Chapter 434: There is a Traitor Among Us
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 434: There is a Traitor Among Us
Ariel followed the woman into the orphanage.
The night wind whistled through the eaves, rattling the crooked-neck tree in the yard with an eerie creak. The entire orphanage was desolate and cold, devoid of any signs of life save for a lone swing swaying beneath the branches.
Ariel remained composed, but her eyes were rapidly scanning her surroundings.
It was a three-story, old-fashioned building, still bearing the heavy architectural style of the Life Church common throughout the Holy City. At the very center of the courtyard stood a man-sized statue of the Goddess, looking as though it had stood there for an eternity.
Everything seemed utterly unremarkable.
It was no wonder the patrolling knights hadn't noticed anything amiss. In fact, even as Ariel approached, she hadn't sensed anything wrong with this ordinary orphanage.
Not until that woman appeared...
Now that she had truly stepped inside, she realized the entire orphanage was actually shrouded in a faint, eerie mana.
Beneath her feet lay a massive magic formation.
"A very sophisticated Concealment Array," Ariel’s teacher couldn't help but praise. "It has multiple layers: breath concealment, warding off passersby, and mental interference. Unless a Crown Level powerhouse personally approaches, it would be difficult to spot the anomaly... It’s clear this was prepared over a long period, and the one who set it up has a certain level of skill."
"How much is 'a certain level'?" Ariel asked, her face forced into a stiff mask. Though she knew no one could see her expression right now, she felt it was necessary to maintain a degree of vigilance.
Only by truly making yourself cold and aloof will others believe you are cold and aloof.
This was a piece of wisdom Ariel had gained from her long experience in the underworld.
"Don't worry," her teacher comforted her. "Since it can be detected by a Crown Level powerhouse, it means their level hasn't reached that stage yet. It's far inferior to the compass in your hand."
"I see." Ariel breathed a small sigh of relief.
As long as they weren't at the Crown Level, they were within her range of tolerance. Even if she couldn't win, she could at least escape.
Creeeeeak...
The woman in white pushed open the old wooden door. Stale air from the enclosed space rushed out to meet them, and dim candlelight illuminated several rather terrifying faces.
This was a room that looked like a conference hall. The windows were sealed tight with heavy curtains, as if some shady underground deal was taking place, lit only by a few candles.
A dozen figures sat around a large, long table. When the door opened, their gazes fell simultaneously upon the entering Ariel—or rather, upon "Ghost Shadow."
Holy crap...
I spoke too soon.
Enveloped in black mist, Ariel stiffly turned her head. Relying on her teacher’s enhanced perception, she silently scanned everyone in the room.
Including the woman who had led her in, there were two Fifth-Tier Martial Artists, one Radiant-Tier Mage, and the remaining dozen or so... were all experts at the Fourth-Tier or higher.
The aura of every single person was terrifyingly strong. The thick scent of blood was almost nauseating—these people were definitely not pill-popping frauds who had boosted their levels with external items; every one of them was a ruthless veteran of countless slaughters.
And Ariel, the "boss," with her early Fourth-Tier realm, "happily" earned the title of the weakest person present.
She felt like a little lamb wandering into a wolf's den...
Ariel tucked her neck in and, under the weight of those gazes, steeled herself and walked into the room.
"Lord Ghost Shadow."
Led by a refined-looking middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, everyone stood up and bowed respectfully to Ariel.
"You've returned."
"..."
Ariel gave a slight nod. To the outsiders, however, it only looked as if the thick black mist had shifted slightly.
"Did you not go to scout a new location for our operations? Why have you returned early? Did something happen?"
"..."
"The number of Holy City knights patrolling outside seems to have increased again. Has Lord Ghost Shadow received any news?"
"..."
"Also... eh? Why do you not speak?"
Seeing Ariel maintain a cold, silent demeanor, the middle-aged man adjusted his glasses. A glint of light reflected off the lenses as he asked suspiciously, "You seem exceptionally taciturn tonight."
"..."
Ariel’s heart skipped a beat. As expected, playing the "silent and aloof" card wasn't that easy; staying quiet for too long was bound to arouse suspicion.
She pondered for a moment, recalling that pathetic Crown Bearer who had been instakilled in front of her not long ago. After a brief silence, she mimicked his tone and said:
"I failed."
"What?"
"I said... I failed." Ariel picked up the thread from the middle-aged man's first question. "Scouting a new location... I failed."
"Failed... You?"
As Ariel delivered the news with such nonchalance, almost everyone in the room, including the expressionless woman in white, showed varying degrees of shock.
It seemed that "Lord Ghost Shadow" failing was, in their eyes, something utterly unbelievable.
"Why... that shouldn't be. Even with the Holy City under martial law, with your skills as the Fourth Seat..."
"The Archbishop." Ariel was brief and concise, and this time, she spoke with total confidence.
Judging by how quickly that suspected Archbishop had descended earlier, that pathetic, instakilled Crown Bearer had most likely been taken out by him. As for whether there were other possibilities... well, she’d pin the blame on the Archbishop for now. If they had the guts, they could go verify it with the Archbishop themselves.
She certainly wouldn't stop them.
Hiss...
The moment the word "Archbishop" left her lips, the room was filled with the sound of sharp intakes of breath.
"An Archbishop actually moved personally?"
The middle-aged man adjusted his glasses again, frowning as he walked to the window. He peeled back a sliver of the curtain, warily peering out at the lights of the Holy City that had yet to be extinguished in the night.
"That shouldn't be... Even during a special period, how could a minor incident like the one this morning alarm an Archbishop? It can't be that one of them was so bored they decided to personally intervene."
"I told you those hired dogs were unreliable!" a burly man in the corner barked, slamming his fist onto the table. "If they hadn't been caught by the knights the moment they entered the city and drawn attention, we wouldn't be in this mess. Disguising themselves as a merchant caravan? Bah! Don't they know caravans are always the primary focus of searches at every checkpoint?"
Merchant caravan?
Ariel, listening silently to their conversation, felt a stir in her mind.
Could it be...
"Calm down." The woman in white placed the oil lamp she was holding onto the long table, finally making the room a bit brighter. "Those fools were meant to be decoys to draw attention anyway. It doesn't matter if they're all gone. The question now is whether our plan can succeed with an Archbishop personally involved."
The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly heavy. The mere title of "Archbishop" was enough to exert a mountain-like pressure on these people.
"The plan must proceed. The arrow is on the string; it must be fired. Assassinating the Church's Saintess and revealing the truth about the Goddess is the first step for our Salvation Society to reveal the Truth to the world!"
The man in glasses looked around the room with a solemn expression. He seemed to be the highest-ranking person here besides "Lord Ghost Shadow."
"The situation is indeed grim, but there is some good news..." The middle-aged man adjusted his glasses and offered a slight smile, looking at Ariel. "To be able to retreat unscathed from an Archbishop's hands... it seems Lord Ghost Shadow's strength has improved once again."
"Oh, really?"
"That is wonderful news."
"Congratulations, Lord Ghost Shadow, haha..."
"..."
Facing the expectant gazes of a group of ruthless killers, Ariel could only steel herself and nod again. "Indeed... I have made some slight progress recently."
Like hell I have.
That guy was instakilled, okay?
Although she didn't know the details of his fight with the Archbishop, the fact that two powerful experts had fought in the Holy City without causing much of a stir suggested...
Even if it wasn't an instakill, he had gone down very fast.
"Since Lord Ghost Shadow failed to find a new location, we can only rely on our original site and proceed with the plan we already finalized."
The news of "Lord Ghost Shadow's" increased strength did indeed boost the confidence of everyone in the room. They began a detailed review of their plan around a map of the Holy City, which was covered in dense markings, at the far end of the room.
Sitting in the seat specially reserved for her, Ariel, as the "boss," naturally didn't need to participate in the discussion personally. She only needed to nod occasionally in agreement to maintain her presence.
As the discussion progressed, Ariel began to grasp the origins, goals, and details of this group's plan.
And then... she felt a sudden urge to pull out her Heavenly Fire Greatsword and chop off every single one of their heads!
These lunatics actually wanted to assassinate the Church's Saintess. Moreover, they planned to do it during her succession ceremony, in front of millions of believers.
Were they insane?
If they wanted to die, wouldn't it be simpler and more direct to just shove a knife into their own throats? It would be green, healthy, and pollution-free, without causing trouble for anyone else. Why bother assassinating a Saintess?
...Wait, based on their conversation, this "Salvation Society"—an organization dedicated to overthrowing the Church and showing the world the "truth" of the Goddess—was most likely some cult from who-knows-where. It was perfectly normal for it to be full of lunatics.
But that wasn't the only reason Ariel wanted to kill them. After analyzing the cause and effect, she suddenly realized...
The reason she had ended up in this mess... was likely because she had entered the city with that merchant caravan during the day and had been mistaken for one of their accomplices!
Dammit, then what was the point of her running here?
After going in a circle, she had not only solidified her status as their accomplice but had even become their leader—the "mastermind" behind the assassination of the Saintess?
If she got caught, even a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to pay for this.
Thinking of that Archbishop who was probably still circling in the sky and the tightening dragnet around this area, cold sweat began to pour down Ariel's face. Fortunately, the black mist hid it, so no one noticed anything unusual.
No, stay calm...
She hadn't quite become a criminal yet. Her role as the boss was fake; she could slip away at any time.
Ariel rubbed the compass in her hand. In the Salvation Society's plan, her task as the "slightly improved" Lord Ghost Shadow was to go alone and temporarily stall the Church's experts. She didn't need to "personally" assassinate the Saintess.
At that time, her chance to escape would be...
Wait.
Ariel’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Thinking carefully, if these guys went to assassinate the Saintess, whether they succeeded or not, they would definitely draw all of the Church's attention, right?
After all, the assassination of a Saintess was a monumental event. Even that Archbishop who had intervened for some reason would surely be alerted.
And wasn't her biggest headache right now the fact that she had nowhere to hide because of the Church's lockdown of this area? Otherwise, she wouldn't have been forced to follow the compass's guidance to this wolf's den.
When the time came, as long as the Church's attention was diverted, and with the solo mission the Salvation Society had so painstakingly planned for her, wouldn't she be able to leave whenever she wanted?
At that point, whether she went to the embassy to clear up the misunderstanding and report these lunatics, or went to find Liya, she would have plenty of options.
As for the Saintess being assassinated... well, she didn't know the woman anyway. Why should she care?
Besides, Ariel didn't think the Salvation Society's plan had any chance of succeeding. If the real Ghost Shadow were still around, with the meticulousness of this plan, there might be a tiny sliver of a chance.
But now, even the boss who was supposed to briefly stall the high-end combat power around the Saintess had kicked the bucket early. These guys might be powerful to her, but compared to the entire Church, they were still insignificant.
"This method... is feasible."
As Ariel pondered, she stared at the complex map of the Holy City. The route for the Saintess's procession during tomorrow's succession was clearly marked.
There were also the arrangements for various positions, security measures, and the experts who might be guarding the Saintess.
Although information that even the Salvation Society could uncover was surely just what was on the surface, the Church would still be responsible for maintaining order for millions of fanatical believers tomorrow.
With personnel being drawn away for various tasks, and with the Salvation Society planning attacks from four other different directions in addition to this group, even the Holy City would find itself stretched thin. It would be impossible to cover everything.
That... would be her chance!
*
After the meeting ended, Ariel, having nothing to do for the moment, went to the corridor. With her hands behind her back, she watched the dawn slowly breaking in the distance.
The sky was about to brighten. She could feel the city fully waking up. The incidents of last night hadn't dampened the fervor hanging over the Holy City in the slightest.
But none of that had anything to do with Ariel. She didn't believe in the Goddess, nor was she interested in the new Saintess; she didn't even care to learn her name.
Instead, now that her plan was set, she felt much more relaxed.
This "plan" wasn't much of a plan at all; it was more like going with the flow. And because of that, in Ariel's view, there was no way it could fail.
Unless...
"Lord Ghost Shadow."
Suddenly, an indifferent voice spoke up, making Ariel’s lip twitch.
No way... an "unless" is actually happening?
Ariel turned her head silently, meeting the gaze of the middle-aged man hidden behind his lenses. After a moment of silence, she asked in a voice devoid of emotion:
"What is it?"
"Actually, there is something I didn't feel comfortable saying in front of so many people just now."
The middle-aged man habitually pushed up his glasses. The morning light from the window cast a sharp, intelligent reflection on his lenses. He looked at Ariel and, after a moment's hesitation, said in an incredibly solemn tone:
"I suspect... there is a traitor among us!"
"..." Ariel’s heart tightened.
"That's right, a traitor. And based on my observations, I believe that traitor is most likely..."
The middle-aged man slowly approached Ariel, as if trying to peer through the black mist surrounding her to see her clearly.
The black mist wavered. Ariel remained expressionless, but her hand had already gripped the hilt of the sword emerging from her spatial magic device. At the same time, her mind raced, calculating her escape route.
"...It's Pangei! She has been in charge of dealing with those searching knights. If anyone has been colluding with the Church, she is in the best position to pass on information! I suspect it's most likely her!" the middle-aged man said with righteous indignation.
"..."
The veins on the back of Ariel’s hand bulged. It took a massive effort to shove the sword she was about to draw back into its place. After a moment of stunned silence, she asked slowly:
"Do you have evidence?"
"Evidence... not yet. But if there weren't a traitor, why would you have run into the Archbishop this time?" The middle-aged man pushed his glasses again, sighing with regret. "It's a pity there isn't enough time, otherwise I would surely find the evidence!"
"I, on the other hand, think that's unlikely," Ariel said suddenly, mimicking Ghost Shadow's tone.
"Why?"
"Because if she were a traitor and could call upon an Archbishop, do you think you would still be alive right now?"
"That... makes sense." The middle-aged man wasn't stupid; he quickly understood the logic.
Pangei was the woman in white. Given her position, if she had truly betrayed them and joined the Holy City, they would have likely been crushed into meat pies by the Archbishop's palm long ago. How could they have spent the entire night here plotting?
"So..." Ariel’s tone suddenly became playful. "Instead of suspecting her, you might as well suspect the one who had contact with the Archbishop and still managed to return..."
"I wouldn't dare!" The middle-aged man’s face turned pale. Thinking his speculation had offended "Lord Ghost Shadow," he hurriedly knelt on the ground. "Lord Ghost Shadow is the Fourth Seat under the Holy Lord. How could I possibly..."
"Hmph. I trust you wouldn't have the nerve."
With a feigned cold snort, Ariel watched the middle-aged man’s relieved face from within the black mist, a smirk slowly forming on her lips.
As expected, she had overthought it.
In a secretive organization like this, even if someone suspected internal issues and began a self-audit, they would almost certainly never suspect their "boss."
First, their hierarchy was likely maintained by strength; these "mere" Fifth-Tier members didn't have the standing to question a "Crown Bearer" like her.
Second, a guy like Ghost Shadow, who hid his face even from his own people, probably already acted mysterious and unpredictable. A few changes in tone or temper wouldn't be enough to justify suspicion.
This was why Ariel dared to impersonate "Lord Ghost Shadow." As long as the black mist created by the compass was the symbol of Ghost Shadow's identity, in the eyes of these people, she was the one hundred percent pure, unadulterated Lord Ghost Shadow.
Even if, on the inside, she was a perfect, flawless, and adorable girl who appealed to everyone!
Mm... I have to say, my experience in the underworld is paying off. My grasp of these lunatics' mindsets is spot on.
Ariel stood with her hands on her hips, feeling proud of herself for a moment before returning her attention to the present.
In the distance, the morning sun was slowly rising. The massive statue of the Goddess cast a gentle shadow under the warm sunlight.
A new day had begun.
The things in the shadows needed to start moving as well.
Now, nothing should be able to stop her from executing her "plan."
By using the chaos caused by the Salvation Society and the information they had painstakingly gathered, slipping away from this massive whirlpool would be a piece of cake.
She didn't believe she could be that unlucky again.
Heh heh, Liya, this time I'm really coming!
"With the plan at hand, I will forgive you this once." Ariel gave a haughty, cold snort, using the phrases she had picked up during the meeting. "Let us go. Dedicate your everything to the great Truth."
"Yes."
The middle-aged man rose tremblingly and followed Ariel outside.
Ariel’s steps were much more relaxed now that she was in a good mood. She even had the leisure to admire this majestic city under the morning sun.
"Hmm?"
But as she walked, her steps suddenly faltered.
In the fresh morning air, she smelled something different.
The scent of blood.
Ariel looked down at her feet. Beneath the black mist that still shrouded her, dark, clotted blood was flowing.
It was seeping from the crack of a nearby door... right to her feet.
"Ah... that." The middle-aged man looked flustered, like a student caught by a teacher for not cleaning up properly. "That's from those blind old fools at the orphanage. Sigh... I clearly told them we were just borrowing the place, but they insisted on resisting. We had no choice but to leave them here... I'm so sorry for dirtying your shoes. I'll be sure to give those lazy bums a good scolding later!"
"...Is that so?"
Ariel finally understood why the orphanage had been so quiet last night.
But the blood was already dark, meaning it had been at least a night.
It was too late for everything.
Sunlight streamed through the windows. On the not-too-distant Emiel Cathedral, Ariel could see a massive ceremonial procession forming in an orderly fashion.
That must be the Saintess's entourage.
It reminded her to stay calm.
Not to do anything meaningless and foolish.
The enemy had over a dozen experts, while she... was alone.
Ariel continued walking forward.
But before she had gone much further, her steps stopped again.
This time, she heard a faint sound of crying.
The crying... of children.
That’s right.
This was an orphanage, yet she hadn't seen a single child from start to finish.
"And... what is this?" Ariel asked, looking at the middle-aged man again.
Inside the black mist, her expression was incredibly calm.
"This?" The middle-aged man was stunned for a good while before realizing Ariel was asking about the faint sound of children crying. He laughed. "Those are the beast-transformed ones, my Lord. Have you forgotten? We need them to create chaos... We just woke them from their slumber. We have to let them fill their bellies before they work, or... satisfy their desires."
Not understanding why "Lord Ghost Shadow" was asking such a bizarre question, the middle-aged man pondered for a moment before asking tentatively:
"Could it be that you also have a taste for this, my Lord? That... was truly inconsiderate of us. If you'd like, while we still have a little time, I can go and arrange—"
"No need," Ariel said. "Time is short. How can we waste it on such things?"
"True. You are entirely focused on spreading the Truth, my Lord. How could you..."
"The Truth can wait a moment. There is a certain fact I need to tell you first."
"A fact?" The middle-aged man was utterly confused.
"Yes." Ariel beckoned to him. "You, come here."
Though he was indeed puzzled, the middle-aged man obediently approached Ariel—or rather, the "Lord Ghost Shadow" in his eyes.
Once he was close, Ariel leaned in and whispered into his ear:
"By the way, what was the first thing you said to me just now? Could you repeat it?"
"The first thing?" The middle-aged man blinked, pushed up his glasses, and said tentatively, "I suspect... there is a traitor among us? Hehe... Lord Ghost Shadow, I already said that was just me being overly cautious—"
"Yes, there is indeed a traitor among us." Ariel interrupted him, her tone freezing cold. "And that traitor... is me."
Pfft.
A massive blade erupted from the back of the incredulous middle-aged man. Blood sprayed, staining the morning sun red.
To hell with your plan.
To hell with staying calm.
To hell with your "sea of experts."
The black mist dissipated, revealing Ariel’s pale and cold face.
"Scum like you can go to hell first!"