Only God
Chapter 392 - 347 Emperor

Chapter 392: 347 Emperor

Mira slowly opened her eyes.

The familiar ceiling came into view, and she patted the quilt on her body to confirm that she was still in the room.

Mira sat up on the bed, rubbed her forehead, and looked in front of her, then was startled.

She saw a person dressed in Night Watchman’s garb, kneeling on the ground, already dead with blood coming from all seven orifices. The expression of endless horror on his face before death was the spitting image of the Priest’s. Wisps of white vapor rose from beneath the clothes, as if corroded.

This Night Watchman had died suddenly, just like the Priest, both succumbed to spiritual backlash.

Mira saw the pryed opened window, she leapt down from the bed and noticed the ritual Array at the foot of the bed.

"No wonder... my consciousness was drawn there..."

Mira realized with sudden clarity, then furrowed her brows tightly.

The Night Watchman had broken into her bedroom during the night, and then set up an Array, drawing her soul to that unnamed underground tomb.

Combining the previous events, Mira finally understood that there was a mole among the Church Nightwatchmen.

Why did this Night Watchman come in?

Mira looked at the pryed opened window and fell into deep thought.

After a while, she no longer hesitated, stepped out of the room, and knocked on Anos’s door forcefully.

"It’s so late, Mira..."

Before the Princess could finish speaking, Mira jumped up, clamped her hand over Anos’s mouth, and pushed her into the room.

After closing the door, Mira opened the window to check, she chanted the Ancient Language in a low voice, and after making sure no one was lurking nearby, turned her head to look at Anos.

"Anos, someone broke into my room."

Mira said in as hushed a voice as possible,

"And it was a Night Watchman."

Anos was taken aback, then narrowed her eyes,

"What happened, Mira?"

Mira leaned close to Anos’s ear and quietly recounted the incident.

She concealed some key details, such as the submission of the Cultists and the black mist that they feared. In her account, it was merely an unlucky death of the Priest due to the ritual’s spiritual backlash.

Anos chewed her finger, clearly aware that the matter was not simple.

"It’s strange... why would a Night Watchman enter your room... Did my father send them to guard us?"

The Princess lowered her head, analyzing.

Mira raised her face to ask,

"Anos, is there a problem with your father?"

"No, maybe he doesn’t know."

Anos shook her head, speaking softly,

"I know my father; perhaps he believes that only the lower ranks of Night Watchman have been infiltrated, but the higher-ups remain absolutely loyal to him."

Mira nodded slightly, feeling that Anos made a lot of sense.

Night Watchmen swear allegiance to both the Emperor and the Church and are not completely under the Emperor’s direct control. With the intertwining of interests, the situation is often much more complicated than imagined.

"But no matter what, we can’t stay here."

Anos stood up; she decisively picked out her own clothes from the wardrobe,

"We must leave immediately."

............

The previous night’s experience had a great impact on them; a Night Watchman traitor had broken into Mira’s bedroom and attempted to sacrifice her. The mystery behind this incident was profound, and Anos felt deeply that the organization known as the Primordial Church had infiltrated every level of the Empire over several centuries or even longer. There was no absolutely safe place here in Danschel.

Anos and Mira traveled by night, the latter accurately using the Ancient Language to scout the locations of the Night Watchmen. Cloaked in black robes that blended with the night, they precisely circumvented each Night Watchman, slipping away from the street under their watch.

The Princess was not sure who to trust and carefully considered their next destination. After much thought, she realized that Stephanie’s home was the only true safe haven.

Thousand Cities Academy was granted special privileges by successive Kings; swords and soldiers were not allowed to be used within it, and soldiers could not step foot in it. Regardless of how powerful a person was, without the Academy’s permission, they were not allowed to enter.

To put it vividly, the wind could enter, the rain could enter, but the King could not.

Stephanie was awakened by the knocking of the two women and looked on in astonishment at the Princess and Mira who had come calling in the middle of the night, while Anos unceremoniously ushered Mira into the room.

"What’s the matter? Isn’t it curfew? Plus, it’s the middle of the night; we haven’t even heard the first crowing of the rooster."

Stephanie’s face was the picture of tired irritation.

"I can only be brief, Stephanie,"

Anos acted with brisk efficiency,

"A political enemy is plotting against me."

The Princess’s words were succinct, her tone allowing no room for refusal, and she looked Stephanie in the eye with an intensity that seemed to tower over her despite their similar height.

Stephanie was startled, her mouth agape,

"That’s unexpected... but considering it’s the Delos Family, not so unexpected..."

The hostess’s lethargy vanished, as she quickly prepared a guest room for the two women and thoughtfully poured them some wine.

Mira was about to raise her wine glass when Anos stopped her.

The Princess took off the silver badge from her waist and immersed it in the wine for a moment before relaxing, seeing that there was no problem.

Anos lifted her wine glass, sipped lightly,

"We need to speed up the investigation."

Mira nodded and asked,

"Shall we start with the Stone Mason Guild?"

Anos did not deny it,

"Yes, and we can only rely on ourselves... neither the Night Watchman, nor other families, nor the Church... none can be absolutely trusted."

Mira questioned after hearing this,

"Even your father..."

"My Emperor is the most trustworthy among those who are relatively credible."

Anos paused, then added,

"But not absolutely."

"Oh, I understand you."

Mira spoke softly, taking a sip of her own wine.

After all, parents are often the most trustworthy, since there is a kinship bond.

"When I bleed,

My Emperor bleeds for me as well."

Anos confessed softly,

"And my trust is not just emotional..."

Mira looked surprised.

The Princess turned to Mira with a smile and said,

"It’s because both my father and I stand for the interests of the family."

At that moment, Stephanie had finished preparing the guest room.

She emerged, sweating profusely, and directly addressed the Princess,

"How long will you be staying?"

"For quite some time, Stephanie."

Anos stood up, patted her shoulder,

"Don’t let your maids know we’re here."

"I understand, I swear it upon your God."

Having said this, Stephanie added,

"And the Forest God I worship, but you must make it up to me afterward, or may lightning strike me down."