Am I going to be controlled by the players too?

Cheng Cheng narrowed his eyes.

"What other characteristics does a legend possess?"

Freya thought about it for a long time this time:

“Legends were called angels and demigods in ancient times, so naturally they could do things that were close to being gods,” she said slowly. “For example, accepting sacrifices, praying, and giving power to believers. However, these things require knowing the name of the legend. If one has no desire to become a god, then the legend does not need the power of faith, so only a few people know the name of the legend.”

She paused, a hint of pride in her voice:

"But I know."

Cheng Cheng's eyes lit up, and he already had a plan in mind.

When Paul took over 13 Mink Street, he casually arrested a group of wanted criminals and turned them all into Sylvia's puppets. When he needed money, he would kill one to collect the reward; when he didn't need it, he would leave them at 13 Mink Street for any eventuality.

Now, it's just a matter of being prepared for an unexpected situation.

Cheng Cheng sent a message on his phone: "All plans are halted. Await my arrangements."

He then turned and left without watching the Obsidian Bishop preside over the ceremony.

…………

That night.

The Supreme Court.

Villette sat at his desk, a pile of files spread out in front of him. The candlelight cast interplay of light and shadow on his face, making his already tired face appear even more haggard.

The investigation into Liu Ruyan's case has been ongoing for seven days with no progress.

The evidence seemed meticulously wiped clean; every clue pointing to the murderer was cut off at the last moment. There were no physical traces left at the scene, no eyewitnesses, no surveillance footage, and even the anti-divination magic was flawlessly executed.

“The more I investigate this Liu Ruyan case, the clearer it becomes…” Villette slammed the case file on the ground. “The one who knows our own people best is definitely one of our own. This case was absolutely covered up by our own people to make it so seamless!”

The officials who had been standing there nervously trembled and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

“It seems that the biggest problem facing the Kingdom of Konoma is not the abyss, nor the Elf Empire…” Vilette stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to them, “but is in the judicial system, right here in the Supreme Court!”

He turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone present.

"If our area is even slightly corrupt, the entire kingdom will be corrupt! If you all become corrupt, uprisings will break out all over the kingdom, leaving us nowhere to be buried!!"

The office was deathly silent.

Villette slowly sat back in her chair, leaning against the backrest, her voice tinged with weariness:

"I haven't slept for three days and three nights. I keep thinking about what to say to everyone, but words have to come to an end."

He raised his eyes and looked at those people.

“Those who have made mistakes, step forward. If I find out, things won’t be so easy to talk to… Including your mentors, backers, accomplices, all of you, step forward so I can take a good look.”

The group looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Villette's gaze fell on one of them.

"Katangi, you tell us."

Supreme Court Justice Katangi shuddered, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

"Your Honor, I have no powerful backers or allies. I entered the judicial system through the civil service examination in 940 and am a protégé of the Queen. If anyone is my mentor, it is Her Majesty the Queen."

She paused, then continued, "I rose through the ranks from the lower courts to the Supreme Court, each step of which relied on the favor of Her Majesty the Queen and Lady Villette. If I were to speak of patrons, Her Majesty the Queen is my patron. If I were to speak of allies, I can only be Her Majesty's allies."

Villette stared at her, then suddenly smiled:

"Good good."

He stood up, walked up to her, and looked down at her:

"Then tell me, since you took office, you have repeatedly promoted alumni from the University of Kassel, especially female alumni—does such a cadre group as the 'Kassel University Clique' exist in our judicial system?"

Katanji's expression changed instantly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse:

"...How should I put it? Subjectively, it doesn't exist, but objectively it might."

"What a convenient 'maybe objectively exist' statement!"

Villette was about to explode in anger—

He suddenly froze, and his right hand instinctively rose and pressed against his temple.

Sylvia, who was waiting nearby, tentatively asked, "What's wrong, Father?"

Villette did not answer immediately.

He closed his eyes, his brows furrowed, and after a moment, he opened them, a look of surprise flashing across his face:

“Strange, someone is praying to me.”

Mr. Mambo has finally taken action!

Sylvia was delighted, but then Vilette continued, "Through the occult connection between the Prayer and me, I directly saw the scene around him, near the Church of the City Builders. This person looks so familiar, it's..."

After a few seconds of thought, he suddenly opened his eyes.

"It's Theodore, a major wanted criminal with a bounty of 24 credits on his head!"

A collective gasp filled the office.

“How dare he,” Villette sneered. “A wanted criminal praying before the judge… How did he learn my name?”

He shook his head, too lazy to delve deeper: "Never mind, Suiyue."

"Your subordinate is here!"

Sheriff Suiyue immediately stepped forward.

"Go to the Church of the City Builders. 'The Viper' Theodore is there. Arrest him!"

"Yes!"

Sheriff Suiyue turned and left.

Villette was just about to pull her attention away from the reckless fugitive—

Just then, the sound of prayer rang out again.

“Great Vilette, Goddess of Law and Contract, Pillar of the Kingdom… I pray to you, that you may bless the successful completion of my contract with the Demon of the Spear.”

The Demon of Guns?

These four words were like a thunderclap, further loosening the already loosened seal. Countless memories related to the Demon of the Gun flooded into his mind, causing Vilette's pupils to contract sharply!

Gun Demon!

That demon, sealed away by Queen Alvira with primal energy, was the one who slaughtered millions of lives within 352 heartbeats!

It's back?

…………

Meanwhile, near the Church of the Builders.

A rooftop.

Cheng Cheng hid in the shadows, looking through Freya's eyes at the brightly lit church in the distance, his right hand clenched loosely, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Those are the threads of the puppet's embers.

The other end of the thread was connected to Theodore, the "serpent," who was lurking at the church entrance.

Theodore stood on the church steps, his expression blank, his eyes vacant. But if one looked closely, one would notice that his lips were moving slightly—

He prayed for the two legends.

First it was Vilette, then Sword Saint Karen… After confirming Vilette’s reaction with Sylvia, Cheng Cheng withdrew his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips, and then gave Theodore his final instruction.

Theodore stopped praying and stepped into the church.

Cheng Cheng turned around and disappeared into the night.

…………

The interior of the church.

Theodore took out a 10,000-credit note and handed it to a young priest: "I want to see the Obsidian Bishop."

The priest received a favor charm and led him through a long corridor to a carved wooden door.

I pushed open the door and stepped aside to let him in.

Behind the door was an extremely luxurious room.

The floor was covered with a thick carpet, and the walls were adorned with famous paintings from various countries. In the center stood a huge mahogany desk with a silver candlestick and an open bottle of red wine.

Behind the desk was a chair inlaid with gemstones.

The Obsidian Bishop was sitting there.

He leaned back in his chair, twirling a golden quill pen in his hand, his deep black eyes scrutinizing Theodore as he walked in.

“Lost sheep,” he spoke, his voice gentle yet carrying a persuasive power, “what do you seek?”

Theodore stood before him, his expression calm.

"I want a gun."

Obsidian's fingers paused slightly.

“My gang needs guns,” Theodore continued, his tone matter-of-fact. “Other gangs have guns now. I heard the Church of the Citybuilders can get some.”

Obsidian narrowed his eyes.

He put down his quill, picked up his wine glass, gently swirled the red wine inside, and his eyes gleamed; he had already used the Bewitching Flame.

"Who told you that?"

Theodore shook his head: "A man in a black robe. I don't know who he is."

Obsidian stared at him, slowly took a sip of wine, and then put the glass back on the table.

They've been targeted.

Someone is plotting against me.