Chapter 304: Cult Leader? (1/2)

Twenty minutes before.

Within a secret room in the Lancaster aqueducts, a red-robed man sat upon a stone throne-like chair as devotees prayed to him.

Remaining impassive, he gently touched his left eye which was covered beneath an eye patch.

‘It appears that the city watch had found out about the ritual,’ John Dhana mused.

He then turned towards the ‘believers’ who were completely unaware and were still repeating chant after chant and bowing at him, slight irritation rousing within him.

Now appears to be the time to give up on this bunch of witless fools. He must act even though preparations were not complete, and move on to another city to take in new ‘believers’ whether he succeeded or failed.

It was fortunate that the Lancaster city watch reacted slowly to any incidents, and he would definitely have a lot of time to plan for his next move.

And yet, that very thought evaporated from John Dhana’s mind just a moment later.

He touched his left eye again, sensing that a believer’s soul had entered.

That could only mean that more of his believers were discovered and slain despite their resistance.

Even if he was ready for it since multiple rituals meant greater risk of exposure, the rate at which the rituals were being found were too quick-as if the enemy had already found out most of their pattern.

‘No, it must be a coincidence since the rituals is laid throughout the city in the formation of a spell circle… they should have come knocking here if they noticed that secret.’

But even as that thought crossed his mind, two more ritual sites were exposed with every believer in it killed.

‘No more waiting! Right now, I have to…’

Even before he could finish that thought, one of the walls of his secret room collapsed as several figures rushed in. “Don’t move!” A young man brandishing a torch (Happy Flames) was shouting. “All of you has the right to remain silent, but anything you would say is meaningless!”

“Surrender now or be prepared to fight!” A young woman with brass knuckles shouted beside him as well.

“I’m not being prejudiced; I’m just saying that everyone here is wubbish!” A steel bucket that sounded like a middle-aged man appeared by the entrance of the secret room as well, calmly lifting his sword at the direction of the two youths.

“Ahem.” The youth cleared his throat.

“Sorry. The Mark 8’s optics act weird even though all parts are plus seven…” Thus, the middle-aged man turned, this time aiming his weapon at the rump of one of the cultists who shuddered even as he clutched his backside.

‘M-My lord… Godchild…”

The dozens of cultists who were surrounded all turned towards John Dhana, but were not panicking soon enough after seeing him being unaffected as if they had gained backbone. In fact, they were even trying to outflank the three Players now.

“Humph… believers of traitor gods, I see.”

John sneered even as he rose from his stone throne-standing around 1.7 meters, he was around Edward’s height. Nevertheless, a horrific atmosphere extended from him even as he got to his feet, suffocating those caught in it as if a giant was looking down upon ants. “To think that you few could see through my city devouring formation and picking up on my intentions to claim the souls of Lancaster… I must praise you for your sharp instincts.”

“Wait a minute. Do you mean to say that you weren’t trying to start a war by assassinating the envoy of the new emperor with your ritual?” Princess Leah did a double take and asked by reflex, even though she was caught off guard by John’s rising aura.