novelraw Chapter 879: What Awaits
Chapter 879: What Awaits
Two cultists from the Church of Shadows were led away by soldiers from City Hall.
One of the heretics was near death; he would receive medical attention after the investigation began.
Mayor Matteus returned to the upper level of the dungeon. His cold gaze fell upon One-eyed Vic, who had led them around the dungeons for twenty minutes before finally taking them to where the Church of Shadows cultists were being held.
The assistant, Valendo, stepped out from behind the mayor, straightened his back, and approached One-eyed Vic.
"Investigator Vic, you are temporarily suspended from your duties for the unauthorized detention of heretics and the illegal interrogation of prisoners..."
After a short pause, the young assistant added:
"And for providing false information and delaying the proceedings."
"During your suspension, you will be under supervision and are forbidden from leaving Winnelag until the Secret Council's review is complete. If you have any objections, you may state them now."
"Suspended?! But—" Valentin took a step forward to confront Valendo, but One-eyed Vic roughly grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Consider it a vacation for yourself, after twelve months without a day off."One-eyed Vic's single eye stared intently at the young assistant.
Valendo nodded, turned, and caught up with the departing Mayor Matteus, disappearing up the stone steps.
"Why didn't you tell us the results of the interrogation?!"
When everyone who didn't belong in the dungeon had left, Valentin couldn't help but shout.
"What was there to tell?"
"To tell those higher-ups that our exorcist isn't as flawless as he seems."
One-eyed Vic's gaze fell upon his young subordinate:
"You're quite agitated, aren't you?"
"That's why I'm here, Investigator..."
Valentin didn't hide his morbid conviction: "To expose the filth hiding beneath the glittering surface, to pierce the ugly corruption of the bigwigs."
"This exorcist is far more important than any bigwig you can imagine. Compared to him, Mayor Matteus is nothing but a petty servant," One-eyed Vic said, looking at his subordinate.
"Do you really want to shatter this illusion of 'humanity's hope'?"
Something dawned on Valentin, and the long-held admiration he had for his superior subtly faded. "Neither my dreams nor my position permit me to conceal the truth."
"That's because you don't understand what's at stake. Cutting away the rot from a man who is about to freeze to death will only hasten his demise." With his position as an investigator lost, One-eyed Vic's usual sharpness and gruff demeanor seemed to soften. He turned and left the dungeon.
"And don't call me Investigator anymore. I've been suspended."
Valentin shouted after him, "Is a beautiful lie more valuable than a cruel truth?!"
His question went unanswered. Like the figure before him, it vanished into the depths of the stone steps leading to the surface.
...
Slam!
The tavern's wooden door was thrown open.
Wind and snow burst into the tavern, followed by a figure holding an oil lamp.
A waiter hurried over to hold the door, blocking the path of the wind and snow. The gust that had ruffled hair and tablecloths subsided.
"Hello, Vic. Awful weather," the tavern owner greeted the newcomer.
"It's fine. When the weather's really bad, you groundhogs don't even open up."
One-eyed Vic glanced at the two or three patrons conversing quietly in the tavern and took a seat at the bar.
"Last time you were here was nine months ago," the tavern owner chuckled, their relationship clearly a friendly one.
One-eyed Vic set down his oil lamp, took off his animal-hide coat, and tossed it onto an empty chair.
"Business must be slow, otherwise you wouldn't remember me so clearly."
"Dandelion blood?" the owner asked.
"Two mugs, the strongest you've got."
The tavern owner turned to take a bottle from the shelf.
Just then, the wooden door swung open again. A howling wind and a flurry of snow swept into the tavern, and the waiter once more hurried to brace the door shut with his shoulder.
The new arrival walked to the bar, picked up One-eyed Vic's coat, moved it to another empty seat, and sat down.
The tavern owner looked up, glanced at the silent One-eyed Vic, placed two mugs of dandelion blood before them, and stepped aside to doze.
"I heard the news about your suspension."
The figure slid his mug of dandelion blood closer.
"I hope the information you obtained was worth it."
"I'm not going to tell you anything," One-eyed Vic said, taking a large gulp of the spicy dandelion blood.
The liquid that hit his throat felt like lava and chili peppers.
"It seems you really did obtain some very important information." The figure slowly surveyed the tavern, as if studying its style and decor.
"Vic, have you forgotten your dead wife and daughter? The oath you swore? Or is the enemy so powerful that you've given up?"
Creak.
His clenched fist made the glass mug groan under the pressure.
"Don't you mention my wife and children."
The figure shrugged, his gaze returning from his survey of the room.
"I just don't want to be a weapon in the hands of ugly politicians like you," One-eyed Vic continued.
"You shouldn't think of it that way. This isn't a relationship of use, but one of cooperation, just as before."
"Don't fool me. I can guess what you're plotting... Winnelag will be destroyed because of you."
"A correction: not because of us." Whether it was a lie to extract information or a genuine clarification, the figure was forced to reveal a sliver of the truth to explain himself. "That man is also from Winnelag. He won't allow his home to be destroyed."
"Politicians have always been both clever and foolish," One-eyed Vic said, taking another greedy swallow of the drink.
"You can trust him just as much as you trust me."
"I don't trust anyone."
One-eyed Vic's hoarse whisper was like the growl of a lone, dying, yet still bloodthirsty old wolf in a snowy wasteland.
The figure changed his approach. "Persistence in this era is a rare and precious quality."
"As a friend, I would hate to see you lose it."
One-eyed Vic said nothing more, only drank his crimson dandelion blood, quickly and without stopping.
Gulp, gulp, gulp...
Slam!
The bottom of the mug hit the bar. Liquid mixed with saliva dripped from his mustache, soaking the front of his shirt, and his single eye, framed by disheveled brown hair, was bloodshot.
He pulled out a wad of cash for the drink, slapped it on the counter, threw on his coat, and staggered out in silence.
The waiter shut the door, once again blocking out the wind and snow. The figure silently bowed his head, looking at the stack of bills One-eyed Vic had slapped on the counter.
A note was tucked inside.
...
He is the sworn enemy.
His name must not be spoken.
He calls himself the Lord of the Depths.
He is a being as great as the Lord.
When the stars align, He, through the sacrifices of believers who walk the earth, will be freed from the seals of hostile ancient gods.
He is a thief who has stolen the duties of the Lord.
He is invincible.
Even the tentacled cultist warns of His terror.
Unlike the four systems classified by humans [evil spirit, spirit of defilement, anomaly, evil god], [Ghost, Spirit, Essence, Monster], He is a true, supreme, legendary deity of immense power.
He is one of the ancient gods who awakened in King's City Allen.
And he is also one of the outer gods, whose gaze is fixed upon us from the depths of the starry sky.