The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

"Now that we've determined that the Sunforge Order incident poses no immediate threat to us, there's only one thing left to discuss..."

"How should we deal with the traitors involved in the previous 'Servants in the Cup' incident?"

Silver Hydra keenly noticed the gloom in Alvin's eyes, then lowered her lips and smiled faintly.

"That's up to you. The Secret Service only provides intelligence; making decisions isn't our job. But if I had to give advice, I'd recommend cleaning up those guys; they haven't seen their own blood in so long... they've gotten a bit carried away."

Hei Rong narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth at the two people who were speaking in riddles, with some confusion.

"A traitor? Is it within our ranks, or within the White Cup Cult?"

He was preoccupied with two things at that moment. First, his identity as a traitor, so he could break the other man's neck. Second, it seemed he was the only one unaware of this whole affair…

Silver Feather Hydra sighed softly, took out a cigarette and held it between his fingers, but did not light it.

"Obviously, none of those are true. Black Rhododendron, have you ever thought carefully about... why the Crimson Cup Order was able to carve a ritual array connecting three districts in the sewers of Norlington?"

"Didn't you say that the Red Cup Order did it secretly during the Great Plague? At that time, we were too busy to notice it."

Silver Feather Hydra nodded with some relief, seemingly glad that Black Banyan's brain capacity hadn't shrunk along with his age.

"That's true, but someone covered for them afterwards. Their actions were subtle and clean, almost leaving no trace..."

"Think carefully, who is responsible for the daily maintenance of public facilities? Who possesses an intelligence agency capable of deceiving the Secret Service? Who has been waiting for an opportunity to retaliate after losing power?"

Hei Rong's gaze narrowed slightly, and a hint of coldness rose within him.

"City Hall? Those politicians actually have time for this? This isn't just inviting trouble... it's practically inviting disaster. If we and the White Cup scholars are defeated, they will undoubtedly become the Red Cup Order's next target."

-

Transitional chapter.ing.

Chapter 53 Byas Noralia

Standing in the center of the office, Alvin was like a high wall, majestic and imposing.

He crossed his arms and answered Hei Rong's question deftly.

"Not necessarily. The Crimson Cup Cult isn't really interested in seizing power. Rather than exposing themselves and becoming the target of public criticism, they clearly prefer to guide the trend from behind the scenes."

"If someone is willing to become a puppet in the public eye and can provide them with the necessary sacrifices and pleasures... perhaps they will not only avoid being targeted, but will also receive corresponding protection and rewards."

Upon hearing this, Hei Rong couldn't help but purse his lips.

"Hey, this really fits my image of some councilors in the city hall. They're definitely capable of doing this. Maybe these guys know what the price and the outcome will be... but as long as they're given the illusion of regaining their former power, they're willing to give up everything for it."

"So, what exactly is the purpose of your having me participate in this meeting?"

"While I would be happy to offer my best regards to the traitors, hunters who are suspended from duty are not allowed to participate in missions; this is a commandment of our Funeral Court."

After speaking, he rubbed his hands together slightly, with a knowing and expectant look on his face, waiting for their reply.

This was precisely what Alvin was meant to explain to Hei Rong, so he had no reason to keep it a secret.

“Ms. Marian submitted your mental health and stability test report in August. She believes that the changes in you are due to the relic S-923 ‘The Banyan Tree of Death’ rather than the contamination by the evil offspring, and the risk of getting out of control can be managed.”

"The General Affairs Department has taken her advice into consideration and decided to reinstate you to your supervisor position. This is your reinstatement notice... Of course, you will face more review procedures than others every time you perform a task from now on."

Hei Rong grinned, a smile gradually appearing on his handsome, youthful face.

"Alvin, how come your General Affairs Division is making decisions so quickly this year? And you don't seem to be as hesitant as you were in previous years... It seems you've been through quite a bit of stress these past few months."

"Alright, it's time to end this boring tea party. All I've been doing these days is waiting in the medical ward for Ms. Marian to draw my blood. My bones are practically rusting."

"I guess you two have already prepared the target list and action orders, and now you're just missing an executor... right?"

Silver-feathered Hydra raised an eyebrow and sighed softly, somewhat convinced.

"If your Funeral Court hunters were this perceptive in other matters, they wouldn't have left such a paranoid impression on all departments."

-

Norlington, South End, Sandrank Street.

It was evening, and Haida and Vivian Zero walked along the empty and desolate streets.

The dim streetlights flickered on and off, causing a flurry of shadows. Fine rain pattered on the ground, forming several puddles of murky water reflecting images.

"This mission area is in the South District, and Grandpa Will's bookstore is nearby... Hopefully, nothing else goes wrong during this time. There have been more strange occurrences this year than in the previous three years combined."

Vivian gazed in the direction of the bookstore, a hint of worry in her eyes.

"The Confidential Court considers the potential threat posed by routine patrols in the area to be low, below level two. This is even lower than the level of Solanie's case at the time. There is no need to worry."

Seemingly to reassure Vivian, Haida, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly spoke up.

"Oh, I see..."

Vivian appreciated Haida's kindness, but the nun's example somewhat increased her anxiety... which made her smile slightly forced at that moment.

Ms. Solani's case was almost the wedge and prelude to the entire "Plum Moon Ritual" incident.

At first, everyone thought it was just an ordinary missing person case. Even after the Crimson Cup Cult appeared, no one could have imagined that the incident would eventually escalate to the point where the "Servant of the Cup" would appear...

“I’ve been a bit too sensitive lately, after all, Sandrank Street is right under the White Cup Order’s nose…”

Vivian patted her cheeks, regaining her composure for the task.

If it weren't for the recent impact of the Sunforge incident on White Cup's research and production, they probably wouldn't have specifically commissioned the Hunters to assist with the inspection.

"But...shouldn't these kinds of homeless disappearance cases be handled by the city hall? How did they end up in the hands of the funeral home?"

Vivian was somewhat curious about this.

The case reported by Hedgehog Solani was handed over to the Funeral Court for two reasons: firstly, because the North District was the territory of the Secret Hunters, and secondly, because the Secret Court believed that the case might be related to the Secret Cult.

4. However, the small-scale disappearances of homeless people are not necessarily the work of cults lacking sacrifices; the perpetrators are more likely to be rabid killers seeking sensory stimulation...

"The Funeral Home has taken over all matters that were originally entrusted to the City Hall."

Dai Haida slowly stepped across the puddles on the sidewalk and gave a brief explanation.

"This shows that the city hall is no longer trustworthy, and if my guess is correct... there should be a purge against them soon."

"Clearance? Why?" Vivian's eyes widened, and she inexplicably felt a sense of frustration.

As a Secret Service agent, how could Haida know this information before I did...?

"They've gotten involved with the arrival of the previous 'Drinkers.' Supervisor Alvin mentioned it to me casually during training, but he only gave a general overview. The specifics will depend on the instructions issued by the General Affairs Department later."

"So, the city hall is indeed a strong suspect..."

After Haida's reminder, Vivian also connected the two.

【Summon the Drinkers】It was already difficult enough to set up such a massive ritual array within the city, let alone in such a complex environment as the drainage system.

However, if officials responsible for the maintenance of public facilities provide cover... the efficiency of the engraving array will increase greatly.

Sandrank Street was never a particularly bustling area, and the further you went into the neighborhood, the fewer pedestrians you saw.

Moreover, due to the disappearances during this period, the homeless people have also banded together and gone into hiding.

The two reached the end of the block and were about to turn back. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this routine patrol would conclude as usual.

But accidents never happen unexpectedly...

From the corner of the deep alley, a person wearing a black wind-blown robe emerged. It was a style of clothing worn by some ethnic minority in Atil, which could effectively protect against the wind, sand, and sunlight.

He was thin, and beneath his robe lay a shadow that was difficult to see.

"Good evening, ladies. Still on duty at this hour? The work of a Hunter must be tough, but I heard you have top-tier accident insurance... so even if you die, it's not such a bad thing, is it?"

He greeted Haida and Vivian, but his greeting was rather exaggerated, and his tone carried a clown-like mockery.

"I followed you all night but you didn't make a move. I thought you weren't planning to show yourself."

Haida showed no surprise, calmly taking out a wooden-handled folding knife from her waist and holding it in her hand.

Although she has been itching to try out Nirvana's sword lately, she knows that her opponent may not be worthy of her drawing her sword.

When facing an unworthy enemy, a sword strike is enough, and so is a punch; there's no need for anything more.

"You actually noticed? Oh, I forgot you're a Hunter of Secrets. I should have listened to my friend's advice and sprayed some deodorant on myself before going out... that way I wouldn't be able to smell it."

Byas sighed with regret.

"Are you involved in the disappearances of the homeless?" Haida ignored the other person's performance and simply pointed her wooden-handled folding knife at him.

"A vagrant? What vagrant?"

Byas seemed very confused. He stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then lowered his hand as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Oh, you mean those unwanted snacks on the roadside? Although they are some disgusting and low-quality products, I happen to have a good habit of not being picky about food, so I don't care about them... I'm happy as long as I have something to eat."

"Is heir evil, or a priest of a heretical sect?"

Confused, Vivian quietly pulled back the safety of the gun hidden in the shadows of her sleeve.

Even the worst offspring of a demon, capable of thinking and communicating normally, is a product of conversion by a senior priestess. In the past, Vivian would have been thinking about how to break free and seek help.

Now, although she was still transmitting the signal of the special event through the Secret Court's second-class lower-level secret technique, the "Calling Bird," she did not feel afraid.

After all, even their own leader, Sister Heda, dared to stab the "servant in the cup" twice in the kidneys...

"'Evil offspring' are byproducts born from the hem of a deity's skirt, while 'heretical sects' are those you exclude from the system. In a narrow sense, I am neither. But similarly... you can also consider me to be both." — Liu

Byes slowly walked forward, toward Heda, who was staring intently at him.

"Actually, you two can relax a bit. I just want to get back some stolen items. If you're willing to cooperate, I promise I'll never show my face in Norrington again."

"What is that?" Haida wasn't in a hurry to make a move.

She knew Vivian had already released the callbirds; delaying the inevitable would be advantageous to her side. Furthermore, she didn't mind using this to extract information.

"I'm searching for the Sunforge Order's lost artificial sun. Hmm... perhaps you'd be more familiar with the name Sigrid?"

"...Are you from the Sun-Casting Main Hall?"

Haida narrowed her eyes, a hint of surprise appearing in her gray-chestnut eyes.

The guy in front of her was quite different from the Sunforge members she had ever seen. Compared to them, Somur's sloppy armor looked almost like a uniform.

"No, really no, absolutely not. I have absolutely no connection with the Sun-Casting Hall."

Byas waved his hands, dismissing the relationship between the two parties in a perfunctory manner.

"Sister, is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Haida shook her head.

"We'll talk about the rest during the interrogation." She picked up a wooden-handled folding knife and lunged forward, the wind pressure surging around her almost crushing it.

Despite his best efforts to dodge, Byas was still struck hard in the chest by the hilt of the knife, and the sensation of shattered ribs and rotting flesh came instantly.

"Ugh..." He couldn't help but gag and bend over.

At the same time, Vivian seized the opportunity and pulled the trigger. Two steel-core bullets pierced Byers' knee joints, further depriving him of his mobility.

"Hmph, nun, with that almost monstrous physique... you certainly have the right to say that."

Blood mixed with saliva spilled from Byas's mouth, but just as Heda was about to deliver an elbow strike to knock him unconscious, something unexpected happened.

He... exploded.

Byas's body exploded into countless bats. These howling nocturnal creatures flapped their fleshy wings, spread out at a distance, and then reassembled.

"Bloodlines?"

Vivian took two silver-core bullets from her tactical backpack and discreetly placed them into the magazine.

“Oh, you are such a cultured and polite girl. The hunters before us always said ‘vampire’ as their first word when they saw us. Can you tell me your name? If you are still a virgin, I will embrace you.”

"Bang!" Zhong & → qUn: Yi ≮√〇`Lin ≯●Seven"Six ≡）[※Six

The only response to Byers was the roar of Vivian's gun firing. The silver-core bullet pierced his chest and exited through his body.

But he did not collapse; he merely smiled obsequiously and touched the burning wound on his chest.

“I’m so sorry, miss. I know my words were rude. But I’ve been isolated for too long, and I’m so eager to connect with people. Every word I say now feels so liberating…”

"Can you imagine having your skin peeled off and replaced with airtight metal? Can you accept having prayers inscribed on your bones with a carving knife? Can you imagine having your skull filled with alchemical solution?"

Byas spoke in short, abrupt sentences, his face obscured by bandages, yet he was already hysterical.

“I’m not interested in what happened to you.”

Although Haida was somewhat surprised by the other party's race, she did not show it and remained as calm as ever.