"..."
Ryan knew she was trying to win him over. If Caslathdi really gained Berman City, she would definitely need talented people to help manage it in the future. Although he had not agreed to join her faction, it was hard to refuse favors from others. If he could help, he certainly would.
Given enough time, even strangers could become family.
Besides, Ryan had no reason to refuse. He truly needed some authority to conceal his identity. Moreover, Jonathan also wanted him to become director and keep the Bureau of Governance firmly under control.
"...In that case, I'll have the municipal office issue the order tomorrow. You'll officially take over as director."
"Thank you, Mayor."
"Thank Her Highness the Princess. She was the one who recognized your talent."
Bill exchanged a few polite words, then left for somewhere else.
Caslathdi smiled at Ryan and left as well.
"Tsk, tsk~ Ryan, it seems Her Highness the Princess really values you," Jonathan said with a smile.
Ryan spread his hands. "She's quite ambitious too."
Jonathan said nothing. He had sensed earlier that Bill was not particularly willing to let Ryan become director; he had only done so because of Caslathdi's status.
That was clearly strange. If Bill did not want to choose a side, then Caslathdi's attempt to take control of Berman City was nothing but wishful thinking. Even as a princess, she had no reason to seize territory from the nobles.
"Lord Ryan, may I invite you for a drink?" A noble girl in her twenties approached him.
"Hi, Aria." Jonathan stepped forward. "My colleague here is a little shy. How about I have a couple of drinks with you instead? We can discuss astrology tonight too. The Hunter constellation has had some bad luck lately."
"Ah, really? I'm a Hunter. Jonathan, don't scare me."
"Of course it's true. Tonight, I'll help improve your fortune... Come on, let's talk over there."
Jonathan gave Ryan a knowing look, then walked away with the girl named Aria.
Ryan had no interest in those social butterflies. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him anymore, he quietly opened the game.
'Lin Qi' was still keeping watch in the slums. Night had fallen, and it was time to farm evil spirits again. Just as she was about to act, she saw a group of people approaching in the distance.
Beams from flashlights swayed through the darkness. As they drew closer, their identities became obvious.
'Move aside! The city guard is arresting heretics! All bystanders, clear the way!'
This was a force of roughly a hundred men!
"The military? Why would they appear at a time like this?"
Ryan frowned slightly. The city guard was part of the territorial garrison. Although they were nominally Imperial troops, their food and supplies were funded by the local municipal government. Over time, the army basically became the lord's private force.
This was a common situation. After all, the Empire's territory was too vast, and most of the true core military forces directly belonging to the Empire were concentrated under central management.
The armies within granted territories, meanwhile, were managed by local nobles themselves. Recruitment, supplies, military pay, and everything else were funded by the local government. This directly reduced the Empire's financial burden and allowed flexible arrangements according to local conditions. The downside was that it gave up some control over the territories. It was manageable when the Empire was strong, but once it weakened, it would not be impossible for local lords with armies to carve out their own domains.
Berman City's military numbered around three to four thousand men, excluding reserve troops. These were purely frontline combat personnel, an already considerable number for a city of its size. The main reason was that Berman City was not far from the Empire's border.
Normally, part of the army was stationed outside the city, while a smaller portion was near Aideburg, under Colonel Grove's command.
Ryan looked up at the banquet hall. At that moment, Grove was chatting and laughing with a noblewoman in her thirties.
He had 'Lin Qi' conceal her tracks and follow the force. Before long, she discovered that they had surrounded an area under the pretense of arresting heretics.
That area was precisely where he had previously calculated the Blood Cult might be hiding.
After the soldiers on the perimeter surrounded the area, some of them seemed to be moving supplies. 'Lin Qi' had the demon spirit melt into the night and slip into the soldiers' shadows, silently infiltrating them.
Through the demon spirit's vision, 'Lin Qi' saw the troops transporting a large quantity of supplies. The goods were carried into a building, then a mechanism opened somewhere inside, revealing a new passage beneath the stairwell.
"So that's where it was."
Ryan suddenly understood as he watched Blood Cult members emerge from within.
No wonder he had been unable to find them. Without someone to lead the way, it would have been impossible to discover such a concealed place.
'Why did you come so late?'
'Don't you know things have been tense lately? The colonel only arranged for us to come tonight because of the banquet.'
'Enough. Hurry up.'
'The ritual... How is the ritual going?'
'Don't worry. Everything is going smoothly. Once the final batch of sacrifices is offered, war will surely descend upon the land of Augustus!'
'No need to worry about the sacrifices. Tell Hart to be ready. It will begin in a week at most.'
After the two finished talking in the darkness, the batch of supplies began to be moved into the basement.
The entire process lasted nearly twenty minutes. Soon, the troops withdrew from the slums, taking several drifters who had been identified as heretics along the way.
Ryan stroked his chin. The demon spirit had heard every word clearly.
The military was supporting the Blood Cult.
That was not surprising. After all, Bill funded the army, and Grove was certainly under Bill's control as well.
The ritual would begin in a week?
Did that mean Kainter's army would attack?
"Why did they call it 'war'?"
The phrase "war will descend" was rather subtle. If it were merely a straightforward war, it would happen as soon as the army attacked. There would be no need to involve a ritual.
And what exactly did the Blood Cult hope to obtain from the Blood God by holding such a large-scale ritual?
After the army left and the Blood Cult members transported all the supplies inside, they carefully checked their surroundings before closing the mechanism.
'Lin Qi' hid nearby. The demon spirit lurked in the shadows and entered Casola Prison, where she saw the cells and the people imprisoned within.
The prison had two levels. Below that was the Karut Maze, where the ritual site was located.
The man who had spoken with the military continued downward until he finally arrived at the altar that 'Shally' had found.
"Lord Hart, the military has delivered what you requested," he said.
"It's finally here. Next comes the final step of the ritual... Hm?"
Hart wore a black robe, with a hood covering most of his face. He suddenly shrieked, "Damn it, what did you bring in here?!"
Whoosh!
Black energy descended and crashed onto the shadow with a boom.
The demon spirit fled from the shadow, turning into a streak of light as it flew outward. But then the figures around the altar began chanting one after another. In the end, the scene was swallowed by darkness. According to 'Lin Qi's' feedback, the demon spirit had already been dispersed.
"He could actually detect the demon spirit. Even Adler didn't notice it back then. Could that guy be stronger than Adler?"
Ryan was somewhat surprised. This was the first time the demon spirit had "died."
"Not necessarily. He's a Singer, so perhaps his perception of supernatural energy is especially strong."
Singer was a special profession. Its combat ability might not be powerful, but its perception was certainly keen.
It seemed he would have to be more careful in the future. The demon spirit was not omnipotent.
"It's been discovered. I wonder what will happen now... Forget it. Withdraw first."
In any case, the Blood Cult could not possibly relocate at this time. Before its members could chase after her, 'Lin Qi' turned and vanished into the night.
Continuing the ten-thousand-word update—there's more today! Please support!!!
Before you continue