Chapter 79: Time to Work

The girls went to the Workshop, only to see the tightly shut main doors and a sign hanging that read “Closed Today”.

This wasn’t a problem for them—they went up and knocked, and the door opened right away.

“Big sisters, it’s you! Please come in.”

Ami led them inside.

The Workshop was rather messy, with all kinds of equipment toppled over in disarray as if some chaos had broken out.

There was even a deep sword mark on the floor of the corridor leading to the Inner Hall—left by Celes yesterday.

“After the owner ran off that day, we waited in the Workshop all night. Some people said he would never come back, and then a bunch of folks just went crazy, searching all over the Workshop for anything valuable. They said, since the owner’s been processing Pearl Oysters for so many years, he must have hidden a lot of stuff, but after turning the place upside down, they still couldn’t find anything. In the end, they just took whatever valuables they could find and left.”

As Ami spoke, he led them into the Hall, found a clean spot for them to sit, and poured a few cups of freshly boiled water.

“Sorry, all the tea leaves the owner had got split up among everyone.”

“It’s fine, we like drinking plain water.”

Ella took the cup.

“Go on.”

“Oh, we finished dividing things up this morning. There used to be dozens of people, now only half are left.”

“Half are still here?”

That’s quite a lot—unexpected.

“Because the Workshop is pretty big, and spacious. Staying out there isn’t necessarily any better than here.”

Ami scratched his head a bit sheepishly.

“That’s what I thought too, so I stayed. As for the ones who left, most of them probably have family outside, somewhere to go back to.”

Ella couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional at that.

This Workshop was rather unremarkable, at least compared to its status, because, in theory, it could be considered the Central Bank of all Harbor City.

In just a single day, this place that controlled the city’s economic lifeline for decades had turned cold and empty, leaving only people squatting here for shelter.

“What are you planning to do next?”

“No idea. I’ll stay a few more days, anyway I’ve got a bit of money left. After a while, I’ll go out and look for work.”

Ami was still fairly optimistic.

“As for the Workshop, if no one’s running it, I’ll just treat it as a free Inn.”

Not a bad idea, really.

Celes put down her cup, stood up, and glanced around.

“Can you show me what you all found when you searched the Workshop?”

Ami was startled. “All the valuable stuff’s already taken…”

“That’s fine. I want to see if there’s anything strange—maybe something you all don’t even know the use for.”

“Alright, I’ll go have a look.”

***

Nether Interstice, beneath the Black Tide of the Drowned, amidst the ruined brick walls of the Temple of Yore.

The Barbed Priest and Fish Priest, along with a dozen ordinary Priests, had just listened to the divine oracle.

He had witnessed what just happened—girls from outside had cruelly slain the faithful, and helped wipe out the Lalai Family, who had been laying roots in Harbor City for years.

It was a cause for grief, but the oppressive atmosphere in the temple wasn’t just because of this news.

Last night, the Serpent Priest led hundreds of Desecrators in a sudden attack on the pink-haired girl who hadn’t been marked by Him.

More than half the Desecrators were killed or wounded, and the Serpent Priest was slain on the spot—didn’t even manage to escape.

“She’s the strongest among them, and she’s got special means to deal with us,” the Fish Priest’s gills twitched.

“We know very little about her.”

Because God hadn’t given any information at all—why was that?

If ignoring the blonde girl was because she had no offensive ability and could be left alone, then what about this pink-haired one?

Not only does she have powerful offensive means, but she can even pursue them into the Nether Interstice.

“We just have to wait for His Descent, right?” the Barbed Priest spoke softly.

“Even if we do nothing, as long as nothing unexpected happens, in two days we’ll succeed.”

It was a thoroughly passive remark, but neither the Fish Priest nor the other ordinary Priests raised any objections.

Yes, just stay put, guard the shrine, don’t do anything unnecessary.

Though the lives of the two God-bestowed Priests would soon end, at least before that, they’d be able to witness His true form.

But if you couldn’t hold back and rushed out, you’d end up like the Serpent Priest.

They’d found his corpse last night, floating in the Nether Interstice, all his snake hair hacked off, more than a dozen wounds piercing his body, each wound radiating a heavy aura of death.

For a long time after finding the body, no one dared touch it, and in the end, they simply let it drift away with the Black Tide into the River of the Yellow Springs.

“She… won’t find the temple, will she?”

***

Ami brought out a bunch of worthless odds and ends from the Workshop, but unfortunately, they really were just pure junk—either unknown parts from work equipment or scraps left over from grinding objects.

Celes shook her head at the others.

She’d hoped to find some clues left by the Workshop Owner here—maybe a mysterious religious rune or something—but it was a bust.

“You can keep staying here, help us keep an eye out, and keep searching the Workshop for any secret doors or hidden rooms.”

Ella said to Ami.

“I’ll bring you some money tomorrow.”

“No problem, big sister!”

After leaving the Workshop, it was already getting late, so the girls could only return to the Inn to rest.

Celes didn’t say much.

They’d just fought a battle today; even if it wasn’t especially dangerous, it still took a lot out of everyone. Rest was the most important thing now.

As for tomorrow’s plans, they’d wait for Ella’s analysis in the morning.

They wished each other good night and went to their own rooms.

Night slowly fell.

The lights on the Inn’s second floor went out, and Harbor City sank into silence.

Ella lay in bed and yawned.

She remembered the last thing Governor Kelu had said, and couldn’t help muttering to herself—surely it couldn’t be, right?

Everything seemed to be going in a good direction.

The army was in position, the enemy’s main force had been identified, they’d even taken down an Elite Monster.

All that was left was to wait for the order the night after tomorrow—then the elite Demon Army would charge down from the mountains, drive the Sirens back into the sea, and the people of Harbor City would welcome the Royal Army with joy, soldiers and civilians celebrating together.

So why did it sound, from Kelu’s mouth, like it was already too late?

Surely not. It couldn’t be too late.

But then again, she was getting more and more used to her life as this busty girl—used to acting soft and obedient in front of the other girls every day, used to walking with her chest slightly lifted, used to eating without watching her food, and… used to someone randomly appearing at her bedside in the middle of the night.

Who would it be tonight? Judging from this voice—“Ella, it’s me.”

Zero, huh?

Makes sense.

She was the only one whose footsteps you couldn’t predict, since she made them on purpose so Ella would notice.

Ella yawned and asked casually:

“Zero, it’s so late—why aren’t you sleeping? What are you here for?”

Then she heard the assassin girl softly say three words—“Time to work.”