“I have confirmed it. It was Heavenly Fire.”
Near the two burned-down villas, after less than half an hour of covert investigation, Marius confirmed that the cause of death of the two nobles, Zao and Hays, was Heavenly Fire that burned them completely from head to toe.
Heavenly Fire? So even a disaster-class mage was involved?
Marius suddenly realized that this matter was not as simple as most of the Church’s upper ranks claimed, with rumors like the Ninth Saintess being cruel, having an extreme contrast in personality like the other Saintesses, and preferring to solve problems with violence.
Based on the gossip tied to his position, Marius had once heard that the Saintess at the Royal Capital Library was especially lecherous.
Even though she looked so small, she was supposedly that kind of person…
So he had to find out the true nature of the Ninth Saintess.
“I have a thought. If the Ninth Saintess is genuinely kind inside and out, then there is a high probability that multiple factions are using her to cover up their actions, such as demons and disaster-class mages.”
“And also desecrators. A few days ago, Wangsheng City sent a delegation to have a friendly meeting with the Ninth Saintess. The expensive gift they brought is still in the central council chamber. It is obvious that the Ninth Saintess does not really like that gift,” a subordinate replied.
“What do you mean? You are saying Wangsheng City took the initiative to meet the Ninth Saintess?!
Even enemies are proactively trying to befriend her? Just what is so special about the Ninth Saintess?”
“That is right. So should we rule out the Ninth Saintess as a suspect? But even if the evidence were conclusive, her status is something we cannot shake.”
“No. Give me all the clues you have gathered. Also contact our informants on the Wangsheng City side and ask what the desecrators are really planning. Then I will continue questioning her to see what she is actually up to.”
Marius urgently needed to confirm what kind of person the Ninth Saintess really was.
He returned alone to the Church of the Goddess of Life, and along the way, he spotted a familiar figure ahead.
In the entirety of Deya City, the only priest with such a voluptuous figure was Tia.
“Miss Tia, what are you doing?” Marius caught up and walked alongside her, noticing that she was holding a stack of documents.
Tia definitely knew something about the Ninth Saintess’s character.
She was responsible for teaching the Saintess Rituals, and character was not something that could be easily faked in daily life.
“Ask your assistant. She suspects my identity and made me fetch student IDs and similar documents from years ago to prove myself. So are you inspectors always like this, using the smallest authority you have to make life as difficult as possible for others?”
Tia said coldly. At the same time, Marius guessed in a fraction of a second that Eve was up to no good again, and that was why she had found a way to send Tia away.
What kind of bad thing required sending away the High Priest of Deya City, who was also the Saintess’s teacher? Not hard to guess at all…
Very well. He just hoped that when he and Tia walked back into the church, they would not find that Eve had already stripped the Ninth Saintess of her robes.
If that had happened, not even Eve’s family would be able to save her.
‘Sigh… a lolicon.’
So Marius did not question Tia further and instead quickened his pace toward the church. Tia was a little puzzled but still followed.
At first, Tia had been somewhat worried about Eve sending her away to be alone with Truth.
But when she thought about how Truth had the Hermit with her, and how Truth did not like people touching her body, Tia could not help but snort softly.
Hopefully that little assistant would get handsy. Maybe by the time they returned to the church, she would already have exploded into a mist of blood without Tia having to lift a finger.
Two minutes later, under the confused gazes of many disciples, Tia and Marius hurried up to the second floor. Before they even saw Truth, two arguing voices reached their ears.
“Why can you touch her but I cannot? Do you not know that good things should be shared?!”
“Because you are not a loli! Besides, do you even know how to touch her, just shouting like that? What if you make Little Truth angry? Do not think she is easy to bully. If she gets angry, she will bite people too, right, Little Truth?”
“If you do not let me try, how will you know whether I can or not? You are just being selfish. Let me over there!”
“I never said you could not come over. Come on over then.”
When Tia and Marius reached the bench on the balcony, the first thing they saw was Eve, immobilized in place by some mysterious deep-blue power, unable to advance even an inch.
She was exerting all her strength, trying desperately to move even a little, but it was completely futile.
Truth was still sitting obediently on the bench, but beside her was an unfamiliar person.
That person was pressed comfortably close to Truth, her right hand lazily resting on Truth’s shoulder.
Aside from the fact that they were both female, her demeanor was no different from that of a greasy middle-aged man with wandering hands.
Without hesitation, just like the first time she had met Marius, Tia intended to step forward and take Truth into her arms to once again assert her claim.
“Release me if you dare! Is using such despicable tricks to restrain me all you can do? Come fight me one-on-one. Whoever wins gets Truth today! Let me tell you, I am a level thirty-nine summoner. I have four rare-grade and two extraordinary-grade pieces of equipment, and I am the young lady of the Elaine Family. If you really make me angry today, you will not be able to take a single step in all of Sylvia in the future!”
Eve pointed one finger at the ground and continued.
“And this time, I brought several enforcers above fifth rank with me to Deya City. One of my companions is even sixth rank. If you know what is good for you, hurry up and remove this restraint, then obediently hand Truth over to me!”
“So you are already introducing yourself?” Omili tilted her head and smiled. “Alright, alright, then I will introduce myself too. First, my name is Omili. And second, my rank is…”
Omili raised her face, narrowed her eyes at Eve, who was glaring at her like a tiger watching prey, and spoke softly.
“Nine-rank.”
Her words were plain and lazy as they reached everyone’s ears. In the next second, the scene fell into complete silence.
Standing at the balcony doorway, Marius looked shocked.
Tia, who had just stepped forward to take Truth away, froze in place.
Eve, to the side, immediately broke into a cold sweat and guiltily pulled her hand behind her back.
No, seriously, how could a nine-rank powerhouse appear in a small border city like this?!
Only Truth remained calm. She even patted the back of this nine-rank predecessor’s hand at the most inappropriate moment.
“You are holding me too tightly. It hurts.”
“Ah, I am really sorry. I did not mean to. I will be gentler. Do not dislike me, okay? So, how about it? Want me to help you chase away this short-haired girl who has improper thoughts about you, and then we can go study some very relaxing and enjoyable herbalism together?”
Omili continued pressing close to Truth right in front of Eve. This time, Eve did not dare say a word.
As for Truth, Omili had studied her very carefully.
Based on Truth’s body language while sleeping in the church at night over the past few days, Truth seemed to be the type who disliked anyone touching her private areas.
What a pity. That meant she would need to be guided slowly, otherwise she would never get to see the longed-for intimate loli interactions.
So Omili decided to start with areas Truth was not very sensitive about and gradually raise her tolerance.
For example, rubbing her shoulders and neck, then touching her little feet and hands, and then slowly progressing step by step, from thighs to waist, from waist to—
“No.”
Truth flatly rejected the proposal of this nine-rank predecessor who always liked to grope her.