Chapter 121: The Most Desperate Day

The Most Desperate Day

Boom—!

A flash of lightning tore through the night sky, emitting a deafening roar, illuminating the stacked cloud layers above Berren City.

Lucy leaned back in the VIP lounge of Deton Manor, looking towards Berren City in the distance. The clouds there churned, thunder roared loudly, like a hurricane bearing down.

But Berren City was just an inland city. Light rain was common, but thunderstorms of this magnitude were rarely seen, perhaps once in decades.

Acid rain, however, was plentiful.

Lucy reached into her pocket, retrieving a small, exquisite rectangular snuffbox inlaid with fine gems and enamel.

She gently tapped the outside of the box, causing the fine tobacco powder mixed with some transcendent materials inside to gather in the semi-circular tray at the center of the box. Then, she pushed open the lid, lightly pinched a pinch of snuff with her right hand, and brought it under her nose.

In this era, snuff was one of the most popular social items in Ansu high society. Not only were snuffboxes increasingly exquisite and expensive, but edicts were even issued in neighboring countries regarding the proper way to take snuff.

That red-haired Judicator should be dead soon... Then the “Strong Luck Coin” would return to her in an extremely “coincidental” manner—getting rid of this sealed artifact wasn’t that simple.

However, giving this item to the other party could be considered repayment for saving her life. Lucy felt she had a clear conscience. If she truly died, it could only mean her luck wasn’t very good.

Hurry up and end this day...

Lucy currently had two hours of rest time. At six in the morning, she had to appear punctually in the underground sanctuary for those unnecessary investigations, otherwise, calamity would strike again...

She still hadn’t figured out why, despite clearly following the rules, she still encountered an absurd calamity a few hours ago.

Sigh...

Lucy gently kneaded the snuff, half-lying on the sofa, took a deep breath. Just then, a knock sounded abruptly at the door.

Knock knock knock—

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“Open up, Judicator’s Court.”

“Cough cough cough cough cough cough—”

Lucy choked so hard she almost couldn’t catch her breath, coughing violently, tears streaming down her face.

No! Sister!

Are you serious? Do you know how dangerous you are right now?! You still came?!

Lucy hastily closed the snuffbox, stood up, casually wiped her tears and nose with a handkerchief, quickly walked to the door, and opened it.

“No, Your Excellency, you... who are you?” When Lucy saw the shorter, white-haired little figure wearing black robes at the door, she was stunned.

Whose kid is this?

Why is there another, even smaller, little one?

Are all of you in the Judicator’s Court like this? Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“Gusi Ashwood.” The girl looked up expressionlessly at the bewildered Lucy.

Her black-gloved palm opened before her. An exquisite black-silver pendant slid down her palm, finally caught by the black chain wrapped around her fingers, swinging gently below her palm.

The moment she saw the emblem, Lucy straightened her back and asked in a low voice, “May I ask if you are here to...”

At this moment, Lucy, seeing the other party’s serious expression, already faintly sensed their purpose.

She was different from the Judicator’s Court member who just happened to save her... Her expression looked like she was genuinely here to cause trouble for her.

Moreover, she also looked somewhat more professional than the previous Judicator girl.

“You should be aware of the cooperation matters agreed upon between Deton Headquarters and my church.” “Gusi” spoke smoothly and quickly:

“The cultists at Deton Headquarters have been thoroughly cleared out. Now, we begin investigating all employees of all other branches... You are the manager here, correct, Lucy Silva.”

“Please cooperate with the Judicator’s Court’s investigation.”

As expected...

After this incident, the headquarters had been scrutinizing every employee, rooting out many people from the Divine Advent Church—even capturing members of other hidden religious groups.

This storm finally reached her.

But this Judicator before her... looking at her always made Lucy’s eyelids twitch, giving her a bad premonition... Her premonitions were usually accurate.

“Yes, I am the manager here, Lucy Silva.” Lucy spoke, deciding to temporarily stabilize the Judicator before her. She said, “You may conduct any investigation on my employees... However, I apologize, it is inconvenient for me to undergo investigation recently.”

“Hmm?” Gusi’s tone rose slightly, her voice seemingly filled with dissatisfaction, as if she were about to explode and kill someone the next second.

Lucy also knew that to avoid the other party, she had to provide a reasonable explanation, otherwise, the other party might directly resort to force and conduct a lie detection test.

“You can see for yourself, Your Excellency Gusi.” Lucy said, “I suffered fatal injuries, misfortune encountered while investigating the cult of the Divine Advent Church. My current physical condition requires proper rest.”

“Moreover... your colleague, the Judicator Excellency who saved me, she was already able to save me. Doesn’t this prove I don’t need additional scrutiny?”

A Judicator came before?

At this moment, Tara, under the alias Gusi and disguised hair color, felt a trace of cold sweat break out on her back.

How come I don’t have this intel? The “nail” didn’t report this to me. At least before today, no Judicator had come to Berren City or Deton Manor.

Could it be they just arrived coincidentally not long ago? That’s terrible timing...

“Where is she? Where.” Tara didn’t panic, calmly continuing, “I need to understand the details with her.”

“She...” Lucy wanted to say she was likely dead, but after thinking, changed to a more tactful phrasing, “You should be able to see news about her by dawn.”

Lucy’s words made Tara keenly sense that she seemed to have some reason for being unable to undergo scrutiny.

To complete the Mother Goddess’s mission, Tara decided to take a gamble.

Tara reached out, took out a simply styled pocket watch from her bosom, glanced at the time, and said, “Mm, it will be morning soon. Then I’ll wait here.”

Hearing Tara’s words, Lucy, already mentally exhausted, felt like the sky was falling.

She wouldn’t dare sleep while being watched by this Judicator.

“You can try finding that Judicator... Aren’t you supposed to be acting together? As long as you find her, you’ll know I wasn’t lying,” Lucy sighed and said, “I’ve stayed here for over a month, I’m not going to run away.”

“This is a precaution, Miss Lucy.” Tara looked at Lucy and slowly said, “My creed is to never let a single cultist slip through... Please understand.”

Here it comes, here it comes, the classic creed, classic belief, classic faith, classic obsession.

Lucy had heard more than once that people from the Church of the Savior Goddess’s Judicator’s Court were stubborn as mules. Encountering this situation herself, she still felt somewhat helpless.

“Your Excellency Judicator,” At this moment, a flicker of anger rose in Lucy’s heart. She said, “I respect you, hence I address you as Your Excellency. I do not object to your investigation. You may investigate other employees first, instead of disturbing me like this during my rest time.”

“I am a senior investigation commissioner of the Deton Group. If you wish to investigate me, please present the Group’s official document, thank you.” Towards the end, Lucy’s tone was clearly somewhat impolite. She was, after all, a core member of the Deton Group, not someone who could be pushed around by an investigator from any random organization.

“Here.” An envelope sealed with golden chip wax was produced by the Judicator before her and handed over.

“Huh?” Lucy looked at the letter, stunned for a moment.

They actually have it?

Lucy took the envelope, tore it open directly, unfolded the letter paper. The letterhead was indeed addressed to her.

Information, date, seal... All the information was there. The attachment in the envelope even included an Eye of Order contract with the main text redacted, to prove the girl’s words were true.

“Sigh...” Lucy turned helplessly, walked towards the inside of the room, and said, “Please come in. Ask whatever you want, quickly.”

-

Tara walked into the room, turned and closed the door, then sat on the sofa opposite Lucy.

“Then I’ll ask directly.” Tara looked at Lucy before her and said, “All damage assessment, compensation, and investigation should have ended long ago. May I ask why you haven’t returned to report to the Deton Group yet.”

“Recently, the church’s investigation has also stalled. If you provide vague answers, I have reason to suspect the Divine Advent Church has received your protection.”

Hearing Tara’s blunt question, Lucy’s brow slowly furrowed. She looked at Tara before her and said, “You can ask your church members. Since arriving in Berren City, apart from the banquet initiated by Prince Oppold, I haven’t taken a single step out of Deton Manor.”

“They can all see I’ve been investigating in the underground sanctuary constantly. I practically live there. Everyone who has rotated shifts in the underground sanctuary can testify for me.”

“If you cannot provide evidence for your baseless speculation, then this prejudiced conversation is already unnecessary.” Although Lucy’s face was pale and her breath weak, at this moment, her sharp aura was no longer concealed, revealing itself, her eyes like sharp blades piercing towards the Judicator before her.

Lucy was like this. Like the previous red-haired Judicator, although similarly cold in tone, she saved Lucy and didn’t pry excessively into her privacy, thus earning Lucy’s respect.

But this one before her wanted to suppress her with sheer presence from the start. Lucy obviously wouldn’t concede.

“Prejudiced?” Tara leaned back slightly, resting against the sofa. “The Goddess never taught me that.”

Tara snapped her right fingers slightly. The main door opened. Two “Ascetics” escorted a man with a cloth over his face inside.

“What are you doing? This is a Group employee.” A cold glint flashed in Lucy’s eyes. The pupil in her right eye began to swell and split, dividing into two. Her hand had already reached for the cloth pouch at her waist.

“You two go back to your duties.” Tara waved her hand. The male and female “Ascetics” released the man, bowed slowly towards Tara in a church salute, then turned and left the room, closing the door behind them.

“Simon, are you alright?” Lucy quickly stepped forward, cut the ropes binding his hands with a short dagger, then removed the blindfold from the man’s face.

This man named Simon was one of Lucy’s capable assistants. Although timid, he was efficient. Lucy had most of her documents and letters written by him.

But what Lucy didn’t expect was that Simon, usually timid, had an unusually calm expression after being tied up and brought over.

This gave Lucy a bad premonition.

“Next, I won’t say a word,” Tara gazed at the man and calmly said, “Ask him yourself.”

The moment of the Mother Goddess’s test has arrived, child.

Tara stood up, walked towards the window, looking at Berren City’s thunderclouds and heavy rain... Unsure if it was her imagination, those thunderclouds seemed to be swirling and approaching.

“What happened to you? Simon, they didn’t do anything to you, right?” Lucy raised her hand, about to help Simon up, but at this moment, Simon’s eyes gradually filled with fanaticism.

He directly reached for his waist, pulled out a revolver already loaded with bullets, and quickly pulled the trigger towards Lucy.

Bang!

The moment the hammer struck the primer, the bullet exploded directly within the cylinder. Shattered fragments flew straight towards the man named Simon’s carotid artery, instantly tearing it open.

The remaining fragments scattered, but luckily, not a single piece landed on Lucy.

“Gurgle...” A mouthful of blood coughed out from Simon’s mouth. He tightly clutched his wound, drew the small knife from his waist, and staggered back several steps.

“Long live Sadhana!!!” Simon let out a roar, then plunged the small knife directly into his own heart, piercing through.

Looking at the former subordinate lying dead in a pool of blood, Lucy, kneeling where she was, only felt waves of dizziness.

He was from the Divine Advent Church? Right beside me all along? I actually never noticed?

Seemingly unconvinced, she searched Simon’s belongings. Only when she found a secret letter Simon wrote to the Divine Advent Church did she finally fall silent.

Lucy stood up somewhat dejectedly, slumped onto the sofa, remained silent for a long while, then asked, “Do you have anything else to ask.”

Lucy’s words lacked the previous imposing manner. She was now extremely weary, just wanting to quickly send this Judicator away.

Tara had now completely seized the initiative in the conversation. A corner of her mouth curled up as she gradually guided the topic towards the misfortunes Lucy recently encountered.

As Tara heard more and more details, her brow also began to furrow slightly.

She stayed here because of... misfortune rules?

Ignoring distance, ignoring formations, even unable to find the person or sealed artifact behind it?

And besides her, there was another Judicator who encountered the same misfortune rule?

The Church of the Savior Goddess and Deton Manor had almost no connection. The most recent cooperation was only due to the major commotion here in Berren City.

Rules against one’s will... terrifyingly intense misfortune... others experiencing the same...

Tara vaguely remembered seeing similar descriptions in some scripture once, but she had to return to the Divine Advent Church’s library to confirm...

Just as Tara prepared to leave, the wooden door was knocked on again.

Knock knock knock—

“Open up, Judicator’s Court.”

Tara: “?”

Lucy: “?”

Tara’s heart tightened slightly, while Lucy looked at Tara before her, a hint of confusion appearing on her weary expression.

Another one?

Is there no end to this!

At this moment, Ciel, outside the door, frowned slightly.

Inside... why is the smell of blood so strong?

Could it be that because I violated the misfortune rule, Lucy was killed?

Ciel reached out directly, twisted the doorknob. When she pushed the door open, she was instantly stunned.

On the floor, a male corpse lay in a pool of blood. Following the bloodstains forward, two people sat opposite each other by the sofa.

One, with a weary face, was naturally Lucy. Sitting opposite her was a transcendent wearing the same Judicator’s Court robes as herself.

Bad, ran into the real Judicator’s Court?

Ciel’s steps retreated slightly. The black shadow behind her surged, becoming alert.

But the white-haired loli wearing Judicator’s Court robes, after a brief stunned moment upon seeing Ciel, immediately stood up and ran towards Ciel.

“Lady Ciel～ Gusi missed you so much!” Tara directly stepped over the corpse, rushed towards Ciel, and hugged the somewhat caught-off-guard Ciel’s waist.

Mother Goddess, please forgive me! This is just to conceal my identity!!!

Tara buried her head against Ciel’s front, rubbing constantly, until Ciel reacted and pushed her away. Only then did a look of satisfaction and faint disappointment appear on Tara’s face.

At this point, Ciel also reacted. The loli before her was Tara.

After all, their body types were similar, and their level of perversion wasn’t much different.

Sometimes Ciel even began to suspect, were all people from the Divine Advent Church this perverted? Either licking shoes or hugging people.

“How’s the investigation going.” Ciel looked at Tara and inquired, casually closing the door behind her.

Lucy, however, looked at Ciel’s face in terror, as if seeing some kind of monster.

Only when Ciel turned her gaze towards her did Lucy ask, trembling slightly, “Your Excellency... did you roll heads twice?”

That luck is too good, isn’t it? The “Strong Luck Coin’s” probability isn’t fixed; one heads and one tails is the high probability event.

“Two tails.” Ciel replied with a smile.

“Please leave the manor! No! Please let me leave Deton Manor! I voluntarily leave Deton Manor!!!” Lucy, who had been stuck in Deton Manor for nearly a month and a half and had almost exhausted all her mental energy today, cried out in despair.

“Don’t worry, I came specifically to take you away.” Several black shadows emerged from behind Ciel, and Ciel continued speaking from behind them, “Our misfortunes are linked. You can’t escape.”

“Instead of thinking about how to escape, perhaps think about how to fight back.”

Unlucky!!! So unlucky!!!

Lucy almost fainted, her face filled with despair.

Today was her unluckiest, most desperate day, definitively.