Chapter 1603: Sinister Truth

Zhao Li Xin carried her through the forest without slowing down, his steps fast yet silent, as if not even the leaves dared betray him. The deeper they went, the denser the trees became, and the darker it grew.

A few moments later, they saw a campsite hidden amidst the dense vegetation, occupied by several large tents, a campfire, and heavy equipment such as generators and excavators. The road leading to the camp appeared to have been forcibly carved out—trees cut down and the ground leveled to allow large trucks and other vehicles to pass through.

However, what stunned Lory was the sight of the traffickers’ victims, confined in a makeshift cage of iron wire and guarded by armed men. Their faces were haggard, their clothes filthy, as if they had been held there for some time, perhaps taken even before Lory’s group arrived.

Lory immediately took out her phone and snapped photos of the scene, while Zhao Li Xin remained alert, ensuring no enemy personnel noticed their presence. She also spotted several Dragxtarns dressed in tactical uniforms, carrying their weapons with an air of arrogance.

After sending the photos to Lucas, Lory continued watching the soldiers with growing unease as she wondered what they intended to do with so many captives.

A moment later, a voice rang out in irritation. "Why hasn’t the next batch arrived yet? Haven’t you heard from the team at the port?" asked a man who appeared to be the group’s leader.

"We’ve tried, but we can’t establish contact," his subordinate replied, his expression tense with worry.

The commander’s face darkened. This wasn’t normal; in fact, it was highly unusual. A bad feeling crept into his mind. "What about the additional team at the first post near the port? Have they reported anything?"

His subordinate shook his head. "We can’t reach them either. It looks like the connection has been cut off." His expression tightened, knowing this couldn’t have happened by accident. They all understood how important this place was—no mistake, no matter how small, would be tolerated.

The commander cursed under his breath before snapping, "Send a team to check the situation immediately. I want a full report."

"Yes, Commander!" The soldier saluted and hurried off.

Lory and Zhao Li Xin exchanged glances, both wondering what would happen when they discovered that everyone there had already been annihilated by Zhao Li Xin.

After one team departed in a jeep, disappearing into the jungle toward the beach, another soldier approached the commander.

"Reporting, Commander. The paladin is asking why the next replacement hasn’t been sent yet."

The commander gritted his teeth in annoyance. "A bunch of useless holy warriors, they do nothing but complain," he muttered irritably.

The commander, taking a deep breath to calm himself, before he scoffed, "Send them now!"

The soldier glanced at the pale, trembling prisoners before snapping a salute. "Yes, Commander!" he barked. Turning sharply, he shouted to the others, "Move them! Take them to the Dustveil cellar!"

The makeshift prison groaned in protest as its gate was wrenched open. Chains clattered, boots pounded against the hardened earth, and the captives were hauled into the open beneath the cold, unwavering aim of loaded rifles.

No one fought back, not out of obedience, but because fear had already carved them hollow. One by one, they were driven forward, stumbling, clinging to one another, their eyes searching for answers that never came.

Lory’s frown deepened as she watched.

Replacement?

The word echoed in her mind, sharp and insistent. Replacement for what? Her expression darkened. Whatever it meant, she would uncover it.

She moved without hesitation, melting into the shadows as the prisoners were herded onto the back of a truck like livestock. Bodies pressed tightly together, fingers curled around rusted rails, their faces pale with dread.

The engine roared to life, tearing through the forest’s fragile stillness, and the vehicle lurched forward, disappearing into the depths of the trees.

Lory and Zhao Li Xin followed on foot, swift and silent. They leapt from branch to branch like wraiths in the canopy, their movements fluid, barely stirring the leaves as they kept pace with the rumbling truck below.

At last, the vehicle slowed, then it stopped before a structure that might have once been mistaken for an abandoned cellar. The entrance was small, just wide enough for two people to pass side by side. Time had painted the stone a dull gray, and moss clung persistently to its surface, as though trying to reclaim it for the forest.

Lory’s sharp gaze caught the details others would miss, the faint seams of recent repairs, the subtle gleam of reinforced steel beneath weathered stone. A digital lock blinked faintly at the side of the door, its cold precision clashing against the cellar’s aged facade. And the door itself... new. Too new. It did not belong to the past that this place pretended to come from.

Then it opened.

Two figures emerged, one man and one woman. They wore white robes trimmed with silver, their polished armor catching what little light filtered through the trees. Swords rested at their waists, their bearing composed, almost regal, very out of place in a damp, forgotten forest like this.

Lory’s eyes narrowed the moment she saw them. ℯ𝐥.𝒄ℴ𝓶

They are Paladins. Recognition came instantly, and with it, a heavier question.

’What were they doing here?’

"How many do we have today?" the female paladin asked, her voice clipped, gaze already sweeping over the crowded truck.

"Forty-five," the commander answered, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his cigar.

Both paladins frowned, their expressions tightening with visible dissatisfaction and disappointment.

"Forty-five?" the female barked, disbelief cutting through her tone.

"There were supposed to be at least a hundred. What happened to the rest?"

The commander’s expression darkened, annoyance flashing at being questioned in front of his men. "Something went wrong with the last shipment. We’re still investigating. You’ll get your numbers—just be patient a bit."

"Patient?" The female paladin’s jaw tightened, fury blazing in her eyes. "Do you have any idea how many people the Saintess must heal every day? Forty-five isn’t enough."

"This falls under your responsibility, Commander," the male added, pointing at him sharply. "If you fail again, we will report this to your superiors."

The commander’s restraint snapped. "Watch your words, dogs!" he roared. "Don’t stand there acting righteous. You may act like high-and-mighty holy soldiers out there, but don’t you dare act like that in front of me. Ha, you think we don’t know who you truly are?" ℯℓ.

His lip curled in contempt. "You think you’re so holy, but the truth is—you’re no better than the creatures you created."

The male paladin’s expression hardened, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Correction—the creature WE made. And you think you’re better than us?" he shot back. "Your leader was the one who came to ours first."

"So what?" The commander stepped forward, closing the distance until they were nearly chest to chest, smoke curling between them. "Unlike you, we don’t pretend to be God’s messengers—pretending we’re better than everyone else," he growled. "Unlike you, we don’t hide behind holiness while slaughtering people left and right."

The air turned tense, neither side willing to yield as the pressure mounted, then all of a sudden, a thunderous roar split the silence.

"Enough."

A shout cut through the argument, instantly silencing everyone.

A man emerged from the cellar, swaying slightly as he stepped into the open. His hair blazed a vivid orange, wild and unkempt, impossible to ignore against the muted greens and grays of the forest.

His white uniform hung loose and disordered, stained in places, as though he neither noticed nor cared. A half-empty bottle dangled from his hand, the sharp scent of alcohol trailing after him.

His face was flushed, his movements slightly unsteady, but his eyes were clear.

He wasn’t drunk.

"Why are you all so loud? Do you realize you just ruined my fun?" he snorted, his expression cold and glazed with apparent malice. He took a slow drink, never looking away from them over the rim of the bottle.

The commander and the paladins fell silent. They lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Lory’s brows knitted together. The man looked familiar, but where had she seen him before? She searched her memory, grasping at fragments, until suddenly the two paladins bowed deeper and spoke in unison.

"Lord Simon."

Recognition struck her instantly. Lory’s eyes widened ’It was him’

That man was the unhinged paladin they had faced when they barged into Elysium, the same man who had taken that unsettling interest in Fargo. Of all places, she had never expected to find him here, on a remote island in the middle of the ocean.

But what was a member of the Constellation doing here? The realization sent a flicker of unease through her. Whatever was hidden on this island... it was far more important, and far more dangerous, than they had imagined.

Simon’s gaze swept over the prisoners before he sneered. "Forty-five, huh? That’s far from enough." He turned and glared at the commander. "You know the saintess heals dozens of people a day. This much can barely cover one day."

"I know. This is my fault, I will take responsibility for this error," the commander said, lowering his head. The arrogance he carried earlier had vanished. A bead of sweat slid down his temple, whether from fear or the suffocating humidity of the forest, no one could tell.

"What use is your ’responsibility’?" Simon replied, his tone dripping with contempt. "You know that without replacements, the saintess can’t heal anyone, right?"

Lory and Zhao Li Xin exchanged shocked glances, at least for Lory’s side. Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin, on the other hand, looked intrigued. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, as if he were already piecing something together.

What connection could there possibly be between these prisoners... and the saintess’s ability to heal people?