On the very same evening that Count Alistair was assassinated, the headquarters of the Church of Light in Aldor also became a target.
"What is the reason for this blockade?"
An enraged Priest shouted.
It was no surprise he felt this way. One peaceful night like any other, and suddenly they were informed by messengers sent from the Count that their help was needed to investigate a murder.
Naturally, the Church was more than willing to cooperate when asked.
As for how the Count wanted their assistance, the Church was only told to send groups of Holy Knights one by one to the Count's manor to provide certain necessary information.
Though they found this request rather unusual, they complied.
Their own situation was unstable due to recent issues involving Bishop Draven.
At such a sensitive time, provoking conflict with the Count over minor matters would have been unwise.
Yet after each group of Holy Knights was dispatched, none returned. Instead, what the Church received was a mass of soldiers surrounding their gates at midnight.
"Forgive our rudeness. But based on the information provided by the Holy Knights, we have reason to believe the murderer has infiltrated your church."
A black-haired man, seemingly the commander of the soldiers, stepped forward and explained calmly to the furious Priest.
Hearing this, the Priest's anger eased slightly, though he still found the reasoning absurd.
"Impossible. The church is constantly protected by countless spells running day and night. No intruder could enter without us knowing."
"What if it's someone you already know?"
The commander whispered near the Priest's ear.
Startled, the Priest tried to ask:
"You mean…?"
Before he could finish, the man placed a finger to his lips and spoke softly:
"Careful not to alert the snake in the grass. For now, we won't reveal the name to you, lest he notice something unusual. But I promise, by tomorrow morning, you will have a satisfying answer."
Hearing such a promise, the church's representative calmed down and nodded in agreement. At the same time, the Priest asked:
"So what do you intend to do next?"
"If we storm in to arrest the suspect immediately, it could drive him to act recklessly and harm many others inside the church.
We want to ensure the safety of those uninvolved, while also isolating the target. Therefore, could you divide those capable of fighting in the church into smaller groups and send them one by one to the designated locations marked here?"
He presented a map with several points already marked, then continued:
"As for the reason, you can simply say that a group of cultists has just been discovered, but the territory is severely short on manpower. That's why urgent reinforcements from the church are needed tonight."
Priest: "Why go to the trouble of splitting them into so many groups? If you're only taking those who can fight, then surely there's no need to worry about the suspect harming ordinary people anymore, right?"
The man replied: "I understand your concern. The division is necessary because we still don't fully know the suspect's identity. Splitting them into groups is actually the final step in our screening process to pinpoint exactly who he is."
Priest: "I see. That explains why the Holy Knights were summoned in groups earlier, doesn't it?"
"Exactly so, sir."
The black-haired man smiled as he answered.
Priest: "Very well. The church and I will cooperate with you in this matter. But you must commit to providing us with complete information and solid evidence afterward."
"That is our duty. I swear in the name of the divine that we will provide you with a thorough answer."
Anh ta replied with a sincere smile.
. . .
Everything happened so suddenly at midnight, leaving many within the Church deeply dissatisfied and unsettled.
However, upon hearing the reason, that it was related to dealing with a group of cultists, everyone understood the gravity of the situation and why urgent action was necessary. Thus, events proceeded smoothly according to the plan laid out earlier.
"This is the last group. Surely you've identified the target by now?"
The Priest asked as he watched the church members disappear.
"It will take a little longer to complete the screening. I am certain it will be finished before tomorrow morning."
The black-haired man replied.
Hearing this assurance, the Priest nodded with satisfaction:
"Very well, then…"
Before he could finish his words, a blade suddenly pierced through his chest.
The searing pain struck so abruptly that all thought and movement froze in that instant. And before he could react further, a second blade swept cleanly across, severing the Priest's head.
Holding the two bloodstained blades, the black-haired man spoke to the fallen Priest:
"We will ensure everything is neatly finished before sunrise. Rest easy; you go ahead first. The others will soon follow."
That night, the entire Church of Light in Aldor was silently erased, without a single citizen ever knowing.
* * * * * * * * * *
Zolie: "It seems everything is progressing very well."
It was now the second night since Count Alistair's death. At this moment, Zolie was still in high spirits after a thrilling day. It had been a long time since she could kill so freely, with such satisfaction.
Nyxar: "After all, the elite of the Church are either already dead or have been sent out to deal with the Goblins. That's why our earlier actions went so smoothly."
Zolie: "Even so, to calculate everything so precisely and accomplish all that in a single day. Lord Zerathis is truly remarkable."
Nyxar: "That's why both I and Erya were willing to accept him as the group's commander without objection."
Zolie: "You must have known Lord Zerathis for a long time, haven't you, Nyxar?"
Her voice carried curiosity, clearly seeking to learn more about Zerathis.
Nyxar: "Yes. But compared to Erya, it's nothing. She's the one who has known Zerathis the longest. So if you want to learn more about him, ask her."
Zolie: "I find it more comfortable talking with you."
As the two chatted, suddenly they saw an arrow streaking across the sky. Its glowing trail seemed to split the night in two.
Nyxar: "That's Erya's arrow."
Zolie: "Looks like someone tried to infiltrate from above."
Nyxar: "The enemy is reacting faster than we expected. Come on, we've got work to do again."
The two quickly moved off into the darkness of the night.