Inquiry

If there were no grudges or enmity, Jonathan would not have made a move against Gilmer.

But since he had tried to intercept him in Fenlai City last time, even if he hadn't caused any real harm, it had left Jonathan extremely displeased.

After returning to Black Phoenix City, he learned the news that Wesport had been arrested.

And the fact that they pinned the crime of murdering Gilmer on Jonathan was, one must say, a lucky strike, though everyone knew this was just an excuse from the Light Church.

Because in the eyes of outsiders, how could Jonathan, a seventh-rank dual-element mage, possibly kill Gilmer while he was surrounded by White-robed Priests and Temple Knights?

Not to mention them, Gilmer himself was a ninth-rank Grand Magus.

In the eyes of the Dark Alliance, this was merely an excuse for the Light Church to provoke a war between the two sides.

"Young Master, you've returned."

Seeing Jonathan return, Hilton was exceptionally delighted. "Everyone outside is saying you killed the Cardinal of the Light Church."

"Do you believe it?" Jonathan asked in return.

"Naturally, I do not!"

"I just got back and am a bit tired, so I'll rest for a while. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them to come back tomorrow!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Back in his room, Jonathan began to contemplate his future strategy.

There were certainly those in the Dark Church who suspected him, but it wouldn't be hard to deceive them; what he feared was the Dark Church dispatching a Saint-level expert, which would be dangerous.

To guard against this, Jonathan had long been researching the camouflage of his spiritual energy.

If it were an ordinary Saint-level powerhouse, it would be difficult for them to discover his secret unless they scanned his entire body with their spiritual energy at close range.

But a peak Saint-level expert, even from a certain distance, could sense something amiss about him, and a slight probe would reveal that he had hidden his true realm.

With his instigation, the conflict between the Light Church and the Dark Church would surely intensify; even if a full-scale war didn't break out, the secret skirmishes would not be few.

This place was already a hotbed of trouble, and in seven or eight months, the Day of Disaster would arrive.

He prepared to leave.

However, he hesitated over whether to give a hint to Charles, Ford, and Collette.

"After all, we were roommates once. Forget it, I'll warn them."

He couldn't say it outright, but he could tell them he had discovered signs of unrest in the Magical Beast Mountain Range; as for how they chose to act, that would be up to them.

Jonathan sighed softly. Although he had undergone strict training as an assassin since childhood, he had never once felt in his heart that he was a true assassin.

He could remain indifferent toward those unrelated to him, but he couldn't help but feel soft-hearted toward those he was close to.

The next day, a black-robed Archbishop arrived, accompanied by several gray-robed priests.

His name was Sanders, and he had come to inquire about the recent trip to the Holy Union.

"Jonathan, why did you return alone this time? What exactly happened?"

His tone was icy, carrying the distinct feeling that if Jonathan didn't answer well, he would be taken into custody.

"Lord Sanders, do you really believe that I killed the Cardinal, Gilmer?"

"You were the only one who went to Wushan Town! And I heard you left that afternoon, yet you never returned to Fenlai City to rendezvous with Wesport."

Jonathan said, "Actually, I stayed in Wushan Town intending to find an opportunity to assassinate Linley. Linley has completely rejected our Dark Church and shows signs of leaning toward the Light Church, so I wanted to kill him before he could grow up, removing a genius who would pose a great threat to us in the future."

"Unfortunately, I never found an opportunity."

Sanders glanced at Jonathan and, after a moment of contemplation, said, "What you say is not wrong. You just returned, so perhaps you don't know: Linley has already become the Chief Court Mage of the Fenlai Kingdom and has been enfeoffed as a Marquis."

"It is certain he will become a high-ranking member of the Light Church in the future. He must be eliminated early, but you..."

"It was my own unauthorized decision!"

"Since you were in Wushan the whole time, do you know exactly what happened?"

Jonathan said, "I caught a glimpse from afar. It was a man in black, masked, hovering in the air. He cast a Gravity Spell, and in an instant, the vast majority of the Temple Knights died on the spot."

"That Gravity Spell was something I had never seen before; it was too terrifying. Seventh-rank warriors couldn't even move a finger, and they died shortly after falling to the ground."

"I suspect their internal organs couldn't withstand the gravity and ruptured, causing death, while Gilmer barely managed to hold on for a while thanks to his Light Guardian."

Sanders said, "Gravity Spells have the greatest impact on matter and the physical body. If it were an energy barrier, it could indeed barely withstand it."

"Seeing this scene, my heart turned cold. The masked man merely glanced at me, and I felt a sharp pain in my head, so I left without looking back."

Jonathan seemed to still be immersed in the memories of that day, his face showing panic. "I knew they couldn't escape death. With two Archbishops dead, the first thing they would do is suspect our Dark Church, so I didn't return to Fenlai City and instead detoured through the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

"I thought that since Lord Wesport is a Great Black-robed member of the Church, the Light Church would be somewhat wary before they had evidence."

Sanders said, "I know the general situation now. However, you were wrong about one thing: only one Archbishop of the Light Church died, Gilmer. Lampson did not die!"

"Although you were at fault, the fault does not lie with you. If you had returned to Fenlai City, you would certainly have become a prisoner of the Light Church by now, and given your talent, you might even have been..."

"What?" Jonathan asked.

"Nothing. Do not leave Black Phoenix City for the time being. If I need you, I will come again."

"Yes, Lord Sanders!"

After they left, Jonathan gave a cold sneer and muttered to himself, "It's just the Grace of God, isn't it? Do you really think the Dark Church is the only one capable of it?"

If they knew that Jonathan had no faith whatsoever, they would certainly have cast the Grace of God on him to ensure he wouldn't betray them in the future, forcing his soul to completely worship the Dark Sovereign!

After Sanders returned, he thought it over carefully and felt that something was off. "That's it. Jonathan's answers were too smooth, too perfect, as if he had already prepared the answers beforehand."

"But if that's not the case, what exactly is he hiding?"

"Someone come in."

"Lord Sanders!"

A grey-robed priest entered.

"Have someone watch the Bred residence twenty-four hours a day. I want to know every move he makes, including where the people he sends out go and what they do!"

"Yes, Lord Sanders!"

A few days later, Charles and the others came to visit Jonathan. After chatting for a while, Jonathan shared what he had seen and heard.

Collette said, "You say there's something wrong with the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

"That's right. It looks like the magical beasts are about to riot."

"A magical beast riot? What of it? Since our Dark Alliance dares to establish forces near the mountain range, we naturally have the confidence to back it up. What is a mere magical beast riot compared to that!"

Jonathan sighed slightly. It was a pity that this was no ordinary magical beast riot, but rather the vast majority of Saint-level magical beasts, along with level eight and nine magical beasts, pouring out of their nests.

And they were led by a God-level powerhouse!

If it weren't for the fact that Dylin feared Beirut and dared not go too far for fear of being dragged back to the Plane Prison, he would have dared to wipe out both major factions directly.