Category: The Grotesque Miss’s End Story

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Misguided “Ensnare,” The Flow of Time

“A High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Tool…”

Luo Ling was taken aback. Were the Fate Society members always this generous?

Cen Xiangyun treasured the Dangerous Grotesquery Sacred Tool hairpin, crafted from mere scraps, like a priceless artifact, and that was her highly anticipated annual bonus.

However, Luo Ling noticed something in Fiona’s expression.

This wasn’t a reward from the Fate Society, but a personal gift.

In that case…

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Luo Ling said, “regarding the missing elite team…”

“The team leader was my daughter.”

“Oh…”

Before Luo Ling could even finish her question, Fiona answered readily.

This wasn’t a secret within the Fate Society, and it explained Fiona’s concern.

However, Fiona looked barely over thirty. Her daughter was already an eighth-order Awakened One?

The ages of high-order Awakened Ones were truly deceptive…

Luo Ling suppressed her surprise and whispered,

“In that case, thank you, Ms. Fiona.”

“No, Miss Luo Ling, I should be thanking you.”

Fiona’s gaze drifted towards the stage, listening to the actors’ passionate performance, gradually immersed in the beautiful, melancholic singing.

……

While waiting, as a member of the “Diviners,” Luo Ling toured the Victoria Opera House, marveling at the extravagance of the wealthy, regardless of the era.

The Fate Society used a theatrical troupe as their public facade.

Recalling the incident earlier that day, Luo Ling inquired and discovered that although some ordinary people were aware of Awakened Ones, most didn’t know the specifics of the various Awakened organizations.

In other words, ordinary people shouldn’t be able to identify her as a “Diviner” just by seeing her necklace.

So, what was the deal with Lady Odeletta?

Well, if there was any connection, it was with the Fate Society. Luo Ling was merely curious, not intending to investigate further.

It was just a chance encounter. They would likely never meet again.

Soon, Fiona returned with the information for the commission and the high-order Sacred Tool she was gifting to Luo Ling.

A hairpin crafted from a deep blue crystal, adorned with sparkling starlight. Even disregarding its effect, it was a beautiful accessory.

Even more beautiful than the one Cen Xiangyun had painstakingly acquired.

“This Sacred Tool is called ‘Gloomlight.’ The specific Grotesquery it belongs to is unknown, as it’s a war trophy.” Fiona handed it to Luo Ling. “Its ability is to create a starlight shield, defending against mystical and mental attacks. It’s ineffective against physical attacks.”

It was a valuable life-saving Sacred Tool. Fiona gave it to Luo Ling, worried that she, with her limited power, might encounter unexpected dangers in the Realm of Nothingness.

And the dangers within the Realm of Nothingness were rarely physical.

“Um…”

Luo Ling took the hairpin, a troubled expression on her face. She had never worn such accessories.

For a high school student, the most practical hair accessories were headbands and hair ties. She didn’t have time for elaborate hairstyles.

Seeing Luo Ling’s expression, Fiona understood.

She led Luo Ling to a dressing table backstage, untied her simple ponytail, and began combing her hair expertly.

“I used to do this for Linna. She was just like you, clueless about these things… even though she was born in the opera house.”

“She was a bit older than you, but similar in height, and even their personalities were alike, quiet and reserved.”

Luo Ling remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Fiona’s reminiscing.

She noticed Fiona’s eyes were slightly swollen in the mirror, something she hadn’t noticed earlier.

Perhaps, after all these years, she had finally reached the moment of truth regarding her daughter’s fate.

Complex emotions must be surfacing.

Finally, after styling Luo Ling’s hair, Fiona arranged it in a simple updo and secured it with the hairpin.

She leaned on the back of the chair, looking at the quiet, black-haired girl in the mirror. After a moment of silence, she said,

“Miss Luo Ling, has anyone ever told you that you’re quite beautiful?”

Luo Ling’s previous hairstyle and bangs had obscured her features. Now, looking closely, Fiona realized she had missed quite a bit.

“Yes, but she saw me through rose-tinted glasses.”

Luo Ling nodded, referring to her sister.

In her sister’s eyes, she was a unique and vibrant color.

“So… I consider myself quite ordinary.”

“Then I’m also seeing you through rose-tinted glasses now.” Fiona said, resting her chin on her hand.

“Ms. Fiona, you’re such a tease.” Luo Ling stood up. “Please tell my team that I won’t be returning for a while.”

“Don’t you want to go back before setting out? It’s been four years. I’m not in a hurry.”

Luo Ling sighed, picking up the address.

“The location you specified is three districts away, in the opposite direction of our apartment. Going back and forth would mean crossing the entire Victoria… I don’t want to spend two days in a carriage just to tell my friends that I’ll see them in a few days.”

“…That’s true.”

Fiona was speechless.

She considered traversing the Realm of Nothingness incredibly dangerous, yet to Miss Luo Ling, who possessed this ability, it seemed like just a long trip.

“Won’t you stay the night?”

Fiona asked, seeing Luo Ling packing her things.

“I rested enough in the carriage today. I want to resolve this matter quickly.”

Luo Ling put on a wide-brimmed hat, adjusting it over her hair, then bowed slightly to Fiona.

“Although I’m not your daughter, I’ll do my best to bring back news of her.” Luo Ling said, then turned and left the room.

Fiona sat in the dressing room in silence for a long time, then chuckled softly.

……

This time, Luo Ling didn’t need a carriage. She quickly arrived at her destination.

Only four years had passed since the last Boundary collapse, so the area still bore the scars of the devastation, some buildings slowly drifting towards the all-consuming, eternal darkness.

Even at night, the distinct boundary between the Realm of Nothingness and the present world was clearly visible.

Luo Ling didn’t need any preparations. She simply walked towards it and stepped into the “forbidden zone,” the Realm of Nothingness.

This wasn’t her first time entering the Realm of Nothingness. The familiar sensation of harmless darkness surrounded her.

Luo Ling looked back. Despite taking only a single step, the present world had vanished completely, even the faint glow of streetlights invisible, replaced by endless darkness.

This was the nature of the Realm of Nothingness. Even she, who could traverse it, couldn’t escape it.

However, Luo Ling wasn’t here just to search for Fiona’s daughter. She closed her eyes, and moments later, her tall, alluring violet figure appeared.

Simultaneously, she sensed a change in her surroundings.

The endless darkness was no longer gentle and harmless, but aggressive, like countless hands pulling her towards the depths of nothingness.

The concepts of time and space shattered. One moment, Luo Ling felt like only a second had passed, but the next, after a single tick, eons seemed to have flown by.

“Is this… the true terror of the Realm of Nothingness?”

No wonder, during the train incident, even amidst the intense battle, neither Artist, Scientist, nor Li Shaoheng dared to step out of the train.

Not even a single step.

Because… one step could be eternity.

But Luo Ling quickly regained her composure, her fingers twitching as she cast “Weave,” her web domain unfolding silently, transforming the dangers of the Realm of Nothingness into the “known.”

Within her web domain, the darkness returned to its previous harmless state.

“Let’s try… ‘Ensnare’.”

Luo Ling recalled the ability’s description, then pondered.

She wanted to use “Ensnare” to witness the previous Boundary collapse, but “Ensnare”‘s reality rewriting only affected her domain.

She couldn’t just observe a small corner of her domain, could she?

That wouldn’t reveal anything…

“Perhaps, I can reverse it, not applying it to the domain, but to… myself?”

Luo Ling decided to try it.

She activated “Ensnare,” targeting herself, rewriting reality to revert her to her state before the seventy-fourth Boundary collapse.

Her goal was to witness the changes during the collapse. Using herself as the target might reveal more.

She felt her Inspiration draining, indicating the ability’s activation.

But the draining speed quickly escalated to a terrifying rate. Before Luo Ling could stop it, her consciousness flickered, plunging her into a momentary trance.

As a complete High-Risk Grotesquery, even in an incomplete state, Luo Ling possessed abundant Inspiration.

Yet, after activating “Ensnare,” her Inspiration had been completely drained, even overdrawn.

After a period of disorientation, Luo Ling’s hearing returned first.

A cacophony of noise assaulted her ears, mixed with terrifying roars and heart-wrenching cries, grating on her nerves.

Then, faint rays of dusk appeared in her blurry vision. The setting sun stung her eyes, and she raised her hand to shield them.

…Wait, sunlight?

Luo Ling jolted awake.

She was in the Realm of Nothingness. How could there be sunlight?!

“Where… am I?”

Luo Ling looked around, her eyes widening in shock.

Collapsed buildings and ravaged streets surrounded her. The echoing roars and the metallic scent in the air indicated that she was in danger.

Suddenly, a dark figure lunged at her at an incredible speed.

Luo Ling instinctively drew her dagger, “Severance,” slicing the attacker in half.

She looked closely, a wave of nausea washing over her.

The attacker was a grotesque monster covered in tumors, oozing pus, barely recognizable as human from the tattered clothes it wore.

But no one witnessing this scene would consider it human anymore.

“This place… this time…”

Luo Ling looked around, the scene matching the information in her mind.

Finally, she looked up at the sky.

It was dusk.

But not within a Kingdom.

“This should be… the moment before the seventy-fourth Boundary collapse.”

“Have I traveled back in time? Or am I witnessing a memory? Or… have I reverted the entire world to this point in time?”

Luo Ling had no idea.

She didn’t know the extent of “rewriting reality”!

Moreover, the ability had completely drained her Inspiration, leaving her unable to use any abilities…

“As expected… I shouldn’t use a Taboo’s ability so casually.”

Luo Ling shuddered. It was fortunate that other Naraku Godchosen couldn’t use this ability, otherwise… the chaos would be far greater.

The fact that she could kill this monster confirmed that this wasn’t a replay of a memory.

This tumor-covered monster was likely just an infected being, like a “Meat Puppet.” She hadn’t encountered the true Grotesquery yet.

“Regardless, since I’m here, I should find Linna’s team…”

As Luo Ling was about to set out, she heard a childish cry and a terrified scream.

“Go away! You monsters! Get… away from me!”

“There are still living humans here?”

Luo Ling was surprised and immediately rushed towards the sound.

Unsure of the situation, she decided to help if she could.

She saw several tumor-covered monsters, similar to the one she just killed, surrounding a faint blue shield, biting and tearing at it.

The shield rapidly regenerated after each attack, but its dimming glow indicated that it was nearing its limit.

Luo Ling drew “Severance.” She had reverted to her original form. Maintaining her Naraku form with depleted Inspiration was pointless.

Several flashes of her blade later, the monsters collapsed, revealing the person trapped within.

…It was a little girl with short, light green hair, her face streaked with tears and snot. But judging by her clothes, she was likely from a wealthy family.

She huddled in the corner of an overturned carriage, a necklace in her arms glowing faintly, emitting the protective shield.

For some reason, Luo Ling felt like she had seen this girl before.

But she shouldn’t know her. She wasn’t particularly fond of all little girls.

Perhaps due to extreme fear, the little girl recoiled further as Luo Ling approached, her small body trembling.

The gap in the carriage was too narrow for Luo Ling’s current form. She couldn’t reach the girl.

Moving the carriage would likely crush the girl, given its precarious state.

“…Whatever, no one knows the White Witch here anyway.”

Luo Ling closed her eyes, and the petite, white-haired girl reappeared.

She pushed back her long hair, her small size allowing her to easily slip through the gap in the carriage and approach the girl.

“Go away… go away…”

The little girl continued to tremble until Luo Ling gently took her hand. She looked up and saw Luo Ling.

Her face froze.

The White Witch, in her fully matured form, possessed a beauty beyond human comprehension, instantly recognizable as a Grotesquery to any Awakened One.

But this little girl clearly wasn’t an Awakened One. After a moment of stunned silence, she seemed to trust this incredibly beautiful girl.

“Come with me. It’s alright now.”

Luo Ling gently led her out of the carriage.

Just as they emerged, the wooden supports of the carriage finally gave way, collapsing with a loud crash.

If Luo Ling had been any slower, the girl would have been crushed.

“Th-thank you, Miss…”

The little girl, still sniffling, curtsied politely.

“What’s your name? Where do you live?” Luo Ling asked.

“My name… is Odeletta.”

“Huh?”

Luo Ling froze, hearing the name.

She gently lifted the girl’s hair, examining her closely, and instantly realized why she looked familiar.

…It was the same girl, the noble lady with sparkling eyes she had just parted ways with!

Except this was four years ago. The young lady hadn’t grown up yet.

Little Odeletta blinked.

“Do you… know me?”

Luo Ling hesitated, then took out her hourglass necklace and asked,

“Have you seen this before?”

“No.”

Little Odeletta shook her head.

“Have you heard of ‘Diviners’?”

“No.”

Little Odeletta replied honestly.

“…Why are you here? Where are your family?” Luo Ling asked.

Little Odeletta fidgeted, then replied hesitantly,

“I… I ran away from home…”

It was undoubtedly Lady Odeletta.

She had always been a mischievous child…

Chapter Twenty-One: The Fate Society’s Tragedy

This incident taught Luo Ling several important lessons.

First, being taught didn’t equate to mastery. Her mind might understand, but her hands sometimes rebelled.

Second, memories weren’t always reliable. Actual performance was limited by her own capabilities.

Third…

She shouldn’t cook again.

Yesterday, when Luo Ling and Elsa went out, they bumped into Eve and the others, who were also out looking for food. Hearing that Luo Ling was going to cook, they expressed interest.

Although initially hesitant, Cen Xiangyun, having tasted Luo Ling’s sister’s cooking in Jiangcheng County, assured them that it should be fine.

If the older sister was a good cook, her younger sister, who had learned from her, should be alright, right?

Luo Ling was also brimming with confidence. She possessed her sister’s memories. Cooking should be a piece of cake.

Thus, they boarded the ship of fools and, an hour later, regretted their decision.

Chicken so burnt it could be used as charcoal, vegetables so green they looked like they could be replanted, and an enamel pot with a hole burnt through it… Among these unspeakable culinary abominations, the only seemingly normal dish, fried ribs, tasted like a psychedelic trip, sending those who consumed it on a journey to visit their deceased great-grandmothers.

There was a beautiful fairy tale in Victoria about a little match girl who, on the verge of death, struck her last match to finally see her beloved grandmother. Miss Luo Ling could achieve the same effect with just a piece of fried rib.

Luo Ling pondered.

Something wasn’t right. She had followed her sister’s stir-frying technique, her sister’s ingredient proportions, her sister’s gas stove settings, and cooking time, replicating everything perfectly.

How could it go wrong?

It shouldn’t have!

“Maybe it’s the weather? Or the kitchen layout? Should the stove be here, and the sink there… Oh right, my sister always cooked at dusk, rarely after sunset, so maybe it’s the time…”

After coming up with countless excuses for her “delicious” meal, Eve, starving, finally snapped.

“Why don’t you just blame it on genetics?!”

“Oh, that’s possible too. Actually, my sister isn’t my biological sister… I don’t even know who my real parents are. Maybe they can’t cook either?”

“Get out.”

Of course, they could only apologize to the ingredients for their unfortunate fate of becoming Miss Luo Ling’s culinary victims, then discard the food.

After a night of torment, what was supposed to be a memorable culinary experience became a memorable experience of a different kind. They vowed to never let Miss Luo Ling near the kitchen again.

The next day, after her initial “victory,” Eve, for some reason, was eager to lead another commission. Cen Xiangyun, figuring free labor was free labor, agreed.

This time, they brought Elsa along. Luo Ling, having received an invitation from the Fate Society, was absent again.

After parting ways with the others, whose expressions were a mix of complexity and lingering fear, Luo Ling took her Fate Society ID and token, preparing to head to the designated location.

“But, they said the petals would be beneficial… I don’t feel anything.”

Luo Ling touched her forehead. Although there was nothing there now, she could still sense the faint outline of the amethyst flower.

Perhaps the benefits would manifest during combat.

Composing herself, Luo Ling opened the address given by the Fate Society and was surprised.

“…Victoria Opera House?”

As Victoria’s most famous landmark, Luo Ling was, of course, familiar with it. Lu Manqing had suggested taking photos there, but they deemed it too far.

Located in the Elizabeth district, closest to the royal palace, it was seven districts away from the Wellington district, practically across half of Victoria.

…That was quite a distance. Even by carriage, it would take a day.

“I should have left last night.”

Luo Ling couldn’t afford a carriage, and her abilities… coincidentally, none were suitable for travel.

Perhaps she could try sprinting in her Grotesquery form…

No, she shouldn’t use her Grotesquery form unless absolutely necessary.

Just as Luo Ling was pondering her options, a clear, girlish voice called out,

“Stop, stop… Miss, are you a ‘Diviner’?”

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling turned to see a carriage nearby. A young woman in a wide-brimmed hat peeked out, her eyes shining as she looked at her.

She wore an emerald green court dress, likely a noblewoman, but her movements weren’t particularly ladylike, though not as unrestrained as Eve.

Luo Ling glanced at the hourglass pendant filled with sparkling blue sand she was wearing. It was the Fate Society’s token, and “Diviner” was their self-proclaimed title.

“Sort of.”

Luo Ling nodded.

“Wow…”

The young lady’s eyes widened further as she attempted to step out of the carriage.

But her whalebone corset hindered her, and she nearly tumbled out.

The coachman, startled, rushed to help her. But the girl the young lady called “Diviner” had already appeared beside the carriage, gently catching her.

“Be careful.”

Luo Ling said calmly, brushing off the dust from the young lady’s dress.

“My lady…”

The coachman arrived, but the young lady ignored him completely.

“You appeared beside me so quickly! Is that your special power? Wow, so cool…”

“…Just a bit faster than usual, not a special power.”

Luo Ling was speechless, but she could tell that this young lady was an ordinary person.

In Victoria, most ordinary people could perceive some abilities and Grotesqueries, though it still carried the risk of mental instability.

But this was the first time Luo Ling had encountered someone so enthusiastic.

“Diviner Miss, Diviner Miss, can you teach me your special power? I’ll pay any price!”

The young lady clung to Luo Ling, her big green eyes filled with hope.

“Special powers can’t be taught… wait, I can teach you a little, but there’s a condition.”

Luo Ling had intended to refuse, but seeing the carriage, an idea came to mind.

She couldn’t teach her abilities, nor could she awaken an ordinary person without aptitude, but she could let her use her abilities a few times.

However, out of caution, Luo Ling wouldn’t let her use anything too extraordinary.

Some simple telekinesis or clairvoyance would suffice, which she could achieve using her spores.

“Really?” The young lady blinked, overjoyed. “Okay, okay! Any condition! My family is rich!”

This was the first time she had encountered a Diviner willing to teach her special powers. Everyone else had refused.

“My lady…”

The coachman’s face fell, glaring at Luo Ling.

He considered her a charlatan. He knew a bit about “Diviners,” understanding that their abilities were innate, not something ordinary people could learn.

“I don’t need money. Just lend me your carriage to Victoria Opera House.”

Luo Ling pointed at the carriage, saving herself the travel expenses.

“Huh?”

Both the young lady and the coachman were stunned.

“How about… something else?”

The young lady asked tentatively.

“This way, Miss.”

The coachman, however, readily invited Luo Ling into the carriage.

“Alright.”

Luo Ling was puzzled by their contrasting reactions, but it didn’t matter. Reaching her destination was more important.

The young lady reluctantly boarded the carriage, but the thought of learning special powers made her giggle.

“Can we go faster? I have an appointment.” Luo Ling asked.

“…Few people have said that to me.” The coachman’s eyes sharpened, giving Luo Ling a thumbs-up. “Just you wait.”

During the journey, Luo Ling learned that the young lady’s name was Odeletta, and her family wasn’t a ducal family of Victoria, but one of the Grand Dukes of the Germanic region.

However, the relationships between the royalty and nobility of these regions were… complex. They could all trace their ancestry back to common relatives, so even in Victoria, their treatment was similar.

The reason Odeletta was reluctant to go to the Victoria Opera House was because her family’s castle was in the Elizabeth district, where the opera house was located.

Going there meant going home, and she was currently running away from home…

So, it was understandable.

Luo Ling was amused by this young lady’s childishness. In her own time, girls her age would be buried under the pressure of college entrance exams.

Well, not really. Given Odeletta’s status, she likely didn’t face such pressure.

In exchange, Luo Ling “taught” her how to use abilities.

Except, it was Luo Ling’s abilities.

Luo Ling took out three strands of silver-white hair from her White Witch form and discreetly attached them to the back of Odeletta’s head, allowing her to briefly experience clairvoyance.

Although it felt like copyright infringement, and a certain Mr. Sun might protest, it was undeniably effective.

Odeletta immediately started exclaiming in surprise. Even after Luo Ling deactivated the effect, she pestered her to teach her more.

Of course, Luo Ling refused. Too much exposure to such things could drive an ordinary person insane. She told Odeletta that she could only use it three times, finally quieting her down.

The day passed quickly. As the sun began to set, Luo Ling finally arrived at her destination: the Victoria Opera House, located in the heart of Victoria’s most prosperous district, Elizabeth.

Odeletta reluctantly parted ways with Luo Ling, dragged home by her coachman, her runaway adventure concluded.

The surrounding streets were filled with luxurious carriages and elegantly dressed nobles. Luo Ling’s somewhat masculine suit was unusual, let alone the fact that she was a lone young woman.

However, her necklace quickly caught the attention of several attendants, who approached and bowed respectfully.

“Esteemed Diviner, is this your first time at the opera house?”

“Yes, how did you know?” Luo Ling took out her ID. “I’m looking for this…”

She noticed that the attendants also wore similar IDs.

Just without the token.

“Because you seem unaware,” the attendants replied respectfully, “that the Victoria Opera House belongs to the Fate Society.”

……

“I apologize for summoning you in this manner, Miss Luo Ling.”

Fiona, in a lavender evening gown, sat beside Luo Ling. Beside her tall and elegant figure, even Luo Ling seemed petite.

On stage, opera singers performed, the audience below captivated.

Of course, some were asleep.

The melodious singing and elegant classical music created a refined atmosphere, though Luo Ling wasn’t particularly fond of it.

“Just tell me what you need.” Luo Ling asked.

“…Miss Luo Ling is very straightforward.”

Fiona observed Luo Ling’s impassive expression.

“I hear that often.” Luo Ling shrugged.

“Alright, then I’ll get straight to the point. This is a request that cannot be known by the Company.” Fiona took a deep breath. “I know your identity is special, and you have many friends in the Company, but this request must remain absolutely confidential. I’m willing to pay extra for your discretion.”

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling’s interest was piqued. A secret the Company couldn’t know?

“The Company values your suspected status as a Seventh Path Awakened One, but I don’t. I’ve always valued your ability to freely traverse the Realm of Nothingness.” Fiona said gravely. “I need you to find something in the Realm of Nothingness. There might be no results… but the payment remains the same.”

“Alright, go on.” Luo Ling nodded.

Fiona paused, then slowly explained,

“Four years ago, Victoria experienced its seventy-fourth Boundary collapse. But it was a strange collapse. There were no unusual Grotesquery incidents, no warning signs. It just happened suddenly. No one was prepared.

“Two districts lost a third and a quarter of their area, respectively, becoming part of the Realm of Nothingness. Unfortunately, one of our elite teams, consisting of six eighth-order Awakened Ones, was on a mission in that area. After the collapse, we lost contact… their fate is unknown, but they’re likely deceased.

“This was the Fate Society’s most devastating loss, a wound that hasn’t healed.

“We tried asking the Company for help, but they refused, claiming the Realm of Nothingness was too dangerous. But my intuition tells me there’s more to it. The Company is profit-driven. They possess Sacred Tools that allow brief travel within the Realm of Nothingness. Simple reconnaissance shouldn’t be a problem, yet they still refused.

“Until you appeared, Miss Luo Ling. Now… you’re our only hope.”

Fiona looked at Luo Ling pleadingly,

“To avoid arousing the Company’s suspicion, we’ve never shown any interest in the Realm of Nothingness, not even when you first joined. We waited until the Company’s attention shifted away from you.

“Now the Company has assessed you as a Judgment path Awakened One, with a higher inclination towards the Sin and Thorn path, essentially ruling out the possibility of you being a Seventh Path Awakened One.

“I even invited you here specifically. The Victoria Opera House is the Fate Society’s headquarters, completely shielded from the Company’s surveillance.

“Our request isn’t complicated. If you can find them and bring them back… that would be ideal. But if not, even some of their belongings would be enough.

“Even if you find nothing, our gratitude won’t diminish. So, Miss Luo Ling… will you accept?”

A Boundary collapse four years ago.

Luo Ling thought of Iris’s Kingdom, a peaceful and tranquil dusk.

Yet, during that very dusk, Victoria experienced a Boundary collapse.

Why?

And the Company’s attitude towards this collapse seemed strange.

Perhaps Luo Ling had found the perfect location to “rewrite reality.”

However, recalling the leader’s cryptic words yesterday…

“Such an opportunity will present itself soon.”

Luo Ling felt a surge of irritation.

“I don’t want to get involved in your conflict with the Company, but if it’s just rescuing people or retrieving their belongings… I can accept. But I can’t guarantee success, please understand.” Luo Ling replied.

Fiona sighed in relief. This was indeed the Fate Society asking for Luo Ling’s help. The initiative was in her hands.

As long as she agreed, it was enough.

“Of course.” Fiona smiled. “Do you need any support? Equipment? Or Sacred Medicine? Anything within the Fate Society’s capabilities, I’ll do my best to fulfill your request.”

Luo Ling thought for a moment, then recalled her current predicament.

After a moment of contemplation, she asked,

“Can the Fate Society access the Taboo Slate?”

“Huh? Isn’t the Taboo Slate public…”

“I mean, see the original.”

Fiona frowned slightly.

“In that case… the Speakers should be able to. I owe a favor to a Speaker, which I can transfer to you. However, I must warn you, it’s a bit of a waste. It’s meaningless.

“Since it’s such a minor request, Miss Luo Ling, I’ll also offer you a High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Tool.”

Chapter Twenty: A New Transaction

The commission ended fruitlessly for the team. Fortunately, they hadn’t lost anything… except for Eve’s pride. She remained unusually quiet on the way back.

The team didn’t mind. They could simply take on another commission.

However, Cen Xiangyun wondered if she should be the one choosing the next mission… Miss Eve didn’t seem like a very reliable senior.

The only one who gained anything was Luo Ling. Having received all the information from Educator, a faint smile played on her lips, her steps lighter than usual.

“It seems he’s really eager to disengage…”

Relying on ordinary people was definitely not the most crucial part of the Harbingers’ plan. His eagerness to withdraw was understandable.

But Luo Ling hadn’t expected him to hand over the entire operation without even waiting for Felix to take control of a few churches first.

This was beneficial for Luo Ling. The number of churches didn’t matter. She could simply refine the wicked priests into “Lambs” and find a place to settle the sacrificed saints. She had no concerns about losing control.

These matters could be entrusted to Alyssa and the black-robed priests. Luo Ling didn’t even need to be involved.

All she needed to do was offer a small portion of the Grotesquery power converted from refining the “Lambs” during the sacrifices to “Philosopher.”

“However, this information also includes… interesting.”

After providing all the church information, Educator had inadvertently revealed another crucial piece of information… Of course, he might have been aware of it, but assumed ordinary people wouldn’t notice, so he was careless.

It was a non-mandatory requirement for the sacrifices… the “Forbidden Puppets.”

In other words, they should prioritize finding “Forbidden Puppets” meeting these specific conditions.

Currently, all churches were sacrificing to Philosopher. This strongly suggested the Path of Philosopher’s Authority, “Traveler.”

This hadn’t appeared in previous church sacrifices. Educator, trusting Felix, had relayed these requirements.

Too bad, too bad…

“Even soul-searching isn’t foolproof. Even memories can deceive.”

This was the true terror of a complete High-Risk Grotesquery. Even their corresponding Apostles or Agents couldn’t achieve this level of deception.

“Judging by these non-mandatory requirements, the Path of ‘Traveler’ should be… This Life.”

Luo Ling fell silent.

If she had to choose the Paths she disliked the most, Other Shore and This Life would definitely be on the list.

Glimpsing the future, revisiting the past, altering the present, reversing causality… these were the abilities of Other Shore and This Life.

And due to the nature of their abilities, they were almost all cryptic.

Furthermore, unlike other Paths, Other Shore and This Life weren’t opposites. They were parallel paths, one wielded by Awakened Ones, the other by Grotesqueries.

This Life Grotesqueries were rare and generally harmless to humans. Some Awakened Ones even believed that This Life Grotesqueries shouldn’t be classified as Grotesqueries, but merely “anomalies.”

“However, what kind of This Life Authority could instantly annihilate several cities…”

Luo Ling recalled the massacres attributed to Philosopher in the Company files, lost in thought.

Regardless, she now had some information on “Traveler.”

“I’ve noticed… Miss Luo Ling seems to enjoy smiling like that recently.”

Lu Manqing leaned down, her gaze level with Luo Ling’s, a playful smile on her lips.

“Do you also find Miss Eve’s immediate backtracking after her boasting amusing?”

Eve, already embarrassed, stiffened, quickening her pace.

It was bad enough without being mentioned, mentioning it only added to her humiliation.

And that “also”… meant this little minx had been watching her suffer!

Eve finally understood how Cen Xiangyun felt… This little brat!

“…I never said that.”

Luo Ling knew that Lu Manqing was simply using her to tease Eve.

Just then, she felt a warmth on her forehead.

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling paused, realizing that this was the signal for the tea party.

So soon?

It had only been half a month since the last tea party. Could there be new information already?

Or perhaps, some unforeseen event?

And, what a coincidence…

She had just obtained some information on “Traveler,” and the tea party was immediately convened?

Luo Ling thought it might be a coincidence, but considering the enigmatic leader, she wasn’t so sure.

“You guys go to the Company. I just remembered something I need to do back at the apartment.” Luo Ling stopped and said. “Elsa, let’s go back together.”

“Should we wait for you before taking on the next commission?” Cen Xiangyun asked.

She didn’t ask what Luo Ling needed to do. Adults had their secrets.

Minors were no exception.

“No need.”

Luo Ling shook her head.

After confirming that Sacred Medicine was less effective than nibbling on a sapling, she had lost interest in the Company’s low-level commissions.

If it were a commission offering some unique item, she might be interested.

Everyone knew that Elsa and Luo Ling were practically inseparable, perhaps because they were among the few minors in the team, or even the entire Company, so no one found it strange.

Thus, they parted ways.

Back at the apartment, Luo Ling asked Elsa to keep watch as she prepared to enter the lost Kingdom.

Constantly disappearing for periods of time was too conspicuous. Occasionally changing her method of disappearance was more prudent.

She brought Elsa back to avoid bumping into the others if they returned to the apartment while she was gone.

Stroking Elsa’s soft, fluffy red hair, Luo Ling closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was surrounded by endless swirling grey fog.

Moments later, the fog dispersed, and the familiar grey garden appeared before her.

But unexpectedly, only one figure, shrouded in the mystical veil, sat elegantly at the head of the table.

“Amethyst, you’ve finally arrived.”

The leader’s distorted voice was as elegant as ever, yet somehow, warmer than before.

Perhaps because the other tea party members weren’t present?

“Where are the others? Did they leave after the meeting, or are they late?”

Luo Ling approached and sat down in her previous seat.

“There are no others, Amethyst.” The leader said slowly. “This tea party is just for the two of us.”

Luo Ling, barely settled, stood up again.

“Why so nervous?”

The leader seemed to be smiling, though it was hard to tell.

“No…”

Luo Ling wondered if the leader had summoned her specifically because she knew she had obtained information on “Traveler.”

In that case, wasn’t she constantly under the leader’s surveillance?

More importantly, Luo Ling hadn’t obtained the information through conventional means, but through her Puppet Ballad abilities.

If the leader could even monitor that, how terrifying was she?

“You can sit closer. We’re alone.”

“No need…”

The more Luo Ling thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, suspecting that the leader was deliberately toying with her, her expression turning guarded.

As if finding Luo Ling’s cat-like wariness endearing, the leader’s smile widened.

“Very well, as you wish.”

However, to Luo Ling, the leader’s smile seemed more malicious than kind.

Luo Ling calmed herself and sat down again.

“Actually, Amethyst, this isn’t a formal tea party. I simply wanted to discuss something with you.” The leader shifted slightly, leaning forward, her gaze fixed on Luo Ling. “Something you might be interested in.”

“What do I need to offer in exchange?” Luo Ling asked calmly.

There was no such thing as a free lunch. There were only transactions at the tea party. The leader had said so herself.

Instead of directly addressing her knowledge, the leader used something that piqued her interest as a bargaining chip.

As expected, the leader knew.

Having confirmed this, Luo Ling’s anxiety subsided.

“Offer what you possess.” The leader’s intense gaze made Luo Ling uncomfortable. “However, this time… I’ll tell you first.

“Because I know, Amethyst, you’ll be willing to make the trade.”

Hearing this, Luo Ling wanted to be contrary, but circumstances didn’t allow it.

For some reason, the leader always spoke with an air of “I know you’ll agree,” and she always did.

She would find an opportunity to defy her one day, telling her, “But I refuse!”

Thinking this, Luo Ling nodded reluctantly.

“Go ahead.”

“Actually, I can’t directly tell you the truth about the Realm of Nothingness. It’s a concept that defies words.” The leader’s expression turned serious. “Some things, you need to experience firsthand to understand.

“For example, the collapse of a Boundary.”

The collapse of a Boundary led to the birth of the Realm of Nothingness. This was common knowledge among high-ranking Awakened Ones, but their understanding of the Realm of Nothingness was limited to that.

“You mean, I have to experience a Boundary collapse?” Luo Ling frowned. “But I don’t want to cause one.”

She could certainly do it. If a Grotesquery’s influence on the present world reached a certain threshold, it would trigger a Boundary collapse. But doing so would cause the deaths of many innocent people.

Admittedly, during a Boundary collapse, most people would simply be shifted to a previous era along with the collapsing Boundary. Their cognition, memories, and surroundings would also revert to that era.

But this process could trigger unpredictable chain reactions.

Like the butterfly effect.

And Boundary annihilation was the most terrifying outcome. Everyone within the current Boundary would perish, everything ceasing to exist, the location forever becoming a part of the Realm of Nothingness.

Therefore, asking Luo Ling to trigger a Boundary collapse was akin to asking her to deliberately cause a catastrophe with unknown consequences.

“Such a personality is rare among Naraku Godchosen… no, unheard of.” The leader said, her tone laced with intrigue.

After a moment, she continued, “Of course, you don’t need to trigger one yourself. Aren’t there plenty of ready-made examples in Victoria? Seventy-six, to be exact.”

“Previous collapses?” Luo Ling asked, puzzled, then shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“You possess remarkable talent, something a Naraku Godchosen shouldn’t possess. Yet, you also possess remarkable ignorance, something a Naraku Godchosen shouldn’t lack.” The leader said mysteriously. “So, if you are truly different from other Naraku Godchosen, in essence, you should be able to do it.

“You should be able to… ‘rewrite reality’.”

Luo Ling remained silent.

“I thought you’d be more surprised.” The leader raised an eyebrow.

“I thought you’d say something more surprising.”

Luo Ling had already suspected that other Naraku Godchosen couldn’t use “Ensnare” when she obtained this new ability.

Scientist’s state was the norm for Naraku Godchosen.

Oh, that explained why they were universally despised.

“Heh.” The leader chuckled noncommittally. “You can try it. Don’t you want to know why there have been so many Boundary collapses in Victoria?”

Isn’t it because of you Grotesqueries and your followers?

Luo Ling thought silently, but didn’t say it aloud.

“You should witness it firsthand. Such an opportunity will present itself soon.” The leader said meaningfully, then relaxed slightly. “Tell me, Amethyst, what intriguing information have you brought for me?”

“The Path of ‘Traveler’ is This Life.”

“One petal.”

They answered almost simultaneously. The leader flicked her finger, sending a beam of light towards Luo Ling. She felt a warmth on her forehead as a petal appeared on the blank amethyst flower.

“Anything else?”

The leader asked eagerly.

“…I don’t think so.”

Luo Ling was dumbfounded. She knew this information might not be that important, but the leader’s reaction… it seemed almost perfunctory.

She had received a petal without any further discussion, as if the leader had deemed it a fair exchange.

…Well, Luo Ling herself didn’t think it was worth much.

At least the leader had pointed out a potential use for “Ensnare,” a very useful one, which was quite important to her.

“Oh.” The leader looked slightly disappointed. “Then you still owe me one piece of information. Bring it to me next time, remember, something that interests me.”

She emphasized the word “me.”

“Um…”

Luo Ling didn’t know how to respond, simply nodding.

What did the leader like?

No, why should she try to guess the leader’s preferences?

She should just ask.

As Luo Ling was about to speak, the leader said softly,

“The tea party is over.”

The next moment, the swirling grey fog surged forward, and the lost Kingdom vanished.

“…”

Luo Ling rarely felt the urge to curse.

Seriously, boss, could you be more specific? What are you interested in? So I can get it for you!

Even if it’s the stars in the sky or the moon in the sea, you have to tell me, right?

Suddenly, Luo Ling empathized with Cen Xiangyun’s constant complaints about their superiors. In this moment, she was Cen Xiangyun.

Everyone laughed at Cen Xiangyun, everyone was Cen Xiangyun.

Touching her cooled forehead, Luo Ling smiled wryly.

Well, she would have to wait until the next tea party to ask any further questions. After all, communication with the leader and the other tea party members was one-way.

However, observing a previous Boundary collapse through “rewriting reality”?

Luo Ling pondered how to achieve this without affecting the present world.

“Miss Luo Ling, you’re back?” Elsa peeked out from behind the door. “You were gone for a while. It’s already evening. Miss Cen and the others have returned from their commission.”

“Oh?”

Luo Ling was surprised. Had it been that long?

It seemed that time flowed differently within the Kingdom and the present world.

But it didn’t matter now.

“Also, they said someone from the Company is looking for you. I think it was…”

Elsa frowned, trying to remember, then clapped her hands. “Right, it’s someone from the Fate Society!”

“Fate Society.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Another employer?”

Luo Ling glanced at the three employee IDs hanging by the bed. She was nominally an employee of the Fate Society… or rather, a “Diviner.”

However, she was more familiar with the Company, and the other two organizations didn’t require her services for now, so she hadn’t bothered clocking in.

“Did they say what it was about?”

“No…”

Elsa shook her head vigorously.

“I’ll check tomorrow.”

Luo Ling patted Elsa’s head, the little red-haired girl’s cuteness lifting her spirits. “Come on, I’ll cook tonight. I’ll let you taste my cooking!”

“Really?! I’ve never had Miss Luo Ling’s cooking before!”

“Heh heh, you’re in for a treat. I learned a few tricks from my sister. It’ll be delicious!”

Chapter Nineteen: Victim and Perpetrator

“Just ten kilometers away.”

A heavy silence hung over the team as they walked through the slum.

Eve walked ahead in silence, not her first time witnessing such scenes. She had seen enough to become almost numb.

The others were equally silent. Even Lu Manqing had put down her camera, her gaze lowered, lost in thought.

The surrounding scene starkly contrasted with the district just ten kilometers away. Only one thing was ubiquitous… suffering.

Even the words “heaven” and “hell” couldn’t adequately describe the disparity.

Only now did they realize what kind of era they lived in.

Even in the most prosperous cities, such places existed, hidden from the light.

Although they had changed into simple, coarse clothing before arriving, they still appeared wealthy and privileged to the people here.

The refugees huddled in corners, observing them furtively. Their gazes, filled with a mix of emotions, held no hint of aggression.

The others found nothing strange about this, but Luo Ling, possessing Alyssa’s memories, knew the reason…

“Respectable” people appearing in the slum for no reason were usually patrol officers. They couldn’t afford to offend them.

Otherwise, this wasn’t a place known for its kindness.

However, as they approached the church, the number of refugees increased, their gazes turning hostile.

Eve was the first to notice this anomaly, but she only frowned.

As she continued forward, the ragged refugees began to surround them.

Most were elderly, their grey hair and beards matted with dirt, their frail legs trembling, yet their hands clutched stones or broken wood, closing in on Eve and the others.

“Move aside!”

Eve shouted, reaching for her waist as if drawing a sword.

She didn’t want to harm these impoverished people, hoping to scare them off.

At the same time, she felt puzzled. According to the file, this cult shouldn’t have many followers, only a hundred or two.

But the number of hostile refugees surrounding them far exceeded that.

Could the number of followers have multiplied so rapidly in just half a month?

Even Luo Ling was surprised. After handling Educator’s request, she had left Alyssa to her own devices.

Luo Ling didn’t constantly monitor her creations, nor could she. Although she wouldn’t be assimilated by their memories, constantly experiencing someone else’s memories and emotions felt strange.

Especially as Alyssa, hearing Stasha call her “sister” every time they met evoked complex emotions.

Luo Ling knew that Alyssa had been a nun before ending up in the slums, but she hadn’t expected her to gather so many followers in such a short time.

The surrounding refugees grew restless.

Perhaps Eve’s words and actions had revealed her identity as a patrol officer, here to destroy the “Church of Light.”

These refugees were well-informed. Several cult hideouts had been destroyed by Company employees recently, and rumors were rampant.

Although the believers believed that the “Church of Light” was fundamentally different from other cults, they couldn’t be sure if the patrol officers would treat them the same, destroying the church and killing all the priests.

Therefore, when Eve and her team appeared, some believers had already sent out warnings.

The furtive glances along the way had been lookouts.

As they approached the church, the assembled believers, despite their fear and the knowledge of potential repercussions, clutched their makeshift weapons, ready to defend their church.

Despite surrounding Eve and the others, the believers remained apprehensive. But as someone shouted, “Protect the Saint!”, they seemed to gain strength, their eyes filled with fervor, casting aside all hesitation and pressing forward, almost frenzied.

“Protect the Church! Protect the Saint!”

Hysterical cries echoed, unnerving everyone, even Luo Ling.

“Did… I cause this?”

A strange sense of guilt washed over her.

“Miss Eve, what should we do?”

Cen Xiangyun whispered, moving closer to Eve.

She had drawn a small handgun, but the sheer number of people surrounding them made it seem inadequate.

Unless absolutely necessary, Awakened Ones couldn’t use their abilities against ordinary people, especially her easily recognizable ability. The Company would punish her.

Judgment path Awakened Ones could perhaps claim to possess natural strength…

“Stay calm.”

Eve said gravely, putting on her gloves.

Other offices might handle this situation more tactfully, but she was from Wellington.

If necessary, they would fight their way out, then have Lu Manqing heal the injured.

She wore gloves to minimize the damage from her punches, at least reducing the pain.

Just as Eve prepared to fight, the agitated crowd suddenly fell silent.

As Eve and the others looked on in confusion, the refugees lowered their weapons and prostrated themselves before an unassuming, frail figure.

“May the Lord forgive your transgressions.”

She spoke softly, her unremarkable voice possessing a soothing quality, as if cleansing their souls.

Eve looked up, her expression turning strange.

It was a woman in a wheelchair, pushed by a thin little girl.

Her eyes were covered by a grey cloth, her legs limp and lifeless.

Although her clothes were unusually clean for the slum, she looked no different from the other refugees.

The woman wasn’t particularly beautiful or well-built, yet she possessed a unique aura that drew everyone’s attention.

As one of the two individuals specifically mentioned in the file, Eve recognized her instantly. But the problem was…

“Saint Alyssa, shouldn’t she be the victim?”

The recently discovered cult hideouts were all similar, consisting of one or several saints and a group of amateur priests.

These priests were considered amateurs because they couldn’t even formulate a proper doctrine, relying solely on coercion and bribery to build their cults.

If that were all, it would be considered an illegal gathering at most, and the Company wouldn’t bother, at most reporting it to the Victorian authorities through unofficial channels.

The authorities were even less likely to intervene. The patrol officers didn’t want to interact with these “filthy lower-class people.”

However, these cults had somehow gained access to Grotesquery powers, prompting the Company’s intervention.

The saints usually served as sacrificial offerings. In previous operations, less than twenty percent of the saints found were still alive, and most of them were permanently disabled.

Saint Alyssa seemed to be in a similar situation, but… why was she the object of worship?

Just then, several black-robed priests arrived, kneeling at Saint Alyssa’s feet and saying in unison,

“Forgive us, Saint!”

Eve was utterly bewildered.

She could perhaps explain the previous situation by claiming this church was unique, but… what was going on with these priests?

This had never happened in previous cases!

She even saw Cult Leader Felix among them, his face filled with fear as he looked at Saint Alyssa, as if truly fearing her wrath.

“Esteemed guests, why have you come here?”

Saint Alyssa smiled at Eve, her blind eyes seemingly burning with an intense gaze.

Eve was speechless. She wasn’t eloquent, and the other party’s politeness made it difficult to declare her intention to kill them.

Besides, the Saint wasn’t their target. They were supposed to rescue her.

Perhaps through these sacrificed saints, they could deduce how these cults obtained Grotesquery powers.

But in this situation, forget rescuing her, she was clearly the boss!

“We received a report about a cult here, so we’re here to eradicate it.”

Cen Xiangyun, ever reliable, stepped forward.

Upon hearing the word “cult,” the believers grew restless again, some reaching for their weapons, glaring at Cen Xiangyun.

Cen Xiangyun’s scalp tingled, but she stood her ground.

“A cult?” Alyssa chuckled softly. “If our church is a cult… then so is the state religion of Victoria.”

She took out a small booklet and tossed it to Eve.

Eve caught it, flipped through it, and her expression turned even stranger.

“Damn it…”

“What’s wrong?”

“At least from this doctrine, it seems quite orthodox.” Eve said, exhaling.

As a Victoria native, she followed the state religion. Although not devout, she was familiar with some of its scriptures.

This doctrine, however, was far more profound than her understanding, yet written in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, clearly the work of a clergyman with deep insights.

Judging by this doctrine, the Church of Light could be considered a branch of the state religion.

“Is it that impressive?”

Luo Ling asked, peeking at the booklet.

“In this place… it’s like bringing a gun to a knife fight.”

Eve put the booklet away. It was key evidence, regardless of the outcome, she had to bring it back to the Company.

Almost all churches relied on secular funds to operate. Even disregarding all expenses, the clergy still needed to eat.

This meant that in a place like the slums, where survival itself was a struggle, the emergence of a church was rare.

Even if some selfless clergymen, like the previous owner of this humble church, were willing to spread a glimmer of hope to the suffering masses, it wouldn’t last.

Therefore, the appearance of a true church here was like a game-changer. It was natural for them to gain so many followers in such a short time.

However…

“I don’t recall any rituals involving bodily sacrifice in the state religion.” Eve said gravely, her sharp gaze sweeping over Alyssa’s pitifully mismatched limbs. “Saint Alyssa, your injuries didn’t appear out of thin air, did they?”

“It’s our fault, esteemed patrol officers!”

Before Alyssa could answer, the black-robed priests cried out.

Their faces filled with remorse, they beat their chests and wailed,

“If we hadn’t been deceived by the evil god, ignoring the Saint’s teachings, insisting on sacrificing her flesh, she wouldn’t have lost her eyes and legs!”

“Thanks to the Saint’s guidance, we finally saw the light and returned to the true Lord!”

“If you must punish someone, punish us! Spare the Saint!”

Alyssa waved them off and continued,

“After several failed sacrifices, they finally realized that it was an evil god. Now they have repented and returned to the embrace of our Lord.”

…Could they not repent?

Luo Ling couldn’t help but retort inwardly. They had been completely reformed.

She hadn’t expected Alyssa to handle them so easily.

Even possessing Alyssa’s memories and emotions, Luo Ling wasn’t Alyssa herself. She couldn’t have achieved this.

The current Alyssa could be considered an AI loaded with Alyssa’s memories and emotions. Not the real person, but practically indistinguishable.

Eve was stunned, one unexpected turn of events after another.

She took a few deep breaths and removed her gloves.

“What now?”

Cen Xiangyun asked.

“What now? We go back!” Eve said exasperatedly.

What else could she do? The cult they were supposed to eradicate had repented!

The Company’s purpose in targeting these cults was to prevent ordinary people from accessing Grotesquery powers.

The Church of Light’s previous sacrifices had failed, and they had ceased such practices. The Company wouldn’t bother with them now.

Religious disputes were a matter for ordinary people. The Company wouldn’t interfere.

“So, we’ve… completed the commission?” Luo Ling blinked.

“I think we have, but the Company probably won’t see it that way.” Eve said impassively. “It will likely be marked as an invalid commission, and we won’t get any rewards.”

She had thought a low-level commission would be easy, yet after all her bragging, it ended in such an unexpected and embarrassing failure.

“What about this church…”

“If the state religion finds out, they might even fund it.”

“Oh.”

Luo Ling was relieved.

But the others weren’t. They didn’t care about the church, but this commission…

For the first time, they understood what Eve meant by “invalid overtime.”

Today, they had just wasted a trip, but next time… it might be worse.

“We’ve intruded enough. Let’s get out of here.”

Eve waved her hand and turned to leave.

The others, after a moment of hesitation, followed, surprised by Eve’s decisiveness.

The refugees parted, allowing them to pass, watching them leave.

“Sister…”

Stasha was still afraid. She had seen the weapons they carried and knew they were patrol officers.

She had seen patrol officers in the city many times. Even the teachers spoke of them with fear.

So, Stasha was afraid they would suddenly attack.

But the situation seemed fine for now…

“It’s alright, Stasha.” Alyssa gently squeezed Stasha’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

“Okay.”

The frail little girl pushed the blind saint, under the reverent gazes of the believers, towards home.

Moments later, a translucent figure materialized, seemingly invisible to the surrounding believers. Only Felix, the black-robed priest, looked up and said fearfully,

“Greetings, Educator.”

“…Phew, good thing they weren’t eradicated.”

Educator sighed in relief, then looked at the direction the team had left with apprehension.

He hadn’t been paying attention here, not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.

He couldn’t risk exposing any connection between the Harbingers and the church. It would jeopardize the entire plan. So, even though he was optimistic about the Church of Light, he couldn’t intervene.

He didn’t even dare to glance their way while the Company team was present.

“Educator, do you have any further instructions?”

Felix asked nervously.

Educator glanced at him and extended his hand.

Felix’s eyes widened, rolling back in his head.

After a moment of convulsing, Educator withdrew his hand.

“Very good.”

Educator’s face paled slightly. Searching someone’s memories in such a short time wasn’t easy, even with the help of a Sacred Tool.

Whether to confirm if Felix had been infiltrated or if he himself was a problem, soul-searching was the most direct and effective method.

However, it took a toll on Educator, so he rarely used it.

After the soul-searching, he could finally trust Felix.

“This is a map of all the churches.” Educator waved his hand, sending a map and its marked locations into Felix’s mind. “Your next task is to take control of all the churches and proceed as instructed.

“I will be in seclusion for three months. After three months, I expect to see the results I desire.”

Chapter Eighteen: Naraku’s First Ability, Fighting Myself?

The investigation into the White Witch incident continued intensely for half a month, yet no organization could find any trace of her, let alone her unknown Agent.

Eve, who had planned to lead Luo Ling’s team on another commission, was unfortunately drafted into the search. After days of relentless work, not only was she constantly working overtime, but she hadn’t achieved any results, failing to meet any of her OKRs.

However, this had little to do with the newbie team. With their strength, if they encountered the White Witch’s Agent, they wouldn’t even qualify as cannon fodder.

Of course, this was just on paper.

Except for the straightforward Cen Xiangyun, even Lu Manqing concealed some of her true abilities. Although she hadn’t revealed anything, Luo Ling had sensed something during their encounter with the memory predicament.

She was definitely more than just a healer.

The Company’s efficiency was undeniably low. Long after Cen Xiangyun and the others received their points, Luo Ling finally received her commission reward: three bottles of third-order Sacred Medicine.

One contained a purplish-brown liquid, another blue capsules, and the last, a rather grotesque, black finger-like object.

Cen Xiangyun had explained that different alchemists had different habits, resulting in the Company’s diverse collection of Sacred Medicines.

“Myriad, Judgment, Elemental… truly random. As expected of the Company, randomly selecting the three most common Paths…”

Order, Other Shore, and Oneiric Sacred Relics were relatively rare, with Order being the most scarce. Thus, the advancement of Order path Awakened Ones was always slow.

Seeing Sacred Medicine for the first time, Luo Ling examined them based on her Grotesquery identity.

“Although derived from Grotesquery Sacred Relics, there’s no trace of Grotesquery aura. It’s been converted into the corresponding Path’s power through some method. I wonder what would happen if I used it directly, without ‘Devour’…”

Using Sacred Medicine of a different Path wouldn’t provide any insights, only replenishing Inspiration.

Luo Ling opened the first bottle and drank it directly.

She didn’t use “Devour,” instead absorbing the Sacred Medicine like an ordinary Awakened One.

Closing her eyes, she carefully sensed the faint Inspiration from the Sacred Medicine flowing through her body.

Moments later, it vanished without a trace, like a drop in the ocean.

She felt neither replenished Inspiration nor any insights.

“At least I can confirm that I’m not on the Judgment path. But in this case… I can’t even be sure if my original body was an Awakened One.” Luo Ling mused, stroking her chin.

Next, she would try using the “Devour” Authority.

A dark golden glint appeared in Luo Ling’s eyes as she swallowed the capsule and the finger-like Sacred Medicine.

This time, there was a slight reaction. Her dormant Naraku form absorbed the power, growing ever so slightly.

Roughly one ten-thousandth of the power she gained from consuming the sapling.

“‘Devour’ truly accepts anything…”

Luo Ling closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was within her consciousness space.

Pushing open the second door, she saw the alluring, violet-haired woman bound tightly by spider silk, her curvaceous figure still evident.

She was nailed to a cross, purple-black vines with blooming purple flowers entwined around her limbs, as if on the edge of hell.

Her half-closed eyes seemed on the verge of opening, her long lashes adorned with clear dewdrops.

Luo Ling stood before her Naraku form for a while, ensuring it wouldn’t suddenly speak before examining Naraku’s abilities.

The previous confrontation in her consciousness space had left a lasting impression. After all, this was the power of a Taboo. Forming any unclear connection with a Taboo would be disastrous.

[Chaos: Naraku]

[Innate Ability: “Weave” – Unfold the web domain, acquire all predictable information within the domain]

[Points woven into lines, lines woven into a net, within the web… “Naraku” knows all, sees all.]

[First Ability: “Ensnare” – Within the web domain, rewrite a single aspect of reality]

[This is the decree of “Omniscience,” it is reality, and cannot be defied.]

Rewrite reality?

Luo Ling’s fingers trembled slightly.

This was just Naraku’s first ability, and it was already this terrifying?

Compared to the Puppet Ballad’s first ability, “Proliferation,” they weren’t even on the same level.

However, after calming down, she realized that the definition of “reality,” the extent of the rewrite, and its duration were all unspecified. She would have to experiment to find out.

But one thing was certain…

“If this were the true Naraku, the ‘reality’ defined by this ability would be infinite…”

The descriptions of such rule-based abilities were often exaggerated, as were their upper limits. But their actual effects depended on the user’s capabilities.

For instance, An Yu’s ability was “conceptual erasure,” but due to her limited power, the concepts she could erase were few.

Only after her epiphany in Baiyan Village could she utilize it in combat.

“However, that Scientist…”

Luo Ling recalled Scientist’s performance on the train, feeling a pang of pity.

It was clear that Scientist had never successfully stolen Naraku’s Authority.

She was merely a pitiful soul, ensnared by Naraku’s influence, unable to extricate herself. Even if she had escaped, she would likely remain under Naraku’s control for the rest of her life.

Scientist’s so-called “omniscience” failed against beings wielding Authorities, hardly the effect of a Taboo’s power.

She hadn’t even touched upon Naraku’s most basic ability, “Ensnare,” trapped within Naraku’s web, manipulated at its whim.

But this also deepened Luo Ling’s understanding of Naraku’s terrifying power.

“Being targeted by such a being is truly chilling.”

Luo Ling suppressed her thoughts. Regardless, with Naraku’s advancement, she had more bargaining chips at the “tea party.”

The tea party wasn’t a loving family. Even the leader herself had stated that it was a loose organization maintained solely by mutual benefit. To gain something, she needed the capital to negotiate.

After withdrawing from her consciousness space, Luo Ling found several people in the apartment.

Besides Elsa, who had been there all along, Lu Manqing and Cen Xiangyun had also arrived, along with Eve, slumped over the table with a despondent expression.

Eve, her eyes rolling back in her head, muttered, “Overtime, overtime…”

They looked at their senior with pity.

“Oh, my poor Eve, driven to the brink of collapse by the Company’s relentless, unpaid overtime, weeping and wailing, so pitiful.” Lu Manqing propped her chin on her hand, her crescent-shaped eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Shut up!” Eve glared at her. “You’ll experience it too one day! Hmph!”

“Perhaps.”

Lu Manqing simply smiled noncommittally.

Not now, anyway. She would enjoy the moment while she could.

“Damn White Witch!” Eve pounded the table, her delicate features contorted in frustration. “If I find her, I’ll tear her to shreds!”

Luo Ling: “…”

Sorry about that.

“Miss Eve, would you… be a match for the White Witch?” Elsa asked timidly.

“…”

Eve remained silent for a moment, then continued to slump over the table. “Overtime, overtime…”

“The search is over now, isn’t it?” Cen Xiangyun said. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have time to come see us.”

“It’s over, but not completely. A third of the personnel are still on patrol.”

Eve looked exhausted. “Despite the intensive search, there’s been no progress on the White Witch. Instead, we’ve uncovered some minor issues, resulting in more low-level commissions… I used that as an excuse to escape the patrol duty.”

“Hmm?”

Cen Xiangyun perked up. Eve had mentioned leading them on another commission. She wouldn’t refuse free labor.

Personnel at Eve’s P6 level were considered the backbone of the Company. P7s were already team leaders.

So, P6s rarely accepted low-level commissions. The rewards were paltry, and there was little opportunity for growth.

Especially for a Judgment path Awakened One like Eve, combat was the best way to improve.

Eve had led Luo Ling’s newbie team because of a direct order from her superiors, receiving a separate reward.

This time, however, she was volunteering.

Although exploiting a senior who had just endured a period of unpaid overtime made the shy Cen Xiangyun feel slightly guilty… well, it was free labor.

“Have you… heard of cults?” Eve asked, scratching the back of her head. “You know, those who engage in unorthodox practices, strange rituals and sacrifices…”

“I have a general idea.” Cen Xiangyun nodded.

Luo Ling’s brow twitched, a bad premonition washing over her.

“The recent searches have uncovered several such cults around Victoria… Ordinary cults are fine, but these seem to be involved with Awakened One matters. Since ordinary people are involved, they’re more troublesome to handle. So, the main force simply recorded their locations, posting them as low-level commissions in the Company.”

Eve pulled out a file and continued, “Coincidentally, there’s one near your apartment. Here, about ten kilometers away. We’ll go and deal with it quickly, then we can still catch the second half of the evening.”

Looking at the address in the file, Luo Ling fell silent.

“Isn’t this Alyssa’s slum…”

After handling Educator’s request, Luo Ling had entrusted Saint Alyssa with her memories and emotions, allowing her to act independently. Although just an empty shell, at least… it allowed her sister, Stasha, to believe that she was still alive.

In other words, autopilot mode.

She hadn’t expected Eve’s first chosen commission to be eradicating the base she had painstakingly established.

In an instant, Luo Ling’s guilt towards Eve vanished.

She deserved the overtime.

“Any objections?”

Eve asked.

“No objections.”

No one disagreed. There was nothing to object to, really.

Luo Ling could only agree along with the others.

“…Is the file this detailed?”

Luo Ling looked at the commission file. It even included portraits of Alyssa and Felix, the leader of the black-robed priests, labeled “Saint” and “Cult Leader.”

However, after flipping through a few pages, it seemed that only the main targets were listed. The rest required the team to investigate themselves. There were also numerous detailed precautions, seemingly aimed at maintaining social stability, minimizing the influence of Awakened Ones and Grotesqueries.

Come to think of it, most of the Company’s commissions were for this purpose.

“Perhaps I can use this to fool them.”

Luo Ling looked up at Eve, who was bragging about herself with a smug expression, while the others listened listlessly. A faint smile played on her lips. “It seems I have to play the role of a charlatan.”

She couldn’t entrust this matter to Felix, since he was the cult leader. He would be beaten to death by Eve in an instant.

Luo Ling couldn’t afford to lose this small foothold she had gained within the Harbingers’ organization.

And she herself lacked the necessary experience, so she could only…

“I’m counting on you, Alyssa.”

……

“Sister, are you alright? Should I go slower?”

Stasha pushed a simple wheelchair, Alyssa, having lost her legs, sitting upon it, as they slowly made their way towards the small church.

“No, this is fine.”

Alyssa replied softly.

It was just past noon, and the slum wasn’t crowded. Most of the residents were either elderly or children who hadn’t even lost their baby teeth.

Most people living here weren’t homeless or criminals, but either abandoned elderly scavengers or laborers relying on their physical strength. Despair hung heavy in the air.

However, there had been some changes recently.

The gazes directed at Alyssa were no longer filled with awe or fear, but something more difficult to describe.

Fervor, reverence… even a yearning for salvation, a mix of emotions.

Wherever she passed, even the frail elderly knelt before her, making Stasha feel uneasy. But worried about the bumpy road causing her sister discomfort, she endured the awkwardness and continued slowly.

Alyssa remained composed, her gaze fixed on the distance.

The reason for this change was, of course, her resurrection that night.

Before hundreds of witnesses, Alyssa had been dismembered by the black-robed priests, her head even placed on the coffin. It was an undeniable fact.

Yet, the next day, she had miraculously returned to life, and gained the heartfelt reverence of the black-robed priests… Regardless of the true reason, their devotion was genuine.

The slum residents didn’t know the truth. They only saw the miracle before their eyes, believing Alyssa to be a saint, an angel sent by God, whose life even the devils of hell couldn’t claim.

So, Alyssa played along, assuming the role of a saint, replacing Felix as the true leader of the Church of Light.

Furthermore, Alyssa had been a nun before ending up in the slums. She was well-versed in scripture, her words captivating the believers, far surpassing Felix’s methods of coercion and bribery.

After all, a professional was far more effective than an amateur.

Soon, the number of believers grew from the initial two hundred, mostly elderly scavengers, to over a thousand, even attracting pilgrims from other slums twenty or thirty kilometers away.

The dilapidated church had even been renovated with donations.

However, Alyssa herself refused all donations and remained in her small hut, further solidifying her image as a true saint, an angel sent by God to save the mortal world.

Stasha wasn’t accustomed to these changes. The only constant was that her sister was still her sister, and every morning, she could see her familiar sleeping face.

She no longer had to live in fear, worried about what part of her sister would be missing the next time they met.

As long as those days were over, it was enough.

“But, sister, why are we going to the church now?” Stasha asked curiously. “Isn’t mass only held on Sundays?”

When Felix controlled the church, attendance was mandatory every day, enforced with food and sometimes even violence, just to maintain the believers’ faith and the connection.

After Alyssa took over, such measures were unnecessary. Donations were voluntary, so daily services were no longer needed.

Alyssa hadn’t done anything special. She simply understood that in the darkest of places, a single light, even a false one, would attract moths to a flame.

For most people, this was a source of comfort, a beacon of hope.

“…We’re expecting some guests.”

Alyssa reached out, her hand fumbling for a moment before finding Stasha’s hair, gently stroking it.

Chapter Seventeen: Undercurrents

“So soon, they’re making their move…”

The news Felix received from Educator echoed in Luo Ling’s mind. Looking at the image of the hunched old man, Luo Ling was, of course, quite familiar with him.

Without a doubt, it was Philosopher.

“Trying to ascend to a Grotesquery Sequence position using ‘Forbidden Puppets’ and faith?”

It couldn’t be just that.

The faith of ordinary believers could only establish a connection with a Sequence Grotesquery through unorthodox means. “Forbidden Puppets” were essentially Grotesque-side Awakened Ones lacking the aptitude for awakening.

But regardless, any action was better than none.

Only when the Harbingers acted could she truly understand their intentions.

“However, Educator seems to appreciate my Puppet Ballad creations…”

Luo Ling smiled faintly. All members of the Church of Light had become lost “Lambs.” On the surface, they were indistinguishable from humans, possessing the same memories and emotions, far surpassing the low-level Puppet Ballad creations like “Meat Puppets.”

Cutting open their flesh wouldn’t reveal anything. Only the spore vision of the Puppet Ballad could discern them, just like how those lunatics at Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital recognized “Dandelion.”

This was the true culprit behind Jiangcheng County’s destruction.

If Luo Ling wished, these black-robed priests could continue their daily activities as usual, instead of remaining confined to the church.

The main issue was that their usual activities were rather unsightly…

Luo Ling couldn’t stand it, so she had frozen them all within the church.

Unexpectedly, this earned her Educator’s appreciation.

Of course, this also indicated that these peripheral churches were a relatively insignificant part of the Harbingers’ plan. Educator seemed eager to disengage, likely having more important matters to attend to.

“In that case, I’ll manage these churches for you…”

She would strive to transform all church members into model citizens, helping old ladies cross the street and returning lost items.

As for the “Forbidden Puppets” Educator requested, that was even less of a problem for Luo Ling.

The so-called “Forbidden Puppets” were merely ordinary people with a touch of the Grotesque side, while Luo Ling herself was a high-order Grotesquery of the second echelon, second only to the Taboos.

The power converted from the Church of Light members, whose flesh and blood had been consumed by the Puppet Ballad, was equivalent to dozens of “Forbidden Puppets.”

Even a small offering from her could make her the top performer among all the Harbingers’ churches.

Through this, she could gradually infiltrate and control all the churches.

Regardless of the Harbingers’ plans, if she controlled all the churches, she would at least have a means of countering them.

“Miss Luo Ling, what are you smiling about?”

A face with a mischievous grin suddenly appeared before her.

Lu Manqing’s teasing expression made Luo Ling lean back slightly, accidentally bumping into the person behind her.

Turning around, Luo Ling met Cen Xiangyun’s gaze, who quickly averted her eyes.

“Just thinking about something amusing.” Luo Ling’s smile faded slightly.

“Oh~?”

Lu Manqing hummed knowingly, then reached out and pinched Elsa’s cheek.

“Really? Is it about what happened just now?”

Although seemingly addressing Luo Ling, Lu Manqing’s gaze kept shifting between Elsa and Cen Xiangyun.

Elsa’s expression had been strange since earlier, like she was sulking, yet also wallowing in self-pity.

“I was here first…”

Elsa pouted, sulking like a child—which she was.

“What nonsense…”

Cen Xiangyun gritted her teeth. She had initially considered her actions normal, but Lu Manqing’s constant teasing made her question herself.

…Was it really nothing?

Or was it something?

Cen Xiangyun ruffled her hair in frustration, Lu Manqing’s words unsettling her.

Lu Manqing, enjoying the drama, was satisfied with everyone’s reactions, especially Luo Ling’s absent-mindedness, which she found particularly amusing.

However, Luo Ling truly was distracted. Most of her consciousness was focused on the church, gathering the believers in the name of Saint Alyssa and performing sacrifices before the statue of Philosopher.

Luo Ling believed that with her efficiency, Educator would eagerly entrust all the churches to her.

At the same time, Luo Ling was also gradually deciphering Educator’s ritual, hoping to use it against Philosopher.

If successful, it would be an unexpected bonus.

Compared to these matters, the dinner celebrating their “successful first commission” seemed less important.

“However, I am curious about the restaurant Eve recommended… Given her personality, it’s probably a lively tavern or something.”

Luo Ling and the others had already chosen a restaurant, but after hearing about it, Eve insisted on taking them to a place with excellent steak, enthusiastically inviting the entire newbie team.

Since it was a local’s recommendation, they didn’t refuse. Food was food, wherever it was.

While Luo Ling was fully engrossed in arranging the sacrificial ritual, the swaying carriage finally came to a stop.

“We’re here.”

Cen Xiangyun rubbed her sore back. The carriage ride was already uncomfortable, and Lu Manqing’s teasing had made her avoid contact with Luo Ling, making it even more unbearable.

Luo Ling snapped back to reality, habitually taking Elsa’s hand and stepping out of the carriage.

Elsa was caught off guard, but looking up at Luo Ling’s usual indifferent expression, she muttered,

“Blockhead…”

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling glanced at Elsa.

Elsa quickly lowered her head, leaning against Luo Ling’s hand.

“What an amusing drama.”

Lu Manqing was clearly enjoying the spectacle.

After disembarking, they walked a short distance to the address Eve had given them.

Looking up, their expressions turned to surprise.

“This… isn’t a restaurant, is it?”

A high wall surrounded the perimeter, a large archway with a wrought-iron gate glinting coldly. Armed sentries stood guard, and patrols could be seen in the distance.

The castle seemed to stretch endlessly, a well-guarded fortress.

“Which office is this?”

Luo Ling asked.

“None of them.” Cen Xiangyun said, a twitch at the corner of her lips. “There are no ordinary people in the offices, and… the Company wouldn’t rent such a large place for an office.”

The patrolling guards and sentries were all ordinary people. Awakened Ones had no need for such crude firearms—though for this era, they were quite powerful.

“Did we come to the wrong place?”

Lu Manqing looked around, her interest piqued by the unfamiliar scenery. She raised her camera, ready to snap some photos.

Just then, the sentries noticed them and approached, weapons raised.

“Halt! Hands up! Why are you approaching Ster Castle?”

They exchanged glances. They had just wanted to find a place to eat, not trespass on a nobleman’s estate.

Luo Ling was the first to raise her hands, the others following suit.

Suddenly, a figure dashed towards them at incredible speed, bypassing the cautiously approaching sentries and heading straight for Luo Ling and the others.

As the figure drew closer, they recognized it as Eve.

Still in her familiar Victorian maid outfit.

“Oh my, why are you so slow? It’s almost starting!”

Eve grabbed Luo Ling’s hand and pulled her towards the castle.

“Hurry up and follow me!”

Only her voice remained as she dashed away.

This sudden turn of events stunned them for a moment. Elsa was the first to react, her short legs struggling to keep up with Eve and Luo Ling.

“Miss Eve, Miss Luo Ling, wait for me…”

The sentries didn’t stop them, merely looking at each other with strange expressions.

Cen Xiangyun gritted her teeth and followed, her gait far from ladylike.

“Say cheese~”

Lu Manqing, still in a leisurely mood, snapped a photo of the two sentries before strolling towards the castle.

“Is it really okay to let them in? It’s Duke Ster’s banquet…”

One of the sentries finally spoke.

“…It’s not our concern. If the Duke blames us, we’ll just say Miss Eve forced them in.”

The other sentry said impassively. It seemed this wasn’t the first time this had happened.

They had tried to resist before, only to discover that the seemingly pampered Miss Eve was a far better fighter than they were…

“Let’s return to our posts. Pretend nothing happened.”

“Right.”

……

“This is the place you said… had excellent steak?”

Cen Xiangyun, slightly breathless, sat down in the corridor. She wasn’t a Judgment path Awakened One, her physical abilities far inferior to Luo Ling and Eve.

Elsa had climbed onto Luo Ling’s back, her face buried and her expression hidden.

At the end of the corridor was another brightly lit castle, faint music drifting from within.

“Yes,” Eve said confidently, hands on her hips. “I guarantee you won’t find better steak anywhere in Victoria. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me down!”

“You’re right, but… are you sure it’s okay?”

Lu Manqing, finally catching up, crossed her arms, looked at Eve’s attire, and said thoughtfully,

“Miss Eve, you’re dressed as a maid, but if you really were a maid…”

Before Lu Manqing could finish, a deep voice echoed from behind them.

“Eve Ster.”

Eve, who had been trying to sneak in, froze.

“Oh no.”

She wanted to run as usual, but this time was different. Luo Ling and the others were with her.

Luo Ling turned curiously towards the voice. A dignified middle-aged man approached, his crisp military uniform and stern expression betraying his military background.

Judging by his medals and the way he addressed Eve by her full name, he was likely the owner of the castle, Duke Ster.

“Ahem, Father.”

Eve turned around, curtseying perfectly.

“…”

Duke Ster remained silent for a moment, then rubbed his forehead with a weary sigh.

“The guards just reported to me. What are you up to this time? And you even brought…”

He looked at Luo Ling and the others, frowning slightly.

“Just bringing some friends for dinner…”

Eve said sheepishly.

“I have no objections to you bringing friends, but you should at least send an invitation, a formal request. This lack of decorum is simply embarrassing.”

Duke Ster said patiently, though a vein throbbed on his forehead.

“It was a last-minute decision. Besides, formality is boring. It spoils the fun of dining.” Eve patted her skirt, her tone serious. “As long as we wear maid outfits, we can eat whatever we want after we go in. Anyway, you guys never eat much…”

“You…” Duke Ster seemed to be gritting his teeth, but after a moment, he sighed. “Fine, just don’t cause too much trouble.”

He looked at Luo Ling and the others. Cen Xiangyun stepped forward, handing him a business card.

“Your Grace, I apologize for our intrusion. I am a descendant of the Cen family. Next time, we will surely send a formal request before visiting.”

“Oh?” Duke Ster’s interest was piqued. He took the card and glanced at it. “That merchant family from the East?”

“Yes.”

Cen Xiangyun bowed slightly.

Duke Ster’s expression softened.

“I apologize as well. My daughter is rather mischievous. I’m afraid she has startled our esteemed guests. For the next banquet, I will send an invitation to your residence. There’s no need to… attend in such an impolite manner.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Cen Xiangyun curtsied gracefully.

Duke Ster glared at Eve, then quickly left. As the host of the banquet, he couldn’t be away for too long.

“Unexpectedly, Cen Xiangyun, you’re quite good at putting on airs.” Lu Manqing nudged Cen Xiangyun, winking.

She mimicked Cen Xiangyun’s tone, “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“You fucking…”

Cen Xiangyun wanted to strangle this woman. Even her usual composure couldn’t withstand Lu Manqing’s teasing.

“Alright, alright, I’ve dealt with my old man. Let’s sneak in and eat.”

Eve rubbed her hands excitedly. Her mischievous demeanor was hard to reconcile with her status as the Duke’s daughter.

“Oh, and before we go in…”

Eve smacked her forehead, looking at them with a sudden grin.

……

“Do we really have to wear this?”

Cen Xiangyun tugged at her dress uncomfortably. She was tall, and finding a dress that fit was a challenge.

“Isn’t it nice?”

Lu Manqing was secretly taking photos. She truly loved photography.

The banquet hall was filled with distinguished nobles, ladies and gentlemen dancing to the melodious jazz music.

Eve and the others sat in a corner, helping themselves to the food, their expressions mostly indifferent, except for Cen Xiangyun’s awkwardness and Elsa’s curiosity.

Luo Ling was still distracted by the church matters, barely registering the taste of the food, only nodding absently when Eve asked if she liked it.

The other maids in the hall simply ignored them, accustomed to the young lady’s antics.

After all, this wasn’t the first time.

“By the way, have you exchanged your commission rewards?”

Eve asked, chewing on her steak.

“We all chose points, except for Miss Luo Ling… she chose Sacred Medicine.” Cen Xiangyun replied.

“Third-order Sacred Medicine?” Eve looked at Luo Ling in surprise. “Are you really that weak?”

“Huh? Um… yes…”

Luo Ling nodded absently, still disconnected.

“Then you really need to improve.” Eve sighed. “But, Miss Luo Ling, for some reason, I always thought you were quite powerful…”

But there hadn’t been a chance for her to demonstrate her power during this commission?

Eve couldn’t understand the events of this strange commission. The Sacred Medicine capsule she lost was a significant loss, not compensated by the commission reward.

Even the Incubation Barrier, Eve had returned to investigate secretly, but found nothing.

Eve had a feeling that Luo Ling and her team weren’t ordinary, but she couldn’t pinpoint who exactly.

Inviting them to her home… well, sort of, was partly to build rapport, and partly…

“How about I continue to lead your team for the next commission?” Eve suggested. “With my strength, missions of your level are a piece of cake…”

Since something strange had happened last time, if it happened again, she would be more careful and surely uncover the cause.

Eve wasn’t one to give up after a single setback. She wouldn’t rest until she got to the bottom of this strange matter.

“Really?”

Cen Xiangyun’s eyes lit up.

Eve was a sixth-order Awakened One on the Judgment path, the most reliable in combat. Having such a senior leading them was far better than stumbling around blindly.

“Of course.” Eve put on a senior’s demeanor, smirking. “Haven’t you heard? I’m known as the newbie-carrying expert. Never failed a mission.”

“People who say that usually fail their next mission.” Lu Manqing interjected.

“Impossible, absolutely impossible.”

Eve waved her hand dismissively.

“Alright.”

Luo Ling suddenly spoke.

They all looked at her, puzzled.

“It’s nothing.” Luo Ling nodded calmly. “Eat… wait, are we almost done?”

“Miss Luo Ling, you’re incredibly distracted today…”

Chapter Sixteen: The Newly Appointed Gatekeeper, The Church’s New Target

The heavy grey fog slowly dispersed, and Luo Ling’s figure gradually materialized on an ordinary street in Victoria.

The scattered passersby seemed to ignore her, walking right past.

It was almost evening, and unlike Iris’s Kingdom, Victoria held a palpable sense of impending doom.

“…”

Luo Ling touched her forehead. The faint burning sensation confirmed that what had just transpired wasn’t a dream.

Through this intricate floral pattern, she could return to the lost Kingdom at any time.

Of course, provided the owner opened the door.

Luo Ling had received a massive amount of information, feeling overwhelmed.

…Godchosen, Kingdoms, the path to godhood.

Contrary to popular belief, the Godchosen, or Grotesquery Apostles, had clear goals, not simply to manifest their worshipped Grotesqueries.

Moreover… the scale of the Grotesquery Apostles far exceeded the Company’s records. Even with hundreds or thousands of files detailing Apostle-caused disasters, compared to their actual numbers and power, it was still a small fraction.

For instance, the leader’s power was unimaginable. Luo Ling knew that even as the White Witch, she could at most achieve a stalemate, with no guarantee of victory.

The main issue was that the Puppet Ballad’s abilities weren’t combat-oriented…

Besides that, there was another crucial matter.

“Philosopher’s Authority, ‘Traveler.’ The Company files didn’t even have his name, let alone the details of his ability. Because whenever Philosopher acted, almost no one survived.”

“Even the ‘Auspicious Timing’ premonition, the foremost of the Speakers’ four premonitions, couldn’t glean any information about Philosopher.”

Luo Ling recalled the entry on Philosopher in the Company files, her unease growing.

The Company knew far too little about the Harbingers. So little that when Luo Ling searched for information, most of it consisted of loss reports. More detailed information was nowhere to be found.

For example, even now, the Company only had images of Philosopher and Educator. The most enigmatic, Historian, remained elusive.

Their subordinates were even less known, most without even a code name.

Of course, to seize the so-called “path to godhood” from Philosopher, the first step was to understand his Authority, at least to know which Grotesquery it belonged to.

To that end… Luo Ling had accepted the tea party’s commission.

To examine the Taboo Slate in the Company’s possession.

The leader’s bargaining chip was information on the Realm of Nothingness, which Luo Ling needed, while the others were willing to offer two petals each.

Unfortunately, Luo Ling had used the petals she just earned to repay her debt, unable to experience the benefits Camellia mentioned.

“Plucking a few strands of hair shouldn’t cause baldness, but it’s best to maintain a sustainable supply.”

Luo Ling pondered what else she could sell. She wasn’t sure if fingernails would work, or perhaps clothes…

No, that felt a bit too perverted.

Besides the information, Luo Ling had another unexpected gain from this encounter.

“I didn’t expect Iris’s little sapling to be so potent…”

Luo Ling sensed her current state. Her Naraku form had likely developed its first ability.

After awakening the innate ability, the basic first ability only required sufficient Grotesquery power to advance, though the second ability and beyond were more difficult.

The Puppet Ballad’s first ability was thanks to the Forgotten River Child, the second to the White Reishi Mushroom, the third to Ji Ying, and the Authority to… her sister.

“I remember there was another, stronger Grotesquery in Iris’s Kingdom… Forget it, I won’t target it. It seems pitiful enough already.”

Recalling Iris’s flushed face, which even the mystical veil couldn’t conceal, Luo Ling sighed. She truly couldn’t understand the thoughts of these old women.

“I should head back. Miss Cen and the others must be waiting.”

Luo Ling composed herself. Before setting out, they had agreed to try Victoria’s roast steak, supposedly a rare local delicacy, after completing the commission.

Although Cen Xiangyun had strongly opposed Lu Manqing’s suggestion, which seemed to invite trouble… well, regardless of the process, the commission was complete.

……

When Luo Ling returned to the apartment, the moon hung high in the sky. Even Elsa, her biological clock ticking, was drowsy.

She had been asleep throughout the memory predicament…

Luo Ling draped a coat over the dozing Elsa and headed to the adjacent room.

Only Cen Xiangyun was there. Lu Manqing was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh, Miss Luo Ling, you’re finally back. I was about to take a shower.” Cen Xiangyun approached Luo Ling, handing her a thick book. “Here, choose your commission reward.”

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling took the book. The cover read, “Company Points Redemption Catalog.”

“So many?”

Luo Ling flipped through the book, which resembled a picture book more than a catalog.

It vividly depicted the Company’s various collections, from Grotesquery Sacred Relics of all levels to mysterious alchemical Sacred Medicines, each with its corresponding price.

“Actually, we can’t redeem most of these. It’s just for you to browse.” Cen Xiangyun said. “From page one hundred onwards, they’re mostly stored in the Company’s vault, each one incredibly valuable.”

The Company vault stored various precious resources. It was rumored to be located within a space constructed by a powerful Sacred Tool, impervious even to a Taboo’s manifestation.

Of course, whether that was true remained to be seen, since no one had witnessed a Taboo’s manifestation.

Interestingly, Luo Ling saw a few familiar faces in the vault section.

“…Scientist’s remains, sixty thousand points?”

Looking at the grotesque, half-decayed face in the picture, Luo Ling felt a strange pang.

She had allowed Scientist to return to the present world from the Realm of Nothingness, anticipating her escape, but she hadn’t expected her to die.

Luo Ling didn’t know the details of her death, but judging by the picture, it wasn’t peaceful.

Sixty thousand points was a steep price, equivalent to ten of Cen Xiangyun’s annual bonuses. Otherwise, the remaining Naraku Sacred Relic within Scientist’s remains would have been incredibly helpful.

“How many points did we get for this commission?” Luo Ling asked.

“Actually, it’s not points, it’s Sacred Medicine. Ten bottles of random-path, third-order Sacred Medicine, to be distributed within the team.” Cen Xiangyun scratched her head. “But none of us are low-order Awakened Ones, so the effect isn’t that significant. It’s better to exchange them for points.

“But it’s still a loss. A bottle of third-order Sacred Medicine is worth 2 points, but they’re only giving us 15… Damn capitalists!”

Luo Ling pondered for a moment, then said,

“I… should be considered a low-order Awakened One, right?”

Her original body didn’t have any abilities. Currently, she only had the “Devour” Authority, of an unknown Path.

“Huh?” Cen Xiangyun blinked in disbelief. “Miss Luo Ling, you’re joking, right…”

Not to mention surviving her encounter with Scientist during the train incident, in the battles she had witnessed, Luo Ling’s power when repelling Artist was undoubtedly that of a high-order Awakened One.

Even if she had used some secret technique, her true strength couldn’t be below a mid-order Awakened One, could it?

Actually, during the fight with Artist, Luo Ling had used the Puppet Ballad’s power, not her own. At that time, her own Puppet Ballad hadn’t even awakened its third ability, making her equivalent to a mid-order Awakened One at most.

“It might be true. My situation is special, you know.”

Luo Ling said vaguely. Although not many people knew about her suspected status as a Seventh Path Awakened One, she hadn’t concealed it from the team.

“Really?” Cen Xiangyun looked puzzled, but said, “If you insist, I have no objections. But I have to warn you… the Company’s alchemical Sacred Medicines aren’t allowed to be circulated outside. Even if they’re ineffective for you, you can’t sell them.”

The Company regulated Sacred Medicines, not because they were particularly valuable, but because they were too dangerous for ordinary people. If they fell into the wrong hands, the Company would have to clean up the mess, making it a net loss.

Although some people risked selling them, Luo Ling had no need to.

“Understood.”

Luo Ling nodded.

“Miss Eve’s reward is separate from ours. Elsa said she doesn’t need it, so it’s all yours… How about this, you take five bottles of Sacred Medicine, and Lu Manqing and I will exchange the rest for points.”

“Whatever you say.”

Luo Ling had no objections. She didn’t care about these trivial things, she just wanted to see what Sacred Medicine was like.

Honestly, the small tree she had nibbled on in Iris’s Kingdom was worth hundreds, if not thousands, of points.

This commission, aside from the peculiar experience in the Kingdom, was practically a leisurely outing. A small reward was to be expected.

“By the way, Miss Cen, I have a question.”

Luo Ling remembered the other, more important commission, stopping Cen Xiangyun.

“Ask away.”

Cen Xiangyun stopped and turned around.

“…Roughly how many points are needed to see the Taboo Slate?” Luo Ling asked.

“Isn’t the Slate’s content public? You can find it in the lobby of any office. Why would you need points?”

Cen Xiangyun was puzzled by Luo Ling’s question, starting to suspect that she was ill, spouting nonsense.

“No, no, I want to see the… original.” Luo Ling clarified.

“Huh?” Cen Xiangyun was taken aback, shaking her head. “I don’t know about that, but… it’s highly unlikely there’s such an option.”

She paused, then continued, “Not to mention the Taboo Slate’s content is regularly publicized. You can just wait for the next release. Besides… what’s the point?”

Cen Xiangyun looked at Luo Ling suspiciously and continued,

“Wait, Miss Luo Ling, did you hear somewhere that the Taboo Slate is some powerful artifact? Besides recording the Grotesquery Sequences, it’s just an ordinary stone slab, albeit indestructible.”

“No, I just want to confirm something…”

“Confirm… Honestly, the Taboo Slate isn’t that interesting to look at. I’ve never heard of anyone mentioning seeing the original. If you really want to… you can ask the Company.” Cen Xiangyun shrugged. “But I doubt it’s possible. After all, if the Taboo Slate were lost, it would be a huge disaster.

“That’s why only the Company’s three directors have access to it.”

So, the reason for not allowing access was the fear of loss, not because of any issues with its content?

But was that… truly the case?

“Okay, I understand.”

Since Cen Xiangyun had put it that way, Luo Ling didn’t press further.

“By the way, Eve said she’s coming over tonight to celebrate with our team.” Cen Xiangyun said, unbuttoning her coat. “Miss Luo Ling, you don’t have to be so shy. We’re all colleagues, we’ll be working together from now on. More friends, more opportunities.

“The Company doesn’t have KPI assessments, but there are OKRs for annual bonuses and such… Do you understand?”

“Huh?”

Luo Ling, who had never experienced corporate life, blinked.

“I envy you. Only students can be blissfully unaware of such things.” Cen Xiangyun sighed. “Anyway, KPI is like your boss cracking the whip to keep you on track, while OKR is like your boss making you crack the whip on yourself… they call it ‘self-motivated,’ but it’s pretty much the same.

“In the Company, it means you have to complete more commissions to earn the corresponding rewards in your contract. You can’t survive on the base salary… Can you help me unbutton this?”

Cen Xiangyun, now only in her underwear, turned her back to Luo Ling, pointing to the clasp she couldn’t reach.

“Oh, sure.”

Luo Ling stepped forward, looking at Cen Xiangyun with a hint of envy.

Because she didn’t need anyone to unbutton her clothes.

Just as Luo Ling reached out, the apartment door creaked open.

Luo Ling and Cen Xiangyun turned to see Lu Manqing holding several ice cream cones, Elsa beside her, also holding a cone, staring at the scene inside the apartment.

“Excuse me.”

Lu Manqing closed the door.

“Miss Luo Ling!”

Elsa opened the door again.

“Really, excuse me.”

Lu Manqing closed the door again, pulling Elsa back with her.

Luo Ling looked at Cen Xiangyun, puzzled. “What are they doing?”

Cen Xiangyun: “…”

“I don’t know.”

……

Within a dilapidated, musty old church, several black-robed priests stood motionless, like frozen mannequins.

A barrier, constructed from blood and Grotesquery remnants, surrounded them, connected to a coffin at the center. A faint, sweet metallic scent lingered in the air.

Suddenly, the shadows within the old church distorted. The barrier connected to the coffin activated, slowly whirring to life.

Sensing the barrier’s activation, the priests’ wooden expressions melted away, their movements becoming fluid and casual.

A figure emerged from the rotating barrier. A middle-aged man with a solemn expression materialized in mid-air, looking down at the congregation below.

The priests immediately prostrated themselves, saying respectfully,

“Greetings, Educator.”

“Hmm?” Educator frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the black-robed priests. “You…”

He observed them for a moment, then continued,

“Are you all here?”

The lead priest raised his head and replied,

“Reporting to Educator, all priests of the Church of Light are present.”

Educator nodded silently after a moment.

However, he had other thoughts.

It was rare for them to all be present in the church. The other churches he had inspected were lucky to have even one priest remaining. Most had gone out carousing.

After all, these priests were ordinary people, merely wielding power they shouldn’t possess through his methods.

This was a headache for Educator, but he had no solution. A disorganized mob was still a disorganized mob.

Besides… he still didn’t know which church had been infiltrated. It remained a hidden danger.

Educator’s gaze sharpened, fixated on the Church of Light’s congregation.

In an instant, a subtle cut appeared on each priest’s arm.

“…”

The priests winced but remained silent.

“Not infiltrated. Seems… good.”

Educator had an idea. Since the leader here could maintain such devout followers, he must be somewhat capable.

He needed to focus his energy elsewhere and couldn’t afford to be distracted by this matter. It would be best to delegate some authority.

“What is your name?”

Educator looked down at the lead priest.

“Reporting to Educator, my name is Felix.”

“You’ve performed well. I admire you.” Educator smiled warmly, his previous solemnity vanishing. “I’ll consider entrusting you with some important missions. If you prove yourself capable, a higher position… isn’t impossible.”

Educator had already decided. He would first have him reorganize the other churches. If he produced results, he could entrust him with managing all the churches.

“Thank you, Educator!”

Felix’s face lit up with joy, but he quickly suppressed it, lowering his head and controlling his trembling.

Educator was pleased with Felix’s reaction. It showed ambition, which was a good thing.

“Alright, we’ll discuss this later. I’ve appeared here to assign you an important task.”

Educator composed himself and waved his hand, conjuring an image.

“From now on, the object of your worship… is Him. Spare no expense. You must utilize all ‘Forbidden Puppets’.”

The image depicted an ordinary-looking old man, hunched over, his eyes hidden behind thick glasses.

Chapter Fifteen: The First Transaction, The Tea Party Concludes

“Information on the ‘path to godhood,’ the price is three petals. Any takers?”

After a moment of silence, Snowdrop sealed her senses again. The remaining three had made their decisions.

They exchanged glances, then nodded to the leader.

“We’ll pay.”

Intricate patterns, resembling various flowers and corresponding to their code names, appeared on their foreheads.

A portion of these patterns dimmed, transforming into a force that flowed into the leader’s hand.

“Transaction complete.” The leader twirled her fingers, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked at Luo Ling. “Amethyst, what is your decision?”

Luo Ling pondered for a moment, then asked,

“First, I don’t seem to have any petals. Second… I want to know, what is the path to godhood?”

“You can pay later. You can exchange information or items for petals with me or the others.” The leader said slowly. “The path to godhood, of course, is… the path to becoming a god. You can also understand it as becoming a high-order ‘Grotesquery’ wielding an Authority.

“The appearance of the White Witch has proven that this path is possible. Usurping godhood with a frail mortal body doesn’t seem impossible.”

The leader paused, her gentle tone laced with a hint of enticement.

“So, Amethyst, are you… interested?”

Luo Ling remained silent.

She was the White Witch herself, so she knew her situation intimately.

Unless one possessed “Devour,” or a similar Authority, replicating her path was impossible.

Even then, it would be incredibly difficult, practically… impossible.

If it weren’t for her sister willingly sacrificing herself, offering everything to her, Luo Ling could never have grasped the “Kingdom” Authority, let alone replace the Sequence Grotesquery, the Puppet Ballad.

Even if she possessed the Puppet Ballad’s abilities.

So, was the leader’s offer a lie?

…That seemed unlikely.

Could there be other methods, besides “Devour,” to replace a high-order Sequence Grotesquery?

This stirred a ripple in Luo Ling’s thoughts. Besides the Puppet Ballad, her second ability, “Naraku,” was incredibly powerful. Even its innate ability was terrifying, let alone its subsequent advancements.

But correspondingly, it was far more difficult to advance than the Puppet Ballad.

Firstly, her rapid advancement in Jiangcheng County was due to constantly encountering the Puppet Ballad’s avatars, gradually consuming its power.

Ordinary Grotesqueries and Sacred Relics were far less effective, offering minimal benefit for advancing her second ability.

The Company did possess Naraku’s Sacred Relic. Scientist’s remains, containing all traces of Naraku, had been processed and stored in the Company’s vault.

However, the price…

Cen Xiangyun had mentioned that it would take ten of her annual bonuses to accumulate enough points, effectively dashing Luo Ling’s hopes. She could only wait for another opportunity.

Moreover, Naraku’s advancement was also related to Luo Ling’s quest to uncover the truth of “Devour.”

If the leader’s “path to godhood” was indeed viable, Luo Ling couldn’t afford to miss it.

As for the petals…

Coincidentally, Luo Ling possessed some information that the tea party members would definitely be interested in.

“I’ll pay.”

Luo Ling nodded.

The moment she agreed, a familiar gaze from afar fell upon her, a strong sense of being watched washing over her.

“Is this… Order?”

No, not the will of Order.

It was its opposite, Chaos.

And this gaze was completely different from the one she felt when signing the Company contract.

That time, the gaze of Order had been a reactive response, cold and mechanical, a mere instinctive reaction of its will.

But this gaze, Luo Ling could truly feel an unknown entity observing her.

The intense gaze vanished in a flash, and Luo Ling felt a burning sensation on her forehead.

Moments later, a pattern resembling an amethyst flower appeared on her smooth forehead, though it was completely dim.

Three petals turned grey, forming a subtle connection with the leader, signifying Luo Ling’s debt.

The leader examined the three amethyst petals with amusement, sensing them briefly before putting them away and nodding to Luo Ling.

“Transaction complete.”

She extended her hands, her slender fingers delicately tapping the void.

“Now… it’s time to reveal the truth.”

Ethereal starlight flickered and scattered from her fingertips, a faint chant echoing around them.

In this moment, she was a bard.

“Begin.”

The mystical veil couldn’t conceal her gaze, piercing through everyone, revealing the information to those who had made the transaction.

In a trance, Luo Ling seemed to see an eternal flame, a lone figure sitting beside it, as if waiting for something.

Countless threads, dyed in various colors, extended from beneath the figure.

Dazzling crimson, gentle white, and mostly a deathly grey between black and white, like an endless web, connecting to everything on the earth.

Subtly, he seemed to sense something.

The indistinct figure slowly turned around. The next moment, starlight surged, engulfing everything in sight, blocking his gaze.

“As you can see,” the leader’s languid and elegant voice continued, tinged with a hint of weariness, “Philosopher has once again embarked on the path to godhood, wielding the Authority ‘Traveler.’

“But the problem is, we don’t know which deceased God ‘Traveler’ belonged to…”

Philosopher?

The Harbingers…

Luo Ling’s eyes narrowed.

The leader had just revealed the Harbingers’ plan for godhood, and the subsequent information was even more unsettling.

Even the Company, who had clashed with Philosopher numerous times and possessed the Taboo Slate, didn’t know his specific Authority and Path. Yet, the leader casually revealed it, proving that… “anything can be a bargaining chip at the tea party” was indeed true.

Furthermore, the leader’s power…

To be able to observe a being wielding an Authority and even block their gaze, even without an Authority herself, she must be incredibly powerful.

“Even a deceased God, can their Sequence truly be usurped?”

Camellia asked gravely. “Last time, he attempted this path and failed. Even with the White Witch’s example, we don’t know how she achieved godhood. The Harbingers couldn’t possibly have that information.”

“Indeed, but there are differences.” The leader nodded in agreement, then whispered, “In fact, the White Witch’s appearance was an accident, merely proving one thing – the Sequence positions of Gods aren’t immutable. They can be replaced.

“Even without this incident, Philosopher would still choose to embark on this path again, because it’s essential for achieving the Harbingers’ ultimate goal… It seems his plan is taking shape.”

Silence fell upon the tea party.

Camellia remained deep in thought, her chin resting on her hand. Moonflower and Iris were unusually serious, seemingly calculating something.

Luo Ling knew that this information and the revealed truth weren’t meaningless. A specific target was currently performing the ritual for godhood, which meant…

Replacing him and seizing the fruits of his labor wasn’t impossible.

No one at the tea party mentioned this, likely pondering their own strategies.

However, Luo Ling gleaned more from this information.

For example, the church secretly nurtured by the Harbingers in the slums.

Perhaps… that was also a part of the path to godhood.

“Which God’s position is Philosopher targeting?”

Moonflower asked.

Grotesqueries were unspeakable concepts. Each high-order Grotesquery represented a specific concept. Only by knowing which God Philosopher coveted, and the concept that God represented, could they deduce his path to godhood.

“Shrouded in a veil of secrecy. Philosopher concealed everything from the very beginning.” The leader shook her head. “Although I’m not incapable of piercing through the veil, the… price is too steep.”

In other words, she refused to make the transaction.

“Doesn’t the Company publicize the Grotesquery Sequences on the Taboo Slate?” Luo Ling asked. “Isn’t ‘Traveler’ listed there?”

“Unfortunately, it’s not.” The leader replied. “Although the Taboo Slate records all God and Grotesquery positions, if a Grotesquery hasn’t manifested, its corresponding position on the Slate won’t appear.

“Furthermore, if a God perished within the disordered Boundaries, their true name would also disappear. The God wielding ‘Traveler’ might be such a case.

“However, based on my personal speculation… I suspect the Company is deliberately concealing this information, choosing not to disclose it.”

After all, the Taboo Slate was in the Company’s possession. Although they periodically publicized its contents, what they chose to reveal was entirely up to them.

Theoretically, the Company couldn’t conceal or alter the Slate’s contents. This concerned the safety of the entire Awakened world. What if a Taboo manifested, but only the Company knew and avoided it in advance?

Therefore, the Company had signed a contract with Order regarding the Slate’s contents.

Of course, there were always exceptions, even the smallest possibility existed.

Besides, the Godchosen and God’s Favored present were all on the Grotesque side, harboring no goodwill towards the Company, viewing their contract as worthless.

…A certain exception, with her foot in both camps, was a Company member, at least for now.

“If you can find information on ‘Traveler,’ I can exchange it for information regarding the Realm of Nothingness.” The leader looked intently at Luo Ling, her voice alluring. “Amethyst, you must be very interested in the Realm of Nothingness, after all, it’s…”

The leader trailed off, but Luo Ling knew what she meant.

Because the Realm of Nothingness was related to the Seventh Path, even closely related.

It was a difficult offer to refuse.

However…

“I… don’t think I can.” Luo Ling said.

She wasn’t an Other Shore Awakened One, nor did she possess any related abilities.

If the Speakers could divine it, that would be another matter, but clearly… if an Other Shore Awakened One could do it, so could the leader.

It was simply a matter of price.

Luo Ling hadn’t forgotten the state of a certain old man from Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital…

“Is that so?” A knowing smile played on the leader’s lips. “But I don’t think so. I think you can do it.”

The leader had smiled more today than in the past few decades, causing the tea party members to glance at Luo Ling repeatedly, wondering if it was because this Naraku Godchosen was unexpectedly normal.

After all, a normal Naraku Godchosen could uncover all the secrets of the world.

Wait, normal Naraku Godchosen were abnormal. In that case, this newly joined Miss Amethyst was the abnormal one in this group of lunatics…

“Two petals.” Moonflower declared decisively, then said in a sweet, childish voice, despite the mystical veil, “Sister Amethyst, just sell it to me, okay~?”

Since the leader believed Amethyst could obtain this information, she was likely correct.

Those who had paid for the information were all investigating Philosopher’s path to godhood. Knowing more information meant another competitor. Moonflower was well aware of this.

She knew that the other two were thinking the same thing, but they couldn’t bring themselves to imitate her cutesy act.

“Same as Moonflower, I’ll offer two petals.” Camellia said gently. “Miss Amethyst, sometimes, monopolizing isn’t a good thing. Also, a word of advice, petals aren’t just for transactions. They also offer considerable benefits to yourself.”

“Sister Amethyst, two petals from me too! Also, a word of warning, Sister Moonflower is at least a few hundred years old, don’t be fooled by her!”

In my eyes, you’re also an old woman.

Luo Ling looked at the fist-pumping Iris, resisting the urge to retort.

Even with Iris’s apparent age, calling Luo Ling “sister” was strange, since Luo Ling was, strictly speaking, still a minor.

Sixteen was indeed underage.

“I’ll… try my best.”

Luo Ling felt helpless. How could she possibly obtain information of this level…

If the God of “Traveler” had perished within the disordered Boundaries, like the Puppet Ballad, where could she find this information?

But if the Company was deliberately concealing it…

Wait.

If the Company was concealing it, it meant that the publicized Sequences were incomplete.

And the publicized contents of the Taboo Slate were all transcribed.

There was a way to confirm this.

By examining the original Taboo Slate…

“Could it be that the leader knows I’ve joined the Company?”

Luo Ling slowly looked up, meeting the leader’s gaze.

But shrouded by the mystical veil, she couldn’t discern the leader’s expression or read her thoughts.

The leader didn’t speak, merely observing Luo Ling with amusement, as if she could never tire of the sight.

A strange woman.

“By the way, Sister Camellia, I’d like to ask, what exactly are ‘petals’?” Luo Ling pointed to her forehead. “Will there be any problems if I’m in debt?”

She didn’t want to owe the leader any petals, fearing that she might use it against her.

“Heh, I’m not sure about that, but it’s best to pay it back.” Camellia said with a smile. “The benefits of petals can only be experienced firsthand. If you want some, you can trade with us, as long as you have something of value.”

This was a Naraku Godchosen!

A Naraku Godchosen pursuing “omniscience,” capable of normal communication, most importantly, capable of normal communication!

Who knew how many secrets she held…

Camellia was eager to see what Miss Amethyst would offer in exchange.

Her smile widened.

Meanwhile, Moonflower and Iris perked up their ears.

They were also anticipating Amethyst’s first bargaining chip.

“Something of value?” Luo Ling pondered. “Perhaps, I’m not sure.

“…Would the White Witch’s hair count?”

Camellia’s smile froze. The others’ expressions mirrored hers, even the leader paused, a look of surprise appearing on her face.

“Another unexpected turn of events. How intriguing…”

Camellia composed herself and said,

“Miss Amethyst, you mean… the White Witch’s fungal threads?”

Hair and fungal threads were two different things.

If it were the White Witch’s fungal threads, although difficult to obtain, it wasn’t impossible.

Whether from the remnants of the miracle in Jiangcheng County or the several out-of-control Incubation Barriers in Victoria, some dead fungal threads remained.

The main difficulty lay in distinguishing which ones belonged to the White Witch herself, but it wasn’t impossible.

But hair…

That was a part of the White Witch herself.

In other words, a part of a High-Risk Grotesquery.

And… crucial material for researching the path to godhood.

“No, no, I mean hair, or rather, ‘spores’.” Luo Ling waved her hand. “Are you interested in the White Witch’s spores?”

Luo Ling’s silver-white hair in her White Witch form was almost cumbersome. Plucking a few strands to sell wasn’t a problem.

She had originally planned to sell them to the Company. It was just hair, it would grow back.

Selling them to the tea party was the same, though she wasn’t sure of their value.

Camellia, shrouded in the mystical veil, was speechless. Her fidgeting fingers, clasped over her abdomen, betrayed her inner turmoil.

“Sister Amethyst, you wouldn’t try to trick us with the hair of the White Witch’s Godchosen, would you? I know you have one with you.” Iris peeked out from behind the others, her tone serious. “Our transactions are conducted under the leader’s watchful eye. Deception is impossible!”

“My deepest apologies.”

The usually taciturn Snowdrop repeated her earlier words, staring intently at Luo Ling.

“Of course it’s real, absolutely genuine.”

Luo Ling said firmly. She could even pluck some on the spot.

Shrouded in the grey shadow, all her information was concealed. Only her vague form was visible, more effective than “Kingdom.”

“Three petals!”

Hearing Luo Ling’s assurance, Moonflower rushed over, her small form snuggling against Luo Ling, and said coquettishly,

“Sister Amethyst, just give it to me, please~?”

Decisiveness was Moonflower’s forte.

“Holy shit, you old hag, you fucking—!”

Iris nearly choked.

Luo Ling gently pushed Moonflower away, coughed awkwardly, and said,

“Anyone’s fine. Then… I’ll sell it to you.”

Luo Ling had intended to sell several strands, but judging by the current situation, that was unlikely.

Rarity increased value. Since they valued her hair so much, she could sell more later.

“Thank you, Sister Amethyst! You’re surprisingly innocent~”

A glint of cunning flashed in Moonflower’s eyes. This trick always worked on newcomers.

However, Luo Ling simply couldn’t be bothered to haggle. It didn’t matter who she sold it to. Whoever spoke first would be the sucker.

“Moonflower beat me to it.”

Camellia sighed regretfully, though she seemed unperturbed.

Iris, however, looked conflicted. So, Sister Amethyst had this kind of preference.

Hmm…

In that case, maybe she could too?

“S-Sister Amethyst…”

Iris approached Luo Ling hesitantly, tugging at her clothes.

“……”

Luo Ling took a step back, looking at Iris with a strange expression.

Had this woman misunderstood something?

But this small step shattered Iris’s composure.

“AAAAAHHH!”

Iris shrieked, her form dissipating instantly as she fled the lost Kingdom.

The other members couldn’t help but chuckle, even the usually stoic Snowdrop struggled to maintain her composure.

With a head full of questions, Luo Ling handed her hair to Moonflower, who treasured it like a priceless artifact. She even tried to give Luo Ling a kiss, but Luo Ling raised her hand to block it.

She had only shared such intimate gestures with her sister, her only family. She wasn’t accustomed to it with others.

“This ‘spore’… is indeed genuine.” The leader looked at Luo Ling with a knowing smile. “I wonder, can you obtain Naraku’s web?”

“Perhaps.”

Luo Ling shrugged.

“I look forward to it.”

The leader smiled again, then lowered her gaze and whispered,

“This tea party… is concluded.”

As her voice faded, the swirling grey fog surged forward, completely engulfing the grey garden.

Returning to nothingness.

Chapter Fourteen: The Irresistibly Charming Luo Ling, The Truth of the Seventh Path

“More interesting than me…”

Iris’s words left Luo Ling speechless. Had this strange God’s Favored misunderstood something?

She hadn’t come back because she was interested in her…

Besides, was she really that undesirable? To be passed off to someone else like a hot potato… with such a bizarre excuse.

Little did she know, in Iris’s eyes, Luo Ling was a walking disaster. This wasn’t passing the buck; it was divine intervention.

As the saying goes, it’s easier to invite a god than to send one away, especially an uninvited one.

If it weren’t for the leader’s intervention, Iris wouldn’t have known how to handle this troublesome Naraku Godchosen.

Deal with her directly?

…Anyone who dared to confront a Taboo Godchosen was likely tired of living.

Even the weakest Taboo Godchosen had been tainted by the power of their Taboo. Even if she killed her, she would likely be plagued by that troublesome power.

As a God’s Favored, Iris knew far too much.

And the more she knew, the more she understood that some things were best left untouched.

That was why Taboos were called Taboos.

“Don’t ask. You’ll understand when you get there.”

Iris couldn’t wait to get rid of this disaster. If she continued to wreak havoc, how was she supposed to conduct business?

After obtaining the information from the tea party, she had spent considerable time and resources, seizing this Kingdom from the conflict between the Company and the Harbingers. She hadn’t even recouped her investment yet.

The Bodhi sapling being nibbled on was a small price to pay. It was still alive. As long as this Naraku Godchosen didn’t target anything else…

“You sound like you’re trafficking children.”

Seeing Iris’s impatience, Luo Ling, on the other hand, became unhurried. She crossed her arms, observing Iris with amusement.

The purpose of this trip was to make contact with the Apostle forces. She had achieved that, and her identity hadn’t been questioned.

Were the relationships between Apostles always this complicated?

…Luo Ling was overthinking it. Her actions perfectly fit the image of a Naraku Godchosen, and this was considered a good outcome, at least she was communicative.

“You’re taller than me, so let’s not talk about children. I’ve only lived for fifty or sixty years, definitely not comparable to you, elder.”

If it weren’t for saving face, Iris would have knelt before Luo Ling.

Please, spare me, elder sister. I’ll lead the way. The tea party is full of those taller, prettier, and cuter than me. What do you see in me? I can change, just tell me what you want!

However, Iris couldn’t voice these thoughts. Information about the “tea party” was absolutely forbidden outside the lost Kingdom, even within her own Kingdom.

After all, even Luo Ling could invade with preparation. There might be other, more terrifying beings lurking in the shadows, observing everything. Iris couldn’t guarantee her safety.

Fifty, sixty years?

Luo Ling blinked. So, she really was an old woman.

No, considering the unique nature of the Kingdom, and the fact that she mentioned fifty or sixty years, not fifty or sixty years of age…

Perhaps, time flowed differently within the Kingdom…

This piqued Luo Ling’s interest in the nature of Kingdoms. Neither the Company nor the Harbingers’ records mentioned Apostles possessing such power.

Even their speculations about the Apostles’ hiding place only mentioned the Realm of Nothingness or some kind of alternate dimension.

But a Kingdom wasn’t an alternate dimension. It was a complete fragment of a Boundary, frozen in a specific moment.

Complete enough… to even nurture Grotesqueries.

The conditions for nurturing most Grotesqueries were extremely demanding. Their birth was fraught with difficulties, not to mention the Order-Path Awakened Ones constantly extinguishing these disasters, suppressing the birth of Grotesqueries.

Otherwise, Performer wouldn’t have resorted to such horrific methods to cultivate Grotesqueries.

The existence of Kingdoms, however, could almost perfectly solve these problems.

“Alright.”

Luo Ling nodded.

“How about I break off a little more for you… Huh?”

Iris, bracing herself for more heartbreak, reached for the already ravaged Bodhi sapling and heard Luo Ling’s unexpected reply.

She was the one in disbelief now.

Were Naraku Godchosen… really this easy to talk to?

“I said, alright.” Luo Ling repeated. “But I want to know, what exactly is a Kingdom?

“I know it’s a fragment of a Boundary before its collapse, but is its existence real? How does it function? Where does it reside in relation to the present world?”

She stared intently at Iris. Even shrouded in grey shadow, Iris could feel the familiar tingling sensation on her scalp.

That’s right. Although she could communicate and seemed relatively normal, this “thirst for knowledge” was the trademark of a Naraku Godchosen…

However, how could a Godchosen of a Taboo be unaware of the existence of Kingdoms?

The birth of Kingdoms was a power belonging to the Taboos…

“Honestly, this is practically public knowledge, not worth asking about.” Iris scratched the back of her head. “Besides, I don’t know the specifics, but I can tell you this—”

Her expression turned serious as she whispered,

“A Kingdom is a fragment of a Boundary, a real world, but… only for a few minutes.

“It exists in the moment before a Boundary collapses. Within this box of Boundaries, repeating every three hundred years, it’s a trace of a failed iteration, forcibly held in place by His power.”

Iris looked up at the distant horizon.

The seemingly eternal sunset hung perpetually between heaven and earth, neither setting nor rising.

The rustling figures on the street hurried along, indistinguishable from living people.

They had flesh and blood, thoughts, memories, everything that belonged to humans and living beings.

Except, they only had five minutes.

On this stage called “Kingdom,” a five-minute eternal loop played out.

“So, do you understand?”

Iris slowly turned to Luo Ling, only to find that she had approached.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Ling patted her shoulder, her tone flat.

Being a head taller, Luo Ling’s gesture seemed perfectly natural… in her Naraku form, she was a statuesque beauty, a full 1.7 meters tall.

Iris was usually taller than Luo Ling, but now the roles were reversed, giving her a strange sense of satisfaction.

“Um, don’t you have any thoughts? I worked hard to build up the atmosphere!”

“It’s quite impressive.” Luo Ling shrugged. “Is there anything else I should say? I can try to think of something.”

“…Don’t be like that, sis.”

…….

The endless grey fog swirled slowly. Silence filled the grey garden.

Those present were Godchosen or God’s Favored who had lived for countless years, all having encountered the dreaded Taboo Godchosen to varying degrees.

Among these Godchosen, the most troublesome, the ones they least wanted to encounter, were undoubtedly the Naraku Godchosen.

As for a Taboo’s God’s Favored…

They were essentially impossible.

Since the beginning of the Boundaries and the Disorder, the Taboos had fallen silent. Their existence was like a void in this world, leaving behind only dormant power.

If not for this, how could the Harbingers steal the Taboos’ Authorities? How would they even dare to attempt such a thing?

Regarding this unknown Naraku Godchosen, and the leader’s unreadable intentions, the other beings present harbored their own thoughts.

However, shrouded by the mystical veil, a temporary calm prevailed.

Just as the atmosphere grew stagnant, ripples appeared in the swirling fog, and two figures slowly emerged, stepping into the lost Kingdom.

“They’re here.”

Everyone straightened up involuntarily. Even the seemingly distracted leader raised her eyes, looking at the uninvited guest with interest.

“This is…”

Luo Ling’s expression was cautious.

Traveling through Kingdoms was a bizarre experience. She and the girl calling herself “Iris” simply stood still as the surrounding scenery warped and distorted.

Twisted colors and fleeting fragments of Victoria flashed past, day, night, apocalyptic, peaceful, everything imaginable.

It was like strolling through countless possibilities, but Luo Ling knew that the next moment for each of these possibilities was disaster, the collapse of a Boundary.

Finally, Iris, holding her hand, led her through the flickering scenery, arriving at a dilapidated manor.

The next moment, endless grey fog surged from all directions, plunging everything into a chilling darkness, shrouded in a mysterious and eerie mist.

“Welcome to the lost Kingdom.” Iris released her hand and stepped aside, executing a perfect curtsy. “Welcome to… the Witches’ Tea Party.”

All eyes focused on Luo Ling, surprise, curiosity, scrutiny… directed at this infamous Naraku Godchosen.

Unlike the others, the enigmatic and elegant leader, seated at the head of the table, while also looking at her, didn’t seem to be focusing on Luo Ling herself. Instead, she seemed more interested in the grey shadow enveloping her.

“Interesting.” The leader smiled again, this time lingering a little longer. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen such an intriguing little thing. I’m very… curious about you.”

She slowly raised her eyes, meeting Luo Ling’s gaze, and whispered,

“Naraku Godchosen, in the name of ‘▇▇▇,’ I invite you to join the tea party.”

Her words were filled with unpronounceable syllables, like a chant, or a whisper, yet imbued with an undeniable power, seemingly more absolute than an Order contract.

As her voice faded, it wasn’t Luo Ling who reacted first, but the other tea party members.

An invitation so soon? To a Naraku Godchosen?

Even love at first sight wasn’t this fast!

Moonflower was the first to lose her composure. Even she, surprisingly, dropped her usual cutesy act and said gravely,

“Leader, isn’t this too reckless?”

The others remained silent, including Iris, who had brought Luo Ling here. They shared the same thought.

An invitation without even a basic introduction.

The leader didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on Luo Ling, waiting only for her response.

Despite her calm demeanor, Luo Ling felt an inexplicable pressure.

It wasn’t an oppressive force, but… something else.

Why did this woman’s gaze feel so intensely… unsettling?

“I want to know, what is the tea party? What will I gain by joining?” Luo Ling steadied herself and asked.

A perfectly normal response.

But… considering this was a Naraku Godchosen, perhaps not so normal?

The others, knowing that the leader wouldn’t change her mind, remained silent, awaiting the exchange between the Naraku Godchosen and the leader.

“The tea party… is merely a loose alliance, unbound by obligation, maintained solely by mutual benefit.”

The leader said softly, “Here, you can obtain anything you desire, as long as you can fulfill the desires of others. There are no limits to the chips on the bargaining table. Anything can be placed upon it… even a God’s Sequence.”

She gestured to herself, her smile widening. “Even… me.”

The figures shrouded in mystical veil trembled, as if witnessing something unbelievable.

Luo Ling remained silent. While the others observed her, she observed them.

Everyone’s identity was hidden. Luo Ling attempted to use “Weave” to gather information within this lost Kingdom, but for the first time, she received nothing.

Undoubtedly, the tea party members were incredibly powerful, likely among the top echelons of the Apostle forces. But this was the first time she had encountered a leader so openly stating the nature of their organization.

More importantly, no one objected.

“I want to know… about the Seventh Path.”

After a moment of contemplation, Luo Ling didn’t answer directly, instead posing her long-held question.

“You can. Join us.”

The leader nodded slightly, without hesitation.

Such a quick response?

Luo Ling frowned. This felt too easy. Didn’t she need to think about it? Was she that eager for her to join?

She glanced at Iris, who had brought her here. Had she been led into a trap?

What happened to the universally despised Naraku Godchosen?

Sensing Luo Ling’s gaze, Iris took a step back, retreating behind the others.

Sis, there are so many people here, even the boss. I’m just a small fry, please don’t target me anymore.

“I’d like to hear about it first,” Luo Ling said. “Then… I’ll consider joining.”

“Very well.”

The leader waved her hand, and the others, understanding her intent, sealed their senses.

In transactions involving information, some knowledge was best left untouched. Knowing wasn’t always a good thing.

Luo Ling was dumbfounded by the leader’s actions. She had made such a demanding request, couldn’t she at least feign some resistance?

The leader’s immediate compliance made Luo Ling question her own charm.

Just a while ago, she was wondering if she was truly that repulsive, and now she was wondering if she was irresistibly charming. The sudden shift caught even Luo Ling off guard.

“The Seventh Path originates from a new God, yet to be born, about to be born, but absolutely must not be born, a true God.”

The leader spoke slowly, each word imbued with an unspeakable power, as if imparting a universal truth.

Even the swirling grey fog around them churned violently in response to her seemingly casual words, as if resisting an incoming threat.

A moment later, the fog calmed, and the leader’s gaze dimmed slightly, tinged with weariness.

“Welcome to the Witches’ Tea Party, Amethyst.”

“?”

A question mark appeared above Luo Ling’s head.

Not only had she not agreed to join, but the leader had already assigned her a code name?

Besides, the truth of that answer was still questionable!

However, with her “Naraku” abilities, Luo Ling could sense that this was likely the truth of the Seventh Path.

A God yet to be born…

Could her “Devour” be this God’s Authority?

Or, a more unbelievable thought, was she… this unborn God?

Luo Ling wanted to ask more, but the leader, seemingly anticipating her thoughts, said slowly,

“From now on, everything is a ‘transaction’.”

A transaction meant equal exchange.

If Luo Ling wanted to obtain anything from the leader or other tea party members, she had to offer something in return.

She remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

So, the leader had anticipated even this?

She knew that Luo Ling’s thirst for knowledge would compel her to join the tea party…

That’s why she had welcomed her so readily.

“Can I choose my own code name…”

Luo Ling attempted a small rebellion, but the leader whispered,

“It suits you, doesn’t it?”

Before Luo Ling could retort, the leader continued,

“Consider it a bargaining chip.”

Since the leader had put it that way, Luo Ling couldn’t refuse.

She wasn’t particularly averse to the code name “Amethyst.” She just wanted to be contrary.

Meanwhile, the others, knowing the transaction was concluded, released their sense block, looking at the new tea party member with curiosity and apprehension.

“You have your own methods of concealing your identity, so I won’t interfere.”

The leader glanced at Luo Ling’s grey shadow, returning to her initial languid posture, but her gaze lingered on Luo Ling.

“Now, that little interlude is over. Let’s continue our previous transaction.

“Information regarding the ‘path to godhood,’ the price is three petals. Any takers?”

Chapter Thirteen: The Lost Kingdom, The Witches’ Tea Party

Empty streets, muted colors, swirling grey fog. This was also Victoria, yet it pulsed with an unsettling unease.

Everything shrouded in mist carried a primal fear, as if only silence and nothingness could exist here.

“Iris, you’re late again.”

The distorted voice was elegant and composed, yet laced with unquestionable authority.

This should have been a beautiful garden filled with blooming flowers, but tainted by the fog, it was enveloped in a depressing grey.

The flowers still bloomed defiantly, devoid of all color.

A formless grey shadow reclined languidly on a bench in the grey garden. No one could perceive her form, only her voice and posture hinted at a woman of exquisite beauty.

“My deepest apologies.”

Another voice rang out, cold and emotionless, as if carved from ice. Even the sound sent chills down the spine, not from temperature, but from a deep-seated fear.

She sat beside the grey shadow, her equally enigmatic form sharp as a blade.

“Back at you, Snowdrop. You’re so annoying.”

Iris, the late arrival, crossed her arms and said helplessly.

“There’s a reason this time. A few noisy little things wandered into my Kingdom and caused a ruckus. Almost had a disaster on my hands…”

“Oh?” A gentle voice echoed, soft and alluring, “Little Iris, are you saying… you were invaded?”

“Was it the miracle caused by the White Witch just now?”

This was the only voice without any distortion, innocent and naive like a child’s.

However, given the fog-shrouded environment, it was difficult to determine if she truly was a child.

…At least, the time they had spent together far exceeded the definition of “child.”

Including the tardy Iris, there were five beings in this grey garden, all shrouded in mystery, their true forms imperceptible. Any distinguishing features quickly faded from memory once one looked away.

Only upon meeting again could these discarded, concealed details be retrieved from the depths of consciousness.

“Yes, I met Her Godchosen.” Iris propped her chin on her hand, recalling the encounter. “How should I put it… a little brat, innocent and adorable. Hard to imagine why she’d follow that killing god.”

“Sister Iris, is she the same age as me?”

The naive voice returned, small legs swinging from a chair clearly too large, her eyes filled with childlike curiosity.

“Ugh, Moonflower, don’t gross me out.”

Iris shuddered. Watching someone clearly old enough to be her grandmother act cute made her want to vomit.

Heaven knows what her true form looked like…

She was the latest addition to this group.

And Moonflower, this creature who looked and sounded like a little girl, was one of the original three members.

Everyone here, including Iris, kept their true identities secret, even from each other.

Even other Godchosen only knew their flower-themed code names.

“A Kingdom invasion is a serious matter, concerning our safety.” The gentle voice turned grave. “The reason we Godchosen and God’s Favored can avoid the influences and conflicts of the present world is because of the Kingdoms.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear the details later.”

“Actually, Sister Camellia, there’s no need to worry. It was just… my negligence.” Iris touched her nose, embarrassed. “I seem to have accidentally left an entrance open in the present world, and she wandered in…”

Even with an open entrance, having one’s Kingdom invaded was still unbelievable.

However, there was another presence with the White Witch’s Godchosen.

The infamous Naraku Godchosen.

That explained it. That explained everything.

If it was a Naraku Godchosen, nothing was surprising.

It must have been her fault…

In fact, Iris suspected that the White Witch’s Godchosen had also fallen prey to the Naraku Godchosen’s influence, leading her to follow that newly ascended killing god.

Even her status as a Godchosen was likely the Naraku Godchosen’s doing.

That little brat was clearly young, unlike Moonflower’s fake cuteness. Her eyes were filled with innocent ignorance, completely incongruous with the identity of a Godchosen.

Although her constitution was unique, exceptionally close to a “God,” it wasn’t enough to make her a Godchosen.

“Enough idle chatter. Since everyone is here, let’s begin this ‘tea party’.”

The elegant voice from the head of the table rang out, a tap on the chair drawing everyone’s attention.

The others composed themselves, their expressions turning serious.

This tea party, established by the five of them, could be considered an alliance of sorts.

The relationships between the various Gods’ Godchosen and God’s Favored were complex, not easily explained in a few words. They weren’t necessarily enemies, but most weren’t allies either.

Trust was a fragile thing. Even alliances were temporary. No one knew when they might become mortal enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle, just like the Puppet Ballad and the White Witch.

This tea party provided a solution to such conflicts. Held within a completely silent, lost Kingdom, bound by a mystical veil of absolute anonymity. After the tea party, no one knew each other’s true identities, shrouded in a mist of secrecy.

It was the purest form of transactional relationship.

…Yet also the most intimate.

“Let’s set aside the Kingdom matter for now. I have information regarding the ‘path to godhood.’ The price is three petals. Any takers?”

As the leader finished speaking, everyone’s eyes sharpened.

“The ‘path to godhood’… I recall that was the Harbingers’ failed attempt, wasn’t it?” Camellia said slowly. “They sacrificed most of their members seeking the path to ascend to godhood, yet all they got were a few grotesque imitations.”

For a human to wield a Grotesquery’s Authority was an unprecedented feat.

With just a few members, they could rival multiple Awakened One organizations, even the Company was wary of them, yet Camellia dismissed them as mere “imitations.”

It was simple. If they truly controlled their Authorities, Philosopher and the others would have already swept aside existing human forces to execute their grand and tragic plan.

It was precisely because their control was incomplete, with a “price,” that they remained dormant.

Of course, this incompleteness limited the number of times they could use their powers, but their combat strength was undeniable. This was the conclusion the Company reached after suffering heavy casualties.

Even weakened by their “path to godhood” attempt, the Harbingers could still hold their own against an alliance of Awakened Ones.

In the eyes of most Godchosen, the Harbingers’ actions were a defilement of the Gods, a blasphemous attempt to deceive and usurp divine power. Thus, they were considered mortal enemies.

More importantly, no one knew if the Harbingers would, or already had, targeted their own Gods.

This would directly impact the Godchosen’s power, potentially causing permanent damage.

Of course, only High-Risk Grotesqueries within the top fifty Sequences, beings capable of wielding Authorities, could be called Gods. Lower-ranked Grotesqueries were still referred to as Grotesqueries by the Godchosen.

“The ‘path to godhood’…”

Iris sighed, thinking of that particular being.

Perhaps it was Her appearance that rekindled the Harbingers’ belief in the “path to godhood.”

The White Witch.

The first “God” to replace a Sequence position.

If anyone in this world had achieved godhood, it was Her.

“I’m out.”

Snowdrop spoke up abruptly. As her voice faded, she sealed her senses.

Since this was a transaction, it was based on mutual consent. She could withdraw if she wished.

Snowdrop had no interest in becoming a god, so she flatly refused the deal.

The others fell into contemplation, even the newly joined Iris.

Having reached this level, those like Snowdrop, who had no desire for godhood, were a minority.

The leader was patient, calmly awaiting their responses.

Suddenly, the leader sensed something, her form shifting slightly. Even this abandoned, lost Kingdom trembled momentarily.

At the same time, Iris abruptly stood up, a hint of panic in her voice.

“…Something’s wrong.”

“Hmm?”

Everyone’s attention immediately focused on her, except for the leader, who wore a thoughtful expression.

“My Kingdom has truly been invaded this time…”

Iris sensed drastic changes occurring within her Kingdom, though she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

It was that Naraku Godchosen…

The universally despised Naraku Godchosen.

She wanted to return, but the tea party was still in progress, causing her to hesitate.

Although the tea party members shared the most intimate relationship, that was only within the confines of the tea party.

Outside, when they returned to their true identities, they might even be mortal enemies.

Therefore…

Iris didn’t intend to seek help from the tea party members, but she needed a reason to convince them.

“Iris, did you omit something regarding your Kingdom earlier?”

The leader spoke, her gaze fixed on Iris.

Even though Iris knew that the mystical veil protected their true identities, the leader’s gaze seemed to pierce through everything, laying bare her inner thoughts.

“I wouldn’t say I omitted anything…”

Interacting with a Naraku Godchosen was undoubtedly dangerous.

Or rather, interacting with any Taboo Godchosen was perilous.

Because… compared to other Godchosen, the influence of Taboos was the deepest and most irreversible. They had essentially become obsessed with pursuing their Taboos, perfectly embodying the Awakened world’s perception of Godchosen… or “Grotesquery Apostles.”

Take Naraku Godchosen, for example.

These madmen, yearning for “omniscience,” relentlessly pursued all truths, greedily accumulating all knowledge.

Once targeted by them, even the protection of the mystical veil might not be enough to escape exposure.

Simply put, they were a group of doxxing enthusiasts.

“It’s… a Naraku Godchosen, isn’t it?” The leader said softly. “Has she set her sights on you?”

She shouldn’t have engaged in conversation just because the other party could communicate!

But how did the leader know?

Iris bit her lip and nodded, confirming the leader’s words.

The others gasped. Even Moonflower, sitting closest to Iris, couldn’t help but scoot her chair away.

“It’s not that serious, is it?!”

“What is Sister Iris talking about? Moonflower doesn’t understand.”

Moonflower blinked innocently.

“Iris, go deal with this matter first. Your absence… is excusable.”

Camellia smiled gently, as if about to kick Iris out of the lost Kingdom.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, no rush…”

Beads of sweat appeared on Iris’s forehead.

She knew that if she were kicked out now, the tea party members would likely decrease from five to four.

That damned, universally despised Naraku Godchosen!

The leader remained silent, lost in thought.

A moment later, just as the others were about to forcibly remove Iris from the Kingdom, she spoke calmly,

“I think, we should let her in.”

“Who?”

The others were stunned.

“The Naraku Godchosen.”

“Leader, have you lost your mind?”

“I just remembered I left the gas on at home. Gotta go.”

“…Farewell.”

Upon hearing that the leader wanted to invite a Naraku Godchosen into the lost Kingdom, even Snowdrop felt the urge to retreat.

She had already released her sense block during the earlier commotion.

“She’s different from the usual Naraku Godchosen.”

The leader seemed to have sensed something, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Although fleeting, this sight stunned the others into silence.

When was the last time the leader had smiled?

It seemed to be when the Harbingers’ “path to godhood” attempt failed.

And that smile had been mocking… mocking their arrogance.

But now, her smile was unreadable.

Could it be… that the leader was interested in this Naraku Godchosen?

They had only heard of Naraku Godchosen being interested in others, never the other way around…

However, if it was the leader, it seemed plausible.

As the founder of the tea party, the leader had always been the most enigmatic among them.

She always seemed to possess crucial information at critical moments, and she handled every transaction with effortless grace.

As if… she knew everything.

“Since it’s my decision, so be it.” The leader lowered her gaze, her drifting eyes casually watching her slender fingers, a hint of amusement in her expression. “Having a Naraku Godchosen at the tea party isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

The others remained silent for a moment. Snowdrop was the first to speak.

“Agreed.”

However, Moonflower and Camellia still hesitated, looking at Iris in unison.

“…This time, it’s not my fault for dragging you all into this.”

Iris immediately raised her hands in surrender.

“I trust the leader.” Camellia said softly. “But I hope that if we are implicated, the leader will give us an explanation.”

“As you wish.”

The leader appeared indifferent.

Seeing that everyone had agreed, Moonflower, who had been planning to escape, could only sigh, then realized that such an elderly gesture didn’t suit her persona. She quickly said sweetly,

“Since my sisters have all agreed, Moonflower… Moonflower will listen to you.”

“…Can you stop with the fake cuteness, you old hag?”

……

“Still no reaction?”

Luo Ling stood beside a half-withered demonic tree, a branch in her hand.

Using her “Weave” domain, she had located the Incubation Barrier within this Kingdom and discovered this demonic tree, a slumbering Grotesquery.

Its power wasn’t particularly strong, roughly equivalent to a fifth or sixth-order Awakened One, likely a low-ranked Grotesquery.

Barely palatable.

Luo Ling had anticipated a fight to subdue the demonic tree, but it offered no resistance. So, she simply started dismantling it.

After consuming at least half of it, the familiar old lady finally rushed over, panting.

Seeing the state of the demonic tree, Iris nearly fainted.

This was her first business deal since obtaining her Kingdom! The old demonic tree had promised that if she successfully nurtured its seed, it would offer its Sacred Relic.

The complete Sacred Relic of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Grotesquery Sequence 145, Path of Silent Demise.

A Sacred Relic of this level was rare, even in the Company’s vaunted secret vault.

Moreover, Iris desperately needed this Sacred Relic.

She had painstakingly nurtured it for nearly ten years, finally seeing hope of success, yet Luo Ling’s few bites had set her back at least eighteen years.

“Naraku Godchosen, what are you doing?!”

Iris’s heart bled as she carefully supported the ravaged Bodhi sapling.

“I just wanted to find you.” Luo Ling replied. “I figured this would get your attention.”

Definitely not because she had been looked down upon earlier.

Definitely not.

“…You could have just shouted, I would have heard you.”

Iris clutched her chest. This excuse… even for a Naraku Godchosen, it was too outrageous.

“You seem upset.”

“No kidding!”

“Would you feel better if I apologized?”

Luo Ling’s voice, though her expression couldn’t be seen through the grey shadow, sounded genuinely sincere.

Iris: “…”

Suddenly, she felt like punching this Naraku Godchosen.

Wait, was this revenge?

“Forget it, Naraku Godchosen. If you’re interested in me, you’ll only find me boring.” Iris said patiently. “Come on, there’s someone much more interesting who wants to meet you.”