Hall narrowed his eyes, watching the church doors. "Yeah. Something’s not right about that priest."
The duo waited outside the church, pacing back and forth as the sun climbed higher in the sky.
"What the hell are they doing in there?" Hall muttered, tapping his foot impatiently.
"It’s been too long," Crebs added, looking toward the church doors with growing unease.
Minutes turned into hours, and finally, they noticed three familiar figures walking out of the building.
"They’re here," Crebs said, relief washing over his face.
As soon as the three approached, Hall’s voice boomed, "What the hell were you doing inside that it took you this long?"
"Yeah," Crebs joined in, "it’s already afternoon!"
The three men stopped and looked at each other, their faces pale with confusion.
"This..." one of them started, rubbing his temples, "it’s strange. It feels like we lost ourselves there."
"Lost yourselves?" Hall frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"We were just listening to the priest," another said, his voice distant. "He was talking about the Great God’s tales... and before we knew it, time just vanished."
"God’s tales?" Crebs repeated, now curious. "What tales?"
"The priest was preaching," one of the men explained slowly. "We stayed to listen, and it was like being pulled into another world. His words just... wrapped around us. You just couldn’t stop listening."
Hall crossed his arms. "That still doesn’t explain how you wasted half a day."
One of them looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Because what we saw wasn’t normal. That man... he healed a cripple so he could walk again. Right in front of everyone. And then he fixed a man’s deformed leg, turning it into a normal one."
Hall and Crebs exchanged shocked glances. "He turned a deformed leg into a new one?" Hall repeated, his voice rising.
"Yes," the man said firmly. "We saw it with our own eyes. The crowd went wild. People were crying, calling him a living saint."
The other two nodded in agreement. "He treated everyone kindly," one said. "He didn’t take a single coin from anyone. He even blessed the poor before they left."
Crebs frowned, scratching his head. "That sounds too perfect."
"There’s more," one of the men continued, lowering his voice. "He talked about a Vast God... said that this God sacrificed himself for the world. But then, he said the world betrayed him. The way he spoke—it was like he wanted everyone to pity that God."
Hall’s eyes narrowed. "That doesn’t sound like the regular Church teachings."
"No," the man said quietly. "It doesn’t."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The air felt heavy, and the faint sound of church bells echoed behind them.
Hall clenched his fists. His instincts screamed that something was off. "I know something is wrong," he thought, "but I just can’t figure out what it is."
Finally, he turned to the others. "Let’s stop this farce and report back to the Lord."
"Yeah," Crebs agreed. "We didn’t find anything directly suspicious, but what we heard... it’s strange enough. Let’s just tell him everything."
The five of them nodded, and without another word, they walked away from the church, their hearts heavy with unease. The echo of the people’s voice still lingered faintly in their minds, making them feel as if something unseen was watching them.
....
Ethan tapped his fingers on the desk as he listened to the report from the five men, one by one. His sharp eyes moved over each of them, studying their faces. The air in the room grew tense. The men began to shift uncomfortably under his steady gaze, feeling as if a predator was quietly watching their every move.
Their hearts pounded faster, and one of them even lowered his head, unable to meet Ethan’s piercing eyes.
After a long silence, Ethan leaned back slightly and closed his eyes. He rubbed his nose and sniffed lightly before speaking. "So, you didn’t encounter any problem?"
The five men nodded quickly, though Hall’s lips twitched as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. Ethan caught that small gesture, though he didn’t react. He only said, "Alright, you can all leave now."
They bowed deeply and hurried out of the room, visibly relieved.
Ethan turned toward Oliver, who stood silently nearby. "What do you think?" he asked in a calm tone.
Oliver rubbed his chin, thinking. "Except for all that excessive flattery about the priest, I didn’t hear anything strange. But that free treatment sounds... suspicious."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"You know how the priests are," Oliver continued. "They preach about helping others, but none of them would treat people for free. They always make sure they get their share, whether it’s money or offerings."
Ethan nodded slowly. "That’s exactly what I thought. When you find nothing suspicious, it usually means something is hidden."
He paused for a moment as a faint unpleasant smell filled his nose. His expression changed slightly. It was the same rotten, foul scent he had sensed from Priest Mureno earlier.
This was definitely a problem.
"I think I need to step in personally," Ethan said quietly.
Oliver’s eyes widened. "My Lord... you’re going to pay a visit yourself?"
"Yes," Ethan replied, his voice calm but firm. "And I’ll do it at night. In disguise."
Oliver looked startled. "My Lord, what about the Lady?"
"Don’t inform them," Ethan said coldly. His gaze turned sharp, and Oliver immediately straightened. "If you dare slip this out to them..." Ethan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Oliver felt sweat forming on his neck. "I understand, my Lord."
Ethan leaned back again, his voice returning to normal. "Also, that man Hall... he seems reliable. Tell him to come with me."
Oliver nodded and quickly left to arrange everything. Ethan rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh. "I hope I’m not overthinking this," he muttered. "But even if I am, it’s better to be cautious."
.....
Later that night, Ethan’s preparations were complete.
"My Lord..." Oliver called, pausing as they saw Ethan walking out.
"Yes?" Ethan replied.
"You are sure you’re going to investigate the church, not... raid a woman ’s heart right?"
Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"
Oliver and Hall exchanged awkward looks.
Before them stood Ethan, wearing a sleek black assassin outfit.
The tight battle suit outlined his well-built body, the dark cloak falling perfectly around his shoulders. A faint glow of moonlight reflected off his white hair and sharp blue eyes, giving him a dangerous yet magnetic charm. Even his calm breathing carried a quiet power that made both men step back.
Ethan’s half-covered face made him look mysterious and dangerously handsome, like a shadow that could both protect and kill.
"Do you want me to gouge your eyes out for staring?" Ethan said sharply.
Oliver coughed, trying to hide his embarrassment, while Hall grinned nervously. "Oh my... such a fine piece of art, My Lord."
"Yes," Oliver muttered. "If I had one of those, I could... uh... help the poor."
Ethan glared. "Shut up, both of you. I know I look good. Now, let’s move. I’m going to raid—cough—I mean investigate the church."
From the window above, Sophia watched them quietly.
Her cold eyes softened for a brief moment as she saw Ethan walk out. His confident stride and calm aura made her heart skip.
She quickly looked away, hiding her faint blush, and whispered, "Idiot... at least be careful."