"The pattern and numbers on my back are the markings and identification of the 'Dissident Legion'."
Listening to Rachel's words, Todd tried his best to focus his gaze on the woman's back.
The lifelike eagle's outer outline was created using a special crimson ink, while the inner lines were drawn with a strange gold thread, hand-stitched deep into the skin. Its Roman numeral designation is '68'.
Todd stood up and asked, "'The Legion of Conflict'? Is that the Relief Society's army?"
Rachel pulled up her wide robe to cover her body, turned around and said, "Those people from the relief society are nothing but a bunch of lackeys. They are active in the missionary sphere of the Father Church, mainly responsible for the capture, selection, breeding and transportation of alien species."
"Just like the 'city circus' you've seen in the past, they use a touring performance method to capture alien species everywhere and keep them in the circus. Once they are mature, they are sent to the 'Conflict Legion' to be trained as combat personnel."
Todd recalled the circus ringmaster, the man called Throat Bones, and asked again, "So what about the 'Clash Legion'?"
Rachel buttoned up her collar, concealing her snow-white chest, straightened her nun's robes, and calmly said, "You should know about the alchemist Sutherland, right?"
Todd nodded.
"After the 'Great Escape of the Aliens,' the surviving members of the Ancient Territory Supreme Council established an organization called the 'Elders' Council.' The organization's original purpose was to save and protect the aliens, but after hundreds of years of development, ambitious individuals gradually seized power, the ancient oaths no longer existed, and the original rescue organization transformed into a terrifying force for revenge and domination."
Rachel glanced at the candle on the table and continued, “As for the ‘Conflict Legion,’ it consists of a total of one hundred people and is one of the military forces controlled by the ‘Elders’ Council.’ They are mainly responsible for external combat, and their numbers are arranged according to their rank. There are two paths to promotion: one is to apply for and win the rank competition after a soldier with a higher rank dies; the other is to be evaluated based on merit at the Legion’s meeting held every three years.”
Todd gestured to a chair in the room, indicating for the woman to sit down: "So how did you join them?"
Rachel, seated in a chair, recalled the past with a sorrowful look in her eyes: "When I was a child, because of my alien identity, I fled that tomb-like family. On my escape, I was captured and sent to the Legion. After years of training, I was recognized as one of them and began to carry out missions. Years later, having seen too much hypocrisy and ambition, I wanted to find a place that could truly provide shelter for aliens..."
Todd touched the bridge of his nose with his finger, looking at Rachel's face with an unprecedented sincerity, and said, "I have one last question, why me? Why would you place all your hopes on a priest?"
"Because of Karin."
The woman's words stunned Todd.
Rachel carefully observed the other person's expression and said in a low voice, "Perhaps you don't know, but I was also present at that inquisition. When Karin was arrested for arson, whether you would save her was my first test. After that, because of the Heir's mutation, I secretly contacted Karin and deliberately led her to the circus. I then rushed to the relief center, pretended to bump into you, and carried out the next step of my plan. And your relationship with the relief center was my second test."
Todd stood there, stunned. After a moment, he said helplessly, "Why did you have to go through all this trouble? You could have just come to me directly."
Rachel laughed: "Just like you suspected me at first, I didn't trust you at first either. At that time, what I was most worried about was your relationship with the relief organization. By using Karin, I could find out if you were in the same boat as those lunatics."
Todd slumped back into his chair, exhausted. "Ratchet, to be honest, my mind is a complete mess right now."
“I know you’re starting to doubt my true intentions, and that’s normal. To prove my sincerity, I’ll tell you three things.” Seeing the other’s puzzled look, Rachel slowly raised her finger upwards, and the papers and pencils on the table in front of Todd suddenly floated into the air.
"The first thing is that my special ability is 'telekinesis,' which allows me to manipulate objects to float and move."
The woman stopped using her powers, and the papers and pencils in the air fell to the ground.
"The second thing is that I and those like-minded people who are dedicated to saving the alien race have established an underground organization. We have a map that marks all the villages and communities inhabited by the alien race on the land of the Silver Ring Kingdom, and I can give it to you free of charge."
“The third thing, Lord Todd…” Rachel’s face once again showed that troublesome foxy smile: “Have you… found a way to cure the ‘Inheritor Mutation’?”
Todd gripped the edge of the table tightly with both hands. Although his face remained expressionless, a storm was raging within him.
He had only told Alfonso that the Heir's mutation could be cured, and the latter would never leak this information. So how did Rachel find out about it?
Guessing that Todd was about to deny it, Rachel took something out of her waist and waved it in front of him.
A copper pipe about the thickness of a finger.
"Sutherland's relics?"
Rachel nodded: "This is the relic I obtained from Theodore, the president of the Relief Society, a few days ago... Sir, you may have forgotten something. The heir must inhale the Sutherland relic every so often to delay the mutation, and the interval will become shorter with each inhalation. Several months have passed since you last obtained the relic, yet you have shown no intention of asking the Relief Society for it."
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