Chapter 567

"Whether it works or not, we'll know once we try," Tang Luo said. "But don't worry. There's no rush right now — finish off the demons first, then go home."

The power of merit was naturally wanted; with this much being handed over for free, not taking it would be a waste.

"..."

Bu Yi opened his mouth but said nothing. To tell the truth, if everything really was as Tang Luo said.

If the demons and the World Enders were completely wiped out, and Tang Luo's group brushed off their clothes and left once the job was done, hiding their merit and fame — it would be simply perfect.

But where in the world does such a good thing exist?

One can only hope everything develops in a direction where "you're good, I'm good, everyone's good."

"Thump thump thump!"

Urgent knocking came from outside. "Captain, something's happened."

The room's soundproofing was good; the person outside had to press right against the door and shout for any sound to carry through.

Bu Yi walked over and opened the door: "What is it, so panicked?"

"Someone died," the visitor said.

Bu Yi froze, then immediately took a step back, his mind instantly conjuring the follow-up scene:

He would ask who died.

The visitor would suddenly pull out a dagger and stab down with a savage grin: "It's you!"

It wasn't that Bu Yi had an overactive imagination — in the Holy Regiment's history, there were indeed quite a few Vice-Captains (Stewards) who had met untimely deaths.

Fortunately, the situation didn't develop along the lines of Bu Yi's momentary flight of fancy.

The visitor held a sealed letter and said: "It's a member of the Science & Equipment Department, joined the Holy Regiment not long ago. We found this next to the body."

Bu Yi took the envelope, his expression shifting slightly, walked back and handed it to Tang Luo: "For you."

"For me?" Tang Luo was a bit puzzled — who would send him a letter?

A death threat letter?

Tearing open the rather bulky envelope marked "To be opened personally by Tang Luo," Tang Luo shook out several folded sheets of paper.

"You go back first; we'll be there in a bit," Bu Yi told the visitor.

"Mm, General Holt is already there." The visitor left in a hurry; he had only been dispatched to notify Bu Yi and Tang Luo's group.

On the way back, his heart was racing, his face uneasy — someone had actually died at Holy Regiment Headquarters.

Was this place, reputed to be the safest in the world, not safe anymore either?

"What are these?" Bu Yi walked over, just in time to see Tang Luo unfold a sheet — a lifelike full-body portrait of a person.

The remaining sheets, once opened, were all the same kind of portraits.

Four in total: a young girl, a youth, an old man, and a middle-aged man.

"Portraits," Tang Luo said.

"I know they're portraits, but who are the people in these portraits?" Bu Yi examined the paintings closely.

"They should be Godscions," Tang Luo said.

"Hm?" Lola hurried over, staring at one of them. "It's him! Godscion · Lust!"

"The one you encountered?" Bu Yi picked up that youth's portrait — blond hair, purple clothes, handsome features — indeed matching the Godscion · Lust Tang Luo's group had described.

There was no doubt the sender wouldn't put four strangers' portraits together with Godscion · Lust's and deliver them as a set.

The other three were most likely Godscions as well.

"What does this mean?" Bu Yi frowned.

"A gift."

Tang Luo shook one of the sheets in hand; besides the portrait, there was a line of small print — "A small gift, not worth mentioning."

"Not only that — there are addresses too," Lola guessed. "Someone actually revealed their appearances to us?"

"Not just that, there are addresses too," Bu Yi looked at the back of the portrait — addresses were written there.

Certain cities and several surrounding cities, not pinpointed to a specific street and number.

"What a nice person," Tang Luo said. "Though I don't know who it is."

"... This isn't a good thing," Bu Yi said. "It's a conspiracy!"

No, actually it's no longer a conspiracy — it's an open stratagem.

Regardless of whether the information on these Godscions is true or false, the Holy Regiment must go verify it.

If it's a trap...

Bu Yi shook his head. Even if it's a trap, they have no choice but to step in it.

Lola was also frowning, thinking about what consequences this matter would bring.

Only Tang Luo looked extremely relaxed, still smiling.

"Since the pillow's been delivered," Tang Luo said, "Get ready — we depart in two hours."

"Two hours?" Bu Yi and Lola both stared.

"Speed is the essence of war."

"No, investigate first," Bu Yi hurriedly stopped him. "Give us some time — we might be able to dig out the mastermind behind this."

That way the trouble can be solved at its root.

Trap or not, we just need to catch the person scheming in the dark.

Putting away the portraits, Lola and Bu Yi "took the lead," heading to the incident site, Tang Luo following behind.

Before long they arrived at the scene — the Holy Regiment ordinary members' "staff dormitory."

A crowd had already gathered outside the door — ordinary members and Exorcists alike.

Holt's tall frame looked particularly conspicuous.

"What exactly is the situation?" Bu Yisi walked over and asked.

"Suicide," Holt said.

"Suicide?" Bu Yisi said, "Go investigate his background. All of it is needed."

Someone immediately went to handle it; the Holy Order definitely had records on its members.

Following this lead might yield clues.

The deceased was named Fabu. He was a member who had just joined the Holy Order half a year ago, currently responsible for odd jobs — the necessary path for newcomers.

A few days ago he took leave and went out for a trip; he had just returned today.

Dispersing the crowd, Bu Yisi and Holt spoke.

Holt held the portrait Tang Luo had handed over and said, "Just to deliver these things, why make such a fuss?"

Merely passing on information isn't actually difficult.

Find a conspicuous place, put the envelope down, and the writing on it ensured the cleaning auntie definitely wouldn't sweep it away as trash.

At most they'd think someone accidentally lost it.

The Steam Age didn't have any cameras.

Any random person casually passing by some place in the Holy Order, tossing the letter — it would be impossible to find the person.

There was no need to use a dead man's method to achieve the purpose of delivering a letter.

"To ensure the letter would definitely be discovered," Bu Yisi said. "And, I feel this is a warning."

"What?"

"A warning that even at headquarters we aren't safe," Bu Yisi sighed.

Before long, someone brought Fabu's files.

Ordinary, commonplace. Once an apprentice blacksmith, quite accomplished in forging; through a branch selection he entered headquarters to work in the Equipment Department.

Usually nothing out of the ordinary; he was close with a few friends.

Just an ordinary member, no background.

People like this were not few in the Holy Order.

Bu Yisi frowned. If he had some background, they could follow the vine to find the melon, but now it was a person with no background.

Then they could only start from the source.

"Notify the nearest field personnel. Go to Fabu's hometown. Dig up all his information, ancestors and all!" Bu Yisi said.

It wouldn't be a simple investigation; most likely a lengthy process.

"..." Bu Yisi suddenly realized.

The reason the other party used a dead man — the deeper layer of meaning in the warning — was to force the Holy Order, to force Tang Luo and them to act quickly.

Rather than investigating slowly.

The "Gift Giver" hides in the dark; danger is right beside them.

He is blatantly telling Bu Yisi and Tang Luo their own hidden influence within the Holy Order.

Assuming Fabu was his dead soldier, then among the field personnel, how many belong to this person's dead soldiers, his forces?

How long would the investigation take to produce results?

Instead of investigating him and wasting time, better to go all out.

The Divine Scion isn't a landmark, staying immobile for thousands of years.

"We can't mobilize exorcists and field personnel on a large scale together to the Divine Scion's location," Bu Yisi said in a deep voice.

A large-scale personnel mobilization by the Holy Order definitely couldn't be hidden from the "Person Behind the Scenes."

If he intends to do something, the consequences would be severe.

In comparison, an elite squad acting in secret might fare better.

At least it wouldn't let the Person Behind the Scenes grasp their movements.

"Why not?" Tang Luo asked.

Bu Yisi stated his analysis and judgment.

"And then?" Tang Luo said. "Anyway, no matter what we do there's risk, it's all traps. Who cares that much? Call people, everyone go together, fuck him up!"

"We go all out, kill them until not a piece of armor remains!"

Bu Yisi froze for a moment; it seemed this wasn't a bad idea either.

But on second thought, this won't do. One careless mistake and the losses to the Holy Order would be catastrophic.

He wasn't a red-eyed gambler; he couldn't make a gamble like this.

And Tang Luo...

Bu Yisi looked at Tang Luo. No, no, this guy isn't a gambler.

He's just a reckless brute! And a quite powerful reckless brute at that!

Making this kind of choice was only natural.

"I'll investigate the true culprit behind the scenes as fast as possible. The Divine Scion matter, I'll leave to you guys," Bu Yisi decided to each do their own job.

Investigating the truth he would handle; the Divine Scion side, let Tang Luo brute-force his way through.

"Then it's decided. Call people. Call all exorcists," Tang Luo said.

Holt and Lola had no objection and immediately turned to leave.

There were over fifty exorcists at Holy Order headquarters. Take them first; the rest, pass the word, everyone can rendezvous en route. Kill them until not a piece of armor remains!

As for whether they'd encounter danger on the way to rendezvous.

A joke. The moment an exorcist puts on the uniform means danger.

Even without this rendezvous, would the dangers encountered be any fewer?

At most everyone would just gather together about the same time, with the risk of being wiped out in one fell swoop.

But at that time, Tang Luo was there!

Afraid of a fart!

With a backer, you can do whatever you want.

Bu Yisi didn't understand Tang Luo's strength, but Holt and the others knew very well.

Just follow Tang Luo and charge, charge, charge, and that's it.

"If you encounter danger, you must protect yourself well; staying alive is more important than anything." Bu Yisi looked at Tang Luo, very solemn, "The pressure from above, I'll help you bear... a part of it."

————

"What?"

Upon receiving the news, Abel stared wide-eyed; the Holy Order's movements naturally couldn't escape his informants.

The other side indeed went after his "brothers and sisters" according to his plan; that part was fine.

But why did they come out in full force?

Aren't you afraid of alerting the enemy?

Aren't you afraid this is a prehistoric giant pit that will bury all the exorcists?

Which madman's decision?

No, it's the Holy Order's councilors, the five great generals, and a pile of forces behind them all going mad simultaneously, turning into red-eyed gamblers?