Chapter 631: Remove the Pollution

Lu Mi realized the "Magician" lady had neither confirmed his speculation nor analyzed the deeper truth behind the Hante Island devil legends—he understood this likely touched upon matters beyond his current reach, or things best left unknown until the accumulated pollution was purged.

"Find time… meaning I can come anytime, without waiting for the healer's schedule? Has the 'Magician' lady already foreseen no issues?" Lu Mi held the paper inscribed with the Spirit World coordinates and activated the black sigil on his right shoulder.

His figure vanished from the "Berry," weaving through chaotic, overlapping patches of color, occasionally sensing ambiguous gazes and glimpsing indescribable forms.

After an unknown length of time, Lu Mi finally reached the region corresponding to those Spirit World coordinates and stepped out.

First to meet his eyes were the towering dome, the bright stained-glass windows, and the epic murals.

Then Lu Mi saw a cluster of sunlight deep within the hall.

He understood intuitively and walked toward it.

As he walked, the sunlight "spread" toward him, leaving not a single shadow, not a trace of darkness in its path.

The next instant, Lu Mi was engulfed by sunlight.

He instantly felt as if his skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs had been pierced by pure sunlight, his soul laid utterly bare.

Tiny wisps of illusory black mist were forced out from his soul through his body by the sunlight—they writhed and clawed, each bearing Lu Mi's face, twisted in rage, agony, pleading, or menace.

Within mere seconds, these black mists were irrevocably dissolved by the sunlight.

At the same time, Lu Mi's heart began to ache, a searing heat burning in his left chest.

The blazing, radiant sunlight seemed determined to expel and purify whatever lay there as well.

Amid the sharp pain in his heart, Lu Mi faintly sensed the seal on his left chest shifting, hiding, aligning itself with the sunlight.

Before this attempt could succeed, the sunlight ceased of its own accord and stopped.

It receded like a tide, retreating back into the depths of the hall.

Lu Mi instantly returned to normal, save for lingering discomfort in his heart—he felt noticeably lighter, his chest opened wide, as if after years of oppressive gloom, he had suddenly felt the morning breeze and seen the sunrise.

He then noticed a man standing deep in the hall, clad in a simple white robe, toweringly tall.

Lu Mi judged the man to be very young, appearing only twenty-two or twenty-three, over two meters tall, radiating overwhelming presence yet possessing an exceptionally calm demeanor, his brownish-yellow hair neatly styled.

"The residual pollution on you has been fully cleansed," the tall man said in Ancient Fusaic.

Lu Mi ventured a guess and asked:

"Are you Mr. Sun?"

"Yes," replied the young, towering man with perfect politeness, showing not a trace of arrogance or impatience.

So young after all… but one cannot judge by appearance… Lu Mi offered two thanks, with no further questions or requests.

He pointed toward the hall's exterior:

"May I go out and walk around?"

He still did not know where he was, but judging from the mural content, it must be a highly significant church of the "Fool" Church.

Thus, he deduced the Great Arcana "Sun" before him was a high-ranking member of the "Fool" Church, perhaps even one of its topmost figures.

"You may," said the Great Arcana "Sun," nodding slightly.

Lu Mi pressed his hand to his chest and bowed according to the "Fool" Church's ritual, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Beyond the door, the world suddenly came alive—sounds and diverse figures flooded his senses at once.

In that instant, Lu Mi's first thought was:

Have I wandered into the land of giants?

He saw the people walking the streets were all at least one meter eighty-nine tall; occasionally, figures three or four meters high appeared. Whether "half-giants" or "giants," every male wore a white shirt, a black overcoat, a half-high silk top hat, and carried a cane as long as a spear, radiating an inexplicable absurdity.

The women were equally tall; few wore skirts, most opting for practical long pants.

Lu Mi glanced around again, his gaze sliding over doorways taller than four meters.

He fell silent for a moment, feeling like a newborn infant here.

This realization briefly extinguished his desire to wander.

Of course, only briefly.

………

Trill, Shajue Village, at the gate of a vineyard.

After Franca explained to the male servant she was here to visit Lady Clarisse, he stepped aside but did not lead the way, remaining where he stood, as if expecting her to know Clarisse's location and find it herself.

Franca paid it no mind, following her memory along the path to the circular pavilion nestled among the grapevines.

There, indeed, sat the "Black Witch" Clarisse, dressed in a black court gown.

"Good morning, Lady Clarisse," Franca greeted warmly and cheerfully, openly admiring the woman's exquisite beauty and melancholic aura.

The "Black Witch" Clarisse gave a slight nod:

"Has the investigation into the 'Mirror Person' progressed?"

Franca did not answer immediately, gazing into the woman's captivating gray eyes:

"Isn't Bruns here?"

"She is not my maid; she has her own affairs," replied Clarisse, the "Black Witch," succinctly.

"She's not at the Red House Café or the hunting grounds by the forest either," Franca, sniffing the fragrant air, chose to engage Clarisse in idle chatter.

"She has other matters," Clarisse clearly had no desire to discuss this further.

Franca reluctantly recounted the entire story of Minister Moran Avini, merely replacing the person who sensed the "Mirror World Fragment" trembling during the play with herself.

Clarisse did not interrupt, nor did she respond immediately; her eyelids lowered as if in deep thought.

Franca did not press her, her gaze constantly shifting between the woman's mist-laden gray eyes, her pure, delicate skin, her breathtaking contours, and her unusually alluring crimson lips.

She knew this was improper, yet she could not control herself—her heart grew hotter, her mind grew foggy, her mouth dried, and she found herself licking her lips repeatedly.

Damn! Why am I getting aroused now… Humans may be creatures capable of arousal at any time, but during serious discussions, especially before superiors, I've always been composed—merely appreciating… Could the "Black Witch" be actively radiating charm to seduce me? Or is there another reason? Yes—the lingering pollution from the devil encounter! Though it's extremely faint and shows no effect in daily life, before a high-ranking witch famed for feminine allure, it makes me lose control of my own desires, gradually slipping into arousal… Franca clenched her teeth, refusing to become a slave to desire.

Clarisse lifted her head and glanced at her:

"Have you gone too long without pleasure?"

"Since my last lover died, I haven't," Franca understood Clarisse meant sexual pleasure and answered truthfully, adding, "Didn't I just say? To get close to Moran Avini's illegitimate daughter, I used a miraculous item—the side effect was encountering transactions with devils and other evil entities. I did encounter one, and was affected."

Clarisse's voice turned cold and clear:

"Endurance is not a lasting solution. Allow yourself pleasure more often—otherwise, the Devil Path will be your undoing."

The "Black Witch's" aura instantly became sacred, dignified, and untouchable.

Franca too began to feel it improper to harbor base thoughts toward such a beauty—her desire gradually cooled, her mind cleared, and she broke free from the state of arousal.

Clarisse brought the conversation back on track:

"You wish to confront Moran Avini?"

"He must be a very important 'Mirror Person.' If we can capture him or commune with his spirit, we should be able to uncover most of the 'Mirror Persons' hidden in Trill. Lady, I request your assistance," Franca said, subtly aiming to impress.

She did not deliberately mention that Moran Avini shared Clarisse's gray eyes, merely showing the color photograph.

Clarisse gave a slight nod:

"You may plan your operation. At critical moments, I will provide aid—but for most scenarios, you must rely on yourself and the forces under your control."

"No problem," Franca did not hide her delight.

After she left the pavilion surrounded by grapevines, the "Black Witch" Clarisse's gray eyes turned cold as she slowly rose.

………

Inside a sunlit bar.

Lu Mi held a beer mug larger than his own head, clinked it with the nearly three-meter-tall "giant" across from him, and drank the golden liquid in great gulps.

He wiped his mouth and laughed:

"So this is the New Silver City from the Holy Scripture."

He had learned during sermons that New Silver City was the headquarters of the "Fool" Church, located in the Sounia Sea, founded by survivors rescued from the cursed continent of the "Land of the God-Forsaken" by Germaine Sparrow.

He had never imagined those survivors were so tall—nearly giants!

"Yes! All warriors here are always ready to fight for the 'Fool's' Church!" said the nearly three-meter-tall "giant" proudly. "You're excellent—worshiping the 'Redeemer Angel' and believing in the 'Fool'—with these two, we're brothers!"

He extended his right palm and slapped Lu Mi—nearly knocking him to the ground, like a child struck by a bear's paw.

Lu Mi forced a smile:

"Could you tell me more about the 'Redeemer Angel's' deeds in the 'Land of the God-Forsaken'?"

(End of Chapter)