Creti Imperial Calendar, November 15.
The day of the Moon God Festival.
It was winter, and this year's Moon God Festival had arrived on schedule once again.
A bleak northern wind blew, scattering fine flakes of snow across the sky.
"It's snowing."
"Good thing it let up quite a bit this morning."
In the faint morning light, the capital of the Creti Empire was already a bustling scene of jubilee.
Flapping vigorously in the wind and snow, colorful banners of the Elsaia Sanctuary hung high on both sides of the commercial district's streets, emblazoned in the center with a bright, full moon.
The street lamps leading to Saint Creti Monastery in the southern part of the city-state were all adorned with wreaths woven from laurel boughs. Priests clad in white cloaks and crowned with bronze crescents filed toward the Grand Hall Square at the center of the monastery early in the morning.
The great bell inside the temple tolled every fifteen minutes, its melodious chimes reverberating over the snow-covered streets.
Priests lined up before the temple gates, preparing to welcome citizens flocking from every district of Brillda to worship.
The Moon God Festival was one of the grandest celebrations in the Creti Empire, symbolizing the rebirth of all creation after the desolate winter. Nobles and commoners alike bathed, changed into clean garments, and solemnly attended the rites. Even in the bitter cold, their hearts brimmed with piety, joy, and hope. People believed the Moon Goddess looked down upon the mortal realm on this day, listening to everyone's wishes to fulfill their year-end desires.
In the central square of Saint Creti Monastery, a statue of the Moon Goddess tens of meters tall stood quietly, her elegant, benevolent face gleaming brightly in the morning sun.
Later in the day, a magnificent ceremonial procession would depart from the imperial palace and make its way to the Moon God Altar.
Meanwhile, within this vast monastery, the rooftop of Professor Landry's residence lay blanketed in white snow.
"It's about time. Let me see you all off," the young professor in the dining hall said to his companions, closing the book in his hands.
Today, he was dressed in a gray woolen coat. He had not changed his usual attire for the festival, remaining in his everyday working mode.
"Are you sure you won't join us for the morning Moon God service? Cold as it is, the grand spectacle is definitely worth seeing," Antanas asked as she stood up, a trace of regret in her tone.
Sigrid had been the first to slip out for some fresh air. She was intensely interested in the Moon God Festival. The Moon God was the deity the Bishop of Domination revered most, so upon hearing that Saint Creti Monastery would open many holy sites today, she had run off to wait in line before dawn.
A bit later, Talia, Hyperion, and Iphatia had also headed out together—a bond of demon princesses, as Antanas put it.
Now, only Lanqi, Boss Cat, and the other four Greater Demons remained in the house.
"Go enjoy yourselves. I still have several reports to review, so I'm afraid I can't get away," Lanqi replied gently.
He would likely have to work overtime today.
"You should take a break too, Lanqi."
Sinnola had always felt Lanqi got far too obsessed with work.
It had been the same back in the Protos Empire on the Northern Continent; whenever she saw Lanqi in the headmaster's office, he was buried in his duties.
Seeing him like that sometimes made her heart ache for him.
"Yeah, exactly!"
Antanas tried to entice him, leaning close and putting on the posture of a whispering devil as she urged him.
She wanted him to take the day off and have fun with everyone.
"As a professor at Saint Creti Monastery, I have events like the gathering at Eliot Hall to attend today. This morning, I need to check in with Yabo for intelligence. In the afternoon, I have administrative duties for the academy. And tonight after the festival wraps up, I have an appointment with Sixth War God Violet. I really won't be able to hang out with you all."
An apologetic smile curled at the corners of Lanqi's lips.
He knew Sinnola and Antanas meant well.
In the past, back in the Protos Empire, he might not have had any interest in leisure at all. But today, he genuinely wished he could join his friends—he was just truly swamped.
"Sigh, nobody wants to work overtime today except you," Sinnola said helplessly.
Neither she, Talia, Almis, nor Pranay—the demons who could actually sit still—wanted to work alone amid the holiday atmosphere. As for playful Greater Demons like Antanas, Iphatia, and Toriardo, forcing them to work today would probably feel worse than executing them.
"I can stay and help you," Pranay offered, resting a hand on the back of a dining chair.
To Pranay, the primary appeal of today wasn't partaking in the festivities anyway, but studying human culture. He had little need for entertainment, possessing patience in abundance.
"No need. This work mainly involves magic engineering and very little administrative paperwork. If I truly need your help, I won't hesitate to ask. For today, just go enjoy the holiday," Lanqi said with a shake of his head. He really couldn't bear dragging someone else into working overtime with him today.
The Moon God Festival was likely the final chance to unwind their taut nerves before the decisive battle.
Once the festival passed, they would have to face the fateful battle of Blood Moon City, where the other powerhouses would bear far greater combat pressure than he would.
Judging by their current assembled forces, they held an advantage in pure combat power; clearing the ruined Blood Moon City from the Blood Moon Ruined World era would be no issue.
However, aside from Third Progenitor Duke Rasheal, Seventh Progenitor Marquis Heritier, Eighth Progenitor Marquis Somerset, and Ninth Progenitor Marquis Bernhard, there was no telling whether this Blood Moon City beneath Creti harbored additional top-tier combatants.
"All right," Pranay sighed.
"The moon lanterns are finished. We can release them together in the courtyard tonight," the Ice Witch said, setting down the handcrafted item in her hands and addressing the others.
Yesterday, Iphatia had been weaving moon lanterns on the sofa, and Almis had helped finish the rest using the remaining materials.
The bamboo splints had been fashioned from supple bamboo joints, shaved into thin, lightweight strips that were flexible yet sturdy.
The moon lanterns constructed from them were essentially a variety of lantern, yet served as a traditional symbol of the Moon God Festival in Creti.
Curious, Antanas leaned in to examine the handcrafted creations finished by the Ice Witch.
Their construction was quite simple: first, bamboo splints were woven into a frame, then pasted over with dyed thin paper shaped like a canopy, and finally, an oiled paper candle was lit inside—
"Once lit, it gently rises into the sky, correct?"
Pranay had long studied this mechanism.
Here in the Creti Empire, they were called moon lanterns.
"Exactly," Lanqi nodded.
Iphatia had lived in the Creti Empire for over a decade, making her practically half-Cretian. She was the most familiar with these traditions, and nearly all the lanterns had been made by her.
The morning light slanted through the dining hall's floor-to-ceiling windows onto the table beside them, where two thick, neat stacks of oiled paper gleamed with a warm luster under the sun.
Pine logs in the fireplace crackled and popped amidst roaring flames, filling the room with warmth.
The faint aroma of tea rising from the tea set on the long table blended seamlessly with the scent of the hearth.
They lingered in the dining room, chatting before parting ways.
"Well then, we're heading out! If you get lonely, feel free to call us anytime!"
Moments after those words left her lips—
before anyone could say another word—
the air in the living room began to warp, growing brighter and brighter until a silvery vortex materialized into a seemingly ethereal doorway, within whose mirrored surface countless distorted souls seemed to swirl.
Eighth-tier mana bloomed across the room, drawing the vigilant gazes of several Greater Demons.
Mana of such intensity put them on high alert!
However, they soon realized who this spatial mana belonged to and lowered their guard one by one.
Had Professor Landry's residence not been shielded by an all-encompassing barrier, a spatial mana surge of this magnitude would have instantly alerted the Creti Empire.
The vortex of the dimensional gate gradually stabilized, its edges flickering with fiery arcs as it emitted an ear-grating hum.
"Toriardo, you're here," Lanqi said toward the dimensional gate, relieved.
One of the items on his schedule today had been to track down Toriardo.
Hearing how tense Toriardo sounded during their contact yesterday, he had been genuinely worried something might have happened to him.
"Lanqi, look at the surprise I've got for you!"
A series of brisk, steady footsteps echoed from within the spatial portal.
A handsome, visibly excited yet somewhat haggard young man stepped into the room, clutching a heavy photo album.
He wore an exquisite long black trench coat over a black-and-white checkered shirt. The long boots peeking from beneath his hem were flecked with fine grains of snow; he had clearly rushed here through the elements.
"Holy crap!"
Yet the moment he saw the figures staring back at him in the living room, he recoiled half a step in fright.
The other Greater Demons, however, did not look surprised at all, as if they had already known he was in Brillda and anticipated his arrival.
"Yabo, long time no see," Antanas greeted him with a wave.
"Good morning," Pranay greeted him as well.
"...?!"
Toriardo's jaw dropped as he gaped at the group.
How had all his old friends from the Demon Realm gathered here in the blink of an eye?
"Wait, what on earth did I miss?!"
Toriardo's mind raced once more, and he clutched his head in disbelief.
He had only vanished for a single day, and Lanqi's house had gained four Greater Demons!
By all accounts, they should have been in the Hutton capital of Ikerite protecting Princess Hyperion.
That meant Little Princess Hyperion must have brought them to Brillda herself!
What in the world had happened yesterday?!
"I need to comprehend the power of time and turn back the clock!" Toriardo muttered in utter agony.
"Stop dreaming. Even the Goddess of Fate probably couldn't reverse time," the Ice Witch offered by way of official debunking on the goddess's behalf.
A century apart, and Toriardo was still as eccentric as ever, lacking the slightest demeanor of someone in high authority—so much so that he was frequently mistaken for a common soldier in the Demon Realm army.
"Do you want to come hang out with us?" Antanas ran over with a laugh to invite him.
She loved nothing more than gossiping with Iphatia or Toriardo.
They intended to wander outside the monastery, as Brillda had plenty of festive activities lined up for the Moon God Festival today.
After all, none of them were faculty, and lingering around Saint Creti Monastery outside the official ceremonial hours risked having their faces remembered, inviting unnecessary trouble.
"I... I have work..." Toriardo looked at the album in his hands, his eyes filled with inner turmoil.
He longed desperately to go out and play with his old friends, but he truly had business to discuss with Lanqi.
He was in a foul mood today, and he prayed no tactless fool would cross him and add to his workload.
"Sigh, hang in there. You've changed; you don't smile as much anymore," Antanas patted his shoulder and shook her head.
It seemed it truly was critical business for Toriardo to willingly work overtime.
This feeling was no different from watching all your friends head off on a winter holiday outing while you had to stay behind at school for remedial classes.
"Yeah, I was born without a smile," Toriardo ground out through clenched teeth.
"Now that you're here, make the best of it. Look on the bright side: you're not working overtime alone. If we finish early, maybe the two of us can still catch the festival," Lanqi comforted him, waving goodbye to the other Greater Demons.
"We're off!"
"We won't lock the door!"
"Let's set off fireworks and light lanterns in the yard tonight!"
The Greater Demons filed out through the entryway, bidding them farewell.
The lively dining room quieted down once again.
Outside the window, the snow-draped courtyard lay wrapped in silver. A tall fir stood at its center, its branches laden with glistening frost that refracted faint, multicolored sparkles.
"Lanqi, you're an absolute monster. How on earth do you manage to focus on working overtime all by yourself when everyone else is out having fun?"
Toriardo stared out at the frosted window, crying tears of a prisoner; he wanted to go out and play too.
"Just pretend we're back at the Protos Royal Magic Academy. You're a professor, I'm the headmaster, and it's totally normal for us to keep working while the students are on break."
Lanqi pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down.
"Where did you go yesterday?" he asked, turning to the serious matter at hand.
"Here's the thing. Aren't four of the members in our Silver Moon Restoration Society still unidentified?"
Toriardo casually set the album he had brought onto the table.
"Do you have a lead?" Lanqi's voice turned grave as he pressed him.
He had known Toriardo was trying to locate their allies over the past few days.
Currently, the unknown identities were Numbers 4, 6, 8, and 9.
According to previous exchanges in the group, Number 4 [Blazing] was the only member among the nine who had not yet returned to Brillda last month. Number 5 [Struggle] was Imperial Princess Alexia. Number 6 [Loyalty] had access to firsthand intelligence regarding mana fission from Saint Creti Monastery. Number 8 [Purity] had remained silent on the day mana fission intelligence was brought up, likely avoiding suspicion. And Number 9 [Hope] could obtain any intelligence so long as extra money was paid, suggesting substantial connections.
All five were comrades belonging to the Imperial Princess's faction, both acquainted with and trusted by her.
Originally, the divine communication magic cards for Numbers 4 and 5 had been crafted together and delivered to Imperial Princess Alexia by Abigail. The princess had kept Number 5 for herself and entrusted Number 4 to a confidant.
Later, Princess Alexia had requested the Number 6 divine communication card and passed it to a suitable candidate she had selected. Afterward, Abigail had used the channels of the Dimension Branch to send Number 7 to her junior disciple, Landry. Numbers 8 and 9 were the last to be completed, and Princess Alexia had taken both of them as well.
The fair pact established at the organization's inception dictated that no single person knew the identities of everyone else.
"I tried messaging those four privately, but given the princess's current peril, they didn't trust me at all."
Toriardo tapped the photo album on the table, indicating it was the clue.
"It wasn't until yesterday, after extensive preparation, that I managed to disguise myself as a palace attendant, slip into the imperial palace, and see the princess during the morning meal delivery. Closely monitored by the vampires, she didn't dare speak to me. Instead, she signaled with her eyes for me to steal her photo album, so I took it," Toriardo explained to Lanqi.
He had sneaked into the Creti Imperial Palace yesterday, which was why he hadn't been able to say much when Lanqi contacted him mid-mission.
"You actually infiltrated the Creti Imperial Palace?" Lanqi was genuinely taken aback, looking astonished.
Such a feat was probably only possible for someone as skilled and audacious as Cardinal of Dimensions Toriardo. If things went south, he could always open a portal and flee; anyone else who slipped up would face certain death.
"Sorry I couldn't get any intel out of Alexia. The palace was just too dangerous."
After weighing the risks repeatedly, Toriardo had refrained from taking the enormous gamble of trying to extract the princess.
With the final battle looming, abducting her now would escalate matters to a nationwide crisis across the Creti Empire. Not only would it alert the enemy and ruin their planned raid on Blood Moon City, but it could also provoke a joint encirclement by the War Gods and the vampires, wiping them out before National Day even arrived.
Aside from retrieving this album and confirming that Alexia was safe for now, he had gained nothing else.
"Don't worry, you've already done an incredible job. You truly are a master thief," Lanqi praised him.
He had initially thought they would never identify those Silver Moon Restoration Society comrades in time. Now, it seemed there was still hope of finding one or two before the battle.
Toriardo was practically the thief king of Brillda. Breaking into the Imperial Special Operations Division was one thing, but now he was stealing right out of the imperial palace.
On the day of the assault on Blood Moon City, any key asset could tip the scales of victory substantially.
"Once I got the album and left the palace, I came straight here. Come on, let's analyze it together," Toriardo frowned, opening the album between himself and Lanqi.
"Right."
Lanqi leaned in to examine it.
Since Imperial Princess Alexia had hinted for Toriardo to take this album, she had to believe it contained clues that would allow him to deduce candidates for Numbers 4, 6, 8, or 9.
Or at least one core member of the Silver Moon Restoration Society.
The dark-red cover bore gilded corners that showed faint signs of age; Princess Alexia seemed to have treasured it for a long time.
As Toriardo flipped through the pages, the front section consisted entirely of photographs of Alexia in court.
In the pictures, the Third Imperial Princess wore an ivory-white gown, an iridescent gemstone necklace gracing her throat.
Her sleek brown hair cascaded elegantly over her shoulders like silk.
Flipping further, photo after photo captured bits and pieces of Alexia's upbringing.
There was a picture of her reading beneath a stone pavilion in the palace rose garden, sunset filtering through the vines onto the open pages; another showed her galloping astride a steed at the Cyros Racecourse; and yet another depicted her in formal dress at an imperial banquet.
There was even a commemorative medal from before she graduated from Saint Creti Monastery, alongside a photograph of her with Barton Hall, former captain of the Imperial Palace Guard.
"Barton is in here," Toriardo noted as he flipped the page.
"Indeed, Barton was a trusted confidant of Alexia's," Lanqi recalled that Barton had once been an officer in the Palace Guard before leaving the military to become the leader of the Brillda Mafia. He was Number 3 of their Silver Moon Restoration Society.
Beyond that, they flipped through over half the album without spotting any other familiar faces.
"It can't be Barton. Alexia should know we've already joined forces with him. Besides, Barton's identity was an open card to Abigail from the start," Toriardo said, his hands moving faster.
In fact, it was through Barton's introduction that Alexia had joined the Silver Moon Restoration Society in the first place.
Suddenly, on a fresh page, his hands froze.
Toriardo glanced at the photograph, then looked up at Lanqi beside him.
Surprise flared in Lanqi's eyes as well.
One photograph commanded Lanqi's attention: Alexia stood side by side with a reddish-brown-haired youth on the terrace of an aristocratic mansion. The youth possessed striking, handsome features, with sharp, clear eyes and a distinguished bearing.
"This guy..."
Toriardo actually recognized him.
And he was certain Lanqi knew the young man even better.
"Nikolai?" Lanqi took the album and quickly flipped through the remaining pages to double-check. Sure enough, there was no one else besides Nikolai.
The youth beside Alexia was unmistakably Kestrel Nikolai from a few years ago.
"No way... This guy spends all his time hunting rebels, and he turns out to be one of our own in the Silver Moon Restoration Society?!"
Toriardo blurted out in shock.
"When he boarded the train that day, was he actually trying to provide cover for members of the Silver Moon Restoration Society rather than arrest them?"
Lanqi rested his chin in his hand, analyzing the situation.
Perhaps Princess Alexia had caught wind that a core member of the Silver Moon Restoration Society was arriving in the capital, heard about the train accident, and asked Nikolai to help receive them.
After all, if the worst happened and someone couldn't evade the military police inspection, being arrested by the chief of the Countermeasures Section using his authority meant he would actually have a way to release them later.
"Wait, that night when Barton asked for your new energy research data and Number 5, Princess Alexia, offered to take the risk to get it, Number 6 stepped in immediately to stop her and released the firsthand material directly. Didn't Nikolai take over your chalkboard classroom that very morning?" Toriardo asked Lanqi.
He hadn't spoken in the group chat that night, but he had followed the conversation closely.
"Yes. That was the day Nikolai brought me to the Imperial Special Operations Division, after which I became their magic engineering consultant," Lanqi agreed.
"Let's move, let's move," Toriardo said, rising to his feet.
Looking at it this way, based on Princess Alexia's hint, the answer was plain as day: Nikolai was very likely Number 6 [Loyalty] of the Silver Moon Restoration Society.
Kestrel Nikolai was currently on the verge of being promoted to the new director of the Imperial Special Operations Division. On the day of the assault on Blood Moon City, he could provide substantial cover and support on the surface.
Or rather, as long as the Imperial Special Operations Division wasn't targeting them on that day, it would already be an immense help.
The top priority was to visit Kestrel Nikolai at the Countermeasures Section of the Imperial Special Operations Division and confirm whether he was indeed the core member entrusted with a divine communication card by Princess Alexia.
"Let's roll."
Lanqi stored the album in a cabinet and hurried out through the entryway with Toriardo.
On this snowy morning, the bitter wind whipped up dead leaves and branches along the roadside.
Lanqi and Toriardo made their way through the residential streets of Saint Creti Monastery.
Although Toriardo could theoretically teleport them directly to the second floor of the downtown opera house and take a shortcut to the Special Operations headquarters, doing so risked someone discovering Professor Landry teleporting and deducing the spatial anchor points. Unless absolutely necessary, they had to adhere to the rule of exiting where they entered so as not to arouse the suspicion of watchers.
The two quickly navigated the maze-like residential quarter of the monastery and emerged onto a street bordering the square.
Toriardo's black magic-driven vehicle was parked quietly by the curb, a thin layer of frost coating its windows.
"Get in."
Toriardo was already used to playing chauffeur.
He slid into the driver's seat, while Lanqi took the passenger seat beside him.
The interior smelled faintly of leather, its seats plush and comfortable.
As Toriardo started the engine, the vehicle pulled away from the monastery square, heading toward the heart of Brillda.
Outside the window, snowflakes danced in the wind, dyeing the entire world a vast, desolate white.
"You're an esteemed Cardinal Bishop. Why do you always act like a deliveryman?"
Lanqi leaned back against the leather seat, turning his head to question Toriardo.
"I'd rather drive than exhaust myself using spatial magic to ferry people around. Do you have any idea how draining that mana consumption is?"
Toriardo gripped the steering wheel, flicking on his turn signal in the snow as he grumbled.
"I get it. Of course I get it. Some demons truly are an unbearable weight,"
Lanqi nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"..."
Toriardo shot Lanqi a sideways glance.
Even though he knew they weren't referring to the same thing, he surprisingly guessed who Lanqi was talking about.
It seemed Lanqi's day simply wasn't complete without bringing her up at least once.
Along the way, the scenery outside receded steadily.
Lanqi took in the sights of Brillda on the day of the Moon God Festival.
When the vehicle slowed and drove into the courtyard of an imposing institution, they had arrived at the Imperial Special Operations Division.
"Just stick with me in a bit; you don't need to say much. We're both academic personnel, so it's perfectly normal for us to travel together after leaving Saint Creti Monastery,"
Lanqi reminded Toriardo.
"No problem. Our tacit understanding back in Herrom on the Northern Continent was second to none,"
Toriardo stated with confidence.
More than half a year ago, he and Lanqi had frequently strolled and chatted around the Protos Royal Magic Academy.
The two stepped out of the vehicle and walked toward the main building of the Special Operations headquarters.
Before them, the headquarters' soaring spires pierced the sky from an open plaza, casting elongated, sharp geometric shadows across the ground.
The Special Operations building loomed beneath the snow-flecked firmament.
Lanqi led Toriardo up the steps leading into the structure.
The entire building was constructed of off-white granite, inscribed on all four sides with the motto "For the Glory of the Empire." Drifting snow brushed against the heavy metal doors several meters tall, lending a touch of softness to the austere institution.
"Professor Landry."
Upon entering the lobby, most members of the Special Operations Division bowed respectfully to Lanqi.
His immense potential and the impending power he was poised to wield were well known to everyone in the division.
Given Professor Landry's singular contributions and irreplaceable talent, so long as the incoming director did not stand in his way, his appointment as head of the Imperial New Energy Organization Committee was practically set in stone.
Guided by Lanqi, Toriardo followed him into the core sector of the Imperial Special Operations Division.
Navigating deep, winding corridors, the two arrived before a row of discreet offices.
Knock, knock.
Lanqi tapped lightly on the door at the very end of the hall, but received no response for a long time.
However, a passing agent from the Countermeasures Section took notice of Lanqi and Toriardo.
"Professor Landry, are you looking for us?" the agent asked, looking puzzled.
Usually, it was the Countermeasures Section looking for Professor Landry, "inviting" him over to their department—likely to the point of annoying him. Everyone knew the terrible relationship between Section Chief Nikolai and Professor Landry.
Today, the roles were shockingly reversed, with Professor Landry coming to find them on his own initiative.
"Yes. I'm looking for Nikolai. Is he in the division?"
Lanqi could only confirm that Chief Dex was not at headquarters.
Duke Dex had business at the imperial palace today.
During a grand Creti holiday like the Moon God Festival, Duke Dex, as a key minister and high noble, had numerous ceremonial duties to fulfill. He served more as a factional figurehead; merely standing beside the emperor carried significant political weight, making him an essential figure for stabilizing imperial authority.
"Section Chief Nikolai... Well, Maguire, the suspect accused of colluding with the Allied Forces, broke out of prison last night. Chief Nikolai is currently leading a team to track him down," the agent answered truthfully after a moment's hesitation.
Although Nikolai had instructed them not to speak carelessly around Professor Landry, news like this was easily discovered around headquarters anyway, so there was no need to hide it and offend the professor.
"..."
Lanqi raised an eyebrow.
Thinking about it carefully, if Maguire was a Blood Clan dependent, he could draw upon his Blood Master's authority at night. Combining a vampire marquis's authority with his own seventh-tier foundation, pulling off an unexpected jailbreak was entirely feasible.
Back during the second Shadow World, the Temple Villains' Banquet, Lanqi had witnessed traitorous Blood Clan dependents utilizing their Blood Master's authority after nightfall. Once darkness fell, if the Saint of Destruction unleashed [Blood Frenzy], a direct confrontation could very well have resulted in a total wipeout.
"Please help me contact Nikolai. I have an urgent matter to discuss with him," Lanqi instructed the agent.
"Understood."
Seeing Professor Landry's serious demeanor, the agent nodded and led him into an adjacent office. He reached out to Chief Nikolai using a magic communication device and handed the receiver to the professor.
"..."
Lanqi held the receiver, waiting for Nikolai to pick up.
Although Nikolai was only at the peak of the sixth tier, leading an elite squad of Special Operations agents made him more than capable of cornering an escaped fugitive like Maguire within Brillda.
The gap between the sixth and seventh tiers was substantial, but Loren had taught that if twelve or twenty church elites formed a raid party against a seventh-tier opponent, even a seventh-tier combatant would break out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, it was daytime now, so Maguire shouldn't be able to invoke his authority.
Before long, the line connected.
A garbled mess of noise crackled through the receiver.
"Nikolai, where are you? I need to speak with you," Lanqi said immediately.
"Pro... fessor Lan... you really..."
Kestrel Nikolai sounded somewhat caught off guard. It was truly a first for Professor Landry, whom he was always pursuing, to take the initiative to reach out to him.
Yet the static was heavy and buzzing, preventing Lanqi from hearing Nikolai's words clearly.
Realizing the connection was useless, Nikolai wasted no further time and hung up.
"He must be on duty, probably primed for battle at any second. He can't afford distractions," Toriardo remarked from the side.
He knew that state all too well; that had been him sneaking into the imperial palace yesterday.
The fact that Kestrel Nikolai had even spared a few words for Lanqi was already giving him immense face.
"He entered a signal-jammed area. There was also the sound of breaking waves and the metallic clatter of shipping containers," Lanqi analyzed thoughtfully. "I know where he is."
His eyes suddenly lit up.
Lanqi had heard those exact ambient sounds before.
It could only be the harbor of the Brillda Mafia.
After a night on the run, Maguire would inevitably flee to the gray zone to shake off the Special Operations Division's pursuit.
Only there could Maguire engage in direct combat free from the constraints of Brillda's city defense barrier and escape across the sea.
The mafia's docks were undoubtedly the optimal route.
"Thank you!"
Lanqi thrust the magic communication device back to the agent, and he and Toriardo spun on their heels, breaking into a run.
They sped through the checkpoints of the Special Operations Division.
Soon, they reemerged into the bustling lobby of the main building.
Bursting down the grand staircase that stretched all the way to the edge of the plaza, Lanqi sprinted ahead with Toriardo hot on his heels. Both were swamped today, with no time to spare for holiday festivities.
"To be honest, Nikolai is truly a loyal servant of the empire. He's been running multiple investigations lately and has even picked up traces of the Decay Branch..." Lanqi told Toriardo as they ran.
There were plenty of people who wanted Nikolai dead, including the Resurrection Church.
Working alongside Nikolai at the Special Operations Division, Lanqi knew full well how formidable his professional competence was. Not only did he handle the hectic caseload of the Countermeasures Section, keep tabs on Maguire, and monitor Professor Landry, but he was also investigating the recent string of Brillda murders where victims were turned into works of art.
Although no more civilians had fallen victim to the serial torture-murders thanks to Nikolai's pursuit, under the killer's twisted logic, Kestrel Nikolai—an imperial agent blocking his perverse pleasure—must have become a massive thorn in his side.
"Head to the opera house. We'll take a shortcut so we can finish early and clock out."
If Cardinal of Dimensions Toriardo wanted to use teleportation magic within the city, he had to rely on a pre-established spatial barrier to avoid detection by the Imperial War Gods.
Fortunately, less than two kilometers from the Special Operations headquarters at the Holworth Crossroads lay the Brillda Opera House on 33rd Broadway Street. They could use the barrier on the second floor of the opera house to teleport directly into the underground sector of the Brillda Mafia's harbor building.
That area happened to be a gray zone anyway; popping up unannounced wouldn't cause much trouble so long as they disguised themselves as mafia members.
"What an honor—two cardinals personally tracking someone down, meow," Boss Cat poked its head out from the shadows and muttered.
Lest anyone forget, it was working overtime too!
Still, watching two Cardinal Bishops act like enthusiastic local citizens in Brillda felt far more entertaining than the Moon God Festival itself.
Chapter 825