The knights by the river noticed this scene and looked over one after another. Someone subconsciously gripped the sword at their waist.
But since their leader had not spoken, no one made any rash moves.
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment before deciding to go over and say hello.
She walked around the magical beasts that were drinking water. The docile pegasi did not show any hostility toward the stranger; instead, it was the knights in black armor who were all quite tense.
Still, no one spoke.
The silver-haired, green-eyed man watched her and gave a reserved nod in greeting. The curve of his lips was distant yet polite. "...A spatial mage?"
Su Cheng stood before him.
Those deep-set eyes with their rich, vibrant colors looked like a brilliant tropical sea, where lake blue and emerald green blended and burned together.
The shallow parts were the translucent cyan of the ocean, the edges of the pupils gleamed with the fresh green of early spring leaves, and the patterns of the irises sparkled like gold leaf in the sunlight.
They also resembled a cracked open piece of raw jadeite.
His long, thick silver-white eyelashes were like the first snow falling upon a dangerous whirlpool, casting shadows that concealed unfathomable undercurrents.
"I can use that kind of magic," Su Cheng said softly, "but I wouldn't call myself that."
This man was an expert among experts. She had to speak and act cautiously and couldn't just spout nonsense like before.
The silver-haired man gave a slight nod. "Have we met somewhere before?"
His choice of words sounded quite polite, and he used honorifics, yet there was still a lingering air of arrogance about him.
That was probably an aura cultivated from a life of immense wealth and nobility, making it difficult to conceal behind superficial words.
However—
There was no contempt or disdain in the way he looked at people.
Compared to the nobles and even the royal family members of the imperial capital, the impression he gave was much better.
Su Cheng was a little surprised. "Do I look familiar to you?"
"No," the silver-haired man said calmly. "It's the way you look at me, as if you're seeing an old friend."
Su Cheng choked on her words. "Th-that's because... I think I really have seen you somewhere, or maybe a portrait of you? Are you a lord from somewhere?"
A look of understanding appeared on the silver-haired man's face. "You've been to Mitherlos?"
Su Cheng breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. "So you really are that Lord?"
He nodded. "I am Hurwitz de Montaigne III, but right now I am merely a servant under the crown of the Dark God, an ordinary esoteric knight, so there is no need for you to address me as such."
Su Cheng: "..."
Looking at the attitude of the people around him, she knew he was no ordinary knight.
Su Cheng was originally a bit worried that since he seemed to have been away from home for many years, if he asked about the situation in Mitherlos, she wouldn't know how to make up a lie.
As it turned out, Hurwitz didn't mention that at all, but instead seriously asked her purpose for coming.
Su Cheng stated that she was just passing by and only took a look because she sensed people here.
He was somewhat surprised. "So you didn't come for the remnants of the Mirror Enigma Society?"
Su Cheng: "?"
The Mirror Enigma Society?
Remnants?
That word sounded like it was describing an organization that had already been destroyed, or was about to disappear, leaving only a small fraction of its members.
Considering that the Mirror Enigma Society would still be active a thousand years later, and that so many members died in just one stronghold in the imperial capital—and those who died might not even be all of them, just the ones present at the time.
Then, over a thousand years ago, it probably wasn't truly eradicated.
Perhaps it was only wiped out on the surface?
Transforming from a cult organization acting openly into a secretive sect that couldn't see the light of day?
Wait.
The deities worshipped by the members of the Mirror-Hidden Society were the God of Illusions and the God of Dreams. In the future, these two would both be allies of the Dark God—even if they weren't right now, they shouldn't be enemies.
Unless the current Mirror-Hidden Society's objects of worship were not these two deities.
Su Cheng appropriately revealed a bewildered expression. ...What?
Hurwitz looked at her quietly, his gaze sharp, likely discerning that this reaction wasn't faked. You don't know them?
Su Cheng shook her head slightly. I know very little. They have many ways to disguise themselves as others, right? Is that why an expert like you had to be dispatched, because these people's tracks are so hard to find?
She felt that no matter what, this point probably wouldn't change.
Exactly, Hurwitz gave a slight nod. Someone disguised themselves as a member of the Secret Cult and killed a high-ranking cleric of the Holy Church—
Su Cheng couldn't help but frown.
Whether this was a malicious provocation or a deliberate attempt to worsen the relationship between the two sects, it certainly seemed to fit that group's style of doing things.
She still didn't know the ultimate goal of the person playing Prince Aquila.
But whether that person wanted to drag down Prince Cassiopeia, who was close to the Holy Church, out of an actor's professional dedication to continuing the personal grudge between the two sisters, or if they had further motives, was hard to say.
Su Cheng: Did that person flee to the villages and towns around here?
In this direction, Hurwitz nodded slowly. Moreover, this town is her hometown, or rather, the person whose identity was stolen grew up here. I need to confirm a few things.
He didn't say anything more.
Since they had official business to attend to, Su Cheng felt it best not to disturb them too much. She entered the town behind them and ate some strangely flavored roast meat and mushroom soup in a tavern.
As she silently swore never to eat anything here again, she walked down the tavern steps, just in time to see the tall figure of the silver-haired man appear at the intersection.
Beside him were two black-armored knights and a young local dressed in a floral skirt.
The local had a protruding belly, looking at least six or seven months pregnant, with one hand supporting her lower back and the other holding a basket of fruit.
She seemed to be trying to shove the basket into Hurwitz's hands.
The latter seemed accustomed to handling such situations. He gave a calm, reserved nod and simply accepted it without too much refusal.
Then he turned his head to glance at his subordinates behind him.
A knight immediately took out some coins, pressing several shining gold and silver pieces into her hands.
Su Cheng soon heard their conversation.
How could I accept this!
The person waved her hands, her face flushed red.
I can't take this. You lords have already helped us so much by bringing back my sister's pension. Otherwise, our family wouldn't even have the money to repair our house...
However, the knights quickly left, leaving her with no chance to return the coins.
Su Cheng left the town and watched the pegasi resting by the water. Two attendants stood guard there, casting wary glances at her from time to time.
It wasn't long before Hurwitz returned as well, not looking surprised to see her there.
Your Excellency—
The silver-haired man raised his hand to stroke the mane of a pegasus, then combed through its damp, mist-dewed wings. "I am glad you are here. It saves me the trouble of looking for you."
Su Cheng was silent for a moment. "You definitely have a way to find me, and I don't really want to fight you here."
"A wise choice," Hevitz said in a deep voice. "It seems you know what I want to say."
"Yes," Su Cheng nodded. "You wouldn't say this much to just any passing spatial mage. Besides, my reluctance to fight you isn't out of fear—you might not even be able to beat me. I just have some questions."
The silver-haired man slightly raised an eyebrow. "Your strength is indeed unquestionable. I can feel it."
In his radiant, iridescent emerald eyes flickered a certain pride born of confidence. "But that does not mean a battle between us would be devoid of suspense."
Su Cheng looked at him helplessly. "...Are we really going to test that theory right now?"
"No, unless you insist," he said, elegantly adjusting the exquisite saddle on the horse's back. "I would like to invite you to accompany me to the sanctuary of Highgarden."
That was the highest hall of the Eternal Night Cult, and supposedly the place where the God of Darkness appeared most frequently. It was there that He would bestow blessings upon His most devout followers.
Su Cheng did not speak.
"I imagine you have experienced being hunted down and branded a 'believer of false gods,' or have some similarly unpleasant past—"
Hevitz paused. "In fact, there are many who have been blessed by the ancient gods within the Cult. If you perform exceptionally well, His Holiness the God of Darkness might even personally teach you how to use that power."
Su Cheng looked at him in shock.
She had guessed that the other party had some way of sensing the aura of a "false god" on her, whether it was from that door or the dancer gentleman from earlier.
But his words sounded a bit bizarre.
Su Cheng: "There are many blessed ones?"
Hevitz gave a slight nod. "I am one myself."
Su Cheng: "?"
Su Cheng: "Blessed by whom?"
The silver-haired man glanced at her. "I don't believe I have pried into your privacy in such a manner, Your Excellency."
Su Cheng: "...Forgive my curiosity. Truthfully, I'm not even sure if I am a so-called blessed one."
Hevitz did not look surprised. "Have you seen one?"
Su Cheng hesitated. "How do you define 'seen'?"
"Any form of connection or contact, after which you were endowed with a certain power. That is how They influence our world from the void."
Hevitz explained calmly, "Mages are more prone to becoming infatuated with such gifts, especially the young ones. I can understand that, but—"
"But the Cult wants to control these people," Su Cheng interjected, "to ensure they remain under supervision and don't run around loudly proclaiming the existence of so-called ancient gods."
"That is one reason," Hevitz said without anger. "Do you think your strength is enough to challenge the entire Holy Church? Or their master?"
Su Cheng understood.
The Holy Church's attitude towards the so-called blessed of the ancient gods was far more draconian; in a sense, the Cult actually offered these people protection.
Wandering out there on her own, if she ever ran into a high-ranking cleric of the Church, she might not be able to escape unscathed every time.
After all, that last batch of clerics she encountered couldn't even be considered true experts.
Su Cheng: "To tell you the truth, I really do have a lot of questions. So, I am willing to take a trip with you. If I can meet His Holiness the God of Darkness in person, that would also be my honor."
Hurwitz looked at her intently. That might not be impossible—
The other knights cast horrified glances, clearly shocked by the attitude their superior was displaying.
However, Su Cheng raised a hand, I want to talk to you about something. You hold a pretty high position in the Secret Cult, right? Do you know someone named Saron?
The knights' expressions instantly became rather subtle.
Hurwitz's face remained calm. What about him?
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment. ...Between you and this Lord Saron, who has the higher position?
I do.
Oh. Su Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief. It's like this. Do you know Ironcage Town?
Since this man's attitude toward the so-called Ancient Gods wasn't entirely extreme, she figured it wouldn't hurt to tell him about it.
Su Cheng recounted everything that had happened in Ironcage Town.
She explained how a profiteering merchant had sparked a bidding war between the two factions, and how Lord Saron's subordinate, Leliana, had been instigated by her own underlings to unleash a bandit troupe upon the town.
Honestly, Su Cheng said, killing off a shady merchant like that is one thing. But I feel like... if those people really are bandits, they might not know when to stop. Ironcage Town is quite wealthy. I know the Secret Cult isn't in the habit of slaughtering entire villages and towns on a whim, but an incident like this could easily be exploited by the Church. They could pin the blame on you and paint themselves as the heroes who fought you off to save the people.
Hurwitz frowned as he listened, his gaze darkening. Take me there. Point out the direction those people went.
Su Cheng had been away from Ironcage Town for a few days now, but since she had teleported all the way here, she could still teleport back at any time.
She reached out and grabbed the silver-haired man's bracer.
He stiffened slightly.
Likely unaccustomed to such physical contact, he practically had to force himself to remain still.
A split second later, they were thousands of miles away.
Su Cheng felt dizzy for a brief moment.
A teleportation of this magnitude took a considerable toll, though she would be able to recover quickly.
The scent of gunpowder drifted in on the wind, mingling with the heavy smell of dust and blood.
The soil in the mountain pass beneath their feet was charred and cracked; the once-lush green grass had completely vanished.
She looked up and saw the collapsed houses.
That familiar three-story building was now reduced to a half-crumbled wall, its furniture buried beneath the collapsed roof.
Her gaze followed the slope downwards, taking in the sight of a town reduced to ruins.
The square at the very center of the town had been transformed into a massive crater a hundred meters in diameter. Fissures radiated outward from the center like a spiderweb.
Countless chasms stretched out to either side, resembling a jagged scar running from east to west, violently cleaving the sprawling neighborhoods in half.
