Chapter 92

“The final moment is approaching.”

In the office, a servant wearing a green token mask bowed his head and handed a file to Jiti.

“Manager Jiti, here is today’s visitor list.”

On the other side, a woman wearing a red token mask also bowed and handed over a list, then stood next to the servant, waiting quietly for Jiti to review it.

Jiti flipped through the list, skipping non-extraordinary persons and ordinary wealthy individuals, focusing on the marked list of extraordinary persons and nobles.

Habitually, she crossed out a few names of black gold members with her pen and said, “These… rig some games to win all their money and make sure they leave by tomorrow.”

As she spoke, she continued crossing out names. Soon, her gaze fell on one particular name.

Aivana Rossul…

Jiti put down her pen and gently tapped on the list, asking, “What did Miss Rossul do in the manor today?”

The maid stepped forward and replied, “Miss Rossul, along with two other ladies and a guard, spent a long time in the exchange area. Do you need their shopping list?”

“Show it to me.”

Jiti nodded slightly and pushed the pen across the table to the maid.

The maid listed the purchases, hesitating and stopping intermittently, taking about five minutes to complete the list. Her hands trembled, seemingly from nervousness.

Jiti patiently waited for her to finish, without the usual harassment.

Since Georgine had aligned with the bishop and betrayed her, Jiti felt her initial anger slowly turning into calmness.

Jiti knew that with the bishop pressuring her, she couldn’t do much. If she tried to disrupt anything now, it would only provoke the bishop’s anger.

This ritual was destined to fail. If it could summon a divine servant, why not do it in An Su instead of Borough City?

Jiti looked at the list she had marked.

Though she couldn’t directly confront the bishop, she could still cause some trouble…

She wouldn’t push away these important figures.

Seeing the maid had finished the list, she continued, “I need to confirm the list again. Don’t take any actions yet. You can leave.”

“Understood, Manager Jiti.”

The attendant and maid left the office.

Jiti casually glanced at the list of purchases made by Miss Rossul while pondering.

Most items were trinkets, but when she saw certain items, her eyes narrowed.

Bat heart blood… and these materials…

They’re all used for hypnosis, and some even have aphrodisiac effects.

Recalling what the maid said—that after playing in the card room for a couple of hours, they returned to their rooms and didn’t come out—Jiti took a deep breath.

Alright, alright, they didn’t invite me to the party.

Jiti put down the list, placing both the list and the notes into an iron trash bin nearby and threw a burning candle inside.

Then, she picked up her pen and took out her spiritual note, starting to write:

[Sheng Year 741, June 22nd]

[Mother Goddess Sardana, please guide me on how to proceed.]

[Yesterday, my subordinate informed me that a bishop wishes to perform a sacrifice ritual here to summon your divine servant.]

[My excitement was indescribable, but after calming down tonight, I began to feel a little doubt…]

[No… I should not question the bishop’s judgment. Perhaps he received a secret order from above.]

[All I need to do is fully cooperate…]

Jiti wrote sincerely, but the entire passage seemed to shift the blame onto her “subordinate” and the “bishop.”

She herself was the innocent one, having worked hard for years only to throw everything away for faith and loyalty at this moment.

After a long pause, Jiti put down her pen and sighed deeply.

After checking the content of the note for any abnormalities, Jiti closed her eyes, contemplating how to find a way out for herself.

She had already been instructed… she couldn’t stop the ritual once it started, and Borough City would no longer be safe after that.

Once the bishop arrived, she and others would likely be tasked with capturing someone. She would use that time to escape after completing what she needed to do.

Of course, this was assuming the bishop could defeat the “Crown Guard.” If he couldn’t, she would have to flee immediately.

Although changing identities and developing elsewhere would be troublesome, surviving was her top priority.

To survive was to better serve the Mother Goddess and contribute more to her.

She was more important than anyone else; she couldn’t die.

Jiti put the notebook back into the drawer and locked it.

…

“Are we really going to stay here for the night?”

Aivana whispered to Xia’er.

“Mmm.”

Xia’er nodded.

“Mmm mmm mmm!!!”

Adelle shook her head vigorously, strongly opposing Xia’er’s idea.

“You can speak now,” Xia’er said, looking at Adelle who was still following her rules.

“Mmm~”

Adelle shook her head.

“Are you worried you might slip up later if you speak now?” Xia’er asked.

“Mmm mmm.”

Adelle nodded.

Genius.

Though sometimes Adelle seemed single-minded, she could indeed accomplish tasks well when instructed, which was a good trait.

“Don’t be afraid,” Aivana added, “If Xia’er says it’s fine, then it should be fine.”

If it were any other day, Aivana wouldn’t mind staying at Derton Manor for a night. She had stayed here before during heavy rains.

Knowing this place was a stronghold of the Arrival Sect, Aivana felt no qualms. After all, Nia was always by her side protecting her.

Though the “Crown Guard” wasn’t skilled in combat, their protective abilities were top-notch. As long as there were no sneak attacks or poisonings, even a third-tier cult bishop couldn’t kill Aivana bypassing Nia.

Moreover, in the Arrival Sect’s view, Aivana remained hidden. They weren’t aware that Xie Lun died in Aivana’s home, so they wouldn’t rashly attack her.

They also feared the Rossul Family behind Aivana.

The sacrificial relic was another reason Aivana felt confident following Xia’er.

Unlike herself, Aivana was more concerned about Xia’er and Adelle.

Adelle didn’t need to worry about leaving her side, as in the current view of the Arrival Sect, Adelle was merely Xia’er’s student, and they didn’t know Adelle was the one who created the virus.

But Xia’er was different.

She was the one who personally killed Xie Lun, and she came back to Derton Manor to execute a task given by her organization.

What kind of task required a normal person to face a group of cultists and a third-tier bishop…

Aivana increasingly felt that she had no good feelings towards Xia’er’s organization.

“Do you need help tomorrow?” Aivana asked Xia’er.

“No.”

“You’re going to act alone again?”

Xia’er, removing her shoes and socks, looked at Aivana and said, “I’ll get up early tomorrow and play as usual. There’s no danger anywhere.”

“I’m just trying to find the bishop.”

Just trying to find the bishop?

That was somewhat reassuring…

Aivana asked, “When are we going back?”

“Around one o’clock in the afternoon tomorrow.”

Xia’er could handle everything in two minutes, but to be safe, she added a few more minutes.

Throughout the night, the three of them hardly slept.

Nia worried about Aivana’s safety and patrolled silently in the room;

Aivana pondered Xia’er and her organization’s intentions, constantly reasoning in her mind;

Xia’er, having rested too much, couldn’t sleep. She kept replaying the steps of the simulation in her mind, determined to be in the best state possible and not choose…

“Let’s simulate again to avoid further damage to the spirit body, which could affect the effectiveness of the ‘Spiritual Summoning’.”

Only Adelle held Xia’er’s arm, sleeping fitfully with worry.

The next day, Xia’er woke up early after only a brief nap.

Aivana, who hadn’t slept at all, was also awakened by Xia’er’s movements, along with Adelle, who stirred groggily.

After freshening up and adjusting their attire, the three of them left their room.

Derton Manor had been lit up all night long. Many gamblers had stayed up all night, their eyes bloodshot from the stakes.

A corpse was carried past them, showing no bullet wounds but with marks around the neck, likely indicating someone who had borrowed too much money and lost everything, then committed suicide.

Such incidents were not uncommon in Derton Manor, especially during such grand events where many families lost everything.

There were no winners in the casino; only those who had lost everything and those who had not yet lost everything. Gambling addiction led to ruin sooner or later.

Adelle, having spent a night there, was no longer as tense as the previous day. Instead, she began to enjoy running around with Xia’er and the others, even playing a simple roulette game and losing her last 10-pound chip, after which she dared not play anymore.

As Xia’er wandered around, she failed to find Georgine.

In contrast, Aivana kept being recognized by others, who would approach her with champagne to introduce themselves.

Finally, Xia’er led Aivana and the others to the card room. Using her black-gold membership card, Aivana cleared a table, and the three of them sat down, with Nia serving as the dealer.

With about five or six hours until one o’clock, Xia’er held a deck of cards, scanning the crowded card room, waiting for Georgine’s appearance.

If Georgine followed her plan, she would come to check the blood circle before twelve.

Seeing her check would confirm that the blood circle was set up.

Next, they would wait for when the cult members would be summoned to the Underground Sanctuary.

“Noble Duel? What kind of game is this?”

Aivana asked curiously, showing no awareness of her noble status.

Xia’er had mentioned a card game that Aivana had never heard of.

“Hmm hmm hmm?”

Adelle was equally puzzled, not understanding why 1 and 2 could be greater than 3.

Sitting idly wasn’t appropriate, so Xia’er adapted her previous game “Landlord” from another world, renaming it “Noble Duel,” and started teaching them how to play.

Playing cards together was better than wandering around and raising suspicions.

After several rounds of “Noble Duel,” both Aivana and Adelle became interested in the new game, which also attracted many gamblers to watch, some wanting to meet Aivana.

However, the attendants at Derton Manor were quite responsible, shielding Aivana from the crowd, but the number of people around Xia’er’s table kept growing, blocking her view.

Three beautiful young ladies and a new, intriguing card game were enough to draw the attention of the gamblers, let alone the combination of both.

While Xia’er was trying to clear the crowd, a path opened beside the card table.

“Miss Russell, it’s you.”

A familiar voice came from behind a red chip mask. The woman stood beside Aivana and asked the people around, “What’s going on here? Don’t disturb Miss Russell’s game.”

“Wait, Miss Georgine, I haven’t figured out the rules yet. Let me watch a few more rounds, and I’ll understand how to play ‘Noble Duel.’

“I know how to play. If no one else wants to play, I can teach you.”

“Really? Can you teach us, bro?”

Smart gamblers had already grasped the rules of the simple card game and needed to act fast before more people learned, relying on their understanding of the new game to win chips.

Soon, the crowd around the card table dispersed, everyone eager to try the new game.

“Thank you.”

Aivana nodded slightly towards Georgine.

She disliked being the center of attention, and the arrival of the assistant administrator relieved her.

“No need to be so formal, Miss Russell. This is what I should do.”

Georgine smiled under her mask, displaying confidence she usually lacked, “If you need anything else, you can ask the attendants. I have other things to do and won’t disturb your entertainment time.”

Georgine bowed gracefully and turned to leave.

As she passed Xia’er, an unnoticed silver light flashed, and the “Satanic Emblem” on Georgine disappeared, returning to Xia’er’s system warehouse.

Security filled Xia’er’s heart.

She watched Georgine patrol the large card room, occasionally approaching crowded gambling tables to place bets and boost the atmosphere.

But in Xia’er’s mind, Georgine’s movements formed a map in her brain… the outline of the blood circle.

Xia’er slowly withdrew her gaze and looked at Adelle, who was starting to lose interest, smiling and asking, “Adelle, do you want to play ‘Old Servant’?”

Adelle: “Yes yes!”

Though silent, Adelle’s actions showed she was more interested in “Old Servant.”

Having lost badly earlier, if they were betting chips, Adelle would have lost everything.

Compared to the strategic game of “Landlord,” the simpler “Old Servant” suited Adelle better.

Adelle enjoyed the game, but as time passed, Aivana grew increasingly anxious for Xia’er.

With the arrival of the Bishop at 13:01 looming closer, Xia’er seemed calm, as if she were there just to play cards.

Wasn’t she looking for the Bishop’s identity?

Was she still searching, or had she found it? When and by whom?

Hesitation over these questions made Aivana distracted during the game, and she kept drawing “Old Servant” cards from Adelle, losing several rounds.

Slap!

Adelle slapped the last two pairs on the table, unable to speak, expressing her joy through this gesture.

At this moment, Xia’er noticed that people were starting to leave the card room, fewer than at the beginning.

Georgine, who had been loitering in the card room, seemed to have received some information and hurriedly left.

Cult members were gradually gathering at the Underground Sanctuary…

An interface appeared before Xia’er, showing the time was now 11:31.

One hour and thirty minutes remained. As time ticked by, Xia’er’s inner peace grew stronger.

The ritual of sacrifice, practiced countless times in her mind, was finally about to happen today.

Just a little time… haste makes waste.

…

“Jiti, are all the people gathered? The Bishop is coming soon.”

Georgine questioned Jiti, standing below the altar.

Jiti turned to look at Georgine, gazing at her coldly without speaking.

After a long silence, Jiti slowly said, “Where is your Bishop’s emblem?”

Georgine’s pupils contracted. She quickly reached for the spot where the emblem had been, but felt nothing.

“Haha…”

Jiti grinned, watching Georgine’s panic grow, and slowly said, “It seems the Bishop has arrived early…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t harm you… at least until the Bishop’s mission is completed…”

“I won’t harm you… “

Jiti’s tone grew sinister, her commanding tone making Georgine’s adrenaline spike.

The Bishop’s emblem… had been taken back by the Bishop!

When did the Bishop arrive? Was she already at Derton Manor?

No worries… the Bishop promised to move me, Jiti can’t threaten me.

The Underground Sanctuary was bustling with people. The two beneath the altar harbored hidden intentions, awaiting the final moment.