Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 205 Corruption
In the alchemy room in the church's basement, Claire was surprised after hearing the information about the witch cult brought by Tessa:

"Captain Dunn Smith?"

"Why is Dunn being noticed by the Witch Cult?"

Since joining the Red Gloves, Dunn has kept a low profile. The Eighth Team he and Leonard formed rarely participated in cases and was not well-known in Backlund. Even the various Nighthawks teams within the church had little impression of them.

"A Sequence 5 Requiem Master was actually dispatched to Backlund, yet it remained so quiet. Even if the team is understaffed, it can still be considered idle..."

Claire had guessed that Dunn's team must have some special mission, but she hadn't thought about it any further. When she heard Tessa say that the Witch Cult was keeping an eye on Dunn, she worried about the old captain and began to think and analyze further.

"To attract Dunn's attention, I mean to divert Dunn from something he's currently focused on..." Recalling everything that had happened since she reunited with Dunn and Leonard, Claire thought of how the two behaved differently when faced with matters related to someone.

"Dunne is carrying the Emblem of Night, and perhaps more than one. This indicates that the mission Dunne is currently undertaking involves a demigod!"

Various possibilities flashed through Claire's mind rapidly, and slowly, a figure emerged in her mind.

"It's that fallen one..."

Ince Zangwill!

The team composed of Dunn and Leonard was most likely an investigative team specifically targeting Ince Zangwill!

The Witch Cult wanted to hinder Dunn's investigation. Was it to help Ince Zangwill?

This also means that Ince Zangwill, who defected from the church, is involved with cultists like the Witch Cult...

Furthermore, Ince Zangwill and the Witch Cult were clearly planning something.

Having obtained the two holy relics, Saint Selina's ashes and the "Sword of the Goddess", Ince Zangwill must have become a demigod, and he also possessed the terrifyingly powerful seal "0-08".

Coupled with the cooperation of the powerful demigods of the Witch Cult, the events they are planning are so terrifying that it is likely to be even more terrifying than the advent of the evil god Tingen...

It involved a demigod. Even with the Holy Coffin and the Emblem of Night, Claire didn't think she could handle it.

I still have to continue reporting to Saint Anthony...

However, Ince Zangwill couldn't be mentioned in the report, otherwise he would be sensed by the "0" level seal, and then the "0" level seal would be used to arrange various coincidences...

A Level 0 Seal corresponds to an angel or higher. Even the Holy Coffin's power of concealment would be difficult to resist. I wonder if Saint Anthony's status is sufficient...

If only I could contact Her Highness Arianna...

Putting aside thoughts about these events that had entered the demigod realm, Claire reminded Tessa:
"Alicia became an ally of the Witch Cult... When did this happen? If it happened after the battle with us, then it means she really has the ability to resurrect, as we suspected."

"If that's the case, it would be very dangerous for you to assume Alicia's identity."

Tessa seemed to be completely unaware of the crisis and simply teased Claire, "Are you worried about me?"

Claire said seriously, "I'm talking about serious matters."

Tessa chuckled. "This very danger is exactly what your church desires... Using my bait to fish, whether they're secretly in contact with Alicia or trying to assassinate her, they're all enemies of the Church of Evernight, and they're all clues the Church of Evernight wants."

Claire sighed softly, "Even though you know all this, you still took the initiative to jump in."

Tessa looked indifferent and just said softly, "Because you always hide here."

After saying that, Tessa smiled again and said, "But the initiative is in my hands. I can give up the identity of 'Alicia' at any time. What's more, I have enough means to protect my life."

Claire frowned and said, "Even if the enemy is a demigod?"

Tessa smiled and whispered, "Even a demigod. My goal... is not just a demigod."

I don't know if Tessa's confidence comes from a strong trump card or just ignorance...

Thinking this way, Claire provoked him slightly, "You're so confident! I wonder who was nearly driven into danger by Alicia, who possessed the holy relic before... And the power Alicia can borrow from the holy coffin is just the tip of the iceberg of a demigod."

Tessa remained unmoved by this. Sensing the concern in Claire's words, she smiled and said, "I understand how powerful demigods are. They are a realm beyond our capabilities, but I won't gamble my life on them."

At least I won’t be gambling with my life now… Tessa thought silently in her heart.

Claire was skeptical, but seeing Tessa's insistence, she stopped talking.

Afterwards, Tessa left in a hurry, not knowing what she was busy with.

After reviewing the intelligence she had obtained tonight, Claire changed into Galadriel's attire and went to report to Saint Anthony.

As the spokesperson for the Church of Night in the capital of the Kingdom of Loen, Saint Anthony always had a busy schedule. However, before daybreak, this saint who presided over the church would spend most of his time handling affairs in his office.

"Your Excellency Saint Anthony, the latest intelligence I've received indicates that someone within the Witch Cult intends to target Dunn Smith and his team." Facing this calm saint, Claire didn't mention Ince Zangwill or "0-08" at all.

But when Saint Anthony heard this report, a trace of frightening ripple appeared in his deep black eyes. Saint Anthony said calmly, "I understand."

Seeing Saint Anthony's attitude, Claire suddenly thought that perhaps Dunn and Leonard were not the true trump cards of the church to track down Ince Zangwill. After all, Dunn and his team were still too low in sequence to be compared to a demigod. Relying solely on the Emblem of Night, they might be able to disrupt some of Ince Zangwill's actions, but it would be difficult for them to truly threaten his life.

The "Sleepless" path didn't seem to possess the ability to teleport long distances. Even if the demigods of the church possessed the ability to travel through the spirit world and sensed the power stimulated by the Emblem of Night, they would likely allow Ince Zangwill to escape during the process.

The only ones who can capture or kill a demigod are those powerful members of the church who truly possess the power of a demigod.

In other words, similar to Tessa, Dunn and Leonard were also bait released by the church...

No, it's more than that...

Dunn, bearing the Emblem of Night, possessed the power to cause trouble for Ince Zangwill. Although the probability was extremely small, there was a slight possibility that Ince Zangwill would fall into the hands of the "bait." Furthermore, there might be other hunters like Dunn carrying the Emblem of Night.

At least, Claire herself also possessed the Emblem of Night bestowed by Saint Anthony, although she didn't know what kind of burden and impact bestowing this Emblem of Night would have on these powerful demigods.

But at least it proves that the demigod can bestow more than one Emblem of Night.

Multiple powerful demigods, and an unknown number of seekers carrying the Emblem of Night... The Church truly hated Ince Zangwill with all its might!
Or, are you still determined to recover that "0" level sealed object?

Claire stopped thinking about this matter and discussed with Saint Anthony the dangers of Tessa pretending to be Alicia: "...It seems Alicia is alive again. If this happens, everyone involved in Alicia's affairs and relationships will probably know that this person in the church is a fake... In this case, is it necessary for Tessa Perslan to continue pretending to be 'Alicia'?"

Upon hearing of Alicia's resurrection, Saint Anthony showed no emotion, as if he had already guessed it. The saint's subsequent response was also quite interesting:
"Galadia, this matter is more complicated than you think."

"Even if Alicia is resurrected, will she dare to contact all her former accomplices after she is resurrected?"

"In other words, even though she could fake her own death to escape our pursuit, is Alicia willing to take the initiative to show up and contact these people?"

With her identity exposed and the church pushing a fake one, Alicia certainly wouldn't dare to publicly announce that she was still alive, lest she attract the church's reckoning...

In this way, there will always be uninformed people who will come into contact with Tessa who is disguised as Alicia, which will initially achieve the church's goal.

"But... Alicia doesn't seem to be content," Claire frowned.

Saint Anthony said, "Yes, this means that the forces or people Alicia is involved with are more dangerous than expected... At least she thinks she has found the power to fight against the Church."

Claire raised an eyebrow and asked, "Witch Cult?"

Claire really wanted to hear what the Witch Cult was like from the perspective of this archbishop, a real big shot in the Church of Evernight.

Saint Anthony did not comment much on the Witch Cult, but only affirmed:

"The Witch Cult doesn't value non-family members. Alicia wouldn't be foolish enough to trust the Witch Cult's protection. Furthermore, the news from the Southern Continent confirms that the Blood Cult members haven't invaded Loen."

"Alicia's confidence in showing up doesn't come from the cold-blooded Witch Cult, nor from the loose, infighting Blood Worship Cult. There aren't many possibilities left to speculate."

Although the possibilities are few, no matter which one it is, it will bring great danger to Tessa...

Claire was silent for a moment. With a weary expression, and a hint of dissatisfaction from running on the front lines, she said to the saint in front of her, "Your Excellency Saint Anthony, Beth, Alicia, Capin... these people have been active in Backlund for a long time. Could it be that the Church hasn't found any intelligence on them?"

Saint Anthony didn't show any displeasure at Claire's almost interrogative words. He sighed softly and said, "It's not that we don't have any intelligence, but the impact of that difficult-to-confirm clue is too great. We have to carefully search for more clues to rule out or confirm that hypothesis..."

Even the archbishop showed such an awkward attitude. Claire felt that the incident her team was involved in was even more terrifying. She frowned and said,
"Sir Saint Anthony, at least give us those on the front lines some tips. Most of my team members are low-sequence. I don't lament the fact that we've entered this vortex, but I need more intelligence to increase our chances of survival."

After a moment's hesitation, Saint Anthony slowly spoke, "The Witch Cult, the Aurora Society, the Blood Cult... these emerging cults are suspected to be involved, with members of the Witch Cult being the most active. We've traced Vice Admiral Tracy's fleet to Backlund's human trafficking, and have confirmed that Tracy is a member of the Witch Cult."

Tracy... Claire found relevant information about this person from her memory.

This is the seventh "Pirate General" on the sea mentioned by the "Hanged Man"!
This pirate general annexed the fleet and power left behind by Qilingos after his death!
Saint Anthony said, "Since the enemy's forces are on the sea, the Storm Church is primarily responsible for tracking this clue... But even the Storm Church will find it difficult to make progress quickly in the vast ocean hunting down a 'pirate general' who is under the protection of the Witch Cult. Therefore, the more promising clues will ultimately lie in the Kingdom of Loen, in Backlund where we are."

Although Saint Anthony said that the clue that the Storm Church was pursuing was unlikely to lead to success, this passage revealed the close connection and cooperative attitude between the Church of Night and the Church of Storm.

In other words, in the turbulent Backlund, the Church of the Storm is the most trustworthy of all forces.

Claire took the initiative to ask, "What about the Church of Steam and Mechanics? Are they indifferent to the dark tide surging in Backlund?"

There were some things that the Red Gloves captain, a mid-level player, shouldn't have known, but Saint Anthony still answered Claire's question bluntly:
"The Church of Steam and Mechanics' most important missionary base is in Intis. The increasingly sharp conflict between Loen and Intis has recently caused the Church of Steam and Mechanics to continuously shrink its influence in Loen. Therefore, they rarely take the initiative in Loen. However, on various major issues, they have always maintained the same attitude as us and the Church of Storms."

In other words, the attitudes of the Steam and Mechanical Churches are somewhat ambiguous, but they are still allies on the surface.

Finally, Saint Anthony warned Claire with a serious expression, "If the worst happens, besides those increasingly active cultists... there might be enemies within MI9!"

"MI9!?" Claire was stunned. This was the force she had least suspected before.

Because the series of events involving Beth, Alicia, Kapin and others are all a damage to Loen's national strength.

Claire even maliciously speculated that the three major churches were the driving force behind the scenes, and never considered the Beyonder organization that protected the Loen Kingdom - Military Intelligence Department 9.

Seeing the astonishment in Claire's eyes, Saint Anthony sighed and said, "I only recently realized that, without realizing it, MI9 is ​​no longer the Kingdom of Loen's MI9, but an intelligence agency belonging exclusively to the Augustus royal family. The Augustus family has been very secretive in MI9's personnel transfers and the training of reserve personnel..."

The Kingdom of Loen was not identical to the Augustan royal family, at least from the perspective of Saint Anthony.

Saint Anthony couldn't help but reveal a trace of worry in his eyes: "I suspect that someone in the Augustus family has been corrupted by the evil god and believes in him."

"?!"

Claire hadn't expected someone to ask about such a major event that could potentially overthrow the Loen regime and affect the lives and even survival of tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of people.

Taking a deep breath, Claire couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you pray to the goddess?"

Hearing Claire's question, Saint Anthony's eyes revealed a rare hint of doubt. He said, "The goddess hasn't responded yet... and the Holy Court far away in Winter County is also unaware of it."

Neither yes nor no...

But there was no response.

It was normal for ordinary believers to find it difficult to receive a response from the goddess when praying to her, but even ordinary night watchmen had a chance of receiving a response from the goddess in their prayers...

What's more, Saint Anthony, the saint, can be called the Archbishop who is the goddess's representative on earth!

(End of this chapter)