Chapter Thirty-Two: Whispers Beneath the Shadows

Dave Sager was the sole survivor of that previous accident. By the time he barely managed to escape back to Pato City, he was critically wounded and near death. The sheer volume of his injuries made him look like a mosaic; seven or eight claw marks that reached the bone, combined with a piercing wound through his shoulder, should have been enough to claim his life instantly. The specific toxins of the Red-Spined Beasts had nearly kicked him through the gates of the afterlife.

Yet, miraculously, he was saved. According to a member of the clergy from the Holy Church Union, Dave must have been favored by the gods. Divine magic, which should have only been able to do so much, had triggered a resonance as if the gods themselves had reached out to aid him. Several wounds that should have been fatal healed instantly under that sliver of divine power.

And that was certainly not a miracle a mere minor priest could have cast!

This young man was blessed by the gods...

Soon, this news spread through the city as if it had sprouted wings.

Cole had told Mo Tan this, and the Thieves' Guild intelligence confirmed it was no different.

But in Mo Tan’s eyes at this moment, this "Dave," who supposedly insisted on praying in the cathedral for his fallen companions every day despite his unhealed wounds, not leaving until sunset, was as healthy as could be!

*Heh, if even a careless, idol-like figure like this can fool those charlatans, it seems the so-called Holy Church Union is just a bunch of nearsighted small fry…*

Mo sighed inwardly, shifting his angle without a sound so he could observe the room more comfortably.

By now, everyone has likely guessed that the character "Tan Mo" had snuck into Dave's home before logging out last time and had done some prep work—like cutting a hole in the wardrobe.

Here, it is necessary to thank Mr. Baud. The quality of the disposable lock-picking tools he provided was excellent; even a door that appeared ordinary but had a core reinforced with rare Red Demon Gold didn't last two minutes.

By the way, there are lock-picking levels in *World of Innocence*, but there is no "Lock-picking" skill. After all, if a player could just mutter a skill name empty-handed and unlock a door, it wouldn't be very logical.

One's lock-picking level depends on individual talent and background. If a professional locksmith played this game, they’d probably start at level seven or eight. Conversely, if you grind your lock-picking level high enough in *World of Innocence*, you might become quite adept at petty theft in the real world.

Back when Mo Tan logged off, after dealing with Dave’s front door, he immediately heard a system prompt:

*Your lock-picking level has been unlocked. Current level: 9. Cunning School level +3.*

It is better not to dwell on this, or we won't get anything else done this chapter.

Returning to the matter at hand...

Dave finally tore off all the bandages on his body. His bare upper torso showed no signs of injury, but Mo Tan noticed faint traces of black flowing beneath the skin in several places.

"Another grueling day." Dave took a few deep breaths, looked at the blood-stained pile of bandages on the floor with utter disgust, and curled his lips gloomily. "Dull, tedious, nauseating!"

This twisted, resentful expression made it impossible to associate him with the upright and kind-hearted Dave.

Of course, in Mo Tan’s eyes, this was far from surprising. He rolled his eyes, feeling somewhat bored.

*Poof!*

A flash of dark gray fire swept over, and the pile of bandages—which served much like a costume—was instantly reduced to a heap of ash. During this process, aside from a sound no louder than a fart, there was no heat or energy fluctuation one would expect from fire. It was neither divine magic nor arcane magic.

Though Mo Tan didn't have our god’s-eye view, he reached a judgment immediately.

*Sorcery, huh...*

He arched an eyebrow, squinting as he stared at the ash-like pile on the floor, confirming his earlier suspicions.

*There are traces of corrosion. And although subtle, a chill definitely swept through the air just now. Combined with previous intelligence and his current demeanor, he’s a cultist, nine times out of ten.*

Mo Tan really wanted to whistle, but he held it back.

Dave, seemingly having vented a sliver of emotion, was grinning foolishly on the spot. He was, of course, unaware that he was not alone in the room; there was one more person hiding in the wardrobe.

*If someone claiming to be his girlfriend burst into the room right now and dragged me out of the wardrobe, that would be a masterpiece,* Mo Tan thought to himself for some reason. Immediately after...

*Knock, knock, knock!*

A series of knocks sounded at the door, and the corner of Mo Tan's mouth, which had been quirked up, twitched.

"Who is it?" Dave asked the door politely, while simultaneously flicking his finger across his body. Instantly, over a dozen gruesome wounds appeared, continuously seeping fresh red blood.

Yet, there was not a trace of pain on his face—only the disgust and impatience that completely contradicted his tone.

"In the name of the God of Whispers! Open the door, you fool!!"

A cold, chilling voice suddenly echoed through the room. Both Dave and Mo Tan were startled, but the difference was that after Dave was startled, he broke into a cold sweat, threw on his coat, and rushed to the door, while the person in the wardrobe wore an indescribable smile.

It was a smile so pure that it seemed devoid of any emotion.

Before long, Dave returned from the door, followed by a man shrouded in a wide cloak.

Determining gender was far too easy for Mo Tan. He didn't need to see the face; the man's gait, stride length, and other minute details were enough for him to deduce it.

"My lord!" Dave bowed slightly as he invited the man to sit at the table. "I did not know why you would suddenly come to see me in person... rather than through the Book of Whispers..."

The visitor snorted coldly, waving a hand to cut Dave off. A raspy voice that seemed to shift between near and far rang out: "Do you have any idea how many things you nearly ruined? And you have the nerve to ask why I came in person?!"

Dave trembled, stammering, "I... I do not know..."

"You don't know?" The man’s distorted voice was filled with rage. "Then let me ask you! Why didn't you dispose of Ai Fanye on the spot that day? Why didn't you confirm the death of Cole Schullen with your own eyes? Why didn't you turn back to command those two Red-Spined Beasts to leave you with wounds, instead of taking it upon yourself to abuse divine power for a disguise?!"

Dave was stunned for a long moment, then defended himself in a low voice: "Cole faced those two beasts alone; he should have surely died. When he decided to cover the retreat, I knew he was prepared to die for that girl, Rona... Fanye couldn't have survived after I attacked her, not in that..."

"That small grove!?" The other man let out a suppressed roar. "Then why, when I arrived after receiving your report, did I only find a mound of dirt burying Lada Dona and two pools of blood! But I couldn't find the bodies of that little priestess or the man who 'died for love'!?"

Dave’s face turned deathly pale; his body swayed, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

He truly hadn't expected such a turn of events under those circumstances.

Of course, what Dave didn't know was that the culprit behind this series of accidents was currently leaning in his wardrobe, watching with great interest as he trembled in fear before this "Lord."

"Hmph, don't panic," the man said gloomily. "You’re lucky that this is the most critical stage of the plan. Otherwise, I would have made you experience the pleasure of 'Soul-Destroying Whispers' myself today!"

Hearing that the man didn't intend to punish him immediately, Dave finally calmed down a bit. Then, with a look of terror, he whispered, "Th-thank you, my lord... but if Fanye and Schullen haven't died, wouldn't I..."

"Calm down, you waste!" the man barked, then shook his head slightly. "Even if Cole Schullen’s body wasn't found, it’s possible those beasts ate him. After all, the elven mage’s body is also gone. Even if he survived by luck, he shouldn't know what you did..."

*Tsk tsk, jumping to conclusions, are we? While that is a possibility, the reasoning is too sloppy. Can someone like this really be a cadre under that God of Whispers? I'm a bit disappointed...*

Mo Tan thought sarcastically while maintaining his stealth.

The "Lord" paused slightly before continuing: "As for that little priestess, she likely didn't die and witnessed your actions. But there’s no need to worry too much; she was severely wounded. If she had returned to the city in the last two days, it would be impossible for me not to know. When she does show up, I will contain her and deal with her quietly once the dust settles..."

"What exactly are you..." Dave looked at the man, confused. He understood the part about Cole, but the latter part was a bit hard to process.

As if seeing through his confusion, the man just let out a sneer and reached up to pull back his hood.

Revealing a face...

A face so incredibly common!

"Lord Lan?" Dave gasped in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost. "How could it be you?"

The middle-aged man named "Lan" sitting before him chuckled, his round face looking kind and benevolent—he looked every bit like a good-natured old man.

*Oh, so it’s no longer fashionable for villains to play the beast or the trap; they’ve switched to the 'man of the people' style now...*

Mo Tan immediately memorized the man's appearance and features, making a snide remark in his heart.

"Do you understand now?" Lan asked Dave with a smile. "I’ve already instructed my people. From today on, whether it's Cole Schullen or Ai Fanye, the moment they enter Pato City, they will be brought to me for 'careful treatment'."

*Well, that's nice. It seems you haven't considered the possibility that they entered the city that very night. Who told you they had to return after your lackey here?*

Mo Tan rolled his eyes secretly.

"The plan proceeds as scheduled," Lan said to the now-relaxed Dave. "But this time, you must follow the rules strictly. No more mistakes."

A chill in those seemingly gentle little eyes made Dave feel as though he were being pricked by needles. He nodded immediately. "Don't worry, my lord, I won't slip up again. Tomorrow morning, I will have the Holy Church Union grant me the title of temporary Paladin. Then I will go outside the city and kill those two Red-Spined Beasts myself to avenge my 'companions'."

Dave smiled happily as he said those final words.

Mo Tan also smiled happily.

"Very good," Lan nodded with a grin. "Upon your return, you will be fully qualified to become a true 'Knight of the Holy Church.' To honor your achievements and everything you've done for Pato City, I will suggest that the Church baptize you, our 'hero,' with the Waters of the Gods. You then use our Lord's whisper-magic to fake the rest, making them believe you are a 'Blessed One'!"

Dave was horrified, his face turning pale. "The... the Waters of the Gods!?"

"Correct," Lan nodded. "The highest level of baptism Pato City can provide."

"But my lord!" Dave shook his head, his complexion ash-gray. "When I was first baptized, the ordinary holy water nearly burned my soul. If I use water blessed by the gods this time... wouldn't I..."

Lan shrugged. "Nothing will happen to you. I will find a way to have someone swap the contents that day. You just need to use our Lord's power to cover it up, understand?"

It was the umpteenth time that night Dave had let out a long sigh of relief. He nodded vigorously. "No problem!"

"Oh... by the way, you don't know the new base the sect has moved to yet, do you?"

*The base?*

"I do not, my lord."

*I'd very much like to know, too.*

"It is at..."

*At where?*

Mo Tan pricked up his ears, focusing with all his might. He was very, very interested in cultist bases.

And then...

*You have been disconnected from the server. Please choose whether to reconnect.*

"..."

*Reconnecting...*

*Connection complete. Loading character information.*

*Welcome back, Chaotic Evil Mo. Loading World of Innocence. Have a good night.*

...

Southwest of the Innocent Continent, within the territory of the Savin Empire.

Against a backdrop of a starry sky, a continuous stretch of tents sat on the wilderness. At that moment, a figure clad in a black cloak and wearing a half-mask emerged slowly from the most magnificent silver-patterned tent.

The dim moonlight, hidden behind a thin veil of clouds, struggled in vain...

Yet it still could not illuminate his face.

Chapter 32: End