Chapter 28: The Double Agent

Pastor Lynn's letter, like that of any father worried about his child wandering afar, was filled with concern for Maria's safety. He reminded her to take care of herself, not to let her gentle heart put her in danger, and to always prioritize her well-being. At the end, he added a sheepish little note asking whether there were any tasty foods or fun things in Torrent City—perhaps she could send some back? Preferably... a lot? Maria didn’t even have to think. She could fully picture her father writing that line while helplessly fending off her little sister Felia, who was probably pestering him with sparkling eyes until he caved and wrote exactly what she wanted. He probably just hoped this wouldn’t ruin Maria’s image of him. Knowing her stubborn little sister all too well, Maria smiled and said a silent prayer for her poor father. "Hmm... huh?" As she lifted her pen to reply, a thought suddenly struck her. Now that she looked closer, not once had Pastor Lynn mentioned her mother, Ruth. That was unusual. But considering her mother's declining health, perhaps it wasn't so strange. Maria set the pen down and began pacing. 'It’s probably the parish rounds. Father must be too busy to take Mother out right now.' Both her parents were devout followers of the [Radiant Lord]. Their faith wouldn’t allow them to slack in their duties, even with Ruth’s condition. Maria glanced at the sun-shaped holy symbol hanging in her room. She stood silent for a long while. In her stillness, something stirred within her. For the first time as an unbeliever, she genuinely wanted to pray. Years later, she would look back on this moment and finally understand what it was: Helplessness. ... Torrent City, Lower District This filthy corner of the city, where poverty and chaos thrived, was beyond even the Church's full control. As Maria had predicted, the [Kasath Reclamation Army] were using the area to play hide-and-seek with the [Radiant Church]. "Truly pathetic. Taken out by a mere [Apprentice]-rank nun." The voice came from the shadows, raspy and broken like dry, splintered wood scraping together—as if the speaker’s vocal cords had been mangled beyond repair. "You looking for a fight?" Another voice, hoarse and slightly weak, carried a quiet murderous edge. The acrid scent of scorched flesh clung faintly to him. The so-called Gentleman Moll stared at the speaker like a corpse might glare from the grave. Clearly, Maria had wrecked him pretty badly. Among transcendents, this was how things went. Until reaching [Gold]-tier, anyone with a flaw—physical, mental, or spiritual—could be taken out through trickery. "Heh. I might just set you on fire in your sleep." The raspy voice chuckled darkly. It didn’t sound like a joke. "I’ll slit your throat before you get the chance." The tension crackled. The Gentleman and the shadowy figure were ready to go at each other’s throats. Those who sought power from the [Abyss] often became erratic, dangerous—as mad as they were strong. "Enough!" Thunk! A third voice rang out, followed by the sharp rap of a staff against the ground. In response, one of the shadows solidified into a hulking knight clad in grotesque armor, sword grounded before him. A foul, deathly aura radiated from his form. "You are brothers. Help each other, don’t fight like enemies. Remember: you are all Sandborn, heirs of Kasath. At a time when the false gods grow weak, cast aside your petty grudges." As it turned out, dealing with lunatics was easy—just be more insane or stronger than they are. The leader's command squashed the tension instantly. "Your next mission: spread the seeds. Create more [Root of Man]. We lost a [Root Serpent] in the Emerald Port fiasco. We cannot afford another setback." That near-mature [Root Serpent] had been discovered and destroyed by the Weavers before it could hatch. Every serpent lost before deployment was a blow the Reclamation Army could hardly bear. [Root Serpent]: A massive abyssal creature born from fused [Root of Man] growths. It emits spores and secretes lethal pus with every breath. A walking chemical weapon, [Root Serpents] once made Kasath unbeatable in war. To spawn even one of these horrors required countless living sacrifices. If a fully-grown [Root Serpent] emerged in Torrent City, even its eventual destruction would leave thousands dead. This was pure terrorism. "Su, you're new, but your performance has been exceptional. I’m putting you in charge of logistics." "Understood." "Everyone, go prepare. Praise be to [Overlord] Vordt!" The young man in the hooded black robe bowed respectfully. Though his eyes were hidden, a small smile played on his lips. As a new convert to abyssal power, he had proven surprisingly competent—toying with the Church’s investigators like puppets. But the truth? 'Terrorist tactics aren’t sustainable. I need to get out before this ship sinks.' Su was a player. And the more time he spent in the [Kasath Reclamation Army], the more certain he became: this was a sinking ship. He needed to wash his hands clean, find a way to contact the Church or nobles, and switch sides. Maybe Sister Maria—the NPC giving his faction so much trouble—could be his ticket out.