Calvin Couldn't Sleep

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet.

Calvin could see the old altar, the blackened blood scab atop it from years of neglect, the rotten maggots crowding the candlesticks, and the dim, chaotic firelight.

—Everything was exactly like the evil god altar in his memories.

The only difference was that there was no one on the altar.

There was no priest, not even an ordinary believer in sight.

This den of thieves was so clean it looked as though the Mother Goddess of Life had licked it.

Calvin was holding back a breath of frustration. He had been fired up with righteous indignation, charging in with his blood boiling.

His emotions had been soaring, like a virgin rushing to meet his flirtatious female pen pal for a passionate encounter, only to arrive at the inn and find that she had stood him up!

He could neither swallow this burning rage nor spit it out. He was about to be suffocated by it.

"Perhaps they received word in advance."

The Paladin Captain had also seen the empty scene before them.

To ease Calvin's embarrassment, she explained while half-flattering him.

"Those cowardly Esoteric Cultists feared your majesty and fled ahead of time."

That explanation was rather forced.

Calvin's expression eased slightly. He secretly reminded himself not to lose his composure and to maintain the elegant, noble image of a Saint.

"That must be it."

He put on his perfect smile again. "It does not matter. We can go to the next stronghold. Father collected the locations of six Heresy Strongholds."

The accompanying attendants on both sides promptly echoed him. It was not that they wanted to kiss the brat's ass; his priest father was their direct superior, and they truly could not afford to offend him.

The locations of Esoteric Cultist strongholds had always been the Holy See's most valuable intelligence. They could not be bought even with money. Yet his father had obtained six of them for Calvin's promotion. That foundation was indeed terrifying.

Behind it stood the century-old foundations of the Holy See families, true bearers of the Holy Light's banner—something that Ansu's damned out-of-town family could never compare to.

And he would surely drive this Child of Curse back where he belonged.

Enjoying the envious looks of the surrounding Saints, Calvin's lips curled upward.

"Let's go to the next one."

Calvin walked out of the cave and mounted his horse. After straightening his slightly rumpled collar, he followed the location he remembered, cracked his whip, and led the paladins galloping farther away.

One Esoteric Cultist stronghold might have fled, but there would still be another.

Besides, he would soon advance to become a Second-tier believer—this was Calvin's confidence and assurance.

The other Saints had no choice but to mount up and follow Calvin, leaving him entirely in charge—after all, they still did not know the exact locations of the Heresy Strongholds and could only follow him.

This was to prevent the other Saints from poaching Esoteric Cultists.

.

The second stronghold was farther away, located on a barren plain. A cliff lay to its left, a valley to its right, and not a soul could be seen anywhere around it, far from the bustling Border City.

Blood red moonlight smeared itself across the plain.

Valley winds howled through the ravines, wailing as though weeping and pleading.

Lead-colored clouds cast vast shadows that mingled with the blood-colored moonlight, turning the plain dark red. As the valley wind swept through, every blade of dead grass swayed crimson.

This atmosphere, this feeling—

An Esoteric Cultist stronghold could not have been more perfectly placed. If there was no cult altar here, it would be a waste of this splendid landscape.

Calvin showed a satisfied smile.

There could not possibly be a problem here, right?

He spotted the altar from far away, but the closer he got, the worse he felt. His heart sank lower and lower.

It was simply too quiet around them, without the slightest atmosphere of sacrifice.

The perfect smile he had worn all along gradually stiffened.

There was still no one there.

Calvin froze atop the empty altar, feeling as though even the air around him was about to die from the silence.

The other Saints' gazes fell upon Calvin like needles—although their eyes remained gentle, the emotions beneath them had become quite sharp.

We've followed you around for more than half the night, brat. Where are they?

In this witch hunt, they did not expect to get any meat. A little soup would have been enough.

But now, there was not even any soup.

"Looks like the Esoteric Cultists fled as a group." The captain had high emotional intelligence and immediately gave Calvin a way out. "What cunning Esoteric Cultists."

The enemy had fled as a group. Calvin's mouth twitched slightly. The excuse sounded utterly ridiculous. What kind of villains formed a group just to run away?

Esoteric Cultists had never been united.

They were each other's enemies, and every one of them wanted to sacrifice the others.

But no matter what, he had to take the offered way out.

"Yes, those two strongholds must have shared information."

He turned and explained to the other Saints. "Someone must have leaked the news. It is utterly hateful. Perhaps it was Ansu, that Child of Curse."

He knew his own words were absurd, but no matter what, he should pin the blame on Ansu first. Who told the latter to be born a Child of Curse?

The Saints stared at Calvin as though he were an idiot, unable to stop themselves from inwardly grumbling.

Who else could have leaked the news?

Wasn't it you?

Who puts on this many antics before a witch hunt?

Everyone had always acted in secret before.

First, he had made a huge spectacle at the church. Then he had prayed before the statue of the gods early in the morning. Then he had told the Saintess, "Tonight's honor is all offered to you," drawing crowds of spectators three layers deep inside and out.

This witch hunt had even made the Seaside Evening News, with the headline: #Upholding Justice! Paladin Calvin's Secret Witch Hunt#.

A secret witch hunt had made the headlines.

Public discussion had even surpassed the once-popular serialized novel #The Abusive Love Legend of the Child of Curse and Miss Maid#.

In truth, the Saints all understood the reason behind it. It was nothing more than a way for him to win public support and build his image, so that the people might vote for him in future ecclesiastical elections.

But since the captain had already said as much, the Saints could not oppose Calvin. They all chimed in again.

"Your Excellency Calvin, we can just go to the next one."

"Yes, there will definitely be someone at the next one!"

"They cannot possibly have fled as a group!"

Calvin nodded solemnly, promising heavily, word by word, "These two strongholds were too close together, so they inevitably heard the news. The next stronghold is far out at sea. They absolutely cannot escape."

After making his promise, he mounted his horse again and led the group galloping away.

.

One hour later.

It was already three in the morning.

The coast, beneath a hidden cliff.

The bleak sea wind blew against everyone's cheeks.

It was so cold that even the air seemed ready to freeze.

Calvin and the Paladin Captain looked at one another.

The altar here was even cleaner.

Not only was there not a single Esoteric Cultist.

It had also been tidied up, spotless, orderly, and without any odor.

Every ceremonial tool had been neatly arranged and polished until it shone.

There was no grease on the candlesticks, no bloodstains on the altar, and even one or two patches of water that had not yet dried—because it was winter, the water dried slowly.

Everyone realized one fact.

—Those Esoteric Cultists had mopped the floor!

When they vanished, they had fucking mopped the floor!

What kind of villains mopped the floor before fleeing as a group?!

None of them could have imagined that Enya Morningstar was a very professional, conscientious, and unusually eccentric Maid.

When her master told her to "clean up the scene," she naturally cleaned everything in the shortest possible time. This was her area of expertise.

And "cleaning up" naturally included mopping the floor.

The whistling sea wind awkwardly passed through the group.

"Looks like they fled as a group after mopping the floor." The captain had high emotional intelligence and immediately gave Calvin a way out. "What cunning Esoteric Cultists."

".What kind of loving, harmonious family is this?!"

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