400 Somewhere Without Evil (1/2)

In the darkness, Philip dreamed of a butterfly. Fluorescent light sprinkled down as it flew in the red sky. He slowly opened his eyes. His sword hilt was warm from his body heat as he gripped it tightly. Heavy curtains covered the window, blocking the hot light. In the dimness, he saw Colt's eyes. They were bloodshot as if he had not slept in a long while. His hair was messy as well and he looked like a beggar.

”What time is it?” Philip asked.

”One in the afternoon.”

”Oh, I slept for so long,” Philip murmured. He reached out and opened the curtains a crack. Sunlight fell on his old face, illuminating some fatigue and weakness. The veins under the skin were dark green. It was the toxic poison that had seeped into his body and lay on his bones like maggots.

Assassins had not stopped since their attack on the ship five days ago. Each attempt was crazier than the last. Fortunately, they had decided without hesitation to go by road rather than sea. No one knew how many traps could be hidden in the sea. But unfortunately, going by land was difficult as well. The killer seemed to have smelled their blood and tracked them. There were so many tricks, from attack to poison to secret attacks. Once, he even received help from a caravan smuggling illegal weapons and met them face on…

There were many undignified musicians. They had to fight off strange tricks of every school. The two red-robed priests had already died. Philip did not even know how one of them died.

When he discovered something was wrong, the assassin disguised as the priest had already stabbed his back with a poisoned dagger. Gravely wounded, Philip had fought out of the besiege with Colt. Using the night and noise as cover, they had gone underground and finally found a safe spot along the river.

They finally had a chance to breathe.

Footsteps approached and the door was cracked open. Someone timidly walked over, metal clanging crisply.

Colt raised his bloodshot eyes. Holding his short sword, he pounced on the shadow, putting him in a chokehold. ”Who is it?!”

With a clang, the copper plate fell onto the ground. A few pieces of bread fell into the dust. The young man collapsed. Looking at Colt's fierce expression, he paled. ”The F-father told me to bring some food. I'm s-sorry, I didn't mean to…He said you're sleeping so I didn't want to disturb you…”

”Sorry, child, for scaring you.” Philip helped the young man up and helped him get rid of the dust on the robe. Finally, he picked up the bread, prayed quietly, and began eating earnestly without caring for the dust.

Colt watched the young man run away. He held the bread but did not eat. ”Can we trust the people here?” Over these past few days, he had witnessed too many betrayals. Even an observant Revelations musician could not pinpoint where the truly fatal poison was.

”Don't worry,” Grandmaster Philip said. ”The priest here graduated from the Sacred City's Trinity College and is a fervent believer. He was originally an ascetic monk but voluntarily came to this faraway town four years ago to do missionary work. His loyalty to the Church is definite. He and his student are the only ones in this church. No one will know we are here.”

Colt did not reply. Still suspicious, he carefully lifted a corner of the curtain, looking at the poor church outside. It had not been maintained in many years.

At the church entrance, the ragged priest quietly encouraged the sad-looking student. Then he picked up a bible and left quickly.

Colt narrowed his eyes.

”He is going to teach the local children for donations to repair the church.” Philip seemed to know what Colt was thinking. He said calmly, ”I told him to do everything as before. Other than giving us water and food, just pretend we are not here.”

”This church is too poor.”

”This land is directly administered by the Church. It is protected by the Clock Tower and no one would be able to see inside. Rest up, Colt. We are setting off tomorrow.”

Colt dropped the curtain. He lay in the corner behind the door, gripping the blankets, but he could not sleep. His eyes were testy. ”Is there still no reply from the Ministry of Information?”

In recent days, all their messages to the Sacred City had no replies. It seemed that all messages were locked as if an invisible hand snuffed all of their pleas for help, isolating them. Later, they would gradually be held in the palm of the assassin and suffocated slowly. Colt knew who could do all this. That was why he was panicking and…full of hatred.

His teacher…

His nails dug into his palm, his eyes filled with resentment. It must be you, Heisenberg, Colt thought angrily. Other than the School of Secret Keepers, who can do things to this extent? You truly just want me to die!

There was the sound of teeth cracking.

”Reinforcement will be here soon.” Philip chewed the dry bread calmly. The raspy voice had awakened him. ”Even if they seal the aether sea, there are other ways to send messages. Don't worry, Colt. This will be my last time comforting you. The Ministry of Information is not like before but should not be overlooked.” Before he finished, there was a knock on the door.

Colt tensed like a frightened bird. Philip rose. He opened the door. Outside, a priest clad in red had arrived silently. The middle-aged priest had two long swords and light armor under his robe. The Discipline Hammer was carved into his arm plate. His features were average but lightning seemed to brew in his narrow eyes.

”Teacher, I received your letter and hurried over,” he reported, kneeling on one knee. ”I brought over the other members fulfilling missions nearby. There are five Purgatory musicians and sixteen members of the Witch Hammer. We await your commands.”

In the courtyard, armed priests stood silently like statues. Many musicians were hidden within them. They were quiet but music theory as cruel as purgatory brewed within them. They were the hidden stars of the Ministry of Information. They were the cream of the crop. Even a century ago, a team like this could completely wipe out a satanic sect, raise columns of stakes, and burn the sky red.

”Colt, do you see? Do not feel regret. You made the right choice.” Philip patted his shoulder. ”God's power cannot be humiliated. Sinners will always pay for their actions. From today, they will be your followers and protect you with their lives. The Ministry will give you much more than the Secret Keepers. From today, you have the status of a saint!”

Soundlessly, the Purgatory and Witch Hammer members half-knelt on the ground and gave Colt their respect.

Colt gaped at the priests and musicians before him. After a long while, a smile appeared on his blank face. He laughed. Lowering his head, he kissed the holy emblem on Philip's ring.

”Everything for God!”

His lowered eyes were blank but seemed like a furnace. There, resentment, hatred, and anger acted as firewood; something terrifying was burning.

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