Chapter 380
Xia'er did not react excessively; she simply followed closely behind Wen Sha with a calm demeanor.
The maid opened the door, and Wen Sha looked down the dimly lit corridor illuminated by oil lamps. Turning back, she smiled at Xia'er and said, "Please don't mind, my teacher just loves environments like this underground."
With that, Wen Sha stepped into the corridor, and Xia'er followed closely behind her, her left hand tensed, ready to press the pocket watch hidden in her uniform skirt at any moment.
As long as it wasn't a sudden sonic attack like the one from the Strong Sound, Xia'er should be able to evade it using her "Prophet's Vision," at least giving her time to activate the pocket watch.
Wen Sha stopped in front of a heavy, ancient wooden door, raised her hand, and knocked.
The moment the knock echoed, a series of "clack clack" footsteps sounded, and the thick wooden door swung open, revealing the scene inside to Xia'er.
"Teacher Lafayette." Wen Sha bowed respectfully at the entrance.
Xia'er, however, did not bother with such formalities. Her gaze passed over Wen Sha and swept toward the figure who had opened the door... a "being."
It was a strange creature, vaguely humanoid, with a gaunt frame that barely reached Xia'er's knees. Its skin was so dark that its features were nearly indistinguishable.
The creature's slender limbs ended in four almost identical claw-like fingers, connected by a thin, pink membrane, with another layer of flesh linking its hands to its waist—looking like a mutated, hairless flying squirrel in human form.
Xia'er narrowed her eyes slightly, but the creature merely crouched down after opening the door and crawled into the underground collection room on all fours, heading toward the operating table. Xia'er followed its movement with her gaze.
"Chirp—"
A high-pitched sound escaped its mouth, and a figure draped in a white lab coat, sitting beside the operating table, slowly turned to look toward the door.
Her face was obscured by a thick cotton mask and dark goggles, and gloves and bandages covered any skin that might have been exposed—there was not a single inch of her skin visible.
A muffled voice came through the cotton mask from the woman.
"Little Wen Sha... is that your female friend?"
The accent was somewhat stiff, suggesting she was not a local from Ansu, and in Ansu language, there was no need to emphasize the word "female" in such a context—unless her native language had a specific term for a female friend.
Moreover, the surname "Lafayette" that Wen Sha used was not an Ansu surname... but rather a well-known historical family name from the neighboring region of Falos.
"A friend I just met... She seems to be having some mental issues, and I was hoping you could take a look at her," Wen Sha said as she stepped inside.
"Hehehe... well, you came at just the right time... I'm leaving in a couple of days." Lafayette let out a deep, rumbling laugh, then turned her gaze toward Xia'er and said, "Hello, child."
"(Falos language) It's a pleasure to meet you, esteemed Lady Lafayette." Xia'er slightly bowed her head and greeted her in fluent Falos.
"(Falos language) Your Falos is quite standard, child, hehehe..." Lafayette chuckled as she looked at Xia'er, then switched back to Ansu language, "But you should stick to Ansu; otherwise, she won't understand."
"Of course." Xia'er smiled slightly, her peripheral vision scanning the collection room's arrangement.
On the cabinets along the wall, jars and bottles containing human remains were still displayed, but many of the butterfly bones hanging from above were missing... It seemed that in the next hundred days, Wen Sha would be killing quite a few people.
However, with the presence of this strange "newborn," these things seemed a bit more reasonable...
"I can understand... Teacher Lafayette." Wen Sha forced a smile, trying to defend her own dignity.
Falos was a required subject for the nobility, and having grown up surrounded by it, Wen Sha couldn't possibly be completely ignorant. Of course, if asked to write, she wouldn't know how—she had gone to great lengths to avoid studying.
"Hehehe..." Lafayette smiled at Wen Sha, then turned her gaze back to Xia'er, raising her hand and slowly beckoning her, "Child, come here and let me have a look at you."
Xia'er hesitated for a second but ultimately chose to step forward, walking up to Lafayette.
Lafayette raised her left hand, her cold, bandaged hand grasping Xia'er's right hand, then lifted her right hand to gently press on the metallic rim of her dark goggles.
Click—
The dark circular lens popped up, revealing Lafayette's grayish-white pupils, which were filled with red veins, but all Xia'er could see were two round eyeballs, as if there were no eyelids to cover her eyes.
Even without the lens, Xia'er couldn't see any of her skin... it was as if she had no skin at all.
The moment the black lens popped open, Lafayette's left hand, which was holding Xia'er's right hand, released it as if shocked. She suddenly looked up, meeting Xia'er's calm gaze, a flicker of fear crossing her mind.
"What is your name?"
Lafayette finally asked for Xia'er's name, no longer referring to her as "child."
"Xia'er."
Lafayette stared into Xia'er's eyes, and after a long pause, she slowly raised her hand to press the circular lenses back down, covering her eyeballs once more.
"You must have had quite a unique experience, Xia'er... how did you end up like this?" Lafayette finally stopped her habitual laughter, looking at Xia'er with curiosity, "What... did you see?"
Lafayette's question posed no challenge for Xia'er; she could easily explain how her mind had come to be in such a state without lying.
"I was at the sacrifice in Deton Manor in Berun City; I witnessed the arrival of that otherworldly being firsthand." Xia'er lowered her head slightly and replied, "At that time, I hadn't yet become an extraordinary being."
Witnessing a cult's ritual for summoning an evil god while still an ordinary person? No wonder...
Looking at Xia'er in her Deton Group uniform, Lafayette was inclined to believe her story. The sacrifice in Berun City had been grand but ultimately fizzled out; even the Queen's Sword had failed to uncover any results.
"I see..." Lafayette nodded, pondering for a moment before looking at Xia'er and asking, "Miss Xia'er, what are your thoughts on the Church of the God of Order...?"
The Church of the God of Order?
Lafayette was affiliated with the Church of the God of Order?
Xia'er’s mind raced as she slowly replied:
"As far as I know, the Church of the God of Order embodies justice and order, making significant contributions to maintaining stability in Ansu..."
"I have had a great interest in law since I began my studies, but due to my impoverished background, I only had contact with the Church of the Savior Goddess. It was through Commissioner Lucy's help that I was able to reach where I am today."
Listening to Xia'er, Lafayette nodded slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of appreciation.
"Then... Miss Xia'er, are you still interested in the Church of the God of Order?" Lafayette asked with a smile, "I can recommend you."
"But... I am an employee of the Deton Group..." A hint of hesitation crossed Xia'er’s face.
"There are members of the Russell family who also believe in the Church of the Savior Goddess," Lafayette chuckled, "Belief does not conflict with the organization you serve, child; faith is a higher spiritual need that everyone must have."
"Well... please allow me to consider it and learn more about the Church of the God of Order, Lady Lafayette." Xia'er slightly bowed her head, not giving an immediate answer.
To agree so hastily to align with a belief would only raise Lafayette's suspicions.
"Think of it as a consideration for your mental well-being, Miss Xia'er," Lafayette said cheerfully, "I will be here for another two days, so if you change your mind, feel free to come find me."
After Lafayette finished speaking, Xia'er appropriately displayed a look of confusion, hesitating to ask, "You mentioned considering my mental well-being... does the Church of the God of Order have a way to resolve my current situation?"
The Church of the God of Order had no solutions—at least from Xia'er's experience in the last simulation, she had seen no indication that the Church had any means to address mental pollution.
If they did, the Church's "Crown Guardians" would have been invincible long ago.
Unless the higher-ups of the Church of the God of Order held secrets that Xia'er was unaware of.
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