54 COI

You're quite efficient. After receiving the warning, you swiftly unearthed the problem and found the clues. Instead of confirming it yourself, you're now informing me directly, intending to leverage this issue for the final audit? No wonder you didn't respond when I inquired about the audit completion date… Franca's mind raced as she grasped Browns Sauron's true intentions, representing the Demoness Sect.

Admiring the Demoness's appearance and demeanor, she smiled and asked, "Is it just a suspicion?"

She was prompting the other party to provide more details.

Browns Sauron ran her fingers through her long orange-red hair and spoke with a somber expression, "After learning from you that the Bliss Society interacts with the participants in the orgies, I observed my friends and noticed two members who were behaving unusually.

"One of them fell in love with a man once again and entered into a romantic relationship. Consequently, she started declining participation in the female orgies. The other one encountered a new woman and succumbed to her advances, leading to feelings of guilt for betraying us."

Friends? Girlfriends! Franca couldn't help but criticize.

She smiled and inquired, "Who do you suspect are the members of the Bliss Society?"

"That woman," Browns Sauron's aura remained dark. "She took the initiative to ask about the orgies and reassured Adaina that there was no need to feel guilty. She claimed that everyone has the right to control their bodies and freely indulge their desires without caring about others' opinions, societal judgments, moral restrictions, or religious constraints. She also stated that only deities and churches that genuinely embrace free will, physical freedom, and desire freedom are worth following."

Physical freedom, desire freedom… It's indeed the hallmark of the Mother Tree of Desire's believers… The core members of the Bliss Society truly excel as Actors. Their acting skills are remarkable. They can artfully package indulgence and debauchery, presenting desires as a manifestation of willpower, subtly diminishing the importance of rationality, clarity, and thoughtful reflection… Franca clicked her tongue and inwardly sighed.

For a Demoness of Pleasure, this approach proved highly effective. If the surrounding humans believed it, she could swiftly immerse them in intense and genuine pleasure, causing them to lose themselves in a sea of indulgence. Long-term consequences and effects were typically disregarded by most Demonesses, as they would have already digested the potion by then.

However, Franca could discern that Browns Sauron was possessive and didn't want her girlfriends to engage with humans outside of the orgies.

"That certainly resembles the Bliss Society," Franca objectively remarked.

Browns added with a gloomy expression, "As for the other one, the lover is primarily concerned with money, houses, banquets, vacations, and various luxury items. It's quite evident that he's a male courtesan. They understand women very well, are eloquent, and possess considerable capabilities."

"What do you plan to do?" Franca asked curiously.

She sensed that Browns Sauron wasn't the type to simply give up on one of her girlfriends, especially when the new lover seemed unreliable.

Browns Sauron hesitated for a few moments before saying, "I've encountered him before, and I can tell he harbors an unusual desire for me. I intend to teach him a lesson, immersing him in pleasure without granting him true gratification. Once his body and mind are completely under my control, I'll discard him."

Wow… Did you learn this without a mentor? Do you even remember your original form? Franca raised an eyebrow, finding a rare target for mockery.

Browns glanced at her mockingly and retorted, "Based on what I've discovered and confirmed, you have two male lovers. One is mature, and the other is young. You seem to excel at enjoying yourself."

Her implication was clear: "What right do you have to mock me? I'm merely planning to offer that man some pleasure without engaging in actual intimacy. As for you, you've long abandoned your gender, ending up in the beds of different men!"

Half of my reputation has been tarnished by Ciel! Franca didn't lose her composure over the humiliation. She maintained a smile and said, "I view this as a unique experience.

"I've already become a woman. How can I not explore something entirely different from my previous existence? If you don't experiment now, you may never have the chance in the future. Don't you desire to return to your original form. Do you not know how?"

She subtly hinted at her knowledge of mysticism, paving the way for revealing her true motives for infiltrating the Savoie Mob in the future.

Browns was left momentarily speechless, unable to refute Franca Roland's twisted logic.

Franca continued, "Life is confined to just a few decades. Why confine yourself to such a limited scope? As long as you avoid indulgence and obsession and always remain true to yourself, you're merely experiencing the present moment. Why not venture into various realms and experiences?"

At this moment, Franca had an epiphany.

Pleasure wasn't just something to offer to others; it was also meant for oneself!

Is this my first principle of acting…? No wonder my digestion speed hasn't been slowing down recently; it's even considered fast… How can being coy be considered Pleasure? Franca thought with a sense of delight.

Browns fell silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Your mindset surpasses my expectations, but with this mindset, it will be very, very challenging for you to perform a ritual, advance to Affliction, or experience pain and inflict it."

"I'm currently focused on Pleasure. I'll deal with Affliction when the time comes," Franca replied casually.

The digestion process would take months, half a year, or even longer to complete. What was the point of worrying too much?

Browns glanced at Franca for a moment, feeling a mix of repulsion and envy.

It wasn't that she desired it, but the Demonesses she had encountered, whether at higher Sequences or those who had just consumed the Witch potion, lacked this calmness and radiance. Each of them carried their own distortions, conflicts, and pain, and some even teetered on the edge of madness.

Browns decided not to delve further into personal philosophy and steered the conversation back on track.

"Adaina encountered the suspected Bliss Society member at an art exhibition. She goes by the name Theresa and comes from a former noble family. She's now an art dealer.

"I've conducted some investigation. Her identity and name are real, but they don't belong to her. In other words, there is a real art dealer named Theresa. She's impersonating her and has altered her appearance to make herself more appealing.

"This aligns with the characteristics of an Actor, as you mentioned. When Adaina had intimate contact with her, she also experienced the abilities of a Sex Addict.

"I attempted to tail her earlier, but I was too cautious and lost her trail.

"Adaina has a date with her tonight."

Franca listened attentively and then asked thoughtfully, "Can we trust Adaina now?"

Browns's expression contorted as she replied, "She can be trusted."

Franca didn't press further and reminded her deliberately, "Then, will she exhibit any unusual behavior during her date with Theresa tonight? She's dealing with an Actor."

"Perhaps. She needs a Psychiatrist or an even more powerful Beyonder of the Spectator pathway to plant a cue or hypnotize her. This will help her maintain her normal state and prevent Theresa from becoming suspicious.

"If you can't find one in a hurry, I can introduce someone, but it will come at a cost."

Browns's expression softened as she nodded in agreement.

"You're indeed more experienced than I am."

Following her sigh, she smiled and asked, "Is that Psychiatrist also a man?"

Franca was taken aback.

"Yes."

Hey, what kind of image do you have of me!

The two of them silently refrained from discussing which side would handle the subsequent questions after identifying the fake Theresa. It was as if they had already reached an unspoken agreement.

…

At 7 p.m., in Quartier de la Maison d'Opéra, just outside the Delan Music Hall, Franca and Lumian, both dressed in light-colored pants, walked toward the entrance while discreetly holding each other's arms.

They had used Lie to alter their appearances and heights, ensuring that they wouldn't be recognized by anyone they might know.

Their target for this operation was the woman entering the concert hall, about seven to eight meters away.

Among them, Adaina, a participant in the Red House female orgies, had long, light-yellow hair with thin, curly bangs. Her face was powdered, her eyes light blue, and her nose perky, making her quite attractive. As for the art dealer, Theresa, she had long, wavy brown hair and a simple style. When her flaxen-colored eyes scanned the surroundings, they sparkled with liveliness.

This woman, suspected to be a member of the Bliss Society, had somewhat stiff facial features. It lacked softness but still exuded a strange charm.

Inside the small concert hall, Lumian and Franca found their seats and then swiftly locked onto Theresa and Adaina's location, discreetly observing them from behind.

Franca watched with interest as Adaina and Theresa leaned against each other, feigning intimacy.

It was a pity that, despite her claim of loving women, Franca's limited experience mainly revolved around "teasing" Gardner Martin's other lovers. She had seldom been able to admire such scenes from a distance.

"Be careful," Lumian warned with a sigh.

Franca responded disapprovingly, "For a Trierien, this attitude is entirely normal. Look around you. Aren't others openly watching as well?"

Lumian snorted and didn't push the matter further.

Their immediate objective was observation, not tailing. It was crucial to assess the target's situation before taking any action.

Turning an ambush and surprise attack into an open confrontation would be a failure for any Hunter.

Lumian's primary goal was to gather information about Theresa's probable Sequence. If she happened to be a Sequence 7 Actor or a Sequence 6 Recipient, Lumian was confident in executing a successful surprise attack. However, if she turned out to be a Fallen Tree Spirit of a specific tree with a changed lifeform, the effectiveness of the Spell of Harrumph might be questionable.

Although Franca had suggested using Magic Mirror Divination to gather this intel, Lumian still wanted to witness it firsthand. The desires of a corresponding Sequence of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway couldn't be easily concealed!

-x-X-x-

The concert began as scheduled, and Theresa and Aldina separated, completely immersed in the orchestra's performance.

Franca withdrew her gaze with regret and closed her eyes, savoring a symphony that evoked the image of moonlight glistening on a tranquil lake at night.

Lumian had received no formal education in this domain, so his knowledge of music was limited to three things. Firstly, Aurore's occasional humming and the melodies of shepherds' flutes. Secondly, songs from places like Ol' Tavern, Cordu Village Square, and Salle de Bal Brise, which were often laced with suggestive lyrics and rhythms. Lastly, the psalms from the Eternal Blazing Sun's Mass. However, now, he found himself deeply moved by the band's performance. His mood gradually settled, as if he could envision Cordu Village and the highland pasture nestled in the darkness.

It was a serene night, adorned with a canopy of stars.

Lumian wasn't entirely captivated by the music. From the corner of his eye, he scrutinized the lady impersonating Theresa, carefully observing her every move.

The imposter Theresa appeared highly emotional, her demeanor shifting from sorrowful during the lyrical passages to exuberant during the ensemble. She seemed to be completely attuned to the fluctuations in the music.

Lumian pondered whether she had an exceptional affinity for music or if she harbored a strong desire to perform and convey something profound.

If it was the latter, Lumian could tentatively conclude that the imposter Theresa was likely a Sequence 7 Actor. Based on his understanding of the Mother Tree of Desire's boon pathways, Beyonders typically wouldn't be so profoundly affected by the desires associated with a Sequence after moving beyond it. However, there might still be a more pronounced influence compared to ordinary individuals.

As time passed, the orchestra played three symphonies, culminating in the conductor turning, bowing, and addressing the audience.

"The final movement is titled 'The Girl Under the Moon.' I'd like to invite the most beautiful lady here onto the stage, so that our entire orchestra can have the honor of taking a photograph with her as a beautiful memento."

Franca quickly lowered her head.

She had no desire to be chosen and become the center of attention.

This would embarrass her a little.

Nonetheless, she wasn't overly concerned. Having altered her appearance and height with Lie, she could only be considered ordinary and mildly charming. After all, the greatest challenge for a Demoness of Pleasure when tailing a target lay in their inherent beauty, charisma, and attention-grabbing aura. If she didn't become invisible or remain concealed in the shadows, she ran the risk of being discovered.

Such requests were not uncommon in Trier, and several women in the audience were eager to step forward.

To them, being chosen would symbolize a significant acknowledgment of their appearance and demeanor.

Lumian's gaze swept over the attendees, eventually settling on Aldina and the imposter Theresa.

The former seemed visibly excited, her anticipation clear in her demeanor. On the other hand, the latter's body exhibited an abnormal tension, and she trembled slightly, a mix of excitement and nervousness evident in her demeanor.

Upon witnessing these reactions, Lumian couldn't help but smirk slightly, gaining a rough understanding of the fake Theresa's situation.

The desire for recognition was one of the fundamental desires of a Sequence 6 Recipient of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway!

The invitation to bring the most beautiful lady onto the stage for a photograph wasn't a mere coincidence—Lumian had sponsored it himself.

Ultimately, he had succeeded in convincing the conductor, not just because he had used Franca's 1,000 verl d'or, but also because Lumian had provided a compelling reason.

It was a romantic gesture intended for a certain lady, a gesture driven solely by affection, without any expectation of reciprocation or leaving a name.

Romantic gestures had a special place in the hearts of these Trier artists.

Through this event, Lumian sought to "detect" whether the fake Theresa harbored any exceptional desires.

A skilled Hunter couldn't simply wait for opportunities to arise; they had to know how to create them!

Of course, the precondition was having sufficient intel. Otherwise, planning with precision or avoiding easy detection would be impossible.

The conductor scanned the room and singled out the woman whom he believed to be the most beautiful.

He also assumed that she was the object of the young man's affection from earlier in the day.

Such extraordinary beauty was a rarity!

The woman, with her bright gray eyes and neatly tied black hair, gracefully approached the orchestra, while the fake Theresa slouched in her seat, unable to hide her disappointment, regret, and frustration.

"How should I address you?" the conductor inquired of the lady in the elegant black court dress beside him.

With a gentle and melodious voice, she replied, "Clarice."

Franca gazed at Clarice with admiration, finding her exceptionally captivating, although she couldn't quite pinpoint the reason why.

After the concert concluded, Lumian and Franca decided not to tail Adaina and the impostor Theresa. Instead, they headed straight to Room 502 in Apartment 25 on Rue Ménier in the square district.

This was a rented apartment that they had temporarily cleared out by paying. Across the way, in Room 401 of Building 23, was Adaina's chosen rendezvous point for clandestine meetings.

Tonight, she would return to that very room with the fake Theresa.

With Lumian and Franca's enhanced Beyonder vision, the distance between them and the target room wasn't enough to obscure their view of the situation inside. Their primary objective now was to remain hidden and avoid detection by the fake Theresa while observing.

Before long, the window of Room 401 in Apartment 23 across the street illuminated. Several gas wall lamps cast a bright glow throughout the living room.

Immediately after, Lumian witnessed the passionate embrace between the fake Theresa and Adaina as they approached the glass window.

Their longing was palpable, but they also wanted to shield their intimate moment from prying eyes.

"Quite focused," Lumian teased with a smile.

Franca didn't reply, her breathing growing heavier.

"Be prepared," Lumian whispered to Franca, making sure the fake Theresa's attention was on her companion.

Her primary mission was to watch for any unexpected developments.

Without hesitation, Lumian activated the black mark on his right shoulder.

A faint light shimmered beneath his clothing, and he vanished from the shadows of Building 25.

Across the street in the apartment, Adaina and the impostor Theresa wrestled with the curtains while they were stuck to one another, attempting to shield the glass window.

Lumian's form materialized suddenly, two meters behind the fake Theresa, facing Adaina, whose eyes were clouded with desire and cheeks flushed.

Adaina's eyes narrowed, and her pupils dilated. She couldn't fathom how a tall, slender man with blond hair and blue eyes had appeared in her room out of nowhere.

For a moment, it felt like she was trapped in a surreal dream. The disjunction between her physical senses and her bewildered mind was stark.

Almost simultaneously, Lumian let out a heavy harrumph.

Two beams of white light shot from his nose, targeting the fake Theresa and affecting Adaina.

In unison, the two women closed their eyes and slumped into unconsciousness.

Lumian acted swiftly, catching the fake Theresa before she could fall to the ground. He then raised his right palm and delivered a firm strike behind her ear.

A mystical coma combined with a physical one!

With the fake Theresa safely incapacitated, Lumian gently placed her on the carpet, keeping a cautious distance from the unconscious Adaina.

He squatted beside the woman he suspected to be a Recipient and began searching her dress and handbag for canisters.

Having familiarized himself with the mystical drugs commonly used by the Bliss Society, Lumian located a canister of sedatives, unscrewed the cap, and brought it to the fake Theresa's nose, allowing her to inhale its contents for more than ten seconds.

Only then did Lumian exhale a sigh of relief. He stowed away the sedative, no longer concerned about the imposter Theresa waking up suddenly.

He stood up and made his way to the glass window, where the curtain was only partially closed. Lumian signaled to the fifth floor of the opposite building with his thumb and index finger forming a circle, while his other three fingers remained extended.

He was informing Franca that the operation had been successful. The target was under control, and she could join him now. Lumian might need to employ Magic Mirror Divination later.

After drawing the curtains shut, Lumian turned his attention to the unconscious fake Theresa and sighed inwardly.

Intel is crucial…

The same principle applied to the synergy of abilities.

Without a rough understanding of the names and characteristics of Sequence 9 to Sequence 5 within the Actor pathway, along with knowledge of their corresponding desires and states, Lumian wouldn't have taken such a calculated risk. He wouldn't have been able to resolve the situation in just a few seconds.

As for the Contractee's three abilities, if they weren't carefully chosen and harmonized, they could easily be defeated by a Sequence 9 Hunter, much like the mouth-orifice monster in Cordu's ruins. Even with Spirit World Traversal and the Spell of Harrumph, Lumian might stand a chance against some Sequence 5s, but it would be a formidable challenge to sustain such efforts.

…

As Lumian waited for Franca to join him in the adjacent apartment to Adaina's,

Browns Sauron remained hidden in the shadows, her keen senses tuned to the situation behind the wall as she gazed at the building opposite.

She could already discern the sounds of Adaina and the fake Theresa returning to the apartment, along with the rustle of curtains being drawn. These scenes seemed to play out vividly in her mind.

The situation tormented her. She felt a deep sense of injustice and pain, as though she had willingly sent her lover into the arms of her romantic rival.

Despite her understanding that this was a carefully planned trap and that her lover and her rival had been intimate on multiple occasions, she still felt an overwhelming sense of worry and anxiety. The sporadic noises only fueled her imagination with various scenarios.

Standing there made her uncomfortable, and leaning against the wall didn't alleviate her unease.

Observing Franca and her young lover's concealed apartment across the way, Browns Sauron couldn't help but mutter with frustration, "Why haven't they launched their attack yet?"

-x-X-x-

Franca ended her concealment and quietly opened the door to Adaina's apartment. The first thing she saw was Lumian, a tall, slender man with blond hair and blue eyes. He was crouched beside the unconscious Adaina, vigorously wiping her face with a wet towel.

Franca lowered her voice and asked in confusion, "W-what are you doing?"

Shouldn't the target be the Bliss Society member posing as Theresa, the art dealer?

Lumian smirked and responded, "I've had a sudden thought.

"Actors can impersonate anyone. Once the imposter Theresa establishes an intimate relationship with Aldina, she can easily control this female companion and impersonate her to infiltrate the Red House Café's female orgies."

"Allowing Adaina, who everyone is familiar with, to convey the Bliss Society's philosophy and hidden evil god faith will definitely be more persuasive and trustworthy than a new member."

At this point, Lumian gazed toward the bedroom in a chilling tone and said, "Perhaps, the real Adaina is hidden in a corner here, in the form of a corpse."

Franca couldn't help but imagine such a grim scenario and took a deep breath.

She straightened her back and muttered to herself, "Not a bad story. I'll share it with Jenna later."

After her muttering, she silently closed the door and approached Lumian, refuting his suspicion.

"Browns Sauron is likely a Demoness of Pleasure. Surely, she can recognize the authenticity of her female companion? Furthermore, she interrogated Adaina and knows the approximate abilities of an Actor."

Lumian, who had been "assisting" Adaina in removing her makeup, confirmed that despite her altered appearance, she was still the same person.

He chuckled and said, "Based on your description, I don't fully trust Browns Sauron's judgment. She clearly has less experience in the Beyonder domain than you. However, since she has the Demoness Sect backing her and confirmation has been made, the interrogation results are still credible."

Lumian didn't spare Adaina another glance. He gestured towards the fake Theresa, who had been hit with a triple dose of unconsciousness—the Harrumph Spell, a physical knockout, and a sedative from the Bliss Society. He turned to Franca and said, "Use Magic Mirror Divination to confirm if she's a core member of the Bliss Society."

While Lumian had already suspected the fake Theresa was a core member based on her performance at the concert, they hadn't followed her closely the entire way. They had instead been waiting at their destination. What if she had sensed something amiss and had switched to a decoy during the journey?

Considering the fake Theresa possessed a unique concoction like the Bliss Society's truth serum, she was undoubtedly connected to the Bliss Society. However, it remained uncertain if she was a core member.

This answer would guide Lumian's subsequent actions.

…

Next door to Adaina's apartment, Browns Sauron continued to monitor the commotion. She could hear faint and indistinct conversations but couldn't detect much else.

Adaina and the fake Theresa plan to chat for a while and have some red wine? Though it isn't overly passionate, it holds a romantic ambiance… Browns Sauron glanced at the building opposite, mentally urging Franca and her lover to begin, hoping they wouldn't wait until the fake Theresa was completely engrossed in desire before launching a surprise attack.

…

In the living room of Adaina's apartment, Franca raised her right palm and rapidly created a crystalline icicle. With precision, she pierced the fake Theresa's hand, drawing a small amount of blood.

The fake Theresa instinctively pulled back her arm but hadn't broken through the three-layered coma.

Franca then smeared the blood on a mirror, intending to use it as a medium and sacrifice to ask an entity from the Underworld, hoping to obtain a unique identification of spirits.

Once all preparations were complete, Franca picked up the mirror and recited in Hermes,

"The shadow that lingers in the Underworld, the friendly creature that can be communicated with, the unique eye that never dies…"

The surface of the blood-stained mirror suddenly emitted a dark green hue, and a pale-white aqueous light rippled.

After reciting the incantation, Franca asked respectfully, "Is the owner of the blood Theresa, the art dealer?"

"No," came an indifferent voice from the mirror, as if enduring the corrosion of endless time.

Franca posed her second question.

"Is the owner of the blood a core member of Trier's Bliss Society?"

The indifferent voice gradually faded.

"Yes."

Franca refrained from asking further questions, as the entity only answered two at a time.

She watched as the pale-white aqueous light rapidly receded, and the blood on the mirror's surface strangely seeped in and disappeared.

Turning to Lumian, Franca reported, "She's a core member of the Bliss Society."

Lumian let out a soft sigh and said, "Unfortunately, I don't know how to perform a lobotomy. Anthony Reid isn't a Hypnotist yet, so we can only channel the spirit directly."

Using the truth serum didn't guarantee that the fake Theresa wouldn't resist when she woke up. Given her faith and abilities, a fierce battle was inevitable when the time came, and there was a high chance that she would be killed. In that case, he decided to proceed now.

As Lumian spoke, he crouched down, his right palm ablaze with crimson flames.

The flames intertwined and swiftly converged, turning white.

Gently pressing his right palm against the fake Theresa's body, the blazing white fireball vanished into thin air.

Rumble!

A muffled explosion erupted from within the fake Theresa's body. She trembled a few times before life left her completely.

Franca had been busy preparing the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell during this entire process.

While she could forcibly channel the spirit while the fake Theresa was unconscious, it wasn't a safe option. It could lead to unnecessary trouble for her mind and spirit, and the fact that the target believed in an evil god meant there was a risk of corruption if she wasn't careful.

…

Next door to Adaina's apartment, hidden in the shadows, Browns Sauron sensed a subtle fluctuation.

Powers have been used. Has it begun? She wondered if the imposter Theresa had initiated the powers of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway to flirt or if Franca Roland and her lover had already infiltrated the target location and were preparing to attack.

Without hesitation, Browns Sauron, dressed in a black hunting suit, silently pushed open the window and crawled out through the shadows. She clung to the outer wall and slowly approached Adaina's apartment.

…

Franca completed the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell, and the dark and deep mirror aqueous light flickered, "reflecting" a beautiful yet pale-white face.

"What's your name?" Franca asked directly, using the simplest question to test the effect of the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell.

The fake Theresa's illusory voice replied, "I'm Beatrice Incourt."

"What's your true identity?" Franca continued to ask.

Beatrice Incourt's expression remained stoic as she replied, "I run a winery. It's from my deceased husband."

Franca then directed the question to the crucial point.

"Are you a core member of the Bliss Society?"

"Yes." Beatrice Incourt's nod was subtle.

Franca didn't delve into the Bliss Society's faith or any recent revelations. Although she wasn't as fearful of the evil god, the Mother Tree of Desire, as she was of the Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, to the point of not daring to channel spirits, she was aware of the risks involved. She knew what to ask and what not to ask, what was safe, and what could lead to corruption.

After a brief pause, she inquired, "Do you know Lumian Lee or Ciel Dubois?"

Beatrice replied in a daze, "I don't know."

I don't know… Lumian, who was listening, raised his eyebrows.

None of the core members of the Bliss Society know about Susanna Mattise's ultimate plan?

Franca was equally surprised. She frowned and asked, "Why did Susanna Mattise go to the market district before her death?"

Beatrice Incourt replied calmly, "She wanted to awaken the great divine tree and allow its roots to enter Fourth Epoch Trier, allowing its crown to reach into the kingdom of the false gods."

"Did she say what the awakening process was?" Franca pressed.

Beatrice Incourt's voice grew colder, and her expression became more wooden.

"She didn't say."

They really don't know that Susanna Mattise wanted to capture me and sacrifice me to the Mother Tree of Desire? Lumian's thoughts raced, and he whispered a name to Franca: "Maipú Meyer."

Franca understood and asked the spirit in the mirror, "Where is Maipú Meyer?"

Maipú Meyer was the former manager of Théatre de l'Ancienne Cage à Pigeons, Susanna Mattise's paramour, and her most trusted subordinate.

Beatrice replied in a voice increasingly resembling the dead, "I'm not sure. He's a man, and we despise and keep a distance from him."

Upon hearing this, Lumian was enlightened, roughly understanding the reason.

Regarding the Tree of Shadow, Susanna Mattise, who had become an evil spirit, was extremely extreme in her choices and actions. She didn't inform the other core members of the Bliss Society about the detailed situation or progress. Only her direct subordinates, Maipú Meyer and Charlotte Calvino, knew the complete plan.

After Susanna Mattise and Charlotte Calvino's deaths, Maipú Meyer, who had relied on the former to become a core member of the Bliss Society, was ostracized and suppressed. Consequently, he didn't divulge the relevant issues to anyone else.

This made sense. A secret organization centered around "desire" would undoubtedly experience a multitude of desires, both open and covert. Maipú Meyer was a visible anomaly among the core group that advocated women and loved women.

Franca pondered for a few seconds and changed her question, "What are Maipú Meyer's plans for the time being?"

Beatrice's face turned pale-white and green, and even her stiff expression vanished.

"A few weeks ago, Maipú Meyer mentioned that he wanted to sneak back to the market district to do something. I haven't seen him since."

Sneak back to the market district to do something? Lumian and Franca were alarmed by this revelation.

-x-X-x-

Why did Maipú Meyer return to the market district?

Could it be that Maipú Meyer genuinely cared for Susanna Mattise and sought retribution?

But even then, exposing the true killer and concealed secrets to the other core members of the Bliss Society seemed like the most fitting way to exact revenge!

Without harnessing the collective might of the entire organization, he would inadvertently aid his adversary, Lumian, by relying solely on his own capabilities!

As Lumian observed Beatrice's pallid countenance and vacant gaze, he tried to think from Maipú Meyer's perspective and find a rationale for his actions.

Maipú Meyer, a Sequence 6 Recipient, harbors an insatiable hunger for recognition and a fervent desire to accomplish something noteworthy…

Despite facing rejection and isolation from the other core members of the Bliss Society, he does have a motive to make a substantial solo contribution and earn genuine recognition…

While revealing the existence of the Tree of Shadow to Beatrice and the others could be seen as a contribution, it doesn't measure up to rectifying his past mistakes independently to appease the Mother Tree of Desire to the fullest extent. The latter would truly earn him recognition…

This peculiar competition might be perplexing to ordinary folks, but it isn't unusual for a Recipient to engage in it…

The question now is: What does Maipú Meyer hope to achieve in his quest for recognition?

Is it revenge against me? Although a direct confrontation holds little hope for him, he could pose a significant threat if he conceals himself in the shadows and suddenly influences me at a critical moment. After all, I lack a substitute ability, and my physical strength hasn't undergone a qualitative change compared to ordinary people. He could eliminate me with a revolver.

However, Maipú Meyer must have heard plenty about me from Susanna Mattise. There is a good chance he knows about the angel sealed within my body. Isn't he concerned that corruption might erupt after my demise, potentially dragging him down as well?

If he were to perish, how could he satisfy his yearning for recognition?

Or is it the mere notion of taking a formidable foe with him to the grave that would leave the other members of the Bliss Society awestruck and filled with genuine remorse and admiration? Is his ultimate aim to climax in tears and be propelled towards his demise by desire?

Otherwise, does he aspire to make a sacrifice akin to Susanna Mattise's? Yes, securing recognition from the Mother Tree of Desire is a higher-level and noble pursuit.

But the Tree of Shadow is severely damaged and won't recover for a long time. How can he even make such a sacrifice

Lumian struggled to decipher Maipú Meyer's plan or intentions, vaguely grasping his motives.

Nonetheless, Lumian couldn't suppress a surge of frustration and violence at the mere thought of a pair of icy eyes lurking among the pedestrians, nearby tenants, dance hall customers, and peddlers. It was as though someone close to him had been replaced by Maipú Meyer without anyone's awareness. He burned with anticipation to unmask the Actor.

The detrimental effects of the contracts, items, and brands on him continued to destabilize his emotions.

Franca, on the other hand, didn't dwell on this. Although the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell endured much longer than standard spirit channeling spells, it was not entirely boundless. There was still a time limit, one measured in minutes. She was unwilling to squander this precious time on analysis that could be postponed.

"Of all the members of the Bliss Society, who does Maipú Meyer have the closest relationship with?"

"He had the strongest bonds with the members in the market district, but they're either deceased or captured."

Genuinely ostracized… Franca's hopes dimmed, and she inquired further,

"Who in the Bliss Society is most likely to be privy to Maipú Meyer's whereabouts and plans?"

Beatrice responded lifelessly, "No one, not even the new high priestess."

Franca found herself at a dead end and changed her line of questioning.

"Who is this new high priestess?"

Beatrice's eyes were piercingly vacant as she replied, "It's Siber."

"What's her true identity?" Franca pressed.

Beatrice's eyes on the mirror's surface seemed far more translucent than before.

"I don't know. She joined us later. At that point, we had evolved beyond a simple lesbian organization. We started concealing our true identities.

"Siber might still be a theater actress."

…

On the outer wall of Adaina's apartment, Browns Sauron clung there in silence, resembling a colossal black spider.

Through the curtains, she could only discern two shadows not far away. The voices were even fainter and more distant than before, but she could vaguely identify them as female.

Adaina and the imposter Theresa are still conversing? That doesn't add up. At this proximity, with an Assassin's acute hearing, I should be able to clearly hear them even through the sealed glass window and thick drapes… What's happening inside? Browns Sauron's anxiety and curiosity swelled as she attempted to extend invisible spider silk through the gap in the window.

…

Franca's Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell had reached its limit, and she concluded it rationally. She watched as Beatrice Incourt's image faded from the mirror's surface.

She wasn't overly disheartened because she already knew the crucial details about several core members of the Bliss Society and their weekly gatherings' time, venue, and method.

But there is no need to personally track them. They are unaware of Ciel. Even if the Rose School of Thought locates them, they wouldn't extract any valuable information… Franca cast a glance at Lumian, stowed away the mirror, and dispelled the wall of spirituality.

Amidst the howling wind, the two of them sensed a disturbance at the window and the presence of a figure that seemed human.

The wall of spirituality had isolated their movements, reducing interference but also affecting their perception and surveillance of the surroundings.

Franca's form abruptly vanished, and Lumian sidestepped, evading the window's direct line of sight.

They didn't rush to attack because they had a vague notion of who was outside.

Just as she was about to react, she spotted Franca Roland's current disguised countenance.

Their gazes locked, and silence hung in the air for over ten seconds.

Finally, Browns snapped out of her trance and inquired with concern, "Where's Adaina?"

"She's unconscious." Franca gestured towards the carpet near the window.

Browns scrutinized her female partner, then glanced at the motionless impostor Theresa, and queried once more, "Has it been dealt with?"

"It's resolved," Franca replied calmly.

The spirit channeling had already come to an end!

Browns's gaze darted between Franca and Lumian, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. She inquired,

"When did you launch the attack?"

Before the curtains were fully drawn… Franca was about to respond, but she hesitated, realizing that revealing the timing of the attack might expose Ciel and her combat abilities. Instead, she quickly changed her response and smiled.

"Why don't you take a guess?"

Browns Sauron recollected the faint movements she had sensed but found no overt signs of a battle.

This left her even more astonished.

Could this wild Demoness and her young partner be truly that formidable?

Are their richer experiences and varied gains truly that advantageous?

Consumed by jealousy, Browns leaped into the room and shut the window.

She doesn't seem concerned about being attacked by us at all… Is she inexperienced, or does she have great confidence in the Demoness's various substitutes? Or is there something she's relying on? Lumian observed with indifference, making no move.

Franca maintained her smile and said, "We've gathered some intel, including information on the current high priestess of the Bliss Society and a few core members."

She began recounting the information she had acquired from Beatrice.

The more Browns listened, the more astonished she became.

They managed to gather so much intel?

This should have taken a significant amount of time!

When did they attack and how long did they take to finish the battle?

It couldn't be that the imposter Theresa was ambushed the moment she entered the room and approached the window, could they?

Based on her observations, this member of the Bliss Society appeared to be a Sequence 6 Recipient, on par with her and Franca Roland, even surpassing the suspected Sequence 7 Pyromaniac, Ciel Dubois!

Franca paid no heed to Browns's reaction and continued, "I'm pleased to inform you that our problem is simpler than we thought, and it's been resolved. Now, it's your problem. Heh heh, Beatrice isn't the only core member of the Bliss Society with an interest in the Red House Café."

She was subtly suggesting that the Demoness Sect should "take over" in eliminating the remaining members of the Bliss Society.

"Are you instigating me?" Browns asked sharply.

Franca replied with a smile, "No, just a reminder."

While they continued their conversation, Lumian returned to Beatrice's lifeless form, crouched down, and conducted a more thorough search.

This time, he discovered banknotes and gold coins amounting to 1,500 verl d'or, along with a neatly folded note.

Lumian unfolded the note and read the Intisian written on it: "Go to the hostel and retrieve the painting within three days."

Hostel… What hostel? What painting is this referring to? This seems like a deal made by the authentic art dealer, Theresa, but somehow, the receipt ended up in the hands of the impostor? Where is the real Theresa now… We forgot to inquire about this… Lumian pondered the implications as he held the note.

He stood up, prepared to question Browns Sauron about the real Theresa's situation. Although Browns recognized that Franca was trying to instigate her, she couldn't deny that Franca had a point.

Browns looked down at Adaina, attempting to rouse her.

At that moment, all three of them halted simultaneously and directed their attention toward Beatrice Incourt's lifeless body.

The light over there seemed to dim slightly, and the corpse underwent a subtle transformation.

-x-X-x-

Beatrice Incourt may have already been lifeless, but something within her appeared to stir. Slowly, it seeped out, rising like invisible steam, as if it sought an escape into some distant darkness.

This caused the ambient light to dim, making the apartment's ceiling appear strangely ethereal. Lumian, Franca, and Browns all felt an uncanny sensation, as if they were under scrutiny.

It wasn't as if an actual gaze was directed at them; rather, it was as if they were the sole occupants of the entire building, with no obstructions to the crimson moonlight in the sky, which inevitably cast an eerie glow upon them.

Thump, thump. Lumian's heart raced.

The two Demonesses, skilled in divination, experienced an overwhelming sense of imminent danger.

With a sudden snap, a translucent boil of blood materialized on Beatrice Incourt's lifeless face, followed by a strange, tree-like wart with a brownish hue.

The wart burst open, oozing blood-colored pus, wet and sticky.

Wh— Lumian's pupils dilated, caught off guard by this turn of events.

Although he had taken the lives of more than a few members of the Bliss Society and had spent some time beside their corpses, he had never encountered anything like this. Death ended everything. How could a corpse cause an unsettling undercurrent to surge around it?

Even though Lumian didn't fully grasp the situation, he swiftly formulated a plan.

He glanced at the hazy, illusory ceiling and the faint movements within the walls. His intention was to step forward, seize Beatrice's lifeless body, and "teleport" to the Albert Mines, a place he had visited previously.

The deeper they ventured into the Fourth Epoch Trier's underground, the greater the peril. Various corruptive elements that led to a loss of control lurked there. Even with a corpse on the verge of mutation, it shouldn't pose a significant issue.

That place was inherently an amalgamation of problems!

Lumian planned to utilize Spirit World Traversal for a third time, returning to the surface and avoiding any danger by abandoning Beatrice's body.

While Lumian made his decision, Franca instinctively moved toward Beatrice's lifeless form, which now had a second tree-like wart.

Her right hand reached into the concealed pocket of her dress, aiming to retrieve the ancient mirror she had discovered underground.

This ancient mirror was connected to a strange and perilous mirror world. She could attempt to encase Beatrice's body within it, allowing one form of danger to counteract another!

This would buy them precious time for further deliberation. Ultimately, whether the departed believer of the Mother Tree of Desire triumphed or the enigmatic mirror world absorbed the corruption and "stilled" the mutation, it wouldn't directly impact Franca, the humans present, or the surrounding residents.

Compared to them, the inexperienced Browns Sauron's initial reaction was to incinerate the remnants of spirituality in the corpse with her black flames, freezing the emerging mutation. This was the most Demoness-like approach to disrupting the deteriorating situation.

At that very moment, Lumian and the others sensed a significant dimming of the light around them, as if the crimson moon had vanished, leaving only a few dim wall lamps.

Instinctively, Lumian turned his gaze to the window and discovered that the glass had turned pitch-black, no longer offering a view outside. It had transformed from a "window" into a sealed barrier.

Simultaneously, the formless entity that had been slowly emanating from Beatrice's body appeared lost, unable to find its path to the infinite darkness. It seemed to meander aimlessly, gradually receding.

Their mystical connection to an unknown entity dissipated. Lumian, Franca, and Browns suddenly lost the sense of being "watched" from afar and "illuminated" by unseen eyes.

Thud! Thud! Their heartbeats slowly returned to normal as they witnessed the tree-like wart on Beatrice's body wither rapidly, and no more blood boils emerged.

The darkness surrounding the corpse gradually receded, and an imperceptible object began attaching itself to the diamond necklace adorning Beatrice's corpse.

…

Beneath the crimson moonlight, the building at 23 Rue Ménier lay concealed in darkness. Every window remained void of light, with no signs of life to be found. It exuded an eerie stillness and a sense of foreboding, reminiscent of a haunted house.

Across the street, within an apartment room, an unusual and ornate mirror rested in a spotless hand.

The mirror was adorned with intricately designed black serpents that intertwined. Each "snake" featured a large crimson eye on its head, devoid of a mouth or fangs.

In that precise moment, the mirror's surface remained crystal clear, revealing a well-lit scene.

Gas wall lamps emitted a warm, yellowish radiance from the windows on every floor of the building, where various domestic scenes played out.

The elderly guard on the first floor smoked a cigarette butt he had collected and leaned against the lobby wall, savoring the tranquility of the night. On the second floor, a couple occupied the living room, one engrossed in a novel, the other unfolding a newspaper in front of them. Near an ajar window on the third floor, a half-naked man kept a cautious eye on the door, ready to make a hasty escape to the street at any moment…

Meanwhile, on the fourth floor, Lumian, Franca, and Browns found themselves perplexed. One contemplated using his abilities to discern an escape route from the "crime scene," while another delved into a concealed pocket with her right hand, seemingly searching for something. The third member appeared to have a premonition and distanced themselves from the other two.

Another spotless hand extended and lightly grazed the peculiar mirror, encircled by the one-eyed "snakes."

In an instant, the well-lit building disappeared from the mirror's surface, and the silent, gloomy apartment at 23 Rue Ménier began to illuminate one by one. Figures were reflected one after another, and distant sounds could be heard.

…

Lumian surveyed the room and realized that Adaina's apartment had returned to its usual state. The unsettling anomalies, like the impenetrable darkness and the strange glass windows, had all dissipated.

Beatrice Incourt's corpse had reverted to its original form, and the horrific transformation now felt like a mere nightmare.

Lumian, who had been ready to whisk Franca away at a moment's notice, relaxed somewhat and exchanged a look with Browns Sauron.

The Demoness Sect won't just send such an inexperienced member to investigate Franca…

Had one of the powerful Demonesses, who had been covertly observing the situation, intervened to help resolve any potential anomalies?

This behavior doesn't seem characteristic of a Mid-Sequence Beyonder. A high-level Demoness, or a Sequence 5 Demoness of Affliction wielding a godhood item?

No wonder Browns had entered so openly, seemingly unconcerned about potential attacks from me and Franca.

I wonder if the hidden Demoness had seen my Spell of Harrumph…

Franca shared a similar thought. She diverted her attention from the window and regarded Browns Sauron.

She expressed her guess calmly but didn't inquire further. She looked down at Beatrice's corpse and asked with curiosity and confusion, "The necklace appears to have changed."

Lumian also noticed this transformation. The transparent diamond on the necklace seemed to reflect the light from the gas wall lamp in a captivating manner, causing his heart to race and his mouth to go dry.

Could it have become a Beyonder weapon similar to Fallen Mercury? Had the previous boons returned to their source because there were no abnormalities? Lumian formed a rough conjecture. He approached the corpse and knelt down cautiously.

As he reached out to touch the necklace, a multitude of desires surged uncontrollably, making him quickly retract his hand, shivering from the bloodlust.

With items like Flog and a host of contractual negative effects, he was no longer suitable for contact with the necklace, which had the power to awaken the deepest desires.

"You handle it," Lumian said, standing up and gesturing for Franca to take care of the necklace.

Franca accepted the task without hesitation and carefully removed the diamond necklace with anticipation.

Without further delay, the two of them bid farewell to Browns and made their way back to the market district.

…

Avenue du Marché.

Franca had successfully dealt with Beatrice and stood a chance of passing the Demonesses' audit. She had also acquired a Beyonder item that complemented the abilities of the Demoness of Pleasure. Her good mood was evident, and she almost hummed a tune to express her positive feelings.

She glanced at Lumian, who walked beside her in silence.

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm wondering where Maipú Meyer might be hiding…" Lumian replied, his tone serious. "Let's go underground now."

Franca was taken aback for a moment but quickly understood Lumian's thoughts.

"Do you think Maipú Meyer might return to the place where Susanna Mattise once conducted the sacrifice to the Tree of Shadow?"

"Perhaps." Lumian wasn't entirely certain, but he felt there might be some clues or traces left behind.

Franca, feeling confident in her gains from the spoils of war, didn't attempt to dissuade him. Together with Lumian, they entered Underground Trier from the Avenue du Marché entrance.

Using a fireball for illumination, they navigated a relatively familiar path, passing by the collapsed mine where Rentas, a member of the Bliss Society, had been buried and the location where Jenna had been drugged. They ventured deeper into the altar area, a place they had previously avoided.

The area was marked with scorching signs, devoid of any living creatures or the malevolent aura that once lingered. It was as if it had been exposed to intense sunlight for days, leaving behind only piles of withered bones from various creatures.

The cave's collapses and crevices had been filled with soil and rocks. Lumian examined the area carefully and noticed fresh marks around the original altar.

These marks clearly didn't belong to the same person and came from different "visitors."

As Lumian examined the marks and the deep-rooted cave-ins, memories of the Tree of Shadow, the Samaritan Women's Spring, and the Iron and Blood Cross Order's conspiracy flooded his mind.

These seemingly disparate elements all pointed to one thing: They, directly or indirectly, pointed to the underground, to the hidden histories and perils lurking beneath Trier.

-x-X-x-

Franca also noticed the footprints and traces. After carefully observing them for a while, she remarked, "At least four people have come together in the past two weeks…"

"Maipú Meyer has accomplices?"

Lumian gazed at the collapse that had been filled in and pondered for a moment before saying, "What's more important isn't whether they have accomplices, but what they're doing here.

"If it's truly Maipú Meyer and not a random team of cave explorers, he long knew that this place had been destroyed by the official Beyonders. There wouldn't be anything valuable left behind. Why did he bring people here recently? To pay homage?"

"It's not impossible," Franca muttered. "What if he achieved something and received a new boon from the Mother Tree of Desire, becoming a Fallen Tree Spirit?

"It's also known as Baby Cupid. There must be a distorted desire in affairs of the heart, just like Susanna Mattise did with Charlie. Therefore, Maipú Meyer coming specially to pay homage to his deceased love fits the characteristics of the pathway."

"But there's no need to bring three or four people to watch him perform, right?" Lumian surveyed his surroundings. "Perhaps he didn't do it on purpose but just happened to pass by?"

Franca quickly caught Lumian's drift.

"Are you suggesting that Maipú Meyer and his accomplices frequent the underground of the market district?"

Lumian offered a curt acknowledgment.

"I now believe that Maipú Meyer didn't return to the market district to deal with me. He might eventually seek revenge, but that's the outcome, not the process."

"Is their target something underground in the market district?" Franca frowned. "But the Tree of Shadow is severely damaged. What's so special about this place? It can't be that the entrance to the Fourth Epoch Trier is beneath the market district…"

Franca stopped abruptly.

That wasn't impossible!

Lumian quickly recalled the situation in the market district and various rumors he knew. Suddenly, he recalled something.

Madam Magician's "doll" messenger had a strong aversion to Salle de Bal Brise, claiming that old bones were buried beneath the area.

This had to refer to a unique situation beneath the market district. Moreover, the building facing Salle de Bal Brise was suspected to be related to église Saint-Robert's old cemetery.

Lumian promptly shared this insight with Franca before they continued following the traces out of the destroyed sacrificial mine.

"There's really a problem… It's not hard to figure out. Summon that messenger later and ask," Franca remarked, bemoaning the poor fengshui in the market district. She followed Lumian, providing mysticism support for his pursuit.

The two of them journeyed deeper underground, but they eventually lost the trail of their target. The suspected members of Maipú Meyer's group had traversed several well-known and long-used tunnels frequented by cave explorers, smuggling caravans, and mushroom-growing citizens. Their tracks had been effectively concealed by those who came later after more than ten days.

Lumian, with a crimson fireball above him, came to a halt and stared into the pitch-black mine ahead. He remained silent for an extended moment, his thoughts shrouded in mystery.

Franca was about to suggest leaving when Lumian suddenly spoke.

"Don't you think the market district has been unusually quiet for the past month or so?"

"How do you mean quiet?" Franca retorted involuntarily.

007 certainly didn't think so!

Lumian pondered his words and continued, "Let me put it another way. Apart from the Beyonder problem we caused, isn't the market district oddly quiet regarding mysticism incidents?

"No, to be more precise, after the Tree of Shadow was severely damaged, the heretics have become extremely inactive!

"Right, no new factions have emerged to devour the remaining smaller mobs, or to engage in conflicts with the Savoie Mob. There have been no suspected sacrificial cases. Even among those that preach secretly, I only encountered a swindler from the Sick Church, and he was just an ordinary person…"

Since the Tree of Shadow incident, the only true heretics Lumian and Franca had encountered were Guillaume Bénet from the Sinners organization and Beatrice Incourt of the Bliss Society. However, they had followed a trail based on former clues which weren't within the market district.

The Rose School of Thought's Werewolf could barely be considered one, but that was an aftermath of the Tree of Shadow incident.

Browns Sauron of the Demoness Sect could only be considered half an element. This organization had a solid history and believed in the evil entity of this world, not alien evil gods."

Franca was taken aback.

"Isn't that normal? Secret organizations that believe in evil gods must operate in secret. If they were encountered by someone like you every day, they would have been wiped out long ago!

"Look, we didn't notice Maipú Meyer returning to the market district before."

If it were anyone else, your explanation wouldn't be a problem, but I have an alien evil god's angel sealed within me. According to Madam Magician's rubbish repulsion convergence theory, there must be an abnormal reason why I haven't encountered a heretic causing trouble for so long… Termiboros has been excessively quiet recently… Lumian's thoughts raced as he said to Franca, "Can you use dream divination on me to help me remember something?"

"No. Perhaps a powerful Seer can, but not me." Franca shook her head. "What do you want to recall? You can seek Madame Hela's help. She can definitely create a real dreamscape now."

Lumian nodded slowly and responded, "I'd like to recall an address where suspected heretics reside. I plan to check it out and see if they've vanished, gone into hiding, or fallen silent. Yes, there's no need to trouble Madame Hela for the time being. I know who to ask."

This was him carefully making confirmation built upon bold assumptions.

Seeing Lumian return to the surface as he spoke, Franca hurriedly asked, "What address? Who are you asking?"

"We'll talk later. Let's head to Rue de Scotch Broom in Quartier de Noel first," Lumian said without turning around.

Why does this address sound so familiar… Franca mused for a moment as she followed closely behind.

As she neared the surface, she finally remembered.

Madame Pualis's address!

Madame Night from Cordu!

…

Quartier de No?l, Rue de Scotch Broom.

This suburban area was filled with villa-like buildings, each with a lawn facing the street and a garden at the back.

Lumian walked in the shadows where the street lamps couldn't reach, carefully inspecting the lawns and gardens of each building.

Franca did the same. Without knowing Madame Pualis's house number, they had to rely on the unusually vigorous and lively plants to make a judgment.

As they approached the end of the street, Lumian and Franca simultaneously noticed a garden filled with blooming flowers, resembling a lush forest of plants.

The grayish-white building housing the garden appeared unlit, slumbering in the darkness, in stark contrast to the surrounding residences filled with family life.

"It feels like no one has lived here for a long time…" Franca began to understand Lumian's concerns. "Has Madame Pualis, a member of the Nightstalkers, also moved out and hidden herself quietly?"

Lumian observed and listened for a while to confirm that the building was empty. He then took out a piece of wire, opened the door, and entered.

During this process, Franca used Magic Mirror Divination to confirm via mysticism means.

The living room was devoid of furnishings, the linen long gone. Dust had gathered on the table, indicating that no one had lived there in some time.

Lumian proceeded further into the house, and Franca followed him cautiously, not daring to near or touch anything.

Upon reaching the coffee table, Lumian bent down and picked up an abandoned newspaper. Although it was tattered from rat bites, there were still some remnants left.

Lumian examined the newspaper under the moonlight and whispered, "Early July… This means that Madame Pualis didn't leave immediately after I got the address out from Louis Lund, nor did she depart immediately after the Tree of Shadow incident. She resided on Rue de Scotch Broom for a while and chose to abandon this place for unknown reasons."

"Something is indeed amiss," Franca noted with a grave expression.

They quickly searched the building and then boarded a rental carriage to their next destination.

Upon receiving an old newspaper advertising the Interstellar Bridge from Laurent, the former tenant of Auberge du Coq Doré and now deputy editor of Le Petit Trierien, Lumian and Franca arrived at 9 Rue Saint-Martin in Quartier 2.

The fifth floor was an office rented by a group of swindlers and suspected heretics. They aimed to raise funds for constructing an interstellar bridge to the crimson moon.

Under the dim starlight, the entire fifth floor lay shrouded in darkness.

Lumian cautiously reached out and pushed open the door to the apartment-like office.

Crimson moonlight filtered through the window, revealing scattered papers on the ground. Complex mechanical symbols and intricate bridge diagrams displayed concepts that appeared both imaginative and plausible.

Many of the drawers were open, devoid of any belongings, as if the swindlers had hastily retreated upon realizing the arrival of the police.

Based on the written information and various traces at the scene, Lumian and Franca concluded that this floor had been vacant for nearly two weeks.

"There's definitely something unusual," Franca remarked. "Why have the heretics from various organizations suddenly reduced their activities, hidden themselves, and gone quiet?"

Lumian's expression grew solemn as he said in a deep voice, "This abnormality suggests that something significant might be in the works."

Without waiting for Franca's response, he instructed her, "Contact 007 and inquire about any information regarding the Sick Church. Also, find out what problems might be lurking in église Saint-Robert's old cemetery.

"I'll write a letter to Madam Magician and share our findings and speculations."

He planned to also ask the "doll" messenger about the meaning of the old bones.

"Alright," Franca responded promptly.

…

Auberge du Coq Doré, Room 207.

Lumian set up the ritual and summoned the "doll" messenger donning a light-gold dress.

As he handed the folded letter to her, he managed a smile and inquired, "What did you mean by the old bones underground?"

The "doll" messenger displayed a disgusted expression.

"Filthy, repulsive old bones from the Fourth Epoch!"

-x-X-x-

Old bones from the Fourth Epoch… Lumian disregarded the doll messenger's emotional descriptions and focused on extracting the essential information.

But this didn't provide a deeper insight compared to what he already knew. After all, most of Trier's underground issues had their roots in the Fourth Epoch.

Lumian took a moment to ponder and inquired, "Where does it come from? How do the old bones look like?"

The messenger responded angrily, "I've never seen them before! Their aura alone is so repulsive, disgusting, and filthy!"

So, you're not entirely sure of the situation either… Lumian decided not to press the "doll" messenger further and observed as she vanished, carrying the neatly folded letter.

Only then, as Lumian awaited Madam Magician's response, did he have the opportunity to assess his gains from the night.

A vial of truth serum, a vial of Bliss Society sedatives, a vial of Mysticism Smelling Salts, and 1,500 verl d'or.

…

Apartment 601, 3 Rue des Blouses Blanches.

"So late? I thought you'd resolve it quickly." Jenna, clad in a light cotton dress, stood up and greeted Franca upon her return.

She believed that Franca and Ciel had a high chance of winning, even if they encountered a Fallen Tree Spirit!

Franca muttered, "We ran into an accident. Uh, just a moment."

Franca looked at Jenna with a serious expression.

"What's wrong?" Jenna sensed something was amiss.

Franca walked to her side and examined her pupils.

There were no signs of her wearing blue contact lenses!

"Phew…" Franca let out a sigh of relief and said, "In the future, we need to continuously verify if we're Actors in disguise."

Actors of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway couldn't alter their bodies or fundamentally change their appearances like Faceless. They relied more on makeup items and various props.

Among these, the color of the eyes was the most challenging for Actors to mimic. They had to use external objects. They could prevent Actors from infiltrating their ranks by checking if anyone around them was wearing colored contact lenses.

Of course, this wasn't foolproof. They could always find actors with the same eye color as the target to act.

In the current situation, Maipú Meyer's eyes were dark brown, Jenna's were blue, and Lumian's were the same. Franca's were a lighter shade, more akin to the blue of a serene lake. For the time being, they had no reason to worry about being impersonated by the former manager of Théatre de l'Ancienne Cage à Pigeons. Maipú Meyer had distanced himself from the Bliss Society, and he couldn't recruit a new Actor anytime soon.

The only person they needed to be concerned about was Anthony Reid, who also had a pair of dark brown eyes.

As an acting apprentice at Théatre de l'Ancienne Cage à Pigeons, Jenna was particularly attuned to the Bliss Society's activities. She instantly became alert and scrutinized Franca's eyes, fear in her voice as she asked, "Are they targeting the market district again?"

"It's Maipú Meyer. He's back in the market district. We don't know where he's hiding," Franca replied without reservation, recounting the entire incident.

Of the Bliss Society members, the only one Jenna was familiar with was Maipú Meyer. She had a deep-seated fear of him because he had once been her manager and could influence her future.

Unconsciously, she touched the Arrow of the Bloodthirsty concealed in her pocket and nodded solemnly, saying, "I'll be cautious."

Franca didn't offer any additional information. She glanced at the wall clock and retreated to her room. She activated the radio transceiver and prepared to contact 007.

Before long, she used the mechanical typewriter and analyzer to send a telegram.

"007, paging 007!"

Within 20 to 30 seconds, a telegram produced by a machine appeared.

"Hidden Blade, don't do this to me. I'm scared. What's going on now?"

"This could be a significant problem!" Franca honestly warned 007. "Bro, before I disclose the exact situation, help me gather some information. I need to confirm two things: First, if there have been any developments related to the Malady God faith in Quartier du Jardin Botanique, specifically on Rue Pasteur and Rue Evelyn. Second, what lies deep beneath the old cemetery of église Saint-Robert?"

After a brief pause, a new telegram arrived.

"I'm off-duty tonight, seriously! And now I have to go back to work overtime!

"Give me half an hour to an hour."

Franca replied: "No problem." As she conversed with other members of the telegram group, she retrieved the diamond necklace she had acquired from Beatrice Incourt and used various methods to assess the Beyonder accessory's capabilities and adverse effects.

The diamond corresponds to a total of five desires: lust, appetite, lust, acting, and fulfillment…

It doesn't seem to have many uses. Usage of each desire shouldn't exceed two…

With it on, I seem to be better at acting and makeup…

I'll just keep it in my pocket. Without it coming into direct contact with my skin or flesh, there won't be any negative effects…

After wearing it, I'll become more excited than usual, and my various desires will significantly increase. If I encounter Beyonders with similar abilities, I'll be effectively restrained and even suffer a huge loss…

Among them, the most intense desire is the desire for recognition…

Yes, this thing can't be used against Beyonders of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway. Its weakness lies in their strengths…

What should I call it? The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Pendant? Uh, the style doesn't seem right. Forget it, I'll call it Beatrice's Necklace. It's simple, convenient, and clear!

007's response arrived faster than Franca had anticipated. In less than half an hour, he provided the relevant information.

"According to the heretic database shared by various official factions, the Malady God's envoy hasn't been located. He appears to have sensed danger in advance and hasn't resurfaced.

"The situation at église Saint-Robert's old cemetery is extremely classified. I can't investigate it for the time being."

Extremely classified? Franca inwardly hissed and relayed to 007 the eerie quietness from organizations devoted to evil gods.

…

Rue Anarchie, Auberge du Coq Doré.

Madam Magician's slow response arrived after an hour of waiting:

"After the death of a bestowed, the return of power to the source is deducible, but typically, you wouldn't be able to sense it.

"This time, it was due to your wearing the Flog boxing gloves. They are made from the Tree of Shadow and are closely related to the one that the Bliss Society believes in, the source of the boon powers. Therefore, when Beatrice's boon power returned and the connection was strengthened, that entity indirectly noticed you and the Two of Cups, which caused the corpse to exhibit an abnormality. This abnormality allowed the flow of the boon power to become visible.

"To retain the boon power and prevent it from returning, you require the corresponding ability or a unique environment. Sometimes, these two elements are one and the same. In simple terms, you need to advance to Sequence 4 and become a demigod or obtain something at this level. Only then can you have a chance of preserving the remaining boon's power and forming a Beyonder item. Of course, in specific underground environments, such as near the Samaritan Women's Spring, you can achieve this without a high Sequence."

Lumian now had a clear understanding of the anomaly of the night.

Unlike his previous killings of members of the Bliss Society, he now possessed the Flog boxing gloves, bringing about a different development.

The use of the Flog boxing gloves attracted the attention of hidden entities to begin with, and its connection to the Mother Tree of Desire through Beatrice's belief had influenced the return of boon power, causing the abnormality.

Understanding the situation and how to prevent it in the future, Lumian continued reading Madam Magician's reply.

"We have already noticed Trier's anomaly and are monitoring one of the leads. However, it is unclear when we will find any answers. What we can say for certain is that changes will occur, with a timeframe ranging from as short as two months to as long as half a year.

"I cannot provide a definitive answer regarding what lies beneath Salle de Bal Brise as it is challenging for me to approach. All I can tell you is that it is certainly more than just the corruption left behind by Blood Emperor Alista Tudor.

"Don't dwell too much on this matter. It is beyond your capabilities to handle. Your focus should be on accumulating strength and biding your time."

Accumulate strength and bide my time… Lumian repeated these words to himself as he absorbed the advice.

The next morning, Lumian had a conversation with Franca and Jenna. Afterward, he gathered all his funds and went directly to 11 Rue des Fontaines in Quartier de la Cathédrale Commémorative.

"Boss, here are 30,000 gold and 30,000 verl d'or banknotes," Lumian said with a smile as he placed the heavy leather bag on Gardner Martin's desk.

He still had 1,000 gold and nominal funds of 1,500 verl d'or.

Gardner Martin glanced at Lumian, unzipped the bag, and began counting the money.

He didn't inquire about Lumian's remaining funds. With a smile, he retrieved a faux goatskin that appeared to have been prepared in advance.

"You need to promise two things. First, memorize this formula before burning the piece of paper. Second, you cannot resell the Conspirer potion formula without my or the Supervisor's permission," Gardner Martin stated these terms without requesting a notarized pledge, as if issuing an order.

Lumian agreed to these terms without hesitation, saying, "No problem."

Gardner Martin nodded in satisfaction and handed over the faux goatskin to Lumian.

Lumian took it and began reading:

"Conspirer potion formula:

"Main ingredient: Black Hunting Spider's composite eye, Sphinx's brain;

"Supplementary ingredients: One Black Hunting Spider's poison gland, 80 milliliters of Sphinx blood, 10 grams of amber powder, and two white oak fruits."

After reading and memorizing the formula, Lumian's right hand trembled, allowing the crimson flames to engulf the faux goatskin.

…

Time passed in an eerie silence. Unbeknownst to them, the heat in Trier began to wane, and the temperature gradually dropped.

One mid-September day, Franca stood before the window of Apartment 601 and cursed Browns Sauron for what felt like the hundredth time.

She had already passed the Demoness Sect's audit and informed Browns that she had joined the Savoie Mob to infiltrate the Iron and Blood Cross Order. However, she never anticipated there would be an assessment period. Only after this evaluation could she officially become a member of the Demoness Sect.

Her current liaison, Browns Sauron, used this as an excuse to prevent her from participating in the Red House Café's female orgies. This left her with no option but to endure tormenting Gardner Martin and his lovers for the past month or so.

Franca turned her attention to Jenna, who appeared lost in thought, and couldn't help but sigh at her companion's fortune.

The Demoness Sect remained oblivious to Jenna's true identity as a Beyonder of the Assassin pathway.

"What's troubling you?" Franca inquired.

Jenna responded with a hint of distress, "My Instigator potion has completely digested."

Franca exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "That's a good thing!"

Jenna scratched her head and let out a sigh. "I haven't even paid you back for the money I owe you, and now I have to consider the Witch potion formula and its ingredients. Dammit, why does it feel like the more I advance, the poorer I become?"

-x-X-x-

Franca chuckled at Jenna's complaint and replied, "That's typical. As long as you master the acting method, progress comes quickly before reaching the mid Sequences. The pace at which you save money often falls short of the expenses for purchasing the potion formula and the necessary ingredients.

Jenna fell silent for a moment, then she swore, "You instigated me without using your abilities!"

"Haha, it's just the way things are. I'll share the Witch potion formula with you now. Let's start gathering," Franca said as she returned to the coffee table, spread out a piece of paper, and swiftly jotted down the instructions.

Jenna stood beside her, examining the Intisian words taking shape.

Meanwhile, Jenna silently tallied her debts.

Including the Purifier reward and the earnings from my underground singing, I've saved nearly 10,000 verl d'or.

According to Franca and Ciel, a Sequence 7 potion formula can go for between 30,000 and 40,000 verl d'or, depending on its rarity. At the very least, I owe Franca another 30,000 verl d'or, bringing the total to 60,000…

Even if I sell the Arrow of the Bloodthirsty, I won't be able to make up for it. In the future, I'll have to purchase various ingredients for the Witch potion, costing me over 30,000 verl d'or… Dammit! It's no wonder why so many Beyonders at those mysticism gatherings seem strapped for cash and penny-pinching!

The more Jenna calculated, the more her head throbbed.

If it weren't for the potion's tangible transformation and the clear, visible abilities it grants, she would have suspected she'd fallen into a scam. Why did her debts keep increasing as she worked harder?

In the past, her whole family had often felt hopeless when dealing with a debt of a few thousand verl d'or. But now, she owed Franca 60,000, and there was no end in sight.

Even with her cash and assets, she still fell short by 10,000 verl d'or.

Gritting her teeth, Jenna decided to put these worries aside for now and deal with them after advancing to Sequence 7 as a Witch.

Franca quickly finished writing down the Witch potion formula:

"Sequence 7: Witch;

"Main ingredient: Every drop of an Abyss Demonic Fish's blood and an Agate Peacock's egg;

"Supplementary ingredients: 80 ml of purified water, five drops of Jimsonweed juice, 3 scales of a Shadow Lizard, and 10 drops of Daffodil Juice."

She handed the paper with the formula to Jenna and added in thought, "Avoid gathering these materials at the mysticism gathering we attend. Acquire them from the gathering you discovered and joined, as well as from the Purifiers. Oh, ask Ciel for assistance too."

Franca was still in the Demoness Sect's assessment period and worried about potential spies from the secret organization in the mysticism gatherings. If participants gathered the ingredients for the Witch potion, it could raise suspicions.

In contrast, the Purifiers were a more secure source of these ingredients, given their history of dealing with Demonesses. They definitely had the corresponding characteristics in reserve.

"Alright." Jenna rwas well aware of the Demoness Sect's hostility toward wild Assassins like her.

Recognizing that the heretics were oddly quiet and them receiving confirmation from a Major Arcana card holder, Lumian and Franca had suggested that Jenna and her brother Julien relocate from Trier to another city in Intis for six months to monitor the situation.

Jenna had insisted on staying to spend time with her comrades and had promised to advance her Sequence quickly.

This was the primary reason she had accepted Franca's gift without hesitation.

As for her brother Julien, Jenna genuinely wanted to keep him away from another mysticism disaster. She wanted him to live a safe and happy life, and she had been busy instigating him to leave Trier.

Jenna couldn't help but smile. "I went to Port LeSeur last weekend."

Port LeSeur, situated at the estuary of the Srenzo River, was one of Trier's primary ports for shipping goods out to sea.

Franca was surprised and pleased for her friend.

"Did you manage to instigate that stubborn fellow?"

Without divulging the truth,Jenna shook her head and said, "No. I shifted my instigation efforts to a different target. I discovered that the shipyard where Julien works has a branch in Port LeSeur, so I used my Instigation ability to convince their supervisor to propose a six-month technical exchange program between the factories. I also paid to include Julien in the list.

"I only digested the potion after successfully instigating this. Dogsh*t, no matter what I told Julien, he refused to listen. He even reneged on his word the next day after the Instigation. As soon as his supervisor issued the order, he started packing!"

After venting her frustration about her brother, Jenna glanced at Franca and added with a sly grin,

"The skilled workers from Trier arrived in Port LeSeur last weekend. The return leg from LeSeur to Trier will be half a year later to avoid the potential disaster.

"Franca, why don't we figure out a way to get more people to leave Trier and lay low for a while?"

"They won't believe us even if we tell them," Franca sighed. "Moreover, if more people leave, those evil god organizations might sense it and act prematurely. If the official Beyonders aren't prepared, it could lead to more casualties."

Unspoken was the fact that, combined with Madam Judgment's words and Ciel's intel, the surface Trier served to seal the underground Trier. Everyone in the city contributed their strength, and if too many left, the seal might weaken, putting the remaining citizens in danger.

Jenna fell silent for a moment, choosing not to dwell on the topic.

Her upbringing and six months of experience had taught her to accept the harsh reality. All she could do was save as many as she could within reasonable bounds.

After a pause of about ten seconds, Jenna said thoughtfully, "When I Instigated the supervisor to propose the exchange program, I noticed that many neighboring factories had similar arrangements. That's why I had an example to raise and succeeded without much difficulty.

"Now that I think about it, could it be a covert effort by official Beyonders to reduce the population in the market district?"

"It's certainly possible," Franca considered for a moment before hesitating to add more.

What she wanted to say was that it might also be orchestrated by the Tarot Club or Church of The Fool. Madam Justice, a Major Arcana card in the Spectator domain, was well-suited for such matters.

Franca refrained from saying this because she hadn't yet told Jenna about her and Ciel's belief in Mr. Fool.

She had initially planned to "visit" The Fool's cathedral at Lavigny Docks with Jenna, but she dared not do so once she came under the scrutiny of the Demoness Sect.

…

In a four-wheeled four-seater carriage, navigating through the forest and farmland, Lumian, dressed in a casual formal suit, looked out the window at the golden harvest, his mind drifting.

The past month had been his most leisurely period in the past six months, but he didn't find this leisure enjoyable. He seized every opportunity to digest the Pyromaniac potion.

This included visits to the large morgue in the island district to help "cremate" corpses, "bury" abandoned large-sized trash, venturing underground to use flames to intimidate passing smuggling teams, successfully securing insurance compensation for small distressed merchants through fires, tracking down and incinerating a few wanted criminals, and igniting a desire among many to leave Trier and explore opportunities in neighboring cities…

This string of actions had brought Lumian to the brink of fully digesting the Pyromaniac potion. It might only take another half a month, a week, or perhaps even less.

Today, Lumian had received an invitation from Count Poufer to visit his Red Swan Castle as a guest.

Over the past month, the Sauron family had hosted five gatherings—one at the castle, one for hunting, two for casual chats at a café, and one for a masquerade ball in an abandoned house.

Lumian had participated in all of them, but nothing significant had occurred. The only notable exception was that Poufer Sauron hadn't played King's Pie again.

Where's the probe Gardner Martin mentioned? Could it be a probe this time? The Cave Association hasn't made another appearance. Do they believe me? He redirected his thoughts from the near-harvest farmland and contemplated the invitation for the day.

What intrigued him even more was Gardner Martin's promise to secretly monitor every gathering hosted by Count Poufer. So, where might Gardner be concealed at this moment?

Under the afternoon sun, the carriage arrived at its destination.

Lumian gazed up at the beige castle, tainted with the stains of ancient blood. Passing through the imposing door and the vast atrium, he reached the elegant living room on the first floor, adorned with a dark-red, plush carpet.

Poufer Sauron, dressed in a red velvet coat, was engaged in conversation at the entrance with another guest when Lumian arrived.

Lumian's gaze froze.

The guest standing beside Count Poufer was not someone he had expected to see.

Clad in hunting attire, with what appeared to be reddish-dyed hair, sharp brown eyebrows, and piercing eyes, it was Albus, another member of the Iron and Blood Cross Order.

As a member of the Iron and Blood Cross Order under the command of Commanding Officer Gardner Martin, Lumian was well aware of their identities and objectives. However, Albus was enigmatic and seldom seen in the market district, only making appearances at gatherings for a free meal.

"Who is this?" Lumian didn't conceal his confusion.

Is he here to assist me in completing my mission?

Poufer Sauron introduced with a smile,"A new friend. He'll be joining us at our gatherings more frequently."

At this point, Poufer turned to Albus, whose expression appeared rather unlikable, maintaining his smile.

"His full name is: Albus Medici."