Chapter 528

Chapter 151 Deterrence and Advice

I stared at his aged face half-hidden in the darkness, silent for a moment.

My thoughts raced, and after a short while, I came to a conclusion — he was definitely lying to me.

“By what right should I believe you?”

From the intelligence Daniel had gathered, the meeting between that woman and the Joker must have had a purpose, most likely for the blood pearl.

But the blood pearl is still in the Joker’s possession.

So I believe that even if there were irreconcilable conflicts between them, that woman would have to make the Joker hand over the blood pearl before she could take any action.

This woman and the old man talk nicely, but neither of them mention the pearl to me — they certainly wouldn’t, how could they reveal their true target to me… Perhaps even killing the Joker is just a cover for some unknown purpose. These heretical thoughts are beyond normal comprehension. Who knows what they really want, whether they plan to use me or the church to advance some conspiracy…

Anything is possible.

Daniel was right. No matter what that woman says or does, our original actions will not change. A group of fanatical heretics are already our enemies. I need to be more cautious and do my own part. I cannot be influenced by her ideas or let her control me.

Although I don’t want to admit it, her previous words have already made me start questioning some things… Maybe this is exactly what she wants.

My expression turned cold: “Leave, I don’t want to listen.”

There’s no need, nor should I give her another chance to speak.

“…Miss Silvijah—”

Swoosh!

The blue light on my palm suddenly lit up, and three sharp ice spikes shot out like lightning, aiming at the old man in an instant. The tips stopped inches from his eyes. His words were abruptly cut off.

“Leave. Before I change my mind.”

If we weren’t in town, and if there weren’t so many civilians below…

“You and your master…”

I took two steps forward, coming close to the old man, tilting my head slightly upward. The faint blue glow in my eyes did not dissipate as I stared directly into his hazy eyes. Thin frost mist escaped my mouth with each word: “You probably can’t understand… my feelings.”

I raised my right hand, casually waving it.

“So…”

Swoosh—

The three ice spikes suddenly withdrew, swirling with sparkling ice crystals, moving at an almost invisible speed around the old man’s head. In the moment I clenched my fist, the ice spikes exploded with a loud bang, scattering countless shards of ice that splashed onto the old man’s head and body. The frost mist spread, freezing his gray hair and eyebrows into ice.

“Only then would you dare appear so recklessly in front of me.”

The cold wind blew, lifting his dark hair and brushing against his face.

The old man lowered his head.

“This is Deer Town.”

I tilted my head in thought and continued speaking coldly: “Tonight, many innocent civilians have gathered here to watch… the so-called performance to soothe the people. They’re very happy about it; you can hear their cheers…”

I smoothed my hair, extending my slender fingers to point down toward the clock tower.

哗——

Perhaps the performance reached its climax, as the audience in the central square erupted into high-pitched cheers. Applause and whistles mixed with the cheers, creating a lively atmosphere that carried through the wind.

“You should thank them. You and your master should thank them.”

My finger barely touched, then retreated back into my sleeve. I looked at the old man’s wrinkled face, even though it was barely affected by the thin frost, and smiled faintly.

“Because… you can stand here, babbling nonsense, only because of them. Because of their presence, you haven’t been killed by me yet. You are still alive.”

Should I lower the frost mist’s temperature further…

When dealing with heretics, under these circumstances where it’s inconvenient to act directly, perhaps a little deterrence could make him and his master hesitate, realizing that I am not merely a righteous person who hates evil… as that woman might think, a kind good person.

Maybe making her realize this would add unpredictability to the heretics’ next actions… whatever those actions might be. If she finds this troubling, it would be perfect.

“The reason you and your master are still alive is that you have not harmed them, the innocent people of this town.”

“That’s good. Keep it up. Then you and she can live longer… as long as you don’t do foolish things.”

The old man remained silent, head bowed, quietly waiting for me to finish speaking.

The frost and mist spread from my body, enveloping his frail, stooped figure. Even his collar had frozen, but he maintained his posture, unmoving, not even blinking.

At such an age, he’s still tough…

I secretly exerted force, thickening the frost mist. My smile gradually faded, leaving my face expressionless, my voice as cold as ice: “Otherwise, your fate will be the same as those… dogs and beasts in the Southern Territory. And that so-called Weathermeer, the Fog Concealer… yes, I only remember the names of these two beasts. Because I only gave them a chance to speak, then left them in pieces.”

Ah…

I’m still not very good at threatening people.

How can I seem more menacing…

“As for that Fog Concealer, I tore off his face, tearing his flesh into pieces, helpless to resist… That was your sixth councilor, wasn’t it? How did you choose him… He finally tried to blow himself up to cause damage, thinking that would trouble me… Hmph.”

I sneered lightly, shaking my head: “And as for that so-called Weathermeer, he was even more pathetic. He paid the price for his misdeeds, and I showed him his greatest fear. You should see the look on his face before he died… Ha—”

A soft sigh.

“You beasts in the Southern Territory have been nearly wiped out by me and the Church Knights. Now, I’ve come here… yes, to kill the Joker.”

“Tell me, do you think we might have underestimated him? But you and your master, do you truly know how I will tear the Joker into pieces?”

Will this work?

I’m not sure.

But I need to finish my threats: “Don’t try to scheme.”

“This is my demand of you and your master. Tonight. Since you and the Joker are at odds, find a place to watch. Don’t harm the civilians, don’t do anything unnecessary. What I say may not be heeded by you… just like when you tried to convince me, it was all in vain.”

Let him understand my attitude and convey this message to that woman, that’s enough…

“Alright.” I pretended to be impatient, waving my hand lightly. “Now, disappear from my sight.”

The rest is about whose resolve is stronger.

The crushing victories in the Southern Territory have given me a clearer understanding and confidence in my own strength.

After devouring Nero’s ring, that divine relic, my power has increased to a level that even surprises myself.

Translating the romance novel into English:

Reaching a point where even without using the power of the Vortex Flame or the Abyss, relying solely on Order and Body Refinement, one could overwhelm a heretic’s Sixth Senator with an overwhelming advantage…

Unlike when I fought Teresa, I no longer fear the Vortex Flame.

The powers they boast about are almost meaningless in front of me.

Furthermore…

The vast chaotic energy surging within me, to the point where I myself dare not imagine its magnitude, if given the chance, I would unleash it at full strength…

No, that’s too terrifying.

If it weren’t absolutely necessary…

In fact, there wouldn’t be any place for it to be used.

As I turned over countless thoughts, the old man in front of me took two steps back, withdrawing from the ice mist shrouded area… It looked like he intended to leave.

I let out a sigh of relief in my heart.

He seemed to understand…

The spreading ice mist was easily dispelled by me with a casual gesture.

Then, the old man bowed lightly to me: “Please make quick work of the jester. You must kill him before he angelizes. Otherwise, victory will become very difficult.” This is what Miss Mese asked me to convey to you.”

What?

I was stunned.

… What did he just say!

“Then, I apologize for disturbing you, miss.”

Just as he had arrived, the old man’s figure swiftly retreated like a ghost, his steps seemingly weak and unsteady, yet in an instant, he burst backward nearly ten meters, soundlessly. By the time I reacted, he was already standing at the edge of the tower platform.

“Wait…”

“Oh, miss.”

Almost simultaneously, the old man interrupted me as I tried to call out to him.

“There’s a personal request.”

He said, bowing again: “Although we see you as a heretic, I have never done evil all my life, nor have I ever harmed anyone. I have merely been loyal to my duties, respectfully serving Miss Mese for more than twenty years. Many things, I have seen with my own eyes.”

“In my eyes, despite your young age, the deeds you perform and the understanding in your heart are not something ordinary people can reach. Perhaps in your eyes, she may not be considered good, but in my heart, she is definitely not the evil person you imagine. Just that the world is harsh, with too many unavoidable circumstances, forcing people to do things against their wishes, enduring the scorn of others. Only then might one finally achieve something.”

“Miss understands this, but she is not good with words and does not understand how to empathize with others’ emotions. Sometimes… even simple principles of interacting with people, she cannot comprehend. Her inability to express herself clearly often leads to misunderstandings, and such incidents, I have seen countless times.”

The cold wind continued to blow.

The old man stood at the edge of the balcony, one foot already hanging in mid-air—he was preparing to jump.

And me, somehow, my mind was filled with a buzzing sound, lingering emotions, and my consciousness remained stuck on the first sentence the old man said. I wanted him to clarify, but I was hesitant, fearing he had ulterior motives…

“But there is one thing, Miss Silvija, whether you understand it or not, I hope you know.”

The old man continued: “Miss Mese often belittles foolish goodness because her definition of dedication and her criteria for judging matters far surpass the superficial, easily manipulated, emotional goodness. Tonight, she saw you and became angry, and the reason is due to this.”

“There are too many things that, for those who refuse to see or willingly blind themselves, no matter how much is said, it is all futile. Miss Mese is not skilled at persuading others, so doing such things makes her appear even more clumsy. Miss Silvija, there are some things she won’t explicitly tell you, but I can. Therefore, I want to give you a personal piece of advice…”

“Regarding the blood bead taken out from the Royal City.”

!

He actually mentioned the bead!

“This is what you’re after…”

The old man ignored my questioning: “That blood bead, Goddess’s Tear… This is the name Lady Teresa gave it. If the Goddess’s Tear falls into your hands tonight… you can choose to seal it away somewhere forever, or simply destroy it, and we will have no objections, as everything will start anew.”

“But there is one point: If you still care about the countless innocent civilians in this world, wanting them to stay away from disasters and suffering, away from being easily eradicated like ants by some lofty yet lowly, hateful existence…”

The cold wind howled in my ears.

Under the night sky, an aged look flashed in the old man’s eyes.

“Then, you must absolutely, absolutely not hand over the Goddess to the Holy Church… especially not to those few people who acted with you tonight. You must never hand them over.”

My heart suddenly trembled violently.

The old man’s gaze…

I seemed to have seen it somewhere before.

… Yes.

That complex and sorrowful gaze, for a brief moment outside the Royal Academy classroom, was once directed at me by Teresa.

“Thank you very much.”

The old man finished speaking.

Without hesitation, his body leaned backward, leaping off the tower top, like a ghostly spirit, vanishing from my sight with a “whoosh.”

“… Hey!”

I finally reacted.

Whoosh—

With a step, a gust of wind assaulted my ears, and in the blink of an eye, I appeared at the edge of the tower where he had stood, my hair fluttering in the wind, staring down at the cold wind.

That thin, hunched figure had already disappeared into the darkness, as if it had never existed.

… What does he mean?

What does he mean, what is he trying to say… what is he expressing… why doesn’t he explain clearly… No, I can’t listen to him, he is just a heretic’s pawn, trying to confuse me before the battle… I can’t fall for it, I can’t… Silvija, don’t think too much, don’t think…

Standing at the edge of the tower, I watched the crowd gather below, listening to their noisy voices, my body stiff and tense, my eyes blank, pupils trembling, not knowing where to focus my gaze, standing there for a while, not moving.

… But he just mentioned half-angelization.

What is half-angelization… half-angelization… the Royal City… Teresa monster… it said it was some kind of angel… what exactly is it… what is the blood bead… what did he mean by certain lofty yet lowly, hateful existences… what is what… what do they know… why can’t I understand, why…

Why can’t the blood bead be handed over to the church… why can’t it be given to Daniel and the others… who are they… how serious is the problem inside the church…

What is it that I don’t know… who is deceiving me? Who…

No, that’s wrong…

That old man just wants to shake my belief, making me doubt Daniel and the others, leading to mutual distrust… He succeeded, damn it, he succeeded…

I want to eat cookies.

My scalp felt numb, my thoughts chaotic, maybe eating a few cookies would calm me down.

Thinking this, I suddenly turned around—

Ah.

The cookies were already scattered on the ground when I swung my fist at the beginning.

“……”

Damn it.

Whoosh—

Below the bell tower, the dense crowd erupted in cheers like waves.

“Miss Mese—”