NOVPUBChapter 164: Chapter 163 We Unite!
Chapter 164 -163 We Unite!
“Uh…” Shandela was at a loss for words.
Would an ordinary priest really make such jests about their own church?
“Do other churches also know about this?”
“In theory, they do. Bishops communicate with each other, but who knows what the actual situation is? I’m not in charge of dealing with those sects,” Ge Wei spread her hands. “Then there’s the seventh one… still without a name, because all we know about it comes from the captured heretics. Its followers often use a combination of plants and human body parts as symbols, like pine branches and intestines, peonies and hearts… all in all, pretty disgusting stuff. As you know, there are as many Evil Gods in the eyes of a hundred heretics as there are heretics themselves. Heaven knows if these combinations mean anything. The only thing we can be sure of is that these lunatics are not following any of the Evil Gods of the past.”
How professional, Shandela thought. During her service on the Old Continent, she often heard about the army breaking up heretical cult strongholds and exterminating many cultists. In her view at the time, these people were equivalent to murderers and arsonists, only crazier, more destructive, and capable of using some inscrutable dark sorceries. Now, hearing the priestess speak, she suddenly had a comprehensive concept of them.
At the same time, a hint of doubt rose in her heart. If nowadays a heretic could push her to such limits, were all those places the army swept through in the past truly heretical strongholds?
Ge Wei continued, “The followers of the seventh differ markedly from those heretics of the past—we always believed that people became heretics because they were called by the Evil Gods, either falling ill and becoming hysteria patients or dying. Only a very few could survive until the final stage, so their numbers were always limited. However, the situation has changed now; the followers of the seventh seem to be attempting to expand in the manner of the orthodox religious sects, proactively ensnaring people into joining the cult, making their actions more radical and difficult to deal with.”
“Proactively ensnaring people?” This was beyond Shandela’s imagination. The Evil Gods may bear the word ‘god’ on the surface, but in reality, they cannot communicate, let alone protect their acolytes. What’s the difference between joining them and signing up for a madman’s club? “There’s no benefit for others to join, really!”
“But from what we’re seeing now, their infiltration is quite rapid… Take, for example, Black Steel leaders like Aibuvich, people of stature and status; they do not at all resemble someone who would abandon everything to become a heretic. Clearly, we’re facing something incomprehensible.”
“If only we could find out more,” Shandela murmured.
In military training, generals always placed intelligence gathering at the forefront of combat, and the same principle should apply when dealing with heretics. If they could cut off the channels through which heretics recruit outsiders, the pressure in future combat would be greatly reduced.
“If you can manage that, the church will certainly award you a one-kilogram medal, one that’s made of pure gold,” Ge Wei chuckled. “Don’t think too much about it—it’s not something for us to consider.”
The pain from her wound made Shandela feel weary, yet she still mustered her energy to ask, “And how are those evil creatures that attacked me formed? Are they all voluntarily transformed by heretics sacrificing themselves?”
“The church is still researching this matter. However, creatures like the black veined potted plants are quite valuable; the remnants I sent back yesterday should have already left Magnificent Castle by ship and be on their way to the Mechanical Sect’s grand cathedral in the Old Continent today.”
Shandela nodded, her voice growing softer.
“What do you think the Mechanical Sect will do after learning about these matters?”
“If this were an important city on the Old Continent, then within three days, hundreds of Executive Priests like me would have arrived one after another to reinforce.” Ge Wei paused deliberately, “As for Magnificent Castle… the reinforcements have already arrived. It’s me.”
“Cough cough… uh…” She almost choked, a tearing pain coming from her wound, “Weren’t you invited by His Lordship?”
“He made a request to the local Mechanical Sect, and the sect then dispatched the available priests from the surrounding area. Within a thousand miles, I am the only Executive Priest.” Ge Wei chuckled lightly, “Of course, once my report is submitted, the news of the seventh Evil God’s followers might make the headquarters take things a bit more seriously.”
“Damn it, can’t they be a bit more proactive!”
The old Shandela would have never spoken this way in front of a priest—it would seem rude and could easily cause disputes. But now she had far fewer reservations.
“It’s not that they’re unwilling, but that they cannot. There are only so many Executive Priests. Faced with new threats, the headquarters will, of course, prioritize the safety of their home base first.”
“That’s true… In the end, it still comes down to us relying on ourselves.” She took a breath, “Actually… I have a task I’d like to entrust to you.”
“Oh?”
“My deputy, Woody, is a reliable man, but he lacks ability. He can follow orders well enough, but when it comes to thinking for himself, not so much. Tomorrow I’ll be summoning the third son of the Wille Shipping Company for questioning, and someone needs to take charge of the subsequent investigation. But in my current state… I simply can’t take any action for the time being.”
Shandela spoke candidly.
“You don’t expect me to take over as the Commander of the city guard, do you?” Ge Wei feigned surprise.
“Of course, that’s impossible. This is my army,” she shook her head, “However, I can create a position of substitute adviser for you to remind Woody what needs to be done next. Additionally, I’d like the envoy from Paradise to act with you. His capability to gather intelligence is beyond imagination; he just lacks the assistance of a professional.”
This was undoubtedly a bold decision.
The city guard’s duty was to protect the lord’s assets; the Commander should be loyal to the lord. That was true for her, but it might not be the case for Ge Wei and the envoy from Paradise.
Maybe Mr. Zhao’s words had moved her;
Or perhaps the support of Earl Li Qiang emboldened her to make such a change.
“You’ve changed a bit from before…” Ge Wei said suddenly after a long silence.
“I trusted too much in the power of the city guard before. Only now do I realize that many things are not as perfect as I thought they were. I hope it’s not too late to mend things.”
“Who knows? Maybe our world is doomed to perish, and the followers of the Heretical Cult will prevail in the end, just as the New Continent is shrouded in mist.”
“Hey…”
Ge Wei blinked, “It’s fine by me. But if I’m not at the base and you encounter followers of the Heretical Cult, what will you do? You could die, you know.”
This guy… could he be worried about his own safety? 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
Shandela was momentarily stunned, then said helplessly, “The weakness lies in the lower body, and explosives work wonders, right? I can still find a hundred trustworthy soldiers who know how to use grenades.”
“If that’s the case, then let’s do as you say.” Ge Wei jumped off the bed, “I’m not going to waste more time here, you rest up.”
The fatigue she had been holding back surged forth all at once.
Yet Shandela felt an unexpected calmness in her heart.
If the city guard, the Mechanical Sect, and the newly revealed side of Paradise could work together, they should be able to give the followers of the Heretical Cult something to think about, right?
“Ah, please take care of it.”
She slowly closed her eyes.
