Chapter 32: Ambush

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“The Gate of Truth!? Those demon-worshipping lunatics!?”

Carlos spoke with an indifferent tone, but his words made the director and the hunter turn pale.

“That’s right.”

“How did these heretics mix in with the orphanage’s merchant convoy?”

“It’s still unclear, but they’ve obviously done this before. Among those caught in the underground prison, the one who’s been at it the longest has reportedly been doing it for about half a year. The method was very simple, they would wait at a location, then someone would give them an address and the goods, and they just had to ensure safe delivery. The payment was quite generous.”

Carlos’s eyes swept casually across everyone’s faces before continuing.

“In this merchant convoy headed to Winter City, there were only 2 true heretics, and they died when we seized the goods. The rest were just merchants making money without conscience, they couldn’t even perform blood sacrifices, so they hardly counted as members of The Gate of Truth.”

“I happened to be at the parish when I met Sir Carlos who had just interrogated the criminals. After discussing, we came here together. Director, and Hunter, I don’t think this is a coincidence. It’s likely that the orphanage’s supply transport routes have been infiltrated by heretics. If that’s the case, it means that within the church……”

Charles didn’t finish his sentence, just gave everyone a meaningful look before falling silent.

“But, I don’t know anything about this, what’s going on?” The director said with cold sweat running down his forehead and a panicked expression, “Aren’t these heretics only active in the Eastern Continent? How did they get involved with the orphanage?”

“Most of the orphanage’s supplies go through the church’s special channels, where inspections are relatively simple and almost impossible to expose.”

“But I still don’t understand, what are those lunatics doing transporting guguo grass to the orphanage?”

“The heretics are brutal, most of them are people who can’t survive otherwise. If they want to secretly infiltrate the Western Continent and do something under the church’s nose, then the orphanage is a good starting point. Guguo grass is a profitable business, even with huge risks, they have sufficient reasons.”

“The orphanage’s merchants are all appointed by the church, how could they possibly infiltrate?”

“That’s what we need to find out next.”

“Sir Carlos, Sir Charles, you’re not suspecting me, are you?”

“Suspicion isn’t the word, but this matter is extraordinary, we just need the director’s cooperation.”

“How should I cooperate with you?”

“Who was usually responsible for receiving goods at the orphanage?”

“I usually let the caretakers or monks… There’s no fixed personnel, everyone helps when they have time, occasionally I go myself.”

“What about the list of merchants who previously transported supplies?”

“Yes, it’s in my cabinet.”

“I’ll go with you to look at those lists.”

“Alright.”

“These lunatics surely aren’t just targeting the Winter City route, perhaps merchants in other places have some issues too. I need to inform Sister Theresa about this as soon as possible. Tonight I’ll take the children to the parish to make records, and return early tomorrow morning. I implore everyone to take this seriously and find the source quickly before the situation gets out of control. I suspect these lunatics might be after more than just coins… In any case, Cataloma must not be affected.”

“Then we’ll return to the workshop and report this matter as soon as possible.”

“Remember not to spread the word, Hunter sir only needs to report to the Duke.”

“Understood.”

Charles hurriedly boarded the horned carriage and left with the three children.

The two hunters bid me farewell and returned to the workshop.

The director called the caretakers to move the boxes to the nearby orphanage, and at this time Carlos said to me: “Little Syl, want to come with me?”

But I didn’t plan to pay attention to him.

Who would want to go check such boring lists? As long as the children were safe, I couldn’t care less about church affairs and heretics and such.

Just leave it to Carlos.

Having stayed here for so long, with all the activity and getting angry, and then listening to them ramble on about so many things, I felt like I’d consumed quite a bit of energy and wanted to replenish some.

Haven’t had dinner yet.

Thinking of this, I unhappily patted my stomach.

Hungry.

Let’s go back.

“Hey, I’m talking to you?”

Hearing Carlos’s annoying noise again, I turned back and glared at him fiercely, quickly walked forward two steps, and kicked a fist-sized pile of snow on the ground.

Then as if nothing happened, I continued walking towards the distance.

“…Are you angry, you petty person.”

Faintly hearing Carlos’s low muttering behind me, my step that was about to land slightly paused.

…Who are you calling petty!

He even dares to insult me!

I instinctively wanted to turn back and scold him, but suddenly remembered I had just decided not to talk to him.

So I gritted my teeth and walked even faster, almost wanting to run.

After walking a few steps I heard him shout: “Do you even know the way… hey, wait, this is for you!”

Hm? I turned around somewhat confused, and a golden-glowing object flew towards my face.

I caught it instinctively, took a look at it in my hand, and found that this was what he had been playing with in his hand since earlier, something that looked like a token.

“This is the church’s decree, keep it safe.”

I pouted.

…Tch.

I thought it was chocolate, how boring.

“Be careful on your way back.”

Don’t need you to tell me.

…………

The moon cast moving shadows.

The sky began to snow fine flakes again.

There was no horned carriage on the way back, and I didn’t want one either.

Walking alone in the snowy night, with nothing much to do, nothing to think about, just walking.

It had been too long since I’d experienced such a mood.

My gaze wandered around the enchanting snowy scenery, and I found almost no one in the streets and alleys.

The people of this world don’t seem to have much of a nightlife. Those bustling adventurer’s guilds in stories, and underground dungeons hiding countless treasures, don’t seem to exist.

Well, that’s something you could guess.

Places like taverns should exist, might be worth visiting sometime to experience the atmosphere of an otherworld bar.

Although my alcohol tolerance isn’t very good now, it should be fine if I just take a small taste, right?

Well… let’s see when there’s a chance.

Gathering up the hem of my dress, I jumped onto a narrow curb on one side, carefully walking forward on the three-finger-wide edge, arms stretched out swaying to maintain balance.

Fine snow swirled down onto the fluffy jacket, onto the fluffy little head.

Suddenly feeling playful, I condensed frost to freeze the curb into ice, while pushing off with my feet.

“Hey!”

Just like that, my whole body slid forward.

I thought I could definitely slide all the way to the end of this street, but after sliding less than a meter, my feet stumbled and I fell off.

“Ah——”

My little hands fluttered in the air, then I landed on my bottom.

The ground wasn’t dirty, the snow felt soft and a bit cold.

I quickly looked around, and after finding that no one had seen, I felt slightly relieved.

Then I stood up and patted off the snow stuck to my skirt.

The curb is too dangerous, the road surface should be fine, right?

Mist rose from under my feet again, instantly freezing all the snow on the road ahead into shiny ice. I crouched down and ran two steps, then “whoosh” slid forward.

Fun!

“Hehe——”

I couldn’t help laughing, and continued sliding all the way like this until after turning the corner ahead, when I suddenly ran into someone.

That person looked like a resident living nearby, don’t know what they were doing outside at this time. After seeing me, their expression changed very quickly from startled to amazed, then they couldn’t help but let out a light laugh.

“Pfft.”

My face immediately turned red.

How embarrassing.

“Little girl, you’re from the Duke’s family, right? It’s so late and you haven’t gone home yet, having so much fun here?”

“Uh, heading back now.”

“Want me to take you home?”

“No need, thank you uncle.”

“Then be careful, don’t play anymore, hurry home.”

“…Oh.”

I lowered my head sheepishly and quickly walked away with small steps.

I behaved much better on the rest of the way.

Although Winter City is very large, its structure isn’t complicated. Shanter Castle is located at the foot of the most prominent snowy mountain in the north of the city, its silhouette clearly visible from far away. Unless you’re some green-haired three-sword style swordsman, you don’t need to worry about getting lost even with your eyes closed.

After passing through several wide streets, I came to a small square.

I had passed by here earlier when riding the horned carriage, it’s not far from Shanter Castle now.

There was a 5-meter tall human statue in the center of the square, its appearance vaguely resembling Duke Scalliger. I walked to the front of the statue, reached out my fair hand to clear the snow from the base, where there was an inscription.

“When I dreamed of changing the world, I didn’t know that what mattered most was changing myself. — Arthas, to future generations of the Wintermoon”

Hm!? Arthas!

Did I walk into the wrong scene?

My heart jumped, and I immediately wiped clean all the snow near the inscription, under which there was another line.

“In memory of the founder of the Central Workshop, the great grandfather Arthas. — Scalliger”

This… how should I put it.

Among the Twelve Moon Blades in the Central Workshop, is there one called Frostmourne?

Hehe.

Shaking my head to throw out all those absurd thoughts, I then stood up.

Suddenly I heard the light vibration of a bowstring from far away.

What sound is that?

The next moment, something came whistling through the air.

While my consciousness was still in a daze, my body reacted first, quickly raising my right leg in a side step.

Whoosh——

A crossbow bolt brushed past my cheek bringing a gust of wind, hitting the base of the statue with a “clang”, then quickly deflected, leaving a deep white mark on it.

I widened my eyes.

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