In the name of the true god

Having said that, Jude, with his current level of shrewdness, could certainly understand that Connor had deliberately used the excuse of "picking a gift for the warden" to imply that he wouldn't be transferred from the capital's heavy prison.

My intuition was correct, and that was no coincidence.

So why did Connor hint at it to himself? Was it simply to answer his own questions? Because the "seduction" plan was over for today, and there was no need to hide it anymore, so he was revealing himself openly?

From the moment you ask around to the moment the truth is revealed, it only takes a day.

Could it be...

Jude's drowsiness was instantly swept away by another terrifying conjecture.

Is Connor, the older brother, testing me?

Testing always stems from doubt.

To test matters related to "heresy" is tantamount to doubting that one is also a "heresy".

Is it true or false...?

Why would Connor, the older brother, suspect that he is a "heretic"?

What flaws did I reveal?

Jude thought back carefully and realized that after dealing with Connor for a month, the only thing that could be considered a "flaw" was the notebook that recorded the living habits of the little golden retriever and the little Siamese cat.

But as a 'new owner' who has just adopted two pets, it's perfectly reasonable to take some notes in order to better care for them.

Even if Connor is extremely suspicious, he wouldn't suspect his own brother based on just this one clue, let alone test him.

wrong.

Jude noticed a crucial point that had just been overlooked.

If Connor suspected himself of being a "heretic," there were many ways to test him, and there was absolutely no need to focus on the Holy Church's "temptation plan."

What can this reveal?

If the "heretics" don't take the bait, does that mean they secretly tipped them off?

That means Connor suspects he has connections with "heretic" forces. Otherwise, even if he knew the church was "faking a transfer," he wouldn't be able to intervene.

But the question is, where did he get this conclusion from?

It's just a notebook recording a pet's habits; it shouldn't have this much power...

Jude was planning to re-examine his interactions with Connor over the past month, trying to find any oversights that he himself hadn't even noticed, and then take targeted remedial measures.

Connor spoke first: "In this ambush, one priest died and two were seriously injured, and nine prison guards died and seven were seriously injured. We clearly had the advantage, but we only managed to kill three heretics on the spot, arrest four heretics, and two others escaped in the chaos and their whereabouts are unknown."

According to this logic...

They attempted to rescue a group of nine fellow wizards and resonance sorcerers.

The fact that nine people were ambushed and still caused such casualties to the Holy Church and the Royal Capital's heavy prison suggests that the wizard's combat methods are far more effective than he had imagined.

However, this also proves to some extent that the priests' strength should not be underestimated.

The Descent of Gods attempted a forced prison break, hoping to break through the encirclement of seven priests and hundreds of armed prison guards before the Holy Church's support arrived. Their chances of success were estimated to be at most 10%.

"Ah..." Jude paused, as if talking to himself, "So many people died..."

Are you scared?

"what?"

"Isn't it dangerous? Aren't you scared?" Connor asked.

Regardless of whether Connor harbored any suspicions about Jude.

In any case, Jude became suspicious of Connor through a series of unusual behaviors, and couldn't help but secretly speculate—

Does the phrase "afraid?" have a deeper meaning? Is it implying that one should not get involved in troubled matters, and that even if one's stance is opposed, one can pretend for a lifetime and live a peaceful and ordinary life?

But he was never an ordinary "heretic" from the beginning, so there was no way out.

Jude replied nonchalantly, "Being a prison guard must be dangerous, otherwise where would such a high salary come from?"

"Do you still dare to stay?"

"There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do. Besides, brother, you're going to stay here too, aren't you?" Jude said with a hint of deeper meaning. "With you protecting me, nothing will happen."

"...Be careful lately," Connor belatedly advised. "Those two heretics who are on the run might try to break into the prison."

"Two people breaking into prison? They must be crazy—" Jude was initially dismissive, but seeing Connor's serious expression, he changed his tune. "I'll be careful."

"Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Connor became somewhat proactive.

During the daytime, Jude would have been quite bold in asking all sorts of questions.

However, it's uncertain whether his brother Connor suspects him, and asking again would be too risky.

He simply said, "That's all."

"This isn't like you." Connor patted Jude on the shoulder, then put his hands back in his pockets and walked towards the main entrance of the special prison building. "Let's go."

"Hey, bro." Jude suddenly remembered something.

"Hmm?" Connor turned his head.

"Shall we go to the city again next Sunday to pick out a birthday present for the warden?"

His birthday has long passed.

"good……"

Watching Connor leave, Jude, preoccupied, climbed back up the watchtower.

Alan, who had been waiting for a long time, pulled him aside and asked in a low voice, "What does your brother want with you so late at night?"

"Let me sort this out first..." Jude waved his hand and sat down to the side, lost in thought.

The situation suddenly became extremely complicated.

On one hand, his brother Connor's attitude was ambiguous, suggesting that he might have realized his true identity.

On the other hand, it's also strange that this group of arrested individuals would inexplicably take the blame for the crimes committed by Chairman Frost.

Is there any connection between these two things?

Is the information Connor revealed credible?

He pondered for a long time.

Jude finally had a glimmer of hope.

First of all.

As a priest, Connor is constantly under the watchful eye of the gods, and even if he has selfish motives, it is impossible for him to protect himself.

The church's "temptation plan" was indeed successful, which indirectly proves that he did not secretly leak information, thus eliminating any connection between himself and "heresy" forces.

Based on these two points, we can conclude that Connor likely only had slight self-doubt, and that this doubt has been effectively contained.

Therefore, as long as one proceeds with caution, or to be on the safe side, completely suspends the current covert operations, one should not encounter any new trouble.

Second.

The arrested "heretic" leader may not have taken the blame for Chairman Frost's crimes; this is most likely another test by Connor.

As for the purpose of the test, perhaps it was to see his reaction?

I certainly didn't do a good job in that respect.

As Connor said, a normal person would immediately ask whether the person following him was the same person who killed Priest Rodney.

However, this little reaction alone doesn't really prove anything.

At last.

After much deliberation, Jude found his second suspicious point—he had been working as a dockworker in the capital for three years, but just a few days after turning 18, he suddenly found Connor's whereabouts and gave up studying at a top university and a respectable and well-paying job to willingly become an ordinary prison guard at the capital's heavy prison.

If Connor believes that he deliberately reunited with the "heretic forces" with their help and instigation, and that his advocacy for staying to work in the prison was also a plot to rescue his fellow prisoners... then using the details of the "lure plan" to test him makes sense.

Depend on……

As the cold wind blew, Jude became increasingly lucid.

Yesterday, he was already feeling a sense of lingering fear after deciphering the hidden information in Connor's words.

Little did he know, this matter was far more dangerous than he had imagined. A slight misstep could not only lead to the complete annihilation of the Divine Descent Society, but also leave him in grave danger.

Fortunately, another group of wizards and resonance sorcerers were also caught in the church's trap.

Otherwise, Connor would definitely increase his suspicions about himself, and when he is not on guard, Connor would secretly find out irrefutable evidence that he is a "heretic" and colludes with "heretics", and finally stage a scene of betraying his own family for the greater good.

A feeling of narrowly escaping death washed over Jude, causing him to break out in a cold sweat and turn pale.