The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 1023, Page 1022, Third Floor
Gary Kratofer was very satisfied.

It was even more satisfied after it tested the detector, which had been modified by Deloz, with several ritualists.

Mostly accurate.

Second Ring Road, Third Ring Road, Fourth Ring Road.

Each time, it only takes a short time to determine: even if this person has reached the uphill section of Whitehall, the place Roland just entered—that distance is not short.

“Excellent, Miss Fonseca. I think this is fantastic news—with the detector, the Inspectorate and the Tribunal can shed far less blood… I won’t thank you now, nor the workshop now, because there are too many thanks to be given later, to be given in person by someone more deserving…”

His barrage of praise made Deloz a little embarrassed.

then.

He then raised his arm guards, inviting Roland, the executor of the inquisition, to try out the new science.

Try it on, or unleash your own "secret".

Sender refused on his behalf.

“The courtroom also has one; Roland has tried it.”

The girl smiled and pushed him back, staring at her 'grandfather': "I need to take Roland and Miss Fonseca to the third floor—shouldn't you give me a list...or, can you notify them yourself?"

Gary Kratofer clapped his hands: "Of course, if you can wait a bit, I'll do it..."

knock knock.

There was a knock on the door.

Two white-robed cultists stood outside the door carrying large leather suitcases.

“Your Excellency, what we confiscated—” They immediately shut their mouths when they saw Roland and Deloz.

"These are the executors of the court and the artisans of Daniel's workshop... have they been captured?"

The believers bowed.

“Coincidentally, they’re going to the third floor too. Roux, take them with you—I hope you can learn what you need to learn from Miss Fonseca… Do you understand what I mean?” Gary Kratofer said this slowly and deliberately.

The young believer named Rouau understood.

“I will take good care of the brothers in the courtroom, and this lady from the workshop.”

"He's cursing you with his eyes."

Yes.

Who wouldn't notice his 'unwilling' expression?

Gary Kratofer was unaware of it.

He smiled and said goodbye to Delos and Roland, saying he had some things to attend to and that they were welcome to visit him sometime—Roland quickly performed a Christian salute to avoid shaking hands with the old man.

soon.

They were about to follow two cult members carrying suitcases up to the third floor.

These two were quite cautious with their words towards Xander, and now they were able to take better care of their eyes and necks.

"...Because my grandfather was a bishop, is there anything strange about that?"

The parishioners who remained in Whitehall were mostly fanatics; the idea that "respecting the bishop means respecting his descendants" didn't work among them.

"Consider it a compliment, Roland."

“I must commend you, Miss Kratoff. You disappeared without a word, leaving behind a dubious letter…” Roland muttered as he walked, while Xander seemed quite pleased.

She asked Roland if he had deciphered the code in the letter, how long it took him, and what aspects he had deciphered.

Roland said he didn't care at all, glanced at it, and threw it into the ditch on the street.

"I guess you're angry?"

You'd better try to guess.

"...I'm afraid you'll forget me, Roland. I'm a woman who can never find peace...I want you to understand me, so I have to tear open my wounds for you to see...Are you angry just because of a letter that has no answer?"

She tugged at Roland's sleeve, tears welling up in her eyes.

Roland glanced at her and said, "Rose threw the letter." Sender froze for a moment.

In just a moment, she slowly released Roland, wiped the corners of her eyes (which weren't actually wet), and looked at him with a smile: "She would never do such a thing—maybe, Roland, that little fool might still be worried about me, worried about my safety, but she would never admit to being as worried about me as she does in front of you..."

She strode forward with cheerful, albeit unsteady, steps, asking him if he had been looking gloomy for days.

“Yes, yes. Three to five days, seven or eight days, many days. Thanks to Kingsley for reminding me that perhaps the answer isn’t in the words, but in the ‘whole letter’—didn’t you get a beating when you were a kid?”

Sender licked his lips: "...You'll have it when you grow up."

She took a few steps forward, surpassing Roland, and gave her whipper a silent, alluring silhouette.

"The church girls are much more 'talkative' than I imagined." The craftswoman, who kept turning her head, felt that she was about to break all her rules and talk badly about someone behind their back.

“Sander Kratofer is the most gifted ritualist of this generation in the Church. I hope you will watch your words, craftsman.”

what?
artisan?

There aren't even any 'Miss' anymore?
"This is something you should say to yourselves, gentlemen."

Luo turned his head and glanced at her: smiling, showing half a tooth, speaking in a breathy voice.

That's it again!

"you--"

"Here we are."

Lu interrupted her.

Three floors.

More walls, larger murals, narrower corridors, more enclosed spaces—the parishioners here are younger than those on the spacious ground floor and in the quiet basement.

The carpet was light gold, and apart from the everyday tables, chairs, and bookshelves, decorations in the style of the Holy Cross were placed everywhere.

Several pairs of believers had been staring at her intently ever since they came in.

Rouau called over two young boys and had them carry the suitcase into a locked room. Then, he loudly called to the surrounding believers and told them that a woman had come to the 'factory' to teach them how to use tools.

That's really rude.

Deloz was furious.

"I think you can figure out how to use it just by relying on your arrogance."

“Of course we can, but that’s your responsibility, craftsman.”

"I don't know what 'responsibility' I have."

Ignoring the polite conversation of these civilized people, Shandel was more focused on the metal room sealed with a special lock: she stared at the two boys who came out of the room, her gaze lingering on the half-keys that had been removed from their chests.

Two keys, put together, can become the key to unlock the lock.

"The valuable items captured are not stored there for long...it's only temporary. The Council of Truth usually sends someone to collect them every two days..."

“I didn’t ask.” Roland followed Sandel’s gaze and glanced at the metal room as well.

"Of course... guess what's inside?"

“Bishop Gary Kratofer is not my grandfather.”

“I’ve always felt that it’s unsafe for them to store things like this… Bishop Kratofer said they were all… manuscripts or incomplete rituals, things that are ‘worthless’.” Sender murmured absently, staring at the lock.

"Roland, do you believe that 'prophets' exist in the world?"

“You mean the High Ring of Destiny?” Roland blinked. “I don’t know. Perhaps at the end of the Path of Destiny—have they ever had immortals?”

Sender lowered his eyelashes: "This floor is full of the Church's 'new blood'... You know what new blood means, right?"

The conversation was even more disjointed than when he was being chased around the training ground by Fernandez.

"Does that mean...they're all from the lower ring?"

“Pretty much,” Xander looked down at his palm: “…very few even in the second ring.”

(End of this chapter)