Amelia huffed as she dragged the helpless Marianne away, while Allen turned to Victor and said seriously:
“Comrade Victor, I want you to understand one thing: I am not God’s Messenger. I merely put on an act so we can better fight humanity’s enemies. As an Inquisitor, your suspicion toward me hasn’t lessened, has it?”
“Yes, Comrade Allen.” Victor also adopted the new title.
Those who share the same virtue share the same heart, and those who share the same heart are comrades. Indeed, it was an apt address.
However, though he said this, the admiration in Victor’s eyes was practically overflowing.
Allen sighed inwardly: Forget it, I really can’t hold a conversation with these true fanatics. Let it be.
He still had proper business to discuss, so such minor details weren’t worth dwelling on.
“Comrade Victor, the operation to wipe out the Thieves’ Guild is set for June 29th. I have a hunch that a troublesome heretic will appear that day. We need to launch a joint operation to attack the Thieves’ Guild headquarters together and eradicate humanity’s enemies.”
“There are no innocents in the Underground World. There’s no need to worry about leaks or civilians seeing things they shouldn’t.” Allen’s tone was cold and merciless.
Victor knew well that saving humanity was bound to be accompanied by bloodshed.
Since those criminals named their lair ‘Forgotten Madonna,’ he and Allen would naturally grant their wish and discard the Madonna’s merciful heart.
“Understood, I’ll be ready. I’ll bring Anna and an elite squad to go with you. The others will continue monitoring the surroundings to prevent the heretics from lashing out at civilians when cornered.”
“Thank you. Once the Thieves’ Guild is destroyed, the Capital will have some peace for a while. Also, the Inquisition might be interested in the Thieves’ Guild headquarters.”
Allen knew the Crimson Spiral Cult all too well. Besides their exposed strongholds, the cult still had a multitude of hidden bases and ritual sites underground.
Even the Thieves’ Guild likely didn’t know what was hidden within those crisscrossing tunnels.
However, the underground space where their headquarters was located was perfectly suited as a starting point for exploring the dungeons below.
In the future, Allen planned to transform that patch of the Underground World, purge all evil, and turn it into a true underground kingdom.
That way, if the Brotherhood was ever hit by official crackdowns, they could go underground and wage a guerrilla war.
Upon learning this secret of the Underground World, Victor frowned.
The Judgement Court also knew that heretics could be hiding in the Capital’s underground tunnels, but it was too vast and dangerous to go deep.
If there was a secure base, however, they could begin cleaning out those rats.
Victor realized Allen wanted to use the Judgement Court’s power to shield the Underground World.
This ‘God’s Messenger’ had probably long since made plans to renovate the Thieves’ Guild headquarters.
But that wasn’t his concern; he didn’t care for politics, only the destruction of humanity’s enemies.
“I will report your suggestion to the Inquisition.”
“Hm, Comrade Victor, this is only the beginning. Always stay vigilant, never let any suspicious enemy go, especially not me.”
At this, Allen looked toward Anna and asked curiously, “By the way, Anna, are you still going to keep monitoring me at my house?”
Hearing this, Anna—who’d been zoning out—instinctively felt like Allen was asking, “Can I keep this little puppy?”
So she immediately clung to Allen, unwilling to let go, and said, “Anna is a very good maid! Plus, I file reports every day. Don’t take Anna away.”
Victor knew that under the strict rules of the Inquisition, Anna wasn’t truly free.
Staying with this unpredictable ‘God’s Messenger’ might not be such a bad thing for the girl.
He comforted her, “You’ve done well with your mission. You can continue to stay by his side. But I have a new assignment for you—protect him.”
“But didn’t you say Anna’s reports are awful?” Anna blinked her big, innocent eyes.
Your stream-of-consciousness reports really are awful! Why do you only put in effort for what you ate each day, complete with illustrations!
Victor grumbled inwardly, but maintained a serious expression. “If you don’t know how to write them, let Allen teach you.”
“Eh? Isn’t that against the rules?”
“It’s fine, as long as you’re happy.” This time Victor spoke from the heart.
He’d witnessed Luthien, the Archbishop, personally disclose inner-circle secrets to everyone in the Sanctum.
That alone showed that saving humanity could no longer be so rigid and hidebound!
This was the highest leader of the Kingdom, leading by example!
Being able to interact with the ‘God’s Messenger’ was a privilege even the Grand Inquisitor didn’t have.
Right now, Anna was blessed and didn’t even realize it.
She didn’t know the Laval comrade she was so attached to was the Messenger sent by the Lord to save humanity.
Allen struggled and pleaded to Victor, “Guh…help…help me…”
Not good! The ‘God’s Messenger’ was about to be squeezed to death by Anna’s monstrous hug!
Marianne secretly glanced over and saw Allen nearly suffocated by Anna again, and a drop of sweat ran down her forehead.
Amelia noticed Marianne’s expression and said dejectedly, “Marianne…that Laval guy…can I really get along with him? Or maybe…was I wrong all along? Has he truly repented and turned good? Otherwise, why does everyone trust him so much?”
“Amelia, to know what kind of person he really is, you need to stay by his side, observe, and experience things for yourself.” Marianne said gently.
“You’re right! Teacher also told me to observe with my eyes and seek answers with my heart!”
Amelia tucked her hair behind her ear, then said, a little embarrassed, “Sorry, I always call myself your friend, and even boasted I’d come running if he bullied you…but honestly…I’m a bit afraid of him.”
“No need to be afraid. You’re a strong nun, you’ll overcome any difficulty. The Lord will bless you.”
“Mm.”
Marianne understood Amelia’s feelings.
Before Allen’s ‘Rebirth’, she too had feared that unpredictable Young Master, who could be violent at any moment.
Precisely because of those fears and shadows, when she realized Allen had completely changed, the sense of happiness became all the more intense.
Those wounds were real. The scars on Marianne’s body and the pain in her heart would not fade so easily.
But this also meant that Allen’s ‘debt’ and ties to her would not disappear.
Marianne understood well… The reason she was entrusted with the heavy task of staying by Young Master’s side was precisely because of that debt.
And it was because of their twisted, painful past that their fates would be forever intertwined, for all eternity…
Allen was ‘God’s Messenger’; he could not answer Marianne’s feelings.
But he couldn’t stop Marianne from loving him, and would ultimately spend a long life at her side.
Companionship is the truest form of devotion.
Now that Marianne knew more heavy truths—the Suffering of Mankind, the Church’s Transcendent Secret—Allen’s grief and pressure could be shared with her, even just a little.
Apart from her, Allen would never fully trust anyone else. Not even…his fiancée, Livia.
Allen hated Livia, but also ‘loved’ Livia.
There was no contradiction. The ‘God’s Messenger’ loved all humanity, but also loathed evil.
But Allen’s redemption of Livia would not go smoothly; the Evil God’s influence might run deeper than anyone imagined.
At the triumph ceremony, when Marianne saw Livia’s breathtaking smile, she also realized: Livia…was no longer the innocent, kind girl she had known.
That unconscious display of Charm…was disturbingly beautiful. If Marianne’s own heart and mind hadn’t been steeled, she might have fallen for her too.
Something had changed Livia, and Marianne was furious.
The Evil Gods had toyed with her fate before, and now their claws were reaching for her best friend!
Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!
She would save Livia together with Allen! That was why Allen kept hinting that she should be with Livia!
Livia…must be suffering terribly, just like she once did.
But it’s all right, Allen…my dearest Young Master will save you, Livia.
And…Amelia…you better not fall for him, okay? We’re friends, aren’t we?
So, let’s be good ‘tools.’ We are all his tools, and the happiest thing for a tool…is to be used by its master…
Marianne’s yandere side was bubbling up again.
But Amelia, seeing Marianne’s odd expression, simply thought it was her friend’s expectation.
So that’s it… She still wants me to save her… I…I must help her! After all, we are friends!
“Thank you, Marianne. I’ll get along with him properly.”
“Just don’t fall for him.” Marianne seemed to be joking, but her scarlet eyes were full of seriousness.
“How could I ever like him!”
Amelia blurted out without thinking, completely unaware she was making a classic flag.
Right now, she had only one thought in her heart: Does this guy really deserve to save the world?
Let’s see what tricks you’re up to! Poor people, there’s no way someone as evil as you could fool them!
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