Chapter 803: Pretending (Thank You, Old Kehler, for Your Silver Alliance Donation Again)

Seeing Julie remain silent, the female enforcer in a black robe led her team across the grand square, continuing their patrol of Morola.

Julie stared blankly at her back, as if turned to stone.

Lumian, hidden in the nearby shadows, watched silently, silently muttering to himself:

"An ex-lover?

"That enforcer just now also had a 'witch'-like charm…

"Is she the previous 'witch' who infiltrated Morola, Julie's lover, but ultimately became an experimental subject and forgot her past people and events?

"Hmm, Hera Berg in the Church of Knowledge said that in Morola, the past doesn't matter—only the present and future do. Does this imply that becoming an experimental subject or staying in Morola long enough gradually severs ties to the past, even erasing memory?"

"It's somewhat like how people who vanish in Trill's underground tombs are forgotten by everyone who knew them, but the target is reversed and the effect is weaker…"

Lumian began to understand Julie's current emotions and feelings.

She may have willingly taken on the mission to infiltrate Morola, personally hoping to find her original lover and rescue her from Morola—only to discover her lover had completely forgotten her, not because she'd changed, but because she no longer remembered who Julie was…

"Apart from the two naive 'witches' around me who've barely been contaminated, there are still other 'witches' who believe in true love… Hmm, Julie came looking for, uh, Sarist, probably with additional goals: confirming her fate, retrieving untransmitted intelligence from her, and possibly any items prepared to extract '0—01'…" Lumian seriously considered the feasibility of attacking the enforcer while avoiding punitive consequences.

After a while, Julie trudged back toward the "Carnivore" bar, her face pale, expression sorrowful, like a white datura swaying gently in the night wind.

Lumian did not relax, tracking Julie all the way to the "Carnivore" bar before appearing in his room through the shadows.

After a while, lying on his bed listening to the howling wind as he drifted toward sleep, Lumian let his thoughts wander aimlessly.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, realizing a detail was off:

Sarist, now an experimental subject, reacted incorrectly just now!

According to Lumian's earlier tests, enforcers strangely recognized every resident of Morola—Sarist should not have asked "Who are you?" upon hearing Julie's call, but rather "Who are you calling?" or "What do you want?"!

Whether she was normal or not, she likely still recognized Julie—but pretended not to remember her!

Lumian sat up, squinting:

"Sarist isn't fully an experimental subject yet?

"Is she pretending not to know Julie to protect her lover, or fearing her own secrets might be exposed and jeopardize future plans?

"How is she maintaining some degree of clarity and selfhood, avoiding complete transformation into a puppet-like experimental subject?

"Did the Witch Cult prepare specific countermeasures based on the fates of earlier 'witches,' or did Sarist herself gain some insight and uncover part of the truth?"

Lumian felt he truly needed to "contact" Sarist.

Of course, he should first observe whether Sarist would secretly seek out Julie.

…………

Trill, Art District.

Franca waited outside a gallery for the "Black Witch," as agreed.

Soon, a four-wheeled, four-seater carriage halted before her; Clarisse, wearing a black soft hat, a thin veil, and a dark court gown, glanced out the window and nodded to her.

Franca opened the carriage door and stepped aboard lightly, sitting across from her.

As the carriage slowly moved through the bustling streets, she smiled at the "Black Witch":

"Madam, I've ascended to 'Pain.'"

"Faster than I expected," Clarisse did not hide her confusion.

Franca curled her lips:

"Because Xia Er became the 'Harvester.'"

"He's also Rank 5? His ascent seems even faster than yours…" Clarisse lifted her head slightly, her eyes shifting, "After Gardener Martin's death, he should have left the Iron Blood Cross, right?"

Franca spoke the absolute truth:

"Yes, his rapid ascent to Rank 5 is thanks to Gardener Martin—he used Gardener Martin's Exquisite Trait to brew the potion."

The "Black Witch" smiled with relief, her demeanor noticeably warmer than before:

"Even dead, Gardener Martin is still helping you."

That was truly a hellish joke… Franca felt slightly awkward.

She quickly changed the subject:

"Madam, you previously said that once I became the 'Pain Witch,' you'd reveal some sect secrets to me."

Clarisse, her face veiled by a thin black gauze, gave a faint smile:

"Yes, you're now considered a core member of our sect.

"Hmm, where should I begin…"

Seeing the "Black Witch" unconsciously reveal a touch of girlish innocence, Franca's heart fluttered for a second, silently marveling at the astonishing charm of a high-ranking "witch."

After a few seconds, Clarisse's smile faded, her expression turning solemn and sorrowful:

"Let's start with the sect's specifics:

"We were originally a family, all members descendants of the Primordial, but since the Fifth Era, this structure could no longer sustain our influence—we began absorbing 'Assassin' path adepts who also worship the Primordial as members."

"Are you also a descendant of the Primordial?" Franca had learned this from the Tarot Society, yet still feigned sufficient shock and surprise.

She'd learned this from Jian Na—refining her demeanor through feedback from the "Audience."

The "Black Witch" nodded gently:

"My mother was a descendant of the Primordial."

That doesn't add up—according to our deductions, you should be a hybrid of the Soren and Tamara families… Could your mother be a hybrid of the Primordial Witch bloodline and the Tamara family? Franca hesitated, then said pitifully:

"Does that mean I can never rise to the sect's upper echelons? I'm not a descendant of the Primordial…"

"It doesn't matter—you can marry a descendant of the Primordial; the spouse is also considered a family member," Clarisse smiled again, "Besides, you may still one day truly become a child of the Primordial—we are constantly drawing closer to the Primordial."

"What do you mean?" Franca admitted she didn't understand.

She suddenly felt a flicker of fear.

"You'll understand later," the "Black Witch" offered no further explanation.

I hate people who speak vaguely like this… Franca muttered silently, waiting for the "Black Witch" to continue.

Clarisse returned to the previous topic:

"After the Pale War, the Primordial fell into slumber, occasionally awakening; all sect affairs are handled by high-ranking witches bearing color titles. Currently, including me, there are thirteen, some angels, others among the stronger Saints."

"Is there a Pope, an Emperor, or a clan chief?" Franca pressed.

Clarisse nodded:

"Yes, the Primordial's divine child, our great-grandmother, the 'Gray Witch.' Heh, she prefers being called the 'Gray Holy Maiden.'"

"The Primordial's divine child… What's her relationship with Crismanna? Brown Si told me Crismanna is also the Primordial's divine child," Franca did not hide her curiosity.

The "Black Witch" answered without changing expression:

"They're twins, but our great-grandmother was born as a Rank 9 male, later becoming a witch."

Twins… So Crismanna's Night Pillar secret must be known to the "Gray Witch"… Franca felt a strange sense of history echoing in reality.

The "Gray Witch" must have been a firsthand witness of the Fourth Era's Age of Gods.

Clarisse continued:

"Each color-titled high witch oversees one aspect of affairs, answering directly to our great-grandmother, with no clear hierarchy among them; we occasionally receive divine oracles from the Primordial and possess great autonomy.

"I came to Trill not only to manage the sect's members here and maintain contact with local collaborators, but also to eliminate the 'Mirror People.'"

Franca seized the chance to ask:

"Do we intend to completely eradicate the 'Mirror People'?

"Not consider using them?"

The "Black Witch" smiled faintly, her gaze tinged with sorrow:

"How would you use them?"

If I knew, why would I ask you? Franca chuckled awkwardly:

"To help us control that special mirror world—I think it's quite useful."

The "Black Witch" shifted her gaze, sweeping over Franca, then whispered with a faint smile:

"Why do you think we haven't already controlled that special mirror world?"

"Uh…" Franca looked utterly confused.

This wasn't acting.

The "Black Witch" resumed her melancholy ladylike demeanor, smiling slightly:

"All mirror worlds are under our 'witches' control; that special mirror world was originally designed to oppose the Primordial, but ultimately the Primordial seized control of it.

"Of course, after the Four Emperors' War, we lost partial control over that special mirror world, and after the Pale War, we could only exert limited influence."

"Why?" Franca sensed a great secret hidden here.

The "Black Witch" smiled:

"Our great-grandmother and other high witches who survived from the Fourth Era might know—but not me.

"From the state of the 'Mirror People' and their confessions, I suspect the Primordial's reflection within the mirror underwent some mutation—or perhaps the Primordial's reflection severed and retained certain traits of Herself, yet due to the Fourth Era Trill seal's influence, could not return or reunite with Her.

"But this doesn't explain why we lost further control after the Pale War—the Fourth Era Trill seal didn't strengthen.

"And the True God is One."

ps: Last day for monthly votes~

ps2: Thank you, Old Kehler, for your silver alliance donation again~

(End of Chapter)