Secrets: Priestess

Chapter 63 Invitation

A carriage bearing the Meazza family crest slowly drove along the street leading to the Basilica of Santa Selina.

Inside the carriage, Claire gently pressed her temples with her fingers to ease the headache, then looked at Sharon who was sitting opposite her: "Why are you riding in the family carriage back from the direction of the Holy Number Church so late at night?"

Sharon said casually, "Baron Cournot invited me to attend a lecture at the Holy Numbers Church last night."

Claire raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of lecture would last so late?"

Sharon gave a mocking smile. "The lecture ended long ago, but what on earth did an old man have in mind when he invited me at night?"

Claire was silent for a moment.

Sharon restrained her smile and said lightly:
"But...even though I'm gone, now that I can hold the Meazza family's banner in my hands, no one dares to touch me anymore."

"Also, Baron Cournot finally agreed to resell his property in the university district."

Sharon's answer made Claire feel a little guilty.

She has not yet been able to determine whether Sharon is related to the witch sect, but what she can confirm is that Sharon is doing her best to help the Meazza family.

But this trace of guilt quickly dissipated in her skeptical attitude.

Even if Sharon had a good reason to go out late at night, it was still too much of a coincidence that she happened to run into the Mechanical Heart convoy being attacked...

Therefore, Claire did not let go of her doubts at all.

Sharon, who was sitting opposite, seemed unaware of Claire's suspicion and continued talking about what happened late at night.

"I didn't expect to run into those people with the triangular holy emblem on my way back." Sharon's eyes showed confusion and excitement.

"As they prayed to the God of Steam and Machinery, their wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye!"

"Is that the divine art from myth?!"

"And they asked you to pick me up. You know those people, right?!"

Sharon's eyes lit up, and she became more and more excited as she spoke. She leaned forward, almost lying on Claire.

This reaction is very similar to that of someone who has just come into contact with extraordinary power...

Claire narrowed her eyes, took out her ID from her bosom, and held it in front of Sharon. "Ahowa County Police Department Special Operations Division. Just as you guessed, extraordinary powers exist in this world."

"Group seven?" Sharon muttered as she carefully identified it.

I didn't expect Sharon to be so attentive. Claire explained:
"Group Seven is the Nightwatchers, an organization of Beyonders affiliated with the Church of the Evernight Goddess. The people you met are Group Five, affiliated with the Church of the Heart of Steam and Machinery, the Mechanical Heart."

Sharon asked, "Since there are official Beyonder organizations, then there are also criminal and evil organizations?"

Claire nodded. "Yes, the Mechanical Heart was attacked by a powerful Beyonder."

Claire spoke in a very official manner, saying seriously:

"Because you and Mr. Haner are involved in this extraordinary incident, in order to prevent you from being attacked by that unknown extraordinary person, I will, as a formal member of Group 7, restrict your and Mr. Haner's movements until the danger is eliminated."

Sharon chuckled after hearing this. "Ms. Claire, your excuses won't work. You're saying I'll be attacked, but it's obvious you're trying to restrict our freedom of movement because you're afraid I'll spread rumors."

Claire remained calm and composed, saying, "I've considered that, but the dangers of extraordinary events far exceed your imagination. Perhaps just coming into contact with certain objects could lead to misfortune."

Seeing Sharon's disapproving expression, Claire sighed:

"Remember the obituary of two students from Hoy University in the newspaper a while ago? They came into contact with an object that possessed extraordinary power and committed suicide at home. One banged himself to death against the wall of his house, and the other drowned himself in a basin of water." These words made Sharon silent.

After a moment, Sharon asked again, "Why do we want to go to St. Selina's Church?"

The Chanis Gate under the Church of St. Selina is no secret among the cultists, and the sealing power behind the Chanis Gate makes many cultists shudder at the mention of it.

Claire took Sharon to St. Selina Church as a test. Claire wanted to see if Sharon dared to go.

Claire said meaningfully, "Saint Selina's Church has enough power to protect you."

Unexpectedly, Sharon didn't hesitate or show any fear after hearing this. Instead, she asked excitedly with a slightly raised tone, "Then can I also access that kind of magical power? What about you? Claire, what kind of magical power do you have?"

It was impossible to tell whether Sharon was in disguise, but Claire didn't want to bother trying to figure it out at the moment, so she just waited until they got to Saint Selina's Church to check.

"I'm just a newcomer, I don't have much ability... Well, does being able to stay up late count?" Claire said with a smile.

Sharon pretended to be unconvinced.

Arriving at St. Selina's Church, she handed Sharon and Haner over to the bishop, and Claire went into the underground passage alone through the secret door next to the confessional.

Using the underground passage, Claire quickly returned to the Blackthorn Security Company.

Claire pushed open the captain's office and saw Dunn, who looked pale, leaning back in his chair and taking a rest.

It was just dawn, and this was not the time when Dunn usually rested. It seemed that the captain was very tired because of Hainas' dream last night.

Hearing the noise, Dunn, who had been taking a nap, opened his eyes and asked, "Claire? Didn't you go home to rest?"

Claire sighed helplessly, "Captain, something's wrong with the Mechanical Heart..."

Claire reported the attack on Ebanks to Dunn in detail.

Dunn frowned and fell into deep thought. "It's certainly a blessing that no one died, but there's something strange about it..."

Claire continued, "The detailed report on the Mechanical Heart incident hasn't arrived yet, but according to Mr. Ebanks's description of the battle, the opponent revealed abilities such as controlling frost and black flames, charm, invisibility, and a unique dagger that can put people to sleep. This fighting style is very similar to the description of the witch in the internal documents."

Dunn was even more puzzled after hearing this. "The witch hiding behind Ermo and Tris has revealed herself... Ermo was killed, but Tris was rescued. They were both members of the Gnosis Society, so why were they treated so differently?"

"The most important question is, why did this witch hold back against the members of the Mechanical Heart team? What purpose did she achieve by doing so?"

Cultists are a bunch of lunatics without any humanity.

Moreover, in the eyes of these cultists, the believers of the Church of the True God are the cultists.

Claire continued, "Sharon, who was originally our target for observation, also happened to run into Mr. Ebanks and his group..."

Dunn thought for a moment and made arrangements. "Claire, go and invite Sharon and Haner to join our Nighthawks team as civilian staff."

"Huh?" Claire was puzzled by this arrangement and made a sound of doubt.

Dunn explained: "If Sharon is really a witch, this is the easiest place to subdue her. If Sharon is not a witch, then if she joins us as a civilian, we can better protect them."

"but……"

Dunn looked at Claire and said, "If Sharon agrees to the invitation, you'll need to work harder to stay by her side during this period just in case."

(End of this chapter)