The investigator didn’t go to the main hall to pray but instead found a priest.
After showing his credentials, he was taken to a small room behind the Holy Hall.
Inside the room, a bishop was reading a book.
He was about fifty years old, with graying hair and a stern face.
"Apprentice Investigator Long Ke’er salutes you, Your Excellency Bishop Brown!"
Long Ke’er bowed, "This is my observation report on the target for this week!"
He spoke as he handed over a document.
"You’ve worked hard, please take a seat."
Bishop Brown took the document and began to read it slowly.
In every major city of the federation, the church bishops of Sui Sui and Seven Difficulties, together with the Special Affairs Bureau, were the strongest forces in the mystical realm.
"According to my investigation, Angel Regla is just an ordinary person who was beguiled into entering the ’Skinning Club’... She herself shows no anomalies."
Long Ke’er reported this as well.
"Therefore, she is only under mild surveillance," Bishop Brown said gently.
’Yes, and they only assigned me, an apprentice investigator, to carry out the tracking,’ Long Ke’er thought with a roll of his eyes.
As an apprentice investigator, Long Ke’er’s biggest goal was to accumulate enough merits or work hours to be promoted to a third-level investigator.
Although it was said that second-level investigators could unlock the door to mysteries, he had no such luxury at the moment and was only thinking about mixing his salary.
Among the federation’s institutions, people like him were the majority.
Moreover, the salary and allowances of a third-level investigator were already quite generous!
"Taking all the information into consideration, we can be sure that this ’Skinning Club’ has significant issues... It doesn’t even exist in the real world and only opens its entrance at specific times, with each opening at different locations..."
After reading all the data, Bishop Brown tapped his fingers gently on the desk, "This is a very cunning ritual or unnamed technique ability... It indicates that behind it there might stand an ’Ascender’ or even a ’Perfector’!"
Long Ke’er gasped, "That’s quite an influential figure, then. Should we continue?"
Bishop Brown coldly recited a few lines, "Life is short; indulge in desires... Devour sweet things and be devoured by sweet things; we relish it as a delicacy and enjoy supreme pleasure from it... This is a typical doctrine of the Master of Black Blood! The Skinning Club might just be a facade worn by those infamous organizations in history!"
’Yes, and the church of Sui Sui is very hostile towards the Master of Black Blood, as it is said their ritual powers clash...’
Long Ke’er added in his mind.
"The so-called fine wines and foods are probably bait to select followers... The root of evil must be broken."
Bishop Brown stood up, his expression very determined, "Last time the Chasing Cup Sect caused havoc in Byron City, it was our negligence. If they hadn’t escaped so quickly, I would have burned them to ashes... This time, I won’t tolerate any failures."
"The Special Affairs Bureau will support Your Excellency fully."
Long Ke’er bowed again, making a promise.
"So that’s how it is, the church of Sui Sui?"
Just then, outside the church, Zhong Shenxiu was feeding pigeons while listening to the report of a spiritual body.
Without powerful souls to enslave, these ordinary earth-bound spirits could only be used for minor tasks like eavesdropping and surveillance.
Fortunately, after being modified and strengthened, they were still of little use, but they were sufficiently covert.
"Follower of the Master of Black Blood, Skinning Club?"
Hearing the news he wanted, Zhong Shenxiu scattered the last handful of feed and immediately turned to leave.
"Why did this club suddenly appear in Byron City? Could it be linked to the aftermath of the Chasing Cup Sect? But Macy and Cadlyan have already left," he wondered.
He was somewhat puzzled but didn’t dwell on it too much.
Angel wasn’t in a life-threatening situation yet, so he decided to go home and sleep.
"Hm, does Jones have a guest?"
When Zhong Shenxiu entered the house, he was taken aback to see Jones talking to a man wearing an artist’s hat.
The man’s build and demeanor were exactly like the "painter" he had met at the mysterious meeting.
Jones, upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu return, stood up somewhat nervously, "Let me introduce Mr. Dengrike, a very talented painter."
Dengrike extended his hand proactively.
"Li Wei, Li Wei Mojito!" Zhong Shenxiu extended his hand and shook it.
"Of course, I’ve heard about you from your brother."
Dengrike blinked, "I heard you are also an excellent ’bartender’!"
He emphasized the last word on purpose.
"Jones, go back to your room. I have something to discuss with Dengrike."
Zhong Shenxiu narrowed his eyes; although he wasn’t afraid of his identity being exposed—after all, there were so many layers of separation—
it was still better not to get Jones involved.
After Jones left, Zhong Shenxiu casually released a layer of spiritual soundproofing barrier and sat on the sofa, his voice deep, "Painter, since you know it’s me, you shouldn’t have sold that dangerous painting to my brother."
For some reason, seeing the bartender in this state sent a chill down Dengrike’s spine, and he couldn’t help but explain, "I didn’t know at the time I sold the painting."
"What brings you here this time?" Zhong Shenxiu asked noncommittally.
"Mainly just visiting, but you might not be aware. There have been significant changes among our meeting members," the painter spoke in a low voice.
Zhong Shenxiu signaled for him to continue.
"After Rose, Jasmine, and the Shadow group left, the Butcher and his people barely managed anything, and the old drunkard and the watchmaker are dead..."
"Death always comes unexpectedly."
Zhong Shenxiu sighed, "What happened?"
"I don’t know; I only backtracked their identities after the fact... If it were just their own issues, it would be one thing, but if someone is targeting our circle specifically, then everyone is in danger!"
Dengrike spoke a bit neurotically.
"I think... maybe they just carelessly provoked someone..." Zhong Shenxiu speculated, perhaps someone like the Skinning Club.
"No, you don’t understand! I have painted a prophecy painting... The colors on it have been revealing things to me... more than one dark force is encroaching on this city, and we are all in danger, very much in danger!"
Dengrike’s eyes were blood-red and filled with bloodshot veins, "When the crisis comes, instead of actively preparing to save ourselves, everyone is behaving like ostriches burying their heads in the sand. This isn’t right, if we continue , perhaps you and I will be the ones to die tomorrow..."
"So what are you suggesting?" Although Zhong Shenxiu admitted the other’s words were somewhat stirring, he asked noncommittally.
"It’s time to restart the meetings!"