Chapter 1625: Chapter 352: There Must Be a Villain Hiding in the Shadows Stirring Things Up!

In the lavish room, the moment the Commander of the Black Religious Congregation appeared on the screen, the few lucid girls in the room fainted instantly.

“Plaid, you should be in the lab now, getting ready for the alchemy process.” The elderly man on the screen said feebly, “If you want to indulge yourself, I will continue to satisfy your demands once things are done.”

Master Plaid sneered, looking at this elderly man who could die at any moment… how could he not know that the old man’s life had already been drained to its limit?

What a pathetic fellow, constantly enduring the fear brought by death.

“You seem to have forgotten your identity.” Master Plaid shook his head, “Or perhaps you want me, like last time, to quietly approach you with a knife to your throat to remind you of some things—of course, this time I don’t need a knife, you can choose what you want, I can fulfill it for you.”

The Commander’s eyes suddenly shot out a peculiar blue light.

Master Plaid was indifferent, “I know your spiritual power is stronger than average, but your body can’t endure it, can it? You wish to survive.”

“No, precisely because I wish to survive.” The Commander of the Black Religious Congregation suddenly said in a low voice, “I intend to change some things.”

“Such as?” Master Plaid asked with a taunting expression.

“The master-servant relationship.” The Commander’s eyes now glowed brightly with blue, “I’m afraid of dying, so I rarely use my power… but now that I’m about to die, how could I not use it? Plaid, kneel!”

Master Plaid paused momentarily, then shook his head… perhaps this old man had already lost his reason before his death.

But suddenly, he looked exceptionally strange.

His body, at this moment, actually kneeled down directly… Master Plaid was startled and then enraged, “What have you done to me?”

“When I discovered you, I had already secretly planted the seed of spirit in you!”

The Commander’s eyes gradually faded from blue, “All your satisfaction over the years was only to numb you… unknowingly, this seed has long taken root in your spirit… now, with just a thought, I can shatter your mental world, turning you into an idiot!”

“How dare you?!!” Master Plaid gritted his teeth, “To destroy my spirit… you’ll have to pay with your life!”

“I didn’t dare before! But now I dare… I’m dying, what am I afraid to do?” The Commander laughed madly, “Contend with a dying man, come on! Let’s go down together!”

Master Plaid remained silent.

“Do what you should do… Plaid, don’t test my remaining patience before I die.”

The communication was cut.

Only then did Master Plaid raise his head, a cold glint flashed in his eyes… suddenly, a thin smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he whispered, “Naive… such a trivial spiritual power. If someone hasn’t explored the superpower civilization Sub-world, they might fall for your trick.”

At this moment, a slight tremor occurred.

It’s time to log in.

“Let’s play with you natives for a bit.” A hint of mockery flashed in Master Plaid’s eyes, and then he walked out of the lavish room.

…

Meanwhile, in the control room, Captain Justin’s seat suddenly sank, followed by sliding through a long metal passage and finally into a solemn room.

Among the seven stern-looking elders and middle-aged people sat the overseer of the Battle Nun, Lady Katerina.

Captain Justin swept his gaze around, then said in a deep voice, “The Commander has fully authorized me to lead this operation, everyone agrees.”

The crowd remained silent.

Captain Justin waved his hand, and a screen rose on the conference table, showing a map of the town with a bright spot on it.

“This operation’s primary target is Father Strala, followed by the capture of Lamias and the retrieval of the Reversed Holy Relic.”

Captain Justin said swiftly, “The bright spot on the map is the signal released by the Fear Inverted Cross armor carried by Sister Grant and others during the last expedition. Lamias won’t fail to understand how to disengage this signal… she might plan to lure us to the signal location.”

“With only a few Fear Inverted Cross armors, she cannot confront the Congregation.” A voice said.

“She also has the God-slaying Armor, which is troublesome. I have previously mentioned, it’s unwise to give Lamias the God-slaying Armor just because she is most compatible with it… Lady Katerina, shouldn’t you take some responsibility for this matter?”

Lady Katerina remained silent with an expressionless face.

“By dawn!” Captain Justin suddenly knocked on the table, “We must complete all tasks before dawn, this is the commander’s directive… thus everyone, let’s avoid unnecessary disputes during this meeting.”

“Hmph…” Someone snorted softly, “Sending Sister Grant and her team last time was with careful planning, they should have easily captured Lamias, yet she managed to escape, even sinking the Nautilus, making it hard to trust Lady Katerina again for the capture of Lamias.”

Lady Katerina continued to remain silent.

Captain Justin frowned slightly, “Kalon Chancellor, so?”

The other person… Kalon Chancellor said calmly, “I will take charge of the capture of Lamias.”

Captain Justin looked towards Lady Katerina upon hearing this, showing an inquiry.

“No objection.” Lady Katerina finally spoke, “You are in command of this operation, you decide.”

“Alright then.” Captain Justin nodded, “Captain Kalon Chancellor will be fully responsible for the capture of Lamias… Next is Father Strala. Considering the situation where Strala damaged the Nautilus, we might need at least three battle groups to capture him. Therefore, the Sisterhood of Battle, the Monster Corps, and the assassin will be deployed. The warship will provide necessary firepower support.”

“Not enough.” Lady Katerina suddenly interjected, “To deal with Strala, three battle groups are insufficient. I apply to deploy the Congregation’s remaining two highest crystal armors, Calamity and Dawn.”

“It is permitted.” Captain Justin said indifferently, “I also intended to employ Calamity and Dawn… The Commander’s directive is to go all out, leaving no room even if it means razing the town.”

Everyone was shocked, and even Lady Katerina couldn’t help but reveal slight astonishment… Razing the town is equivalent to giving the Britain Knight Agency a direct reason for war?

The Knight Agency does not intervene in affairs between the Black Religious Congregation and the Holy Church, but this way, it pushes the Knight Agency toward the Holy Church’s camp.

“Everyone,” the captain said in a deep voice, “Strala can become the ultimate source of divine power, with the divine power, our century-long plan will be complete, and then… we shall fear no forces or powers.”

“…The leaders of the Monster Corps and the assassins, discuss the operational details with me.”

Lady Katerina sighed, she understood the Commander’s resolution and faintly sensed that the Commander probably couldn’t wait any longer… the uncompromising stance signifies the Commander’s desperate gamble.

“I’ll take my leave first.” At this moment, Kalon Chancellor also rose and left the seat, looking at several people including the grim-faced Lady Katerina, he smiled and said, “Apologies, it seems I’ve chosen the easier task, so… my apologies, I’ll have champagne ready when you return to celebrate.”

Lady Katerina coldly looked at Kalon Chancellor, gave a glance, then ignored him.

Just as Kalon Chancellor was about to walk out of the meeting room door, he suddenly stopped, “Oh, capturing Lamias is merely for retrieving the Reversed Holy Relic and her God-slaying Armor? So if she resists to the end, killing her is fine… as long as the items are retrieved, right? Justin?”

Lady Katerina seemed unaffected, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

Captain Justin glanced at Lady Katerina and thought for a moment, saying: “Try to capture her alive; after all, she is one of the Congregation. Even if she is to be executed, she must be tried first… Of course, if the situation changes, you are allowed to make your own judgment.”

“How could I bear to kill her?” Kalon Chancellor laughed, saying: “After all, Lamias is personally requested by Master Plaid… I will certainly be gentlemanly.”

After speaking, Kalon Chancellor strode out of the conference room.

At the same time, this gigantic submarine finished its docking on the seabed.

Such a massive submarine naturally could not get close to the shore… only a large number of landing boats shot out from the submarine, creating waves as they surged toward the shoreline.

…

…

In the deep night, Vasco Paladin suddenly had a sense of foreboding… He opened his eyes directly and pushed the door open, walking out of the room.

Outside the church, the night sky seemed oddly dim to Vasco, and simultaneously, the faint glimmers in the sky instantly caught his attention.

“This is…”

Upon quickly understanding what these glimmers represented, Vasco couldn’t help but show a trace of shock on his face.

At the same time, Vasco saw Stretta.

Stretta, at this moment, was standing in the courtyard in oversized, loose pajamas. Atang was in the priest’s arms, seemingly struggling to break free, but Father Strala held him tightly… Atang seemed particularly irritable tonight.

“Stretta! What’s happening?!” Vasco swiftly approached Father Strala, “These souls… are they… the town’s residents?”

“Not just them.” Father Strala shook his head, “I counted, and there are also some of the academy’s students.”

“What’s going on?”

“Is there a need to ask?” Father Strala turned back, looking lovingly at Vasco, the son of his former coachman, “Judging by the situation, surely a Devil Head is lurking here, trying to stir up trouble under cover of darkness!”

“Damn it!” Vasco gritted his teeth, watching the souls converging in one direction, then charged out the church door the next instant.

The town has many believers… As a Paladin, he has the duty and responsibility to protect every soul of the Lord’s followers; he could not stand by and watch these souls being taken away.

Yet, the moment he stepped outside the church door, a strong sense of vertigo almost made Vasco fall to the ground… His body, which had just recovered, had his abundantly refined divine power spilling out like a dam bursting!

Vasco was shocked, hurriedly retreating back into the church to mitigate the loss.

“What’s happening outside…” Vasco’s face slightly pale at this moment: “I merely walked out, and it felt like my soul was about to be sucked away!”

“That’s because your faith is not firm enough.” Father Strala walked up to Vasco and said solemnly: “Here, I have a complete set of amulets, one hundred a set, guaranteed to keep you safe!”

Saying this, the priest pulled open his pajamas… revealing an array of bizarre amulet-like items densely hanging on either side.

From all sorts of faith systems…

Vasco’s eyebrows twitched uncontrollably, nearly unable to restrain himself from jumping up and striking down the heresy!

Ignoring Strala, Vasco directly jumped onto the church roof, meanwhile attempting to contact the Squire Candidates temporarily staying in the town apartment… The phone connected, but no one answered.

Vasco gazed out, finding that within the town, souls were surging out in torrents, death looming… Yet only the church seemed unaffected.

The town’s population is small, but including the academy students, there are at least tens of thousands… Facing the current destiny of the town, Vasco couldn’t help but be anxious.

“That place…”

Souls, at this time, spiraled like caught in a vortex in the night sky… swirling, ultimately being drawn to the ground—the apparent location of a plaza central to the town.

“Stretta, do your things really work?” Vasco shouted while lowering his head.

“What a question!” Father Strala snorted coldly: “They’re all hand-drawn by me, they must work!”

“Give me a set!” Vasco bit his lip, not waiting for Father Strala’s response, jumped down and grabbed a handful of items from Father Strala’s pajamas, then resolutely headed toward the church’s gate.

“Really… effective?”

Vasco stared in disbelief at the items he randomly grabbed – this was a self-portrait painted by Strala in spirit art style.

“Damn it, Vasco!! Don’t think just because you once set me up with your sister, you can take my things without paying!” The priest in the courtyard was furious, “If I don’t beat the life out of you tonight, I’ll be letting down all the lives that died on your sister!”

Vasco was angry too, turned and walked away—he really didn’t have time to go mad with Strala here!

…

…

“The signal from Fear Inverted Cross points here, but…”

In a suburban wild field, several cold-faced men dug out a black box from the dirt.

“It appears Lamias buried it here voluntarily.” Kalon Chancellor sneered while commanding, “How foolish.”

“Sir, surely Lamias wouldn’t be so foolish as to stay here waiting for us?”

“She is using Congregation secrets and Reversed Holy Relic as leverage.” Kalon Chancellor sneered: “Hoping the Congregation internally imprisons Master Plaid, then hands him over to her personally.”

Hearing what Kalon Chancellor revealed, the subordinates were dumbfounded, “This… is she mad?”

“Perhaps she thought she gained some powers by siding with Strala.” Kalon Chancellor shook his head: “Foolish woman… Let’s go, if Lamias is still in the town, she must be by Strala’s side…”

Just then, a subordinate returned, “Sir, we found an estate ahead… I saw Lamias inside!”

“Oh?”

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PS: (12/82)