Priestess

"You may go in." The attendant gestured for Sandella to enter.

Sandella pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped into the lord's study.

The room was the polar opposite of Farview Tower. Most of the time, its curtains stayed shut, keeping out the howling winds. Whale blubber oil lamps provided all the light. Their small, numerous flames illuminated every corner without glaring, and to mask the smell of the oil, pine resin and white butterfly flowers had been mixed into it, filling the room with a constant floral fragrance.

It was safe to say that only the lord could afford such lamp oil anywhere in Glorious Fortress.

Sandella couldn't help wrinkling her nose.

She didn't like the smell. Since the room was kept closed up for so long, it inevitably held a few stale odors. She would rather breathe the salty sea breeze than endure that artificial floral scent. At least the sea breeze made her feel free.

Count Li Qiongao Aura sat behind the desk. As the heir to the Aura Family, he was now in his prime. But unlike his forebears, who had led troops into battle and won glory, Li Qiongao had neither a burly frame nor impressive strength. He was more like a scholar, his slender, pale fingers better suited to handling books than steel weapons.

Sandella crossed the wool rug and stopped before the desk, giving a crisp military salute.

"I hear you've rejected investigation requests from three more police stations?" Li Qiongao set down the newspaper in his hands and asked in an even voice.

He spoke quietly, but enunciated clearly.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because my investigation revealed serious negligence at North City Police Station—"

"What does that have to do with the other police stations?" Li Qiongao cut her off. "I'm sure you understand that each of these four stations has a different backer, and that they're competitors. Letting the other three join the investigation would only help solve the case faster. Your reason for refusing them isn't good enough."

Sandella fell silent.

She knew the lord was right.

"Besides, they want to know the truth too—especially whether there are Cultists lurking in this city, and, if so, how much power they've gathered." Li Qiongao fixed her with a gaze from eyes as dark as a bottomless well. "More importantly, what you've done violates the contract. When the police stations were established, the contract gave them the right to carry out all kinds of public-safety activities in the city. The sponsors of the stations—the shareholders of those big companies—have already started putting pressure on me."

"I'm sorry." Sandella lowered her head.

"You apologize, but you won't change your mind?" Li Qiongao frowned deeply.

"I hope you'll hold out a little longer, my lord. The City Guard will solve this case!" she declared firmly.

The study fell silent for a moment.

A while later, Li Qiongao rose and slowly walked over to Sandella. "Do you know how much it costs to run the castle for a year?"

"I do not, sir."

"Sixteen million Glickley. Our tax revenue and financial subsidies add up to only ten million..." His voice grew heavier. "The big companies with factories in Glorious Fortress cover the rest. You need to understand that I can replace the City Guard commander at any time. So tell me plainly: what are you trying to do?"

Sandella replied with a resolute expression, "I want the City Guard to share responsibility for public safety in the city, instead of leaving it entirely to the police stations as we have in the past!"

"If we can't cover the shortfall, we won't even be able to pay the City Guard!"

"Sir, I consulted scholars at the academy about this. If a city's public safety is good, outsourcing it can indeed reduce administrative costs. But if it's poor, the damage to the city can be ten times the cost! Poor public safety undermines investor confidence and seriously harms economic activity in the city!"

"Oh? You know about this too?" Li Qiongao glanced at her in surprise.

"In the past, Glorious Fortress faced a serious threat from Cultists. The City Guard separated out its public-safety duties so it could better deal with external enemies. That was a choice forced by the circumstances. Now we're no longer a bridgehead for exploring the New Continent. There's no need to cling to old responsibilities."

Sandella suddenly dropped to one knee. "Most importantly, the City Guard is loyal to the Count, while the police stations are beyond your control! Take this case: if someone hadn't attacked Wangshui Manor, we still wouldn't know about Kuiqi's underground prison. Forgive my bluntness, but no matter who is behind the terrible things happening in Glorious Fortress, outsiders will ultimately link them to your family."

The lord didn't respond right away.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he paced around the room twice before speaking. "Stand up."

His tone had lost its earlier severity. Sandella knew the Count was considering her proposal.

"This case has had a serious impact. It won't be long before everyone on the Old Continent hears about it." Li Qiongao sighed. "The deaths of a few dozen people aren't really a big deal, but they shouldn't have burned down a theater beloved by the royal family."

Sandella felt a slight pang in her chest.

She wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

"But you..." Li Qiongao studied her. "I'm curious. Had you been thinking about this for a long time, or did you only decide to do it after seeing the sea guards imprisoned in the dungeon?"

Neither was true.

Sandella didn't want to admit that the man suspected of being a Cultist was the real reason she'd done it.

If Glorious Fortress itself were a living hell, then I'd admit that I'd broken the rules. But there are places like Yenie Holy Hall here... and plenty of people who can't stand seeing the truth buried, who dare to step forward and uncover secrets. Isn't it a little unfair to call it a living hell?

At first, she hadn't taken that nonsense seriously.

But as the investigation progressed, she was surprised to find that he hadn't been talking out of thin air.

"I only... don't want the Count to be misled by others."

Seeing Sandella hesitate, Li Qiongao didn't press her. "There'd be nothing wrong with the latter, either. A well-intentioned subordinate is better than a ruthless schemer. In fact, I admire people who are willing to stand up for the weak. My forebears went to their deaths on the battlefield with that very conviction."

"You're too kind."

"But I must make this clear: if the City Guard wants to reclaim public-safety authority legitimately, it needs a solid record of achievements. I'll give you two weeks at most. After that, I'll need the truth, one way or another." Li Qiongao put particular emphasis on "the truth." "Do you understand what that means?"

"Of course, sir!" Sandella replied, fist to her chest.

"Also, we can't underestimate the threat from the Cultists. To help with your investigation, I've found you an assistant."

"An assistant?" She paused. "My lord, the City Guard can handle this on its own—"

"Not necessarily. Didn't you mention in your report that you saw the attackers at the manor? And yet, even with your Master-level skills, you couldn't catch them. That's why I contacted an expert." Li Qiongao clapped his hands to summon the attendant. "Don't worry. This person would never collude with the police or the big companies. You can trust her completely."

As the study door opened again, a woman in black-and-white robes stepped inside.

"A priestess of the Divine Mechanism Cult?"

Sandella studied her for a while before recognizing who she was. The woman's outfit was simply too eccentric. Never mind the altered robes that looked like a nun's habit; she wore enough accessories to dazzle the eye. She had seven or eight earrings and studs, gear-shaped rings on every finger, and even a silver stud embedded in her lip. Most eye-catching of all was the enormous cross strapped to her back. It looked as if it were made of silver, and stood nearly as tall as she did.

Her makeup was just as striking. Black eyeshadow nearly encircled her eyes, her lashes were long and curled, her lipstick was blood red, and her nails were all painted black. If not for the three-pronged emblem on her shoulder, Sandella would have found it hard to believe she was a priestess of the Divine Mechanism Cult.

"Well," the woman said, tilting her head and winking at Sandella. She held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Govi."