Blood tax

Chapter 193 The moment has come

After the stitch monsters were eliminated, the battle in this area came to an end.Returning to the hillside, Griffith found Midianmeier in his human form, lying naked in a pile of rotting flesh.He was not seriously injured, but was exhausted and fell into a coma.

Griffith raised his hand towards the cemetery on one side, trying to summon a few living corpses to guard his companions.However, nothing happens.Entire cemeteries of dead bodies have disappeared.

He had no choice but to pick up his companions and run towards the large tomb.

Nearly half of the tomb was destroyed in the vision just now, and the ruins were full of rubble and bones.The cold stone path twists and turns upwards from the entrance, leading directly to the top of the tomb.The original wall made of boulders was glued with hard chitin like a beetle's shell, showing lavender and brown colors, and even grew sharp horn columns like insect antennae.However, these materials have also shown signs of dilapidation, slowly ashing and peeling off.

On the top floor of the tomb, Griffith found the remaining traces of an unclear magic circle.The light and breath of magic have dissipated, leaving only a vague pattern that looks like a hexagram.

It's empty and nothing can be found here.

"Minos," Griffith called out to his bone ring, "what can you detect? Has the redstone absorbed energy?"

The bone ring immediately responded to him: "The red stone has been replenished with negligible life energy. Minos once sensed that there is a strong life energy here, but there is no energy left."

At this moment, Midian Maier on his shoulder patted him on the shoulder: "Griffith, put me down."

"You are ready to act?" Griffith happily put his companion down.

"Yes, my 'Wind Wolf' form won't last long, and then I will fall into a period of weakness and coma."

"Wolf of Gale...why is it called such a name?"

"Don't ask me, the name Ophelia gave me," Midian Maier said in a low voice, "My ability comes from the Whispering Forest incident. During the retreat, we were attacked by demonic wolves. Thanks to you and Sonia, we We soon met Professor Lordes. Just as we were about to withdraw from the forest, we suddenly encountered a large group of more powerful mutant creatures. It was during the scuffle at that time that a strange wolf bit me. Flee into the darkness before everyone fights back."

"It bit you alone?"

"I'm not sure about that, I should be the only one. After that, I lay down with a high fever for a few days, and after recovering, I had the ability to mutate into a werewolf, which can greatly improve my strength and agility," Midian Maier said, "This The secret I only told Ophelia."

"This is very strange." Griffith raised his hand and showed his bone ring to Midian Maier, "This is my sealed item. It comes from the battle we participated in to wipe out Cook's gang in the sewer. It is My spoils for killing the fallen mage Camilla. Possesses the ability to resurrect and enslave the undead."

Midian Maier fell into a short thought, "Can a sewer mage hold a high-level sealed item of the undead path?"

"Yeah, it's such a strong smell of conspiracy. I'm wary of this ring, but it's undeniable that it's very useful and there's no major danger so far," Griffith said with a smile, "Ophelia What's going on with your ability?"

"She's half-elven and half-human."

"What?"

"Really, you can't tell from the appearance," Midianmeier said seriously, "The von Ishtar family is a frontier noble in the northern border, but Ophelia is the mother and a Canaanite. The result of an elf love affair. When she was just born and opened her eyes, her biological mother who discovered the different pupils picked up the scissors and tried to poke her left eye blind. Human parents and ancestors all have blue eyes, so it is impossible to give birth to A baby with heterochromatic eyes~"

"Does Ophelia know her real father's name?"

Midian Maier shook her head and said, "She will not tell us even if she knows, but it is not difficult to trace the magic eye through blood, I think you can ask Galadia,

"Speaking of which, our group of Shutoral who entered the sewer is really unusual.

"Ophelia is a half-elf with magic eyes. You have obtained the sealed item of the path of the undead. I am a werewolf, Lana. Well, the Fiona he guards is an anomaly, and according to the Sharon family tradition he They will probably get married again. And then Murat... is there anything unusual about Murat?"

"A young girl who deserves to be burned at the stake?"

"Yes, he should be burned to death!" Midianmeier agreed.

Griffith snorted twice: "Iseus is very suspicious. He is likely to be the planner of the Cook gang attack, at least he is also an important person. After the Verona incident, he put on a mask and spoke and acted style change. But I don't have enough clues."

……

The tide of undead corpses has completely subsided.They disappeared from Revan without leaving even a few bones.Before dying out, they rushed into the densely populated city and slaughtered nearly half of the residents, and the upper city was almost destroyed.

The leader of the undead army, the terrifying death knight has been killed, and his body is hung high on the spire of the Holy Light Chapel.From the dilapidated skin and the outline of the face, it can be vaguely identified that it is the local garrison knight Saphirion.

The leader of the Front Enemy Committee, Professor Lordes concluded the meeting in his usual calm tone:
"Saphirion is just a pawn. He is familiar with our tactics and how to deal with them, so he was appointed as the commander of the undead creatures. The power of the death knight was only given to him for a short time. After the Griffith team destroyed the large tomb, he is fighting with The transcendents he fought all witnessed the rapid decline of his power.

"The conspiracy of the Deathrattle Cult here is basically consistent with our previous speculation, and the working principle of the sealed item is also known. They used corpses to kill, causing tens of thousands of deaths. In the process, the flesh and soul of the dead It was absorbed by the black mud and transformed into some kind of energy. The rotting soul corpse was the fruit of gathering energy. However, when it was about to be killed, the cult group terminated the operation of the sealed item and the ceremony, and the essence of the energy was also absorbed Extract transfer.

"With the support of this powerful spiritual energy, a certain existence was created by them."

"What exists?" asked the extraordinary person at the meeting, Bishop Horus, "Holy Light, it must be the evil god descending into the world!?"

"It can't be the evil god, this amount of energy is far from enough," Moro the stalker replied for the extraordinary wizard, "The Arcane Council and the Bureau of Investigation are investigating. We have captured or killed a large number of members of the Deathrattle Order." Members, Rihanna is also suspected of guarding the mage, we will find out in the next investigation."

"This mission ends here. The next investigation will be coordinated by Moro and Valkyrie, and the aftermath will be managed by Horus. I still have courses and exams to arrange." Professor Lordes got up and left without saluting. Did not say goodbye.

That's it for the meeting.Lordes seemed to have conveyed what he wanted to convey, got up and walked towards the teleportation circle of the mage tower.As the professor of Homeworthy, he didn't want to stay for a minute, leaving the three extraordinary people and Griffith who attended the meeting staring.

"Okay~" Moro sighed, and took out a stack of reports, "There are still many things left. The upper city has been hit hard, and there are ruins and refugees everywhere. Fortunately, the new garrison mage and garrison knight quickly will arrive. Let's take a look at the resettlement of refugees first..."

……

"How is Amber?" After the meeting, Erza and Griffith came to the Holy Light Chapel together.Almost all the wounded and refugees were housed around here.

"She witnessed some kind of mysterious existence and was traumatized, but she was fine under the care of the nuns," Griffith replied.

"It's probably because I saw the tide of souls gathering." Erza sighed softly.

"Soul?" Griffith asked.

"Yes, souls, or similar psionic aggregates," Ersha said, "Tens of thousands of Revan died, their bodies were melted by the black mud, their souls were restrained and pulled out, and poured into a certain container go."

How similar is the situation in Hepu Town.However, this time the cultist completed the energy extraction.Griffith's expression became extremely serious: "I'm going to investigate the files of this Holy Light Chapel."

"What is it for? Forget it, I won't ask, you can find out and tell me," Erza said in a low voice, "I'm here to handle some work, you have to be careful, call for help if you are in danger."

The two spotted Midianmeier in a crowded hallway.He was squatting outside the ward, peeling apples with his hands and feet.

"Is Ophelia okay?" Erza waved to him.

"Still asleep," Midianmeier pointed to the ward, "nothing unusual."

Everyone opened a crack in the door, peeped into the ward secretly, and found that Ophelia was sleeping soundly.She was wearing a thin men's white shirt, revealing her long white and smooth legs, with loose blond hair, humming some inaudible sleep talk, hugging a big pillow, sleeping with her legs under the blanket.

"..."

"You!" Erza was stunned for a moment, and criticized in a low voice, "You beast, how could you take advantage of people's danger and eat them!"

"Ah, this," Midian Maier turned pale in shock, "I don't have it!"

Hmph, I didn't expect you, Mi Dian Mai Ya, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, to be a rough embryo.Griffith gave him a disgusted look.

Amidst the suppressed sound of reproaches and justifications, the sleeping Ophelia groaned softly, rubbing her bare legs lightly, whispering a tempting dream that made her heart beat faster:

"Midian Maier, you don't have to be a Gale Wolf in bed~"

The air stagnates.

"puff!"

"Hahaha!"

Midianmai closed the door like lightning, and shook his head repeatedly with a blushing face: "No, no, no, no!"

"No what?!" Griffith asked, "Are you ready to deny it now?"

"What isn't it?!" Erza patted him on the shoulder with an expression that I knew everything, "Don't be burdened, no one has a shortcoming."

……

In the previous attack, almost all the local priests in Raven were killed, and the reinforcements and some pious believers who survived took over the work here.

In the chaos, naturally no one dared to stop a quasi-knight.

Griffith entered the archive room of the Holy Light Chapel unimpeded, closed the door, and prepared to start his own work.As a special investigator, he theoretically has access to all official documents.

He first checked the personnel files.There are recorded local monks, nuns, and all registered clergymen of all pilgrimage.

He found no files on Krista.

Griffith then checked the relevant records of Bishop Clariant who had been transferred.His goal was not to find classified documents, but to search for the regional bishop's daily work records, sermons, routine documents and reports, and orders.

Still nothing.The archives of the bishop's work in the past ten years are seriously missing, and documents from many time periods have been taken away.

as predicted……

The corners of Griffith's mouth curled up involuntarily.Although no valuable information was found in the two attempts, he was already sure that his search direction was correct.

It is not surprising that confidential documents are destroyed or transported away, but Bishop Clariant must have many trivial matters in his daily work.It is impossible for these documents to be classified as classified.The absence of files can only mean one thing—

Bishop Clariant's daily work is related to secrets, and he is very likely to be an important node in the Krista incident.

Here, in the archives of Raven's Chapel of Light, there must be clues.

Griffith put back the files he had read, and stretched his muscles outside the filing cabinet.

Intelligence analysis was one of Griffith's two majors at the Junior Officers' School and at Homemonwatts.For an intelligence officer, infiltration, assassination, wiretapping, and seduction are crooked methods, and statistics and analysis of public information are the true meaning of intelligence science.

Organizations that erased the existence of Krista can take away files and materials with keywords, but if they want to completely erase all traces, they can only burn this place with a fire.

Since the Raven Holy Light Chapel was not burned, there must be clues left behind.

Krista joined the Army of the East in 1441, served for nearly two years, and died in battle in 1443.Then, Griffith focused his attention on the records of the chapel's activities from 1438 to 1441. At that time, Christa was 12-15 years old, which was a critical period of cultivation.

After searching all night, Griffith found several scattered and suspicious documents from the vast archives.

He took these documents to a corner of the archives and read and analyzed them carefully.

[March 1438, 3, the record of the appeal of the Raven Branch to the Holy See]

"Previous

"Irresponsible bureaucratic behavior, pretentious reformers are damaging our cause and our faith. It will take time for the favor of the Light to descend upon the pious maidens who were not so long ago the daughters of shepherdesses and small workshop owners and small landowners. It is absurd to dismiss their appointments just because they have not been able to fulfill the tasks of the Holy See. Our Ministry has protested many times that the girls who have been dismissed from their appointments should continue to stay in the Church and become priests instead of returning to the church where they have no place. The countryside where..."

[July 1438, 7, the Ruiwen branch filed the posters in neighboring provinces]

The painting is a thin, quiet and beautiful girl.With her fair hair loose, she holds the emblem of the Holy Light aloft, followed by knights, soldiers, townspeople and peasants.

[July 1438, 8, the Ruiwen branch filed the posters in neighboring provinces]

Griffith saw more beautiful posters of young girls.

However, there were no such posters in the following years.

[January 1441, 1, notes to the 16 annual audit report of Raven Branch (missing page)]

"The audit opinion concluded that the Raven chapter's cash outlays for missions far exceeded normal levels. The auditors believe that a significant amount of other expenses were included in the outlays that were unreasonable."

[On February 1441, 2, a reprimand from the Holy See Branch of the Eastern Province]

"The abnormal expenditure items of the Raven branch must be stopped immediately. The old habits we all know and have been abolished will not only be abolished by the new canon, but will also greatly damage the friendly relations between the Holy See and the kingdom, wizards, and knights. For our cause No help."

[March 1441, 3, work inspection of the Raven branch]

"Previous

"According to the instructions of the superior department, the overspending project has been terminated, the remaining assets will be properly disposed of, and the relevant personnel have been punished."

Most of the people involved are the leaders of the local church headed by Bishop Clariant.Griffith has already touched the initial clues.He took out the compilation of canons placed in the most conspicuous place in the archives and read it.

On December 1427, 12, the Holy See of the Holy Light promulgated a new canon under the leadership of the reformists.This new regulation was subject to controversy and resistance, and the Holy See had to suspend the entry into force of the new regulation and make several revisions. Finally, in 31, the formulation of the detailed rules was finally completed and officially implemented.

The thickness of the canon is astonishing, it can be used as a shield, and you may not be able to understand it after watching it for a month.

Griffith, who took a compulsory law course at Homewarts, knew where to look for answers.Soon, he found a revision comparison table of the old and new canon according to the index.This revision is complex and has many entries——

"[-]. The relationship between the Holy See and the Supreme and the Senate

"II. Explanations and sermons concerning the coming of the angels

"Three, the abolition of the selection of saintess
"Fourth, about the dispatch and combat tasks of trainee monks and nuns with the army

"V. Relationship with the Holy See of the Gods

"six,……"

1427, that is, the year when the unspeakable supreme being of black magic disappeared and the Aaron family was destroyed.According to Sonia, that night, the powerful who rushed to rescue the Aaron family included the Pope.

Then, that supreme being was wiped out of existence.Judging from the revision time of this canon, it is likely that several big figures stood on the corpses of the Aaron tribe and held a meeting to determine the spirit of the next work...

The Comte de La Mole was there, who may have been a clerk like me a while ago!Most of his memories have been erased, hey, who hasn't been young~
The key point, um, find the key point!After reading the documents all night, the tired and dizzy Griffith patted his face, drank the little water left in the glass, and began to look carefully at the revisions he cared about.

In a jumble of seemingly disconnected messages, he teased out some clues.The evidence is patchy, but the conclusions are clear.

The Raven Branch of the Church of the Holy Light is cultivating a saint who has high hopes.

According to the new regulations of the Holy See, the training and selection of saintesses who represent the Holy Light to bring joy and blessings to the world will be stopped, and related projects will be terminated.Combined with other materials, it can be known that this activity has been strongly opposed by churches in various regions.

This matter is easy to understand.If a saint descends, it will be a great thing for the local church, priests and residents!
The Raven chapter was one of those that vehemently opposed it. At the end of 1437, after the Holy See issued a strict order, they stopped public activities and candidate recruitment, but they probably continued to cultivate saints in private. At the beginning of 1441, the audit department discovered that they had budgeted illegally, and the amount must be huge, otherwise they would not have been warned by the audit department.

Soon, the local bishop and the person in charge were punished, and the hidden project should have been completely terminated.

Shortly after that, Krista joined the Eastern Legion to fight.It is not uncommon for novice monks and novice nuns to accompany the army, but her situation must be more special.

Two years later, she was killed in battle.For some unknown reason, some existence discovered her and hurriedly erased the traces.

Griffith stood up and looked out the window.

Dawn once again fell on the devastated city.Refugees who narrowly escaped the disaster are lining up for official and church settlements.

Griffith looked at the long line in the distance, thinking hard.

Krista should be one of the members of the abolished Saintess Project.After the plan was terminated, the Holy See of the Holy Light did not take special care of her, but let her go to the dangerous front line to fight.The reason for this is easy to understand. There must be a lot of candidates for the saint, so there is no need to take special care of anyone.

But why did Krista's sacrifice trigger mass memory erasure?Could it be that after her sacrifice, the Holy See or other organizations noticed that she was different?

Could she be related to the conspiracy arranged by the cult in Raven?According to Lourdes, a certain being was created, is this connected to her?

……

The girl woke up from the silence.She was lying in the cold and hard gravel, undressed, pure and beautiful, her blue eyes were intoxicated by sadness and memories, making it impossible for anyone to feel any blasphemy.

Silence surrounded her, and in that gorgeous and still time, it seemed that illusory wings appeared behind her, indicating that the moment when she needed to fly high had finally come to her side.

She looked at the deep blue sky, and recalled the silent comfort when they cuddled each other in the dark green summer night. Joy and melancholy arose spontaneously, but gradually disappeared in the mottled.

"No, I can't forget, I can't. I'm willing to pay the price, just to keep his warmth and eyes in my heart." The girl stretched her limp hands and feet, struggled to get up from the powerlessness, and whispered to someone, "I heard it , Your will is my action."

The night wind is bitter, as if singing the song of fate.

The girl fetched a worn-out blanket and draped it over her body, and staggered towards the distant lights on her frail feet.

The chirping of birds in the sky echoes in ruins and wastelands.In order to return to the peaceful land, they will cross the final cold wind.The bursts of heat in the quiet of the evening were a harbinger of torrential rain.

She looked up at the starry sky, wandering alone in the deserted and ruined streets, the memories she picked up were intertwined with sighs.

As she walked forward, she recalled the gorgeous, warm and broken memory, and sighed softly:
"It would be nice if there were only sweet times, but life always brings people pain,
"Only by keeping in my heart the joy of being with you and me,

"Even though this body is extremely filthy, I am willing to block all the harsh winds for you.

"Through this storm, the place where I will go, whether it is to accept my destination or the imaginary garden, must return to your heart."

Lansada is overseeing work at the settlement near the house of worship, examining registered refugees.Official clerks would keep a record of their cases, then sort and arrange them.

At this time, she found a frail and slender girl not far away.The girl wrapped herself in a blanket and walked barefoot on the gravel-filled ruins.

This is a very beautiful girl, with soft blond hair draped over her shoulders, a slim and petite figure, and eyes as clear as the blue sky.Under the flimsy, worn blanket, she didn't appear to be wearing any clothes.

Lansada immediately ran over, "Did someone hurt you?"

"No, no," the girl shook her head, "Thank you."

Her voice was soft and melodious, as clear as a mountain spring.The people nearby looked at her involuntarily, and the heart hurt by the tragedy was soothed by the beautiful voice.

Everyone didn't know her, but deep down they were begging her to say a few more words.

"Please come and register," said the clerk, "we will provide clothing, food and shelter. What is your name?"

The girl's voice is like a sweet stream flowing in her heart:

"Krista,
"Krista Alicia."

　The Raven volume and the foreshadowing of the whole book are over, and the next three volumes are the main line.To avoid spoilers, no summary and testimonials are included in this volume.Next, the thrilling summer vacation of the protagonists is coming, and Sonia will lead everyone to die!The next volume, "The Swamp of Madness", pays homage to Liu Cixin and Lovecraft.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)