183. Houraiji Kyuushou: The Fire Moth Declares War on Sin and The City
"I feel like the back alleys have been a little too quiet lately," Angelica said casually to Roland beside her as they walked down a street.
"Heh, after all, with a sword hanging over our heads, who isn't afraid? Ah, except for those lunatics, but those lunatics are probably mostly dead by now." Roland shrugged, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Sin Hunter, is that the name?" Angelica recalled the rumored title.
"Isn't it Dawn Pioneer?" Roland countered, and the two exchanged a knowing smile.
"Sometimes I really wonder if she's actually a child, just like she looks? She leaves behind different names after killing people; I've lost count of how many." Roland shook his head, his tone helpless.
"Maybe she really is a child," Angelica disagreed.
"How could that be? She looks only sixteen or seventeen."
"Even if she's a product of some World Wing, it's impossible for her to be this young..." Roland said incredulously.
"Forget it, there's no point in talking about this. It's unlikely it'll come back to us anyway," Angelica said, ending the conversation.
"Speaking of which, Angelica," Roland looked at his wife beside him, "why did you suddenly decide to come to a church?"
"It was just a sudden whim. I wanted to pray for peace, for myself, for you, and for our future children." Angelica gently stroked her slightly protruding belly.
The City didn't have such feudal superstitions, but Roland still found his wife's idea somewhat absurd. However, he wouldn't disturb her enjoyment—after all, he had inquired about and investigated the Silver Church; its reputation was unexpectedly good, and its practices were completely unlike those expected in The City. Just as the two continued walking, a purple-haired girl brushed past them.
Their expressions remained unchanged, and they continued walking calmly.
Only when the figure completely disappeared around the street corner did Roland secretly wipe the cold sweat from his brow. Any capable finisher had their own intelligence network.
And the one who specialized in hunting down Five Fingers had never concealed her actions from beginning to end.
Therefore, he recognized her.
"To bump into such an important person on the street, is our luck good or bad..."
"Judging from the direction she's heading, it seems she's also going to the Silver Church." Angelica shared her observations.
"Angelica, is it absolutely necessary to go to the Silver Church? I think we should consider retreating." Roland's heart pounded.
"Could it be that there's some hidden danger in the Silver Church that I haven't discovered, and now that the Hunter has found it and is here to deal with it?" Angelica also felt uneasy. Going today wasn't a must, nor was going to the Silver Church absolutely necessary. Just as she and Roland turned to leave, a clear voice rang out behind them:
"Are you also going to the Silver Church?"
Roland cursed inwardly, "This city is a piece of shit!" He forced a smile, took a step back, and turned to block Angelica's path.
"Heh, yes, we were just about to check out the Silver Church." Having been discovered, could he really say no?
Houraiji Kyuushou, seeing Roland's wary look, put her hands on her hips and waved her hand with a smile:
"Looks like you recognize me. Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, don't worry, I won't attack you. You're not on my kill list."
"Haha, well, thank you very much—did you think I'd say that?" Roland mentally screamed. He was joking; even if an extremely dangerous person said they wouldn't attack, would anyone really feel safe?
"Um… is there something you need?" Angelica peeked out from behind Roland and asked softly.
"We're going the same way, let's go together!" Houraiji Kyuushou flashed a bright smile.
Roland and Angelica exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing helplessness and a sense of "this is the only way."
The three walked side by side down the back alley. As they approached the Silver Church, the expressions on the faces of the people lining the street became increasingly vivid—not because anything good had happened, but simply because they could live ordinary lives in peace, without the constant fear of sudden disaster.
"Speaking of which, Your Excellency..." Angelica began, trying to start a conversation.
"Just call me Kyuushou," Houraiji Kyuushou said readily.
"Oh," Angelica ignored Roland's frantic winks and continued, "Kyuushou, may I ask why you came to the Silver Church?"
Hearing this question, Houraiji Kyuushou seemed to recall something amusing, a suppressed laugh on her face:
"A friend of mine is coming here today to be a priest, so I came specifically to check it out!"
The Hunter's... friend?! Roland and Angelica were both intrigued.
As the three stepped through the gates of the Silver Church and into the solemn chapel, the couple's gazes were immediately drawn to the figure in a priest's robes standing before the altar. A flicker of surprise crossed their faces.
"...It's someone we know," Roland couldn't help but remark. The City is both vast and small.
Angelica echoed softly, "...I didn't expect it to be that gentleman."
"Huh? You know him?" Houraiji Kyuushou, who was fiddling with her camera, turned back to look at them, a puzzled expression on her face.
"I'd say we've met once," Roland said, scratching the back of his head.
Houraiji Kyuushou waved to them, then joined Kevin, Tarnished, and Elaina, who were watching nearby.
Kevin: "There's a certain beauty in his silence."
The Tarnished: "Why can't he just shut up all the time?"
Elaina: "Hmm...I know, he'd look really good in women's clothes."
Kevin & The Tarnished: "??"
Kevin & The Tarnished: "!!"
Houraiji Kyuushou: "Won't Xiling be angry if we do this?"
As she said this, the glaring flash of her camera hit Xiling's face.
Suppressing the urge to smash the book in his hand over those guys' heads, Xiling silently chanted in his heart, "Be gentle...be elegant...I am a priest..."
"By the way, why are the Scallion Pancake Couple here too?" He also noticed the familiar figures.
The prayer continued. People prayed devoutly to that illusory concept.
Prayer itself may not change reality, but when people gather with the same belief and focus on a single goal, a bond of emotion is quietly formed.
People who initially came simply for survival now greet each other with smiles, chat about everyday matters, share work experiences, and even support one another.
Perhaps it's all just a facade, but change has indeed occurred, hasn't it?
These people are bound together by the Silver Church.
If one day this bond breaks, they might revert to indifference.
But as long as the Silver Church stands, isn't that enough?
The prayer ended, and people whispered about their upcoming plans, gradually leaving the church.
This is a legitimate church:
It provides shelter, ensuring safety within its sphere of influence.
It offers help; those in need can turn to it for assistance.
It provides jobs; after all, survival requires money.
It also offers faith—empty lives always need spiritual sustenance.
What they initially believed in might have been just an illusion, but one day, their faith will be directed towards what they truly need.
Xiling, with a gentle smile, nodded to the departing believers. Only after the crowd dispersed did he relax, feeling his smile become somewhat stiff. Just as he was about to confront those bastards, he discovered they had already vanished.
He rubbed his stiff cheeks in exasperation.
Just then, Roland and Angelica approached.
"Gentlemen, we meet again." Looking at the couple, Xiling's face regained its gentle smile.
"Yes, we meet again, Father. Thank you for your umbrella the other day." Angelica bowed slightly in thanks.
"It was nothing, no need to mention it. What brings you to the Silver Church today?" Xiling asked, spreading his hands.
"We simply wanted to offer our blessings, for my husband and me, and for our future child." Angelica gently stroked her belly, her face radiating maternal tenderness.
"I see. Then let me offer my blessings."
"Ah? Shouldn't the procedure be for us to pray to your Lord?" Roland blurted out instinctively.
"Huh? You believe in this?" Xiling asked innocently, his face full of confusion.
Roland: "…Are you really a priest?"
What kind of clergyman would question a believer's faith in God in their own church?
"Don't worry about it, don't worry about it." Xiling gave a thumbs up, his smile unchanged.
"…I can't help but worry." Roland felt that the priest's eccentric personality was completely different from the composed figure who had handed him an umbrella in the rain that day.
Angelica, on the other hand, didn't seem to care about these details: "Then, Father, could you please bless us?"
"It's my duty. Wait a minute, let me get ready." Xiling said, starting to stretch his limbs with large movements, like a student doing calisthenics.
Roland watched, his eyelids twitching: "…Is this guy reliable at all?"
After stretching a bit, Xiling smiled: "I'm ready, how about you?"
"Always…ready." Roland's tone carried a hint of helplessness.
"Thank you, Father," Angelica nodded.
"Well then, let's begin." Xiling extended a hand. In an instant, pure and soft light emanated from his body, like countless fireflies swirling and dancing around him.
"What's going on?!" Roland instantly went on alert! However, the light vanished in a flash, and Xiling clapped his hands, as if nothing had happened.
"Hmm, all done. Thank me." His tone was relaxed.
Roland immediately checked his body nervously, finding nothing amiss, then hurriedly looked at Angelica.
Angelica also shook her head, indicating she was fine.
"Hey, what are you two talking about? I was just trying to give you a blessing out of kindness, and instead of thanking me, you're doubting me!" Xiling expressed his dissatisfaction.
"What…did you just do?" Roland couldn't help but press.
"Giving a blessing, indeed."
Xiling blinked.
"A blessing called 'luck,' as for its specific manifestation…" He smiled mysteriously, "You'll find out later."
"…Can't the Riddler just leave The City?" With this thought, Roland and Angelica said goodbye to Xiling and left the church.
Xiling waved behind them: "Come again next time!"
"I definitely won't come again!" Roland silently resolved.
Just then, a group of people in identical white uniforms approached. Their steps were synchronized, their aura solemn, and almost every one of them gave Roland a powerful sense of pressure. The leader nodded slightly to them, then led the group straight towards the Silver Church.
"Who are these people?" Out of curiosity, Roland looked back. He saw the imposing group of white-clad figures lined up neatly before Xiling, bowing respectfully to him.
"…Indeed, he was a very important person." Roland withdrew his gaze, no longer lingering, and merged with his wife into the crowd in the back alley.
At the church entrance.
"Your Majesty, the task you assigned has been completed. Furthermore, the facilities you requested to be built are also complete. Please proceed to inspect them." The leader, Morgot, reported respectfully.
"Thank you all for your hard work." Xiling sincerely expressed his gratitude to the group of civil engineering mages.
This caused their previously serious faces to break into undisguised smiles of satisfaction.
"No! Serving the King is our honor!" A loud, unified voice resounded throughout the street.
"In any case, I must thank you for your support. Even if it was voluntary, I should provide compensation or rewards." Xiling said earnestly, "However, these will only be given after the successful completion of this mission. Please look forward to it!"
"Yes!" The unified voice boomed again.
Having anticipated this, Xiling smiled and covered his ears.
"Alright, let's go. Destination—L Nest, the Fire Moth!"
He looked up into the distance.
There, a towering building rose from the ground, replacing the former library in just a few hours, easily surpassing the city's former tallest building.
That was the headquarters of the Fire Moth, a newly risen World Wing!
When Xiling and his group arrived at the foot of this magnificent building and stepped inside, they saw everyone already gathered there.
"Is everyone ready?" Xiling's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Houraiji Kyuushou.
"Of course!" Houraiji Kyuushou clenched her fist, raising it to the sky, her eyes burning with intense fire.
"It's time to announce to the entire city what the Fire Moth truly represents!"
"Then… let's go,"
People stepped into the magical elevator that led directly to the top floor.
Meanwhile, in all the nests of The City, countless figures clad in silver uniforms received orders almost simultaneously. In unison, they raised their arms, palms facing the sky. The next second, an enormous energy projection screen instantly covered the city's sky!
The people on the ground looked up in astonishment, their gazes fixed on the sudden image in the sky.
The projected image clearly showed eight figures—Xiling, Kevin, the Tarnished, Lemuen, Houraiji Kyuushou, Luo Tianyi, Dan Heng, and Elaina—along with more than twenty people in white uniforms surrounding them.
"Hey! What's going on?!" The City's high-ranking officials were bewildered. They immediately recognized one of the figures in the image: the Finger Hunter, Houraiji Kyuushou!
The bewildered lower-class residents, however, were filled with confusion and fear.
Houraiji Kyuushou spoke in the scene. Her voice, resonating clearly through a peculiar resonance, echoed in every corner of The City, reverberating in everyone's ears:
"City dwellers, whoever you are—whether you know me or not—listen carefully now!"
"My name is Houraiji Kyuushou."
"I've had many titles, but the one you hear most often is probably..."
Her eyes suddenly sharpened like blades:
"The Finger Hunter!"
"That's right, I am the one who hunts the Five Fingers."
"But," her voice rose abruptly, filled with undeniable power, "you've all misunderstood one thing!"
"What I'm doing is never just hunting those so-called 'Five Fingers'!"
A raging fire seemed to burn in the girl's red pupils:
"What I'm doing is completely eradicating the filth and darkness of this city!"
"Now, everyone, listen carefully!"
"Fire Moth!"
"—That's our name!"
"We walk in filthy back alleys, we traverse the so-called safest nests! We've witnessed every inch of The City's decay and depravity! We've seen the truth!"
"We've reached our final conclusion! This world needs a flame that burns away all filth and injustice! This flame will devour all the dirty rules and oppression! We will bring down the hammer of justice upon you, the so-called high-ranking officials!"
"I'll say it again, listen carefully!"
'"Fire Moth!"
"From this moment on, we declare war on all the evil lurking in the nests!"
"Individual crimes! Gang brutality! Even those World Wings perched high in the sky—"
Her voice was like a clarion call of doom:'
"We too will—we will! Burn! Them! To! Extinction!"
"Listen, city dwellers!"
"I, Houraiji Kyuushou! The founder of the Fire Moth, promise you!"
"Today!—"
Kusho's voice pierced the clouds, carrying the power to shatter all shackles:
"This is the beginning of a new era!"
"Souls that still hold a sliver of flame, a sliver of resentment—"
"It is time to! Rise! Up!"
"Take your steps—the gates of theFire Moth will open for you!"
As the final, resounding declaration fell, the enormous projection covering the sky vanished instantly…
At first, many thought it was just an arrogant joke. A newly formed World Wing dared to declare war on the entire city? Absolutely insane!
However, when the next morning arrived, people discovered that the once grand landmark building, the headquarters of M and K companies, now bore the imposing banners of the Silver Church and the Fire Moth…
The entire city was plunged into unprecedented panic and turmoil.
But the leader remained completely indifferent to all of this.