He Got Promoted

After Ansu and Cecilia arrived at the gathering, not many cultists paid them any attention. In the middle of the crowd, people seemed to be arguing about something.

"Elder Samantha! We can't go on like this!"

"The Reformist Faction keeps causing trouble for us again and again! These mercenary fools have not only seriously violated the teachings of the Echo of Truth, but have also plunged the organization into crisis several times!"

"If we keep putting up with them, they might hand over the names of every one of us to The Church! Those fools are capable of anything!"

"That's right! That's right!"

Many cultists in the crowd voiced their outrage.

"These aren't ordinary members of The Order anymore! We have to crack down hard! Why are we still keeping them around?"

Besides the radical cultists, Ansu noticed that the crowd wasn't entirely of one mind. A senior cultist wearing a golden mask spoke in an aged voice, trying to calm things down.

"Believers, brothers and sisters, I understand how you feel..."

"But you all know the state The Order is in right now... We really shouldn't resort to drastic measures. This plot to harm Samantha was surely the work of only a few Reformists acting on their own. The other elders can't be that foolish."

"I suggest we simply make them hand over Kori and the others. I'm sure they'll agree..."

Just as expected, his words only made the gathering even noisier, and the crowd nearly came to blows.

"Elder John! You're far too biased in their favor!"

"You old fool, John! Why are you taking their side? Don't tell me you're a traitor too!"

Ansu suddenly felt an elbow gently nudge him. He turned and saw a pair of deep-purple eyes full of impatience beneath the golden mask.

"How boring. Every secret gathering is like a marketplace."

Annoyed by The Order's arguments, Cecilia tugged at Ansu's arm, wanting to take him to the side to wait until the tedious debate ended before they went to see her teacher.

But just as they took a step, Samantha, who had been silent for a long while, suddenly spoke up:

"Of course we must purge all apostates. Every member of the organization who colluded with The Church must die!"

The cultists erupted in cheers.

"But!" Samantha changed tack. "We can't let The Order continue to fracture! I plan to convene a new council of elders. No matter how deep the divisions between the two factions are, we must choose a true leader for the Echo of Truth this time! I believe this is our best chance to bring The Order fully under the control of the Truth Faction!"

After she finished speaking, the cultists began discussing among themselves. Ansu and Cecilia exchanged a glance.

"Well played." Cecilia chuckled. "Now no one will be dissatisfied."

Ansu nodded. Although Samantha hadn't pandered to the radical believers and had still made concessions, she had raised a far more enticing topic.

After all, a few elders from the Reformist Faction were clearly in the wrong. If Samantha could use this opportunity to win the support of most of the elders and become the rightful leader, it would be a good outcome.

The hope of the Truth Faction regaining power had thoroughly stirred up the believers present. What brought the mood to a fever pitch, though, was the execution of the traitors.

Ansu truly saw it all at the gathering. He witnessed all sorts of "bizarre and unusual" methods of execution, each one inflicting horrific torture on the condemned.

One cultist not far away was kneeling on the ground, his face pale. Cecilia told Ansu that he was her teacher's lover, Elder Simon.

Ansu studied him. Elder Simon was on the older side, but he was quite handsome—a silver fox, you might say. It was no wonder Samantha had taken a liking to him.

Then, after the executioner displayed his "craft," this highest-ranking traitor in the Truth Faction had his skin completely stripped off by some kind of black magic designed to cause torment. He was covered in blood, like a "licker" from Resident Evil, and his agonized screams seemed to pierce straight through Ansu's skull.

The rest of the traitors were executed one after another. The stench of blood spread everywhere, and before long, the gathering had become a slaughterhouse.

Cecilia was getting a little bored. She and Ansu waited silently on the outskirts for a long time before Samantha finally turned her gaze toward them.

"Cecilia, come over here for a moment."

Cecilia gave Ansu a look, and the two walked toward the center of the gathering, one after the other. The cultists parted to let them through.

Under the gaze of countless silver masks, Ansu lowered his head and followed behind Cecilia at an unhurried pace.

"Why didn't you tell me you'd arrived?" Samantha asked Cecilia as she approached, her tone tinged with reproach.

Cecilia shrugged and said nothing. Samantha's gaze slowly shifted to Ansu beside her. "This is the assistant you chose, the new member of The Order who saw through The Church's plot?"

Ansu nodded and said respectfully, "Leader Samantha."

Samantha smiled. "Cecilia told me you're still a student, and that you have a remarkable talent for magic. You're quite the promising young man!"

"Thank you for the praise, Leader."

"Don't be so nervous. Once you join The Order, we're all brothers and sisters." Samantha smiled, speaking to Ansu with great warmth.

"As long as you believe in the ideals of the Echo of Truth, all your brothers and sisters in The Order will have your back. The God of Magic will be with you."

"The God of Magic be with me!" Ansu went into parrot mode, making sure not to say a word more than he needed to.

"Thanks to you, Cecilia was able to help me uncover the traitor in my midst." Samantha studied Ansu, then suddenly made a suggestion. "Why don't you stay by my side after today? The middle ranks of The Order are understaffed right now. I'll appoint you as the new Inquisitor. What do you say?"

Ansu couldn't help feeling surprised. He'd expected her to promote him, but not to such a high position.

The cultists buzzed with discussion.

The Inquisitor was responsible for disciplining members of The Order and meting out punishment. The position ranked just below the elders.

Yet this young man had only joined a few days ago. He was a low-level Executor, but had suddenly been promoted above most of them...

Some elders, however, thought Samantha's reasoning made sense.

As she'd said, The Order's middle ranks were understaffed. Placing a trusted ally who had rendered great service in such a position would benefit Samantha's faction...

Only Cecilia's expression changed at once. She frowned at Samantha. "Teacher, why are you trying to take my man?"

"Hm?" Samantha hadn't expected Cecilia to object.

"He's someone I carefully selected from the academy! I spent a long time observing him and put a lot of effort into finding him!"

As if staking her claim, Cecilia tightened her grip on Ansu's wrist. "Anyway, he's my assistant. He's mine. Teacher, if you need someone for that Inquisitor position, find someone else!"

Samantha discreetly glanced at Cecilia's hand, which still held on tight, and felt surprised.

Cecilia rarely let her emotions show like this. Most of the time, she had no interest in anything besides magic and treated everyone with indifference...

Yet today, she had openly objected because Samantha wanted to take this young man away?

Samantha furrowed her brow and thought it over for a long while.

Though she was displeased by Cecilia's caprice, in the end, she reluctantly agreed.

"Hmm... All right, then. I won't transfer him to serve by my side."

Cecilia secretly let out a breath of relief.

Ansu, however, felt a little helpless. He had wanted to keep a low profile...

"But given his intelligence, and his ability to see through a plot by The Church that no one else noticed, leaving him as a low-level Executor would be a waste."

Whether it was the achievements of the young man called Ansu Morris or Cecilia's unusual attitude toward him, both had piqued Samantha's interest. She narrowed her eyes slightly and scrutinized him.

"How about this? I appoint you as the chief deacon of the Benalu District, with the codename 'Hermit.' If you need to, you can command and deploy all the Executors in the city. What do you say?"

Ansu glanced at Cecilia, thinking that refusing again would be a little disrespectful.

The chief deacon's position wouldn't take him away from Cecilia, and it would give him plenty of freedom to act. Cecilia probably wouldn't object.

Cecilia had no objections. She gave Ansu a slight nod.

"Yes! Thank you, Leader Samantha." Ansu immediately sounded grateful, his eyes shining with excitement.

Loyal! Loyal!