Chapter 594
Overture in the Snowstorm
Chapter 594 Overture in the Snowstorm
The snow in Roland City was being melted by blood, while at the same time, thousands of miles away in Eagle Rock Territory, the swirling snow never stopped.
This is the border of the Kingdom of Rhodes, east of the Dragon Tooth Mountains, a strategic point where the mountains connect to the northern wilderness. The howling wind and snow here are like knives, scraping the skin thin.
"jingle--"
A clear, crisp wind chime rang out from the entrance of the Wildfire Inn, and the heavy oak door was pushed open by a leather glove with a southern flair.
The biting wind and snow rushed into the warm but murky hall first, followed by the cat ears shrouded in a gray cloak.
Sarah stamped her foot and shook off the snow that had accumulated on her cloak.
The lobby was bustling with noise, and no one paid any attention to the commotion at the entrance.
Travelers from all directions chattered loudly, some celebrating newly concluded deals with glasses full of ale, others discussing snowfield adventures while holding sizzling roasted meat, and still others huddling together to whisper about where to go for fun.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of cheap perfume and sweat.
Sarah has a very keen sense of smell, and the pungent odor made her nose itch slightly. So she lowered the brim of her hat, revealing only half of her smooth chin.
A few years ago, this was just a simple traveler's camp.
To welcome the students who were heading to the academy for the imperial examinations, merchants set up tents and sold dry food and talismans that were hoped to bring good luck.
Some impoverished magic apprentices from the academy also peddle their self-written magic scrolls here, or sneak into the tents of ladies draped in wool.
Back then, this place was very poor. It would only be lively for a few days like a festival during the exam season, and then there would be a long off-season.
But now, everything is different from before.
The sign for "Traveler's Town" hangs prominently at the entrance of this prosperous settlement, even overshadowing the capital, Eagle Rock Fortress.
Sarah walked to the corner of the bar, tapped her curled knuckles on the bar a few times, asked the bartender for a glass of hot water, and then quietly observed her surroundings.
Through the glass window next to her, which was covered in condensation and grease, she could see the street outside the tavern and scrutinize everyone who passed by.
The changes here are truly remarkable.
Rows of stone buildings rose from the ground, some even fitted with expensive glass windows, which emitted an ambiguous red glow under the illumination of magic crystal lamps.
Several women dressed in modified nun's habit stood at the door, holding slender cigarettes in their hands, blowing white smoke rings at passing merchants and travelers.
That outfit, a sacred symbol, has here become a way to elevate one's status.
That's the same as before; as long as you can afford it, you can buy anything in this mixed camp.
All of this was clearly thanks to that "Lord Cabin".
According to the intelligence from the Stigmata Organization, the man who was once just a captain of the guard has now become the uncrowned king of this place.
As for Sir Richter, who once tried to curry favor with Prince Colin but never got to see the prince before he left, he has now been reduced to a mere puppet who only stamps documents.
Greed is the best fertilizer.
Cabin was clever; he knew how to feed the town's desires and accurately grasped the needs of all parties.
Perhaps, Xuebang's influence is also present in this grand event.
After all, experiments by the Soul School always require some special "materials".
Sarah held the warm metal cup in her hand to warm it, but didn't drink a drop. She simply listened quietly to the conversations of the other travelers.
"Business has been getting better and better in recent years."
At the bar, a traveler from afar looked at the busy hotel owner with envy in his eyes.
The boss wiped his greasy hands with a rag on the table, threw the rag on an empty cup, and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"We have to thank Lord Cabin for this!"
"Lord Carbin?"
"That's right! He's the savior of Eagle Rock Territory. Before, we relied entirely on those poor bastards who came to take the exam for our livelihood, but now even caravans from the south are coming here!"
Looking at the proud hotel owner, a traveler sitting at the bar asked curiously.
"Is this Lord Carbin... the lord of this place?"
"Lord?"
The boss scoffed, as if he were snorting out contempt.
"You mean Sir Richter? His greatest achievement is that he hasn't left the castle much these past few years. By Saint Sith, every time he comes, he causes a lot of trouble."
"So, who exactly is that carbine...?"
“The lord’s captain of guard! But now he’s more like the lord than the lord himself, even though he has no title or rank… but we all think it’s only a matter of time.”
At this point, the hotel owner lowered his voice, as if sharing some incredible secret.
"I heard it from my neighbor's brother-in-law. Apparently, even the barons and earls in the area... those real gentlemen have to give him some face. A while ago, the Duke of the North's steward visited here, and I think it was Lord Cabin and Lady Lina who received him."
"And who is Lady Lina?"
"Is this your first time here? She's the boss of all the 'nuns'," a fellow traveler chimed in, clearly a regular.
Wow, that's amazing.
The passengers were astonished.
"Of course! Speaking of Lady Lina, she is quite an extraordinary person. It is said that when Sir Richter arrested prostitutes, he threw her into the dungeon, but that later became the starting point of her career... Our place may be small, but it has no shortage of geniuses."
The boss was beaming with pride, as if he had a share of the glory.
“By Saint Sis, I have been listening to you speak well of him. Does this Lord Carbin have no faults at all?”
A young voice suddenly broke in.
That was the young man sitting next to the bar, who looked like he was here to take an exam, with that laughable clarity and idiocy in his eyes.
He's not very smart, otherwise he wouldn't have arrived so much earlier than the others.
The air in the lobby seemed to freeze for a moment. The owner stopped wiping the cups, and even the regular customer trembled as he held the cup.
"Shh-"
The boss put down the cup, or rather, the cup fell down.
His voice suddenly became very low, and the pride in his once kind eyes had faded away.
Instead, there was fear.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Lord Carbin has no flaws whatsoever... He is the savior sent by Saint Sith to save us."
"Mrs. Nalina—"
"She's a saint! Alright! Shut up!"
The owner's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, while the customers sitting at the bar started chatting about other topics.
For example, there is a massacre reportedly taking place in Roland.
As for the young man, he realized that he seemed to lack the ability to read between the lines, so he quickly shut his mouth.
The lobby quickly returned to its noisy state, but the cheerful atmosphere seemed to have been mixed with a touch of alchemical syrup, giving it a flavor that wasn't just sweet.
More than anything, it was fear.
Sarah took a sip of the cooled lukewarm water, and a subtle smile gradually appeared on her lips.
Just as the Demon King had predicted, the score of greed has turned to its second chapter, and fear is brewing in that unrestrained desire.
After the holy light faded on this land, Saint Sith did not die, but was reborn in the name of "the Son of God".
Lady Karen perfectly completed the task given to her by the Demon King.
Now, in this town consumed by desire, almost everyone has become a potential believer in the "New Testament" and the saint...
Sarah's thoughts drifted back to Colin Manor, to that warm study.
The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly when the man, who always had a gentle smile on his face, gave her his instructions.
"The revolution in Roland has begun, and no one can stop this raging fire. However, the ancient monarchy will not stand idly by; they will soon launch a purge against the reborn 'First Republic'."
"As the northern neighbor of the Kingdom of Ryan, the Kingdom of Rhodes will inevitably intervene after the downfall of the Devalu family... whether at the behest of the Empire or at the instigation of the Academy."
"The best defense is offense."
"It's time to use the pieces we've buried in the north."
Eagle Rock will be the first domino to fall.
Although the Demon King did not explain what dominoes were, he promised to demonstrate them to her when he had time.
She was really looking forward to it.
……
As Sarah reminisced about the fireplace at Colin Manor and looked out at the street outside the hotel, a very soft voice reached her ears.
"Her Highness told me that we have a distinguished guest from a very far place today. You must be the guest she was talking about."
Sarah turned her head to the side.
Standing next to her was a woman wearing a coarse linen robe.
The robe was faded from washing, and the cuffs were frayed, making it completely different from the "nuns" in the shop windows outside who showed most of their breasts.
Clearly, this is the real nun.
"Is the title 'Saintess' appropriate here?" Sarah asked casually.
She had actually sensed it too; the locals didn't seem to mind it much. For example, the hotel owner had used the word "saintess."
Although it was used to describe Mrs. Lina.
The nun smiled slightly and gently shook her head.
“The light of St. Clement’s Cathedral doesn’t reach here. If it did, this place wouldn’t be like this… Please come with me, she’s waiting for you.”
Sarah put down her cup, tossed a copper coin onto the table, and then quietly followed behind the nun.
The shop assistant picked up the copper coin, rubbed it to confirm that it wasn't a "clay shard" from the Kingdom of Ryan, and then put it safely into the drawer under the counter.
The two left the hotel, walked out of the bustling streets, and entered a deserted alley. The magnificent street scene was gradually replaced by the gray snow.
The alleys here are very narrow, and the snow on the roadside is left unswept, mixed with kitchen waste, and frozen into hard black lumps.
All the wooden windows were tightly shut, letting in no light, like the closed eyes of a corpse.
Most of the residents here are natives of the town, while some originally lived in nearby villages but moved here for various reasons.
The nun stopped in front of a dilapidated house, gently pushed open the door, and carefully closed it again after Sarah came in.
It's warm inside.
Although there was no fireplace, the warmth from the many people gathered together dispelled the chill.
They were a group of children.
They wore cotton-padded jackets made from old, ill-fitting adult clothes, with sleeves that were too long, but their faces were very clean.
Upon seeing the unfamiliar guest, the children's playful noise abruptly ceased. Pairs of clear, yet timid eyes looked at Sarah, like startled fawns.
Sarah stood in the doorway, freshly fallen snowflakes clinging to her cloak, and glanced at the children who had stopped playing and were looking at her.
Those amber, vertical pupils reflected these tiny lives, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. Like a passing cat looking at a litter of cubs that weren't its own. These children must be the orphans mentioned in the Holy Mark Organization's intelligence, the ones taken in by the Salvation Army.
This was also the first thing Saintess Karen did after arriving in Eagle Rock Territory—
By taking in these orphans, she gained the favor of the original priests and nuns and dispelled the hostility of the local church towards the New Testament.
After all, there are more blasphemous things here.
Sarah never expected that Karen, after using the children, would actually keep them by her side and take care of them herself, instead of entrusting them to others.
This reminded her of the Demon King.
Although that person always emphasized that he didn't speak the truth much, he was actually quite gentle with those around him.
It's hard to say whether this is a disadvantage or an advantage in hell.
Just as "Lady Sarah" was inspecting the work of the Holy Maiden, the curtain in the inner room was lifted by a fair hand.
A young woman came out.
She looked to be in her early twenties, with her long golden hair carefully wrapped in a plain headscarf, revealing only a few stray strands hanging down her side.
The rough linen nun's habit draped over her body couldn't hide her excessively beautiful curves; instead, it made her impossible to look away.
She is the "Saint" Karen.
Many people are looking for her, but no one would have thought that she was hiding in the most desolate northern corner of the Kingdom of Rhodes.
What Sarah found most incredible was that she showed no signs of hardship or displacement; instead, she appeared even more radiant.
Is this also the power of faith...?
She couldn't help but feel a little envious, but she didn't show it on her face. She simply nodded slightly as a way of greeting.
Compared to Sarah's restraint, Karen was much more enthusiastic, and a warm smile bloomed on her face the moment she saw her.
"You've arrived."
"Mmm," Sarah responded softly, her expression somewhat awkward.
Karen walked over to her and warmly took the cloak from her shoulders, hanging it on the wooden rack next to the door.
"Please wait a moment."
She turned around and gently coaxed the bewildered children, then gave a few more instructions to the nun who was leading the way.
The children were very obedient and followed the nun to the back room. A few of the older children volunteered to pick up the building blocks and picture books for the younger children as well.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Karen led Sarah into the next room, poured her a steaming cup of herbal tea, and then sat down opposite her.
"You must have traveled a long way to get here?"
“Actually, it’s not too far.” Sarah didn’t say that Luo Yan had given her a ride; she had set off from Twilight City on horseback.
This saved her a lot of time.
Karen asked a few more questions about his well-being, and then naturally steered the conversation toward the Demon King.
Back in Twilight City, she didn't know that the Divine Child and Prince Colin were both agents of the Demon King. But now that the Salvation Army is cooperating closely with the Demon King's army, and the Holy Mark Organization has even become the Demon King's eyes and ears, she basically knows everything she needs to know.
In fact, this clever woman might have already guessed it. Sarah always thought she was a very shrewd person.
This is very similar to His Majesty the Demon King.
"I heard that the Divine Child is currently downstream of the Rushing River?"
"Yes."
"It must have snowed there recently, right?"
"It started falling at the beginning of the month."
"Well... how have you been lately, Divine Child?"
With her hands clasped on her knees, Karen leaned slightly forward, her expression a mixture of concern and a hint of careful restraint.
Holding her teacup, Sarah nodded.
"He is doing well."
Although the Demon King is going on a long trip soon, he has been having a relatively leisurely time lately.
As expected, by the time she arrived in Eagle Rock Territory, Roland City should already have the results.
"Really? Then I'm relieved."
Karen let out a long sigh of relief, a contented smile spreading across her face.
That smile was pure, without any impurities; it was simply happiness from hearing news of that person.
Seeing Karen's smile, Sarah's lips also curled up slightly.
She had a pretty good impression of the human girl.
Compared to the glittering knight and the succubus who always took up the Demon King's time, she really liked the comforting scent emanating from this saintess.
She is like sun-dried straw, and her smile, in particular, has the power to embrace everything without putting pressure on anyone.
"How about you? How have you been lately?" Sarah asked, unusually taking the initiative to do so.
Karen smiled gently in response.
"I'm fine."
"Nobody's bothering you, has anyone? I see there are quite a few adventurers and mercenaries in this city," Sarah said, taking a sip of her herbal tea and carefully choosing her words.
Karen paused for a moment, then smiled and said.
“They’re only interested in the real ‘nuns.’ In this decadent town, nobody cares about the real clergy… or rather, they’re trying to avoid them.”
Mercenaries and adventurers in Traveler's Town were drawn to the red-light district, leaving their confessions to the prostitutes and abandoning their true faith in a corner.
This may not be what the church wants to see, but for those engaged in clandestine activities, their blasphemy provides excellent cover for real blasphemy.
Those arrogant big shots would never have imagined that a huge net had already been woven in this slum that they regarded as a garbage dump.
Everyone here has received her blessings in some way. She heals their ailments with holy light and soothes their wounds with herbs.
Including those prostitutes.
They too received the blessings of the saint.
Although Lady Lina provided them with money and shelter, only a true saint could provide them with the spirit and dignity that had been plundered.
Occasionally, she would listen to their confessions and in the process, she would hear a lot of secondhand information about the Kingdom of Rhodes and the Academy.
In addition, the Demon King's acolytes and servants have long since infiltrated the shadows of this town, active in the shadows beneath its prosperity.
If she wanted, she could take over the entire Eagle Rock Territory at any time and send her former enemies who persecuted her to the gallows of justice.
However, she didn't.
Because the Demon King did not give the order.
She had long since dedicated everything to the one and only god in her heart, and regarded his commands as the only divine decree.
As for personal loves and hates, she didn't care, and didn't even go back to see those "family members" who had betrayed her.
After listening quietly to Kallen's report, Sarah, who had come to inspect the work on behalf of the Demon King, put down her teacup.
"You've done a good job. I'm sure the adults will be satisfied with your work... at least I can't find any fault with it."
"Thank you for your recognition. It is my honor to be able to help the Divine Child." Kallen nodded slightly and said in a gentle voice.
Sarah nodded gently, then her gentle expression faded slightly, and her amber pupils regained their sharpness.
"That's enough of the pleasantries. The master has a new task for you."
Noticing that Sarah's gentle expression was gradually fading, Karen realized that Sarah was about to get down to business, so she sat up straight and adopted a serious expression.
"Please speak."
"The day of reckoning has come."
Sarah looked into Karen's eyes and continued in a solemn tone.
"The fire in Roland has been set on; it is time for the flames of the New Testament to sweep across this place and end the people's suffering."
Karen paused slightly, and a silence filled the space between them.
About three seconds later, a strange change finally appeared on that face that seemed to always wear a mask of "holiness".
The all-encompassing holy light was rapidly fading, replaced by an almost sickly crimson that gradually crept onto her cheeks.
Sarah was slightly surprised by how quickly he changed his expression.
This is……
How long have you been suppressing your feelings?
Seemingly realizing her lapse in composure, Karen took a deep breath and returned to her gentle and dignified demeanor.
She stood up, lifted the hem of her simple skirt, and bowed deeply to Sarah sitting opposite her, her voice trembling slightly with barely suppressed joy.
"Please tell that sir... Karen will definitely not let him down."
God Child Above—
She finally heard the divine message again!
She had waited too long for this day.
……
Meanwhile, in the distant city of Roland, the raging fire was just reaching its final climax—
The crimson purgatory that cleaved through space was just reflected on the magic crystal prosthetic eye that floated in the hand of the sage Ormon Sigode!
The joy of victory and the effortless elegance on his face did not last long before crumbling away little by little as the blood-red giant egg began to shatter.
"This is impossible..."
Standing atop the spire of the Saint Laurent Cathedral, he let out a suppressed scream, his right hand, which held the magic crystal prosthetic eye, trembling uncontrollably.
field--
It broke!
He couldn't see what was happening in that "blood-red inferno," but he could feel a terrifying power surging out from the crimson giant egg!
The intertwined black and red light dissipated, and deep purple hair emerged from the surging air currents, standing once again with that slender figure in the square of the royal prison.
In contrast, the usurper god of the "chosen by two gods" has disappeared, along with the chaotic and corrosive fluctuations!
Without even a second's hesitation, Omon's right hand moved with lightning speed, pressing the azure magic crystal prosthetic eye back into its socket with a soft "click" sound, like a spring returning to its place.
With the fear and apprehension etched deep into his soul, he took a step back into the azure demonic light that surged behind him, disappearing into the crimson realm that was collapsing in a chain reaction.
The ceremony was a success.
But it failed.
The flames, which were originally expected to burn down half of the continent of Os, did not even destroy Roland City.
It seems they have to take this formidable opponent seriously.
(End of this chapter)