Chapter 106
"I'm afraid you don't need to investigate Adele any further; it's pointless."
Xia Er shook his head gently and said, "Sheren died at the Russell family’s estate. Do you know how he died?"
"All I know is that Sheren is dead, and his body has returned to the Redemption Society. I had no idea the Russell family was involved..."
Ji Di spoke up, her tone somewhat weak. "The young lady of the Russell family had already dismissed the household staff before the incident. My informants there couldn't bring back any information; I have no idea what happened."
Xia Er was somewhat surprised that Ai Wei Na had not been exposed yet.
In the simulation earlier, Ai Wei Na had been attacked by Ji Di, which likely stemmed from an investigation that led back to Adele. It could also be related to Ai Wei Na and Adele reporting Yuli Si together.
Ji Di, kneeling before Xia Er, felt a bitter pang in her heart.
The intelligence network she had painstakingly built in Bole City, which she believed was foolproof, had proven to be utterly transparent before this man.
He seemed to know everything, even her investigation into Adele.
"This wasn't the work of the Russell family," Xia Er shook his head. "You don't need to investigate Ai Wei Na either; it would only bring trouble. Right now, Ai Wei Na is under my control, and her third-tier 'Crown Guard,' Nia, has already been influenced by me. They won't pursue this matter any further."
Xia Er's words sent a chill through Ji Di, who was still kneeling on the ground.
The young lady of the Russell family had been so easily controlled? How long had it been since the incident...
And that third-tier 'Crown Guard' had already been affected... had she become an ally too?
Resolving a third-tier issue so casually... the power of this man was unfathomable.
But Ji Di still couldn't grasp it.
"I don't understand..."
Ji Di slowly spoke, tentatively asking, "Why did Sheren die at the Russell estate, yet it wasn't the Russell family that did it? Were they not involved?"
"You... are not yet at a level where you can access this information."
Xia Er shook his head gently.
Not at that level?
A flicker of confusion crossed Ji Di's mind.
She was on the verge of being promoted to High Priestess; was her level still insufficient?
What level would be required to uncover the truth behind this?
Was this even something she could intervene in?
"If I were to directly speak the truth and her name... she would know immediately."
Xia Er continued, "But I can convey half the truth to you in a special way."
"Please enlighten me, my lord."
Ji Di lowered her head deeply again, her heart racing with anxiety.
Could she really access the deeper secrets of the church at her level?
Why would this man choose to tell her?
Wouldn't speaking of these matters bring some form of punishment?
Or did he have a compelling reason to share?
And...
Just mentioning names and truths would lead the other party to know directly?
This sounded... eerily similar to the Mother Goddess.
Was the other party a descendant or avatar of some deity?
A creeping fear of the unknown began to envelop Ji Di's heart. She dreaded hearing news that could cost her life, yet she couldn't bring herself to turn away.
"Originally, I wouldn't have sought you out,"
Xia Er said, looking at Ji Di, who had buried her head deeply before him. "But this matter has drawn the church's plans into it, so I had no choice but to find you."
"A mysterious intelligence organization has arrived in Bole City. Currently, only I and the young lady of the Russell family are aware of their presence..."
Xia Er paused slightly, as if weighing his words, then continued slowly:
"This organization has been sabotaging the church's plans. I was ordered to investigate it, and that young lady from the Russell family, unknowingly, has been manipulated by this intelligence organization into doing certain things..."
Is this... really happening?
An intelligence organization that continuously undermines the church's plans is right here in Bole City?
And I didn't notice a thing?!
A wave of guilt washed over Ji Di, causing her to bow her head even lower.
No wonder her plans had repeatedly failed... it turned out she had already ventured into a realm beyond her comprehension.
Suddenly, the man before Ji Di stumbled back, colliding with a bookshelf, causing several books to tumble to the ground.
"Oh no... she heard our conversation... she knows now..."
The urgency in Xia Er's voice made Ji Di's heart race.
He hadn't lied... despite not mentioning any names, the people from that intelligence organization somehow knew the content of their discussion!
"Quick! Ji Di! Gather everyone in the chapel!"
Xia Er turned and flung open the door, saying, "Not just the congregation; bring everyone to the chapel!"
"My lord... this stronghold..."
Ji Di wanted to say more but was cut off.
"Gather everyone in the chapel! Don’t make me repeat myself!"
Xia Er suddenly raised his foot and stomped toward Ji Di's head, angrily saying, "Everyone!"
"I need to... attempt to summon the Mother Goddess in the chapel to confront her... hurry!"
"Remember to bring more high-tier materials to the chapel for the sacrifice!"
"Yes! Yes, my lord!"
Ji Di felt her mind explode with excitement at the thought of summoning the Mother Goddess. She quickly pulled her head away from beneath Xia Er's foot, not lingering any longer, and dashed past him toward the underground chapel.
Summoning the Mother Goddess...
The thrill of being stepped on and the possibility of encountering the Mother Goddess filled Ji Di's heart with fervor.
She would gather everyone in the underground chapel as the lord instructed!
Meanwhile, Xia Er disdainfully lifted his right foot, rubbing the sole against the sharp edge of the bookshelf.
No need for a fight to gather people...
Perhaps he should just try summoning.
If successful, it would give him leverage against that "Glorious Bishop"...
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Chapter 84: You're Even More Impressive Than Cultists
"The Dedton Manor has fallen on hard times too... Just look at the bulletin board; what kind of requests are these? Finding Baron Hastings' daughter’s cat? Helping the Redemption Society distribute antidotes? And this... assassinating members of the North Ansu Brotherhood operating in Bole City? Still anonymous... When did you start issuing such politically charged requests?"
"Isn't there anything more challenging? Like finding some cultists and disrupting their rituals to summon evil gods?"
In the Dedton Manor's request hall, a woman with a wild mane of pink curls scratched her head while continuously grumbling.
However, the people around her ignored her, and a man wearing a green chip mask at the counter, after a moment of silence, asked:
"Miss Goodwin, do you wish to continue taking requests? If not, please make way for those behind you."
"Heh, I'm done. I won't be coming back to Dedton Manor again."
The woman, referred to as Goodwin, snatched the membership card from the attendant's hand, gave him a friendly gesture, and turned to leave.
But when she turned around and saw the scene behind her, she froze.
Three individuals, clearly "gamblers," stood at the exit, seemingly discussing something. Goodwin's sharp eyes caught sight of them loading bullets into their handguns.
What are these "gamblers" doing loading bullets inside Dedton Manor?
This is the request hall, not the death roulette hall.
A strong sense of danger made Goodwin's brow furrow slightly, but she pretended not to notice and called out to the attendant, "Hey, where's the restroom?"
"It's just down the corridor on your left; open the door and walk straight to the end."
The attendant remained remarkably calm, continuing to provide directions despite Goodwin's attitude.
"Alright, thanks."
Goodwin waved her hand without looking back, turning left and heading toward the corridor, avoiding the three men stationed at the entrance.
Just as she turned and was about to step into the side corridor, a deep voice rang out from the entrance.
"Goodwin."
Instinctively, Goodwin turned to look in the direction of the voice, only to see three dark gun barrels aimed at her.
Click, click, click—
"Damn it!"
Goodwin cursed under her breath, quickly stepping into the side corridor, pressing herself against the wall at a right angle to the door, and peeking out slightly to see what was happening.
All three shots were blanks...
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