Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 179 The Figure in the Water Mirror
The investigation was tedious, and the work led by Daly progressed slowly. After the efforts of the four of them, they finally found more than ten households that kept dogs with similar appearances, but most of them coincidentally were not in Backlund.

For example, there was a small banker named Patrick Jason who was on a business trip to investigate the actual conditions of the anthracite and coal-steel industries in Jianhai County, and his return date was uncertain.

"This is too much of a coincidence... The suspected owners have all left Backlund recently." Leonard muttered after confirming that a family that once raised a giant black dog was vacationing in Dixie Bay.

Leonard's words were just a simple complaint, but when Claire heard the word "coincidence", her expression froze.

"What's wrong?" Daly, who was walking beside Claire, asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Claire smiled slightly.

But deep down in her heart, Claire solemnly recalled a name: Ince Zangwill.

Ince Zangwill is in Backlund?
Is it a true coincidence? Or is it a coincidence caused by that level 0 seal?
If this was truly a coincidence orchestrated by Ince Zangwill, then how could a fallen person wanted by the Goddess Church, who didn't want to evade official pursuit, actively get involved in such an eye-catching incident as a serial murder case?

Even if he has been promoted to a demigod, there are more than just demigods in the Goddess Church, and Backlund is not a small city like Tingen.

On the bright side of St. Samuel’s Church stands the Saint, His Excellency St. Anthony.

Although she wished for Ince Zangwill's death in her heart, Claire was very clear that with her current strength, she posed no threat to Ince Zangwill, who was already a demigod.

Thinking of this, Claire simply sighed in front of Dunn and Leonard, "Too good to be such a coincidence..."

Leonard's complaint, after being repeated by Claire, made Leonard's expression become serious, and even Dunn narrowed his eyes.

Dunn said, "Daly, please do not continue with the current investigation."

Daly was stunned and couldn't help but ask, "Why? We've finally gotten to this stage. As long as we conduct a further and more detailed investigation of those who temporarily left Backlund... there's a high probability that we can find the breeder I'm speculating about."

Dunn interrupted Daly, his gray eyes meeting hers with a deep gaze. "However, the dangers are beyond our capacity."

"Beyond our capabilities?" Daly was incredulous. Not to mention the magical items they carried or the seals distributed by the church, there were two Sequence 6 and two Sequence 7 present. This configuration was enough to deal with any evil events below Sequence 4.

Unless... the incident involves a Sequence 4 demigod?
Daly fell silent. She knew that Dunn would not make such a judgment without reason. He must have judged something from some details and wanted to stop her investigation so decisively.

Not only did Dunn stop the investigation, he also asked everyone present not to discuss the investigation with anyone.

Facing Dunn's focused gaze, Claire readily expressed her agreement: "Since Daly, the initiator of the investigation, hasn't said anything, I naturally have no objection."

Claire knew that Dunn also suspected that this coincidence was related to the Level 0 Seal held by Ince Zangwill. Even if it wasn't Ince Zangwill, this terrifying ability to arrange coincidences was not something that a Mid-Sequence Personage like them could handle.

Dunn should have reported this situation to Saint Anthony. The reason he and Leonard became Red Gloves was to seek revenge against Ince Zangwill. Since the Holy Temple had dispatched Dunn, he must have had a unique channel to warn the high-sequence members of the church.

Claire watched Dunn and Leonard hurried away, and sighed to Daly, "What a shame, Daly! If you could have thoroughly investigated the suspected demon dog owner, you could have even obtained the potion to advance to Sequence 5."

Daly didn't seem particularly disappointed. Her attitude was filled with trust in Dunn. "Captain Dunn single-handedly brought me up when I was a rookie. He's a very reliable captain, and his judgment is trustworthy."

Claire laughed and said, "Praising the former captain's reliability in front of your current captain will make me think you're implying that I'm unreliable. Aren't you afraid that I'll get jealous and make things difficult for you..."

Daly glanced at Claire's chest with some jealousy and sighed, "Because I know Captain Galadilla is a very broad-minded captain."

If she were a real woman, she would definitely be delighted by Daly's "jealousy." Claire secretly praised her, but at the same time, she found that she was actually feeling a bit happy after being praised...

"Since the investigation is suspended, you should just take a rest. You've been really busy during this period, hunting down the demon dog and investigating its owner. Don't worry too much about the merits. I will use my captain authority to allocate more of the team's merits to you."

The rest of the team members currently had little need for merit. Audrey's current desire was extraordinary knowledge, while Xio needed gold pounds. As for Claire herself, the merit she had earned to be promoted to "Craftsman," or "Mechanical Expert," was already sufficient, so she didn't have much need for merit either.

Daly was grateful in her heart and smiled, "I'm not in a hurry, Captain Galadilla, you don't have to give me any special treatment. It will take me at least until after the New Year to digest the potion."

With no missions to perform for the time being, Daly felt relieved and planned to go back to her residence to have a good sleep, while Claire planned to go to the Harvest Church to borrow the Nightmare Candle from Bishop Utravsky.

Taking the steam subway, Claire came to the Harvest Church again, where Bishop Utravsky was praying for a woman.

There are actually people in Backlund who have converted to the Mother Earth Goddess...

Claire found a seat among the rows of empty seats in the church and sat down to listen to Bishop Utravsky's sermon.

“…each of our lives is a ‘plant,’ drawing nourishment from the earth, slowly growing, flourishing, and withering.”

"When our lives wither, they will fall to the earth and return to our mother's arms."

“Don’t lament the passing of life… Plants will grow again next year, flowers will bloom and fall, year after year, and so will our lives, life after life.”

Reincarnation theory... Claire's previous understanding of the Church of Mother Earth was limited to a superficial acquaintance. This was the first time she heard the bishop of Mother Earth preach, and she thought about it with great interest.

The Church of Mother Earth, like the Church of the Goddess, believes that women should have the same social status as men. However, they place more emphasis on reproduction and consider it the most sacred thing.

Because conception is no longer a weakness for women's employment, in actual social production, in human societies that believe in the Mother Earth, the scope of women's employment is wider than in other areas.

The female believers folded their hands devoutly, as if holding a baby, and sang hymns of the Church of the Earth under the guidance of Bishop Utravsky.

Claire used her Eyes of Prying Eyes to see a new life growing in the woman's flat belly. Perhaps this was the turning point for the woman to convert to the Earth Mother Goddess.

After the female believer left, Bishop Utravsky took the initiative to bring Claire the Nightmare Candle.

"Thank you, Father Utravsky."

When the priest said this, Claire subconsciously wanted to draw a crimson moon shape on her chest, but fortunately she reacted in time and restrained herself from doing so.

The habit of faith is truly horrible...

Claire complained in her heart, then took the Nightmare Candle and went to the small prayer room where she had been last time. After a little arrangement, she lit the Nightmare Candle with ease.

The small prayer room remained unchanged, but Claire could still clearly sense that she had entered the spiritual world with the help of the Nightmare Candle. A thin layer of mist appeared in front of Claire, reflecting her image.

The image of a woman who looked exactly like her, with an evil look in her open dark red eyes.

Claire tried it a little and found that in this spiritual world, she could use all the abilities and magical items she had in the real world.

But fantasies that go beyond reality cannot be realized.

"You want to destroy me?"

To Claire's surprise, the reflection in the water mirror could actually communicate with her.

This reflection is capable of independent thinking?!
Claire raised an eyebrow, and the desire to destroy the other party became stronger.

The figure in the water mirror was laughing: "You can't destroy me, I am you."

Bishop Utravsky had discussed with Claire how his other personality had been destroyed in the spiritual world, and he had also spoken of his own experience battling another personality in the spiritual world.

Claire imitated Bishop Utravsky's experience and tried to attack the figure in the water mirror. However, whether it was because the figure existed in the water mirror or for other reasons, all of Claire's tentative attacks were ineffective. They directly penetrated the water mirror and hit the surroundings.

Claire frowned and steadied her breathing, "Who are you?"

"I am you." The figure in the water mirror changed from Claire's appearance to Galadilla's, and even to Tai's appearance and Jiang Zhe's appearance.

The other party switched back and forth between the four appearances, and his voice tone was sometimes female and sometimes male.

Playing tricks...

Claire sighed inwardly, but outwardly said, "You are me, then who am I?"

"You are me." The figure in the water mirror replied.

This answer made Claire want to curse.

But the figure in the water mirror continued: "Accept me, and you will find your true self again. All the past you have forgotten will be remembered."

Claire frowned upon hearing this. "What do you mean? You possess Tai Perslan's true memories?"

But the figure in the water mirror nodded gently and said, "Tai Perslan's memories have been obscured by divine-level pollution, so it will be difficult for you to retrieve them."

"I think you've guessed my origins. You're right. I was born when you received the divine gift, or rather, what you used to call 'contaminated'. During the Battle of Tingen, you recklessly mobilized the power of darkness, which allowed me to grow. It was also at that time that I truly acquired the ability to think independently."

The figure in the water mirror had a sinister expression and an arrogant attitude, but the words he spoke were sincere and detailed, as if he wanted to answer Claire's questions.

"You were able to erase Tai Poslan's false memories, which is truly admirable and represents your considerable luck. But have you ever considered why you happened to receive the 'Mist Butterfly' that helped you sort out your memories, and thus discovered the anomaly in your memory?"

"In this world, good luck comes for a reason." The shadow in the water mirror said lightly.

Claire couldn't help but ask, "What's the reason?"

The figure in the water mirror chuckled: "The reason..."

The figure spoke slowly, his voice drawn out: "Think back to that person's name. All along..."

Before the figure in the water mirror could finish speaking, Claire's heart suddenly started to sirens, because she realized that she had been in the spiritual world for almost five minutes!
Abandoning her desire for an answer from the figure in the water mirror, Claire quickly separated herself from her spiritual world. When her consciousness returned and she saw the ceremony in front of her clearly, a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

Exactly five minutes!
If she had coveted the answer from the figure's mouth just now, she would have been completely lost in the spiritual world because of the negative effects of the Nightmare Candle!
By then, she would probably be in the same situation as the figure in the water mirror!
"That figure is deliberately using words to delay time..." Claire sighed softly. As expected, in the spiritual world, one must be wary of any existence that can communicate.

"But this means she can't directly influence me, so she wants to use the rules of the Nightmare Candle to change the status quo."

Claire reflected on everything she had experienced in the short five minutes of her time in the spiritual world. "But how did she know the effects and side effects of the Nightmare Candle? Does that person share my memories?"

Claire didn't think the figure in the water mirror could share her memories. Then she thought about how she could use all the magical items she had acquired in reality in the spiritual world. Bishop Utravsky had also said that the personality in the spiritual world possessed the same abilities and magical items as the original body.

The memories are not shared, but the newly acquired abilities and spiritual items are shared, which should be due to the influence of spirituality.

"What a troublesome fellow... No wonder Father Utravsky had to entrust someone else to deal with his former personality."

Unless she had no other choice, Claire didn't want to rely on others to solve her mental problems. She felt uncomfortable exposing her mental flaws to others.

“Try exploring a few more times.”

"Perhaps... if all the pollution in my body is cleared, the creature born from the divine pollution will also disappear. But eliminating the pollution in my body is more difficult than eliminating the creature in my spiritual world..."

Claire stroked her heart and smiled bitterly. The pollution of the hidden sage suppressed by the "Heart of the Goddess" and the "Heart of the Goddess" itself were all pollution from the gods...

She now survives by relying on this pollution, this gift.

Claire shook her head and put the thought aside.

"Should I go find someone for advice?" Claire pondered. Since she didn't want to reveal her identity, she couldn't discuss many things with anyone in Backlund. But after she completely digested the potion in a few days, she planned to go to the temple.

The feedback from the temple was that she was ready to be promoted to potion master, but she needed to go to the temple for an examination.

The tone of the feedback letter from the Temple was a bit like that of Her Highness Arianna, whom I had met before.

"There must be someone in the temple who understands my situation, such as the angel on earth, Her Highness Arianna... Perhaps this trip to the temple can solve all my problems."

(End of this chapter)