Night Journey

Chapter 68 The Rising Sun

Through the observation window, Dai Lin sized up the woman in the interrogation room. The beautiful and alluring woman he remembered was gone; all that remained was a pitiful and miserable sight.

Valerie hung her head, her face covered in bruises, and blood was still dripping from the tip of her nose.

“As expected of you, Cillian,” Daelin teased. “You can be so heartless to such a beauty.”

“A beauty?” Cillian shook his head. “A beauty is used to describe a human woman. When she has an affair with Chaos, she is no longer human.”

Cillian coldly retorted, "Would you really feel affection for a non-human being?"

"Too."

Dailin nodded in approval. Just then, Anya rushed over and delivered the latest news.

“The comparison is complete. Valerie’s tattoos and the Claws symbol are basically a match,” Anya continued. “The club is still under lockdown, the relevant personnel have been detained, and other departments are conducting orderly investigations.”

Cillian asked, "Has Valerie's network been thoroughly investigated?"

“We just arrested Valerie’s lover, a wealthy businessman in the inner city. He told us everything after just a little intimidation.”

Anya flipped through the notes and shook her head regretfully, "But the wealthy merchant didn't know much; he was simply after her beauty."

Cillian then asked, "What about chaos detection?"

"The Soul Essence Agent test was normal. There was no chaotic contamination in her body. At the same time, she is indeed an ordinary person and does not possess source energy."

After Anya finished speaking, a hesitant look appeared on Dailin's face, but he didn't say anything.

Suddenly, there was a rapid knock on the door.

Maefuni rushed over, looking flustered and nervous, but she regained her composure when she stood before Cillian and the others.

“Meifuni, before you speak, I hope you will carefully consider what you should say.”

Cillian stood in front of the observation window, preventing Mafoni from peeping.

Mefuni was calmer than Cillian had imagined. "I just want to know what's going on."

Cillian answered crisply, "Valerie is a member of the Claws. She is attempting to infiltrate the City Guard with unknown intentions."

"Is this so..."

Meifuni pondered for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "But Anya also said that she showed no signs of chaotic contamination."

"So what?" Cillian said dismissively, "It's not that you become a follower of Chaos by being tainted by its power."

Meifuni took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and then slowly relaxed them.

"I trust your decision. What's the next step?"

Mefuni's calm demeanor surprised Cillian greatly. He had thought she would rely on the background of the Centipede Merchant Guild to demand that Cillian and the others release the hostage.

She guessed what Cillian was thinking and sneered, "What, do you think I'd be a crazy idiot who would argue with you all for her sake?"

Maefoni bypassed Cillian and pressed herself against the observation window, gazing at Valerie's pitiful state.

"The fact that I am well protected by the Centipede Chamber of Commerce does not mean that I am unaware of the wickedness and madness of the outside world."

She turned her head and murmured, "I still remember how I traveled with the tour group through the wilderness to Hull City when I was a child. I will never forget that long nightmare."

Cillian suddenly clapped his hands, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Good comment, Meifuni, you get a star."

"what?"

Meifuni was completely baffled.

"So, everyone, what should we do next?" Cillian asked energetically. "We've been interrogating her all night, and Valerie still won't say anything. My suggestion is to take some necessary interrogation measures, which might break the deadlock."

"Torture".

Dalin sensed the bloodlust in Cillian's words.

“Fingernail stripping, waterboarding, sleep deprivation…anything is fine. We need to extract useful information from Valerie as soon as possible to deal with the Claws’ next move.”

Cillian hurled cruel words at each other, yet his expression remained as calm as if he were ordering food in a restaurant.

Anya whispered, "She...she's just an ordinary person, I'm afraid she can't hold on, right?"

“An ordinary person?” Cillian chuckled. “Didn’t I just say that she’s no longer human? There’s no need for you to apply human rights or empathy to her.”

His voice hardened.

"do you understand?"

Anya suddenly felt a strange panic, unsure whether it was the overwhelming aura of Ciri or the intimidation brought by the bloodline, and for a moment, she was speechless.

"Understood, then leave this to me."

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out, and everyone turned around.

"Hello everyone, we meet again."

Gavin smiled and nodded to everyone, fiddling with his prayer beads.

Cillian asked in surprise, "Brother Gavin, what brings you here?"

“I heard about what happened at the guild hall, so I came. Maybe I can help you,” he added. “I’m very good at torture.”

"Thank you, monk, but this is an internal matter of Hel City, and we do not need the assistance of the City of Wounded Cocoons for the time being."

Dale stood in front of Gavin, his eyes filled with vigilance.

To maintain its independence, the city of Hel has always been extremely wary of outside forces.

Gavin retorted without backing down, "What if I told you that you definitely need our help?"

Dai Lin subconsciously took a step back, put his hands in his pockets, and secretly slipped his brass knuckles on.

Gavin, naturally, did not miss this little trick. After looking around and making sure there were no other people around, he simply spoke up.

"You've probably heard that rumor too, haven't you?" Dale asked. "What do you mean?"

"The blazing sun will rise from the edge of darkness, bringing forth all evils and the beginning of chaos."

Gavin recounted the astonishing words with nonchalance.

Dailin and Anya both froze on the spot, a look of fear appearing in their eyes.

This rumor acted like a switch; since its appearance, the evil claws have been wreaking havoc in Hel City, the Tidal Nights have come one after another, and even White Cliff Town has been plunged into darkness.

“This rumor has spread not only in Hel City, but also in the City of the Lone Tower and the City of the Wounded Cocoon,” Gavin said slowly. “Along with the rumor came the fact that the Chaos Cultists have emerged from the Dark World and are active on the outer frontier.”

“I have investigated the origin of the rumors. Some say it is a prophecy obtained after the Chaos Believers made a large-scale sacrifice, while others say it is a sliver of the future that the Chaos Believers stole from the Weaver of Fate.”

But right now, its true origin is no longer important; what matters is what it means.

Gavin glanced at Maefuni and revealed the truth, "The reason I came to visit the Love family is to obtain their support and allocate resources to the City of Wounded Cocoons."

"According to our intelligence, the Rebels are planning an attack on the City of Wounded Cocoons. A similar situation is also occurring in the City of the Lonely Tower, and even..."

Gavin took a step forward, facing Dalyn.

"Hel City is also expected to be attacked by the Chaos Cultists."

In an instant, the atmosphere froze. Everyone felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on their chests, making it hard to breathe and causing a sense of oppression and suffocation.

A multitude of thoughts raced through Dalin's mind, while Anya's gaze wandered, occasionally landing on Cillian, looking thoughtful. Mefuni leaned wearily to one side, exhausted from the series of arguments.

Cillian remained frozen in place, as everything else in the world receded into the distance, leaving him all alone.

"The rising... blazing sun..."

In a daze, Cillian saw again the crimson sun that had destroyed White Cliff Town, that mysterious, nameless evil.

Could the so-called blazing sun refer to that evil creature?

Or……

Cillian lowered his head and examined his left palm.

While possessing the power of mysterious blessings, Ciri was also granted the so-called Holy Blood of the Torchbearer. That fiery and noble bloodline is nothing less than a blazing sun.

An unseen storm is gathering and raging on the outer frontiers, binding the fates of city-states together.

"How are you thinking about it?"

Gavin stared at the crowd expressionlessly.

Dai Lin sighed helplessly, "I need to consult with the director."

"Dailin".

Anya tugged at Dalin's sleeve and whispered, "Don't forget what we're investigating."

Dalin's expression changed, and after struggling for a moment, he sighed, "Brother Gavin, I'm sorry, this doesn't follow the proper procedure."

"But I won't remember what happened next."

Dalin's gaze swept across Mefuni and Cillian's faces. "I hope you don't remember this either."

Mefni obediently turned her head away and covered her ears.

"Thank you."

Gavin pushed open the door, and Cillian followed closely behind.

"I want to participate in the interrogation with you."

“Are you sure, Cillian?” Gavin kindly reminded him. “You may not have heard the rumors about me, but I’m notorious outside of the community.”

"It's okay, I don't care about that kind of thing."

“No, I mean…” Gavin hesitated for a moment, then said awkwardly, “Well, you’ll find out soon enough. I hope it won’t scare you.”

Gavin sat down in front of Valerie, while Cillian stood in the corner, observing the interrogation.

Hello, Valerie.

Gavin started by introducing himself.

“I am Gavin Carlton, a monk of suffering.”

Valerie slightly raised her head, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Gavin, without saying a word.

After Valerie was put in the interrogation room, she initially tried to defend herself, but later remained silent.

“I knelt before the robes of Our Lady of Mercy and swore to her that I would become her whip, treat all things with mercy, and never take anyone’s life again.”

Gavin gently stroked Valerie's scarred face and whispered.

Even someone like you.

"Haha, are you trying to reform me?"

Valerie finally spoke, spitting a mouthful of blood onto Gavin's face.

"No, you will not be moved, nor do you deserve to be moved."

Gavin remained calm, wiping the blood and foam from his face with his fingers, then putting the filthy blood into his mouth to taste it.

“I am bound by an oath not to kill.”

Gavin opened his bag of instruments, revealing a series of oddly shaped metal knives in front of Valerie.

"But fortunately, most of the time, punishing bad people doesn't require killing them."

Gavin laughed like an innocent child, his eyes clear and pure.

(End of this chapter)