Chapter 152
Fervor and devotion can mask some irrationalities, but Shaer could not allow Tara to harbor any doubts; otherwise, she would lose a valuable ally and the intelligence network within the Shenglin Sect.
Shaer shifted her line of questioning.
"You mentioned that you rose to the position of Archbishop through knowledge, relying on your strength as a 'missionary'?"
Shaer looked at Tara and inquired.
"Yes, revered Mother Goddess," Tara replied, lowering her gaze. "But compared to your vast reservoir of knowledge, what I possess in my mind is merely a grain of sand in the ocean... I am grateful that the Mother Goddess can converse with her humble servant in a language I can understand. Thank you..."
"Then let me test you."
Shaer quickly formulated her next question. "In this galaxy, on this planet, if someone suffers misfortune as a punishment for violating the 'rules,' what might have happened to them?"
"That person must have violated the teachings of the Shenglin Sect, defying the grace of the Mother Goddess! They would surely face your divine retribution! The Mother Goddess above, misfortune will accompany them for a lifetime!" Tara declared emphatically.
Shaer: "..."
Is there any room for communication here?
"Do you know what has been happening in this city?"
Shaer decided to take a roundabout approach.
"Yes, Mother Goddess," Tara began slowly. "At the Dedun Manor, they gloriously sacrificed themselves, summoning divine servants and awakening part of your memory... Unfortunately, the forces there are chaotic, and we cannot hold a funeral or recite eulogies for those brothers and sisters..."
"Do you know the Dedun Group? What about the one called Luxi Xiluofa, the 'Chosen One'?"
Shaer continued her inquiry.
"Of course, Mother Goddess. She is our primary focus, but we haven't found an opportunity to spread the word of our faith to her."
Tara looked up at Shaer and added, "However, it seems she has recently encountered some trouble. Perhaps we can seize this opportunity to guide her back to the right path, to abandon the notions of victory and fate, and embrace faith."
Tara seems to know something after all?
Chapter 103: The Door Opens, The Tribunal!
"Mm."
Shaer did not ask further but nodded slightly, signaling Tara to continue.
"There has always been a 'Dark Nail' by Luxi's side. Recently, her behavior has been strange, as if she has encountered something unusual... However, this has also led to several of our followers being discovered during their infiltration, captured by the heretics."
"Not long before you arrived, the 'Dark Nail' reported that Luxi Xiluofa was severely injured and likely near death... We can take this opportunity to set her on the right path."
At this point, Tara paused briefly before saying, "If you agree, the 'Dark Nail' will act before dawn."
Is there a heretic planted beside Luxi?
Hasn't the Dedun Group in Ansu City already begun internal cleansing? How did that 'Dark Nail' evade detection? Or did it manage to slip through because it has been following Luxi on her outings?
It seems Tara can sense something amiss with Luxi, but she doesn't know the specifics.
"There's no rush for now," Shaer said slowly. "If you are to act, you must first investigate the source of the misfortune... This is your test."
Whether Luxi would be developed into a heretic in the simulation was of no concern to Shaer; she only cared about uncovering the truth, no matter the means.
"Yes! Mother Goddess!"
Upon hearing the word "test," Tara took a deep breath, stood up, and bowed toward Shaer. "Your humble servant will investigate immediately!"
With that, Tara swiftly turned and dashed out, not waiting for Shaer to say another word before she burst through the door.
About ten seconds later, the wooden door creaked open, and Tara cautiously stepped back in. "I need to change my clothes, Mother Goddess..."
Shaer had intended to remind her that she hadn’t changed out of her nightgown yet.
"I will check the results before noon," Shaer said, stepping forward to pat Tara on the shoulder. "This is key to reclaiming my power and memory."
Feeling Shaer's encouragement, Tara's spirit soared, her breath becoming heavy with determination.
"I... I promise to complete the task!!!"
With that, Tara bolted up the stairs, and by the time she returned dressed, Shaer had already vanished from the room.
The Mother Goddess... has she left?
Tara stepped forward, reaching the spot where Shaer had stood moments ago. She took a deep breath, slowly raised her hands, and wrapped them around herself as if embracing the air.
The scent of the Mother Goddess is so warm...
Even the words of the Mother Goddess, her expressions, her demeanor, felt like a gentle spring breeze.
Though the characteristics she had imagined and deciphered from ancient texts differed greatly from reality, the incomplete restoration of power and memory made it somewhat acceptable.
To be honest, Tara preferred the current form of the Mother Goddess.
After all, the appearance she had pieced together from ancient texts was far too... divine and indescribable.
After calming her excited heart, Tara quickly exited the room and made her way toward the outskirts of the city under the night sky.
...
At this moment, Shaer was walking along Cat's Eye Stone Street. She opened the system to confirm the remaining time before heading toward Gem Avenue, planning to walk all the way to the Jazz Bridge District and visit Aivina's home.
At this hour, Aivina was likely already asleep, but Shaer had limited time and had to sacrifice a bit of Aivina's sleep.
She needed to find Nia before misfortune struck, to have Nia relay to Aivina the address of that royal Opode.
Misfortune could strike at any moment; she had to cherish every second.
The shadow horse had already exhausted all its energy and dissipated, leaving Shaer to rely on her own legs. Having the shadow carry her was not much faster, but it was far more exhausting.
Tara was already assisting her in investigating the source of the misfortune. If she could survive until noon tomorrow, she might learn something from Tara.
Having a loyal subordinate indeed brought Shaer many benefits; at least when she couldn't be in two places at once, Tara could help her investigate certain matters.
Unfortunately, Tara was unstable, and Shaer was not yet willing to interact with her in reality.
After all, Tara was loyal not to her, but to the "Mother Goddess." Until Shaer could confirm whether she could fully control her, she would not engage with Tara in the real world.
Suddenly, Shaer keenly sensed the sound of hooves at the end of the street. She slowed her pace, hiding her figure in the shadows of a nearby building.
Who? Who's out driving a carriage at this hour...
To avoid any potential encounters with extraordinary beings or raising suspicions, Shaer prepared to wait quietly for the carriage to pass. But when she caught sight of the silver-armored warhorse, she froze.
Is that Nia's warhorse?
The person sitting in that carriage was likely Aivina.
As the outline of the carriage came into view, she confirmed her suspicion when she saw the silver armor behind the warhorse.
What a coincidence?
Should I seize the moment to ask?
At that moment, Nia, controlling the warhorse, also noticed the extraordinary being hiding in the shadows watching her, but she made no move, intending to pass by directly.
Why would someone from the Tribunal be in the Gem District? Haven't all the properties of the heretics been confiscated by now?
Nia cracked the whip, urging the warhorse to speed up. Inside the carriage, a hand engulfed in black flames emerged from the shadows.
Inside the carriage, Aivina sat on a soft cushion, staring blankly out the window, her eyes unfocused, unaware of what she was gazing at.
She didn't even notice that a shadow had slowly emerged from her own shadow, sitting beside her.
Suddenly—
The carriage came to a sudden halt in the middle of the road.
Bright silver, ethereal armor flared to life beside Aivina, and at that moment, Nia yanked the door open, grabbing Aivina's arm and pulling her behind her, raising her sword to point at the terrifying shadow.
"May I ask what business you have, sir?"
A cold metallic hum emanated from the gaps in the armor, and Nia's silver armor shimmered with a glow, ready to defend at a moment's notice.
Is there an enemy?
Only then did Aivina slowly begin to comprehend the situation. She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and looked toward the shadow in the carriage.
"Shaer?"
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