Chapter 65: Offering to the Demon

People began to scream and shove; some rushed toward the stone platform to question Duke Hill, while others looked around in a daze.

More people cast hateful gazes toward the edge of the square, where the gorgeously dressed Council members and their representatives stood in a panic.

"It's her, that woman wearing the veil."

"Spreading heretical nonsense!"

"Seize her—"

The representatives of the Noble Council, several dukes dressed in gold-embroidered velvet coats, hurried to the front of the square surrounded by elite guards.

Their faces were livid as they drew their swords and pointed them at Su Mian on the terrace, their voices loud and full of authority:

"Soldiers! Seize that demonic woman in the veil! She is possessed by an evil spirit, spreading rumors to bewitch the people, intending to overthrow the city-state!"

"Everything she says is the babbling of a demon! Take her and that heretic Hill down together!"

The fully armed soldiers immediately surged like a tide toward the entrance beneath the bell tower, while dozens of others began to disperse and even shove the approaching crowd, attempting to control the situation.

Charlie shouted angrily in an attempt to block them, but he was intentionally or unintentionally separated by more soldiers directly under the Council.

Seeing the soldiers about to storm the terrace, Su Mian stood isolated and helpless.

Dong—

Dong—

Dong—

A loud, solemn bell toll suddenly rang out from the top of the Great Cathedral on the north side of the square.

It was not the usual morning prayer bell, but the "Holy Bell" that was only rung for major ceremonies or emergency summons.

Three consecutive tolls, deafening and carrying a magnificent power that seemed to cleanse the soul, instantly drowned out all the clamor.

The chaotic crowd instinctively froze and looked toward the cathedral.

The heavy oak doors slowly opened inward.

Sunlight poured into the depths of the cathedral, outlining a tall figure wearing pure white holy robes with gold trim and a high crown.

He held a scepter inlaid with holy gems, his expression solemn, each step taken slowly and with oppression, followed by two rows of monks holding incense and scriptures.

Cain walked straight to the center of the square and stopped, his gaze sweeping first over the tense soldiers, the terrified crowd, and the dukes with their ugly expressions.

Finally, he looked up at the figure on the terrace with white gauze fluttering.

In that glance, their eyes met, as if their souls were intertwined.

He raised his scepter and declared in a loud, clear voice that everyone in the square could hear:

"In the name of the Holy Lord, we bear witness here that, confirmed by divine guidance and ancient law, Evelyn has been chosen as the new 'Saintess of Weibens'."

"The words of the Saintess are the transmission of the Holy Will; the insight of the Saintess is the guidance of the Light."

"Any act of disrespect toward the Saintess is a blasphemy against the Holy Lord and the foundation of the city-state."

The scepter struck the ground heavily, emitting a dull and majestic echo.

"All living beings, heed my command—"

In an instant, everything fell silent.

"Lay down your weapons and bow in reverence to the Saintess with a pious heart."

There was only the faint sound of the wind passing through the flagpoles in the square and the flapping wings of a few white doves.

The tide of soldiers retreated one after another, putting away their blades.

Countless gazes—shocked, awestruck, confused, ecstatic... all focused once again on Su Mian high above.

"This part wasn't in the script?!"

A player in the corner was so shocked by the grand scene that his jaw dropped; he thought he was just here to go through the motions today, so how was it that he seemed to be witnessing a change of an era?

His companion beside him gave him an elbow jab.

"Are you stupid? That's a player!"

Beneath the veil, Su Mian gently closed her eyes and then opened them again.

She witnessed the kneeling of the masses.

She took the silver forehead crown symbolizing the status of the Saintess, which the monk beside her respectfully handed over, and slowly placed it in her hair.

"As you command."

"My Bishop."

She spoke slowly, her gaze falling on the priest who had performed the gentleman's bow, that paranoid priest who had always occupied a high position.

At this moment, he had become a pious believer, or perhaps a complicit partner in redemption, offering up all power and crowns to worship her, this demon, and making her the new god in the spotlight of the masses.

How absurd.

But...

At this moment, when the masses bowed, power was transferred, and the sacred and the lie perfectly coincided.

It was, indeed, quite satisfying.

Just as everyone lowered their heads in pious repentance, Su Mian rested her chin on her hand in the bell tower, lifted her veil with her slender fingertips, and mouthed words to Cain.

I accept it.

Cain received the signal, curled his lips, and reached out to perform a hand-kissing gesture toward the void.

He stared straight at the girl's figure high above, his gaze naked and sharp.

It wasn't until Su Mian couldn't stand it and looked away, her face gradually flushing, that the man contentedly let everyone stop their repentance and dismissed the crowd on the grounds that it was getting late.

The revelation of the truth and the change in power would still take a long time for the citizens of Weibens to digest.

The divine theory had not left, because the high-level ties of the city-state had not changed; it was just that the fear in people's hearts had been temporarily vented.

Su Mian saw many familiar faces outside the church just as she stepped off the carriage.

"Evelyn, you were amazing."

Bruce's eyes shone; the fatigue and anxiety of many days turned into gratitude and admiration at this moment, and he almost shed tears.

Adrian and Taylor stood in the crowd and greeted her; Su Mian nodded with a calm expression.

"Why didn't you stay in Mofangdu a little longer?"

She had come to the city-state to save these people, but in fact, there must still be many clues left undiscovered in Mofangdu; there was no need to rush over like this.

Adrian thought of something, his gaze flickering; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he spoke slowly.

"I felt there were no more clues there, so I brought them to the city-state. You know, my father is also in the city."

Su Mian nodded, not noticing his abnormality. Her gaze swept over all the players from Mofangdu, but she paused and turned to look at Adrian.

"Where is Sera?"

As the words fell, the warm and peaceful atmosphere vanished without a trace in an instant.

Many players' expressions became stiff and obscure, and the lips Adrian had raised gradually flattened.

Su Mian sensed something wrong; she frowned and stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Adrian.

"I asked you, where is Sera?"

Adrian did not look into the girl's eyes; his breathing became labored, and his Adam's apple bobbed once.

"She died."

The player behind him spoke for Adrian.

Su Mian's breathing stopped for half a beat.

She stood where she was, the shadow cast by the church covering her just right, her face, which was always cold and calm, hidden in the darkness, making her expression unclear.

Only the fingers hanging by her sides curled imperceptibly.

"... How did she die?"

Adrian finally looked up, fine cold sweat on his temples.

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse.

"The day we were released, Sera still remembered your words, saying there might be clues in the nunnery, and that we had to go back and check before going to the city-state."

He spoke faster and faster, as if afraid that if he stopped, he would never be able to finish. ===== CHAPTER 66 =====