Chapter 434 - 242: Holy Cross Association (2)

"I’m surprised, Saint Elvin," Jiang Ge said. "I never thought you’d choose to get involved in this mess."

"What a coincidence," Saint Elvin said with a laugh. "I momentarily forgot the Holy Cross Association was also in need of a new faith. If I had known..." He paused for a moment.

"I would have definitely asked my superiors for more funding," he said, taking a sip of his red wine.

"Then may the best man win," Jiang Ge said with a smile, raising his paddle. "Seventy-two million!"

The budget approved by the Holy Cross Association was nearly seventy-five million British Pounds, an amount that would be equivalent to more than a ton of gold.

’He didn’t believe the Holy Mechanism would give Elvin that much leverage just to buy this Angel. It was a purchase that might bring new faith, but it could also put a significant dent in the Law Enforcement Organization’s budget.’

’Based on Jiang Ge’s assessment of the Holy Mechanism, those people were nearly as stingy as the Lower Westminster Bank. He figured they’d be unwilling to entrust so much funding to Elvin.’

’Besides, knowing Elvin’s character, even if he were given an adequate budget, he would likely embezzle a good chunk of it for his own selfish purposes.’

’Unlike him. In addition to the seventy-five million pounds from the organization, he had another five million pounds in personal savings, painstakingly squirreled away over the years. If it really came down to a bidding war, what would it matter if he had to chip in a little extra from his own pocket?’

’After all, it was all for the faith!’

A fanatical glint flashed in Jiang Ge’s eyes. Baron, who happened to witness this, thought to himself with disdain:

’How is this Faith Knight from the Holy Cross Association so much like one of those people from a certain small country who clap and jump rope just from seeing the sun? I remember the Prole Faith Knights weren’t like this at all. Speaking of which, which Ancient God or Old God does the Holy Cross Association even worship? I’ll have to find a chance to ask sometime.’

"Seventy-three million!" Elvin raised his paddle as well.

His budget for this was seventy-five million; the Holy Mechanism had truly spared no expense. The reason, of course, was the intel they had received beforehand.

Aside from being commissioned by the Old Blood Clans to hunt the Dragon Witch who might appear here, his primary objective for attending this auction was the girl in the cage on stage—

a member of a race that could usher in a completely new faith. It wasn’t just the Holy Cross Association, an organization driven by faith, that was tempted; the Holy Mechanism felt the same.

The eighty-million-pound mission budget proved the Holy Mechanism was serious this time. As for why the mission was funded for eighty million while Elvin’s personal budget was only seventy-five million... well, that was none of anyone’s business. Skimming off the top was a time-honored tradition among Saints.

He didn’t believe those paupers from the Holy Cross Association could compete with spending on this scale. Elvin shot Jiang Ge a smile as gentle as a spring breeze.

He had once used this smile to unlock the "Hundred Wives Conquered" achievement.

’This guy... no way...’ Faced with Elvin’s almost provocative smile, Jiang Ge just snorted and raised his bidding paddle.

"Seventy-four million."

The guests started whispering amongst themselves again. Clearly, none of them had expected the Holy Mechanism and the Holy Cross Association to butt heads like this.

"Mr. Wilder, what do you make of this?" Jill asked the man sitting right beside him—the renowned and powerful Silver Lion Wilder, a major figure in the Inner Side.

He had originally been sitting with the rest of the Hestia Clan, but at the suggestion of his elder sister, Barbara, he had moved to sit with Silver Lion Wilder, an S Level Commissioner from Westminster.

In response to Jill’s question, Silver Lion Knight Wilder simply said, "I do not like this auction."

Jill was taken aback. His Hestia Family was, at least in name, one of the co-organizers of this very auction. Although both he and Wilder were Templar Knights, Jill had interacted with the Silver Lion a handful of times at most. He never knew the man to be so transparent with his feelings.

Wilder shook his head. "I mean no offense, Mr. Jill. I simply cannot stand seeing people bought and sold like objects. It reminds me of the crimes Britain committed during the slave trade."

Jill understood Wilder’s meaning. To be honest, he couldn’t stand it either, but considering his position as the Young Master of the Hestia Family, he could only reply ambiguously,

"For families like ours, some things are simply unavoidable."

Wilder nodded, then added, "As of now, my Spiritual Power covers a three-mile radius around the auction house. I have yet to find any sign of the Dragon Witch... I don’t know if she’s already here, or which of the guests she’s disguised as."

"Is it not also possible that she simply hasn’t come?" another person chimed in.

The speaker wore a pure white Wizard Robe. In the Inner Side, only Wizards from the London Tower were qualified to wear white, a tradition dating back to the Tower’s founding.

The speaker was the second student of the London Tower’s Vice Tower Master, a Bronze Mage who went by the name "K."

Wilder shook his head, dismissing K’s suggestion. "For some unknown reason, the Dragon Witch has spent decades scouring the world for Red Dragon Scales. There’s no way she would pass up a Red Dragon Reverse Scale."

"That’s how she took my Engagement Ring," Jill said. "I just never imagined the Witch’s methods were so incredible. To think she could steal the Wedding Ring without anyone noticing, without even coming into contact with us."

"That was my failing," Silver Lion Wilder said. "I let Constantine escape, and I failed to capture the Dragon Witch."

"Which is why we absolutely cannot let her escape this time," said Camilla, a Battle Nun from the Holy Mechanism.

Even at an auction, she and the expressionless Battle Sister Lian beside her still wore their form-fitting habits. Amidst the socialites dressed in glamorous, expensive gowns, they didn’t seem out of place in the slightest. In fact, the habits only served to accentuate their well-proportioned figures, giving them a provocative allure.

You could tell from the way the men in the crowd would glance at the graceful auctioneer on stage, only to have their eyes immediately wander back to Nun Camilla’s ample bosom and Lian’s long, slender, well-proportioned legs.

As for the women nearby, they quietly muttered to their friends, "Some Battle Nuns. Look at those revealing clothes, their style, their tattoos... They’re no different from the prostitutes you’d find in a nightclub."

"Ha!"

A socialite from an Old Blood Clan sneered. "They’re just a bunch of pitiable wretches, really. See their tattoos? Those are called Holy Marks. They’re said to be blessings bestowed by the Holy One, one of the Seven Old Gods."

"Those with this ’blessing’ can use their Holy Marks to burn through Spiritual Power, and even their own Life Force, to gain unrivaled combat strength for a short time. The side effect is that once a Holy Mark is fully expended, they either have to be branded with more of them to prolong their lives, or their souls are simply obliterated."

The rather beautiful young woman sneered. "They’re just a group of pitiful women with fleeting lives. Why not let them enjoy this moment of glamour?"

Jill, K, Silver Lion Wilder, and even Kasha—the Westminster Commissioner who was shrouded in black veils, showing only a pair of emerald eyes—all subconsciously glanced toward the two Battle Nuns.

Unless a secret measure like Spiritual Power transmission was used, little could escape the five senses of a Law Enforcer, regardless of their specific profession.

"They are not heretics," Sister Lian finally said, her first words since they had arrived.

But it was impossible to tell who she was speaking to.

——————————

Baron Constantin’s Secret Notes

March 5, 1975 / Plains / Overcast

My cousin Edward told me he’s going to the Outer Side. I’ve heard the servants at home say that the Outer Side is a place for exiling the Bloodless.

The people there are all kept in the dark, living their lives in utter ignorance.

Will my cousin Edward really be okay living there?

My head hurts. This arranged marriage... can I really be happy spending the rest of my life with a girl I don’t even know?

If only Mother were still alive. I’m sure she would know the answer.