With the arrival and direct oversight of the Holy Son of Extinction, a fresh wave of vitality seemed to breathe into the transfer checkpoint at Rock Confluence Station. The stifling sluggishness that had previously choked the hall gave way to an inexplicable efficiency. Beneath the bright lamplight, the glistening white tiles reflected a hurried, bustling crowd that had suddenly turned calm and orderly.
Clerics at the security checkpoint took over the high cleric's duties. Under the watchful, severe gaze of the Holy Son, their movements became decisive, swift, and sharp, vastly improving the flow of traffic.
Lanqi looked around. Standing amid the crowd, he seemed entirely aloof, yet his very gaze acted like a conductor's baton, quietly orchestrating order out of chaos.
Having let the two students from his academy go, Lanqi—thoroughly disguised as the Holy Son of Extinction—turned his attention back to the high cleric beside him.
"Lord Anello, do you require an escort on your journey to the Imperial Capital?" the high cleric asked promptly upon feeling that gaze fall on him.
Though his mood had been foul over botching the previous task, the Holy Son's reprimand, harsh as it sounded, had left plenty of leeway. It seemed there was new work to assign him.
Lanqi did not nod, merely signaling with his eyes for the high cleric to walk and talk. As he strode forward, the handcuffs gave a light tug, prompting Side to follow after him like a lifeless doll.
"..."
The high cleric quickly fell into step with the Holy Son, heading toward the broad corridor leading to the platforms behind the checkpoint.
Even he could sense the terrifying potency of the cursed seal mana clinging to the woman beside the Holy Son. Clearly, the Holy Son had conditioned and disciplined her into utter submission; even her mental willpower appeared virtually sealed away.
"I have a far more important task for you," Lanqi instructed plainly. "I have already summoned the other high clerics. Return to the temple first; you should prepare to set out today."
He had come from the local Temple of the Knights of Extinction and had already finished briefing several high clerics at Rock Confluence Station. This was the last one.
Soon, Lanqi would head to the platform to board the mana rail train arriving shortly for the Imperial Capital, Herrom.
The interview was imminent; time was of the essence.
His interview program would be broadcast across screens throughout Herrom, including a simultaneous feed on the largest skyscraper screen in the Herrom Plaza commercial district. If Hyperion had already reached the Imperial Capital during his journey through the north, there was a strong chance she would see him.
As conventional wisdom went: if you get separated from your companion, wait for them in the most conspicuous place possible.
Lanqi and the high cleric traversed an expansive hall. High up beneath the vaulted dome of Rock Confluence Station, a colossal clock ticked softly, its clear, deliberate chimes echoing through the vast space.
In this concourse where a new order had taken hold, the crowd thinned the further they walked.
They eventually turned into a quiet corridor, leaving the noise behind like the faint traces of receding water on a shore. Their elongated shadows danced across the walls, swaying to and fro with their footsteps.
"Aside from me, Askesan has also summoned all direct retainers and high clerics currently in the north to head to the Northern Border Province with utmost haste."
At last, Lanqi formally outlined the mission.
"Lord Askesan may be gravely injured right now. I have a more critical assignment in the Imperial Capital and cannot go to his aid in person."
As he spoke, his voice dropped half an octave, and his usually composed expression betrayed a subtle sense of crisis.
"Lord Askesan is injured?" The high cleric's eyes widened in astonishment. Clearly, he had never imagined that the Bishop of Extinction would require reinforcements—it sounded as though he had run into catastrophic trouble.
"Do not speak of this to anyone," Lanqi warned.
"Understood." The high cleric nodded repeatedly. Yet even as he agreed, grasping the gravity of the situation, strange ripples began to stir in his heart.
Askesan had given the Holy Son an entirely different assignment, sending him to the Imperial Capital far from the northern frontier, while summoning the high clerics north for support.
If the Bishop of Extinction was so weakened that he had to be on guard even against the Holy Son...
Then, if he joined forces with the other high clerics, would they have a chance to take the Bishop of Extinction down?
However, when the high cleric looked up again, he found the Holy Son staring straight into his eyes. That piercing gaze seemed to see right through his inner thoughts, sending a jolt of terror straight through his soul.
"I advise you not to entertain any foolish ideas. If Lord Askesan decided to summon you, he will certainly not leave you an opening. If he senses any disloyalty, he will eradicate you on the spot as a mortal enemy."
Lanqi offered the heartfelt reminder, which doubled as a stern warning.
"Of course, of course," the high cleric stammered, cold sweat drenching his back.
Footsteps clicked crisply in the hallway. Occasionally, timetables flickered on magic crystal screens, their glowing outlines and lettering casting a faint glow in the dim light.
Few people ever set foot in this corridor. With every step, the clamor of the main concourse faded, ultimately settling into a quiet, deserted gloom.
"Very well. You may return."
Lanqi's crisp command echoed distinctly down the corridor.
The high cleric bowed respectfully to Lanqi, then turned and walked toward the end of the dim passage until his figure faded into the distant shadows.
Lanqi watched him go for a moment, then tugged Side along as he resumed walking forward.
"I gave him a well-meaning reminder. Whether he listens or not is beyond my control," Lanqi said, shaking his head.
Though the Bishop of Extinction, Askesan, had been gravely injured, he was not bound by seals. After so many days of recovery, he would have no trouble dealing with Tier 7 foes. Even if the high clerics banded together to attack Askesan, sending any number of them would simply be a suicide run.
"..."
Side, walking beside him with her head down, maintained her obedient, doll-like facade.
Inside, however, she was on the verge of losing it.
Along the way, she had listened to this bastard deliver the exact same speech to every single high cleric.
She could bet her life that after Lanqi had fed them this much information, coupled with recent events, there was no way these high clerics wouldn't suspect Askesan's true condition. Nor could they resist the temptation of what Askesan might drop upon death—the Original Slate - Seal, not to mention those Tier 7 and Tier 8 Pink Sacred and Purple Rare cards. If they could upgrade their Proof of Resurrection into a Proof of Bishop, it would even grant them a major opportunity to break through to Tier 7.
To make matters worse, every time Lanqi met a cleric, he would first berate them thoroughly for their poor performance.
Take this high cleric: having bungled the situation with the Milford Territory, he was likely facing severe punishment anyway.
Rather than waiting for disaster to strike, he would far prefer sounding out the other high clerics to see if an opportunity arose to stab Askesan in the back.
Next, this pack of treacherous high clerics would form groups and travel in small bands to the Northern Border Province to track Askesan down...
Yet Askesan, recuperating in the Northern Border Province, had never issued any order for them to find him.
The moment Askesan saw his high clerics inexplicably converging on his hideout, his guard would immediately shoot through the roof!
And in the eyes of the high clerics, his defensive posture would look like proof that Askesan had uncovered their treachery.
Guilty as they already were, the clerics knew all too well that Askesan never showed mercy to traitors. Driven into a corner, they would have no choice but to rebel.
The sequence of events was practically set in stone: Askesan would end up slaughtering his own high clerics with his bare hands, one after another.
In the end, Askesan probably wouldn't even understand why every single one of his high clerics had rebelled. After all, he had never breathed a word to the Holy Son about the injuries he sustained in the north. Even if the Holy Son had betrayed him, things shouldn't have played out like this.
This would weaken Askesan yet another step.
Just thinking about it brought a smile to Side's lips.
As the two of them strolled down the corridor, bound by the handcuffs, Side finally gave the chain a gentle tug.
"To be honest, I've discovered another shining quality in you. For me, it's an irreplaceable asset,"
Side whispered softly.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Lanqi leaned in slightly, listening with an impassive expression.
He always enjoyed receiving sincere praise from others.
"In the future, whenever I want to do something evil and start feeling a twinge of guilt, talking to you will remind me that I'm practically an angel by comparison. Then I can unleash hell with a clear conscience."
Side voiced her thoughts in a whisper barely audible to the ear, much like a student murmuring secrets to a deskmate during class.
"..."
Lanqi's face settled into a polite, empty smile. Acting as though he hadn't heard a single word, he led her on toward the platforms.
Chapter 362