Chapter 2334: The Returning Nun

Ever since two months ago, the residents of Moon Bay, who had grown accustomed to major events inevitably occurring every Sunday, certainly did not doubt the police's claims of an "optical smog leak." Consequently, the city was terrifyingly quiet tonight, shrouded in thick fog.

The Countess went to investigate the situation, and the group remaining at the manor certainly wouldn't be idle. With the witches gathered, Xia De explained his communication with the Ringed Shushi earlier that afternoon.

His original plan was to take out 20 Dragon Scale Coins and then find information on the "Light-Worshipper Seminar" to trade with Mr. Chekhov. But after hearing Xia De's explanation, Miss Aurora made the decision for him:

"Two Keeper-level relics that can produce darkness effects, is that it? They're just Keeper-level; the Council's collection can surely find two. When I report the local situation to the Council tonight, I will mention this to the Speaker, and no one else will have any objections."

That was fine too, as it would allow Xia De to save those coins, which might have other uses. While waiting for news from Miss Beiya, Xia De did one other thing: he had Tifa take the maids to help him organize the document bag sent by MI6 that afternoon.

"My vampire friend obtained the time records of large-scale cargo transactions conducted locally by the Dragon Feast Cult. By searching for account transaction information around the corresponding dates in these records, I finally filtered out thirteen suspicious accounts. This number is still too high, and MI6 doesn't know what I'm investigating, so it's necessary to further filter based on the transaction information."

"No problem; the girls here are all very skilled at handling this kind of paperwork."

Megan smiled as she took Xia De's document bag and handed it to Tifa nearby. Tifa then went to select maids to participate in this task, and after Margaret and Angelina joined in to help voluntarily, the organization of those account details should be completed very quickly.

Just as they were flipping through the materials provided by MI6, the Great Witch of Fate returned to the manor with a group of maids, emerging from the glowing fog of this long night.

She called for Vanessa, who was sensing the earth in the manor courtyard, then had the maids summon Miss Sylvia, who was reinforcing the semi-permanent portal in the basement, and Miss Aurora, who was experimenting with materials. Finally, she passed through the portal to call Luweiya and Miss Aurora, who were on a boat at the pier, and the group sat down together in the manor's dining room.

"The situation is not very good. Which Sunday is this now that a major event has occurred in Moon Bay?"

The blonde Countess sat at the head of the table, clutching her forehead:

"Let's start with the strange 'bulb people.' This thing is very troublesome because, due to the infectious nature of the light, almost nothing can contain them, so the Five Gods Sect hasn't been able to obtain first-hand research data yet.

However, it has been confirmed that the location of the rift that appeared after the loss of control at the Edge of Life and Death covers the area from Mungerton Street to St. Rune Pedestrian Street. That area is now completely caught between life and death; the citizens have been evacuated, but the tide of undead in the fog is currently in a fierce battle with the Sect's squads. The Sect has only just broken into it.

As for the 13th-tier masters of the Sect and the Academy, most are still holding their positions to prevent other situations from occurring in the city tonight. If they were lured away like during last week's 'Night of Long Fangs,' it would be too ridiculous. However, the Sect and the Academy are concentrating their forces to stabilize the area where life and death overlap so that it does not expand further.

The two 13th-tier masters who followed the squads into the Edge of Life and Death—Mr. Bill Camora, the 'Beast Hunter' of the Nature Sect, and Miss Maria Ingram, the 'Nightmare Witch'—sent word that the internal problems are extremely complex, and they are currently fighting more than a dozen bone dragons."

"Bone dragons? Is it those people again?"

"It's unclear for now whether it was summoned by cultists or if the local undead of Moon Bay were awakened. Didn't Xia De say that a great war occurred here in the Ancient Era? There must have been more than one giant dragon that died back then. Moreover, my connections cannot obtain first-hand news about the Sect's combat troops."

The Countess shook her head and asked Xia De:

"What should we do this time? Find an opportunity to check the situation, or stay put for now and wait for things to develop further?"

"Stay put for now."

Xia De said decisively:

"This incident has no direct connection to us for the time being, and the Sect is not incapable of handling this situation; there is no need for us to do everything. It would be better to take advantage of this moonlight anomaly to collect data and conduct experiments, trying to analyze these strange lights and the newly appeared monsters. More serious anomalies will certainly appear next, so it's good to make some preparations in advance."

The witches naturally had no objections, and Luweiya and Miss Ileth did not oppose it either. But just as they stood up to go about their business, Vanessa suddenly froze. The Witch of the Earth issued a warning:

"An earthquake is coming. Five, four, three, two, one."

Boom—

The earth shook, as if a giant's groan came from deep within the ground. During the Mid-Hill Fort incident last year, every tremor of the "Edge of Life and Death" also triggered earthquakes, so the ladies who had read the materials just stood firm and were not surprised.

Only Xia De frowned and looked at the badge he was wearing; at the moment of the earthquake, this badge had clearly vibrated as well:

"Wait a minute, inside that rioting Edge of Life and Death in Moon Bay, could there be... hmm?"

Suddenly, he felt the flames that were almost completely integrated with his own body twitching and becoming increasingly active. Xia De was startled, and then said with pleasant surprise:

"Sister Diefulin is back!"

Downstairs in the manor, the main gate of the mansion swung open, but not a single wisp of the surging thick fog could pour into the room.

A blurry figure walked out of the white fog, with white mist swirling around the side of her gray-white long hair. And the silver eye mask in the style of a crown with dense patterns did not become dim even as the cold-faced nun lowered her head.

The gray-blue robe fluttered with the movement of the legs hidden beneath it. She walked out of the fog, her hands clasped together and hanging naturally in front of her, stopping in the center of the foyer.

When this cold nun raised her head to look above the double spiral staircase where the oil painting of the Beiya ancestors hung, it was truly difficult to judge whether the light of the crystal chandelier reflected by the silver eye mask was more brilliant, or if that slightly cold face was more exquisite.

"Sister Diefulin, long time no see."

Xia De, who was walking at the front, greeted her with a smile, while the witches followed behind him. With Sister Diefulin's status, she was worthy of them coming to welcome her together.

And Miss Beiya, who was walking side by side with Luweiya, saw that on the nun's slightly raised face, a faint smile clearly appeared when Xia De greeted her.

The Countess widened her eyes in surprise; she couldn't imagine that Sister Diefulin would make such an expression. And Luweiya, who noticed her expression, did not move her mouth, her eyes still looking forward, but she used her abdomen to speak softly:

"What are you surprised about?"

"Sister Diefulin actually made that expression; I thought she only ever had a cold expression... Wait a minute, she and Xia De wouldn't..."

She turned her head to look at Luweiya again, and the purple-eyed girl continued to use ventriloquism:

"Don't ask me, I don't know anything."

Sister Diefulin not only brought the high-tier nuns of the 【Spirit Cultivation Sect】 to the local area, she even brought news from Iluna:

"We met her on the way here; her time was limited, and she couldn't come in person."

The nun had no intention of going upstairs, and she began to talk about things with everyone right in the foyer:

"The diviners of the Prophecy Association believe that if the white fog tonight continues until tomorrow morning without dissipating, once the Sun-Moon-Sun cycle is established, the light in the fog will make the open Edge of Life and Death even more terrifying."

There was almost no tone in Sister Diefulin's voice, and because her eyes were covered by the eye mask, people could not see her expression:

"In addition, the Sect's 13th-tier masters have determined that there is a 'big guy' in this restless Edge of Life and Death."

"A big guy?"

Thinking of the vibration of the badge he felt just now, Xia De hesitated for a moment before changing the plan he had set upstairs:

"Sister, can you open a passage in this manor that leads directly to the core of the Edge of Life and Death?"

"I can."

She answered quickly, so Xia De looked at the ladies around him again. The witches also realized what Xia De wanted to do, and they all looked at him, waiting for him to make a decision.

"Miss Beiya, Miss Sylvia, Miss Ileth, you and I, along with Sister Diefulin, will enter the Edge of Life and Death; we won't take anyone else. Luweiya, you stay in the manor with Miss Aurora, Vanessa, and Megan. Be careful; the anomaly in the Edge of Life and Death this time is definitely not a coincidence."

The reason for letting the Countess go along was her excellent divination ability; letting the Great Witch of "Space" accompany them was for her remote teleportation ability; letting Miss Ileth go along was because she was ostensibly the strongest here.

"No problem."

Luweiya agreed with his choice, but asked:

"But Xia De, which sword are you taking this time? 【Night Watcher】, which has special damage effects against the undead; the holy weapon 【Angel's Right Arm】; or that 【Time Flute】 that enhances time control? Or are you taking them all?"

"No, no, even I wouldn't dare to carry so many high-danger-level relics on me, and I'm not good at using dual swords; this would only weaken my spellcasting ability... How about this, Amelia, can I borrow the 【Time Flute】? I want to take this opportunity to familiarize myself with the power of this sword."

Xia De asked the sharp-eared elf girl behind the crowd, who smiled and nodded immediately, then hurried to get the weapon.

"Do you need the remaining two swords?"

Xia De asked the girls who were setting off with him, and they all shook their heads. Although powerful relics could increase strength, when facing an unknown environment, familiar means and strength were more reassuring. ===== CHAPTER 2335 =====