Lilia still felt uneasy. "What if Kyle goes crazy and snaps?"
She asked, trying one last time to convince Allen to join the City Lord's Mansion.
Even if her father couldn't secure re-election this time, Kyle wouldn't dare make a move rashly given his long-standing status and influence.
"Don't worry," Allen said dismissively. "If there's real danger, I'll call for your help."After finishing up the battlefield and looting over 100,000 gold coins, Allen and Lilia quickly left.
The underground casino didn't use cash for gambling anyway; everything was in chips, which were useless to him now.
...
The night was cool and still.
Blackspire Church of Light.
The spacious church was filled with flickering candles, their dancing flames adding to the solemn atmosphere.
Sitting calmly with his arms crossed over his chest was an elderly man with white hair and a stern face. He faced the stone statue on the raised platform, eyes closed in deep prayer.
Creak!
The small side door opened. A breeze swept in, causing the candlelight to dance once more as an old man walked in.
"Mr. Kyle, you really are a devoted believer. Still praying this late?" the old man asked, his face kind and smiling. He wore a long white robe and held a yellowed book in his hands.
The man on the platform was Kyle, Blackspire's wealthiest man and a famous philanthropist.
Kyle lowered his arms and opened his eyes, looking at the solemn statue on the platform. His voice was flat. "Father, I have prayed with such devotion. Why hasn't Light Pope awakened my class yet?"
The priest kept his warm, mysterious smile. "Every loss has a gain, Mr. Kyle. Even though you haven't awakened a Class, look at the wealth and status you hold today. Isn't that also the blessing of Light Pope?"
"Heh, you're right," Kyle smiled faintly, though his tone suggested he thought otherwise.
Light Pope's blessing?
The truth was, he had earned everything himself. From being a mocked failure who couldn't awaken a class to his current position, only he knew the bitter struggles he'd faced.
Everyone said the Church of Light was great and glorious.
But Kyle knew these people were more hypocritical, petty, and dirty than anyone else.
"Priest," he said calmly, bowing slightly toward the statue, "you know why I'm here. Do you think I can still count on Light Pope's protection this time?"
The priest nodded with a smile. "Mr. Kyle, your wishes will surely come true."
"Is that so?" Kyle didn't look hopeful. "I just heard that the three great families of Blackspire have joined Lucas. He even promised over 5 million gold coins to rebuild the slums and improve the lives of those lowly commoners."
The smile vanished from the priest's face. "I heard about this too. It is indeed tricky, but there is a way to break the deadlock."
"You have a plan?" Kyle asked curiously.
The priest smiled mysteriously. "I must admit Lucas is talented. He has turned the City Lord's Mansion into a fortress, tight as a drum. But where there is a person, there is a weakness. And Lucas's weakness is his daughter."
"Lilia?" Kyle frowned. He knew exactly what the priest wanted him to do. "If I harm his daughter, we will have completely torn off the mask. Can the Church of Light protect me then?"
"You underestimate the Church of Light," the priest said confidently. "When you become City Lord, I will give you my full support. Lucas will be no threat at all."
Kyle fell silent, having already agreed to the plan in his heart. He had actually taken action before, but it had failed.
Buzz...
A faint ripple of energy suddenly flared around Kyle. Suspicious, he opened his palm, and a crystal ball materialized out of thin air.
"Kyle, avenge me..." The crystal ball swirled with light, forming an image. Butcher roared hideously, followed by a youthful, handsome face. Flames surged through the sphere, swallowing the image instantly.
"Butcher is dead!" Kyle's expression darkened. The image shifted and froze on Allen's face.
Beside Allen stood a slender, small figure in a black robe, their face obscured.
"It's Allen, that SSS-rank Heaven-Cursed Class Awakened," the priest said, frowning as he recognized him at once.
When the Heaven-Cursed appeared at Quinn Academy, he had immediately ordered an investigation and even tried to recruit the guy. Alas, he had been rejected.
"That is Allen?" Kyle stared coldly at the image. "Father, Butcher was important to me. He cannot have died in vain."
The priest nodded; he disliked Allen too.
Perfect timing to teach the boy a lesson and threaten him into joining the Church of Light.
"Leave this to me. I'll send the Bright Knights immediately to catch the villain!" The priest clapped his hands. A burly man clad in silver armor stepped forward, bowing low to the ground.
"Go to Butcher's butcher shop and arrest this villain. Remember, I want him alive," the priest ordered coldly, pointing at Allen's image.
"Yes!" The burly man memorized Allen's face, turned, and left.
Kyle looked toward the dark corner of the church and gave a slight nod.
From the shadows, a figure darted out and vanished without a trace.
The priest had noticed but said nothing, merely smiling. "Kyle, if you have no other business, please wait a moment. Once the Knights of Light are deployed, results will come quickly."
"Good."
Kyle nodded and took his seat, focusing his attention back on the crystal ball's image, which now froze on Lilia.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of familiarity about her. It was as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.
...
Meanwhile, Allen and Lilia left Butcher's butcher shop and headed toward the City Lord's Mansion.
Allen wasn't entirely sure Lilia was safe, so he decided to escort her there first.
He glanced back over his shoulder. For some reason, he felt like someone was following them.
"What's wrong?" Lilia asked, noticing his uneasy expression.
"Nothing. Let's get you back first," Allen said. A nagging sense of dread settled in his stomach, and he quickened his pace.
Clatter... clatter...
Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed through the silent street. A white figure flashed through the night, charging toward them at full speed.
"No! It's the Church's Knights of Light, and they're coming for us!" Lilia gasped. Her inner power surged wildly, barely under control.
"Go, I'll hold them off!" Allen realized his cover might be blown. He drew his Saber and pushed Lilia aside.
"Be careful! I'll ask my father for help!"
Lilia knew she couldn't help here. If her identity were exposed, it would only endanger Allen. Turning quickly, she fled into a side alley.
"Wretch, don't run!"
A roar erupted from the leader. Holy light flared as a silver lance shot out with a whistling sound, aiming straight for Lilia.
"Watch out!" Allen shouted in panic.
Boom!
Lilia spat blood and flew backward.
As a vampire, her very nature made her weak against the Light attribute's holy magic.
Allen leaped forward, catching the injured Lilia before she could fall.
"Allen, don't worry about me! I can't hold back my power! You have to leave!" Lilia's face was pale, her eyes filled with pain. Her small body trembled as her wig slipped away, revealing a cascade of fiery red hair dancing in the wind.
"It's you?" the burly leader cried out, clearly recognizing Lilia.
That brilliant red hair was unmistakable.
Allen's expression turned grim. Lilia's vampire identity absolutely could not be revealed. If it were, even Lucas's power wouldn't save her.
"Hang in there!"
Seeing Lilia's fangs start to show, Allen slashed his own palm with his Saber and pressed it firmly over her mouth.
His blood could suppress the chaotic energy within her, and he didn't care about his own safety now.
A stream of warm blood almost flowed into Lilia's mouth. She felt a gentle, warm energy spread through her body, slowly calming her raging power.
But the danger wasn't over yet.
Lilia greedily inhaled a mouthful of blood before reluctantly pushing Allen's hand away. Her voice was a low whisper. "Allen, let me transform and I'll take you away."
"No way!"
Allen refused immediately. "That man clearly recognizes you. If you're exposed, it will put your father in danger."
"Then what do I do?" Lilia panicked, unsure of what to do next.
"Fight our way out!" Allen said coldly. He held his Saber in front of him and unleashed a massive fireball that roared forward, crashing into the knights beside them.
Boom!
A loud explosion sent sparks flying. The terrifying energy swept through the area, sending more than ten men tumbling over.
These Bright Knights were Stage 3 fighters, but they couldn't even stand against Allen's Forbidden Spell. Seizing the chance, he grabbed Lilia and rushed past them.
"Villain, you dare!"
A furious roar echoed as the burly leader charged forward. His silver lance shimmered like a dragon breaking free from the water, reaching them in an instant.