Hearing Hugh’s question, Ciel’s heart sank.
If she hadn’t conveniently impersonated the Judicator’s Court, perhaps she could have bluffed Hugh with the “Saintess” identity. But now it seemed she had walked right into the line of fire.
Perhaps because it involved the “Judicator’s Court,” Hugh showed an attitude that absolutely required proof of Ciel’s identity.
Truly down on her luck…
But Ciel genuinely didn’t have time to deal with Hugh now. She still had many things she wanted to investigate. She still wanted to wait until noon to see Tara’s investigation report. She didn’t want to end the simulation so abruptly…
Moreover, Ciel really couldn’t produce any further evidence of being from the Judicator’s Court.
“I did indeed refuse to join the Judicator’s Court, and I also refused the Church of the Savior Goddess’s invitation. Impersonating the Judicator’s Court was merely to investigate the abnormal situation surrounding Oppold.” Ciel took a deep breath, deciding to call for backup.
“I am from the Roswell family. I work for Avena Roswell. For offending your esteemed church, I will bring apologies and gifts another day.”
Hugh, standing before her, fell into contemplation.
Avena’s name seemed to actually have an effect.
“Among Miss Avena Roswell’s servants previously, there were indeed heretical spies from the Divine Advent Church.” Hugh took several steps closer and said, “Miss, please cooperate with the investigation. It will be over soon.”
Divine Advent Church?
Instantly, Ciel understood what Hugh suspected.
She suspected her of being from the Divine Advent Church.
Bringing up Avena’s name, far from dispelling Hugh’s suspicion, actually deepened it.
Was it the 【Sadhana Emblem】 in her inventory?
Previously, just placing the 【Sadhana Emblem】 in the inventory could take effect, making cultists with the “Sadhana Mark” prostrate themselves before Ciel.
But unexpectedly, people from the Church of the Savior Goddess seemed able to sense the aura of the 【Sadhana Emblem】 too.
Right now, Ciel wished she could directly destroy the 【Sadhana Emblem】 in her inventory, but the system inventory didn’t have a destroy function.
Cooperate with the investigation, cooperate with what investigation?
Ciel’s hand slowly lowered, touching the “Strong Luck Coin” in her pocket.
This was the sealed artifact Lucy lent her. Ciel planned to use the coin directly when facing irresistible misfortune, gambling to see if she could turn the misfortune around.
Now, it was clearly time to fight for her life. Against Hugh, Ciel had no chance of winning.
Even if she directly initiated 【Spiritual Summoning】 now, Hugh, being highly vigilant, could kill her before the blood array formed.
Without prior preparation, and with the opponent alerted and resistant, Ciel couldn’t kill a third-tier individual through sacrifice. Instead, it would confirm her identity as a cultist.
“Arrived.” Hugh spoke abruptly, then slightly stepped aside, making way.
A woman, trembling all over, covered in wounds, holding a dagger, walked stiffly towards Ciel.
The woman had no shadow beneath her. Instead, a white shadow on the ground replicated her movements. The woman, somewhat dazed, visibly brightened upon seeing Ciel.
“Rest assured, it’s just a test, madam.” Hugh turned sideways towards Ciel and said, “If you sustain any wounds, I will bear the pain for you.”
A member of the Divine Advent Church?!
Previously at Deton Manor, Ciel used the Judicator’s Court identity to obtain internal information from the Church of the Savior Goddess. During their investigation there, they captured cultists trying to infiltrate the investigation team.
It was through harsh interrogation of these cultists that they learned the Divine Advent Church was unaware of this sacrificial operation.
Ciel instantly understood what test Hugh was talking about.
The test Hugh mentioned… was using the control and killing intent suppression effect of the 【Sadhana Emblem】 on those holding the “Sadhana Mark” to test her?
In Ciel’s vision, the woman’s stiff steps began to accelerate. She held the dagger in a reverse grip and charged directly towards Ciel.
The woman’s expression was full of resistance, but she quickly reached Ciel, raising the dagger high, about to stab towards Ciel.
Just then, the woman’s raised right hand began to tremble, as if fighting against something. Ciel, standing right in front, could even hear the “cracking” sound of the woman’s hand bones twisting and breaking.
The woman was using immense willpower to forcefully resist Hugh’s deliberately weakened control.
Before Ciel, the woman wore a painful expression, but her eyes gradually filled with fanaticism. She looked at Ciel, trembling, seemingly trying to explain something for Ciel:
“You… are not Lord Bishop…”
“You… are not… I… must kill…”
The woman tried to raise the dagger to stab Ciel’s shoulder, some harmless area, but her dagger stopped right before Ciel, unable to make the final thrust no matter what.
Instantly, all control over the woman vanished. Her body went limp, collapsing directly before Ciel, sobbing uncontrollably.
Long white longbows had already appeared in the hands of the surrounding white shadows. White shadow arrows materialized as they drew their bows, aiming towards Ciel.
Ciel hesitated no longer. A black shadow holding the coin reached out from Ciel’s pocket, handed it to Ciel. Ciel took the coin and flicked it directly upwards.
The rust-colored coin emitted a crisp sound as she flicked it into the air.
Simultaneously, a silver flash crossed her chest. The next moment, silver light flashed from both her left and right hands. A pocket watch and a flintlock pistol appeared in Ciel’s hands.
After taking out the 【Radiance Bishop’s Token】, Ciel’s inventory had an empty slot. She used this slot to instantly flash the pocket watch from her chest into her hand.
Ciel directly pressed the knob on the side of the pocket watch used for time adjustment. 【Echo of Time】 activated directly!
This was to buy 10 seconds, coordinating with 【Death Reversal】 to ensure Ciel survived until the result of the “Strong Luck Coin” toss.
“Hmm?” The moment Ciel tossed the coin sealed artifact, a strong spiritual alarm also sounded in Hugh’s mind.
She instinctively realized that once activated, the coin-shaped sealed artifact would bring unimaginable terrifying consequences!
The coin must not be allowed to land!