Chapter 1608: A Deadly Secret III

Lory had heard of Dolza’s Secret Intelligence Division long before this. It was one of the most feared intelligence agencies in the world, once ranked among the top three before mysteriously dropping to seventh place in recent years. However, Fredhardt had once implied that the decline was most likely intentional rather than the result of incompetence.

After all, the current situation within Dolza was far too complicated. There was an invisible cold war taking place between the Dolza government and the S.A.I.N.T. Organization.

Alexander Behrenn’s ambition had never been a secret to Emery Barco, the president of Dolza. In the beginning, both sides possessed relatively equal influence over the country. However, everything changed after the appearance of the Saintess.

The emergence of Alinna caused the influence of the S.A.I.N.T. Organization to soar to terrifying heights. Her existence was treated almost like a divine miracle by the people, and because of that, the organization gradually overshadowed the authority of the Dolza government itself.

Unfortunately, with Luxemborough openly backing the organization, Emery Barco could not move against Alexander Behrenn directly without risking political collapse.

Fortunately, he later received unexpected assistance from Harland. King Lucas secretly began exchanging intelligence with Emery Barco in hopes of bringing down Alexander Behrenn and dismantling the S.A.I.N.T. Organization from the shadows.

And that was precisely why Enzo was here.

"I received information from your superior, Fredhardt Knoxville," Enzo started to explain. "He had suspicions regarding the true origin of the Saintess’s power."

His gaze darkened slightly as he continued. "He requested that we investigate Alinna’s background. Since she’s a citizen of Dolza, it would naturally be easier for us to uncover information about her past."

"How do you conduct the investigation?" Lory got curious, "Everything about the Saintess, from her background and her healthcare, was guarded by the Paladin; no one outside the Paladin could get close to her."

"Fortunately, you managed to place an insider there—Dominique Hartley... or rather, Meredith Warren," Enzo said.

At the mention of that name, Lory immediately remembered the valuable asset Lydia managed to recruit while undercover at White Rose Boarding School.

"I know her," Lory replied. "She works for us now."

"Well, that worked in everyone’s favor," Enzo said dryly. "Because somehow, she managed to enter Domus Angelica. She became one of the Saintess’s personal maids," Enzo added.

"So...From principal to maid?" Lory pursed her lips, then muttered. "That sounds more like a downgrade," she commented.

Enzo let out a scoff. "Not really. Everyone knows that becoming a close servant of the Saintess means gaining access to the inner circle of the S.A.I.N.T. Organization. And influence like that is no small thing."

Lory quickly understood his meaning. "So," she asked quietly, "what did you find?"

Enzo’s expression gradually turned serious. "A week ago, we received a delivery from Miss Warren." Then he paused deliberately, allowing the silence to stretch for several seconds before speaking again. "It was Alinna Mirza’s hair."

"OH?" Lory tilted her head.

Enzo slowly leaned back against the cold stone wall before continuing his explanation. "In Dolza, every gifted individual born within the country must be officially registered," he said calmly. "Not only their name and family background, but also their DNA records."

Lory frowned slightly. "To monitor them?"

"Yes." Enzo nodded without hesitation. "Gifted individuals possess abilities that can become dangerous if left unchecked. Dolza has always maintained strict control over people like us."

His gaze lowered briefly before continuing. "Of course, during the Dark Age War, many records were destroyed when government facilities were attacked. Entire archives disappeared overnight beneath the chaos of war and monster invasions."

"But not all of them," Lory concluded quietly.

Enzo gave a faint nod. "The older records had already been transferred into encrypted hard drives and stored inside secured vaults long before the war escalated." His expression darkened slightly. "A large portion of the data was eventually recovered afterward."

"And Alinna’s DNA was there..." Lory’s eyes narrowed slowly.

Enzo looked at her meaningfully. "Yeah, it’s a long shot, but we’re doing it anyway. We compare the hair sample Meredith sent us against the surviving records stored in Dolza’s archives, and we find someone who matches."

"Who is it?" Lory’s face tightened.

"Have you heard the name of Maya Summer?" Enzo said.

Lory frowned, pondering, "I think I have heard that name before..."

All of a sudden, a deafening sound explosion shook the cellar, debris fell from the ceiling, Enzo jumped to his feet, while Zhao Li Xin came in a flash and protected Lory under his arms.

"Something’s happening upstairs," Lory said sharply.

"We have to get out of here!" Enzo shouted hurriedly.

Without wasting another second, the three of them rushed toward the staircase. The closer they got to the surface, the louder the chaos became. The deafening clash of steel echoed endlessly above them, mixed with terrified screams and desperate shouts.

The moment they burst out of the cellar, the horrifying scene before them made Enzo’s face turn tense.

Before them, the entire forest had descended into chaos. Harland’s King’s Army and Noxcra agents were locked in fierce combat against grotesque humanoid creatures. Their towering bodies were covered in rough tree bark, twisted roots protruding from their limbs like exposed veins.

Their arms had transformed into countless long tendrils that whipped violently through the battlefield, sweeping soldiers off their feet like helpless dolls.

One soldier was instantly pierced through the shoulder before being hurled against a frozen tree with a sickening crack.

"What the hell is that ugly thing?!" Lory shouted in disbelief.

Enzo’s face stiffened with terror as he stared at the massive creature in the center of the battlefield.

"It’s... Simon..."

"WHAT? Why is he still alive?" Lory was completely stupefied.

Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin stared coldly at the monster before speaking in his usual flat tone."That man has become...." his brows furrowed slightly in disgust, "uglier."

"...."

"...."

’Well, he’s not wrong.’

’He has become really ugly.’

Not far away, Harland soldiers were desperately trying to evacuate the remaining trafficking victims from the premises while the others struggled to hold the monsters back. The Noxcra agents managed to wound several creatures repeatedly, but every injury regenerated almost instantly.

Splintered bark rapidly stitched itself back together while dark sap-like blood dripped onto the frozen ground.

"It regenerates too fast!"

"Keep going!"

"Protect the civilians! Get them out of here!"

Amidst the chaos, one of the soldiers suddenly shouted—

"Take out the B-13!"

Instantly, several Noxcra soldiers and agents pulled out metal cylinders and hurled them directly at the creatures. One by one, the cylinders exploded upon impact, releasing thick smoke that quickly spread across the battlefield. The monster let out deep growls as it felt its weakness fading, and the soldiers charged forward.

The attacks of the King’s men and Noxcra members immediately caused wounds on the monster’s body, and the enraged Simon let out a deafening, shrill scream. It didn’t take long before everyone could feel the ground beneath them tremble profusely.

"Something is coming!" screams one of the soldiers.

A horrifying growling sound echoed from deep within the forest. Not long after, dozens of Baels came charging out from the depths of the forest. The monstrous beasts barreled through the trees like a tidal wave of flesh and claws, their glowing eyes fixed hungrily upon the battlefield. ℯⅇ𝙡.

Lory’s expression immediately sharpened. There was no longer any room to stand aside.

Lory turned her head to Enzo. "You too, get out of here!" Even though he had healed his wounds, his body was still exhausted from the torture.

Seeing the Harlands soldiers fighting so valiantly, how could he flee? Would he disgrace his people?

"No, I can fight!" Enzo refused firmly. He slammed his palms down, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly rose violently into the air before transforming into sharp swords. He grabbed the hilt firmly, then rushed toward the incoming Baels without hesitation.

’BAM!’

Lory exchanged a helpless glance with Zhao Li Xin before swiftly summoning the Trinity Staff and transforming it into a bow. Soft purple light gathered around her fingertips as she pulled the string back, and in the next second, glowing arrows shot through the battlefield one after another like streaks of falling stars.

Lory’s movements were swift and graceful as she leaped between the Bael and unleashed her wind arrows. Each arrow pierced straight into the Baels’ critical point. At the same time, Zhao Li Xin followed closely behind.

"Careful, Wife." Zhao Li Xin’s voice remained calm and unhurried despite the chaos surrounding them.

Seeing Bael about to attack Lory from the side, he stepped forward casually, as if the battlefield before him were nothing more than a minor distraction. Then he casually swung his sword. In an instant, a blazing arc of eternal flame streaked across the battlefield.

One swing and the head of the charging Bael flew into the air before the monstrous creature could even release a scream. Its gigantic body continued charging forward for several more steps before collapsing heavily onto the frozen ground with a thunderous crash. Blood splattered violently across the grass.

Then comes another screeching sound ⅇ

Simon let out another scream that tore across the battlefield. The sound was so sharp and deafening that everyone instinctively covered their ears in pain. Some soldiers even dropped to one knee as the horrifying noise reverberated through the forest like countless blades scraping against bone.

At the center of the battlefield, Simon, whose body had already twisted into a grotesque humanoid tree monster, continued releasing ear-piercing screeches despite the numerous wounds carved into his bark-covered flesh by the soldiers and Noxcra agents.

No one understood what the creature was trying to do. But that question was immediately answered. A thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the sky. Everyone instinctively lifted their heads, and their expressions instantly turned grim.

"That doesn’t sound good," said one of the soldiers.

"Look Up!" another soldier pointed at the sky.

Dozens— No...Hundreds of Wyverns that had transformed into Bael descended from the dark heavens toward the small island like a living storm. Their enormous wings blotted out the moonlight as monstrous shadows swept across the battlefield.

The creatures opened their jaws one after another, gathering blazing fire and violent wind within their throats.

"INCOMING!"

"Take cover!"

The battlefield immediately descended into panic.

"Not on my watch!" Lory shouted sharply.

The bow in her hands instantly reverted to its original form, a silver staff glowing with brilliant purple light. Without hesitation, she slammed the Trinity Staff into the ground. Soon after, a massive surge of mana erupted outward from her body.

In the next second, a gigantic transparent barrier rapidly expanded across the battlefield at astonishing speed, enveloping the entire island beneath its protective shield just as countless torrents of fire and compressed wind rained down from the sky.