Ansu, City Center, Imperial Avenue, Deton House.
This five-story brick and stone building stood in Ansu’s most prosperous district. Its red brick facade matched the surrounding architecture. Classical columns flanked the entrance, adorned with exquisite pediments and reliefs.
Tall arched windows were neatly arranged. A massive gilded chip was embedded in the center of the second floor, gleaming under the sunlight.
Inside the third-floor office with the best lighting, a woman dressed in a white blouse and black vest, incredibly thin with deep dark circles under her eyes, tossed a gold pound coin in her hand, repeatedly flipping it with her thumb and catching it in her palm.
A knock sounded from outside. The woman flipped the gold pound one last time but didn’t catch it, letting it land on the desk before her.
After wobbling a few times, the Queen’s image settled firmly face down on the desk, while the image of a knight slaying a dragon on the back faced the ceiling.
Ill-intentioned visitor.
The woman showed no sign of disappointment; instead, a grin spread across her face as she looked towards the door and said:
The office door opened. A man wearing a silver chip mask walked in slowly. After turning to close the wooden door, he stood before the woman and bowed slightly.
“Commissioner Lucy, the boss wants you to make a trip to Berren City.” The man with the silver chip mask said respectfully.
“What, is Berren City starting to incur losses too?” Lucy looked up at the man and asked.
“Who embezzled how much this time?”
The man with the silver chip mask slowly explained, “Commissioner Lucy, it’s not about losses.”
“A message came from the Church of the Savior Goddess Holy See, saying that the Divine Advent Church members held a sacrificial ritual at Deton Manor in Berren City… It seems they summoned a divine servant, and the entire Deton Manor collapsed. The specific casualties and losses are currently unknown. The manager wants you to handle it, preferably investigate everything before the Church of the Savior Goddess does. The company’s reputation is at stake.”
“I understand. You may leave first. Wait for my instructions.” Lucy waved her hand. Watching the man exit and close the door, she looked at the gold coin before her.
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?
She pulled open a drawer, revealing an antique wooden box inside. Opening the box revealed a deck of exquisite black Tarot cards within.
Golden cracks adorned the backs of the black cards, seeming to shimmer with light.
She took out the cards, lit the incense and candle beside her, then skillfully began shuffling and cutting the deck.
“Will this field assignment yield any results?” Lucy silently recited in her mind.
Card after card was laid out neatly on the table. With each card placed, she would silently ask a question in her mind.
A Celtic Cross spread was laid out.
Current situation, obstacles and challenges, subconscious influences… As each card was revealed, the questions in her mind were gradually cleared away.
This is… a turning point in my destiny, fraught with immense risk…
But at the same time…
Card number 10 was revealed by Lucy.
An reversed Sun card lay quietly in the final outcome position of number 10.
But simultaneously, there exists a small possibility, a chance to win enormous returns…
The Tarot cards offered a clear warning: this investigation would be a life-or-death choice. Success could bring rich rewards, but failure could mean a tremendous cost, including the end of her life.
What kind of reward would even make her, a “Favored,” consider it substantial?
Her nimble fingers danced, flipping a gold pound between them.
She caught the gold pound firmly in her hand. When she opened her hand again, the gold exterior of the coin had completely faded, revealing a rust-like brown underneath. The front depicted a faceless angel stained with rust, the back a seemingly bleeding demonic eye.
Is the substantial reward gaining complete control over or freedom from this sealed artifact…
Or… advancing further?
Either option held immense allure for Lucy.
As a “Favored” who had gambled her way up to this position, if offered a gamble with extremely high risk of death but also extremely high returns, she wouldn’t hesitate to discard everything she had, going all-in.
Without this gambling nature, she wouldn’t have reached this position.
She had gambled her way up , and each time, she was certain she wouldn’t lose.
Because she was favored by destiny.
Lucy stood up, picked up her silver cane, and walked towards the door.
Behind her, on the windowsill, a black raven landed, flapped its wings, and began preening its feathers.
The warhorse’s iron hooves clattered on the stone road, the horseshoes striking the flagstones with crisp sounds.
Only after entering the city did the hoofbeats gradually slow down.
At this moment, Avena withdrew her gaze from the distant Creek Hill. The three inside the carriage exchanged glances, then sighed in relief.
After a moment of silence, Avena looked towards Ciel and asked, “That just now was…”
“It’s over.” Ciel shook her head and said, “There won’t be any more Divine Advent Church people there.”
Not just Avena, even Adele couldn’t help showing a puzzled expression.
What happened? What did Ciel do just now? How is it over?
“They… are they all dead?” Avena couldn’t help but verify.
Wait, weren’t we just playing cards? How did all the Divine Advent Church people die?
Adele looked utterly confused, glancing back and forth between the two girls speaking in riddles.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then both slowly lowered their shoulders and smiled at each other, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Only Adele remained completely bewildered.
“Hmm? Is it over? Hmm? No one will come arrest us later?” Adele’s questions received no answer, but seeing their smiles, Adele seemed to understand something.
Ciel smiling was one thing, but even the usually stern-faced Avena was smiling. That should mean it’s really safe, right?
Leaning back in her seat, Avena raised her hand and rubbed her temples.
No wonder Ciel suddenly told her not to report to the Church of the Savior Goddess or the Deton Group.
The organization behind Ciel actually possessed the ability to silently flip the table from behind the scenes.
With the table flipped , there was no need to risk exposure by reporting.