Chapter 887 The Hidden Truth
What kind of question is that... I thought she'd ask something like, "Have you ever been in love?" Judging by Triss's expression, she must be thinking the same thing...
Angel frowned slightly and searched his mind, but had no impression of this name.
But since Sherman mentioned the "former" captain of the palace guards, it can be guessed that this Earl of Mason Dill is the "predecessor" of Viscount Stratford, or even directly took over the other's job.
But what does this have to do with Sherman?
Angel looked at Viscount Stratford, who replied calmly:
"Yes, before I became the captain of the palace guard, he commanded the royal guards and protected the safety of the palace, and I was his deputy."
"Eight years ago, he was stripped of his title and fiefdom and executed on the spot for participating in a rebellion. Is this true?"
Sherman seemed to already know the answer to the first question and continued asking without any hesitation.
"Of course it's fake," Stratford said, his expression struggling slightly, but he quickly calmed down and answered Sherman's question. "In reality, he discovered the King's secret and attempted to leave the palace to inform the three major churches. He was discovered and executed on the spot... Afterwards, the royal family purged some of his family members, sparing those outside the family, as well as the direct children and women. This was a recognition of the Dill family's contributions to the royal family for generations... And I took over his position and continued to serve His Majesty the King."
"Were you involved in Mason Dill's death?"
Sherman asked next.
"No, a member of the royal guard reported his treason, and a royal demigod personally intercepted and restrained him, preventing him from uttering a single word until he was hanged... But I don't know who it was, and no one dared to ask."
Stepford replied slowly.
Sherman, who was standing in front of him, nodded grimly. He glanced at Angel and Triss, and seeing they didn't move, he looked at Stratford, took a deep breath, and asked:
"What was the secret that led to his demise?"
"I don't know either," the captain of the palace guards shook his head, his expression slightly bewildered. "It seems to involve a contract signed many years ago between the royal family and the three major churches. I guess... that's..."
When he said this, his expression became somewhat painful, as if the answer to this question was buried deep in his memory and was locked.
Angel's virtual personality in the ocean of consciousness also felt the Stratford island shaking. Even the parts she had modified became unstable. She quickly spoke:
"Okay, you don't need to answer this question."
Stratford's forehead, beneath his high hairline, was already covered in sweat, and his expression was somewhat ferocious. After hearing Angel's instructions, he took a few deep breaths before regaining consciousness and collapsing on the ground, as if all his strength had been exhausted by the struggle and hesitation in that moment.
Angel ignored him and looked at Sherman and asked:
"Who is Mason Dill to you?"
"He's Miss Xiou's father. I've heard her talk before about the rebellion eight years ago and the court conspiracy that resulted in the deaths and injuries of most of the Dill family, forcing them to escape Backlund under an assumed name. I'm afraid only Stratford knows about this, so I'm taking this opportunity to ask him... Xiou is my best friend, and I have to do something for her."
Sherman murmured, the questions and answers just now seemed to make her realize that her friend's road to revenge would not be so smooth, so she looked a little depressed.
Hugh Dilcha, the short bounty hunter, Miss Judgment of the Tarot Club... Dil, Dilcha, it turns out her last name was a disguise...
Angel nodded in sudden realization.
Triss smiled sarcastically.
"I didn't expect you to be so considerate of your friend. I hope she won't let your kindness go to waste and go and die beyond her ability."
After that, she looked at Angel and said in a more formal tone:
"Have you finished asking questions? I'll be responsible for disposing of the body."
"Be quick."
Angel replied, taking a few steps back.
Both of them ignored the slightly confused and nervous expression on her face, but under the effect of "hypnosis", they believed the woman in front of them very much, so Stratford, who was still sitting in the middle of the living room without moving, was as if he was already dead.
A moment later, the cursed black flames completely annihilated his spirit and body, leaving only a handful of ashes as Stratford falling into the full-length mirror in the corner of the wall, drifting away in the "mirror world", and flying into the distance along different mirror passages.
His painful and desperate wails seemed to still echo in the living room, but because of the "secrecy", no one knew about it, just like Mason Dill who was unjustly killed eight years ago, and Prince Edessac who became a scapegoat in the great smog.
"This should delay the time it takes for the royal family and the military to find him, but he will eventually be discovered... It's best for you to leave Backlund for a while and come back after the storm has died down."
Looking at the living room which had become much cleaner, Angel said to Triss, who had a melancholy look on her face, as if she was still immersed in the flames and screams just now.
"No, I can't leave," Triss shook her head, her unfocused gaze returning to Angel's face. "The forces are so complex and intertwined. Backlund, where the 'Witch Cult' doesn't dare to act recklessly, is the safest place for me. Besides... something big should be happening soon, right? For example, the actions of the royal family, the responses of the three major churches, and..."
"'The Black Emperor'?"
When she said this word, Triss showed an inexplicable smile on her face, which made Angel feel somewhat familiar.
She actually knew? No... Triss hadn't acted like she knew about these conspiracies before. Did she get the answer from the information about the Great Smog incident being caused by George III? Even Klein and I learned the Black Emperor's apotheosis ritual from Mr. Fool, and then analyzed information from various sources. Especially the matter of the nine mausoleums. If Catalina hadn't revealed, for some reason, that George III was excavating nine ruins, I wouldn't have guessed it...
Angel stared at Triss and asked:
"Even if one deliberately gathers intelligence, knowing that George III is using the Great Smog to conceal the number of missing persons, using it to excavate ruins and prepare rituals, and knowing the various reforms he has carried out over the past decade, without the corresponding knowledge of occult science, without mastering the promotion rituals, and without understanding the hidden history, it would be difficult to guess the truth. So... who is your source of information?"
By asking this question, she was acknowledging that George III was attempting to promote the "Black Emperor."
This is because Triss, who has been promoted to a demigod and is full of hatred for the king, also has the hope of becoming a help in stopping this incident!
"As you said, most of this information is public. Of course, identifying it requires the appropriate knowledge. For example, the 'Black Emperor' requires nine mausoleums. Before becoming a god, the 'Blood Emperor' of the Fourth Epoch, Alistair Tudor, also attempted to fulfill the conditions of the ritual and built nine mausoleums. Combined with George III's actions in excavating the ruins, the answer is clear... And the one who gave me this knowledge... was the 'Original Witch'."
Triss replied in a light tone, the same smile from before appearing on her face again.
Angel immediately remembered the source of this familiar feeling: she had seen Triss, wearing a sapphire ring, smile the same way at a dinner party hosted by Prince Edessak!
Tsk, after her ascension to demigodhood, isn't she getting closer to the so-called "Vessel of God's Descendants"? I haven't even asked her how she solved the "Despair" witch's ritual problem. Could the "Original Witch" have provided some help?
Angel frowned, and then thought of another thing:
Since the "Original Witch" was already providing substantial assistance to Triss, why did the "White Saint" receive the mission to find Triss? Wouldn't she have immediately known Triss's location and her status as a favored one by simply praying to her deity?
Unless, as the legend goes, the "Original Witch" really fell into a deep sleep at the end of the Fourth Epoch, causing chaos in the command of the "Witch Sect", with everyone doing their own thing, and even as Catalina said, the positions of believers and gods are not necessarily the same?
Or maybe, this evil god himself, because of his poor condition, would issue contradictory orders, leaving his subordinates exhausted and at a loss?
Putting aside these doubts in his mind, Angel nodded.
"Indeed, I suspect that George III's many plots and schemes are all connected to the Black Emperor," she continued, glancing at the bewildered Sherman. "Since you understand the risks and still wish to achieve revenge and disrupt the Black Emperor's rituals, you must obey orders and refrain from acting on your own and exposing our presence."
She was still hesitant about whether to let Triss join her "small group". After all, the gods of the "Witch Sect" stood behind her. If she was not careful, she might face the attack of the secret sect with many angels. It would be difficult for her to even protect herself, let alone stop George III.
But at this time when the attitudes of the three major churches are unclear, the combat power of every demigod is precious and worth fighting for!
Hearing her words, Triss's smile became even brighter. After becoming a demigod, her even more attractive "charm" made Angel a little unable to control himself.
"Of course, as long as I can help relieve the unequaled majesty, I am willing to obey any arrangements made by the Golden Queen."
She lifted her skirt, bowed slightly and saluted.
————
On the streets of the East District, Hugh Dilcha, wearing a knight's training uniform and a hooded cloak covering his hair and face, ran quickly.
She had already run around the nearby streets several times. She remembered that Sherman's rented apartment was clearly here, but she looked around and wandered back and forth, but still couldn't find her target.
It was as if the building where the apartment was located was taken away and hidden by someone, and other buildings reasonably covered up the empty space, making it impossible for anyone to find fault.
Suddenly, standing in the deserted alley, Xio felt a cold touch passing through her body, and in less than a second, she returned to normal, almost thinking that she was hallucinating.
But as this feeling appeared, the building she had been looking for for a long time appeared before her, as if it had always been there, but had been ignored by her.
Strange... She didn't think too much about it, and rushed up to the second floor in two steps. She stopped beside a two-bedroom apartment, held her breath and listened to the movement inside. She punched the door lock hard, pushed the door open with a loud noise, and entered the spacious but slightly dull living room.
In the room, Sherman, wearing a conservatively designed dress with her long brown hair tied behind her head, stood by the window, facing the door with a calm expression, as if she had been waiting for her to appear.
"Sherman, you're here after all..." Xio muttered. He looked around but didn't see any sign of Viscount Stratford. "I thought you were going to break up with Stratford today, but I didn't expect you to actually... kidnap him. You should be a wanted criminal by now. MI9 won't let you go..."
As she spoke, she looked a little hesitant, swallowed some of her angry words, took a deep breath, and then asked:
"Where is Stratford? If you plan to deal with him, could you please let me ask a few questions... simple questions that won't cause any trouble for your actions."
She clenched her fists involuntarily, revealing her nervousness.
"Viscount Stratford is dead, his body has left this world. MI9 won't be able to find him, but the blood I left at the scene, along with my fake identity, will lead them to all sorts of seemingly plausible clues, leaving them running for their lives..."
Sherman spoke in a soft voice, the corners of her mouth turned up, her eyes narrowed, and her slightly round face looked innocent and cute, which made Xio's heart beat fast.
"As for the question you mentioned, I've already asked it for you...Xiu, your father's death does indeed hide a shocking secret!"
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