I'm really not a Sanctuary Warlock.

The image of the cat, Bai Bai, feigning nonchalance when they parted ways involuntarily came to mind.

Those slightly drooping cat ears.

That listless tail.

……

"concentrate."

Lynn whispered something to himself, then closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate.

He must quickly clarify his action plan in the royal city. The church is the first stop, as the church headquarters in the royal city should have more information than in Windbreak City.

If we can find written records about karmic fire, or make direct contact with the archbishop...

knock knock knock.

knocking.

Lynn suddenly opened his eyes.

"Who?"

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

Then, a hoarse, deep voice rang out.

"it's me."

Upon hearing the voice, Lynn did not hesitate and immediately opened the door.

Outside the door, in the dim light of the corridor, stood a tall, thin man.

He was wearing a plain dark gray robe with the hood pulled low, almost covering most of his face.

But Lynn would never mistake those dark, abyss-like eyes peeking out from under the brim of his hat.

"How did you find me?" Lynn stepped aside to make way for him to come in.

Vigo did not answer the question; he silently walked into the room, like a flowing shadow.

When Lynn closed the door and turned around, Vigo was already standing by the window, his back to him.

"Are you healed?" Lynn leaned against the door, arms crossed.

"No."

A concise answer.

Lynn silently rolled her eyes.

As expected of assassins, their speech is just like their profession—sparing with words and speaking in a sarcastic tone.

There was a few seconds of silence in the room.

Vigo suddenly spoke up.

“Gremund agreed.”

Lynn's heart skipped a beat.

"What did you promise?"

“Extinguish the flames of karma.” Vigo slowly turned around, his gaze from under his hood fixed on Lynn. “Archbishop Grimmund has agreed to help Anna extinguish the flames of karma within her.”

This statement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Lynn's breathing quickened for a moment.

Archbishop Grimmund.

He was familiar with the name.

Bishop Theodore of Windbreak City is merely one of Grimmund's pawns.

Grimmund, however, is the true ruler of the entire kingdom's church.

How could someone like that so easily agree to help Anna?

An ominous premonition instantly welled up in Lynn's heart.

"What are the conditions?"

He blurted it out almost without thinking.

There is no such thing as a free lunch, especially when good intentions come from the church; they are often more deadly than poison.

Vigo did not answer immediately.

He walked silently to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Even in the dim light, Lynn could see the not-yet-fully-healed wounds on Vigo's exposed skin.

The cost of that battle with the temple guards was far greater than it appeared on the surface.

“Lynn,” Vigo suddenly called his name.

"Do you know that the top ten strongest people in the kingdom each have their own title?"

Lynn was slightly taken aback.

The topic changed so abruptly. He shook his head.

"do not know."

Vigo raised his head, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight streaming in from the window.

"There are ten strongest people in the kingdom. They are not simply ranked by strength, but are guardians recognized by the kingdom's will."

“Every guardian carries a specific set of rules and possesses power far exceeding that of ordinary people.”

"In this age when the gods have disappeared, they are the true pillars of every kingdom."

The first [Destiny Controller]

"The supreme being who holds the reins of destiny and cause and effect. Legend has it that he can see the direction of the river of fate and even interfere with the destiny of others. Among the ten guardians, his combat power and control over the rules are the highest. No one knows his real name or has seen his true face, but all the guardians acknowledge that he is the mortal closest to God."

Lynn instinctively held her breath.

"The second [Nirvana]"

"The embodiment of the power of ending all things. He controls the primal power of decay and destruction. In the blink of an eye, a hundred miles around can be turned into a desolate wasteland. Whether it is close combat or large-scale annihilation, his destructive power is second to none among the ten guardians. It is said that he once calmed a calamity tide by himself. Afterwards, not a blade of grass grew within a thirty-mile radius, and even the earth itself was eroded."

"The third [Watcher]"

"An eternal bulwark, an immortal wall. This person guards the barrier between the kingdom and the abyss beyond, using his own body as the last line of defense to isolate all calamities from the other side. His defense is so strong that it surpasses all ten guardians. It is said that even the full force of [Annihilation] cannot leave a fatal wound on him."

"The fourth [Spiritual Offering]"

"The ancient spirit's communicator, the spokesperson for the earth's origin. He is proficient in the primitive spells left over from ancient times, and can communicate with the ancient souls and natural divinity between heaven and earth, using their power to cast incredible blessings and curses. Among all the guardians, his methods are the most unpredictable."

"Fifth place [Star Evolution]"

"The stargazer is a diviner. This person uses the stars as a guide to calculate celestial secrets and perceive all things. He is skilled at using the power of the stars to launch long-range magical attacks. His accuracy and range of attack are terrifying. What is even more frightening is that this person can predict the course of the battle before it begins and calmly make arrangements, leading the opponent to their death without them even realizing it."

"Sixth place [Desolate Sect]"

"The ultimate inheritor of the ancient warriors. This person walks the most primitive and barbaric path of the physical body. He does not cultivate magic or learn spells. He crushes everything with his physical strength. In close combat, his domineering and ferocious nature makes no one willing to face him head-on."

"Seventh place [Mad Warrior]"

"An inextinguishable battle flag on the battlefield. This man is capable of fighting against ten thousand men single-handedly. He is brave and decisive in battle. In frontal charges and legion battles, no one can stop his sharp edge. It is said that the most tragic border war in the history of the kingdom was fought when he led three hundred knights to tear apart the lines of eighty thousand foreign troops."

"Eighth place [Shadow Hunter]"

Vigo paused here.

"A hunter hidden in the shadows. Stealth, assassination, intelligence gathering, and solo assault skills are second to none among the ten guardians. He may not be the strongest in direct combat, but when it comes to taking lives without leaving a trace—no one is better than him."

Lynn noticed that Vigo's tone became subtly flatter when he mentioned the title.

The ninth [Market Visitor]

"A traveler who wanders between the crevices of space and the ruins of the world. He is skilled in escape and switching between reality and illusion, and can move freely through the void. His combat strength is relatively weak among the ten guardians, but he is extremely difficult to kill. There are even rumors that he has "died" more than once, but each time he has emerged from some corner of the world of the ruins."

“Tenth place…” Vigo’s gaze fell on Lynn. “【The Fool】”

"Great wisdom appears as foolishness, transcending the constraints of all worldly rules. Seemingly inactive, yet possessing profound insight into the essence of all things. Among the ten guardians, the Fool's strength is the most mysterious, and outsiders have no way of knowing the depth of his trump cards. But one thing is universally acknowledged—no guardian is willing to be an enemy of the Fool."

Lynn's brain was working at lightning speed.

Fool.

This wasn't the first time he'd heard this title.

In the heart of the Silverleaf Forest, the dying Tree of Life, as it bestowed its last primal power upon him, called his name in an aged yet gentle voice—

"Fool."

At the time, Lynn thought it was just an adjective.

But now...

"Wait a minute." Lynn's voice was a little hoarse. "You mean... I'm the tenth guardian of the kingdom?"

He pointed to himself.

"I?"

"One of the kingdom's strongest?"

Are you kidding me?

Vigo remained silent, watching him intently, his dark eyes revealing no hint of a joke.

Finally, he spoke.

"You are one of the Fool's successors."

“The current Fool… is about to die.” Vigo’s voice was very soft, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"When a guardian perishes, their life's power and legacy will not vanish into thin air, but will be distributed among all the successors recognized by the kingdom's will."

"And the Church, as the overseer of the Guardian's legacy, has devised a set of trials."

"Only those who pass the trials are qualified to inherit the full power of the Fool."

Lynn's heart began to pound.

"What does the complete power of the Fool mean?"

"This means your level will directly transcend all common sense and reach the top in one step."

Vigo's gaze was like an abyss.

"This means you will become the tenth guardian of the Kingdom of Orentia."

It felt like countless fireworks were exploding in Lynn's mind at the same time.

A meteoric rise.

No need to level up slowly, you can directly become one of the top ten strongest in the kingdom.

"Fuck."

Lynn couldn't resist.

"Such a good thing?"

Vigo frowned slightly.

"Then wouldn't I just take off?" Lynn paced back and forth in the room, his mind racing with calculations. "The Fool's power... plus my own cursed constitution, plus..."

Just then, Lynn suddenly remembered something and abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"This is the condition you mentioned? Greymond wants me to participate in this trial?"

Vigo nodded.

"The archbishop has only one condition—that you, as one of his successors, participate in the Fool's Trial."

"In exchange, he will personally help Anna extinguish the flames of karma."

Lynn's eyes lit up.

This is simply—

and many more.