time?"

After Qiao Dewen asked this, Luo Xiu lifted the sack in his hand.

"You are the 'delusional pseudo-face' of the Void, Mr. Qiao Dewen." Luo Xiu said with a smile, "I know that you are very good at manipulating 'memories' and are also very good at erasing 'memories'."

"And in this sack is a cultist who is trying to disrupt the order of Songyuan City. I need you to help me interrogate him, and then erase his memory related to this, as if nothing happened."

“So…” A solemn expression appeared on Qiao Dewen’s face.

After learning that the person in the "cloak" was Luo Xiu, Qiao Dewen had already noticed the sack next to him.

After thinking for a while, Qiao Dewen asked:
"What level of transcendent is he? I sensed spirituality surging from that sack."

"The Fourfold Fate." Luo Xiu answered him, "Don't worry. I can put it in a sack and bring it with me. At least the person you are 'interrogating' won't be a saint."

"...Okay." Qiao Dewen nodded, "It's just the fourth destiny... It's not difficult to grab his memory."

After Qiao Dewen agreed, Luo Xiu pulled the sack over and untied the rope tied at the mouth of the sack.

The mouth of the bag suddenly opened, and the person inside, who was still in a faint, fell out of the sack.

The man was wearing soft armor with fine scales and a delicate red brooch on his chest, which symbolized a certain noble status...

When he saw clearly who was in the sack, Qiao Dewen's pupils contracted instantly and he stood up suddenly.

"——The Supreme Throne Knight?"

"——You kidnapped a Supreme Throne Knight?!"

Qiao Dewen cried out in shock.

Then, as if he felt that his voice might be too loud, he subconsciously lowered his voice and even had the urge to cover his mouth with his hand. He began to regret that he had agreed to Luo Xiu too early...

When talking about "cultists", Qiao Dewen's mind was filled with [Red Lotus], [loss] and even his own [nothingness]... He never imagined that the person in the sack would actually be a [Supreme]!
Qiao Dewen's eyes suddenly became strange.

Noticing Qiao Dewen's strange gaze, as if he were the "cultist", Luo Xiu remained calm and said to him:
"That is indeed a [Supreme] Knight of the Throne, Mr. Joe Devin."

"But his true identity is a 'killer of order' - as I said before, he intends to overthrow the original order of Songyuan Territory. I want to know who his superior is."

"..."

Qiao Dewen was silent.

He looked at Holdwell lying on the ground, then looked at Luo Xiu, and sighed slowly.

"I understand."

"Help him to the chair, Luo Xiu. And then... tell me his name."

"..."

"His name is Holdwell, 'Fire Bronze Knight' Holdwell Aminos."

Luo Xiu answered Qiao Dewen, and then did as Qiao Dewen said, "pulled" Holdwell out of the sack, pulled up his limp body, and helped him sit on a chair with a reclining back.

To be on the safe side, Luo Xiu took out a bundle of special ropes from his bracelet and tied Holdwell and the chair inside and out with more than ten circles.

Looking at Luo Xiu's smooth operation, Qiao Dewen's brows, which had just relaxed, gradually frowned again.

He was so skilled... so skilled that it frightened Qiao Dewen.

Only after seeing Luo Xiu tie up Holdwell did he clapped his hands and sit back on the sofa in the guest seat.

"Okay, Mr. Qiao Dewen." Luo Xiu looked at Qiao Dewen and said with a smile, "You can start now."

"..." Feeling a black spot on his forehead, Qiao Dewen stood up and walked behind Holdwell with gritted teeth.

Holdwell was still in a coma, unaware of anything around him.

Qiao Dewen then raised his hands and gently pressed his palms on the temples on both sides of Holdwell's forehead. He lowered his head, and a misty light like white mist appeared in his eyes.

"——Snake God is above."

Qiao Dewen chanted the prayer of Nothingness in a low voice:

"——I dedicate the essence of his memory to you."

"——Analyze the foggy, dreamy memories layer by layer."

"——The memory of this person belongs to 'Hodwell Aminus'."

"—like a delicacy on your plate."

"——I hope to see it, like a dream bubble."

"——I hope to use this to fill the void in your existence."

"..."

As Qiao Dewen prayed, the white mist in his eyes surged more and more, and the outline of his body was gradually covered with white mist.

And Holdwell, whose temples were lightly pressed by his palms, gradually sat up straight and opened his eyes.

There was also mist rolling in those eyes, but it was not white mist, but black mist.

Like Joe Devin, the black mist surging in Holdwell's eyes became thicker and thicker, and wisps of black mist were gradually being pulled away from the outline of his body.

Luo Xiu, who was sitting in the guest seat, was calmly watching the changes in front of him.

Until the white mist and black mist emanating from Qiao Dewen and Holdwell gradually merged and became compatible, Qiao Dewen turned to look at Luo Xiu and said:
"Please ask your questions, Mr. Luo Xiu."

"If you want the answer to your question, let this 'Knight of the Throne' answer it in person."

"Yeah." Luo Xiu nodded, and his eyes immediately fell on Holdwell.

The "Fire Bronze Knight" Holdwell was still unconscious at this time, but the memories in his mind were forcibly "opened", and now he was just a puppet who knew everything.

Luo Xiu then looked at him and asked word by word:

"As the Supreme, have you grown tired of order and become one of the 'Order Killers'?"

"...Yes." Holdwell replied in a vague voice.

"Are you ready to overthrow the order of Songyuan City and have you made preparations for it?"

"……Yes."

After asking the two experimental questions, Luo Xiu looked at Qiao Dewen and saw the reaction on his face.

Qiao Dewen nodded but didn't say anything, but he was less worried after all.

So, Luo Xiu then asked Holdwell:
"To whom do you plan to secretly pass on the confidential document you copied earlier?"

"...I'm going to have someone...pass the message to...the 'Hidden Omniscient' lurking in Songyuan City...as well as the 'Torch Party', the 'Holy Fire Worship Group'...the 'Strangling Hand', the 'Assassin's Alliance'..."

Holdwell listed the names of more than a dozen secret organizations.

Luo Xiu wrote them all down, and then asked:

"What is your plan?"

"...We are going to start a riot in Songyuan City when Marquis Bakar leaves... Songyuan Territory... and kill all the Supreme Beings who belong to 'Order'..."

Holdwell spoke intermittently: "By that time... we, the Order Killers, will establish a new order... and we... who have accomplished true 'transcendence' and 'usurpation', will be noticed by the Most High, and I will be able to... get a chance for 'promotion'..."

"I can become... a knight of the divine seal! I will be holy... I will have more..."

Even in an unconscious state, when he said this, Holdwell's face showed a strong fanaticism.

"Murder of Order" has been deeply rooted in his mind, and Luo Xiu also silently remembered everything he said.

"Then tell me." Luo Xiu then asked Holdwell:
"Who else is there in Songyuan City who is the same 'Order Killer' as you?"

"... and the 'Inquisitor' Chinoning Louis, and the 'Iron Knight' Kandel Fellowes..."

"Chinoning Louis and Kandel Fellos..." Luo Xiu silently recited their names and wrote them down. Then he asked Holdwell the last question he wanted to know:

"Tell me, who is your 'upline'?"

"…It's Lord Valino."

Holdwell answered honestly:
"Lord Velino Bakar..."

"He is... the Marquis's... illegitimate son."

……

(End of this chapter)