They all call me an Outer God.

Chapter 136 Exorcism Request
Finally, after they had all eaten their fill, Ria told the investigator to take the fish skeleton back to report, and as for the remaining fish meat... Little Swarth stored it all away.

"If only we didn't have differences in status, I'd love to have everyone sitting together eating grilled fish—praise be to trade!"

Lia held the handle of her cane with both hands as she listened to the other person say those words.

He sighed almost imperceptibly.

Sometimes, none of us can control our own lives.

Both the association and the secret keepers carry too heavy a burden. The more we know, the more powerless we feel. Even so, do you still dream of becoming a high-ranking member of the association, the very thing you understand the least?

"Why can't I try? I'm still young, life should offer many choices, and everyone should have dreams, shouldn't they...?"

Speaking of which, as someone who has fallen out of control, what is your dream?

"I?"

Lia seemed stumped by the question. He leaned back and said nonchalantly, "I don't have any dreams."

"A dream is nothing more than something you want to achieve even if you dream about it, but I've achieved everything just by dreaming. If I had to explain it, my dream would be to stop 'dreaming'."

"Stop dreaming? I thought you would wish for a speedy recovery."

The investigator didn't understand what Ria meant, but when he looked at Ria's expression, he vaguely felt that it should be a very gloomy expression, but soon he felt that what he had just seen was just an illusion.

Ria poked at the fire with a stick, watching sparks rise from the charcoal, the hot, invisible smoke distorting everything before her.

Soon after, they had completely filled their stomachs.

Ria took Swar and left Lake Ega, going their separate ways with the investigator.

He didn't ask the other person's name, and the other person didn't ask his either. It seemed to be a tacit understanding between the two sides that neither could break this boundary. When they met again, the Keepers of Secrets and the Order Association would still be enemies.

These are rules that can't be changed anytime soon, but Ria will still wish the other person to achieve their wish, such as one day truly standing at the top of the order.

Then witness firsthand all the unspeakable truths.

“How about we visit the church now? We still haven’t seen what the Church of the Rising Sun in South Adeline looks like.”

For a true believer of the Rising Sun, not visiting the church regularly to see the gods is simply a sign of contempt for God.

"Aww!" Little Swarth perched on Ria's shoulder and nodded frantically. It agreed with whatever its host said, and even if its host said to blow up the Church of the Sun, it would be the most eager to hand over the explosives.

Having made this decision, the young man led the mythical creature away into the distance. He needed to understand the development of the church in this area and how many mysterious items it contained.

Of course, there are still some risks in doing this. After all, the association cannot easily take action against those who cause disorder, but that doesn't mean the church members can't.

Ria decided to be more cautious. When he arrived at the center of South Adeline, where the church was located, which was the same place he had passed through on his previous visit, he found a hotel, took off his plague doctor's gown, and changed back into his original clothes.

This way, it wouldn't arouse suspicion. Ria guessed that given the prosperity of the area, trade and commerce must be essential, and the city's rulers must respect merchants.

As long as you pretend to be a nouveau riche and go to church saying you want to donate, there's no reason for them not to let you in.

Moreover, Ria considered herself a devout follower of the Rising Sun.

"Praise the sun."

Ria made a sun symbol on her chest, then walked out of the hotel and headed towards the church. ...

Downtown, Sunrise Church.

The enormous statue of the sun god in front of the gate is sculpted into a mysterious human figure, whose entire body is covered by a long robe. He holds a sphere in his hands facing forward, and behind his head is a divine halo woven from twenty-four rays of light.

The statue was surrounded by clouds, and the tracks of many stars were distributed along the paths of several stone rings, but no one could name those stars.

The entire Rising Sun Statue is 100 meters tall. Judging from its remaining form, it was painted with various bright colors when it was first built.

However, due to exposure to sun and rain, the face of this statue is no longer what it used to be, and the cost of repainting it would be a considerable sum, so people simply let it be like the real sun and let nature take its course.

Of course, this still couldn't diminish the splendor of the Rising Sun statue. People placed offerings at its feet, praying that the Rising Sun would grant their wishes.

The Rising Sun has never had its own real image; all its idols are figments of people's imaginations, beautified by the sun. Ria did see a portrait of the Rising Sun, but that was probably an image created by some unknown person.

"Praise the sun, and may you also be protected by its glory today."

Standing before the statue of the rising sun, a pastor holding a sun symbol badge greets the believers who come and go.

"Gululu——"

Soon after, a bright red carriage with gold trim came to a stop in front of him. The carriage was exquisitely designed, and the two white horses pulling it had shiny coats and bright eyes, making it look very valuable.

In South Adeline, where everyone relies on steam transportation, the only ones who would still insist on traveling in this way are probably the wealthy and powerful nobles and officials who act willfully.

The carriage door was pushed open from the inside, and a person dressed as a clown jumped out first, then helped the man with a swollen belly inside.

"Viscount Sicar, the church has arrived."

"Tell them to exorcise this demon for me right now!"

"Keep your voice down! You can't challenge the rights of clergy."

Are you slandering me?

"No, no, we'll quickly ask a high-ranking person in the church to take a look at you, and you'll recover soon."

The clown helped the man nod to the priest, who looked rather puzzled.

He stepped forward and looked at Sikar: "Do you need any help?"

The clown looked up: "Can you promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Of course, child."

"Alright, I'll tell you... The Viscount was cursed by those damned disorderers, and now he looks like this. Do you know why his belly is so swollen? He ate his own precious son!"

As he spoke, the clown covered his face and wept: "My poor viscount, he loved his youngest son so much, yet he has become like this. His son's soul is still inside the viscount's belly. We must find someone to exorcise the demon."

The pastor frowned as he listened. He stepped forward to check on the man, but the clown had already quickly pulled the man into the church.

The pastor glanced at the luxurious carriage and then at the direction the two had left in. He felt that something was off, but then he thought that they had entered the church, and the bishop was still stationed inside. There was nothing to worry about.

(End of this chapter)