The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 1090 Ch.1089 The Rescuer of the Rats

The rat infestation in London came quickly but went slowly.

The citizens called them the 'Gray Tide Disaster'—when the ritualists took to the streets and began using fire, frost, or other spells that amazed mortals to drive away and slaughter the rats, they did not receive the expected looks.

For example, longing.

Or gratitude.

Those were strange, indescribably complex gazes.

Every household lit torches, but kept their doors and windows tightly shut.

This presented a dilemma for the ritualists who had originally intended to spread the faith: the soldiers, who had received orders, had envisioned that when they began to display their 'divine power,' the citizens would naturally emerge from their shells and chase after this magical force…

By then.

The people of the gods and their faith grew stronger.

No.

They hid and kept a close eye on them with the scrutinizing gaze one would use to examine a suspect—some of the ritual practitioners only learned of this later from them.

Three days before the disaster struck.

These were also the most urgent three days, during which the number of civilian deaths was the highest.

Many 'rat messengers' who could manipulate rat swarms while retaining their sanity saved them—they used rats to devour other rats, which would come in swarms and then leave in swarms.

This person could be someone's neighbor, someone's wife whom they had an affair with, someone's parents, or a newsboy who often passed by the alleyway.

Even the person you share a bed with.

The citizens don't care whether manipulating rats is good or bad.

They have a very simple view: whoever saves them in times of danger is a great person, let alone a familiar neighbor—the ritualists? The magical freaks?
Where were they when the plague struck?

Where were they when they were sent outside the city after contracting the disease?

Where were they when the gray tide broke out?

just now.

Everyone knows how to light a torch, everyone knows how to check a wall, and the wandering rat messengers saved most of the poor souls who should have died in the rats' mouths—afterwards, they jumped out and said, 'My God has protected you'—

Pooh!
fart!

Are they really a few points dumber than each other?
Even if it were true, people still need to know good and evil, and understand love and hate—they would never be grateful to these believers who take to the streets.

Even Holy Cross did not receive a warm welcome from the citizens.

Yes.

Rumors, or true news, always spread quickly.

Some citizens who trekked to the West End Theatre when the disaster struck—you can’t expect these people to keep secrets—soon, the citizens all realized that the government was not doing nothing during the gray tide.

They were the first to send out soldiers.

But what is being protected is the western area.

It refers to certain people in certain areas.

This made the citizens feel both reasonable and disappointed.

By the way.

After Keshhai appeared, the Church immediately sent messengers, and other sects also inquired about Keshhai's whereabouts openly and secretly—which Enid found truly laughable: the more 'divine power' one possessed, the more uncontrollable the fear of death became.

Roland told her about Keshchai's 'purpose,' but Enid didn't care at all.

He won't succeed.

Roland didn't understand why Enid was so certain. This woman was mysteriously pushing the matter to the mystery of 'before winter'—"Before winter, you'll know all the secrets about me and you..."

He hates the Riddler.

In short, with Fernandez and Sender injured, the remaining tasks concerning the executors would fall to Roland—of course, Roland's treatment differed from other executors; he could do it if he wanted, and if he didn't, he could go home to rest… (or rest in the judge's office, though Roland didn't consider that rest).
and so.

He was unhappy. Because Enid's task for the executive officer was to wipe out the cultists who controlled the rat swarm.

Roland was not willing to do such a thing.

Especially when facing those who are clear-headed—there's even a girl who protected his family amidst the gray tide.

"The important thing is the rats. Those mutated, ritual-corrupted rats—those who manipulate the rat swarms are merely the 'handles' of the vast ritual. Without the rat swarms, they would be no different from ordinary 'apprentices'..."

“I’m not referring to danger, Enid.” Roland thought she hadn’t understood him.

“Of course I understand. Roland, just like you and Keshhai said—although I don’t particularly like Keshhai, I agree with his guess: the Holy Cross cannot stop the Cradle of Flesh from stepping into the sunlight.”

Enid did not order the executors to exterminate all the apprentices who controlled the rat swarms, nor was this solely the task of the Inquisition.

The Savi Brotherhood.

The message came from the Military Intelligence Bureau.

A self-organized group of "intelligent" apprentices who control swarms of rats: Savi, meaning "savior." This secret little group, aside from rescuing citizens threatened by the rats, hasn't done anything good—

When people have power, they can do good, but they can also do evil.

In short: They're out of control.

"The police station has taken on many cases, just in the last few days, Roland. They say rats have swarmed in, eating his servants and daughter, and stealing jewelry and gold bars from the house—do rats need gold bars?"

"You have to allow the little animals to change their tastes..."

"Roland."

Enid's eyes flashed a 'I'm going to ride you if you keep acting up' look—but to the horse, it wasn't a threat, but rather an invitation.

“I can’t stay away from home today, Enid.”

"...I thought you were a 'man' now." The judge's mood suddenly soured.

Roland shrugged: "A man is always his mother's sweetheart—by the way, every sect sends ritualists to do this?"

“Every single one. I think it will be in the newspapers today, or tomorrow… There are too many people becoming ‘apprentices’ this time, Roland. Many children of great men, or even themselves, have been infected with the plague… becoming apprentices in the cradle of flesh and blood. And I, unfortunately, am not Kashgar.”

The messenger from the church had hinted to Enid that if she "insisted" on sending an executor to fulfill the Father's sword's duty and burn the "corrupted" evildoers one by one, their relationship might see a significant improvement... (the messenger also brought a specific list).
This is also more beneficial to Enid herself.

then.

She told him to get lost.

“I have no interest in being the executioner of the church.”

Enid lowered her head, flicking her nails: "I guarantee the Holy Cross can't handle this, and the other sects won't really put in the effort—the Cradle of Flesh's biggest enemy is the Holy Cross. I reckon in less than two months, the Cradle of Flesh will be renamed and taking center stage… 'Pleasure,' isn't that a good name?"

Roland suggested calling it "The Hand of the Giant Aberration," and Enid smiled to herself, thinking thank goodness she didn't need to use her brother's name.

“I’m going to visit Fernandez and Sender, and if it’s on the way, I’ll join in the Brotherhood’s fun—” Roland, dressed neatly, stood up, hesitated for a moment, and glanced at the woman reclining on the sofa: “…So you also know about the ‘Tea Party.’”

"I know everything so far, Roland."

She smiled and stretched out one leg, emerging from the blanket, her toes brushing against someone's trouser crease.

She knew what Roland wanted to ask.

"It's all before winter, my dear. If you believe I would give my life for you... then you should be able to tolerate a moment's secrecy... right?"

Roland lowered his eyes and slowly turned around.

"I don't need anyone to give their life for me anymore."

再。

Watching her lover's departing figure, the corners of the woman's lips, which had been turned up at the corners, gradually flattened out.

It's her fault for being too kind...

Some people really should have died sooner.

(End of this chapter)