Chapter 813: Just in Time
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 813: Just in Time
Morning mist drifted over the clear surface of the river. The sun had yet to rise, and at this time of year, the early hours carried a biting chill. A cold wind blew from the opposite bank, making the awkward atmosphere feel as though it had been flash-frozen.
After all, anyone who heard the words "durian," "one ton," and "kneel" combined in a single sentence would instinctively suffer a brief mental short-circuit.
"Sigh, honestly, that damn woman... I told her I’d kneel after the job was done, but she just wouldn't listen. She insisted I kneel first. No sense of the big picture at all!"
Despite the utter humiliation of his words, the Pink Bear spoke with the unshakable aura of a man asserting his husbandly authority. He slapped his paws against the ground and pushed himself back up.
"I’m definitely going to have a long talk with her later! I’ll make her understand a profound truth... there’s no difference between kneeling sooner or kneeling later!"
"..."
After a brief silence, Gert finally snapped out of it. He looked at the ridiculous pink mascot suit before him with confusion, wondering if the overwhelming pressure he had felt earlier was merely a hallucination brought on by stress.
"Who... who are you?"
Gert cautiously pulled his trench coat tighter around himself. He wasn't actually cold, but the gesture provided a meager sense of security.
He felt strange. He didn't know why he was here. His memory ended with him returning to the small warehouse last night and saying goodnight to the landlord's daughter. It felt as though he had woken up from a dream and wandered here in a daze, but the details of the journey were a blur.
Gert cast a reflexive glance at the river. The reflection staring back was still him—unshaven, haggard, and filthy.
"Who I am isn't important. What matters is who you are."
The Pink Bear sighed. A furry paw fished something out and expertly lit it. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a cigar, but a hand-rolled paper cigarette.
The Pink Bear smoked that cigarette with the gravitas of a premium cigar. Smoke wafted out through the holes in the mascot suit, gradually merging with the morning mist.
"The esteemed heir of the Vornad family, the son of a multi-millionaire, reduced to such a state. Pitiful, lamentable, tragic... but was it necessary? You had so many choices, yet your own obsession led you down this path, step by step."
"You!"
Gert’s pupils shrank. The moment the ridiculous bear spoke, he realized that none of his secrets were hidden from this stranger.
He had a faint inkling of why this person had come...
"I don't know who you are, but I have things to do. I don't have time for this!"
Gert turned to leave. His reflection in the river also turned, leaving only a receding silhouette.
"Wait."
The Pink Bear called out to him. "I have something to say to you."
"And why should I listen? Ridiculous."
Gert shook his head with disdain, having no intention of conversing with such a freakish creature.
However, before he could take two steps, he slammed into something.
Gert reached out in terror, his hands fumbling against an invisible wall. An invisible barrier had already sealed off all paths of retreat. Looking up, he saw the barrier stretching to the horizon; it seemed the entire sleeping town had been encased within it.
"...I see."
Gert turned back to face the Pink Bear. His feigned cowardice vanished instantly, replaced by a contorted, savage expression.
"I know who you are now. You're one of those useless security officers, aren't you! You parasites... just because of the pressure from the nobles, you refused to investigate. If it weren't for your incompetence, my wife—my Marjorie—wouldn't still be missing! You're here to arrest me, aren't you? Go ahead! Arrest me! Arrest this poor man who has nothing left!"
Gert threw open his trench coat. As the former son of a wealthy tycoon, he wasn't weak, but the body beneath the coat was now so emaciated it looked like a sapling that could be toppled by a light breeze.
Gert believed his condition was due to his longing for his wife, but the Pink Bear knew at a glance... this frailty wasn't entirely caused by heart sickness.
Something was invisibly siphoning away his life force.
"Relax, I'm not here to arrest 'you'—at least, not the 'you' named Gert Vornad."
The Pink Bear spoke calmly. "I know everything you just mentioned. In fact, that's exactly why I'm here."
He pulled a file from nowhere and held it up for Gert to see across the narrow river.
"What is that?"
"A detailed investigation report on that matter."
The Pink Bear continued:
"The officials who committed dereliction of duty during Miss Marjorie’s disappearance and the subsequent cases have all been arrested. They did indeed shield the culprit who was kidnapping women, allowing him to remain at large in Belland... however, our investigation shows they weren't acting under pressure from the nobility."
The Pink Bear paused. "After all, any noble daring enough to cause trouble after the recent incident in the Royal Capital is already dead."
"Are you saying... I slandered them?"
Gert’s eyes turned bloodshot, his emotions spiraling out of control. He looked like a snarling beast. "They weren't wrong? Then am I the one who's wrong? What did I do wrong? I just wanted to find my wife! Since you wouldn't help me, I had to do it myself—"
"No."
The Pink Bear interrupted. "I'm saying you aren't wrong, and they aren't either. Although your obsession and their passive negligence have led to certain irreversible consequences, you haven't actively harmed anyone yet. You are still a victim.
The one truly at fault is the thing hiding in the depths of your consciousness—the thing hiding in your soul."
"My soul?"
Gert froze.
He stared blankly at the Pink Bear. This ridiculous creature, which had been full of authority just a moment ago, now seemed to be bathed in a layer of holy light. Beneath that sacred glow, Gert felt his heart gradually grow warm...
But as he felt that warmth, terrifying images began to flicker in his mind.
"In this incident, according to the Silence Bureau's detection, those officials were under a form of mental influence. This influence was widespread and extremely subtle; to this day, most of those officials don't even remember handling those cases... and you are the same. You've been affected by this mental pollution.
And... your case is much more severe."
The Pink Bear dropped his cigarette after only two puffs and crushed it under his foot.
"Therefore, what I wanted to say is... I'm sorry. I'm late."
"..."
Gert opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But he didn't have the chance. He could only let out a few raspy gasps as a horrific chill surged from the deepest part of his heart, swallowing his soul entirely in an instant.
Yes, the ridiculous bear was right. He was too late...
There was no turning back.
"This is why I hate this kind of messy, god-awful business."
Watching Gert’s aura undergo a cataclysmic shift, the Pink Bear scratched his head in annoyance and helplessness.
"But what can you do? Celicia isn't here. Someone has to look after this city for her."
"Hu... man..."
Gert lifted his head. The cowardice and rage from before were gone. All emotion had vanished from his face, leaving only pure, cold indifference in his eyes.
"How did you... discover me?"
"How? Heh, still looking down on us as usual, I see."
The Pink Bear secretly tucked away the Church Cross he’d used to emit the holy light and play the "gentle soul" role. His expression became uncharacteristically solemn. "Constantly deceiving these poor, heartbroken souls seems to have made you forget... the humans you speak of are nowhere near as weak as you imagine, Love God!"
"..."
The Love God lowered His gaze. No more words were needed; only a terrifying fury erupted.
Muen Campbell was one thing, but what was this bear?
If He had let it leave, that would be the end of it, but how did it dare to entangle itself with Him like this?
The Love God could not tolerate being toyed with by these lowly insects any longer. Power from a higher plane descended with a roar!
Flesh flowers bloomed once more. Countless twisted tentacles surged forth, thick and dense, blanketing the sky like a net to ensure the Pink Bear had nowhere to run.
"Pity. I'm not the one caught in the net."
The Pink Bear showed no sign of panic. He leisurely pulled out his mace. At the same time, the faint sound of a crashing sea of blood echoed through the morning air, drowning out the screeching of the many maws within the shifting, distorted flesh.
So what if it was power from a higher plane?
Talking about toxicity without mentioning the dosage is just being a thug.
If you're so capable, Love God, why don't you descend in your true form like the other Evil Gods?
We could have a nice heart-to-heart across the world barrier.
But since you can't...
"That's why I said..."
The Pink Bear lunged toward the distorted believer, a cold sneer on his face.
"The moment you were forced to appear before us, the moment you stepped into the light... it was already over."
*
"Is Mr. Gert still not back?"
Winnie sat by the small window, watching the dawn rise from the horizon and staring at the empty road before the door. A strange emotion began to spread through her heart.
For some reason, she was more concerned about Mr. Gert today than ever before. She knew he was usually out for a long time and couldn't possibly be back in less than half an hour, yet she was willing to wait.
Just a little longer. Just a little longer. What if Mr. Gert comes back? What if he comes back and there's no one to say good morning to him?
"I know! I'll go wait in Mr. Gert's house and give him a surprise!"
The idea suddenly popped into Winnie's head.
She was usually a procrastinator; her neighbors jokingly called her "Slow-motion Winnie." But this time, her actions were decisive. Without even overthinking the idea, she sprang into action.
She went to the small warehouse, pulled out a spare key she had made at some point, and successfully opened the door.
A pungent smell of sweat and stale air hit her, but Winnie didn't find it repulsive at all. On the contrary, she was incredibly excited because this was her first time entering Mr. Gert's room!
Winnie spun around the small warehouse, finding everything delightful. Even the crude bed made of straw and mats made her imagine how soft and comfortable it would be to lie there with Mr. Gert—especially while holding his bare body...
"Oh my, how can I be so shameless?"
Winnie touched her flushed cheeks and shook her head repeatedly.
She was usually such a reserved person. Why was she being so bold today?
It must be because she missed Mr. Gert too much!
"Right, right, I need to surprise Mr. Gert. Where should I hide?"
Winnie looked around. There was nowhere to hide in the entire warehouse, which disappointed her slightly.
But as if possessed, her gaze suddenly fell upon the center of the warehouse, beneath the three-legged table.
She blinked, walked over, moved the table, and felt around the floor.
Soon, she actually found a secret door!
"A... a basement? Did Mr. Gert dig this in secret?"
Winnie brushed the dust off the secret door. The thought that it was inappropriate for a stranger to dig a mysterious basement in her family's warehouse didn't even cross her mind. Instead, she felt happy.
Now she finally had a place to hide and give Mr. Gert a surprise!
Winnie grabbed the ring handle. Even though a cold aura was seeping through the cracks of the door, she was completely oblivious. She believed the basement on the other side was filled with Mr. Gert's scent—it must be where he usually worked!
Without even knowing when he would return, Winnie was already lost in a beautiful fantasy. Yes, as long as she gave Mr. Gert a surprise, they would grow closer. And once they were closer, she could do this and that with him...
Ah, is this love?
Love is truly wonderful.
She was going to go down right now, to touch what belonged to her—
"Hey there, little sister."
Suddenly, the dim light in the warehouse became bright and warm, and the foul air was purified, replaced by a faint fragrance. A slender, delicate hand encased in a white silk glove reached out, grabbing Winnie’s arm and stopping her.
"You can't go down there. It's very dangerous."
"Eh?"
A warm energy flowed from that soft palm into Winnie’s body, making her shudder.
"Huh?"
Winnie blinked in confusion. "Why am I here?"
"You were affected by a form of mental pollution. Fortunately, it wasn't too deep. It can still be handled."
A gentle voice rang out, like a spring breeze.
Winnie instinctively turned her head. When she saw the figure standing there, she froze instantly.
What a beautiful woman.
Her long golden hair shimmered, and her pure white dress fluttered in the breeze. Silk gloves covered her delicate hands. As she lightly brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, the soft smile on her lips seemed capable of melting one's soul.
Most importantly... that face. That exquisite face was one Winnie knew all too well. She even had a statue of her in her room!
"You... you are?"
Winnie’s eyes lit up. As a devout believer of the Goddess of Life, she recognized almost instantly that the person before her was...
"I'm just a laborer who was dragged back because we're short-staffed. I'm not anyone special anymore."
The Former Saintess ruffled Winnie’s hair. "I have some business to take care of. Could I ask you to step outside? There are nuns from the Church waiting. Go and have them check you over. Your parents need to be checked as well."
"Mhm!"
Winnie nodded vigorously. She thought to herself that the Former Saintess was truly amazing; even though she had retired, her gentleness and holiness were still intoxicating.
"I'll go right now!"
"Good girl."
Latina casually crushed the faint, almost imperceptible trace of pollution that had attached itself to Winnie. Once the girl had left, she looked toward her companions.
"Is the isolation work complete?"
"Rest assured, Lady Latina. The entire town has been sealed within the barrier."
"Good."
Latina nodded, a hint of helplessness appearing in her beautiful eyes.
"I didn't expect to be doing this kind of work even after retirement... Sigh, who told that old bastard to be so unreliable?"
As she spoke, Latina pulled out a pair of cold knuckledusters and slipped them onto her slender hands. Her fingers cracked as she flexed them, and her entire aura shifted instantly.
"If the old man isn't reliable, I'll just have to be reliable myself."
*
Before the arrival of dawn, countless undercurrents surged through Belland once again.
From the now much-emptier Upper District to the calm Gulain River, from the yet-to-wake Lower District to this mist-shrouded town—in a world completely unknown to ordinary people, bloodshed and the bizarre occurred every moment, only to be extinguished before they could ever reach the public eye.
"Seventh Squad, sweep complete."
"Ninth Squad, sweep complete."
"Thirteenth and Fifteenth Squads, sweep complete."
"Fourth Squad, sweep complete."
As reports arrived via specially bred, untraceable white pigeons, Jin Ze’s tense, square-jawed face finally relaxed slightly.
This was the first time he had led such a large-scale operation against an Evil God, especially now that the Sword Bearer of the Silence Bureau had gone to the front lines with the Emperor. It could be said that the pressure of all of Belland rested on his shoulders.
Fortunately, both the Imperial administration and the Life Church were cooperating fully. Even a certain member of the Imperial family had personally stepped in to conduct a "sting operation," which allowed them to root out the Love God's believers hidden deep within Belland one by one.
He just didn't know what kind of bait that person was using. It was incredibly effective; one cast was like poking a hornet's nest. Evil cultists were popping out like razor clams sprinkled with salt. It was truly bizarre.
He’d have to ask later. If he could get his hands on something that good for the Silence Bureau, it would be fantastic.
"Report: Second Squad sweep complete. No traces of Evil God corruption remain within the barrier." The white pigeon spoke again, bringing more good news.
"Excellent!"
Jin Ze pumped his fist in excitement.
"If even the Second Squad is finished, then there's nothing left to worry about!"
Jin Ze spread out his map, marking the areas with confirmed Evil God activity. As he crossed off each zone, he felt the weight on his heart lift a little more.
It looked like his mission would be a success...
"Warning! Warning!"
Suddenly, the white pigeon flapped its wings frantically, screaming as if it were having a fit.
"First Squad requesting backup! First Squad requesting backup!"
"First Squad?"
Jin Ze stood up abruptly. "That's our most elite squad! How could they fail?"
"There's a mole! Abort the deal! There's a mole! Abort the deal!"
The pigeon fluttered by Jin Ze’s ear. "There's a mole—"
"Shut up!"
Jin Ze grabbed the pigeon, his square face twisting into a grimace.
Hearing the word "mole," Jin Ze could already guess what had happened to the First Squad.
It was likely that a member of the squad had been tainted by corruption during their long battles with cultists, or perhaps they had been deceived by the whispers and ravings of the Evil God, choosing this critical moment to strike a fatal blow to their comrades.
Such things were not uncommon in the Silence Bureau. Even with a rigorous screening process, accidents happened.
They were the front line against the Evil Gods, and the people closest to the bizarre. From the moment they chose this path, everyone was prepared for such an end.
The priority now wasn't grief, but finding a way to salvage the situation.
"Should I send in the reserve Sixth and Eighth Squads?"
Jin Ze paced back and forth, muttering to himself.
"No, the First Squad is responsible for the most critical area—the gateway of the barrier and the place where the cultists' offensive is fiercest. That's why I put them there. The Sixth and Eighth Squads aren't enough. They're too young. I need someone powerful enough to hold that position."
"But who... Damn it! If only the Sword Bearer were here, I wouldn't be in this bind!"
Jin Ze slammed his fist onto the desk, cursing his own inadequacy.
But the root cause was the war between the Empire and the Kingdom. Too many of Belland's personnel had been redeployed. Otherwise, it would never be his turn to worry about this.
"At a time like this, do I have to call upon that person?"
Jin Ze began to weigh his final option.
From a safety standpoint, it was undoubtedly the best choice. But when he thought of that person's temperament... Jin Ze couldn't help but shiver.
"Forget it. I'll deal with the fallout later. The most important thing is to stabilize the situation..."
Despite his fear, Jin Ze made his decision quickly. Just as he was about to pull out a Voice Transmission Stone...
"No need..."
The white pigeon he was clutching suddenly spoke.
"Eh?"
Jin Ze raised an eyebrow and released the bird. "What did you say?"
"No need for rescue..."
After escaping Jin Ze’s grip, the pigeon didn't fly away. Instead, it hopped around unsteadily like it was drunk before collapsing onto the ground.
"No need to save us... we've already been saved..."
"Already saved?" Jin Ze asked. "Who saved you?"
"...Coo, coo, coo."
The pigeon didn't answer.
However, in that final moment, Jin Ze thought he heard two words from the other side:
"So beautiful..."
*
"So beautiful..."
It was the most sacred light in the world, an existence warmer than the sun.
The captain of the Silence Bureau's First Pollution Disposal Squad stared blankly at the light descending from the heavens, his entire being becoming immersed in it.
Around him were his battered squad members, each of them mesmerized by the holy light. Several corpses lay at their feet—former comrades who had been their most reliable allies, only to become the enemies who stabbed them in the back.
"Thank goodness."
An ordinary-looking carriage blocked the exit of the barrier. The cultists who had tried to break through were all reduced to ash within the boundless holy light.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing an exquisitely beautiful and cute face.
"It seems I've arrived just in time."