absurd deduction game.

The midday sun shines through the stained glass windows of the church, casting dappled yet silent light spots on the empty hall floor.

Qu Xianqing followed a tired-looking church deacon into the house. The sound of his heels striking the stone slabs was particularly clear in the vast space.

A young nun was quietly sweeping dust from a corner with a long broom.

Upon seeing them enter, the nun stopped what she was doing and bowed respectfully.

"May the Mother Goddess protect you, Deacon, Miss Investigator."

The deacon sighed, his voice heavy with weariness: "May the Mother Goddess protect us. Alas... look how deserted this place is. Three months ago, even at midday, there would be many believers here for their midday prayers, or simply to seek a moment of peace."

He shook his head, his tone heavy: "But now... strange things are happening all the time in town. People are trying to make a living and avoid going out as much as possible, for fear of getting involved with something unclean."

He seemed to remember something, then added helplessly, "Of course, those idle nobles and big merchants are an exception. I heard there's an art exhibition at the Flowing Light Gallery tonight? Really... I don't know whether to say they're carefree or indifferent."

Qu Xianqing responded with a faint "hmm," her gaze sweeping across the empty hall.

She rarely saw such desolate scenes in the slums. If nobles and wealthy merchants maintained their social lives because they had "leisure time," then those in the slums who had to continue working in such dangerous times were forced by the necessities of life.

The factories there were hardly affected. The poor people were uneasy because of the strange events, but they were even more afraid that the factories would close down, leaving them with no work and causing them to starve to death with their families.

The two men walked through the hall to a side room to write their field report.

They had just returned from the slums, cleared out several newly hatched leeches, and, more importantly, caught a glimpse of the activities of two cultists, which needed to be reported immediately.

In the side hall, another nun brought out tea and refreshments.

The butler was given ordinary black tea, while Qu Xianqing was given a plate of delicate snacks and a cup of golden-yellow beverage with a rich wheat aroma.

“Miss Investigator, please have some.” The nun explained with a smile, “These are cookies made with golden wheat grown by our church and wheat juice fermented with special malt. You can’t find this anywhere else. Thank you for your help to the church these past two days.”

Qu Xianqing nodded his thanks, picked up a biscuit and tasted it. It was crispy and had a pure wheat sweetness.

She didn't actually need this hospitality, but the church maintained a semblance of courtesy, and she didn't object.

The food is quite delicious. Let's take it back for Yu Xing... and the other teammates to try.

Just as she picked up the glass of wheat juice, a series of hurried footsteps and suppressed noises suddenly broke the church's usual tranquility and solemnity.

Qu Xianqing quickly gulped down a mouthful before putting down the cup. She exchanged a glance with the steward, and the two of them got up and walked out of the side hall at the same time.

Several church guards, clearly armed and combatants, were seen hastily assembling, their faces showing solemnity and urgency.

A communications officer was speaking rapidly to a priest:

"...Rose Avenue! The warning mark left there by the Mother Goddess has been activated, and the intensity of the fluctuation is... the highest 'Crimson' level! The local patrol brothers should have already arrived, but we urgently need support!"

Qu Xianqing's gaze sharpened.

Rose Avenue?

Isn't that the place Yu Xing said she was going to find this person named Riel this morning?
The highest level of pollution warning... Did Yu Xing trigger something? Or did he break through the disguise of some long-lurking monster?
Upon realizing it was Yu Xing, the slight worry that had just arisen in Qu Xianqing's heart instantly subsided.

That guy is just as good at causing trouble as he is at solving it. Instead of worrying about him, you should worry about what he's targeting.

She calmly walked forward and said to the priest who was directing the assembly—the same bearded priest who had initially distributed equipment to them in the church:

"Father, do you need help?" Qu Xianqing's voice was clear and cold, yet it carried a convincing power.

When the priest saw her, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

After these two days of contact, everyone in the church is clear that this female investigator from the ideal country is extremely powerful and is likely the strongest among this group of investigators.

Her joining us is undoubtedly a huge help.

“It’s wonderful that the investigator is willing to help!” The priest nodded immediately. “The situation is urgent, let’s talk as we walk!”

The church acted very efficiently. Soon, a small team consisting of several church deacons, Qu Xianqing, and the priest sped off towards Rose Avenue in many of the church's distinctive enclosed carriages bearing the symbol of wheat ears.

Inside the carriage, the priest clutched a small holy emblem tightly in his hands, his brow furrowed and his face filled with worry.

Qu Xianqing sat opposite him and asked directly, "Is the matter serious?"

The priest nodded gravely: "The fluctuations emanating from the Mother Goddess's mark are of the highest level... 'Crimson.' This signifies extreme danger; an immeasurable evil entity has been alerted or manifested. Every time we deal with an event of this magnitude, casualties are inevitable..."

His voice carried a hint of weariness and regret that was barely perceptible.

Qu Xianqing thought of the reclusive red-robed high priest in the church and asked, "Why not ask the archbishop to take action himself? With his power, it should be easier to handle."

The priest shook his head: "His Excellency the bishop must be stationed in the cathedral. He needs to constantly serve the emblem of the Mother Goddess, strengthen the cathedral's protection with his own power, and at the same time... suppress some extremely dangerous 'things' sealed deep within the cathedral."

He paused, as if there was some information he couldn't reveal, and then concluded: "His Excellency the Bishop carries no less burden than we do, and the environment he is in is not necessarily safer than the dangerous areas we are heading to. He is a very respectable elder."

Qu Xianqing nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She changed the subject, her tone tentative: "Father, you seem to have foreseen the possible trouble on Rose Avenue?" If the astronomer who died thirty years ago was indeed Riel, the incident must have been quite significant; this priest wouldn't be unaware of it. The priest's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally sighing and lowering his voice: "Investigator Qu… if, if it really is the family I'm thinking of… it's probably more dangerous than we imagine. Remember, be careful of the moon, be careful of any seductive whispers, be careful of red… things."

His reminder was vague yet solemn, clearly indicating that he knew some inside information but was unable to speak openly due to regulations or fear.

Just then, the carriage stopped. The coachman's voice came from outside: "Father, we've arrived at the Rose Avenue!"

Everyone quickly got off the bus.

The Rose Avenue looked peaceful and serene under the sunlight, no different from usual, but the various holy symbols and small ritual implements held by the church staff were faintly glowing or vibrating, pointing to a clear source of pollution.

Because many strange events are inherently secretive, it's impossible to tell which house has a problem just by looking at its exterior.

The priest took out a real ear of wheat that emitted a faint golden light. He whispered a prayer to the Mother Goddess of Harvest, while slowly raising the ear of wheat and scanning it across the houses on both sides of the street like a detector.

Wheat Ear showed no reaction as it passed most of the houses, but when it pointed to the slightly dilapidated two-story white building at the end of the street, Wheat Ear suddenly burst out with a dazzling golden light, and even became slightly hot to the touch!

“That’s it!” the priest said in a deep voice, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Qu Xianqing also focused his attention on sensing the white house.

However, when she tried to probe with her spiritual power, it was like throwing a stone into the sea. All her senses were swallowed up by an invisible and enormous force, and all that came back to her was a bottomless void and coldness.

There was indeed a problem, and a big one at that.

Their actions attracted the attention of some nearby residents, some of whom peeked out of their windows, but were politely and firmly persuaded to leave by the church staff.

In a nearby house, a little boy curiously opened the window, pointed at the white house, and was about to say something when an older girl hurriedly covered his mouth and dragged him back. The girl's low voice could be faintly heard warning him: "Don't point! It's that strange Grandma Emily's house! Don't look!"

The priest took a deep breath, gripped the ear of wheat in one hand and the mace in the other, and gave the order to the team members standing guard behind him:
"Target confirmed! This is it! Everyone, be alert and prepare to enter!"

The church procession stood ready in front of the white building on Rose Avenue, their sacred and solemn aura breaking the tranquility of the street like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Such commotion could not be completely concealed from the astute psychologists scattered throughout Yolikev.

Some diviners who were nearby, or who were skilled in reconnaissance and perception, sensed the unusual energy fluctuations coming from the direction of Rose Avenue and the tension mixed in with the gathered holy power almost immediately after the church carriage arrived.

"Tsk, such a big fuss from the church, something big must have happened on Rose Avenue?" A figure crouching in the shadows of a nearby rooftop muttered, a shrewd glint in their eyes. "'Scarlet's" level pollution? If only I could rack up some contribution points...

"Let's go check it out! Maybe we can get involved!" In another alley, two strategists walking together exchanged a glance, quickly changed direction, and, using the buildings as cover, silently made their way towards Rose Avenue.

Like sharks that have smelled blood, within a short time, seven or eight figures quietly approached the white house from different directions and in different ways. They hid on street corners, behind curtains, or used stealth techniques to avoid the sight of ordinary people, their eyes fixed intently on the church procession and the seemingly calm but ominous building, waiting for a possible opportunity to get a share of the spoils in the ensuing chaos.

Some of them had good relations with the church and joined the group openly and honestly, which the priest welcomed.

Carlos was visiting other potential targets on the list when a faint commotion coming from the distance outside the window made him raise an eyebrow.

He walked to the window with the person he was visiting, gazing in the direction of Rose Avenue, a silver coin twirling nimbly between his fingers.

"Oh? Such a commotion... It must have been caused by Yu Xing, right?" A knowing smile appeared on his lips as he thought to himself, "Sure enough, his judgment was correct. I won't go and join in the fun."

The two families he visited had both been confirmed to be innocent, so he decided to take it easy for now.

Side chapel of Harvest Church.

Zeng Laigang had just finished helping several church clerical staff sort out a list of newly delivered relief supplies. Exhausted, he let out a big yawn and rubbed his throbbing temples. Naturally, he also heard the discussions and hurried footsteps outside about Rose Avenue.

"Rose Avenue?" He scratched his head, trying to remember. "Oh! Isn't that the place that Boss Yu Xing said he was going to investigate clues this morning?"

He clicked his tongue and watched several familiar church fighters run past with solemn expressions, wisely choosing not to follow.

In the town center, not far from the Violet Inn, in an apartment that also accepts short-term rentals, the actor sat alone in front of an exquisite chessboard.

The chessboard was made of expensive ivory and ebony, and standard chess pieces were placed on it. He played white first, then black in response, playing against himself with an elegant and composed demeanor, as if all the disturbances of the outside world were irrelevant to him.

A member of the Prism team appeared silently in the corner of the room and whispered a report about the large-scale mobilization of the Rose Avenue Church, which was suspected to be a top-level contamination incident.

The actor held onto a queen piece, ready to place it.

Upon hearing the report, he didn't pause for a moment. He gently placed the piece on a crucial position on the board, completing a brilliant castling maneuver. A subtle, enigmatic smile played on his lips, and his voice was gentle and pleasant.
"Oh? It seems that Ah Xing did indeed use the clues I gave him."

He didn't look up; his gaze remained fixed on the intricate chessboard, as if it were more captivating than the bizarre events in reality.

"Just send someone to check it out," he casually instructed, his tone nonchalant. "Don't interfere, and don't resort to underhanded tactics. Just... bring the results back to me."

"Can't we interfere?... Yes." The member's eyes twitched twice, a hint of ruthlessness and resentment flashing in his dark gaze. He bowed and accepted the order, adopting a humble posture, before quietly retreating and disappearing into the shadows.

The performer slowly raised her eyelids, her amber eyes, as beautiful as a painting, gazing in the general direction of Rose Avenue outside the window, a hint of amusement and anticipation flickering in them.

He stretched out his slender fingers, picked up the chess piece representing the "Queen" on the board, and gently placed it on top of an isolated "Pawn" in the opponent's camp, elegantly "capturing" it.

“Those who always want to pry into the secrets of the starry sky…” he murmured to himself, his voice like a chant, “Everything has a price. Those secrets should not be touched by humans. What will grow from them will not be the truth, but only ‘monsters’.”

He lightly tapped the chess piece representing the "King" on the board with his fingertip, his smile growing increasingly enigmatic: "This time, you will explore the starry sky for me, confronting the indescribable. Ah Xing, I should thank you." (End of Chapter)