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Chapter 834 - The Scapegoat

Backlund, East Borough, Daravi Street, in a cramped but lively tavern.

Xio walked up to the counter, rapped her knuckles on the wooden surface, and said directly to the bartender, "Any valuable intel today?"

If it were anyone else, the bartender would have insisted they order a beer first... but upon recognizing Miss Xio, he thought better of it. After all, doing so might cost him more in the long run.

Not to mention the rumors of her collaboration with MI9.

"Same as usual, 2 shillings per piece of intel... There are 10 in total today," the bartender took a deep breath and quoted his price.

Xio didn't haggle, simply placing a 1-pound coin on the table.

Only after collecting the money did the bartender produce a piece of parchment covered in writing and hand it to Xio.

Taking the parchment, Xio skimmed through it rapidly, quickly spotting her target in the last entry:

"Governor's Mansion underground prison in Bayam has been taken over by the 'Celestial Sect.' Many guards and officers have become cultists."

Pointing at this line, Xio feigned ignorance and asked, "Who provided this intel?"

The bartender glanced at it but remained silent until Xio produced another pound coin, then answered, "A man around 1.6 meters tall... He looked scholarly but had sharp eyes that made him seem unapproachable.

"Even though the intel couldn't be verified, I still paid him 2 shillings."

Liar! You only gave me 10 pence! Xio grumbled internally.

Indeed, that so-called scholarly, sharp-eyed man was actually her using the "Hundred Faces Silk Garment" to disguise herself.

After receiving the "reporting" mission from Mr. World, she had pondered how to "legitimately" obtain and report this incident.

Ultimately, she came up with this method—selling the intel to herself.

Looking back, half a year ago she wouldn't have been this scheming. These tactics were all learned from Ebner and the other members of the Tarot Club.

Of course, Detective Isengar also played a big role—she would never forget the "art of reporting" he taught her during the "Demoness of Affliction" incident.

While her thoughts wandered, Xio maintained a serious expression and asked, "Can you draw his portrait?"

The bartender thought for a moment, then confidently replied, "Yes!"

Without asking for additional payment, he immediately picked up his pre-prepared sketching tools and began drawing.

Is drawing his hobby or dream? Xio mused as she watched, thinking this wasn't bad—people needed dreams, unlike Fors who had none.

But when the bartender slid the finished sketch over to her, Xio nearly fell off her barstool...

This is the person I disguised as? You just described him as scholarly—how does this look like a thug?! And to borrow Ebner's words, this drawing emphasizes 'concept over form'...

Where did you get the confidence to just start drawing?! Suddenly, someone like Fors didn't seem so bad after all...

Taking a deep breath to stop herself from cursing, Xio consoled herself that this made it even harder to trace back to her, then pocketed the drawing.

Only then did she turn her attention to the other nine pieces of intel. Most were irrelevant, but one caught her eye:

"'Bryan's Film Company' completes nationwide theater rollout; free school students first to benefit..."

With so many free school students nationwide listening to Ebner's lectures, his potion digestion must be progressing well... Meanwhile, my "Judge" advancement is still sluggish...

Sighing, Xio left the tavern without further delay. Taking the intel and portrait, she boarded a carriage and hurried back to MI9 headquarters in West Borough, reporting directly to Princess Vera.

Of course, during her report, she subtly emphasized the "coincidental" nature of how she obtained the intel.

Princess Vera glanced at her, the corners of her lips curling slightly as she pretended to buy the story. After sharing and filing the report, she immediately went to MI9's underground sealed artifacts vault to requisition a teleportation-enabled mystical item.

—Her authority had increased significantly since the Great Smog incident.

Then, taking Xio with her, she "traversed the spirit world" and arrived in Bayam.

...

Meanwhile, The Hanged Man Alger found Mr. World's request rather troublesome. Having already reported issues about the Governor's Mansion to the church once, doing so again might arouse suspicion—especially since his sources couldn't withstand scrutiny...

After studying the materials provided by "The World" and pondering for a while, Alger decided to spread a rumor among the sailors: joining a certain club established by the Governor's Mansion could grant them nights with noble ladies and wealthy merchants' wives...

After a day or two, he could report the Governor's Mansion's issues to the Church again under the pretext of "missing sailors"!

His plan seemed sound, but just as the rumor began circulating among dockworkers, he received a summons from the "Church of the Waves."

Though startled, Alger dared not delay and hurried to the church, where he was personally received by His Excellency "Sea God" Kotman.

"Where did you obtain your previous intelligence about the Governor's Mansion?" The towering, broad-shouldered Storm Church cardinal and senior "Mandated Punisher" executive stared directly into Alger's eyes.

Though feeling the pressure, Alger remained calm—"Sea God's" presence paled in comparison to "The Fool's." Still, he feigned nervousness and excitement as he answered, "From a man wearing a monocle..."

He described none other than "The Blasphemer" Amon. From fragments of information shared by "The Tower," Alger knew this "Angel of Time" was utterly unpredictable—capable of anything.

This would absolve him of suspicion...

After hearing his account, "Sea God" Kotman remained silent for a moment, then produced a portrait. "Is this the person you saw?"

A portrait? Where did this come from? Alger wondered as he respectfully accepted it, only to see a highly abstract, ferocious face...

"This... The portrait is rather impressionistic... I can't be certain," Alger "truthfully" replied.

"If it truly was Him, failure to recognize Him is understandable—He could be anyone," Kotman remarked without disappointment, retrieving the portrait.

Sensing something amiss, Alger cautiously asked, "Your Excellency, has something happened at the Governor's Mansion?"

Kotman didn't conceal the truth. "A evil god's will manifested in the Governor's Mansion's 'Nonexistent Prison,' causing heavy casualties. Even outgoing Governor Larry, his wife, and daughter perished there... Not to mention numerous wealthy merchants' wives and daughters..."

"The World's" report didn't mention such devastation! What happened afterward? Was there truly a evil god behind the "Celestial Sect"? Or does "evil god" refer to "The Fool"?

Maintaining his composure, Alger inquired, "Was it ultimately suppressed by the military?"

Kotman scoffed. "The Moses Ascetic Order's angel delayed the evil god's descent. In the end, Her Highness Vera teleported from Backlund to resolve the situation... Regardless, Bayam's military failed catastrophically—even Admiral Emlyn faces dismissal for negligence..."

The Moses Ascetic Order's "Pillar"? That Yalolan who submitted the "Book of Calamity" to "The Fool"? Now I understand! Clearly, after providing me the information, "The World" encountered an accident that triggered the evil god's manifestation. He must have sought "The Fool's" help, who then dispatched an angel to rescue him!

Excellent—this confirms that among the angels serving the reviving ancient god "The Fool," there exists the Moses Ascetic Order's "Pillar"...

Where there's one, there may be others... Perhaps other organizations harbor...

As Alger feigned shock while internally speculating, Kotman continued:

"From surviving cultists, we learned that before the incident, a guard captured 'Vice Admiral of Ailment' Tracy...

"My water mirror divination revealed traces of that 'demoness' spirit who stole Kavitua's relics in the prison.

"I suspect she's either Tracy herself or closely connected to her!"

Tracy? Did "The World" investigate the "Celestial Sect" to rescue her? That female spirit might be another of "The Fool's" blessed...

But why is His Excellency sharing this with me?

As Alger prepared to ask, Kotman anticipated his question:

"Tracy's 'Black Death' has been seized—she's currently isolated and vulnerable. I want you to infiltrate her ranks and uncover that peculiar spirit's identity and her patron."

...

Trier, in the third-floor bedroom of "Ancient Vine Manor," Tracy—barely able to sit up—suddenly sneezed, startling Ebner who was teaching her "rehabilitation techniques."

"Does the 'Vice Admiral of Ailment' catch colds now?"

Tracy shot him a glare. "In my condition, isn't that normal?"

Despite her retort, she psychically examined herself, then added uncertainly, "I think the weakening agent's effects are fading—that's why I sneezed just now."

Fading? Did Klein wipe out the "Celestial Sect"? Even the "Mother Tree of Desire's" power is receding?

Activating his "Pure White Eyes," Ebner thoroughly examined Tracy, confirming the residual corruptive energy was weakening—yet not gone, liable to resurge anytime.

A latent threat... Only specialized techniques can fully purge this...

If I can detect it, the Churches certainly can... Many "Celestial Sect" victims must need such techniques now...

This is my chance to digest the potion!

(End of Chapter)

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