Chapter 23: Death

“Virginia… has been rescued.”

After receiving the message from Rita, Cassandra finally felt the heart that had been lodged in her throat slowly settle back into her chest. At the same time, Rita had conveyed an especially critical piece of information.

The person who had attacked Virginia was sent by the Third Princess, Susanna.

“As expected of my ‘dear’ elder sister…”

Cassandra cast an imperceptible glance toward Susanna, who was slightly ahead of her to the side, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Susanna seemed to sense the gaze. She turned her head slightly, returning a gentle and amiable smile.

“This hypocritical, damn woman…”

A trace of killing intent flickered across Cassandra’s face.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know Virginia might be targeted. Just as she had planned to assassinate “Luo Wei” to strike at her cousin Eliana’s influence, the other princesses would certainly make moves against the people around her.

Cassandra had taken ample precautions, keeping Virginia by her side at almost all times. Even during this instance, when Virginia had taken Moraia to assassinate “Luo Wei,” Cassandra had brought a body double along to mislead others into believing Virginia had never left.

Moreover, Virginia’s inherent invisibility was sufficient to evade most dangers. Cassandra hadn’t expected her to “capsize in a shallow ditch.”

In truth, Cassandra hadn’t harbored much hope that Rita could actually rescue Virginia. She only hoped Rita could stall for enough time for her own contingent of the Royal Knights to mobilize.

Every Princess was assigned several knights from the Royal Knights who could be deployed at their whim. Of course, while the term used was “at whim,” the restrictions were numerous. After all, every movement of the Royal Knights was recorded. In other words, they couldn’t be used for dirty work.

But a rescue mission was well within their remit.

The only problem was that mobilizing the Royal Knights required certain necessary procedures; they couldn’t be deployed instantly.

“To think Rita saved Virginia so quickly. The ‘Tea Party’… followers of the God-Traitor, they really aren’t simple.”

A foe that even Virginia couldn’t escape from was definitely not an opponent one could handle casually. Cassandra knew her “dear” sister well—if Susanna didn’t strike, so be it, but once she did, her methods were always the most ruthless, leaving no room for error.

It was just that… based on Rita’s performance, what she wanted in return likely wouldn’t be simple either.

Cassandra continued to calculate in the depths of her mind, but her expression remained unchanged, maintaining a mask of faint, cold pride.

The somber funeral dirge echoed through the surroundings. The sobbing of the citizens on both sides of the street rose and fell. It was as if the entire Metropolis was soaked in an ocean of grief. Yet, the Princesses closest to the Queen’s coffin were still busy scheming against one another.

However, what Cassandra didn’t realize was exactly what means the maid-miss had used to save Virginia. If she knew, she wouldn’t have remained so calm.

In accordance with their agreement, Luo Wei handed the festering, ulcerated Virginia over to the late-arriving Royal Knights and promptly disappeared again.

In any case, her goal had been achieved.

“I originally wanted to let Cleo make a move on Moraia… but the current situation isn’t bad either. Though, unfortunately, I let a child see some ‘garbage’ that might be harmful to their mental health.”

The “Tea Party” was a faith-based organization that had appeared out of thin air. Even if it bore the name of being followers of Mifa, the Pale Gospel and God-Traitor, it would be difficult for them to be taken seriously in a short amount of time. And how could a minor player who wasn’t taken seriously dive deep into the coming storm of the Metropolis?

Therefore, an action that could not be ignored was absolutely necessary.

As a continuation of the Spectral Kolun County, if Clecia appeared directly in the physical world without restraint, she would trigger a “Vision.” Although Luo Wei wasn’t entirely sure what level of Vision the Spectral Kolun County was categorized as, any Vision that could plague a county for a full twenty years certainly wasn’t weak.

She had utilized horrific methods to serve Cassandra for two reasons. First, it would raise the perceived importance and danger of the “Tea Party.” Second… Luo Wei was more than happy to manufacture a little trouble for Cassandra.

The Academy of Truth had always been famous for combating horrors and Visions. The Tower of Containment suppressed countless dangerous entities. There was no way they would ignore a dangerous horror existing within the Metropolis; that was a position the Academy’s principles could not allow.

Cassandra would use any means necessary to achieve her goals and certainly wouldn’t refuse such “forbidden” power. But if she truly wanted to utilize that power… she would have to deal with the trouble coming from the Academy of Truth.

Luo Wei pulled her consciousness back into the white-haired loli puppet, ending her semi-dazed state. Once she came to, she found both Hathaway and Miriel staring at her intently.

“Is there something on my face?” Luo Wei blinked.

“No…” Miriel said with a slight look of difficulty. “Miss Luo Wei, even if my cooking is indeed to your liking, you didn’t have to go so far as to eat the plate too…”

Luo Wei only then noticed that the “biscuit” in her hand was actually an exquisite porcelain plate. There were several obvious tooth marks on it where she had taken a few bites.

“Actually, the plate tastes pretty good,” Luo Wei said impassively as she put the porcelain dish down.

“I really don’t know what your stomach is made of,” Hathaway grumbled.

“It’s made of potions,” Luo Wei replied casually. Estimating the time, she added, “It should be arriving soon…”

“What’s arriving soon?” Hathaway looked puzzled.

“My time to die.” Luo Wei smiled slightly.

“Eh?” Hathaway was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized Miss Luo Wei was likely talking nonsense again. She waved her hand impatiently. “Then die quickly, die quickly! It’d be best if you died!”

“Really? If I die, you won’t be able to chat with Eliana anymore.” Luo Wei narrowed her eyes, her gaze toward Hathaway carrying a hint of amusement.

“Hmph, who wants to talk to her…” Flustered by Luo Wei’s look, Hathaway’s small face flushed slightly as she turned away.

However, the housekeeper Miriel gradually withdrew her smile and looked toward a certain direction. “The wind is quite boisterous today…”

“Don’t stop her, there’s no need,” Luo Wei said softly. “It would just be adding unnecessary sacrifice for nothing…”

Miriel remained silent for a moment before nodding. “As you wish.”

“What’s going on?” Even Hathaway realized the atmosphere had shifted. She looked at Luo Wei nervously, only to see Luo Wei elegantly pick up a napkin, wipe the grease and porcelain crumbs from the corner of her mouth, and stand up.

“What exactly happened?!” Hathaway immediately stood up with Luo Wei, directing the same confused gaze toward Miriel. Why was everyone talking in riddles? Are they just keeping me in the dark? Hathaway felt a bit aggrieved.

“Miss Hathaway, I know nothing, truly,” Miriel said earnestly. “But I believe Miss Luo Wei is a clever person. She knows exactly what she wants to do, what she can do, and what she must do. I am but a humble servant who doesn’t understand these things; I only need to follow the will of the great figures.”

Luo Wei gave Miriel a deep look. Miriel merely returned a similarly earnest smile.

“Miss Hathaway, you’re a bit dim, so you don’t understand—this is all a setup,” Luo Wei said seriously. “Not knowing is a blessing. Knowing too much will only ruin things.”

“I was first in my professional courses!” Hathaway said, hands on her hips.

Luo Wei only smiled.

The Queen’s suspicious death, the exploited “Remnant Tower,” the Princesses’ myriad schemes, and the mysterious ritual enveloping the entire Metropolis… All of it indicated that this storm was a trap from the very beginning.

That was right. Luo Wei could now be certain that the reason prayers to the deities were being cut off was because a massive ritual was being constructed across the Metropolis. Who could support a ritual of such scale without causing a stir? There was only one answer: Queen Isabelle II, the one everyone was currently mourning. Only she had the capability to construct such a ritual in the Metropolis.

This legendary Queen, loved by the people and worshipped by Eliana, was using her death to flap the wings that would trigger this grand tsunami.

Hathaway wasn’t stupid; she just didn’t know enough. And she had no need to know these things.

“Isabelle II… Let’s see what exactly you intend to do.”

Luo Wei patted Hathaway on the shoulder, then turned and walked out.

Hathaway wanted to follow her directly, but Miriel placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Stay calm, Miss Hathaway,” Miriel said softly.

“This…” A trace of bewilderment flashed across Hathaway’s face.

But very soon, she saw a petite figure with a hunched back crawl out from the flowerbed in the backyard. It was a girl who looked filthy, draped in a tattered black robe. Her face beneath the hood was covered in dust and grime, save for a pair of sharp eyes that pierced like blades. Staring into them for even a moment felt like one’s spirit was being punctured, a faint stinging sensation taking hold.

Hathaway instinctively looked away, but her eyes quickly widened in shock. Upon seeing Luo Wei, the hunched girl didn’t hesitate. Her body dissipated into the wind, reappearing behind Luo Wei in the next instant.

Seeing this, Hathaway let out a cry of alarm, but the sound was distorted by her “Affliction.” Chaotic information stacked into an indescribable shriek that nearly shattered eardrums.

She saw only flashes of cold light. A dagger hidden in the girl’s palm thrust directly into the back of Miss Luo Wei, piercing straight through her heart.

Faint pink, slightly translucent blood sprayed out, only to be burned away in the next instant by twisting Starfire.

The moment she saw the Starfire ignite, Moraia’s expression froze.

This was… Her blessing!

Could it be that she had succeeded? Could she finally be granted the personal gaze of her Lord?

A flash of joy crossed Moraia’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by horror. She realized that the Starfire was still rejecting her. The Starfire burned, but it only consumed the entirety of the white-haired loli puppet.

“No, no…”

Moraia let go of the dagger. She realized one thing: this Starfire did not come from her. It belonged to the white-haired girl. The white-haired girl was the one who truly enjoyed the Goddess’s blessing!

And she… she had personally killed the Goddess’s God-Touched!

Moraia’s mind fell into instant chaos. She looked up, only to see the white-haired girl smiling at her, giving a slight nod.

“Thank you.”

Finally found a chance to get away. Luo Wei sighed inwardly. It really wasn’t easy. Even without the Wisdom Core, this white-haired puppet was quite valuable, and she had invested a lot of effort into it. In the peril-filled Metropolis, Luo Wei couldn’t guarantee the puppet’s survival. But if she simply disappeared, it would draw unnecessary attention and cause trouble for Eliana.

One could say Cassandra’s plan had perfectly aligned with Luo Wei’s wishes, allowing her to escape everyone’s sight in a logical manner.

Moraia’s assassination actually had little effect on Luo Wei. The girl relied primarily on her poisoned dagger and her supernatural ability to assassinate at close range. But the white-haired puppet’s body was inherently immune to poisons, and piercing the heart couldn’t extinguish its vital signs. Therefore, Luo Wei directly chose “Starfire Evasion.” Since Moraia was a member of “The Remnant Tower,” it was perfectly normal for her to use some Starfire-based tricks, right?

With that thought, Luo Wei couldn’t help but offer her thanks to Moraia.

The next moment, the Starfire finished its consumption. The white-haired girl turned completely to ash, leaving only a pair of hairpins to fall through the air.

Moraia stared blankly at the spot, the previous scene still looping in her mind. Not far away, Hathaway was equally shocked by what had occurred. Suddenly, Luo Wei’s words from moments ago echoed in her mind.

“Her time to die… is arriving soon?”

This time, she really wasn’t talking nonsense.

Why? Why?!

“I don’t understand…” Hathaway spoke slowly. Her voice sounded like the whispering of an ancient god, causing even Miriel beside her to show a trace of suppressed pain.

At this moment, Hathaway had fully completed her Sequence 6 advancement, becoming the “Winter Cicada” of the Silence Pathway.

At that same moment, Moraia finally snapped back to her senses. She remembered Cassandra’s final instruction: once the target was assassinated, she had to leave immediately and could not linger.

“Go…”

Moraia intended to use her ability to flee immediately, but for some unknown reason, she felt possessed as she reached out to grab the hairpins on the ground. The moment her fingertips touched the hairpins, cracks began to appear on her body.

…It wasn’t because of the hairpins.

“Put. It. Down.”

The whisper like an ancient god rang out again. Cracks appeared inch by inch across Moraia’s skin. Her soul trembled as the terrifying whispers brought a massive amount of mottled information, putting her consciousness under unprecedented pressure.

“Run!”

Moraia didn’t hesitate. She only had time to grab one of the hairpins before her figure instantly dissipated, using her spatial supernatural ability to flee far away.