After all, while Supernatural Beings were scarce, there were still quite a few across the entire empire.
They couldn't possibly keep tabs on all of them. That wasn't realistic.
They even had to find ways to recruit some neutral Supernatural Beings into the Burning Covenant.
If "Lin Qi" hadn't belonged to the Gate of Janus and had instead been an unaffiliated Supernatural Being, he might have considered recruiting her as an investigator.
But that possibility was unlikely. Forget it, forget it. Someone like her would be too troublesome to recruit... Jonathan glanced at the dead cultists' bodies, then at Ryan. Compared to "Lin Qi," he was more willing to cultivate a promising and loyal newcomer like Ryan.
"Keep looking. Don't miss a single corner."
At one in the afternoon, the preliminary investigation of 228 Black Ding Street ended. Ryan followed Jonathan back to the Bureau of Governance.
Then, using "going to the bathroom" as an excuse, he squatted over the toilet and opened the game.
Boot up!
"Hm?"
The moment Ryan took control of "Lin Qi," he noticed a new title above her head—"Janus Gate Priestess."
"???"
A string of question marks seemed to pop up over Ryan's head.
"What the hell happened?"
He opened the auto-battle log and read on, his expression gradually turning strange.
According to the AI Auto-Battle records, a Janus Cultist corroded by corrupt power had come to the church for help that morning. His condition had been extremely dangerous, and the two Priests had been helpless... After all, they were just charlatans. It was already impressive enough that they could recite a few lines from the Sacred Canon. Could anyone really expect them to do actual priestly work?
Just as the cultist writhed in agony, half-dead, "Lin Qi" cast a Purification Spell and saved his life.
In truth, so-called corrupt power was not uncommon in this world. Even to Supernatural Beings, the Outer Gods remained deeply mysterious. The game's official explanation was that these Outer Gods were "conceptual" entities. For instance, the Blood God worshipped by the Blood Cult was a manifestation of "war" and "slaughter." Any bloodshed born of brutality, rage, or conflict pleased the Blood God.
The stronger the power born from such concepts became, the stronger the Outer Gods became as well. That was why they were so eager to spread their faith and stir up religious conflicts across the continent.
However, because the power of the Outer Gods truly existed, under certain special circumstances, it could distort living beings in reality. That was what was known as corruption by corrupt power.
Those who were corrupted turned into all kinds of "monsters," losing their sanity.
Ryan remembered that there had been quests in the game to clear out these "monsters"—Octopuses, Ratmen, creatures with two heads or three heads, and certain War Maniacs driven into berserk frenzies. If you could imagine it, you could probably find it.
If the corrupt power had not seeped too deeply, a Purification Spell could remove it.
Then came the interesting part. Somehow, a High Priestess of the Gate of Janus in Berman City learned of the incident. After verification and testing, and at her recommendation, "Lin Qi" became a glorious Janus Gate Priestess.
The other party had only just left when Ryan arrived.
As for why it had happened so quickly, he could only marvel at the Gate of Janus's efficiency. Most likely, it was also because "Lin Qi" had a clean background. With the system fabricating her identity, there was no need to worry about that at all.
"So people with supernatural aptitude really are in demand in this world."
The High Priestess had left, but not entirely. Ryan knew she was still hiding in Berman City, because he knew exactly who she was—Lia Mansdeka, an early member of the protagonist's party in the game and a genuine Third Tier Transcendent.
Lia came from Baron, the capital of the Augustus Empire. She was hiding here to hunt down a core member of the Blood Cult.
Ryan truly hadn't expected the world to be so small that "Lin Qi" would run into her. And with "Lin Qi" on AI Auto-Battle, it was practically the same as playing the game. Wasn't this just completing a quest to earn a title? Join a faction, advance the plot—the AI was a veteran player.
"So she really has become a Janus Priestess now." Ryan rubbed his chin. Fine. This identity would make things more convenient in the future.
Did he think "May the goddess Janus forgive your sins" was just something she said?
But after joining the Gate of Janus, "Lin Qi's" class advancement path was basically locked in. She definitely could no longer become a Soul Eater.
Ryan discovered that a passive skill called "Janus Blessing" had appeared in "Lin Qi's" status panel, increasing magic power and magic recovery speed by 5%.
This skill could be upgraded. He remembered that some big-shot players on the game forums had raised the bonus to 50%, though that required earning considerable achievements and glory within the Gate of Janus.
As for now... she was merely a Little Camilla who had yet to advance her class.
Of course, it was different for ordinary believers.
"Priestess Lin Qi, please listen to my sins!"
"Priestess Lin Qi, I have sinned!"
"Priestess Lin Qi..."
Inside the Janus Church, unlike the usual scene where everyone sought out the Priests, nearly everyone in the church had gathered around "Lin Qi." Meanwhile, Father Peter, who was supposed to listen to people's troubles and ease their burdens, was doing a Nun's work instead, assisting Priestess "Lin Qi."
Clearly, they knew Lia and understood just how exalted her status was.
Although "Lin Qi" had not yet been transferred away, she had become a Janus Gate Priestess at such a young age and embarked upon a bright future. Little Camillas at their level would only be able to look up at her from now on.
Looking at those fanatical believers, Ryan's mouth twitched. Damn it, his alt was actually more popular than his main account.
"What good is being popular?"
Charm +1
"Fantastic. Be even more popular!"
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