https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-717-Lanchi-Begins-to-Study-the-Identity-of-Landel/12585157/
Chapter 718: Loren Won't Get Away
Chapter 718: Loren Won't Get Away
By the creek that flows through the capital, on a night when even the moonlight occasionally hides its visage, stands the mansion of St. Cryxie Abbey.
Bright lights shine from behind the curtains on the second floor of the mansion.
In this study, Lanchi and Talia have been poring over a mysterious pink Sacred-tier "Ultra Long-Range Communication Program-7" for quite some time.
"I can't make this card," Talia said, perplexed as she analyzed the communication magic card. "Its craftsmanship is so unique."
She felt that it might incorporate the principles of super ancient divine artifacts, and the encryption level was completely unlike the technology of this era.
The card Lanchi now held clearly had some functions that couldn't be used.
He checked the contact list.
Besides Landel, there were eight other contacts.
"So, there are a total of nine members in this secret organization that Landel is a part of?" Lanchi mused aloud, equally puzzled.
As the previous holder of the card, Landel seemed to have joined later, as there wasn't much information on him.
Additionally, private chats were restricted to only contacts 1 and 2, while the rest could only participate in group chats.
From what they could gather so far, Contact 1 was likely the leader of the organization, and Contact 2 was the coordinator who took charge in their absence.
Before long, a new message from Contact 2, 'Truth,' caught Lanchi and Talia's attention.
【Truth (2): That's good. Now, everyone except for Contact 4 is in Brilida. In principle, we shouldn't interfere or inquire about each other's affairs, as it's for our mutual safety.】
【Truth (2): But let's still try to help each other when we can.】
The sender added another sentence.
"So, everyone is in the same city?" Lanchi exclaimed in surprise.
"For people like you who want to stir up trouble within the Cryxie Empire, the best location would be the capital, Brilida, wouldn't it?" Talia remarked, feeling that Lanchi didn't need to feign ignorance in front of her.
Even though Lanchi was impersonating Landel, the motives of this clandestine group in the capital of Brilida were certainly not benign.
"Of course not, I'm the one who wishes the Empire well the most," Lanchi asserted righteously.
"If you say so," Talia replied, seeing no point in arguing further. She knew that Lanchi's mind was made up, and there was little she could do to change it.
"Speaking of which, this 'Truth,' the holder of the 2nd Sacred Communication Card, easily accepted that I had just arrived in Brilida, even though I've been here for a while," Lanchi thought.
Moreover, according to 2's statement, the members were not supposed to interfere or inquire about each other's affairs.
This implied that they might not know the real identity of the 7th Sacred Communication Card holder.
"So, only the founder, Contact 1, knows everyone's true identity?" Talia understood Lanchi's implication.
"I think so. Probably only Contact 1 has met Landel in person. As long as I don't meet Contact 1 offline, there shouldn't be any risk of exposure," Lanchi nodded.
Given the organization's secretive nature, it was unlikely that the enigmatic Contact 1 would reveal themselves when handing out the cards to the chosen members.
"But let's reply to 2's message for now," Lanchi said to Talia as he typed a response on the pink sacred communication device.
【Justice (7): Acknowledged.】
He sent the message.
Even with the opportunity to glean information from 'Truth,' he was still an imposter, and the more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake.
The prudent course of action was to first observe the group messages on this unique communication device for a while, understand the rules and characteristics of the organization, and then seamlessly join their conversations without arousing suspicion.
This time, they waited a long while, but 2 didn't reply, and Lanchi and Talia relaxed a little.
It seemed the conversation had come to an end.
"No one else is saying anything in the group chat," Lanchi observed.
It appeared that everyone was busy with their own tasks or that the bonds within this clandestine organization were not as strong as they seemed.
"Do you intend to remain in this organization?" Talia asked, sensing that Lanchi's involvement in the Empire's affairs was increasing.
However, the problem was that Lanchi didn't know the organization's scale, nature, or goals, nor even its name.
"Of course," Lanchi sighed and spread his hands. "Otherwise, Landel's identity might be exposed. The members of this organization probably know him better than anyone else in the capital. To make the most of his convenient identity, I'll have to fulfill his obligations as well."
"It's not a big deal. The more friends, the more options. Perhaps we can gain some intelligence or assistance in the future. The organization seems to prioritize safety, so let's just take it one step at a time," he added.
"Alright then, I'll go and check on dinner," Talia said as she stood up and pushed her chair back.
Things had come to this, and they would have to make do in the Empire for now. The immediate concern was to fill their stomachs.
...
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Cryxie Empire, Brilida, nestled at the foot of the towering Osterlo Mountains and flanked by lush pine forests, stood a temple-like edifice of sandstone.
The outer walls of the hundred-meter-high structure, constructed from divine-era stones, shone faintly in the moonlight, impervious to the ravages of time.
Hundreds of auto-targeting sky-splitting cannons were mounted outside the four-sided, eight-directional defensive barrier, their muzzles aimed at distant targets, ready to reduce intruders to ashes.
Beneath the reverberating bell tower of Cryxie, a fully armed special patrol officer stood sentinel, clad in a black military greatcoat and wielding an Imperial Forging Fire gun, his gaze cold and vigilant as he kept watch over the distant horizon.
This was the Imperial Military General Staff and the headquarters of the Imperial Army.
As the highest command of the Imperial Army, it was responsible for formulating grand strategic directives and coordinating the operations of various military branches.
The Chief of the General Staff, a position held by the Imperial Marshal, Hisinthos, who was bestowed the Diamond Throne, reported directly to Emperor Saint Baldor Hoffman, the Temple Emperor.
Under his jurisdiction, the Imperial Army's affairs were managed, troops were assembled, and battle plans were devised.
Several army groups fell under his command, including the General Headquarters of the Imperial Army Ground Forces, the Imperial Air Force Command, the Imperial Navy Command, the Imperial Weapons and Equipment Department, the National Mobilization Administration, and the Wartime Propaganda Department.
As for the Capital Garrison Command and the Imperial Special Operations, although independent of the direct control of the Imperial Army General Headquarters and answerable directly to the Cryxie Emperor, their authority did not supersede that of the Imperial Army. When necessary, they were still required to heed the commands of the General Headquarters and were forbidden from trespassing its premises without authorization.
At this moment, in the deepest core of this architectural behemoth, lay a vast space known as the "Hall of Divine Descendants."
The hall was carved in a circular, amphitheater-like fashion, encircled by twelve arched doorways.
Above, the dome of the shrine was adorned with a mosaic of countless luminous, immortal crystals, casting their radiance upon the ebony marble floor below.
This was an exclusive meeting place for the Twelve War Gods of the Empire.
It was also the most forbidden zone within the Cryxie Empire, an area that no one dared to breach.
In times of peace, even a ninth-rank cultivator would not possess the capability to break through the defenses mounted by half of the War Gods.
Now that most of the War Gods were away on the battlefield, the Hall of Divine Descendants had become correspondingly desolate.
Often, only the First War God, Hisinthos, guardian of the Diamond Throne and stationed in the imperial capital, and the Sixth War God, Violette, would be present here.
However, on this evening, in the empty heart of the hall, upon a long bench beside the round table, sat the Third War God, Gayat, bearer of the Entwined Chalcedony Throne.
He was clad in a black obsidian robe embroidered with subtle dark patterns, resembling a misty suit of armor that fit him perfectly.
By his side rested his mechanical staff, composed of countless silver gears.
He sat quietly, as if awaiting someone's arrival.
Time ticked by slowly.
Finally, faint footsteps echoed from the shadows of a distant doorway at the far end of the hall.
Gayat slowly raised his eyes, gazing in that direction.
From the darkness emerged a figure—a doctor, walking with a casual stride.
He wore a simple white coat, his silver-white hair framing a handsome face with a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.
"You've arrived, Lugayed," Gayat acknowledged.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting. After all, my journey here was quite swift," Lugayed replied as he approached.
Apart from the First War God, Hisinthos, who permanently guarded the imperial capital, and the Sixth War God, Violette, the other War Gods would return to the capital when they required rest and resupply, and their deployments would be adjusted according to the strategic situation on the front lines.
Initially, most of the War Gods operated within the Alliance of the United Kingdoms, a region in the Kingdom of Unions.
However, a change in strategy was now being implemented.
This involved the Third War God, Gayat, bearer of the Entwined Chalcedony Throne, and the Fifth War God, Lugayed, holder of the Mica Throne.
Gayat, with his superior offensive and suppressive capabilities, would be dispatched to the central plain countries, while Lugayed, with his exceptional auxiliary and disruptive abilities, would be sent to the eastern region to bolster the hero units there.
As a master of poison and alchemy, the Fifth War God, Lugayed, possessed the ability to swiftly heal, adjust the conditions, and enhance other eighth-rank powerhouses.
Since the outbreak of war, the Fifth War God, Lugayed, had been the most frequently dispatched among the War Gods, traversing far and wide.
One could say that, unlike the stationary First War God, Hisinthos, and the Sixth War God, Violette, the Fifth War God, Lugayed, could appear anywhere at any time.
"Allow me to tend to you while I'm here."
Lugayed, carrying a dark golden medical kit in his left hand, sat down next to Gayat.
This exchange would allow Gayat, who had returned to the capital of Brilida, to restore himself to peak condition, after which Lugayed would head to the eastern region to provide medical care for the other two War Gods.
"I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time," Gayat said with a slight nod, his tone indifferent.
"Gayat, a healer must always be calm and collected," Lugayed replied, his half-lidded eyes curving gently. "We are both racing against time, so why fret over a mere hour?"
As he spoke, he gracefully opened the medical kit and withdrew a crystal vial filled with a translucent green liquid.
He gently took Gayat's wrist, pushed back his sleeve, and placed his fingertips on Gayat's pulse, closing his eyes to focus on the rhythm of magical power coursing through his veins.
"You do seem to be suffering from extreme fatigue. I'll need about an hour here to treat you properly," Lugayed said after a moment, his eyes fluttering open.
"My thanks," Gayat acknowledged succinctly.
Lugayed picked up the vial and a syringe, injecting the contents into Gayat's vein, and began using alchemical magic to temper the virulent poison, transforming it into a potent healing agent.
The substance he administered would have been a lethal poison if injected directly, but under his skilled manipulation, it was continuously broken down and reconstituted, channeling its restorative powers.
This process was a lengthy one.
"What is Hisinthos up to these days?"
"Well, since I'm here being treated, I might as well ask you, Doctor Lugayed," Gayat said, breaking the silence.
The movements of the Fifth War God, Lugayed of the Mica Throne, were directed by the First War God, Hisinthos. Gayat assumed that Lugayed had met with Hisinthos before arriving here.
"I don't know. He doesn't have the time to clean up after you lately," Lugayed replied, shaking his head.
Gayat fell silent for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the transparent glass surface of the round table, just above the restricted area beneath the Hall of Divine Descendants.
He knew that Lugayed was referring to what he had brought back.
It was a black, interlocked magic cube, now bound by the chains of the forbidden zone, surrounded by the Imprisoning Pillars, and standing atop a lone stone pedestal.
Covered in intricate seals, it was entwined by reddish-breathing chains that shone like snakes and scorpions, tightly locking down the six-faced object.
"If I had kept fighting, I'm not sure if he would have gotten stronger, so I banished him to the Illusory Domain," Gayat said after a moment, his voice deep and solemn.
That day, the battle outside the eastern border of the Kingdom of Aloran couldn't be described as difficult, nor particularly smooth.
After Simon Luo showed up and kept healing Philip's injuries while Loren inflicted them on him, the fight fell into a stalemate, forcing Loren to expend his life force and mana as he couldn't escape or deal significant damage.
"Is he that strong?" Lugayed inquired.
According to intelligence, High Priest Loren's strength shouldn't have pushed Gayat to use his trump card.
"At the start of our clash, I was certain he wasn't stronger than me, but by the end, he had almost caught up," Gayat admitted, shaking his head as if recalling that very battle.
He had never encountered someone like Loren, who seemed to grow stronger the longer the fight dragged on.
Although Loren was still quite far from attaining the power of the Second War God, the Black Obsidian Throne, Gayat couldn't help but feel uneasy about Loren's rate of growth. If Loren managed to gain the upper hand against the Seventh War God, Philip, or the Eleventh War God, Simon Luo, and escaped, the consequences would be unimaginable.
While the three War Gods didn't suffer any serious injuries, the battle had taken an unexpected turn, and to ensure the mission's absolute success, Gayat had decided to use his ultimate move against Loren, sealing him away instead of fighting to the bitter end.
Within the Illusory Domain was an endless void, a world with no true exit.
"According to our spies within the Empire, Loren also possesses a reusable immunity field ability. The last time he used it was during the Demon Tribe incident in the Flower Capital of Pariet, in the Kingdom of Posen. He looked like he was at death's door, but he never used this spell, which made the commander feel uneasy," Gayat said gravely.
In the end, they still hadn't figured out what attribute Loren excelled at the most.
Looking back, Gayat knew that sealing Loren had been the right decision; otherwise, Philip and Simon Luo might not have made it back in one piece.
"Whether you use it early or late, it's still being used. It's a relief to have eliminated such a huge hidden danger by using your grand sealing technique. It's just a bit of a shame that it wasn't used on the Speaker of the Western Hub Zone," Lugayed mused, a hint of regret in his tone.
Of course, successfully employing that forced sealing technique hadn't been easy.
One could only connect the seal to an opponent who was severely injured and under forced control.
It was a supreme spell used by ancient seal masters to seal the Immortal Blood Tribe, recorded in the Moon Temple. One had to have a blessed object from the Wolf Sage as a medium to cast it without repercussions; otherwise, the caster would suffer deadly backlash.
Being hit by this spell was as good as being dead, and even the caster's death wouldn't undo it.
As a precaution, Gayat had brought the Illusory Domain back to the capital, Brilida.
While it would have been safer to gather enough power to collectively unlock the Illusory Domain and have the War Gods gang up on Loren to ensure his death without any chance of escape, the current battlefield situation didn't allow for such a time-consuming endeavor.
"Are you certain that Loren is completely sealed within this barrier?" Lugayed asked, his eyes fixed on the pitch-black, interlocked magic cube.
It wasn't that he doubted Gayat or the reliability of the sealing technique, but there were indeed some discordant notes within the Empire, and anyone could potentially be a rebel.
And the more impossible it seemed for someone to betray the Empire, the more catastrophic the consequences would be if they did.
If someone leaked the information that Loren was sealed deep within Brilida, those rebels might go to great lengths to rescue him.
Such an adversary would undoubtedly be a calamity.
If the rebels were allowed to continue unchecked, anywhere could become an anthill that would bring about a collapse, and even the newly emerging religious groups had caught the attention of His Imperial Majesty, Saint Baldor Hoffman, who had personally ordered the Imperial Military General Staff and the Imperial Special Operations to investigate them.
"Hmph, Loren is definitely inside, make no mistake," Gayat interrupted, his voice cold and confident. "Unless I choose to release him or a seal master stronger than me comes to break the spell, this seal will never be undone."
(End of Chapter)
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