Chapter 6: A Game of Shadows
A crescent moon hung high in the sky.
For many, this night was destined to be sleepless.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface of Victoria, the fleeting glimpse of something in the heavens had stirred unseen currents.
Especially for those at the center of the storm… the Harbingers of Calamity.
Within a modest church in the city, a priest stood solemnly at the pulpit, his gaze fixed on the image of the Holy Lord in the mural above.
Around him, monks and nuns prayed with their eyes closed, offering their devout faith to their Lord.
A muffled groan echoed through the silent church, startling the praying figures. They looked up and saw blood trickling from the priest’s orifices, their faces filling with alarm.
“Father, are you…?”
“It is nothing,” the priest said calmly, his gaze filled with its usual benevolence. “Merely a test of my faith from the Lord. Continue your prayers.”
He took a handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly wiped away the blood.
Seeing that the priest seemed fine, the others relaxed, closing their eyes and resuming their prayers.
“Such a nuisance,” the priest muttered, placing the bloodstained handkerchief on the pulpit.
“Has she discovered me? An awakened ‘He’ is indeed not something we can trifle with.”
This priest was the Hierophant. He had no personal faith, considering himself merely a scholar of religion.
Using religious organizations, his own abilities, and his understanding of religion, the Hierophant had created a method of “theft” that could be used even by ordinary people.
The faith of ordinary people was also a form of soul power, though usually too weak to be utilized.
However, by focusing this faith on a specific vessel, this scattered power could be gathered. This was the essence of faith.
More importantly, a connection would be formed between this power and the vessel. This was the key.
The Hierophant, exploiting this characteristic of faith, chose Grotesqueries possessing Authorities as vessels, establishing a connection with them, the first step in stealing their power.
Stealing a Grotesquery’s Authority had previously required a corresponding Grotesque-side Awakened One to act as a conduit. Otherwise, there was no connection, no way to steal.
Next, a “Price” was required.
After establishing the connection, the connector had to pay the Price, either directly or indirectly.
But with faith as the connection, paying the Price was much simpler, even more deceptive.
Just a few ordinary people with an affinity for Grotesqueries were enough.
After developing this method, the Hierophant had conducted several experiments.
After several failures, resulting in the deaths of about twenty thousand people, he had finally succeeded in stealing a portion of a Grotesquery’s Authority.
However, it wasn’t much.
In short, it was impractical.
Although it only required ordinary people, the process was time-consuming, the conditions strict, and the resulting Authority too weak.
It wasn’t until the Harbingers began their operations in Victoria that this method became useful… The stolen Authority, although weak to the Harbingers, was incredibly powerful to their pawns.
Through these means, the Harbingers had infiltrated Victoria, establishing numerous small religious organizations, including the Church of Light, preparing for their plans.
In fact, besides the “White Witch” incidents, similar Grotesquery-related incidents had been occurring in Victoria in recent years, but the Company had struggled to determine whether they were the work of apostles, the Harbingers of Calamity, or both.
However, having a connection to a Grotesquery severed by the Grotesquery itself… this was a first.
“I almost got caught in her memory, heh, that was close.”
The Hierophant was relieved.
Since the White Witch had acted, he would give her face.
Quietly, he sent out orders to all Church leaders, halting all religious activities targeting the White Witch.
However, there was still one question.
“Whose memory did the White Witch use to find me?”
The Hierophant knew it was likely some kind of soul-searching ability, and the target was probably dead.
If he knew the location, he might be able to find some clues, a glimpse into the mysterious White Witch.
After all, the White Witch was the first Grotesquery to replace an existing Sequence, a High-Risk Grotesquery possessing an Authority. The entire Awakened world wanted to know how she had done it.
So, after issuing his orders, the Hierophant instructed his subordinates to investigate which Church had lost contact.
He glanced towards the distance, towards the sky.
“What a beautiful crescent moon, tinged with blood…”
If he had the chance, he would like to meet this White Witch, said to be a silver-haired girl in her teens.
The next moment, the Hierophant’s expression froze.
“How could this be…?”
His subordinates quickly reported back.
All Churches had responded; none had lost contact.
This meant… the White Witch hadn’t killed the memory’s owner.
But how was that possible?
The Hierophant had experienced it firsthand, that angry gaze, it should have shattered the memory owner’s consciousness.
Even he had paid a Price to escape.
No, there was another possibility.
He recalled the Jiangcheng County incident.
Both the information released by the Company and the Harbingers’ own investigations had revealed some of the Puppet Ballad and White Witch’s abilities.
“The ability to control others…”
Fortunately, judging from the description of the “Baiyan Village incident,” this control could be confirmed by checking their flesh and blood for signs of replacement.
But… there was no guarantee.
Who knew the true nature of an Authority?
Perhaps even the white mycelia that replaced flesh and blood were just another disguise, a deception.
And the four hundred thousand civilians who had died gruesomely, was it truly just the White Witch venting her anger?
The Hierophant’s eyes flickered. He abandoned the idea of checking all Church members, firstly because there were too many, and secondly… it was pointless.
“White Witch… are you trying to play a game with us? An invitation from a High-Risk Grotesquery… how terrifying.”
But it didn’t matter.
Whether a High-Risk Grotesquery, or even a Taboo…
Once the Harbingers’ plan was in motion, both the board and the pieces would be overturned.
Besides, when dealing with High-Risk Grotesqueries, the Harbingers weren’t alone.
There were also Order-side organizations like the Company, whose hostility towards Grotesqueries was even greater than their hostility towards the Harbingers.
“Fortunately, these Churches only know fragmented details. Even if the White Witch read them all, she wouldn’t see the whole picture.”
The Hierophant breathed a sigh of relief. Although this was a thorn in his side, it was a relatively good outcome.
From now on, he just had to be careful and avoid contact with these low-level Churches. The initial setup was complete, and these Churches could operate independently.
All he needed to do now was wait.
…
After a long-awaited sleep, Luo Ling, in Alyssa’s body, slowly opened her eyes.
Stasha slept soundly beside her, and Luo Ling looked up at the sky, the blood-red hue on the crescent moon fading, the first light of dawn appearing on the horizon.
Becoming an “agent” was also a form of incubation, just a more unique one.
Now, the “incubation” was over, and the incubation barrier had dissipated.
She briefly reviewed last night’s events, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
“As expected… I knew he would come back to check…”
To avoid attracting attention, Luo Ling couldn’t let the Hierophant notice her.
So, after killing the Church members, she had taken control of them, using Complete Control. They looked and acted exactly as before.
Even memory searching or Retrospect wouldn’t reveal anything amiss.
But they were dead, their current state merely a puppet show orchestrated by the Puppet Ballad, just like the residents of Jiangcheng County, lost Lambs.
This was the terrifying power of Complete Control, the Authority of Kingdom.
However, they were luckier than the residents of Jiangcheng County.
These robed figures had been killed before being controlled, so their consciousness wasn’t trapped within their souls, spared the horror of watching their bodies act against their will, unable to even scream in terror.
And in their memories, there was no record of being killed and controlled, only the successful completion of the ritual and then returning home to sleep.
And, to make things easier, Luo Ling had added a little something extra.
“Harbingers of Calamity…”
Luo Ling’s eyes flickered.
Although she had killed Performer and Artist, they were high-ranking members of the Harbingers, their vigilance strong.
Even Performer had destroyed most of her memories before dying.
This meant Luo Ling still didn’t know much about the Harbingers, not even their members.
Especially about Victoria.
Their memories of Victoria were almost completely blank, meaning the Harbingers definitely had secrets here.
Luo Ling had chosen to control these robed figures, not only to avoid alerting them, but also to infiltrate the Harbingers.
This was a game of shadows.
But there was more than one player.
The Company, representing Order, the Harbingers of Calamity, representing Grotesqueries, and Luo Ling herself.
Perhaps there were other players as well, lurking in the shadows.
Just as Luo Ling was pondering, a commotion erupted outside.
“Hmm?”
Luo Ling, about to use her Spores to see what was happening, saw Stasha stir beside her.
Stasha had woken up but kept her eyes closed.
She glanced at her sleeping sister with concern, pulled the blanket higher, covering her ears, then carefully got out of bed, tiptoeing towards the door.
“So that’s it…”
Before Stasha even reached the door, Luo Ling, using her Spores, understood everything, her eyes narrowing.
“Hahaha, the little Saint hasn’t run away yet, not afraid of dying, huh?”
The thugs who were demolishing the house saw Stasha and started laughing mockingly.
Because Alyssa had been the Saint, Stasha had been called the little Saint, perhaps not a term of respect, but a sarcastic jab.
And now, it was pure mockery.
These young thugs, emboldened by their youth and strength, had ransacked the house after learning of the Saint’s death.
Now, still unsatisfied, they wanted to demolish the entire house, salvaging anything of value.
“My sister… isn’t dead,” Stasha said stubbornly, standing before them, her head held high. “Even if Sister…”
“Not dead? Still not dead? She’s been chopped into a thousand pieces! Old Holm said he saw it himself, our Saint is dead!”
The thugs laughed, several of them surrounding Stasha, their gazes predatory.
“Looking closely, our little Saint is quite pretty, just a bit… thin, but…”
“What… what do you want?!”
Stasha’s face paled with fear, realizing the danger.
She tried to retreat into the house, but a tall thug blocked the doorway.
“Little Saint, don’t be afraid, it will be quick…”
“Quick what?”
Before they could touch her, a cane lashed out.
“Sister?”
Stasha turned and saw her sister leaning against the doorframe, holding the cane she had used after losing her legs.
The tall thug was on the ground, convulsing.
“The… Saint?”
“She’s alive? But Old Holm said…”
The thugs panicked at the sight of the familiar figure.
They weren’t afraid of the Saint, but of the Church of Light.
The Church of Light held considerable power in the slum, more than just a religious organization.
Even their gang leader treated the robed figures with respect, because they possessed true power.
With the Saint dead, the little Saint was nothing, at their mercy.
But if the Saint wasn’t dead, the Church wouldn’t tolerate their actions…
“Saint.”
Just then, their worst fears came true.
Several robed figures appeared, bowing to Luo Ling, then silently attacking the thugs.
Arms were broken, legs were snapped, and they were thrown out, left to die.
In the slum, with such injuries, whether they lived or died… they would suffer.
“Just in time,” Luo Ling thought. This was, of course, all under her control.
She didn’t enjoy acting, but to deceive Stasha, she had brought these people here.
Stasha was stunned, even as the robed figures began repairing the house, her mind reeling.
“Why are they… different…?”
She knew these Church people, knew what her sister’s position as the Saint entailed. How could they be treated like this?
“Something happened last night, so things are different now,” Luo Ling said, ruffling Stasha’s hair, seeing through her thoughts.
The truth was too cruel; it was better to lie for now.
Stasha was skeptical, sensing something was amiss, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Finally, she left for school, still confused.
After repairing the house, the robed figures left, then, following Luo Ling’s instructions, spread a new story.
Explaining last night’s events through their religious understanding, after all, Alyssa, who had been cut into pieces, suddenly reappearing alive… was too unbelievable.
The robed figures’ memories were fragmented, only revealing their method of stealing her Authority, which was meaningless.
As long as she knew their method, whatever it was, she could turn it against them.
However, the Harbingers of Calamity’s reaction was strange.
“Knowing of my existence, they’re still continuing?”
Luo Ling tapped the table, recalling the message the Harbingers had sent to the Church.
Even now, the Church was still receiving messages and orders from the Harbingers, meaning they had ignored last night’s incident, not even trying to find the “nail” she had hammered into their organization.
This game of shadows continued.
“Perhaps they think a single nail doesn’t matter,” Luo Ling smiled faintly. “But… what about many nails?”
A single Church could only provide fragmented information, but two, three… or even more?
As the wielder of the Puppet Ballad’s abilities, Luo Ling knew that her combat strength wasn’t particularly strong compared to other High-Risk Grotesqueries. The Puppet Ballad’s true terror lay in its secrecy.
“Give me some time, and I can replace them, step by step, then…”
“Checkmate.”
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