Chapter 611 I'm Here to Help
Ah, the shadow of the goddess, me?
Angel's first reaction was that "Sword of the Goddess" Creste Cesimma was joking with him, but looking at the serious expression on the other side, it didn't seem like that.
"This kind of 'appointment' doesn't even require my approval?"
She retorted in a low voice, but in her heart she didn't know whether to be happy about the church's attention or worried about this strange title.
"You were originally a member of the Nighthawks. Although you were marked as dead in internal documents, Lady Arianna retained your identity after assigning you a new mission," Cesimar explained with a smile. "But the reason you were given the title 'Shadow of the Goddess' is because of an oracle from the Goddess, an oracle known only to Lady Arianna."
Is this equivalent to an order directly issued by the goddess?
Angel felt his mouth go dry and he didn't know what to say.
After a moment, she finally found a new topic: "What about the other members? Are they also hiding in other organizations like me?"
As soon as he asked, Angel realized something was wrong, because one of the members of the Goddess Army, "Sword of the Goddess" was standing in front of him.
"No, you're the only one like that. Perhaps it's because your path to potions lends itself to the Witch Cult... Besides me, 'Eyes of the Goddess' Ilia is also a high-ranking deacon, responsible for the affairs of the Southern Continent. The identity of 'Heart of the Goddess' is known only to Lady Arianna. The other members are mostly ordinary Nighthawks or Red Gloves. You'll have the chance to meet them."
The expression on Cecima's face reminded Angel of how she saw him in the cathedral after the Tingen incident: smiling, but saying nothing that shouldn't be said.
"...So, I am also one of the 'senior deacons'?" She simply did not ask those "confidential" questions, but instead guided the conversation in the direction she needed.
"Yes, although you are not among the official nine senior deacons, your rank is exactly the same as mine."
Cecima nodded and replied.
"So, what about the salary?"
Angel finally revealed the smile that had disappeared from his face since he heard the cryptic information, and asked softly.
"What?"
This question was somewhat unexpected to Cecima. He was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses. He coughed lightly and continued:
"Miss Angel Granger, your pension has been handed over to your only relative. According to your status, it totals 8,000 pounds..." He saw the smile on Angel's face quickly disappear, and added, "In the Goddess Army, your additional allowance is 100 pounds per week. Calculated from the time you joined the list, you have already received 4,500 pounds. All of it is deposited in the church and can be withdrawn once your official status is restored."
4500 pounds!
Angel finally felt that today's conversation had yielded some tangible gains. Although for a Sequence 4 Beyonder, the value of this money was between Sequence 6 and Sequence 5 Beyonder characteristics, and was not that difficult to obtain, it was ultimately cash, not Beyonder characteristics that needed to be cashed out.
Most importantly, it was a windfall.
Unfortunately, I can only receive it after I regain my status within the church. And now, in order to deal with Ince Zangwill and investigate the truth about the smog, I have to hide behind the scenes for the time being... I guess Lord Cecima came here this time to hint at this to me?
After a brief moment of excitement, Angel thought of another question:
"4,500 pounds, which means I joined the 'Goddess Army' much earlier than I thought... around July of last year?"
Her voice was very low, almost talking to herself, but Cecima still heard it and nodded.
"Yes, the specific time was in early July of 1349."
This was almost the time when I joined the Nighthawks. At that time, the goddess had already paid attention to me... Angel recalled the first time he entered the Church of St. Selina in Tingen City, the hint he received after confessing to the bishop, and the subsequent prayers to the goddess to gain the power to create "Storm Gathering", and a sense of enlightenment came to his heart.
Seeing that she was silent, Cecima took out a coin-sized disc from the inner pocket of her windbreaker, handed it to her, and said:
"This is what Ms. Arianna asked me to give you before I set off for Backlund."
As soon as his eyes moved to the badge, Angel was sure that it was the same item as the "Secret Holy Emblem" on his wrist.
Tying the somewhat cool badge on his wrist, Angel could feel a far more intense atmosphere of tranquility and peace enveloping him. Soon, they condensed and concentrated on his wrist, entered the holy emblem, and disappeared without a trace.
Then, she took off the old "Secret Holy Symbol" and handed it to Cecima, who was still waiting with her hand outstretched. The latter took it, put it in her pocket, and said:
"This badge is about to lose its effectiveness. I will return it to Ms. Arianna... Well, my mission for today is complete. Don't alert the enemy these days. You can come to Saint Samuel Church to listen to sermons as usual. I will contact you at any time."
After saying this, his body seemed to be shrouded in an invisible darkness, almost turning into a shadow under the moonlight, and quickly disappeared from Angel's sight.
Is this a Sequence 5 ability, or the effect of some mysterious item... Angel quietly watched where Cecima had left, feeling the coolness on his wrist gradually fading. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him:
In 1349, early July of the previous year, not only was she first exposed to the Church of the Evernight Goddess of this world...
It was also not far from the time when she first traveled to this world - June 28th!
Looking out the window at the crimson moonlight pouring into the bedroom, like a veil covering the carpet, Angel suddenly felt that the soft light was a little dazzling.
————
On Wednesday, Angel, feeling a little tired from insomnia, welcomed a busy new day. After a well-balanced breakfast, she made up for the music lessons she missed yesterday. She learned about various musical styles that had been popular in Rune in the past, as well as the works of several recently famous music masters, so that she would not be at a loss for words when talking about music in social occasions.
Afterwards, accompanied by her personal maid, she went to the Kingdom Theatre in the West End to watch this year's most popular play, "The Betrayer Ring".
The reason is the same as for music classes. If you want to get into the upper class, you have to follow the popular trends among the nobles and the rich. You can gain attention in the short term by relying on your own "Intis life experience", but in the long run you must supplement with new "knowledge".
After taking a carriage to the West End, Angel got off at the theater door, adjusted the black veil outside the lady's wide-brimmed hat to make sure that his face was hidden behind it, and then entered the main entrance of the theater accompanied by the maid Elsa.
Over the past few weeks, she had gradually transitioned from Intis's flamboyant style to Loen's reserved style, as planned. Reducing the attention she would draw from public appearances was also part of her strategy. Of course, at salons, dinners, and balls, Miss Christine Theresa, "eager to blend into Backlund's upper-class circles," would still present her best side to the other guests.
In the theater lobby, Angel was not surprised to see Dwayne Dantès, who was about to enter the luxurious box with his valet to watch a play. After checking the tickets, the latter was talking in a low voice with his servant. When he saw someone approaching, he looked over curiously and his eyes lit up.
"Ms. Theresa, I didn't expect to see you here. It seems the rumors about the star of 'The Betrayer's Ring' being sought after by the ladies of Backlund are true."
He bowed and jokingly said something humorous.
"In fact, I don't know the protagonist of this play, but the original author of the script is Emperor Roselle. I have always, um, admired this great man."
No, in fact, he plagiarized "The Ring of the Nibelung" and made corresponding "localized adaptations"... When Angel praised the time traveler Russell against his will, he couldn't help but criticize him in his heart.
“Emperor Rossel Gustavus is a creator whose inspiration never runs out.”
Klein, holding a cane and wearing a straight hat, smiled and said, seemingly sharing the same admiration for the emperor.
Then, he kindly invited Angel to go with him into the luxurious box to watch the upcoming play. Although Angel had also booked a box, he accepted the gentleman's invitation after a little hesitation. The two of them brought their servants and sat down in the box with the best view on the second floor of the theater.
In the eyes of the maid Aisha and the butler Richardson, these two gentlemen and ladies, who had only met a few times and danced twice together, quickly and familiarly evaluated the performance on the stage below, occasionally discussing the plot and analyzing the creator's psychology, just like like-minded friends.
But in reality, what they saw was just an illusion created by Angel using the "mirror substitute." Under the cover of sound and light, which was difficult to detect even by direct touch, Angel had already told Klein about his cooperation with Triss, how he dealt with and released the "Chaos Mentor" William, and the visit of the "Goddess's Sword" last night.
"It seems the Church is preparing to take action against the 'Man in the Mirror.' Arranging for Her Excellency Cecima to come here might be to prevent the worst-case scenario. Although he's a Sequence 5, with the help of the Holy Relic, he can fight a Sequence 4. The Archbishop of the Backlund Diocese must also be a demigod. Even without us, he can easily deal with the fake Pierce Turner..."
Klein analyzed quietly, his expression calm but with a hint of joy. No matter what, as a former Nighthawk and a follower of the Goddess, he did not want such an "invader" to appear within the church.
But next, I will also become an invader who steals Antigonus's notes... Thinking of this, his expression became a little stiff again.
"If you can solve the problem of 'The Man in the Mirror', contribute this, and return the 'Night Watcher' trait, perhaps you can exchange it for the notebook you need."
Seeing his expression change, Angel spoke to comfort him.
She knew that the Beyonder's special characteristics would definitely not be retained, and would most likely be used to promote Creste Cesimma to Sequence 4, thereby replacing the church's loss of a high-sequence Beyonder and making full use of the Beyonder characteristics.
This can be seen from the fact that the church specially sent Cecima to handle this matter.
"I hope so, but I can't confirm the church's attitude. After all, unlike you, I'm already a 'dead man' in their eyes..." Klein chuckled, mocking his own mortality. "Anyway, let's make two preparations as planned. If we can't borrow it, we'll just steal it."
The two of them ended the topic in a brief silence. A moment later, as the drama on the stage below entered its final act and the crowd turned against each other over the fight for the ring, Klein spoke again:
"I have accepted Miss Magician's commission to deal with Louis Wayne, Mr. X of the Aurora Society, this Friday, two days later.
"To this end, she will provide me with a powerful magical item, but according to divination, the risks of this battle are still very high. This means that Mr. X is likely accompanied by other members of the Aurora Society, so..."
"Well, I'll help."
When the invincible hero on the stage died of betrayal and the plot and the audience's emotions reached their peak, Angel nodded, interrupted Klein, and answered him directly.
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