"But I only know this corrupted ritual. Isn't it inappropriate to perform it in front of the sacred Chanis Gate?"
Silas used Edward's earlier excuse to throw the question back at him, his tone appearing sincere but dripping with mockery.
His words nearly made his teammates laugh out loud, while Edward's face turned an even deeper shade of iron.
However, this was a mission assigned by the Holy Cathedral after all, and Lady Daly was there to mediate.
After thoroughly mocking Edward and extracting both an apology and a "travel allowance" of 30 pounds for each member of the Tingen squad, Silas finally agreed to help.
"He's probably going to hold a grudge against you now," Klein whispered to Silas.
"Let him."
Silas replied. Edward already had a bias against them anyway, and given Silas's personality, backing down was never an option.
A grudge didn't matter. They were all official Beyonders, forbidden from fighting each other privately. Who had anything to fear?
"Alright, Silas, everyone's watching you now," Leonard said with a smile. "Show them what you've got!"
Silas nodded. Under everyone's gaze, he gripped his silver dagger and slowly walked forward.
The seal on the cage had been opened, and the flesh-twisted monstrosity lay sleeping in the dream Edward had created, relaxed and prone, its mouth gaping wide as it unconsciously released terrifying murmurs.
He approached the creature's side, cut his finger with the dagger, and let the blood drip drop by drop.
By now, the monster's body surface had become horrifyingly grotesque, as if freshly skinned to expose raw flesh.
Silas's blood fell onto its body and was quickly absorbed, seeping into the muscle.
"The Lord's glory shall descend upon the earth once more, bringing corrupted salvation to all things."
Silas circled around it, beginning to chant the evil prayer in a low voice, harmonizing with the monster's twisted murmurs.
The two sounds overlapped, echoing through the enclosed underground space, shaking the hearts and minds of every listener.
As the sound grew louder, Edward was shocked to discover that the monster had awakened.
Yet instead of spreading curses as before, it roared aloud, as if bewitched by Silas's praise, completely immersed in worship of the True Creator.
In the dark underground space, a man and a monster sang together in praise of an evil god.
The scene was bizarre beyond measure.
The onlookers maintained a tense silence, and quite a few began to have uncomfortable thoughts: could he actually be a believer of the evil god?
Of course not.
Though Silas's mouth praised the True Creator, his azure eyes remained coldly calm throughout.
He circled back to face the monster, raised his left hand, and pressed the silver dagger against his wrist.
"Wait, what's he doing?!"
Leonard's astonished words had barely left his lips when Silas had already slashed down viciously!
Good God!
Everyone was shocked by his insane action, but under some peculiar atmosphere, no one spoke up to stop him.
They watched as the monster opened its mouth and drank greedily from the red blood gushing from Silas's wrist.
Due to blood loss, Silas's complexion began to turn pale, yet his wrist remained steadily raised.
After drinking his blood, the monster's condition gradually improved, especially its head, which began to grow skin.
Beneath the skin, tumors bulged out, carrying a terrifyingly vital sensation.
Seeing that it was nearly done, Silas lowered his arm, circled behind the monster, and whispered in its ear:
"The Lord is so great. Why not praise the Lord?"
"Ah... ah..."
His words made the monster's blood-covered mouth split into a terrifying grin. The creature smiled and said:
"Praise..."
"Thud!"
Behind it, Silas gripped the dagger with both hands and slashed down viciously at its neck!
The silver dagger, neither particularly hard nor sharp, somehow easily severed the monster's hideous head for some unknown reason!
"Thump, thump."
The monster's head fell to the ground.
Not a drop of blood flowed from the cut surface, and it seemed completely unaware it had been decapitated, still wearing a fanatical smile as its mouth opened and closed, praising its Lord.
Silas sheathed the dagger, wrapped his wrist with practiced ease, and walked over. He bent down, lifted the severed head, and carried it to Edward.
Everyone except Edward instinctively took a step back.
"Hang it up with a rope," Silas said calmly. "The head will turn on its own and keep praying toward one direction.
Follow where it points — that's where you'll find the one who implanted the flesh magic.
Even if it's not the Aurora Order's headquarters, it'll be a place closely tied to them."
He gave Edward a sharp look. "And if you still can't solve the case after this… I'll have to start questioning your competence."
Silas said. The person who had planted the flesh magic inside the sailor was naturally key to the case.
If they could find him, the investigation would make tremendous progress.
"I understand." Edward accepted the hideous head with a complicated expression.
"Well then, I suppose I'm done here? If you'll excuse us, we'll take our leave."
After completing his task, Silas's tone became more relaxed. His handsome face now appeared pale and weak. He turned to walk outside, and people stepped aside, their gazes toward him now containing not only wariness but also a measure of fear.
In a silence thick with oppression, Leonard and Klein stepped forward to support him, helping him toward the surface.
"Oh, right." After a few steps, Silas turned back to ask Daly, "Lady Daly, do you know any good restaurants nearby?"
"Restaurants nearby?" Daly paused, confused.
"Yes, I'm suddenly a bit hungry," Silas answered.
A tremendous hunger had suddenly surged within him.
This wasn't discomfort from the stomach, but an emptiness from his body and soul, urgently needing to be filled with flesh.
He wanted steak, lots of it! And it had to be fresh enough. Rare, no, medium rare!
***
The attendant walked along the nighttime street with his head lowered, his pace steady.
In the cool sea breeze, he traversed streets and alleys, finally stopping before a building, opening the door, and walking inside.
"Mistress."
He knelt humbly, pressing his forehead against the cold floor. The heavy stench of blood permeating the air had no effect on him whatsoever.
Before him, a crimson light illuminated a graceful figure draped in white robes.
"Someone has discovered me," she spoke softly, her voice gentle and soothing, like a loving mother lulling her child to sleep.
"Mistress, the roads are still under covert blockade. All transport channels will be inspected by them. We cannot move this batch of 'goods' out for now," the attendant said respectfully.
"Then don't send them away. Let them become sacrifices. They are fortunate, having the opportunity to become part of the Lord."
The woman's gentle tone carried a hint of barely perceptible madness as she casually decided the fate of many lives.
Behind her, a faint crimson glow emanated from the hidden doorway.
Hearing her command, the attendant bowed his head again without hesitation.
"As you command, Ma'am M."
۞۞۞۞
Power Stones : )