rslcontracting Chapter 117: Are You Saying... the Demons Really Are Involved?
Chapter 117: Are You Saying... the Demons Really Are Involved?
Chapter 117: Are You Saying... the Demons Really Are Involved?
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Anyone in their right mind would have found the claim laughable.
Lin Wei, however, didn’t bother to argue—he simply brushed it aside with a look. Instead, he donned the standard, commanding expression worn by every member of the Holy See, gave a curt nod to acknowledge the answer, and pressed on, getting straight to the real issue.
“First, I want to know—what exactly happened in the sky above the noble’s estate a few days ago?”
There was no need to ask why the other party had come. Their mission was clear: disrupt logistics, and if possible, assassinate him. But the chaos that erupted at Duke Ous’s manor genuinely intrigued Lin Wei. What had actually transpired there?
“It was Duke Ous—he set an ambush for Grand Commander Alfron!”
Fred, faced with what amounted to a test of loyalty, didn’t hesitate. He poured out everything he knew.
“Duke Ous colluded with priests from the Church of Dreamlust, luring the Grand Commander of the Retribution Knights with a false promise of ‘frontline supply negotiations’—all just a ruse to launch an attack.”
“But the Grand Commander was far more formidable than anyone expected. Even when several Peak-Tier Champions combined their strength, they couldn’t touch him.”“When the barrier was on the verge of collapsing and the battle aura could no longer be concealed, a priest from the Cult of the Evil God somehow managed to lure the Grand Commander out of the city. What happened after that…I truly don’t know.”
So Alfron hadn’t chosen to leave the city—he’d been drawn out. It looks like the Holy See’s Grand Commander is walking straight into danger…
Lin Wei nodded appreciatively, filing this information away. He didn’t skip a beat before launching his next question.
“Several Peak-Tier Champions at once? Are you telling me Duke Ous had even more allies than just the Cult of the Evil God?”
“Or were they, like you, all members of his personal retinue? How many of you are there?”
“Other than the priest from the Cult of the Evil God and two individuals I couldn’t identify…the remaining Peak-Tier Champions were all Duke Ous’s subordinates. Including myself, there are three.”
Fred’s response came swiftly.
The prospect of a papal pardon—a chance to cleanse himself and step back into the light—made even Fred struggle to contain his excitement.
“…Three Transcendents, each one an heir to powerful legacies.”
That was more than Lin Wei had expected.
For a Transcendent at Level 70 to awaken an inherited legacy and break beyond mortal limits—that was no small feat.
Take the Holy See, for instance. Once considered the gathering place of the world’s most formidable elite, but even since that monumental negotiation, it was doubtful the Holy See’s headquarters still had more than a handful of these so-called Limit-breakers.
And yet Duke Ous commanded three such individuals under his banner.
It seemed the Empire harbored more Limit-breakers than Lin Wei had imagined. He couldn’t help but wonder just how much power the imperial family held in secret.
As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Lin Wei kept his face impassive, suppressing any flicker of emotion, and gave an honest nod of approval.
“Not bad. You’re even more forthcoming than I expected.”
“As I told you before,” Fred replied, face tense but resolute, “everything I’ve done over these years, the Duke Ous forced on me.”
He paused, as if steeling himself to speak the truth.
“In fact, ever since I inherited my legacy, all I wanted was to fight on the front lines—for humanity’s future. But every secret, every weakness, Duke Ous used as leverage to control me. I had no choice but to obey.”
Fred hesitated, then forced himself on. “Now that the Holy See is offering me this chance—I’ll cooperate fully. That parasite, Duke Ous, he must be eliminated for good.”
“You’re right about that.” Lin Wei’s tone sharpened. “Because the next question will decide if this partnership continues.”
Now that Fred had finally dropped all pretense, Lin Wei didn’t hesitate. He launched into his next rapid-fire questions.
“So, tell me—do you know what Duke Ous stands to gain from working with the Cult of the Evil God?”
“As a duke of the Empire, to willingly collaborate with the Cult of the Evil God… Even the Holy See can’t make sense of such a thing.”
“Since you serve him, I expect you can offer some useful intelligence?”
Lin Wei’s gaze bore into him, expectation clear. What came next, however, was a disappointment.
“…To tell the truth, I don’t know the specifics.”
Fred frowned under Lin Wei’s disappointed stare. He scrambled through his memories, desperate to offer something of value.
“Duke Ous has worked with the Cult of the Evil God for close to two years, but I was never privy to much. If I had to judge from what I’ve seen… The duke has always been dissatisfied with his lot. Among the Empire’s high nobility, Duke Ous is at the bottom in both prestige and power.”
“Teaming up with the Cult is clearly a means to expand his influence—a way to climb a little higher.”
To gain power and status—yes, that lined up with everything Lin Wei knew of Duke Ous.
Still, it made him even more curious about the Empire’s uppermost elite. Maybe next time he crossed paths with Yalis, he could wring some answers from her. He’d meant to visit her ages ago, but endless missions kept him away.
I’ll confirm this myself later.
Setting that thought aside, Lin Wei’s gaze sharpened. “Since Duke Ous sent you to attack me, he must’ve known I was hiding my true strength. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.”
“In that case—who was your informant?”
“I…never met them, either.”
Striking out twice, Fred broke into a cold sweat.
Seeing Lin Wei’s growing suspicion, he dug desperately through his mind for anything that might help. If he wanted to remain useful, he needed to give more.
“The informant was planted by Duke Ous alongside some mysterious, extremely powerful figure. It’s all top secret—I don’t know the details.”
“All I can say for sure is that sometimes, on certain nights, after crucial information turns up, this person delivers it directly to Duke Ous.”
“Oh, and… the whole partnership with the Cult of the Evil God—that was pushed forward by this mysterious powerhouse, too. But I only saw them once. Honestly, there’s little I know.”
A mysterious powerhouse?
A secret agent placed within the Holy See.
Pushed Duke Ous into alliances with the Cult of the Evil God?
For some reason, Lin Wei’s thoughts flickered to someone Veya had mentioned before—a traitor high in the Holy See’s ranks.
A prominent figure who defected to the Cult of the Evil God. Now this testimony—a figure that matched that very profile. Could they be one and the same?
Tch… The power structure on the human side truly was a mess. Without the demon threat pressing at their door, was it any wonder?
Without an external foe, does internal chaos become inevitable?
“Your answers have been…less than satisfactory. If you can’t respond to this last question, I’m afraid our little partnership ends here.”
Fred trembled at Lin Wei’s steely words. At last, Lin Wei posed his final question.
“The Holy See’s supplies for the frontlines—the ones looted by the demon race. Was Duke Ous involved? How much do you really know?”
“I know about that! Duke Ous and the Cult of the Evil God planned it together. I even took part once!”
At last, a question he could answer. Fred’s eyes shone and the tension vanished from his body.
“Duke Ous used his spies to discover the supply routes, then conspired with the Cult of the Evil God to ambush them… And yes, the demon race was part of it, too.”
“They brought in that headless armored knight—you’ve seen him around. His sole purpose is to sow chaos along the route, to lure attention, and tie up Meilin, the Grand Commander of the Judgement Knights!”