CHAPTER 977: CHAPTER 170: WHAT LIES AHEAD

The two Shadow Church cultists were taken away by soldiers under the City Hall.

One of the heretics was on the verge of death, and after taking over the investigation, they would perform treatment on him.

Mayor Matteus returned to the uppermost level of the dungeon and shot a cold glance at One-eyed Vic, who had taken them on a twenty-minute tour of the dungeon before finally bringing them to the holding area for Shadow Church believers.

Assistant Valendo stepped out from behind the mayor and stood tall in front of One-eyed Vic.

"Vicar Interrogator, for detaining heretics without reporting it, violating the rules by interrogating prisoners..." There was a brief pause, and the young assistant added, "and for providing false information to delay time, you will be temporarily suspended."

"During the suspension, you will be controlled and unable to leave Vena Ice-Free Port until the Privy Council completes their investigation. If you have any objections, you can raise them now."

"Suspended!? But—"

Balentin stepped forward to confront Assistant Valendo but was roughly pulled back by One-eyed Vic.

"Take it as a vacation after those ten months without any relaxation."

With his only eye, One-eyed Vic stared fixedly at the young assistant.

Assistant Valendo nodded in acknowledgment and turned to catch up with Mayor Matteus as they disappeared up the stone stairs.

"Why not tell us the results of the interrogation!"

Once everyone not belonging to the dungeon had left, Balentin couldn’t help but shout.

"Tell what?"

"Tell those superiors that our Exorcist isn’t as glamorous as he appears."

One-eyed Vic’s gaze fell on this equally young subordinate: "Are you excited?"

"That’s why I’m here, Vicar..."

Balentin did not hide his pathological glee: "To expose the dirt hidden beneath the shiny surface, to reveal the ugly and filthy of the bigwigs."

"The Exorcist is greater than any bigwig you’ve ever met, and before him, Mayor Matteus is like a little sidekick." One-eyed Vic scrutinized his subordinate. "Do you truly want to tear down the façade of ’humanity’s hope’?"

Balentin realized something, and the long-held admiration gradually faded: "Neither dreams nor duty allow me to hide the truth."

"That’s because you don’t know what that means. Cutting away a part of a freezing person only makes them die faster." With the loss of his role as Inquisitor, One-eyed Vic no longer appeared constantly sharp and aggressive as he turned and left the dungeon.

"And stop calling me Inquisitor; I’ve been suspended."

Balentin shouted after them, "Can false beauty truly be more valuable than the harsh truth?"

His questioning received no answer as, like that figure, it disappeared into the depths of the stone stairway leading to the surface.

...

Bang!

The wooden door of the tavern was pushed open violently.

A figure holding an oil lamp rushed into the tavern, accompanied by a gust of wind and snow.

The waiter ran over to brace the door against the snowstorm, and the chaotic wind messing up hair and tablecloths calmed down.

"Hey Wick, it’s quite the bad weather," the tavern owner greeted the new arrival.

"It’s fine; if it were really bad, you wouldn’t have this groundhog open for business."

One-eyed Vic glanced around at the patrons whispering in twos and threes and sat at the counter.

"The last time you came was nine months ago," the tavern owner said with a smile; their relationship was clearly good.

One-eyed Vic put down the oil lamp and threw his animal fur coat onto another chair.

"Looks like business isn’t too good, or else you wouldn’t be so fixated on me."

"Still want Blood Dandelion Wine?" the tavern owner asked.

"Two cups, the strongest you have."

The tavern owner turned and took a bottle from the shelf.

At this moment, the wooden door was pushed open, the howling wind and snow rushed into the tavern, and the waiter quickly went to brace the door closed with his shoulder.

The incoming guest approached the counter, picked up One-eyed Vic’s coat, placed it on another empty chair, and sat at the counter.

The tavern owner glanced up at the quiet One-eyed Vic and pushed two glasses of Blood Dandelion Wine in front of them, then retreated to a distance to doze off.

"I heard you’ve been suspended."

The figure moved their Blood Dandelion Wine closer.

"I hope the information you got was worth it."

"I don’t plan to tell you." One-eyed Vic took a large swig of the spicy Blood Dandelion Wine. The liquid slipping down the throat evoked thoughts of lava and chili peppers.

"Seems you’ve indeed obtained some significant information." The figure slowly surveyed the tavern, as if observing its décor and layout. "Wick, have you forgotten about your deceased wife and daughter and the vows you made? Or is the enemy so powerful that you have backed down?"

Squeak—

The clenched fist and the glass cup rubbed against each other, creating a sound.

"Don’t mention my wife and children."

The figure shrugged and retracted their gaze.

"I just don’t want to be a weapon for you ugly politicians," One-eyed Vic continued.

"You shouldn’t think that way. We’re not using our relationship; it’s cooperation, just like before."

"Don’t fool me as if I’m an idiot; I can guess what you’re trying to do... Vena Neverfreeze Harbourers will be destroyed because of you."

"Correction, not us." Whether for a deceitful claim to obtain information or to clarify, the figure had to reveal a bit of truth to explain: "He is also from Vena Ice-Free Port; he won’t do anything to destroy his own homeland."

"Politicians are always both smart and foolish things." One-eyed Vic took another hard swig of the wine.

"You can trust him like you trust me."

"I trust no one."

One-eyed Vic’s hoarse whisper evoked thoughts of a lonely, dying yet still fierce old wolf on the snowy plains.

The figure tried a different way to probe for information: "Perseverance in this era is a rare and valuable quality. As a friend, I hope you don’t lose it."

One-eyed Vic didn’t speak anymore, only kept rapidly gulping down the ruby-colored Blood Dandelion Wine.

Gulp—gulp—gulp—

Bang!

The bottom of the cup slammed onto the counter, the wine mixed with saliva dripped down his beard, wetting his front, and the single eye between his matted brown hair filled with blood cues.

He took out a handful of money, slapped it on the table, donned his coat, and left silently and shakily.

The waiter shut the door behind him, sealing out the wind and snow. The figure quietly inclined their head, looking at the pile of bills One-eyed Vic left on the table.

There was a piece of paper among them.

...

He is the eternal enemy.

He cannot be named.

He calls himself the Lord of the Deep.

He exists as great as the Divinity.

At the alignment of the stars, he will be released from the seals of the ancient deities, by the sacrifices of his earthly followers.

He is a thief who stole the office of the Divinity.

He is unmatched.

Even the Tentacle Cultist warns of his terror.

Unlike the two classified systems of humans [Evil Spirit, Evil God, Strange, Evil God], [Ghost, Spirit, Essence, Monster], he is a true, high and mighty Divinity, as the legends say, with vast mighty power.

He belongs to the ancient deity awakening in Arlen Kingdom.

And also to the foreign Deity gazing from the depths of space.