Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

Charlotte's question, which she wrung out with glistening tears, was deafening. Unexpectedly, the white-haired beauty stepped forward and gently embraced her. Though it was only a brief, light hug, and though her face was expressionless, it was full of tenderness.

Unlike her usual cold demeanor, she leaned close to her ear and whispered:

"Feel sorry......"

Indeed, Sylva took up the crimson sword of law because of a similar experience: to enjoy the quiet wind in the morning, rather than to hear the cries and wails of resentment.

Therefore, what the former said touched her soft spot, melting her frozen heart a little.

Of course, for Charlotte, this wicked woman who loved to play, everything from beginning to end was something she had planned and premeditated long ago: to join the goddess's church and gain official protection.

“Madam, you don’t need to apologize, and I’m not blaming you. I just hate my own powerlessness, and I don’t want to place my hopes on those who create injustice.”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she slowly clenched her fingers. As she spoke, she lowered her eyelashes, revealing a hint of weakness and helplessness.

"..."

Silva fell silent again, her gaze unwavering as she weighed right and wrong, accuracy and inaccuracy. In a way, Charlotte Earl was a victim caught up in Bathory's machinations, a suffering soul in the extraordinary events.

Since the former had already been involved in a similar incident, extending an invitation would meet the criteria for joining the church's special department and would not violate any confidentiality clauses. Therefore, she softened her stance and made the offer.

“You can become one of us, one of the many believers.”

Without revealing anything special or extraordinary, they simply spoke from the perspective of the general public. This was a deliberate test, a test of their sincerity.

"During my imprisonment, I prayed for the goddess's mercy every night. Although I did not receive her grace, it gave my desolate heart some comfort and support. I have long been a believer in the goddess."

This was obviously a lie; Charlotte didn't even know the proper prayer, but given the atmosphere, she had to say it—"I've long belonged to the goddess."

Besides, if someone like her, who has never believed in God, can pretend to be devout for a moment, the goddess should be moved, right?

In fact, her previous words were just a prelude; she needed a little push to subtly reveal her direction and intentions.

Clutching at the hem of her clothes, confusion and hesitation are etched in her eyes. Like misty waves gathering in a lake, fullness inevitably leads to waning, just as a full moon eventually wanes.

The blonde beauty spoke up, seemingly posing a question, asking a rhetorical question, or perhaps answering her own question.

“During those days and nights, I faced more than one interrogation from the knight and his servants about things I knew nothing about, things that were beyond reality.”

It was done intentionally.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Becoming Partners

Frowning, Silva remained silent, only lowering her gaze to inquire about the truth.

"...I don't understand what he desires, nor can I comprehend those strange and bizarre visions. Day and night in the dark, I can only pray to the goddess for peace of mind."

With her hands clasped together and her eyes tightly shut, Charlotte trembled like a helpless baby pleading for mercy, looking completely terrified.

This statement not only clarified the situation but also explained to the goddess's swordsman why he had recounted the extraordinary events, thus avoiding excessive suspicion.

"Don't worry, there are no evil spirits here. Under the glow of the goddess, no darkness can hide."

She gently placed her hand on the former's slender shoulder. From that moment on, Silva saw no pretense in her actions; she was simply a lonely girl seeking a safe haven.

If that's the case, then it's only natural to lower your guard a little and try to take the hand of this unfortunate person, which is also the goddess's instruction.

"I have heard about your experiences and the injustices you have suffered. Whether it's bitterness or joy, you must ultimately face and alleviate it yourself. That's all I can offer..."

She took a small jar of candy from the outside pocket of her dress and spoke softly.

"Lübeck almonds, slightly sweet."

The words remain concise and to the point, but the subtle concern hidden beneath the surface has changed.

Although she is taciturn, she always offers kindness beyond words to those who deserve or need help, which is a compensation for her impartiality.

"Thank you."

Take a small piece and place it between your lips; in an instant, a light and mellow flavor spreads across your tongue.

As mentioned in the preface, sweets can indeed alleviate depression, even if only slightly. Unlike her cold and aloof demeanor, this goddess's sword is more like a simple, taciturn girl who is easily moved.

So--

"Madam, thank you so much for taking the time to listen to my troubles. Your small help has calmed me down, but the scenes I've witnessed day and night still keep me up at night. I..."

Looking up into the beautiful woman's azure eyes, Charlotte cleared her mind of all distractions, letting melancholy and honesty grace her face, with only a tiny glimmer of hope sprouting within her.

"Eh."

Silva had seen far too many victims' eyes, but no matter how many times she saw them, she could still empathize with their struggle and pain.

The Earl Shaw family's only daughter, caught up in the power struggle, also received extraordinary knowledge. If left unguided, she might one day embark on a secret path, lose herself along the way, and become one of the many who have gone out of control.

The nature of this extraordinary gathering remains unchanged. Since the conditions are unaffected by laws and regulations, and the circumstances are tragic and heartbreaking, it is better to make changes ourselves and lead her onto a brighter path than to wait until it is too late.

Of course, before that, she needs to take a test, delve into the spiritual realm, and seek the person's true heart.

Suddenly a gust of wind arose, causing her bright silver hair to flutter like strands of cloth. Under the sunlight, Silva's blue eyes seemed to be tinged with a golden glow, and the base of her pupils then cracked open, like a bird with double eyes.

"If you were granted power beyond the mortal realm, what would you do? Would you still be swayed by hatred, doing whatever you please and harming innocent people, or...?"

Her tone carried a strange inducement, as if as long as the person being asked gave an affirmative answer, they would unconsciously agree and follow it from the bottom of their heart.

When their eyes met, Charlotte felt a little dazed, but only for a moment before her senses returned, and her thoughts became as clear as the moon in the sea.

Sure enough, these kinds of suggestive ramblings had no effect on him at all.

The feedback she had received from her previous encounters with extraordinary characteristics had already given her a preconceived notion, and today's fulfillment further confirmed that her own spirituality remained undisturbed, only moved by her solitary thoughts.

This is great; it not only meets expectations but also makes things much easier going forward.

With her eyelashes trembling slightly and her gaze unfocused, Charlotte timely revealed a bewildered expression, influenced by the words.

she says:

"Revenge is just self-comfort for those who dwell on the past, while I will firmly choose to move towards tomorrow."

The passing of her parents had little to do with her, so how could it shake her established mind? Besides, the person named Charlotte truly intended to forget the past, no matter how painful or sinful.

Such a voice reached his ears, and Silva nodded slightly, his tone becoming increasingly gentle.

"Before this, have you ever encountered extraordinary knowledge, or have you ever committed evil deeds?"

Charlotte frowned, hesitated, shook her head, and then nodded.

"I did not become a lady of high society as my mother wished. I used to pursue beauty and look down on those hardworking men. Now, after suffering hardship, I realize that I am just an ordinary person among the masses."

Charlotte knew that she was being affected by some extraordinary force, but thanks to her special spirituality, she was able to easily get rid of that state. Therefore, she did not mind admitting her shortcomings a little, using the minor mistakes to numb the former and gain greater trust in return.

It wasn't that she didn't trust herself, but rather that Sylva was ultimately a high-sequence extraordinary being; she could observe others, and others could observe her in the same way.

Although she had bestowed upon Watson all the traits influenced by the Arbitrator, and now, both spiritually and physically, she was at the level of an ordinary person, so that behaving reasonably would not arouse suspicion, she still preferred to value the goddess more. After all, Melissant's insight had taught her a lesson, and she needed to consider the course of events and her attitude towards dealing with things more carefully.

Upon hearing this, the white-haired beauty seemed to recall the past, her eyes filled with a sense of remembrance and heaviness.

She murmured softly, as if talking to herself.

"Indeed, a similar path."

Having snapped out of her emotions, Silva looked at Charlotte with a hint of complexity in her expression, but she never forgot the purpose of her actions.

"From beginning to end, have you been sincere in what you said? Do you truly believe in the goddess?"

It is the final inquiry.

There was no direct answer. Instead, a pure black cat leaped into the former's arms. It raised its clear eyes and quietly gazed at the sorrowful person, as if listening and witnessing together.

She brushed a strand of pale gold hair between her fingertips, cradling it in her palm, the same color as the sunlight. She said, Charlotte said:

“From dawn till dusk, night after night, I saw birds fluttering their wings as they left the forest, and I heard owls wailing as they returned to their nests. Their footsteps fell on the earth like the roots of trees sinking into the soil, just as my faith in the goddess did.”

As the wind subsided and the clouds dispersed, the heavy vision faded. Silva did not speak, but simply embraced the dazed girl, giving the rootless Yunping a place to lean on.

"From now on, we will share both joy and sorrow—"

"companion."

P.S.: Merry Christmas everyone!

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Man as Symbol and Ms. Z

The heels of the boots landed on the stone pavement, creating a soft, crisp echo.

As the church bells rang peacefully in the evening, she and the white-haired beauty walked through the narrow corridor, past the bowed believers, and returned to their former confessional.

The auditorium is not large, and the sculpture in the center remains simple. But as long as you lower your gaze and see the afterglow that shines through the window curtains, the condensed yet bright light falling on your eyes, you can sincerely calm your mind, like watching the sea and listening to the waves, or like a passerby walking in the dark who suddenly looks up and sees the pure, elegant, sacred and sublime starry sky.

"arrive."

The porcelain lamp cast a dim light, and as the patriarch's deep, gentle sermon filled the air, Silva paused before the prayer table.

"Madam, where is this place?"

Slightly puzzled, Charlotte called out softly. She was still playing the role of a newcomer who knew very little about the extraordinary, so she naturally needed to ask questions in a manner befitting her status.

"The church's secret chamber serves as an arbitration tribunal for the executive branch."

Closing the door to shut out the noise, Silva clasped her hands together, her lips moving solemnly.

"Based on your experience and what you just said, the church does indeed have a responsibility to guide lost souls and prevent them from going astray."

With a snap of the fingers, a bright flame instantly swept across the dim light, illuminating the things lurking in the darkness—guards with swords at their sides, silently waiting.

They stand neatly on both sides, giving a direct sense of heaviness, coldness, and looking down, like giants silently guarding the night.

"Are you saying that the church has always known about those hidden things?"

"Yes, what Cliff showed you was a manifestation of extraordinary power, and beneath the veil of the universal church, the goddess also issued a decree, guiding her followers to fight against that ancient darkness and madness. Unlike ordinary official departments, the Arbitration Tribunal, a parallel institution within the Empire, specializes in handling supernatural events in various cities within the county."

“If different sects exist, then we will divide them according to region. The affairs that happen in the eastern and northern districts of Tingen will be handled by us. Correspondingly, the ‘Cultivators’ of the Church of the Abyss of the Earth will be responsible for the port area, while the ‘Mechanical Heart’ will be responsible for the suburbs and the remaining areas.”

She briefly recounted the affairs and origins of the arbitration tribunal, then the white-haired beauty moved deeper into the room and pushed open a hidden door engraved with a holy emblem.

"Charlotte, you are already one of those who know this, and you still have a choice before you truly step into that world. Even if you stop here, I will only blur your thoughts of this knowledge."

Before she could finish her well-intentioned advice, Silva saw Charlotte gently shake her head and say firmly.

"Madam, ignorance can leave one lost in a fog without self-reflection, and incompetence can trap one in a whirlpool, making one drift with the tide. I don't want to experience the helplessness of being in danger but only being able to watch tragedy unfold."

The words she once spoke to Mo Sang came to her lips again, and just as smoothly as before, she got what she wanted.

The door was pushed open, and the voice preceded the person's arrival.

“Silva, the Tingen incident is over, you have no reason to stay here any longer. Do you need me to fill out an application for an extension of your fieldwork permit?”

They were a pair of jet-black eyes, as dark as ink.

It shimmered with light, reflecting a myriad of thoughts, yet its flat-framed glasses dulled half of its spirit, leaving only a necessary composure.

With a gentle push of her fingertips against the glasses, devoid of any hint of mockery in her words, the black-haired beauty walked to the nearby counter and brewed a pot of warm tea for the two of them.

The black and gray coat and the clean white inner layer were simple, but on her, they had an innate sense of harmony, making her look intellectual and gentle.

"Thank you for your kindness, Z. As you said, I was already planning to head back, but because—"

Gone was his usual indifference; Silva revealed a rare hint of unease.

"Because of this girl, right?"

He gently blew on the water to let the heat dissipate, and only after confirming that the temperature was just right did he hand the water cup to the two of them.

"You must be from the Oushaw family, please."

She pulled out the corresponding file from the pile of archives, lowered her gaze, and nodded slightly. Her precise movements proved how frequently she had looked through them and her conscientious nature.

"Thank you."

I took the hot tea, sipped it gently, and the warm, yet not scorching, sensation soothed my body, which had just been exposed to the cold wind.

Looking around, one can see neatly arranged tables and chairs. Compared to a church, this place is more like an ordinary office space. And based on first impressions, Ms. Z in front of me is not only meticulous but also exceptionally considerate. Yes, she is a good woman.

"The conclusion of the Bathory case, while understandable in its process of overwhelming public resentment, was too smooth, as if the story's direction had been predetermined. Even without obvious traces, the corresponding assumptions shouldn't be discarded. Even though I also believe—"

"Cliff deserved to die."

The woman closed her thermos, sighed, and gently rubbed her neck and shoulders with some annoyance to relieve the stiffness from sitting for so long.

"It's rare to encounter something that makes me feel at ease, but it just keeps getting to the bottom of things, which is quite difficult."

After a moment's hesitation, she looked at the goddess's swordsman again and chuckled.