Chapter 158: Orlando Republican Army

Orlando Republican Army

Schlick—

Ciel slowly withdrew the carving knife, looking expressionlessly at the fat grain merchant before her.

These captured individuals came from different factions, perhaps even different beliefs, but could somehow be linked to the terrorist attack five days ago, or might know information about it.

The simulated Ciel’s goal was to quickly obtain information, hence choosing this simple and crude method, even if Berren City would fall into a semi-paralyzed state after these people died.

“5 days ago, what were you doing.”

Ciel slowly spoke, repeating the question from before.

“I...”

After struggling to swallow, the fat grain merchant trembled and said, “After the banquet ended, I stayed with Chief Chamberlain’s wife for a night... The next day I returned to my own home. Absolutely everything I said is true!”

The fat man spoke frantically, while John Chamberlain, hanging above, looked at the kneeling fat man to his right with shock, his face full of disbelief.

“This is a lie.”

Tara’s voice sounded beside Ciel.

At this moment, Ciel instead narrowed her eyes slightly, retracted the carving knife, glancing towards Tara.

Tara seemed to understand Ciel’s meaning perfectly. She took a step forward, directly raised her hand, and several white figures pressed their hands directly onto the fat man’s head.

“You... What are you doing?”

Large beads of sweat formed on the fat man’s forehead. He would rather lie even under these circumstances, indicating he definitely had a secret behind him he wouldn’t reveal even upon death.

Ciel’s abilities were limited; she could only cause death. This time she didn’t log in with the “Coroner” save file either, could only hand the matter over to more professional people.

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With Tara present, Ciel wasn’t worried at all about collusion or lies. These petty tricks seemed particularly laughable before absolute transcendent power.

“Believe in the Mother Goddess.”

Tara slowly clenched her hand. When mentioning the Mother Goddess, a happy smile appeared on her face.

The white figures maintaining the same posture as Tara erupted in incandescent brilliant flames. The fat man, just an ordinary person, his originally panicked eyes instantly became clear. Before Tara even began reciting prayers, he directly bent down, pressing his forehead directly onto the ground.

“Mother Goddess above.”

The fat man Balfour said in a low voice.

“You will offer everything you have for the Mother Goddess, right.”

Tara continued reinforcing the impression in Balfour’s mind, making the brainwashing more thorough.

Although this would completely destroy Balfour’s spirit, in a short time, it could turn the other party into a puppet who obeys every command.

5 days ago... that attack? Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

It’s over...

Goodwin watched the completely brainwashed grain merchant, quickly accelerating the action of cutting the rope in her hand.

Even if she died, she didn’t want to be brainwashed into becoming a cultist’s lackey.

Just need to free her hands...

“Come, tell me now, what connection do you have with the events five days ago?”

After the forced brainwashing took effect, Tara looked at Balfour before her and asked.

After a brief silence, Balfour slowly spoke: “I know absolutely nothing about the banquet attack, but the day before the banquet, I received a commission from the Grain Import and Export Association to deposit 10,000 Su pounds into an anonymous bank account.”

“Before the banquet attack occurred, I happened to have arranged to go out with Mrs. Chamberlain for a period. When I prepared to return to the banquet after things ended, I saw the attack happening... The original attack list should have included me.”

“At that moment, I knew I was being used as a tool, about to be silenced. So during this time, I’ve been hiding, liquidating assets, preparing to take a ship across the ocean, live incognito as a pioneer, starting over with cotton trading.”

Grain Import and Export Association?

This name, Ciel noted in her heart.

Although the connection between this Grain Import and Export Association and the attack was temporarily unclear, this was still a breakthrough, preventing Ciel from stumbling around like a headless fly.

The most crucial thing was, she needed to figure out who wanted to send this money out, and who was the receiving party.

After clarifying the transaction took place at Charlie Bank, Tara looked back at Ciel. Receiving an affirmative gaze, Tara said to Balfour before her, “Alright, you can go now. Forget what happened tonight.”

“Yes, Master.”

Balfour struggled to stand up, humbly bowed, walked around Ciel and Tara, opened the wooden door, and left directly.

He naturally couldn’t possibly walk out of this dungeon. Over a dozen Divine Advent Church transcendents waited outside. This was just a play, performed for the next person to see.

Whether they believed it or not, the posture had to be presented.

Controlling ordinary people and first and second-tier transcendents was manageable. But reaching the third tier, even a Radiance Bishop couldn’t guarantee completely brainwashing the opponent within a few days, let alone Ciel only having 24 hours of activity time.

If they could cooperate willingly, it was best to let them cooperate willingly.

Next, Tara repeated the process, cutting John Chamberlain’s rope, letting the white shadow remove the rag from his mouth.

Municipal Council Chief John seemed to see the dawn of returning alive. Before Ciel even asked, he spilled everything he knew like beans from a bamboo tube.

During this period, Mayor John hadn’t been doing well either.

Originally, Berren City’s development was flourishing, which was all credited to John’s political achievements after being elected chief. If things continued like this, he might even have a chance to receive the Queen’s commendation, be awarded a knighthood or the honorary title of Baron.

This was all thanks to his foresight—he was among the first batch to transport North Ansu refugees by train to build railways and factories. The large amount of cheap labor allowed Berren City to develop rapidly, attracting more investment.

But when the “landmine” exploded, Berren City was also the hardest hit.

These days, he had been almost constantly busy dealing with workers’ demonstrations, refugee riots, and Orlando Republican Army terrorist attacks. Support for him within the Municipal Council had rapidly declined, nearing the point of no return.

To appease the anger of nobles and wealthy merchants, he had no choice but to order the closure of Berren City’s Clock Tower Church, preparing to expel the Church of the Savior Goddess.

Because in the eyes of nobles and wealthy merchants, whether it was the Orlando Republican Army, refugees, or workers, the Church of the Savior Goddess was behind it all; the vast majority of them believed in the Church of the Savior Goddess.

The Church of the Savior Goddess couldn’t escape involvement, so they could only make an example of them.

What he didn’t see was that just a few days after he forcibly demolished the Clock Tower Church, an extremely serious assassination attempt targeting nobles erupted.

“This is definitely the Church of the Savior Goddess’s retaliation, Your Excellency,” John Chamberlain buried his head as low as possible, speaking tremblingly, “I did not participate in any faction’s power struggles.”

-

“Mmph!”

Hearing Mayor John’s words, High Priestess Uris to John’s left, the only one not blindfolded and next in line to be questioned, suddenly struggled violently, shaking her head desperately.

Ciel glanced at Tara. Tara nodded at Ciel, indicating Mayor John was telling the truth. Then, Ciel said, “Let her down, she seems to have something to say.”

Hearing Ciel’s words, Tara took a step forward, but paused, turned back towards Ciel, knelt down halfway, and said, “Deepest apologies, Lord Ciel... This is your foolish servant’s mistake.”

“Originally, the target I was to capture was that Bishop, but she was too cunning. Although heavily injured, she still escaped... The ‘Radiance Bishop’s’ abilities are truly suited for escape—I absolutely have no intention of making excuses for myself, I am willing to accept any punishment.”

Tara’s face was full of shame. Hearing this, Ciel finally understood why Uris was captured.

Turns out they failed to catch Hugh, so grabbed Uris to make up the numbers, right.

This Uris is also quite unlucky, gets caught every time.

However, failing to catch the Church of the Savior Goddess Bishop, capturing the High Priestess was indeed the best choice. Besides the Bishop, this High Priestess before her would know more.

Ciel and Uris could be considered “old acquaintances” unilaterally. Ciel had many ways to make Uris listen to her, but under the current circumstances, Ciel’s previous methods might not be usable.

At this moment, Tara happened to remove the cloth strip stuffed in Uris’s mouth. Uris, now able to speak, slumped to the ground, quickly turned her face towards Mayor John, her face showing rare anger.

“This matter absolutely has nothing to do with the Church of the Savior Goddess! The Holy See would absolutely never do such things that place others in suffering!” Uris said angrily, even somewhat forgetting she was still in the Divine Advent Church’s territory.

The Church of the Savior Goddess was her bottom line. Hearing someone slander the Church of the Savior Goddess was absolutely intolerable to her.

But upon hearing Uris’s words, John directly retorted, “How could it not be you! Didn’t you support the workers’ demonstrations? Didn’t you threaten the mint factory manager? I know... Your Excellencies, it must be because the Church of the Savior Goddess’s almshouse in North Ansu was burned down, that’s why they retaliated like this!”

“These are completely different matters! Even if the Ansu government forbids us from aiding North Ansu, we would adopt other methods, impossible to assassinate!” Uris retorted fiercely, but no matter how she argued, it seemed the Church of the Savior Goddess couldn’t escape involvement in this matter.

However, looking at Uris’s appearance, she seemed to be unconditionally defending the Church of the Savior Goddess, yet completely unaware of what their higher-ups actually did.

After all, in the Divine Advent Church, a priest also couldn’t possibly know the secrets and actions further up. At least the position of Archbishop was needed to know some undisclosed information.

Grain Import and Export Association, Church of the Savior Goddess...

Neither suspect has been eliminated. Ciel noted this in her heart.

“John, you can go.” Ciel gently waved her hand.

The mayor seemed indeed caught in the middle, unable to influence the situation. In that case, just brainwash him and let him go, let him continue gathering intelligence for her, just like the fat merchant earlier, letting them become pawns of the Divine Advent Church.

As for Uris, Ciel planned to leave her for last, questioning her alone.

“Next.” Ciel looked at Tara, nodding slightly.

Oppold being captured was indeed perfectly normal.

Because this banquet was hosted by Oppold.

Regardless, Oppold himself had to provide an explanation.

Just as Tara controlled the white shadow preparing to lower Oppold, Uris, kneeling beside, turned her face somewhat blankly towards Ciel.

She remembered Ciel’s voice... the young girl who came to the Clock Tower Church a month ago and donated a large sum of money. Back then, Uris could feel her spirit was slightly off.

But she absolutely couldn’t imagine that the young girl, who seemed like just an ordinary person, could actually control so many transcendents of the Divine Advent Church, even command the Archbishop spoken of by other cultists...

Who on earth is this person...

This might be the highest-ranking person from the Divine Advent Church she had ever seen... She must find a way to survive, bring the news back to the Holy See...

“Ahem...”

After the rag in Oppold’s mouth was removed, he coughed twice, spitting saliva aside.

“Pah... damn it... do you know who I am?” Oppold raised his head angrily, meeting Ciel’s gaze that looked at him like dead refuse. Instantly, Oppold’s original arrogant momentum was suppressed.

When hanging earlier, he could only see the top of the young girl’s head. Only when the girl looked up could he occasionally see her face and eyes.

But when he truly met Ciel’s gaze, the fear seemingly from the depths of his soul still made Oppold feel a shiver in his liver.

What’s going on... she’s just an ordinary person, why do I feel afraid...

Moreover, the young girl’s gaze and the feeling she gave him made Oppold’s emotions, after anger and terror, carry a hint of anticipation.

He really wanted to do something now, anger the young girl before him, let her give him some punishment with that gaze... just like how she treated that fat man earlier.

Anyway, one cut, he wouldn’t suffer any harm at all, the rest is all enjoyment.

“You should know what I want to ask.” Ciel looked at Oppold, who was swaying, wanting to stand up, slowly saying, “Hope you don’t waste my time.”

“Heh...” Oppold barely maintained a half-kneeling posture, slowly saying, “What, investigating with such fanfare, capturing so many people... Among those attacked and killed, were there high-ranking members of your Divine Advent Church?”

“Then doesn’t this count as me rendering meritorious service?” Oppold spoke frivolously, seemingly having no intention of cooperating at all.

But Ciel didn’t indulge him.

Silver light flickered, “Deadly Blood Roland” was already held in Ciel’s right hand. Simultaneously, an exquisite silver stopwatch appeared in her left hand.

“Hehe, low-tier sealed artifacts can’t cause me...”

While Oppold was still speaking arrogantly over there, Ciel had already turned the “Overlimit Gear” on the stopwatch.

Click—

-

A silver gear phantom appeared above the sealed artifact, slowly beginning to rotate.

The gunblade in Ciel’s hand seemed about to explode. Instantly, silver cracks covered the gun body. Silver brilliance emanated from within the cracks. Frantic spiritual alarms began sounding in Oppold’s mind.

No... how is this possible?!

Oppold looked at the gunblade in the young girl’s hand, his originally relaxed mood instantly vanished without a trace.

That sealed artifact was at most made of first or second-tier low-grade materials. He felt no threat from it at all.

But after the red-haired young girl did something unknown, the nature of the gunblade sealed artifact seemed completely changed. A terrifying aura began radiating from the originally low-tier sealed artifact.

Will die.

Looking at the silver light flickering as if breathing, this thought flashed directly through Oppold’s mind.

If he were still in his peak state, he might be able to withstand this sealed artifact’s attack. But now he just experienced a battle, and was also drugged, very weak, unable to actively defend.

The moment he sensed the threat to his life, Oppold decided not to provoke further—he himself had nothing to do with this matter, and even suffered immense pressure from various sides because of it. No need for him to make trouble over this matter.

Oppold could see their purpose was just to investigate the banquet attack five days ago. As long as he proved he didn’t participate, that he was also a victim, it would be fine.

“Wait, I...”

But regretting now was already a bit late.

“Boom—”

Ciel aimed at Oppold’s left hand, directly pulled the trigger. The projectile firing sounded a huge roar. The silver projectile, carrying immense energy, blasted directly towards Oppold’s left arm.

Crack—

Just a crisp sound, the projectile directly penetrated his steel left arm, embedding into the connection between Oppold’s left arm and shoulder, but didn’t pass through.

Intense pain lasted only an instant.

Just when Oppold thought he had withstood this attack, tearing pain came from his right arm.

“Urgh... Urgh ah!!!”

Terrifying dark green branches with silver runes sprouted from the projectile like vines, absorbing Oppold’s flesh and bones, surging out from the bleeding gap, continuously tearing the wound wider.

His steel left arm now seemed inflated with some high-pressure gas, the entire arm starting to twist and deform, emitting harsh sounds of metal fatigue friction. Oppold’s miserable screams also echoed throughout the dungeon.

“Bang!!!”

After Oppold’s left arm swelled to its limit, it abruptly exploded. Flesh, bones, metal fragments scattered like shrapnel. Only a large mass of writhing eerie branches remained, its very top blooming with a huge, blood-colored Roland flower.

The twisting branches almost completely submerged Oppold inside, coiling around him, seeming to devour all his flesh and blood.

And Tara’s white shadow, as if premeditated, blocked before Ciel, shielding her from the splashing bone fragments, metal shards, and minced meat.

Just as Oppold was about to be completely devoured, Ciel put away the stopwatch, gently snapped her fingers. The writhing branches stopped.

She looked at Oppold entangled by the roots, slowly saying, “Now, can we talk properly?”

The terrifying scene made the remaining transcendents present almost collectively fall silent. What made them feel terrified wasn’t the gunblade’s killing power, but the young girl...

She could actually... strengthen an ordinary sealed artifact like this?

Directly changing the sealed artifact’s characteristics? How is this possible?

Sealed artifacts and transcendent items have huge differences.

The latter can be created by transcendents, but the former are all old things preserved for unknown epochs, possessing powerful efficacy while having side effects upon use.

Let alone changing their properties or enhancing them, even destruction is difficult. Even if forcibly destroyed, somewhere in the world, a sealed artifact with almost the same function and side effects would be born by chance.

That’s why the others were so shocked when the sealed artifact changed.

However, compared to those captured, Tara’s expression was much calmer.

After all, it’s the Mother Goddess; doing anything is normal.

Merely changing a sealed artifact’s characteristics, this is just one of the deity’s great powers and authorities, no need to make a fuss.

At this moment, Oppold had long lost his previous arrogance and conceit. The hair on his forehead scattered messily. His pupils trembled looking towards Ciel, tremblingly saying, “I... the assassination incident has nothing to do with me. I am also under investigation by the Queen...”

“Most people here are my acquaintances. Avena is even my cousin. Even I myself was injured. How could I possibly do such a thing...”

“Taking ten thousand steps back, even if I were to launch an attack, I wouldn’t possibly choose my own banquet. Isn’t that the most foolish behavior?”

Oppold knew, such plain information definitely wouldn’t save his life.

His brain spun wildly, thinking of any valuable information.

Soon, inspiration flashed through Oppold’s mind. He quickly looked towards the remaining two hanging people, saying, “Them! They definitely know! They also attended the banquet!”

“The short-haired one, called Lucy Silva, is a senior commissioner of the Deton Group. The pink-haired one, I checked afterwards! Is from the North Ansu Brotherhood! Called Goodwin! I saw them talking at the banquet back then!”

“Mmph mmph!!”

Hearing Oppold’s words, Lucy, who had been hanging pretending to be dead, suddenly struggled violently.

Unsure if due to excessive luck, the hemp rope tying her suddenly broke, letting her fall to the ground, coincidentally spitting out the rag from her mouth.

Seeing the red-haired young girl slowly turning the gun muzzle, Lucy quickly said, “I really don’t know anything! That pink-haired one has records at Deton Manor. I know she often takes missions from Deton Manor. I investigated her profile for a long time so I recognized her, then chatted with her for a few sentences! That’s all!”

“Right! The predecessor of the Orlando Republican Army is the North Ansu Brotherhood! It must be her! It has nothing to do with me!”

Lucy spoke rapidly, full of desire to survive, simultaneously regretting inwardly.

How could she be so unlucky? The “Strong Luck Coin” rolled two reverses, directly got caught by cultists.

Unlucky!!!