Chapter 106: Whispers Beneath the Angel’s Shadow

In the sovereign state of Vatican City, hidden beneath layers of secrecy and silence, lay the concealed sanctuary of the Angelic Moon Sect.

Deep inside the underground cathedral that served as their base, dozens of sect members knelt in reverence.

Their bodies were bowed low.

Their foreheads nearly touched the cold stone floor.

At the center of the chamber stood a tall statue of an angel with vast wings spread wide, carved from white marble that glowed softly under candlelight.

The entire room was filled with quiet murmurs of prayer.

Every member of the sect faced the statue as if it were a sacred divine presence.

Among them, kneeling in the center of the congregation, was Angelica.

Her posture mirrored the others, her knees resting against the floor as she bowed her head respectfully.

However, unlike the others, her lips moved not in prayer to the statue.

Instead, she murmured something softly to herself.

“Oh God…”

Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

“If Lord Indigo is truly my destined purpose…”

“…then please grant me a clear sign.”

The quiet murmur echoed faintly in the chamber.

Several nearby sect members heard it.

Though they tried to remain focused on their devotion, Angelica’s words made their concentration waver.

Some exchanged uneasy glances.

Others shifted slightly in discomfort.

At that very moment—

A sudden glow illuminated the entire chamber.

A dark blue light burst into existence behind the congregation.

Every member of the sect instantly turned around.

Shock filled their faces.

Several of Angelica’s followers immediately rushed forward and positioned themselves behind her protectively.

Their stances were tense.

Ready to fight.

But Angelica herself did not react with fear.

She did not even look surprised.

Instead—

She smiled softly.

Her calm expression suggested that she already knew who had arrived.

The dark blue light slowly faded.

From within that swirling glow, a tall figure stepped forward.

A man dressed in a black suit.

A black mask covering his face.

And the black fedora he always wore, tilted slightly forward.

Indigo had arrived.

Behind him, dragged along by a grip on the collar, was a man wearing a red mask marked with a white wing symbol.

His hands were tightly bound.

Angelica slowly rose from her kneeling position and turned to face Indigo.

’Just as I expected…’

she thought quietly.

’He truly is my purpose…’

’God has answered my prayer by bringing him here…’

A gentle smile appeared on her lips.

Then Angelica addressed the tense sect members behind her.

“Lower your guard.”

Her voice was calm.

“He is our ally.”

The moment they heard Angelica’s command, the sect members immediately relaxed their defensive stances.

No one questioned her authority.

Angelica then stepped forward.

She approached Indigo with graceful, measured steps.

“What brings you to such a filthy place like this…”

she asked softly.

“Lord Indigo~”

Indigo responded simply.

“I brought a rat.”

He pulled the bound red-masked man forward.

Angelica glanced at the captive.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Hmm?”

She tilted her head.

“Isn’t that one of our masks?”

She stepped closer and inspected it carefully.

“More specifically…”

“That mask belongs to the lower-ranking members of our sect.”

Indigo nodded slightly.

“Yes. You’re right.”

“But it seems there’s a lunatic trying to turn our factions against each other.”

“Hmm?”

Angelica looked confused.

She walked directly toward the captive.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the mask and ripped it off his face.

The man underneath was revealed.

Angelica frowned immediately.

“A man?”

Her voice turned cold.

“Our sect does not accept male members at all.”

She suddenly grabbed the man by his collar and pulled him upward.

“So how exactly did you obtain this mask?”

The man trembled violently.

“P-Please! Spare me!”

“I’ll explain everything! Just don’t attack me!”

Before Angelica could say anything further—

Indigo spoke calmly.

“Relax, Angelica.”

“We should investigate this matter more thoroughly.”

“If he refuses to talk…”

His voice turned colder.

“…then we’ll torture him until he opens his mouth.”

Angelica paused for a moment.

Then she nodded slowly.

“Hmm… you have a point.”

Her anger faded slightly.

“Very well.”

Some time later—

Inside the underground prison chamber beneath the sect’s hideout.

The captured man remained bound tightly to a chair.

Angelica stood in front of him.

Her expression was cold and intimidating.

Indigo stood beside her silently, observing the interrogation.

Outside the cell bars, several of Angelica’s followers watched the scene quietly.

Angelica leaned forward slightly.

“Tell me something.”

Her golden eyes locked onto the man.

“Where did you get that mask?”

The man’s voice trembled as he spoke.

“I—I mean… we bought it…”

Angelica narrowed her eyes.

“Bought it?”

“Y-Yes…”

He swallowed nervously.

“We bought the mask from a woman…”

“…who was wearing the same mask.”

Angelica’s expression darkened instantly.

“The same mask?”

Her voice became dangerously quiet.

“Are you saying…”

“…there is a traitor within our sect?”

She raised her hand as if ready to strike him.

The man immediately screamed.

“P-Please forgive me!”

Angelica’s eyes began glowing with a golden light.

Her anger intensified rapidly.

She despised betrayal more than anything else.

Especially betrayal within her own sect.

Before she could lose control—

Indigo spoke again.

“What exactly were you planning to do with those masks?”

The man quickly answered.

“W-We were hired!”

His breathing became frantic.

“Someone paid us to do it!”

“To provoke hostility between the Angelic Moon Sect and Indigo!”

“That’s all I know! I swear!”

Angelica’s eyes widened slightly.

That answer clearly surprised her.

Her voice became cold again.

“Who hired you?”

The man shook his head frantically.

“I-I don’t know his name!”

“But he said he belonged to a group called…”

“…The Overseer.”

Silence filled the prison chamber.

Angelica frowned thoughtfully.

“The Overseer…”

she murmured quietly.

“This is the first time I’ve heard that name.”

Indigo turned his head toward her.

“Set that aside for now.”

He glanced toward the prisoner.

“We need to find the bastard who sold that mask.”

Angelica nodded in agreement.

“You’re right.”

“That’s the most important matter right now.”

She then turned toward the sect members standing outside the cell.

“You heard him.”

Her voice carried authority.

“Find that traitor immediately.”

“Yes, Lady Angelica!”

Her followers quickly dispersed to begin the search.

After giving the order, Angelica sat down on the empty chair beside her.

She let out a tired sigh.

Indigo noticed.

He stepped closer.

“You don’t need to worry that much.”

“The traitor will be found eventually.”

Angelica nodded slowly.

“Hah… yes.”

“You’re right.”

“I shouldn’t let myself get this anxious.”

Meanwhile—

Indigo quietly observed her.

’Angelica is the type of person who absolutely despises betrayal…’

he thought.

’Especially when the betrayal happens within her own sect.’

’That’s exactly why I want her on my side…’

’If I can gain her trust, she’ll become an extremely valuable ally.’

’Not only is she powerful…’

’but she’s also loyal.’

Angelica suddenly glanced toward the bound prisoner.

“Then what should we do with this bastard?”

Indigo looked at him.

“Hmm.”

He asked calmly.

“Do you have any other information?”

The man shook his head desperately.

“N-No…”

“I already told you everything…”

“I’m just a hired mercenary…”

“I don’t know anything else.”

Indigo nodded slightly.

“I see.”

He then slowly extended his hand toward the man’s head.

The prisoner blinked in confusion.

“What… are you doing?”

Dark blue light began forming around Indigo’s hand.

The energy shimmered softly.

The prisoner’s head began glowing as the energy surrounded it.

“W-What is this!?”

“What are you doing!?”

The dark blue light suddenly intensified.

It completely enveloped the man’s head.

Then—

Slowly—

The light faded.

And when it finally disappeared—

The prisoner’s head was gone.

Only the headless body remained.

The corpse collapsed onto the floor.

Blood began spreading across the cold stone beneath it.

Indigo lowered his hand calmly.

Angelica watched the scene quietly.

Then she gave a small amused smile.

“You really are quite cruel…”

Indigo shrugged slightly.

“Well…”

“He didn’t have any more useful information.”

“If we let him go…”

“…it would just be like allowing a rat to crawl back into its nest.”

“…so it can prepare a better plan next time.”

Angelica covered her mouth lightly as she laughed.

A soft, delighted laugh.

“You’re right.”

Her eyes sparkled playfully.

“And besides…”

“That’s exactly what makes you so charming~”

*At Ji-hye’s house*

Ji-hye sat on the couch in her living room.

She hugged a soft pillow tightly against her chest.

The television in front of her displayed a live news broadcast.

A reporter stood on the screen, holding a microphone.

“Once again, our hero Lightnova has successfully saved a passenger plane that was hijacked by villains.”

Ji-hye stared quietly at the screen.

“The passengers aboard the aircraft survived, with only one injured individual who suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Fortunately, the victim was rescued in time.”

“However…”

“The two pilots of the aircraft were found deceased.”

Ji-hye hugged the pillow even tighter.

Her face looked slightly annoyed.

But her cheeks were faintly flushed.

“What the heck…”

she muttered quietly.

“Why did you suddenly run away like that…”

“I was praising you, you know…”

Her cheeks puffed slightly as if she were pouting.

But after a moment—

She smiled.

’But…’

she thought quietly.

’You really were amazing back there…’

Her smile widened slightly.

Then she suddenly shook her head.

’W-What am I even thinking…’

Her expression became conflicted.

’He’s a villain.’

’I shouldn’t be thinking like this…’

But another thought followed.

’Still…’

’If it wasn’t for him…’

’So many innocent people would have died.’

She sighed softly.

A complicated smile appeared on her face.

Ji-hye felt frustrated with her own thoughts.

Yet at the same time—

She couldn’t stop feeling happy.

There was something about Indigo that confused her deeply.

She couldn’t fully understand him.

Was he truly a villain?

Or—

Was he simply someone who called himself a villain…

while his actions said otherwise?

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