The defeated saint is also on the way to tame the evil god today

　Vivian slashed her sword, tearing open the ice and flame cracks, and once again appeared on the battlefield where the rivers converged.

　A thin layer of ice mist was floating on the battlefield, which was originally shrouded in dusk. The war was over, and those who were still standing were the Pale Army or the transformed clan army.

　It doesn't matter, they are all Pale Army now.

　Right in front of the army, six pale dragon kings stood like statues, gazing at Vivian with a gentle expression.

　"Damn, you cut all these things down?"

　Bahamut landed around Vivian, and she transformed back into her psychic form, her golden eyes gleaming with disbelief.

　"You Ice Dragons are truly evil..."

　"It's just a form of plunder..." Vivian closed her eyes, "I don't want this either."

　She leaned over and gently stroked the white frost on the battlefield, a pale blue light rippled at her fingertips.

　Soon, she sensed a familiar golden aura.

　Someone from the Court of Redemption had indeed come, and he took away the fate that was about to disappear on this battlefield.

　Recalling the golden branches in Fuxi's eyes, Vivian's expression became more solemn.

　Is this also their plan?

　"Bahamut, prepare to migrate."

　Vivian looked up. The dusk had faded and a pale blue crescent moon was rising.

　"We will be heading to the Citadel."

　...END...

Chapter 535 Land of Hope

　The academic city of Academi.

　"The police station in the North City area is nearly ringing off the hook. Most North City residents are extremely disgusted by the sudden appearance of Imperials on the streets. Several minor conflicts have occurred, but since both sides are quite afraid of each other, the conflicts have never escalated."

　"anything else?"

　"Nothing."

　Angelica stretched and looked lazily at Alice-senpai across from her.

　The two were riding in a carriage, heading towards the White Pagoda area, with heavy rain pouring outside the window.

　"Honestly, I'm exhausted. Why does all this shit have to be handed over to Section One?" Angelica complained. "Those Imperial Shamans holding a necromancy ceremony at the port to resurrect the Golden King? They're just doing a bonfire! They're just wearing robes!"

　"The unknown brings fear," Alice put away the documents and sighed. "Things like hatred can't be resolved overnight."

　Angelica propped up her chin and muttered:

　“Actually, I don’t

　Cool, the Imperials invaded us, and now we have to help them..."

　"While I know these civilians have done nothing wrong, and that many of the Empire's allies live here, we just..."

　"The Empire no longer exists, Angelica. Ugaan Tukakankian is dead," Alice sealed the document bag. "Now they are all Golden People."

　"It doesn't matter."

　Angelica slumped in the chair with a comfortable expression.

　"The time I spent resting in the carriage was simply the most comfortable time I had this month."

　She watched Alice pick up another file bag and start to unpack it, and said with a smile:

　"Senior Alice, just take a rest!"

　"No time to rest. I just found some key progress," Alice muttered. "To be honest, this trip is also for official business."

　"Aren't we going back to Xinghai Church? I thought you were going back to sleep." Angelica blinked.

　"I don't sleep in a church. It's just a place that's not for me now..."

　Alice pursed her lips, but ultimately didn't finish the rest of her sentence.

　Not very safe.

　She didn't know how many of Ophelia's people were in the church, but she could at least sense that the Xinghai Church was no longer a force under her control.

　The title of Archbishop today is more like a hollow shell.

　But Alice didn't have time to dwell on these things. She was not interested in power. Moreover, the support of the First Department of the Extraordinary Department was enough to prevent any force in the academy from touching her.

　Now, the most important thing for Alice is to open the door of painting.

　After the day she confirmed her mission, Alice visited the door many times and tried various ways to open it.

　Including but not limited to brute force cracking, string techniques and other techniques.

　The only time she came close was when she approached the door with the Sword of Dawn and sensed a hint of resonance.

　The resonance was very small, but Alice could sense it.

　But she couldn't further understand what this resonance meant.

　But this was enough to give her a piece of information: opening the Door of Painting must be related to the Sword of Dawn.

　This sword from the goddess is wielded by every bishop of the Star Sea Church, that is, the Sean family.

　So, Alice plans to start her investigation from some information left by the Sean family.

　The purpose of this trip to the Xinghai Church is to find the notes of the first saint, Arcadis Sean.

　He was the first saint to be bestowed with the Sword of Dawn, the first bishop of the Star Sea Church, and the first sage to be bestowed with the holy name of von Academi.

　Also an ancestor of Ophelia Thain.

　We should be able to find out something about the origin of the Sword of Dawn from him.

　But here’s the thing…

　Ophelia may not please Alice.

　Therefore, Alice prepared a lot of documents to enter the underground sealed room. With her status, as long as she followed the procedures, no one could refuse her application.

　But judging from the current situation, it should be impossible to "follow the process".

　"Crash..."

　Amidst the heavy rain, the carriage stopped at the gate of Xinghai Church.

　"Let's go, I hope everything goes well."

　Alice pushed the door open, got out of the car, opened her umbrella, and walked towards the church gate with Angelica.

　Naturally, no one would stop her at the church door. The priests smiled at Alice warmly, and their smiles were so realistic that they seemed a little distorted.

　As soon as she entered the church, Alice saw two figures beside the bulletin board.

　Ophelia and the priest who attended the council at the White Tower.

　The two were talking about something when they heard the door open. Ophelia turned her head and met Alice's eyes.

　When Alice approached, the priest had already left and smiled politely as he passed her.

　"Miss Alice," Ophelia came forward with her hands on her hips, "you haven't been to church for a long time."

　"I'm too busy to take care of it, but apparently..."

　Alice looked at the priest's back.

　"Someone has taken care of the work for me."

　Ophelia's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up:

　"Power is there, but it always requires someone to actively control it."

　"I remember that you didn't come to church very often before?" Alice smiled faintly.

　"I'm busy, just like you." Ophelia was not at all nervous.

　They both raised their heads and looked at the icon in the center of the church.

　"On the seventh day, the Virgin Mary created the stars. The golden dawn broke through the confusion and showed the way forward for the chosen people of the fog," Ophelia intoned. "People need a guide, just as the great Virgin Mary broke through the golden dawn. They need a ray of light to lead them."

　"Do you think you are that light?" Alice asked.

　Ophelia shook her head.

　"It's not me, it's the Star Angel Shikoti Amura."

　"After the Age of Gods, there were no angels on earth. She is the first angel of the Citadel. She holds the stars in her hands and is supposed to guide everyone."

　"But she doesn't want to lead others. She believes that everyone should control their own destiny," Alice said.

　"Then she's wrong," Ophelia said, her voice rising slightly. "I'm here to correct that mistake."

　She looked straight at Alice, and Alice looked straight at her.

　"So, Your Excellency, you came to the church... not just to chat with me, right?"

　"of course not."

　Alice handed over the document

　件：

　"I want to visit the First Saint's Chamber to find some historical materials for my research on the White Tower."

　"The First Saint's Chamber..." Ophelia took the document bag. "It seems that the authorization is in my hands. After all, I am a descendant of the Sean family."

　She didn't open the document bag, but just stared at the Pushet family logo on it for a while, then threw the bag back to Alice.

　"Go."

　"Don't you want to take a look at the application documents?" Alice was a little surprised.

　She thought Ophelia would make things difficult for her and not let her in.

　"How could that be? Ultimately, everything we do is for the Citadel," Ophelia shook her head. "You and I are ultimately on the same side. Even if our philosophies differ, at least we share the same goal."

　"Here, take the key. I have something else to do. See you later."

　Ophelia threw a bunch of keys to Alice, waved goodbye, and turned to walk towards the church door.

　"She sounds quite righteous..." Angelica muttered, "but it just feels weird..."

　"It's very simple..."

　Alice looked at Ophelia's receding figure and whispered:

　"Because...as long as I concentrate on studying the Painting Gate, she will have time to do her own things."

　Alice could easily see through this simple game and trade-off.

　"Angelica, help me keep an eye on her. Mobilize the forces of Section 1, and keep an eye on all the councillors."

　"no problem."

　Angelica nodded slightly and trotted away.

　After they both left, Alice turned to the stone door behind the bulletin board.

　She walked through the stone door and headed underground down the spiral staircase.

　We walked for more than ten minutes, and the air became increasingly humid, with a smell of moss.

　After a long time, Alice stood in front of an ancient stone gate.

　She took out the key given by Ophelia, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it gently.

　"Buzzing..."

　The stone door slowly opened to both sides, and a breeze with a faint fishy smell blew in, causing Alice to subconsciously cover her nose.

　She walked into the dark room and looked around.

　Pale golden liquid dripped from the ceiling and fell into the grooves on the floor, outlining the square patterns of the room, like golden threads hanging from the sky.

　In the center of the room stood a stone bookshelf, filled with messy books.

　Standing in front of the bookshelf, Alice took down a book and dusted it off.

　"The Founding of the Citadel: The History of the Kingdom of Messina in the Age of Gods"