The man carrying a sheathless greatsword walked into the hall, his gaze fixed on the Church's Main Sacrificial Altar.
Each level of the Main Sacrificial Altar is symmetrically furnished with statues wearing hooded robes, all of them with their hands raised as if in prayer.
Only the statues on the top level are different.
It was a headless statue, holding a bottle and pouring some kind of liquid down.
On the lowest level of the altar, which is also the very center of the Main Sacrificial Altar, lies a human skull.
A person dressed in a white hooded robe is kneeling before the skull, with their hands clasped together as if in prayer.
A few strands of silver hair fell from the hood, landing on her slender, pale fingers.
"High Priestess Amelia "
The man shouted.
"Ah, Master Beethoven."
The woman seemed to awaken from a dream, and responded softly.
Are you alright?
" The Church's chief hunter asked with concern."
"I am well, Master; the wisdom of High Priest Dickens has always protected me."
Amelia said calmly.
"That's good."
Beethoven nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
He is the Church's sharpest sword; a sword that only needs to kill the enemy, without needing to think too much.
High Priestess Amelia is the mastermind behind the Bloodhealing Church; he trusts in her wisdom.
"How's the situation outside?"
Amelia asked.
"Everything is under control. This outbreak of the Beastification Disease is more serious than the last one, but we also have more manpower and supplies than before."
Beethoven replied.
Forty years later, he still looks almost like a middle-aged man, except for some wrinkles and more gray hair.
As the Church's chief hunter, he naturally received the highest-grade " Blood Therapy," and the " Blood Quality " he obtained from hunting was also the most abundant.
"Very good. The Church and I both believe in you, Maestro Beethoven. As long as you and your knights are here, humanity will ultimately triumph over the beasts."
Amelia said gently.
"This is my duty, and also my honor."
Beethoven placed his hand on his chest and said...
Just as Amelia was about to say something, footsteps suddenly came from outside.
A Church hunter carrying a greatsword similar to Beethoven's walked to the doorway, but did not come in; he simply looked at Beethoven's back.
"What's up?"
Beethoven turned and asked.
"A mobile squad has reported spotting a strange outsider."
The Church hunter bowed his head and replied.
"Strange stranger? Let's go outside and talk, so as not to disturb the High Priest's contemplation."
Beethoven glanced at Amelia and said.
"It's alright, Maestro Beethoven, let's talk here. I'd also like to hear some news from the outside world."
Amelia gently shook her head.
"Yes, High Priestess Amelia. Please continue."
Beethoven nodded his chin at the Church hunter.
"A strangely dressed outsider was wandering around the city, accompanied by a local middle-aged Renhe and a little girl as guides."
"That's what the Church hunter said."
"A middle-aged Renhe and a little girl? Have their identities been confirmed?"
Beethoven frowned.
"The middle-aged man's identity has not been confirmed, but the little girl is likely Father John's daughter."
The Church hunter replied.
"Father John."
Beethoven paused for a moment.
He knew this young man; he was skilled, virtuous, and an excellent hunter.
He even tried to recruit the other party into his ranks, but unfortunately, due to their differing beliefs, he was unsuccessful.
Were they coerced by that outsider?
Beethoven asked again.
"It doesn't seem so. Father John's daughter even took the initiative to hold onto the hem of his clothes, and seemed to rely on him quite a bit."
"That's what the Church hunter said."
"What are they doing in the city? Are they just wandering around?"
Beethoven said with some doubt.
"It's unclear. They might use persuasion or force to open residents' doors, but they don't bring any extra supplies when they come out."
"According to the hunters' identification, they were mainly entering places like shops or food stores."
The Church hunter seemed even more confused than he was.
"They harmed the residents?"
A flash of anger crossed Beethoven's face, and the greatsword on his back seemed to sense his anger and gleamed slightly.
He admired ancient knights and heroes, and demanded the same of himself and his men. He could not stand those despicable people who harmed ordinary people.
"No, the hunters didn't hear any screams or smell any blood."
The Church hunter shook his head.
"So they forced their way into the residents' homes just to satisfy their strange fetishes?"
Beethoven said, somewhat speechlessly.
"No, according to the hunters' subsequent inquiries, the residents did indeed sell them supplies, but we don't know how they managed to hide them."
"Is that so? Did they find our people?"
Beethoven asked.
"They must have spotted them. The outsider waved towards where the hunters were hiding, but didn't do anything else."
The Church hunter replied.
"Is this a provocation? Interesting."
A hint of a smile flickered in Beethoven's weathered eyes.
After fighting beasts for so many years, even though his will remained noble and unwavering, he had inevitably become somewhat numb.
This strange stranger who suddenly appeared aroused his curiosity.
Did they encounter wild animals?
Amelia, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.
The Church hunter did not answer immediately, but looked at Beethoven first.
The Church's hunters also have several factions, and this hunter is the " Holy Sword " hunter directly under Beethoven.
As for Amelia, the High Priestess at the highest level of the Church, she naturally also had her own direct military force.
When questioned by his subordinates, Beethoven nodded subtly.
"They encountered a beast, Your Excellency Amelia."
The " Holy Sword " hunter replied immediately.
"How did you perform?"
Amelia asked softly.
"Very strong. That outsider subdued the Hound Beast with his bare hands, and the hunters could barely see his knife movements."
The hunter, wielding the " Holy Sword," replied after a moment of silence.
"What?!"
Beethoven looked shocked, and Amelia's body trembled slightly.
The mobile squad is a group of men personally trained by Beethoven, responsible for patrolling the entire continent of Yate. Each member is a battle-hardened and formidable hunter.
Even they couldn't see the other person's knife-wielding movements clearly; just how fast was that outsider?
Did he have it?
"No, there's no smell of blood on him, and he's only interested in heavily Beastification creatures. He ignores the lightly Beastification residents unless they attack him first."
The " Holy Sword " hunter knew what Beethoven wanted to ask.
"A stranger who can subdue Hound Beast with his bare hands without undergoing ' Blood Therapy '?"
A sharp light shone in Beethoven's eyes.
"Send someone to make contact with him, Master Beethoven. If he's willing, invite him to the Church."
He was about to say something when Amelia spoke first.