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"Speak frankly, Monte," said Hearthheart, with a stern face. "Since you have the clue about the bow and have said all these things, you are definitely not here to chat with me."

A smile crossed Xaver Monte's stern face. He nodded and said, "It's simple. I don't like Eichmann. I don't care if he lives or dies. But I'm very interested in his departure, or the departure of the entire church. I need your assurance that we can reach an agreement on how to deal with the church."

"I'm afraid it's not just the church." Lu Xin rolled his eyes, figuring out the underlying connection. "It seems that you don't want Verinster to serve as Speaker for another term?"

"I'm tired of Verinster using the church as a check and balance," Lord Monte said bluntly. "Old White Whale thinks he's the king of Emerald Harbor and even wants to make the position of Speaker hereditary. I think it's time to remind him that Emerald Harbor is not his property alone."

Lady Hearthheart's lips formed a straight line. She stood up angrily and shouted in a low voice, "So you allowed him to use the church to harass us? Do you know how many of my people have left their homeland?"

Lord Monte glanced at her and reminded her, "You didn't stand up to oppose it yourself, did you? If there was no oppression from the church, how could you extend your hand to Copper Town? I heard that several spokespersons from Copper Town are now living in your workshop."

The dwarf, her secrets exposed, nearly jumped up. However, the toad interrupted her with a loud croak. It cleared its throat and said, "Making moral accusations here is useless. Business matters don't require moral evaluation."

Its words silenced Lady Hearthheart. Finally, she nodded reluctantly and said, "Okay, let's discuss what to do next."

Chapter 190 Two Devils

When the Inquisitor endured the severe pain and raised his crossbow, the distance between him and the feathered serpent was far beyond the range. He put the crossbow back on the back strap in frustration and looked at the position of the sun to determine the direction in which the feathered serpent left.

At that moment, the Inquisitor heard a noise behind him. He initially thought it was the Gilded Knight waking up, but when he turned around, he saw that it was Edim and Yaron, carrying the still-awake Knight of Hewei, struggling to climb over the half-shattered mirror.

With the Inquisitor's help, the two knights finally dragged Hewei across the mirror, breathlessly. Edim looked around and volunteered to explain, "I had just woken Yaron when I heard a loud noise. The mirror was already unstable, and I was worried I'd get trapped there, so I came straight over here."

Yalong rubbed his neck, put down the bulging sack on his back, looked around the drafty room and asked, "Where's that devil? Did you destroy her in the explosion just now?"

The judge pointed at the winding figure that had already flown away in the sky and said helplessly, "I don't have wings, so I can't catch up with a flying python."

"Someone is catching up," Edimu replied. The Inquisitor quickly turned around and squinted his eyes to search the clear sky.

Even from a distance, the feathered serpent's distinctive form was clearly visible against the azure sky. Not far away, a shadowy figure, reflecting a shimmering light, also flapped its wings. More and more figures, flapping their wings, began to catch up.

"Who is that?" From this distance, the Inquisitor could only roughly determine that the first figure was slender and likely a woman. However, he had no idea who in Emerald Harbor could cast flight magic.

"It should be Ms. Reyes, the Holy Hawk," said Edim. He breathed a sigh of relief. This woman was the church's most powerful hunter. "I heard she has a cloak that allows her to fly. The rest of the people should rely on the magic of her lieutenant, Ms. Tina Mendes."

"The youngest daughter of the Mendes family?" Yaron approached, his hand resting on his eyes as he watched the warriors in the distant sky besieging the giant snake. "It's unlikely to be her own ability. I remember her sister awakened as a warlock on a stormy night about five years ago. She probably relied on magical items."

"We'll find out if we go and see," Edim shrugged. The situation in the air was clear: the giant snake had been surrounded by the warriors and would likely be defeated soon. For him, capturing the demon was paramount; methods and means could be discussed later.

"Let's split up." Yalong kicked the bag at his feet and pointed at He Wei, who was still unconscious. "I'll take care of these things first."

"I'll go. You go and settle Knight Herve first." The Inquisitor grabbed his left arm and exerted force, the joint snapping back into place. "I have to leave before Archbishop Eichmann asks me to pay for the house. We'll meet at the herbalist's shop, which is closer to the sheriff's duty station."

When Idimu and Yalon heard the name of this place, their faces darkened.

Even in the evening, a large city like Emerald Harbor was bustling with activity. Its deepwater port and sea breezes brought thousands of sailors and adventurers, the very blood of the Northern Continent. However, today's assassinations and explosions, especially the recurring appearances of demons and monsters, created a tense atmosphere of insecurity. Even before sunset, the residents had retreated to the safety of their homes.

The judge walked along the avenue in the setting sun, stepping into a sea of ​​houses with dark green roofs. When he reached the steps of the herbalist's shop, he was not surprised to find that candles were already lit inside.

The inquisitor, dressed in black, looked behind him warily, and after confirming that there were no followers, he knocked on the door and slipped in through the open gap.

Before he could even turn around, the preoccupied judge spoke impatiently, "Have you heard?"

Inside, candles lit the counter and a warm fire burned in the fireplace. Hervé lay unconscious on a blanket near the fireplace, while Aaron and Edim sat in chairs with gloomy faces.

Edim nodded, his voice hoarse as if he hadn't spoken for a long time. "So it's true? The archbishop was really murdered?"

The Inquisitor felt a throbbing nerve on the left side of his scalp. He pulled over a chair and sighed wearily, "When I arrived, Ms. Reyes had already brought the demon down from heaven. I wanted to talk to her about executing him for blasphemy, but she refused, arguing that he was suspected of murdering Archbishop Eichmann and must be put on trial."

"Almost half the city saw it. At noon, a red-winged devil shot the archbishop." Aaron smoothed his half-long curly hair, a confused look on his face. "This feature doesn't sound very similar to Ms. Rachel. She only has half a wing, and she didn't use a bow and arrow during the entire battle with us."

Hearing this, Edim and the judge looked at each other and both sensed something was amiss.

The ceremony hadn't even begun when the knights entered Lady Rachel's room. The subsequent cleanup of the orcs and guards didn't take long, and they encountered Lady Rachel shortly thereafter. The timing was incredibly tight.

Even if she killed the archbishop, how could she enter the church and pass through the mirror in public? Either she can split herself, or there is another devil.

And they just happen to know a devil who meets all the requirements.

"Can you contact Miss Hopper?" the Inquisitor asked tentatively. He knew that the succubus was quite interested in Edim. A devil with a strong desire for control like her should have some way to monitor the knight.

But his words first caused Aaron to be puzzled. The black-haired knight's eyes wandered back and forth between his two companions and asked, "What does this have to do with Miss Hopper? Hasn't she been missing for a long time?"

Edimu was silent for a moment, then took off his shirt, revealing a line of twisted text etched like stitches along the bottom edge of his left breast. He explained to Yaron, "Miss Hopper is a succubus. I signed a contract with her, but I can't reveal the details. Do you have a way to find her through the contract?"

Yaron looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

The Inquisitor lowered his head to study the text, then nodded hesitantly, "If that's the case, I can give it a try. Furthermore, the space we're in is one she's spent a significant amount of time in, which should make the magic more effective."

Upon hearing this news, Yidimu was not at all happy. He avoided Yaron's accusing gaze and whispered, "However, even if we can contact her, she has no reason to respond. I have explained to her many times, and she will not provide any help without compensation."

The weary Inquisitor slumped back, leaning back in his chair and covering his face. A muffled voice came from behind his rough hands: "Then it seems we need to find an opportunity to return to that cave. I know she's been looking for something in there. If only I had brought out a crystal."

"Do you think this is okay?" The Inquisitor put down his hand after hearing Knight Aaron's voice, and saw him move the large bag he had been carrying to the center of the house.

Knight Aaron kicked the sack, and the heads of several disabled sorcerers rolled out, and under the heads was an ugly, bloated, and tentacled monster that had been dead for a long time.

Author's words: Tomorrow... tomorrow Miss Lust will be back

Chapter 191: Speaking of the Devil, the Devil is coming

The judge used the sheep's blood he found in the cellar to draw a circle on the ground, then drew an inverted pentagram inside the circle and lit a candle at each corner of the pentagram.

He examined the magic circle, then looked around, checking off each item. "Ritual? No problem. Environment? This place is already a devil's lair, no need for purification. Are the windows and doors closed? Very good, we need to block out any possible prying eyes."

Yidimu frowned at the light source on the ground, resisting the urge to draw his sword. The black candle flame seemed frozen, motionless, casting an eerie light on the three people's faces.

"What's next?" Yaron couldn't help but ask, "Should I chant 'Devils and Ghosts, come here!'?"

The Inquisitor glanced at him, then looked at Edim and said, "Next are 'Passage' and 'Sacrifice'. 'Passage' is simple to explain; we need it to attract the attention of a specific demon. 'Sacrifice' is even simpler; the magic circle requires a price to operate."

"The 'sacrifice' is easy to handle." He bounced a gold coin high and caught it, showing it to the two knights. "Golden sails, one for each of you."

Both Edim and Yaron looked visibly annoyed when they took out the money - the sheriff's legal income for the entire year was no more than twenty gold coins.

"One last thing." The Inquisitor piled three gold coins in the center of the magic circle and looked up at Edim. "Are you willing to desecrate yourself? We can avoid it."

"What, what?" Edim suspected that there was something wrong with his ears, and Knight Aaron's cheeks were puffed up because he was trying to hold back his laughter.

The Inquisitor shrugged, pulled out a knife, and handed it to Edim, explaining, "You must understand that we are communicating with a succubus. Using your essence as a channel is the most appropriate. However, if you do not wish to do so, please take a drop of blood from your chest, fingertips, and lips."

Edim almost fainted from losing his breath. His face flushed as he took the knife and quickly took a drop of blood in the center of the magic circle as he was instructed.

The moment the blood stopped dripping, the Inquisitor knelt on one knee, holding his own blood holy emblem in his hand, and said loudly: "With the power of the never-ending river of blood, answer me, Hopper!"

All three of them held their breath, concentrating on watching the magic circle and the flame. Just when Edim thought communication had failed, the wick of the leftmost candle suddenly crackled and exploded, and the gold coin began to melt.

Then, a powerful and strong man's voice rang out in the room, almost as if he was standing next to them. "Who is calling the clever and wise Hopper!"

The two knights exchanged bewildered glances. Only the Inquisitor frowned, grabbed the salt nearby and sprinkled it on the flames. Then, amidst the burst of sparks, he shouted, "Speak properly, devil!"

The air was still. After a long while, a familiar female voice finally rang out in the room. Her voice was lazy and intoxicated, as if she had just woken up. "Dear Mr. Igor, it was just a joke. Don't worry. What's the matter with contacting me so late at night?"

"Wait," she said, changing the subject. "Oh, I smell something. Did you capture Knight Edim? Where are you?"

"In your herbal shop," the Inquisitor said curtly, the three gold coins almost completely gone. "I want you to come here soon. It's important."

"Follow your orders~"

At the same time, two voices responded to his request, one inside the house, and the other just outside the door.

As soon as he finished speaking, there were four knocks on the door.

The Inquisitor strode across the circle and opened the door.

The night wind, accompanied by moonlight, rushed into the house, blowing the cloak of the visitor at the door into the house, as if it was warmly hugging the judge.

"Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear," the Inquisitor said, using a dwarven proverb. "Should I say welcome?"

The visitor took off her hood, revealing an ordinary face and blue eyes. She walked into the house and said, "You can also say long time no see."

The cold sword silently pressed against Hopper's chin, close to her throat, so close that she could even smell the dried blood on the sword.

The demon calmly grasped the tip of the sword with two fingers, turned his head and said with a smile: "Long time no see, Edim. Ah, and my dear Aaron."

Knight Aaron's sword was half drawn, and he looked at Hopper's face, his face full of confusion, and asked the first question: "Miss Hopper, is that you?"

Hopper was amused by his expression, and she doubled over with a giggle. As she straightened up, she grew several inches taller on the spot, her pale blue hair cascading over her shoulders, and her pure black wings gathered behind her like a cape.

"Let me formally introduce myself, Enriyes Hopper, from Baator Hell." She proudly extended a hand to Aaron, whose eyes lit up. He turned his hand behind her and bent down to kiss her hand.

Edim watched the scene in silence, thrusting his sword forward. However, this only gave Hopper a slight tickling sensation; an ordinary sword would not harm the devil.

She turned gracefully, and with a strong pull from Aaron's arm, she fell lightly into Aaron's arms. She tilted her head and chuckled softly, "You are really too enthusiastic, Yidim. The night is still long, don't be impatient."

However, the hard object against her lower back made her heart tighten. Aaron's muscular arms seemed to be intimately gripping her slender neck. The dark-haired knight leaned close to her face and said with a smile, "I've caught you, young lady. Please don't move."

At this time, Edim also put on a sneer. His cheeks were unshaven and there were obvious bruises under his eyes. It was obvious that his spirit had reached the limit.

"That's enough," the Inquisitor rubbed his temple and grabbed Edimu's wrist. He gave the succubus a warning look and said, "Please be serious, Miss Hopper."

The demon smiled, stretched out her index finger and gently scratched the palm of Yalong's hand, easily breaking free from the grip. She spun lightly and sat on the chair, her fluttering black dress like a blooming silver marigold.

Hopper propped his chin up on his fist, tilted his head slightly, and smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "The moon is so beautiful tonight, are you inviting me to a large party?"

The Inquisitor reached out to stop Edim from getting angry and said wearily, "I have only one question, Miss Hopper. Did you kill Archbishop Eichmann?"

"Of course." Hopper's eyes widened, his head raised, and he pretended to be incredulous. "Who else could penetrate his protective shield and send him to see the perfect person? I thought you knew this plan? After all, it was formulated by Lady Hearthheart."

This news was like a huge rock thrown into a pond, startling the two knights so much that they jumped up and looked at the Inquisitor for confirmation.

"I don't know about this." She was deliberately provoking. The Inquisitor felt his head ache even more. Being an enemy of a succubus was far less pleasant than being a teammate. "Blood Father forbids us from participating in any plan targeting the priesthood."

"But," Hopper asked curiously, "why do you ask? Even if you didn't see it, it wouldn't be difficult for you to guess it was me."

"That's the problem," the Inquisitor found a chair and sat down. If this matter involved infighting among the nobles, it would be even more troublesome. "I guess you don't know yet, but the messenger I've been pursuing is the Archbishop's maid Rachel. She's also a succubus. She was arrested this afternoon as a murderer and is said to be on trial."

Hopper sat up straight, his eyes shining frighteningly.

"Oh, that's interesting. A devil who murdered the archbishop was not beheaded on the spot, but had to go through a public trial? I smell the smell of conspiracy."

Chapter 192 I Want Her Dead

"We do not advocate lynching, young lady," Idim suppressed his anger. "This is not the hell of Baator. There will be no punishment without trial."

"Oh, really?" The demon lazily leaned back in her chair, legs crossed ungainly. Her pale calves swayed up and down in rhythm under her dark skirt. "That not-so-clever Judith must have had Lord Verinster's authorization to investigate smuggling in the harbor area."

"We do not deny the existence of shadows under the sun." The knight's voice was like thunder, unaffected by the devil's words, his eyes shining like charcoal in the darkness. "When the sun rises to its highest point, all shadows will disappear."

"Tsk tsk," Hopper shook his finger, then beckoned Aaron over and casually replied, "You don't sound like a follower of the Golden Guardians, but more like a priest of the Immortal Sun. What a pity, the Immortal Sun is an eternally glorious existence, and you might as well be believing in a black sun~"

With a clang, the sword that Edim had just sheathed was unsheathed again. Sparks ignited the blade, and then the white holy flame illuminated the room. Even the sheep's blood that depicted the magic circle burst into black smoke.

"Okay, okay, put it away. This is not the time when your sword is most powerful." Hopper narrowed his eyes. The Stigma Knight is quite dangerous, but this kind of danger is like the silver powder added to the aged razorvine wine. Every devil is willing to take the risk to taste it.

"Let's get down to business," Hopper turned to the Inquisitor. She knew the righteous too well; Edim wouldn't resort to violence. The phrase "the greater good" was etched on their spines. To some extent, the same was true for demons, as long as the greater good didn't interfere with their own interests. "A succubus is on trial. So, what do you need from me?"

The Inquisitor looked at her quietly, then gestured for Edim to leave. He understood the personalities of the paladins as well as the devil himself, but leaving Edim alone was too awkward, so he had no choice but to offer him a way out.

The knight glared at the succubus, sheathed his sword, and sat down by the fireplace. His reckless and helpless action caused Hopper to laugh softly.

Hopper stood up, and with her movement, the house came alive. A warm fire flickered into the fireplace. The kettle on the counter automatically sat on the stove, emitting a gradually rising whistle. Humming, she found a pile of herbs from the counter and ground them into powder. As the hot water poured in, a cool and comforting scent filled the dark room. The weary Inquisitor couldn't help but take a deep breath, and his headache felt less severe.

"Don't be angry." The voice of the demon changed from the crisp voice of a girl to a soft and kind voice. She squatted down slightly and placed a cup of hot tea at Edim's feet.

The knight ignored her.

But the atmosphere in the room had relaxed. Hopper handed the tea to Aaron and Igor, then sat down on the floor naturally, her skirt and long hair spread out, leaning on Aaron's legs.

"My shoulders are a little sore." Hopper didn't turn around, but Yaron knew she was talking to him. The knight hesitated. He knew the devil was full of dangers, and there was an ambiguous relationship between Edim and her. No matter from which perspective, he should not accept this invitation.

However, Aaron looked up at Edimu, who appeared to be staring blankly at the fire, but was actually listening intently to the sounds within the room. A feeling of both shame and recklessness washed over Aaron. He didn't know if this was bravery or self-destruction. By the time he came to his senses, he had already reached out and grasped the succubus's beautiful, white shoulders. The skin beneath his dusty palms was so soft and smooth that he felt he could crush her at any moment. A strange feeling filled him with a dry, hot sensation. He could barely hear what Hopper was saying, all he could see was white and black.

"Alright, Miss Hopper," the Inquisitor said warningly. He had observed the succubus's every move, and a deep fear welled up in his heart. He had just been charmed by Rachel today; her magic was overbearing and powerful, refusing to be rejected. And this succubus, without even using magic, had toyed with the two knights with words and gestures.

This ability is even harder to prevent; even I've fallen for it. The Inquisitor held the cup in both hands, feeling the warmth emanating from it. He breathed deeply, feeling the fatigue of a long day of battle wash over him as the sweet, refreshing vapor inhaled into his lungs. He relaxed completely, missing the rustling sound of his straw bed and the down-filled quilt.

He rubbed his eyes and stared at the devil sitting on the ground. There was a hint of mockery on her face. The devil was demonstrating to him in this way.

This barely perked up the judge. He took a big sip of scalding hot tea, which sobered him up completely.

"The blasphemer is unforgivable. I want that succubus dead."

His burned tongue wouldn't allow him to say anything, and the words rolled out of the Inquisitor's thin lips abruptly, as if they had been waiting for a long time. Hopper raised his eyebrows, Yaron stopped in surprise, and even Edimu turned around.

"What are you talking about? She's been taken away to await public trial." Finally, it was Edim who couldn't help but speak. "She will probably be executed soon."

Hopper smiled at Edimu, her smile so genuine it made the knight squirm.

"Dear Edim, compared to the last time we met, your fighting ability has improved significantly, but your ability to detect the evil in people's hearts and political conspiracies has not improved at all."

Edim's thick brows furrowed as he saw her stretching so hard that her low-cut dress nearly fell off. The knight quickly turned his head away, not even glancing in the direction.