Chapter 513: Contact
Conquer Sea North Shore, Kankdar Port.
At night, the bright crescent moon rises high in the sky, and the once noisy port city falls silent, with only a few street corners illuminated.
In Kankdar’s foreigner residential area, on the rooftop of a tall building near the White Dove Hotel, the cool evening breeze blows past, distinct from the heat of the daytime, lifting the flags atop the roof and fluttering the robes nearby.
On this rooftop, a figure dressed in a traditional Northern Ufeiga robe, with a turban and veil, stands at the edge, unaffected by the fierce winds. The figure’s eyes, partially revealed, gaze towards the White Dove Hotel not far away, specifically a suite on the third floor.
As the figure gazes, an unexpected disturbance appears on the rooftop. Behind them, a phantom materializes, and soon after, a semi-transparent image slowly manifests, presenting the figure of a nun.
As the nun, Evi, emerges behind the watching figure and looks towards the edge of the rooftop, she observes silently for a time before slowly speaking.
“This guest… standing on the rooftop in this wind for so long, don’t you feel cold? Would you like to go inside and sit?”
Hearing the voice behind them, the figure at the rooftop’s edge suddenly pauses, then slowly turns around to focus their gaze on the suddenly appearing Evi. Their expression shows hints of surprise, but quickly returns to normal as they reply slowly.
“Who are you? Are you also watching Nun Vania?”
With a steady male voice, the robed figure speaks to Evi in pure Northern Ufeiga, and upon hearing their words, Evi calmly responds.
“Monitoring… and also protecting. I come with a mandate from Sacred Summit, to ensure devout believers do not suffer from conspiracies and malicious traps in Kankdar. So, as an unfamiliar spy, explain your intentions. What is your desire in watching Nun Vania?”
With a hint of danger in her tone, Evi gazes at the robed man, who pauses for a few seconds, then replies cautiously.
“Someone from Sacred Summit? Protection? Hmph… From what I know, when the investigation team from Sacred Summit arrived at the port today, they immediately mixed in with the Kankdar guards, moving vigorously to apprehend Nun Vania, yet they speak of protection? The Kankdar scoundrels are so cowardly that they don’t dare act alone.”
The robed man addresses Evi, and as he speaks, a glint of thought appears in Evi’s eyes. She responds.
“From your words, it seems you stand on the side of Nun Vania.”
“My stance doesn’t concern someone from Sacred Summit…” The robed man asserts vehemently, and Evi shows interest, glancing at him twice before continuing.
“A local from Northern Ufeiga, antagonistic towards Kankdar’s guards, siding with Nun Vania… I deduce you are with Shadi, am I right?”
Evi directly states this to the robed man, asserting his identity. His eyes widen slightly, revealing a trace of disbelief.
“No… you are mistaken, I have no ties with that revolutionary general from Adus.”
“Hah, there’s no need for denial. I hold no opinions about General Shadi. I want you to understand that Sacred Summit has differing views on Shadi and Nun Vania… Think about it, if Sacred Summit truly intended to arrest Nun Vania, why is she still there?”
With a slight smile, Evi engages the robed man, who pauses momentarily at her words before replying.
“Are you implying… the investigation team prior failed to arrest Nun Vania because you were obstructing them?”
“Indeed, to stop the powers from Sacred Summit, it must be the powers from Sacred Summit that intervene… I’ve said before, I am here to prevent malicious schemes from spreading. If you truly stand with Nun Vania, you can trust me. Only I can assist in safeguarding Nun Vania before the heretical Judge… So, stranger, let us be candid, while I still have the patience to communicate normally with you…”
Evi solemnly states to the robed man, and upon hearing her, he pauses momentarily, his expression reflecting a struggle. After pondering, he finally sighs and concedes.
“Indeed, I am one of General Shadi’s subordinates. Due to the heavy casualties suffered by Nun Vania’s escort in Adis, General Shadi worried about her protection on her return to Kankdar and secretly dispatched us to follow and protect her. It was initially uneventful, but we unexpectedly encountered this situation upon arrival.”
The robed man responds earnestly to Evi, who nods silently, her eyes reflecting a sense of understanding. She continues to inquire.
“On the day of the assassination incident at the south station, Nun Vania was inexplicably controlled but managed to break free. At the scene, there was also a red mist with spiritual traces that concealed her rescue actions; were these your doing?”
“Indeed. While observing in secret, we found Nun Vania possessed by an external ghost attempting to assassinate her. At a critical moment, I helped suppress the possessing spirit and performed an exorcism. The second escort who was possessed was also subdued. However, it was unexpected that aside from the possessing spirit, there were ordinary person infiltrators among the train crew…”
“Afterward, the assassination was accomplished by that infiltrator, and Nun Vania tried to save those targeted but was obstructed. Realizing something was amiss, I deduced that those guards may have colluded with the assassin, so I used an extraordinary item to create conditions for Nun Vania’s healing, mitigating the losses.”
The robed man recounts details of the assassination scene earnestly, and Evi, feeling as if she’s there, pursues the conversation.
“Is that so… Then what was the source of that extraordinary item you used?”
“I bought it at a treasure hunter’s black market. I initially sought a life-preserving item, and the shady merchant introduced me to this thing, a mist that heals wounds and is unaffected by the wind. It is said to be a product of other extraordinary societies, but I’m unclear about its exact origin…”
The robed man states directly to Evi, who nods slightly before continuing.
“Then… I have another question: what is General Shadi’s current stance? Has he truly severed ties with heresy?”
“Muhetar is dead. The general can no longer compromise with the Savior Faction at home. His stance has been detailed in the confidential message sent to you; once the general consolidates power, Adus will immediately declare that the Three Saints hold the absolute legal status in the country…” The robed man replies directly, and Evi raises an eyebrow as she follows up.
“So… what about the Judge of Heaven Church?”
Hearing Evi’s question, the robed man hesitates briefly, then, after a moment of silence, responds cautiously.
“The Three Saints will be the only official belief of Adus, and secret societies and churches existing beneath public faith are difficult to eradicate. This is true for most countries on the Main Continent, is it not?”
“I see… I understand now.”
Evi seems to grasp the implication, and at that moment, the robed man takes the initiative to ask her.
“You’ve asked enough questions; now it’s my turn. Do you truly have a way to help Nun Vania clear her suspicions?”
“I can help Nun Vania remove the suspicions, but under the obviously unprincipled investigation team of heretics, it will be very difficult. They will only pursue lines of inquiry that are detrimental to Nun Vania and Adus, overlooking any clue or evidence that could bring the truth. Hence, in order to bring forth the truth, we must obtain evidence.
“This evidence must be direct, powerful, indisputable, and irrefutable—something that Clarke and the others cannot deny. As long as we can obtain evidence of this magnitude, I will have the means to pressure Clarke into admitting it, then Nun Vania will naturally be cleared, and the crisis for Adus will also be resolved.”
Evi speaks frankly to the robed man, and after pondering for a moment, he nods in agreement.
“I understand. We will search for the evidence you need. We will retrieve it as soon as possible. In the meantime, please ensure Nun Vania’s safety. She is an important figure for Adus.”
“You don’t need to tell me; I will do the same…” Evi replies, and then seems to have remembered something, continuing.
“However, my current concern is for those escort members of the mission who were captured before my arrival. The investigation team has directly taken over from the city guards, and in the public’s eyes, they are closely related to Nun Vania. If they provide statements unfavorable to her under torture, it could lead to significant trouble on my side…”
“Those from the envoy group?” The robed man ponders at Evi’s words.
……
After a while, the robed man and Evi exchanged tentative conversations, and then Evi bids farewell, disappearing into the night, while the robed man also leaves the place, moving away from the White Dove Hotel.
On the other side of Kankdar, Dorothy sits in her room, tasting the red tea at her table while controlling a distant zombie puppet to a safe location. During this process, she reflects on the information exchanged with the nun named Evi.
“I need evidence that is indisputable, direct, and forceful. It seems what I currently possess might not be sufficient—there’s a chance they could just ignore it. Therefore… I need to gather some more powerful evidence. Thankfully, this is not without ideas; it should be obtainable with a bit of time and effort.
“And right now, the key concern is those envoy guards who have fallen into the hands of the heretical investigation team. If they are forced to make any statements against Nun Vania, it could create a lot of trouble for Evi over there, so I need to pay close attention to that situation as well.”
Taking a sip of red tea, Dorothy reflects on this while her thoughts shift to the nun who provided rescue today.
“And then there’s Evi herself, such a peculiar existence. Initially, I thought she was a ghost, but turns out she’s a projection, her real body over a hundred nautical miles away, appearing here through a relay device… I’m so curious about what her true form looks like. Why does she have to monitor remotely from a naval port so far away? Can’t her real body come here? Could it be that she…”
With her tea in hand, Dorothy gazes out the window, absorbing the moonlight as her thoughts dive deeper.
……
In the night, Kankdar’s expansive dock features a massive, dark ship over one hundred meters long, docked at the harbor. Its hull is engraved with scriptures, and many crosses stand on the fore and aft boards, with emaciated figures bound to some of them, groaning weakly. Apart from the crosses, several pitch-black iron pillars rise above the fore deck, surrounded by a ring of iron, beneath which still lies uncleaned ashes.
This strange ship, known as the Fiery Trial, serves as the flagship for the heretical investigation team led by Clarke, arriving in Kankdar. Inside the vessel, Clarke and his subordinates are engaged in their work.
Within the ship, in a cramped cell, Gaspare, clad in thin, bl**d-soaked garments, and covered in fine cracks and wounds, is imprisoned and shackled, lowering his head to gasp for air. Distant screams echo in the surrounding space.
“Gaspare the cleric, I advise you to speak the truth and clarify the situation; doing so would prevent you from continuing to suffer. Today is only your first day among us, and the ‘care’ you receive is still mild. According to our traditions, if you remain obstinate, I cannot guarantee you will continue to be treated this gently on the second or third day…”
Clarke stands before Gaspare’s prison cell, coldly addressing the weak Gaspare. Upon hearing Clarke’s words, Gaspare slowly raises his head to meet Clarke’s gaze, speaking coldly.
“I have already told you everything I can, Your Honor. What else do you want me to elaborate on?”
“Of course, how the heretics corrupted you in Adis! How you colluded with the heretic! How you schemed against Prince Baruch! Furthermore, what agreement has the heretic Shadi reached with the heretic Vania! What are your subsequent plans? Clarifying these points will give you a slim chance of survival, Gaspare the cleric.”
Clarke rapidly questions Gaspare, who glares at him fiercely.
“Hah… By the Holy Son, my warriors and I fought bloodily against heretics in Adis, with countless lives lost to their hands. The rest are gravely injured, and now you dare say we colluded with the heretics… what nonsense is this! We defended the sanctity of the faith with our bl**d! Yet you imprison us here for interrogation! What authority do you have? What basis do you have!”
In a furious outburst, Gaspare almost yells at Clarke, unable to hide his righteous indignation, while Clarke sneers coldly in response.
“My authority comes from the Grand Judge, Lord Kramar; this investigation was ordered directly by him! As for the basis, we found a large number of heretical items aboard your train, from books to holy emblems! Members of the train crew, including that uniformed assassin, have confessed to me everything about your corruption in Adis with Shadi! This material evidence is undeniable, do you still wish to deny it?!”
“Those crew members? Hmph… What do those crew members have to do with us? We have only known them for twenty days, having no ties in the meantime. Who knows what schemes they are plotting in secrecy?
“These despicable scoundrels are not of our kind! They were instructed to frame us and Nun Vania, and you easily believed their accusations, which is absurd. Haven’t the words of our holy soldiers been worth more than scattered commoners? Besides those commoners, look at my warriors—who among them lies?”
Unfazed by Clarke’s authority, Gaspare openly confronts him, and Clarke clenches his teeth in anger.
“Who said those under you haven’t spoken? Several have already confessed before me.”
“Ah? Several? Who are they? Bring them to me! If you don’t summon these so-called confessors to confront us face to face, I’ll treat your words as worthless!”
Gaspare speaks up bluntly, filled with scorn. Clarke’s expression tightens slightly, and he feels his composure slip.
Indeed, up to now, not a single person from the envoy’s escort has sided with Clarke. Their attitudes are resolute, and Clarke has gained nothing from them. His earlier words were merely an attempt to bluff Gaspare.
Seeing Gaspare and his guards so united and steadfast, Clarke realizes he must find a breakthrough among them. Accusations from ordinary civilians hold little weight; he needs someone from within the envoy to betray and stab them in the back, admitting ties with the heretics. After all, the envoy, including Vania, operates as a cohesive unit, and the crew of the Desert Arrow has little relation to them.
Clarke knows that to level accusations against Vania that even Evi cannot ignore, he must persuade someone within the envoy to switch sides and acknowledge collusion with heretics. Looking at Gaspare, Clarke deeply understands that subduing him will be a challenging task. He cannot break through using Gaspare; he needs to consider another angle, another person, someone with a weaker resolve.
