Seven Sins System Chapter 498. Goddess Temples?
I sighed, shaking my head slightly. "I told you not to call me that. I'm Dr. Allen now. I prefer to be called that."
Red straightened, her eyes flickering with acknowledgment. "Yes, of course," she replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why were you staying there?" I asked, my tone casual but curious. "You've been standing there for a while, right? Why hesitate to come in?"
Red's gaze shifted briefly toward Puriel, and I caught the slight displeasure on her face before she quickly masked it. She returned her eyes to me, her voice controlled. "I overheard your conversation with Miss Puriel," she admitted, her tone respectful but guarded. "I didn't think it was appropriate to interrupt. I… couldn't contribute to the topic either."
I chuckled lightly, understanding her point. Our conversation about mortal souls and the complex nature of free will would probably sound dull or boring but for Red… It was something she couldn't understand. "Fair enough," I said with a nod. "Though it wasn't as deep as it sounded. We were just wrapping up."
Red's expression didn't change, but I could feel her lingering caution as she glanced at Puriel once more.
"Our conversation is over," I said, waving off the earlier topic. "What brings you here?"
Red shifted her stance slightly, taking a few steps closer. "I've started an investigation into the white cult…" She hesitated, glancing at Puriel again before correcting herself. "Or rather, the religion. Some have reported suspicious activity at goddess temples in several regions."
I leaned forward, intrigued by this new information. "Goddess temples?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting… What kind of suspicious activity?"
Red's expression grew more focused. "I can't give you the specific details yet," she said, her voice formal as always. "The investigation is ongoing. But several sources within my network have noted an uptick in strange gatherings—rituals that don't match the usual practices of those temples."
I watched her closely, impressed despite myself. "You're fast," I remarked, surprised by how quickly she had gotten things in motion.
Red bowed her head slightly, a flicker of pride crossing her face. "I need to be fast," she said, her voice steady but carrying a subtle undercurrent of pride. "With my network, gathering information like this isn't difficult."
I caught the way her eyes flicked toward Puriel when she said that, as if subtly asserting her efficiency in front of the angel. There was no malice in it, but the pride was unmistakable. Puriel remained silent, her face unreadable.
"Impressive," I said, leaning back in my chair. "And what have you found so far?"
Red hesitated again, glancing at Puriel before continuing. "There's a connection between the white cult and certain influential members within these temples. They seem to be infiltrating religious institutions, spreading their influence under the guise of serving the goddess. I'm still trying to trace the origins, but there's more going on than we initially thought."
Puriel, who had remained quiet throughout this exchange, finally spoke, her voice measured but probing. "Is there anything else you know?" she asked, her sharp gaze fixed on Red.
Red glanced at her. Her eyes glimmered with disdain as she turned to face Puriel fully. "I only answer questions from my lord, Miss Angel," she replied, her tone as cold as ice. "You don't own me."
That made Puriel's face sour, her lips tightening into a thin line. I could feel the subtle flare of hostility from her, but she held it back, maintaining her composure. For now. I sighed inwardly. 'Right… they are always at odds.' The rivalry between them wasn't new, but it was as old as the wars Puriel and I had once fought in. Red had adopted the hatred that had once existed between me and Puriel, as if it were some unspoken loyalty test.
"Enough," I said, cutting through the tension. "Red, just continue explaining."
Red shifted her attention back to me, her expression softening instantly. She nodded, taking another step closer, as though wanting to distance herself from Puriel's presence as much as possible. "As I mentioned, we've traced the cult's activities to several temples," she began. "They're not only gathering followers but also using the temples as fronts for their real operations."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of operations?"
"They're performing rituals. I don't know the holy or dark ones," Red said, her voice lowering. "From what we've observed, it's not just about worship. They're trying to summon something… or someone. There's a distinct shift in energy around those places."
Puriel, unable to stay silent, interjected. "Summoning? And you've let them continue?"
Red shot her a glare, clearly annoyed by the interruption. "I'm not reckless, Goddess. We're gathering the evidence we need before we act. It's delicate. If we strike too early, we risk pushing them further underground. This cult is more connected than we first thought."
I could see the muscles in Puriel's jaw tighten, but she didn't push further. Red had a point, and as much as Puriel hated to admit it, it was a smart move. These kinds of things required patience, and precision.
I leaned back, absorbing the information. "So they're trying to summon something," I repeated thoughtfully. "Do you have any idea what—or who—it is? Like devils or goddesses?"
Red shook her head, a flicker of frustration in her eyes. "Not yet. That's what we're working on now. There's something hidden in the rituals, something ancient. But it's being obscured, shielded from detection."
Puriel's brow furrowed, her tone serious. "If they're summoning a higher being, it could be catastrophic. We need to stop this before it gets out of hand."
Red's gaze flicked to Puriel, a slight smirk playing on her lips as if she enjoyed watching the angel's concern. "I'm fully aware of the stakes, Miss Angel," she replied coolly. "But as I said, rushing in without knowing what we're up against will do more harm than good."
"Red's right," I said, drawing both of their attention. "We need to be smart about this. A higher being isn't something we can just confront blindly."
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