Chapter 50: Shaye’s Test Subject
Augustus, the Pope!
That damned bastard was the most likely culprit.
His position granted him unrestricted access to the Holy See. The barrier wouldn’t stop him, and the Holy Knights wouldn’t dare question him. He could move freely within the complex, his authority unquestioned.
He had the opportunity.
And his power surpassed hers. It was plausible that he could disable her wards.
He had the ability.
Most importantly, he had promised Angelica that he would reinvestigate the cursing incident during the Holy Maiden selection, ensuring her ascension to the position.
Her term as the Holy Maiden wasn’t over yet. To replace her, Augustus needed a valid reason, a justifiable cause. He couldn’t simply remove her on a whim.
He needed to find something incriminating, something to discredit her.
He had the motive.
Motive, opportunity, and ability… Loseweisse was convinced that Augustus was the thief.
But did he think he could easily remove her from her position?
She wasn’t one to sit idly by. She had cultivated her own network of influence within the Holy See, her power rivaling the Pope’s. If Augustus truly intended to challenge her, he would learn the extent of her influence.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her face contorted with rage, her eyes blazing with fury.
No, this wouldn’t do.
She was unsightly, her anger marring her beauty.
Jie Luo would be disappointed if he saw her like this. She picked up his photograph, holding it close, her eyes softening with longing.
A figure entered the room.
He gasped as he saw the disarray. “Lady Loseweisse, what happened here?”
Loseweisse glanced at him. It was Douglas, the Cardinal in charge of the Holy Inquisition, the second most powerful figure in the Holy See, his authority exceeded only by the Pope. Officially, his position was equal to hers, but in reality, he wielded far more power.
But for some reason, he treated her with utmost respect.
They were supposed to be allies, but he seemed to consider himself her subordinate.
“It’s nothing…” she said, forcing a smile. “I was just… looking for something. Cardinal Douglas, is there anything I can do for you?”
He eyed her skeptically. Her room didn’t look like someone had simply been searching for something.
But he wouldn’t question her.
He was her loyal follower, obeying her every command. She possessed a unique bloodline, a lineage that commanded his respect.
“It’s about Maggie and Sana…”
“They’re dead…”
What?
Loseweisse’s anger, momentarily subdued, flared up again. She shot to her feet, her face twitching.
Damn it! Today was truly a disaster.
…
Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Qin Chu, who had been meditating, opened his eyes.
He dismissed his illusion, his true body taking its place.
It had been a busy day.
But productive.
And he had another task to complete: Ekaterina.
He stood up, suppressing his power, projecting an aura of slight improvement, as if he had made a small breakthrough during his afternoon training session.
As he approached the training grounds’ exit, the guards sensed the faint heat emanating from his body.
“Congratulations, Hero-sama, on your progress.”
As expected of the Hero. He had achieved a noticeable breakthrough in a single afternoon. Unlike them, who had struggled for almost a month just to sense elemental energy.
Qin Chu scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. “It’s all thanks to Lady Ekaterina’s guidance. And I’m just getting started. I still have a long way to go… By the way, where is Lady Ekaterina?”
He knew the answer.
“She said she had some… important business to attend to… Has she not returned yet?”
The guard’s expression turned strange. “Uh, if you’re looking for Lady Ekaterina, you might find her at the tavern…”
Seeing Qin Chu’s confused expression, he added, “For Lady Ekaterina, drinking at the tavern is the most important business.”
“I’ll gather my brothers and accompany you…”
“No need. I’ll go alone this time,” Qin Chu said, shaking his head.
The guard was alarmed. “But Hero-sama, what if…”
“I’ve eliminated all the Demons from the city. And I’ll be with Lady Ekaterina. She’ll protect me. I’ll be fine.” Qin Chu stretched, his muscles relaxing. “You know, I’ve been cooped up in here all afternoon. I just need some fresh air…”
“Besides, the city is patrolled by the Knights. If anything happens, I’ll call for help.”
“Oh, and…” He pulled out a one-thousand-Mana bill, handing it to the guard. “You’ve been standing guard all day. You deserve a treat.”
The guard’s eyes widened at the sight of the bill.
Qin Chu saw his throat bobbing, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to control his excitement.
One thousand Mana… Though the Royal Guards received a higher salary than ordinary soldiers, this amount was equivalent to his annual income.
“Hero-sama, you’re here to save our world. We should be the ones paying you…”
But despite his words, he couldn’t resist pocketing the bill.
“There’s a small gate on the left side. The guard there… his wife is giving birth today. He’s not on duty…”
“And I’m not done with my shift yet. I’ll be here until midnight.”
Qin Chu smiled, his expression sincere. “Thank you, sir. Your dedication is admirable. You’re a good man.”
He left the training grounds, following the guard’s directions, heading towards the small gate under the cover of darkness.
He glanced up at the night sky, his thoughts drifting towards the visions he had witnessed when he had touched Loseweisse’s scrolls.
What secrets lay hidden within the vast expanse of the cosmos?
Would he, even at his peak strength, be a match for those entities?
He didn’t know. It was a realm beyond his comprehension, a world of darkness and chaos.
But he knew that strength was the foundation of everything.
“Shaye, is Stunning Love ready?”
“Just finished. It’s a special, modified version. Slightly different from the original…”
“I think Ekaterina will be an excellent test subject…”
I’m so brilliant!
Shaye praised herself, eager to see how Ekaterina would be transformed.
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