stonecrandall Chapter 871 Heading to the Desert (1)
Chapter 871 Heading to the Desert (1)
After deciding that Setare would be the key insider in the plan, the group quietly launched the operation meticulously planned by Nasita.
Based on her long-term and meticulous observation of Setare, Nasita had long since figured out the patterns of Setare's daily movements and accurately grasped every person she might come into contact with and every movement she might make while out.
It was thanks to this meticulous intelligence that everyone was able to lay a trap before Setare left the Church House, waiting for the opportune moment.
As night fell, Setare stepped out of the gates of the Faculty of the Church as usual, and an invisible yet extremely oppressive psychological offensive began—
She stopped at an inconspicuous fortune-telling stall, only to have her secret thoughts revealed by a fortune teller who seemed to be possessed by fire:
That deep-seated desire to return to his desert homeland, which he had never dared to confront, was exposed to the light for the first time.
Later, in front of a pottery stall, Iya asked the owner's questions again, piecing together the fragments of memories she had tried to forget, and making her face the ties and responsibilities of the past.
Immediately afterwards, in front of the tavern, Paimon possessed the waitress's body and pressed her relentlessly with almost aggressive questioning until he finally broke down her last psychological defenses.
Finally, in the depths of the alleyway illuminated by dim lights, a mercenary group of thirty, possessed by Nasita herself, appeared. His tone was calm, yet every word carried immense weight, completely stripping away all pretense and laying bare the truth before her.
Interlocking steps, meticulously planned and executed. This psychological hunt, involving multiple identities taking turns, is not only a strategic victory but also a redemption that strikes at the very soul.
Under the progressively intensifying psychological impact, Setare's deep-seated guilt towards the desert and the remnants of the Red King surged forth like a tidal wave, becoming uncontrollable.
Finally, driven by her moral conscience and under the combined pressure of her emotions, she chose to face it honestly.
She agreed to help everyone fight against the royalists and voluntarily handed over all the secrets she knew—
One particularly crucial point is that a mysterious scholar who had been exiled from the Council of Churches has quietly returned, and the royalist sages show an unusual fear of him.
Not only that, she also promised to help everyone obtain the core secret documents hidden by the royalists in order to uncover the conspiracy they were secretly plotting.
Because the void system is under strict monitoring, any data transmission is impossible; the only option is the most primitive yet most reliable method—
theft.
As the Great Sage's personal assistant, she has the right to access these top-secret documents.
She decided to take the risk and arranged to meet at the entrance of the Order of the Church the following night to personally deliver the intelligence to everyone.
Setare was completely manipulated by us.
[If you were to put yourself in her shoes, it would be like waking up to a world-shattering catastrophe—all around you are the Crimson King's followers, who are like rare animals in Sumeru City, as if you were in a dream.]
[Moreover, in the eyes of the Sumeru people today, the Crimson King is nothing more than a deceased god consigned to the dustbin of history. To her, this is not reality; it's clearly seeing a ghost.]
[One person, one possession; precise verbal therapy; breaking down defenses layer by layer... Your psychological tactics are truly masterful.]
[Another theft? This instantly brings back memories of the classic scene where Inazuma-san and Hayato, fellow students, infiltrate and steal secrets from the shogunate.]
The night was as dark as ink, quietly enveloping every sand dune and oasis of Mount Sumeru.
Watching Setare's figure recede into the distance, Paimon sighed softly, a hint of indescribable emotion flickering in his eyes: "Just as Nasita predicted... Setare really can be persuaded by us."
Iya turned her head and looked at Naxida, whose consciousness had returned to her body. Her tone was full of sincere admiration: "Sister, you are truly unmatched in your ability to win people's hearts."
Naxi Da smiled slightly, her lips curving upwards, like a spring breeze rippling across a lake, creating ripples without leaving a trace.
“I still have a lot to learn,” she said in a gentle and humble voice. “It’s nothing to brag about.”
She looked up at the sky, where the stars twinkled like scattered flames of wisdom in the night.
"Since the time is set for tomorrow night, all we can do now is silently pray that Setare has a safe journey." Nasita's words faded into the wind.
Paimon, upon hearing this, spread his hands, blinked, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Pray? But if we really want to pray to a god—aren't you the god of wisdom who protects scholars?"
“Me?” Nasita lightly tapped her chest with her fingertips, her eyes flickering as if a river of stars were flowing within them.
“Hmm… I have sat on the throne of divinity for five hundred years,” she said softly, her tone gentle yet introspective, “but to be honest, I never believed that I was protecting them. What truly guides those who seek knowledge is ‘truth’ itself.”
Her expression was serious: "If judged by Caesar's standards—a god capable of leading a nation to prosperity—I'm afraid I'm far from passing."
"So instead of praying to me, entrust your wishes to the truth."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter gentle yet warm: "Of course, if you prefer to pray to Father or the Great Tree King, that's perfectly acceptable too."
She looked up at the sky, as if she were traveling through time to converse with the sages of the past: "After all, when it comes to the position of gods, they are indeed above me."
It's a pity that if you didn't have connections, we could have staged a grand spectacle of sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden and paying homage to Guan Yu...
【Self-Prayer, Self-Performance】
[Wendy: Hey, how about we try thanking the wind god for his favor?]
[Heavenly Principle: Hmm? I can't stop you from praying to your father or mother, but praying to Truth? How many of Truth's nails of ice are there?]
“Alright,” Nasita said, her smile fading, her tone gentle yet firm, “Let’s meet again at Jingshan Palace tomorrow night.”
Having said that, she turned to leave, her clothes fluttering in the wind, like a forest sprite.
Iya looked at Ying, her eyes full of anticipation: "Can I go and spend some time with my sister?"
Ying thought for a moment, then nodded: "If it's just for one day, no problem. But if it's longer, I don't have the authority to decide; I'll have to ask your brother first."
Iya nodded obediently, indicating that she understood.
Then, she skipped and hopped after Naxida, like a happy little deer, walking in the moonlight towards the depths of Jingshan Palace.
The following night, in front of the Jingshan Palace.
Silver light spilled down, making the stone steps gleam. Ying and Paimon arrived on time and met up with Nasita and Eya, who were already waiting there.
"Is everything ready?" Nasita asked softly, her gaze sweeping over everyone, her calm demeanor revealing concern.
Everyone nodded, their expressions solemn.
"Then let's set off." She turned around, about to lead the way, and slowly walked towards the direction of the Order House.
Just then, Paimon suddenly reached out to stop them, his voice soft but decisive: "Wait a minute, Nasita!"
"Why don't you... try hiding?"
"Hmm?" Nasita turned her head, her brows furrowing slightly, revealing a hint of doubt.
Paimon quickly explained, "Tonight's operation is a secret mission. What if this handover is a trap? Wouldn't we be handing ourselves over to them?"
"If it's a trap, your presence in the shadows could be our breakthrough point; even if everything goes smoothly, you'll still be our most reliable backup plan."
Ying and Yiya both looked at each other with surprise, as if they were seeing their usually gluttonous and mischievous partner for the first time.
Iya spoke up, bluntly stating, "It's rare to see Paimon thinking about a problem so seriously..."
Ying nodded in deep agreement, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.
Paimon angrily stomped his foot in the air, protesting, "I just don't like to use my brain, that doesn't mean I can't think! Stop judging me with those stereotypes!"
Nasita listened quietly, her eyes darting around, before finally smiling and saying, "Paimon makes a good point. We really can't be sure if there's an unknown danger lurking tonight."
Her tone grew heavier, yet more resolute: "If something unexpected were to happen, my existence might be our only 'trump card'."
She looked around at everyone and nodded slightly: "Alright, then it's decided—the handover operation will be handled by you, and I will protect your safety from the shadows."
A night breeze swept by, swirling up a few fallen leaves, as if setting the stage for the covert operation that was about to unfold.
The group walked silently along the long, quiet street leading to the Church House.
The night was as dark as ink, and the dim yellow light of the streetlights cast dappled shadows on the stone pavement, as if the whole city had fallen into a silent slumber.
In the unsettling silence, Ying suddenly stopped, her brow furrowed slightly, and spoke softly, "Speaking of which... haven't you noticed that something's a little off?"
"Something's not right?" Paimon tilted his head, swirling in mid-air. "What do you mean?"
Yiya, who was standing nearby, suddenly stopped, his ears perked up alertly, and his sharp eyes scanned his surroundings.
He held his breath and focused intently on every fluctuation in the air. After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Too quiet... abnormally quiet."
I knew it; when things go too smoothly, it's often the harbinger of a storm.
There wasn't a sound from anyone on the street...
The atmosphere is like stepping into a horror legend at night.
"There shouldn't be anyone here in the middle of the night!" Paimon waved his hand, trying to dispel the chill that was creeping up his heart. "Don't scare yourselves. We haven't even seen the gates of the Order of the Fathers yet!"
Ying shook her head gently, her voice low and clear: "That's true, but this silence... is too thorough, as if all sound has been deliberately erased."
Iya nodded in agreement:
“That’s right. In my experience, there should still be night market vendors and people out for a stroll at this hour, with lights still on and people talking. But now, you can’t hear a sound, as if the whole city is holding its breath and waiting for something.”
Paimon's previously relaxed tone gradually froze, and his little face tightened: "Huh? Could it be... really not a coincidence? Or is it that Setal not only diverted the guards, but also managed to make all the people in the city fall asleep at the same time, so as to 'clear a path' for us?"
Her words seemed particularly light in the night breeze, yet carried a chilling undertone.
Ying gazed at the towering structure hidden in the shadows in the distance, her eyes calm yet wary: "It's still uncertain. But one thing is certain—we must be extremely careful with every step we take from here on out."
——Digression
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