Extra: Saint Orchid (Part 2, 17,000 Words)

Night had fallen, Katharine walked alone on the street, wondering where she could spend the night.

Newman was no longer in the city; he had been away for a long time to take over a new project. But the few gold coins Zijin had given her before she left gave her the confidence to sneak out of the church for the night. She could easily find a tavern or a cheap hotel to spend the night.

At dinnertime, street vendors were hawking their food, which made her even hungrier. However, Katharine really didn't want to touch the two cold, hard loaves of bread, especially with the tempting aromas of various foods wafting through the air.

Katharine stopped at a steaming food stall and bought a large, plump, freshly baked meat pie. The scalding hot oil paper bag was burning her hands, but she couldn't wait to take a big bite and let out a satisfied hum.

It's all Zijin's fault this time. She didn't even get to eat breakfast and had to go through a whole day of running around.

Now, I can finally treat myself to a good meal and commemorate this clever yet embarrassing day.

Warm light shone from the windows of houses lining both sides of the street, casting long patches of light on the ground. A lively festive atmosphere permeated both homes and small restaurants. Laughter and cheerful voices overflowed from the houses, drifting through the cool air.

A sudden sense of loneliness gripped Katharine. She knew many people, but none she could truly confide in. Upon reflection, Zijin was the only one with whom she could reveal her true self without reservation.

Usually at times like this, she would take out the book "Blue Bamboo Slips and Rue Zhi" left by her mother, find a secluded corner to read it alone, or silently shed tears. But now, there was something else in her coarse cloth bag—the bottle of wine left by Zijin.

Perhaps... we could try a different approach today? Katharine considered.

She quickly made a decision: the wine Zijin gave her couldn't be bad, so she'd treat herself to it as a holiday reward!

Katharine glanced down at herself; beneath her cloak, she was still wearing her convent uniform. She realized that drinking in the street would easily attract attention, and could even lead to trouble.

This is Radiant Holy City, not only with many senior believers, but also with frequent patrols by Holy City guards. To be precise, her drinking not only violated the academy's rules, but also the rules of the Temple of Light, as she was still a few months away from the legal age.

After thinking for a moment, Katharine decided to find a secluded place to hide and enjoy this little luxury.

Her gaze was quickly drawn to the roof of a gray three-story building. It was in a secluded location and had an unremarkable appearance. Several dormer windows were arranged on the roof. Between the two sloping gable walls, a sheltered concave corner was formed.

Katharine immediately went to the corner and slung the cloth bag over her shoulder. Using the drainpipe and the protruding brick seams in the corner as a cover, she nimbly climbed up when no one was around, and then tucked her body into the narrow, sheltered recess.

Once she reached the top, Katharine realized it was indeed an excellent vantage point. She was deeply hidden in the building's shadow, making her difficult to spot from below. Her view, however, was exceptionally expansive, offering a panoramic view of several blocks in the vicinity.

In the distance, one can still see the pristine white dome of the Saint Lan Cathedral, adorned with magical, colorful lights illuminated for the festive celebrations.

During the day, she cleaned those lights for the entire day!

Katharine rubbed her sore arms, took a big bite of the fragrant meat pie, and placed the rest on the raised platform of the dormer window. Then she first pulled out the heavy book "Blue Bamboo Slips and Rue Die" from her handbag before reaching for the bottle of wine that Zijin had given her.

Katharine untied the delicate linen bag that wrapped the bottle, revealing a uniquely shaped transparent crystal bottle filled with a liquid that was as clear as amber even under starlight.

She stroked the cool, smooth bottle. Although she couldn't identify what kind of wine it was, she imagined that taking a small sip would be a pleasure.

Katharine tried to unscrew the cork, but couldn't open it; the cork wouldn't budge. Frustrated, Katharine considered whether to simply knock the bottle open.

Boom!

A muffled, thunderous explosion suddenly rang out from behind! Katharine turned her head, and a huge tongue of fire shot up from the horizon, instantly tearing through the night. She was so startled that she almost dropped the bottle.

Katharine quickly put down the bottle, scrambled up the roof a few steps, and peered over it.

A few blocks away, a building was collapsing with a deafening roar! Raging flames, like a greedy beast, quickly devoured the wreckage, sending billowing smoke soaring into the night sky.

"It's the financial district..." Katharine murmured to herself, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is the Holy City, is someone robbing a bank?" Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a cold light! In the shadows below her, there was a figure holding a weapon!

Katharine's heart clenched, and almost instinctively she retreated rapidly. At the same time, she summoned the heavy magic book with her right hand, and it flew into her hand with a "whoosh," the runes shining brightly in her hand!

Half an hour ago, Xialike rushed as fast as he could, but still failed to reach the Radiant Holy City before it got completely dark.

He felt a vague regret for what had happened that morning, not because he was late, but because, given Chloe's personality, she would hardly find another opportunity like this, and he had failed to seize it.

Moreover, Chloe might say she doesn't care, but she'll definitely find a way to get revenge later—I really don't know where she learned this personality from. After nightfall, the Holy City banned flying mounts like griffins from entering the city, and a no-fly zone was also implemented in the surrounding areas. Xialike didn't want to cause any trouble, so he landed with his guards in an open area on the outskirts of the city.

"Meiwu'er, come with me into the city!" He waved and strode towards the Holy City.

"Yes, Your Highness!" replied Meiwu'er, the head of the guards who had been called upon.

He divided his guards into two groups: one to take the weary griffins to find lodging for the night, and the other to accompany him and protect Xialike. Meiwu'er quickly gave his deputy, who was in charge of the griffins, a few instructions on the arrangements and their meeting the next day, before striding to catch up with Xialike. It was still early before the curfew was in effect in the Holy City, so the two didn't need to reveal their identities and easily entered the city amidst the bustling crowds. With the New Year approaching, even at night, the city gates were still teeming with people, a lively and bustling scene.

Normally, given Xialike's status, he could have gone directly to the Ceremonial Department of the Temple of Light to receive a high-level diplomatic reception, or stayed at the Star Empire's embassy in the Holy City.

But Xialike Like chose neither option. Instead, he went to a private property of the Star Feather Chamber of Commerce in the city, intending to rest there freely for the night before dealing with the formalities and diplomatic activities the next morning.

It was an inconspicuous three-story gray building, where a few people from the Chamber of Commerce were stationed and responsible for its maintenance. However, just as they approached the building, Meiwu'er suddenly reached out and stopped Xialike.

"There's movement on the roof!" he warned in a low voice, while signaling the guards behind him to immediately step forward and protect Xialike in the middle.

Meiwu'er scanned his surroundings with the sharp eyes of a hawk, but found nothing amiss. He moved swiftly and silently circled around to the back of the house, found a shady spot, and like a nimble cat, quietly climbed onto the roof, his longsword sliding silently from its sheath.

Just then, a muffled explosion rang out in the distance! This sudden sound instantly alerted the target on the rooftop, exposing Meiwu'er's actions to the enemy's view.

Meiwu'er remained calm, and the instant the figure grabbed the spellbook, he suddenly launched his attack! He shot out like an arrow, the tiles beneath his feet seemingly flat, his longsword drawing a cold arc in the night, aimed straight for his opponent's vitals!

Just as Katharine was about to raise her hand to create a shield, her heart sank. Approaching before her was a powerful magic swordsman, his attacks fierce and his speed astonishing!

She immediately realized that she was no match for him, and any resistance would be futile!

Fortunately, in that split second, Katharine didn't sense any intense killing intent from the other person. She chose to trust her intuition—in fact, she had no other choice.

Katharine deftly dispelled the runes, tossed aside the spellbook, and raised her hands high, her voice trembling slightly, "Don't kill me!" Before she finished speaking, the cold blade was already at her slender neck. The sharp edge grazed her skin perfectly, leaving a thin line of blood. Warm blood quickly seeped out, sliding down Katharine's neck and soon soaking her collar. The crystal bottle, knocked over by her foot, bounced and rolled on the tiles with a clatter, eventually getting stuck in the inlet of the storm drain.

Meiwu'er's gaze swept over the girl's attire, the half-eaten meat pie beside her, and the enormous bottle of champagne. He began to realize that the person in front of him might not actually be an assassin or a spy.

"Excuse me, this is your house, right?" Sensing the other person's tone soften slightly, Katharine immediately seized the opportunity to explain, her voice tinged with lingering fear, "I am Katharine Aosha, a student at the Temple of Light Sisters Academy! Would you like to see my insignia?"

She's kicking herself now; all she did was sneak a drink somewhere, and she's gotten herself into this mess!

Meiwu'er gestured for her to take it out.

Katharine carefully lifted a corner of her cloak, revealing her school uniform and the badge pinned to her chest. "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to come up here to have a quiet dinner because it was sheltered from the wind."

Meiwu'er could sense the faint but real holy light imprint on the badge, but the badge of a Low Rank student didn't prove much. To be on the safe side, he felt he should call upon the Holy City Guard to handle the situation.

But Prince Xialike dislikes trouble and would not want to get involved with these people unless absolutely necessary.

Meiwu'er was still weighing his options when a figure gracefully landed beside him—it was Xialike himself who had come up.

Xialike's gaze swept quickly across the scene: the panicked girl, the spellbook on the ground, the rolled-over wine bottle, the bitten meat pie, and the Meiwu'er Meur held to the girl's neck—he understood everything.

No wonder his chief guard didn't decisively behead the other man as he usually did.

Xialike extended a finger and flicked away the blade of Meiwu'er's longsword. "Looks like a stray wildcat."

"But Your Highness!" Meiwu'er quickly shifted his position, still blocking Xialike's path, "What...!"

"Nothing is impossible." Xialike patted Meiwu'er's tense shoulder, signaling him to relax. He bent down and picked up the large crystal bottle stuck in the drain. By the light of the remaining fire from the distant explosion, he could make out the unique markings on the bottle, confirming it was an authentic product. He couldn't help but click his tongue.

"There are only a handful of this wine left in the entire world." A playful smile tugged at the corner of Xialike's lips. "If any assassin is willing to use such a treasure as a disguise... then I'll accept my fate!"

A few minutes later, in the living room on the second floor of the house.

Katharine sat on a luxurious sofa covered with velvet cushions, holding a handkerchief with gold embroidery on the edge, wiping the bloodstains from her neck.

A servant brought in a gleaming metal bucket filled with glistening ice. He carefully submerged the bottle of wine that Katharine had brought inside.

"In the dead of winter, why chill it?" Katharine asked, looking at the bucket emitting icy air.

"This finest Blanc de Blancs champagne can only be truly appreciated when sipped near freezing." Sitting across from her, Xialike's tone was slightly amusement. "Since you don't understand these things, where did you get this bottle?"

"A stingy friend gave it to me!" Katharine wiped away the blood, her gaze falling on the delicate Stars pattern on the handkerchief, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She gently pressed her hand to the wound, a soft white and blue light emanating from her palm as she began to cast a healing spell.

The therapist who had been summoned was taken aback when he saw this. Xialike simply waved his hand casually, signaling him to leave.

The servants quickly laid out a snow-white tablecloth on the long table and set out heavy silver cutlery. Soon, fragrant dishes were served: golden-brown roasted chicken, venison steaks drizzled with rich sauce, perfectly seared salmon, and a large basket of steaming white bread. The enticing aroma filled the air, and Katharine's stomach, rather uncooperatively, growled. She had only taken two bites of pie, and now she was even hungrier.

But she showed no embarrassment; instead, she glanced at the waiters who looked over at the sound. They immediately lowered their heads, keeping their eyes downcast. "Little wildcat, you treated us to drinks, so I'll treat you to dinner," Xialike said casually, walking to the head of the table and sitting down. He refused the waiters' offers of food, tearing off a large piece of soft bread himself, and forking several thick slices of venison onto his plate, eating heartily. Having traveled all the way from the City of Radiance, he was hungry too.

Since it was a transaction, Katharine naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony. She sat down opposite Xialike, cut off a piece of venison herself, and began to chew it heartily with bread.

The cheese sauce spread on the bread was rich and creamy, and the dishes were cooked with great care, but the enticing cinnamon flavor made Katharine feel a little uncomfortable.

She suddenly missed that simple, piping hot meat pie she had just eaten.

"Not bad." Xialike watched Katharine's unpretentious eating, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "It seems you already know who I am."

"Your Highness Crown Prince Xialike of the Star Empire." Katharine rummaged through the food on the table, noticing the salmon's relatively mild spices, and decisively shifted her focus. "A figure of your stature, it's hard not to recognize you."

Xialike gestured for all the waiters to leave. He tapped the chair beside him with his knuckles, Meiwu'er immediately understood.

Clearly, this wasn't the first time. Meiwu'er didn't say much, simply sitting down next to Xialike and picking up his utensils to begin eating. When no one else was around, their interactions were very casual, without many rules or restrictions.

After finishing a small piece of bread, Xialike turned his gaze to the bottles of wine in the ice bucket.

"Your Highness, let me do it." Meiwu'er immediately stood up.

It wasn't because he was a subordinate and therefore obliged to pour the wine for Xialike, but rather because of the head guard's duty—he needed to check the bottle for poison.

"Such a fine wine, even if poisoned, wouldn't be worth the price." Xialike reached out and picked up the bottle.

The cork that had troubled Katharine for so long was easily popped open in his hands with almost no effort, making a soft "whoosh." A wisp of cool white mist rose from the bottle's mouth, followed by a faint and alluring aroma of yeast, mixed with a refreshing citrus fragrance. Meiwu'er dutifully cast his identification spell, the Magic Power light sweeping over the bottle and the opened cork, confirming it was non-toxic.

Xialike poured himself half a glass and then poured half a glass for Meiwu'er. The wine was an extremely pale golden color, shimmering with a silvery halo in the candlelight. Delicate, dense bubbles, like countless tiny pearls, rose and burst merrily from the bottom of the glass. Xialike picked up the glass, took a small sip, closed his eyes, and savored it for a moment. "Hmm, a blend of three grapes, one of which is the Elven Moonblaze grape, truly remarkable!" he exclaimed sincerely.

"... It sounds like I got the short end of the stick in this deal tonight—trading wine for a lavish dinner?" Katharine poured herself a glass and curiously swallowed.

Katharine hadn't drunk much alcohol and knew very little about it. But the taste was surprisingly good, delicate and silky, with a rich aroma of almonds and a hint of cream.

Although it was icy cold when I tasted it, it was so much better than the bland soup I had at noon!

Xialike held out a hand and waved it at Katharine with his fingers spread wide. "This wine is worth the price."

"Five gold coins?" Katharine was a little surprised, but then she realized that five gold coins were a lot of money to her, but to the person in front of her, they were nothing.

"It's a five-figure sum!" Xialike grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth.

How many tens of thousands of gold coins does this bottle of wine cost?

Even though Katharine was somewhat prepared, she was still stunned by the number. She remembered the look of pain on Zijin's face when she delivered the wine.

I see!

Katharine slammed her hand on the smooth tabletop in a fit of rage, making the silver cutlery tremble slightly! Why did she even think about drinking this bottle of wine? She should have just sold it!

She was just one step away from becoming rich overnight!

Upon learning of the astonishing price, Katharine was filled with indignation. She immediately grabbed the bottle, poured herself a full glass, and then gulped it down as if it were cheap soda.

A faint smile played on Xialike's lips. He didn't stop her, but continued to sip his wine leisurely while slowly enjoying the food on his plate.

After a while, Katharine, who had downed three large glasses in a row, had a noticeable flush on her cheeks. Her head swayed slightly from side to side uncontrollably, and her eyes began to glaze over, but she still stubbornly reached for the bottle in the ice bucket.

With lightning speed, Meiwu'er moved the ice bucket, along with the half-full bottle of amber-colored liquor still sloshing around in the crystal bottle, away. "I'm sorry, Miss Katharine," he said calmly, "If you drink any more, you'll be completely drunk."

"I don't care!" Katharine hiccuped, reeking of alcohol. "Such... such expensive wine, it's such a waste not to drink more!" "Looks like you're already getting into it." Xialike put down his glass, somewhat surprised. "I thought you could at least drink a few more glasses of this ten-odd proof wine." Katharine didn't argue; the hazy drunkenness made her realize she had indeed overdone it. Although she had secretly tasted wine before, drinking it by the glass like this was truly a first for her.

But she still stared at the wine bottle that Meiwu'er was protecting, her eyes filled with regret that "this opportunity is gone forever."

Meiwu'er looked at Xialike, his eyes seeking instructions on how to handle the young lady who was clearly starting to lose her composure.

Xialike clearly had no intention of making things difficult for Katharine or taking liberties with her. "How about I save the rest for you and we can continue next time?" he suggested gently.

"Well... that's not bad!" Katharine stood up slightly, her steps a little unsteady as she reached for her cloak draped over the sofa armrest. "Well then... bye-bye for tonight!"

"No need to be so polite," Xialike said with a smile, then turned to Meiwu'er and instructed, "Arrange a guest room for her to stay overnight." "You... you're such a kind person," Katharine mumbled indistinctly, but her body slumped back into the soft sofa against her will, abandoning any thought of leaving. She pressed the back of her hand against her burning cheeks, feeling waves of intoxication washing over her.

"What a pity..." She leaned back on the sofa, gazing wistfully at the ornate chandelier, and murmured, "Such a good person... unable to become emperor."

Xialike's hand, holding the silver knife, paused almost imperceptibly as he cut the venison. "It seems even a passerby knows this," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Lorenzo's father will certainly pass the throne directly to his grandson's generation."

"No, no, no." Katharine shook her head vigorously, her golden hair brushing against her flushed cheeks. "Lorenzo will definitely make good use of you... to fight against the Flint Family. And you... will definitely be willing to be used by him."

Xialike put down his knife completely, leaned forward slightly, narrowed his eyes, and scrutinized the girl, his gaze sharpening. "Why do you think that?"

"Offending the Flint Family... you won't die." Katharine hiccuped slightly, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the velvet on the sofa. "Because you're the only male descendant of their blood in the royal family... no matter how much they hate you, they won't really kill you. But Emperor Lorenzo doesn't care... he has plenty of time and can have a bunch of sons anytime."

Xialike silently poured himself another glass of liquor, this time not champagne, but a full glass of dark, pungent spirit. "Besides..." Katharine struggled to focus, her voice slurred with intoxication, "The glory of the Flint Family rests on the Grand Duke... He's already quite old, who knows when he'll... Is it so difficult for a wise person to choose?"

"Not bad." Xialike's voice was devoid of emotion. He raised the glass of strong liquor, downed most of it in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Continue," he continued, but Meiwu'er suddenly raised his hand, and a soft yet irresistible magical aura instantly enveloped Katharine. Her eyelids drooped, her murmurs ceased abruptly, her head tilted to the side, and she fell asleep.

"Meddlesome." Xialike glanced at Meiwu'er, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure at being interrupted.

"She's just a young girl who's making irresponsible remarks about politics, don't make things difficult for her," Meiwu'er said.

Xialike picked up the bottle and poured a full glass of strong liquor into Meiwu'er's empty glass, the amber liquid swirling within. "Since she's asleep," he said, raising his own glass, his voice deep and somber, "Then you drink with me."

Meiwu'er looked at the glass of strong liquor that was almost overflowing, took a deep breath in resignation, and reached out to pick up the heavy glass.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Faithful Safekeeping" Goblin Bank.

Saxon walked through the ruins, which were filled with smoke and the smell of burning, stepping on charred gravel and twisted metal beams.

The entire bank building was reduced to rubble, but only a few windows of the surrounding houses were broken, indicating that the attackers used a highly concentrated annihilation bomb, which did not affect other buildings.

The Holy City Guard, their armor gleaming with holy symbols, appeared at the edge of the ruins.

"It's you, Trickster!" The paladin leading the group called out, a barely concealed smile on his face. "What has happened to your entourage? It looks quite serious."

Saxon waved his hand expressionlessly, "Thank you for your concern, but please allow us to handle this matter ourselves."

The paladin's gaze swept over the horrific ruins, then glanced at the almost unscathed shops on either side, and nodded. "Then I'll report that your firm is... renovating and redecorating!" With that, he led his men away swiftly.

"I wonder which hero did this," a knight muttered in a low voice.

"Given the tricks these goblins use, it's only a matter of time before they get away with it," another person whispered in agreement.

The gossip behind his back faded into the distance with the footsteps of the Holy City Guard, but Saxon seemed oblivious, continuing his careful examination of the rubble. One of the lowest-ranking bank employees had miraculously survived; he was quickly found by Saxon's apprentice, Bulukka, and carried over like a chick. "What happened?" Saxon's voice echoed through the ruins, sounding particularly cold and hard.

The goblin employee immediately bowed and scraped, describing the situation at lightning speed:

After closing time, the bank manager happily tallied up the day's "windfall"—although it was only a few extra gold coins, a careless big customer had "inadvertently" left behind a box during the day.

The box was made of extraordinary material, and the sealing runes engraved on its surface were extremely complex; the box itself was not cheap.

The supervisor struggled to lift the heavy box, unable to probe its contents, but knew it was valuable. In high spirits, he immediately had the accountant distribute bonuses and even, unusually, set aside some money for everyone to buy something nice to celebrate.

Because the box itself was quite valuable, the manager was reluctant to forcibly dismantle it. Instead, he activated the dismantling magic circle, attempting to break the seal using the goblin's unique rune decomposition techniques...

"And then?" Saxon urged impatiently when the survivor stopped talking.

"And then... and then I was sent out to buy midnight snacks, sir!" The goblin forced a fawning smile, rubbing his withered fingers, almost bursting into laughter. As the lowest-ranking clerk in the bank, this kind of errand-running was naturally assigned to him.

But not only did he escape with his life, he was also promoted to team leader because of the upcoming reconstruction work. This was a stroke of good fortune, and the goblin could hardly hide his joy.

When Bulukka realized she couldn't get any more information from him, she kicked him in disgust, telling him to get out of there and stay put.

"Wait!" Saxon suddenly lifted a broken concrete slab, revealing a half-buried box filled with many safe key tags. "Which key tag is that of today's client?" he asked coldly.

The goblin immediately pounced, frantically rummaging through the deck, and quickly pulled out a Kaqi- colored card. "My lord, it's this number 32! The client was a young woman wearing a cloak."

Saxon paid no attention to facial features; when tracking people at this level, appearance was the least reliable clue.

He grabbed the key tag and waved it at the goblin as if shooing away flies.

Saxon had a more sophisticated method to track down the culprit. He focused his mind and held his breath, as obscure Magic Power coiled around his fingertips like spider silk, slowly infusing it into the cold key.

Tracing back to the source of one's thoughts!

However, the Magic Power vanished without a trace, disappearing into the keychain without a ripple, leaving only a deathly silence in the void, devoid of any response.

Interesting... Saxon's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He examined the key in his hand again. It hadn't been specially treated, yet the target had so effortlessly dismantled his Origin Retrieval spell.

Saxon gritted his teeth, and a runic crystal core shimmering with deep Starlight appeared in his palm. The goblin's short fingers clenched, and Magic Power several times greater than before surged forth:

Fate; the mark!

The crystal core was activated and shattered into countless tiny, dazzling rays of light burst forth, instantly illuminating the dim ruins as brightly as a moonlit night!

Bulukka instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, staggering backward, yet unable to resist peeking through his fingers at this rare, high-level tracking spell. Brilliant light swirled and converged violently in the air, the outline of a blurry figure struggling to take shape... Suddenly, the raging Magic Power abruptly halted, as if crashing into an invisible barrier, then, like an enraged swarm of bees, changed direction, transforming into a blinding stream of light that crashed back onto Saxon!

"Puff!"

Caught off guard, Saxon was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood and collapsing to the ground.

"Teacher!" Bulukka exclaimed in alarm and rushed forward to help him up.

After catching his breath for a long time, the goblin sorcerer's breathing finally calmed down a little.

"Teacher, what was that just now...?" Bulukka was still in shock.

"There is a type of person in this world," Saxon gasped, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, "Because they have bestowed too much grace upon all living beings, the power of the spirits of sentient beings will protect the trajectory of their destiny."

"There's more to this than that?" Bulukka's mouth dropped open. Given the goblin culture, understanding such a thing was indeed difficult.

"Never try to use prophetic or causal probing spells on these kinds of people!" Saxon coughed a few more times, his voice hoarse, "Otherwise... you'll end up like me, reaping what you sow!"

"Aren't such people extremely rare?" Bulukka exclaimed, suddenly realizing, "White Peng, Heron, Bay Owl..."

"That's right, the murderer must be one of them." Saxon struggled to his feet, his bloodshot eyes scanning the Holy City dotted with idols and prayer spires. "To dare use a terrifying annihilation bomb in a place blessed by the God of Light..."

Although they couldn't locate the killer, they stumbled upon the person's identity by sheer luck.

A sinister glint appeared on Saxon's face, and he uttered the name in a hoarse voice:

"It has to be you, Belladonna!"

As the morning sunlight filtered through the delicate gauze curtains and warmly bathed Katharine's face, the girl gently awoke on the soft, cloud-like bed.

She stretched lazily, opened her sleepy eyes, and stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling above her, painted with light gold vine patterns. Only then did she begin to painstakingly piece together the fragments of last night's memories.

Although she was quite tipsy, she didn't black out. She even clearly remembered how the maid struggled to help her change into her nightgown and then half-carried, half-cuddled her into bed.

"I'm doomed!" Katharine abruptly covered her burning cheeks with her hand, curling up into a ball on her side and burying her flushed face in the blankets. The memory of her unrestrained and outrageous remarks in front of Prince Xialike now made her wish she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Knock knock knock

A polite knock sounded at the door, and a steady young man's voice came through the door. "Miss Katharine, it's eight o'clock. I remember you mentioned yesterday that you had to go to church for work today?"

Katharine immediately sat bolt upright in bed. "Yes, yes, thank you for reminding me!" she hurriedly replied, while quickly searching her memory. "Uh... who are you?"

"Meiwu'er," came the reply from outside the door, "Breakfast is prepared downstairs. Please come down and enjoy it after you have finished washing up."

Katharine quickly got up, and a maid opened the door, bringing in two buckets of steaming hot water. The en-suite bathroom was fully equipped with soap and shower gel. She seized the rare opportunity and took a hot bath as quickly as possible.

With limited time, Katharine did not refuse the maid's assistance. After washing, she felt her complexion had improved considerably.

"Thank you!" She changed into her neatly pressed college uniform and, led by a maid, walked down to the dining room while drying her damp hair with a towel.

On the long dining table were fragrant roasted sausages, soft bread, creamy mashed potatoes, and thick bean soup. Prince Xialike was already dining in the main seat, with Meiwu'er standing upright behind him.

"Good morning, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Katharine performed a standard curtsy of the Church of Light. She then turned to Meiwu'er and gave a slight bow, "Good morning, Captain of the Guard!"

"Good morning, Miss Katharine!" Meiwu'er nodded in return.

Her seat had been reserved. Katharine made no attempt to be coy and took her seat naturally. Since Xialike was treating her like a guest, there was no need for her to act awkwardly.

Just go along with these kinds of people; being overly pretentious is pointless. In their eyes, a mere Apprentice nun like myself is nothing more than a wildcat.

"How did you sleep last night?" Xialike put down his silver fork and asked casually.

"Excellent!" Katharine said sincerely, her cheeks flushed from the hot bath and the sumptuous breakfast. "Thank you so much for your hospitality!" The maid took the towel from her and began to comb her freshly dried hair.

Katherine finished her breakfast with satisfaction, and with a long-lost sense of relaxation and joy, she arrived at the meeting point in the square behind the church on time. The girls in the dormitory tacitly protected her, and since this was not a formal dormitory area, the nuns did not realize that she did not actually spend the night here last night. They gave Katherine a brand new wedding dress. Katherine took it and immediately noticed that it was different - the pure white silk fabric was embroidered with rose gold threads with complicated vine and lily patterns. It was much more gorgeous than ordinary nuns' dresses, and even the cuffs and collar were trimmed with delicate lace. The matching shoes were not the usual black cloth shoes, but a pair of light brown lambskin soft shoes, with the uppers glowing softly in the morning light. "This dress... is different from what we usually wear?" she asked doubtfully.

"These are spare dresses for the girls in the festival choir," the matron explained, her tone slightly solemn. "Tonight, Princess Janet of the Star Empire will be leading the singing! Be careful when you wear them, and don't damage or soil them; they must be returned in perfect condition afterward!"

"Oh, I understand," Katharine replied, quickly changing into an empty room.

Humming a lighthearted tune, she walked gracefully to the flower archway at the entrance, dressed in her magnificent gown, and began her guiding duties for the day.

There were already a dozen or so nuns and monks, all dressed in the same robes, waiting there. Katharine stood out like a crane among chickens.

Today, many visitors will come to Saint Lan Cathedral to visit and worship. Volunteers will maintain order for ordinary visitors, while the most distinguished guests will be received and guided by the ceremonial team.

The weather was exceptionally clear, and the warm winter sun generously shone down, making everyone feel cozy and warm. The intricate gold and pink silk threads on her dress shimmered softly in the sunlight. Her hairstyle was also different from her usual double braids; in the morning, her maid had wrapped her hair with a blue ribbon and tied it into an elegant bun at the back of her head.

Katharine felt wonderful: her stomach was full, she felt beautiful, she didn't have to do any strenuous physical labor, and she could even bask in the sun. She had almost never felt that time could be so pleasant!

Even the fact that the new shoes on my feet didn't fit became insignificant.

As she gazed at the bustling, festive crowd inside the church, a shadow still crept into her heart.

Bay Owl, has she really left?

Katharine shook her head violently, trying to dispel the thought. But when she thought of that guy's consistently awful and willful behavior, she really had no confidence at all.

The reception work was a piece of cake for the quick-witted and eloquent Katharine. She and a girl she knew secretly smuggled some of the high-end candies meant for entertaining dignitaries from the dessert plate in the VIP room.

Katharine picked out the strawberry-flavored one and put it in her skirt pocket.

At lunchtime, she went to find Stanton. In stark contrast to his energetic demeanor yesterday, the monks in his group were all dejected, like Eggplant wilted by frost.

"What's wrong?" Katharine asked curiously.

"Our group's job today is moving fireworks," Stanton explained, shrugging. "Each box is incredibly heavy!"

As the grandest celebration, there was naturally a massive fireworks display tonight. However, by the time the fireworks went off, the trainees who had been doing hard labor had already been sent back to sleep and missed the chance to watch.

"Then how come you're alright?" Katharine noticed that Stanton was clearly not as disheveled as the others.

"I've been sent to inspect the magic arrays on the fireworks," Stanton said with a hint of relief. "Don't forget my wind and fire magic; it's quite excellent."

The reason why fireworks from another world can bloom with such dazzling effects is entirely due to the control of the attached magic circle. The fire element drives the burst, the wind element shapes the form, and other elements are used to harmonize the colors.

"I think it's because of your small frame," Katharine teased. "They're probably afraid of exhausting you, aren't they?"

She pulled out some candy she'd swiped that morning from her skirt pocket and handed it to Stanton. "A thank you for helping me dry my clothes yesterday."

"Ah, this... no need to be so polite." Stanton declined verbally, but his hands quickly stuffed the candy deep into his pocket. This candy was clearly not of the quality to be given to them, and if the nun or priest saw him passing it around, it would be a big problem.

"They're gone!"

Katharine waved goodbye to Stanton.

The bait had been cast. She glanced sideways at Stanton and sighed almost imperceptibly.

Hopefully... it's all just me overthinking!

In the afternoon, Katharine was assigned to receive the distinguished guests from Silver Moon Forest.

The visitors were a group of four: two elegant elves, a dignified human lady, and her petite and adorable daughter. Katharine was initially surprised; why would there be humans among the higher-ups of Silver Moon Forest?

But she immediately sensed the pure and unique Magic Power emanating from the mother and daughter, and realized that they were two unicorns in human form.

Noticing the respectful titles others used for them, Katharine quickly confirmed their identities: the Queen Ghostly Flower of the Silver Moon Forest, and her youngest daughter Qiluomilan.

"This masterpiece was created nine hundred years ago by the unicorn painter Qiluo." In the corridor adorned with murals, Katharine pointed to a work that occupied an entire wall, explaining, "It depicts the epic battle between the Creation Golden Crow and the Venomous Serpent, a battle that shook the heavens and the earth."

On the canvas, a majestic, towering, crimson-gold giant bird and a seemingly endless, sinister giant serpent are engaged in a battle that splits the planes. The artist's skill is extraordinary; he has managed to create a breathtaking grandeur and tragic scene on a flat surface.

The tiny unicorn girl, Qiluomilan, tried to get a closer look, but was blocked by an invisible magical barrier. Somewhat annoyed, she frowned, raised her forehead, and tried to ram it.

Katharine quickly grabbed her, using all her strength, but found that she couldn't pull this petite body at all. Instead, she was pulled towards the ground by the other woman.

"Your Highness Milan," she quickly leaned down, whispering in the little unicorn's ear, "This is just a replica. Master Raman's original is much smaller and is hidden in the side hall on the third floor. I'll take you to see the real thing in a bit!"

Qiluomilan immediately withdrew her brute force, her eyes sparkling, "Then take me there quickly!"

Katharine looked at her mother. Queen Ghostly Flower nodded gracefully, with a hint of apology. "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Milan has recently become particularly interested in non-human things, especially painting!"

The main nave of Saint Lan Cathedral has a soaring dome, but the side chapels are only three stories high. Katharine led them up the spiral staircase on the side.

The second-floor side hall is a solemn chapel that houses the remains of past popes. At its very center, beneath a large, softly glowing cross emblem, is a wooden sarcophagus carved with a falcon-toothed beast motif.

"These are the remains of the saint." Knowing her guests might not be very interested, Katharine's introduction was very brief. "His Holiness the first Pope of the Temple of Light."

"The patterns on the saint's coffin are quite unique," Qiluomilan commented with interest.

"It should be... some kind of preservation rune," Katharine said.

In fact, every time she saw them, she felt that these rough animal-shaped patterns were somewhat out of place with the overall atmosphere of the church.

"Actually, no." Ghostly Flower patted Milan's little head, imparting the correct knowledge to her, "The first Pope of the Temple of Light was actually Gravel Scale Tribe. This is the Gravelscale tribe's emblem symbolizing their eternal protection of the dead."

"Oh, is that so?" Katharine covered her lips slightly, surprised.

Although her movements were somewhat deliberate, her surprise was genuine; Katharine had never heard of such a thing before.

"For nearly a century, the Temple of Light has continuously revised its scriptures, deliberately obscuring the true race of this founder," Queen Ghostly Flower explained, aware of her doubts. "Therefore, this matter has now become a sealed secret."

As she spoke, she made a shushing gesture and winked, "Don't tell anyone, it was me who spread the rumor!"

Milan examined the box carefully for a while, then eagerly urged everyone to go to the third floor. Sure enough, as soon as she reached the top of the stairs, she rushed straight into the first exhibition hall. Seeing the walls covered with a dazzling array of paintings depicting all sorts of fantastical creatures, she pounced on them like a joyful little deer.

The paintings in Gallery 1 are mostly based on ancient myths and legends, filled with a large number of non-human Legendary creatures. The scenes depicting humans or humanoid creatures all openly present their natural bodies.

"Queen Ghostly Flower." Seeing this, Katharine quickly whispered a reminder, "The exhibits more suitable for all ages are in the opposite hall..." Queen Ghostly Flower simply waved her hand gently, a lazy smile playing on her lips, "It's alright, children are just looking at the spectacle. Let Milan go."

Qiluomilan was already hopping around among the paintings, showing no intention of leaving. Queen Ghostly Flower followed her, while she herself strolled around, admiring the new additions to the collection in recent years with great interest.

As Katharine introduced the exhibits to them, she subtly revealed to the two unicorn guests the locations of some less conspicuous but valuable artworks, as well as "tips" and routes for cleverly sneaking into certain non-public areas.

A hint of hidden pleasure flashed in Queen Ghostly Flower's eyes.

Soon, the formal visit of the Silver Moon Forest Queen and the little princess came to an end. Katharine respectfully bowed to them in farewell and walked to the rest area to the side, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Easy tasks, easy-going guests—it's the perfect day!

Katharine took out her water glass, intending to take a satisfying sip, when she detected an extremely faint magical fluctuation.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately followed the fading trace, her gaze quickly locking onto the figure of a man dressed in the style of the Pearl Duchy.

Katharine rushed forward and grabbed the other man's arm without a word, practically dragging him behind a huge pillar to avoid the crowd's view.

"Ailisha!" she whispered, almost through gritted teeth, "Didn't you run away?! How dare you come back!"

Zijin's mouth was bulging, clearly stuffed with candy. She was initially taken aback, but quickly realized how Katharine had found her. "You tricked me?" she mumbled, "I clearly wiped the magic mark off the candy!"

"It's negative thinking," Katharine said, her eyes fixed on her. "I've been tracking the candy's location. If its fluctuations suddenly disappear, it can only mean one thing—you're eating it!"

Zijin retorted indignantly, "Why must it be me? Why can't it be Stanton eating?"

"Stanton wouldn't go to the trouble of erasing the tracking spell," Katharine explained. "And while you can sense the fluctuations, you're not too worried about your safety because I gave them to you. You're doing this because you can't bear to throw away the strawberry candy!"

Zijin was utterly exasperated. "Can you please stop using your little tricks on me!"

"If I could beat you, would I need to go to such lengths to study your personality?" Katharine retorted angrily.

Zijin was speechless for a moment; she felt that what the other person said made a lot of sense.

"So, what exactly do you want?" Katharine pressed.

"It's a grand celebration at the Temple of Light," Zijin said matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather. "Before I leave, I have to give it a proper tour, to remember it by."

"The top figures from all sides have gathered here!" Katharine looked around, lowering her voice even further, "Many of them are at the pinnacle of their abilities; your shapeshifting illusions are utterly ineffective against them!"

"It can't be hidden!" Zijin's lips curled into a sly smile. "But those big shots who can see through me have all chosen to turn a blind eye!" At the other end of the hall, Queen Ghostly Flower's gaze seemed to glance in their direction unintentionally before casually looking away. Not far away, an elderly man of the Gravel Scale Tribe, dressed in a gray robe and possessing a simple and unpretentious demeanor, also merely glanced over calmly, as if he hadn't seen anything.

"Why?" Katharine was even more confused. Some powerful individuals might not like to meddle in other people's business, but it was absolutely impossible for the "Scholar Bay Owl" to silence all the powerful individuals.

Could there be some hidden secret behind the "Bay Owl" scholar? Katharine's mind raced.

"Guess what," Zijin chuckled softly, "I just came for a stroll." She patted Katharine's hand, which was gripping her arm tightly, signaling her to let go. "Relax, it's nothing, just a small matter!"

"No!" Katharine gripped even tighter, her tone resolute. "This is the once-in-twenty-years Grand Celebration of Light! Pope Augustus and Hector the Radiant Chanter are both present!"

Upon hearing this, Zijin's relaxed expression faded somewhat. Her gaze unconsciously fell on her wrist, which, despite being covered in light brown foundation, still appeared sickly pale.

Her health was deteriorating, and if her upcoming promotion plan failed, she feared she wouldn't have the chance to come back here "later." She sighed softly but remained silent.

"Even if you really want to do something, please don't do it at this crucial moment!" Katharine continued to persuade her when she remained silent.

Janet, what are you doing here?

A slightly puzzled male voice sounded behind Katharine.

Katharine turned around in surprise, only to find that the one calling her "Janet" was none other than Prince Xialike of the Stars!

"Lie?"

The moment their eyes met, both of their faces were filled with astonishment.

Thirty minutes earlier, having completed a series of complex diplomatic procedures, Xialike began the last routine task of his trip: visiting his sister Janet. His relationship with his half-sister was not exactly intimate, but it was not distant either.

As a symbol of the friendly relations Star Empire and the Temple of Light, Princess Janet received her education at the temple's central academy from a young age, excelling academically throughout. Had it not been for the sudden emergence and unconventional actions of Ailisha, the crown of sainthood would very likely have fallen upon her. Even before graduating, she had already published a series of significant papers on the God of Light in the core journal of the Supreme Knowledge Association —such brilliance was impossible for anyone to conceal.

Fortunately, the position of saintess is not something that must be forced, after all, Janet's identity is special, and it would be inappropriate for her to actually sit in that position.

In short, Janet's performance as a crucial link between the two major powers was impeccable. It seems there's been some problem on the Saintess's side, and Janet has been temporarily reassigned as the lead singer of the chorus, destined to shine on the dazzling stage of this grand celebration.

It's only right and proper for Xialike Like to visit his sister who's been working so hard.

He and Janet had exchanged perfunctory pleasantries for quite some time in the rehearsal hall on the second floor. After saying goodbye, Xialike intended to wander around the church, but unexpectedly caught sight of his sister again in the cloister.

"Janet?" he called out instinctively, but before he could finish speaking, he realized something was wrong—the face that turned around was clearly Katharine, whom he had seen that morning!

"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else!" Xialike apologized immediately. Seeing that there were other visitors beside her who needed to be received, he smiled politely and nodded, then turned and left with Meiwu'er.

"Thank you for the directions!" Zijin, disguised as a man from the Pearl Duchy, immediately thanked Katharine, like an ordinary visitor simply lost and seeking help. She lowered her voice, "New Year's Eve, sweetie, remember to go to bed on time!"

"... You're the good boy/girl!"

Katharine bowed and saw Zijin off, just as she would any other distinguished guest.

Not far away, Xialike, who was about to leave, turned back and glanced at Katharine one last time.

Mistaking someone you just saw that morning for your sister you only parted with a few minutes ago? This is no ordinary occurrence.

Therefore, this time Xialike took a closer look: Katharine was wearing a brand-new chorus dress, which was exactly the same as Janet's, one of the reasons for the mistake.

But the girl's figure, silhouette, and the color and shade of her blonde hair were almost identical to Janet's. He would only recognize her if he looked at her from behind! Katharine's hair, which she had washed that morning and had been carefully braided by her maids, now shone with a soft, healthy sheen in the corridor light, making her look nothing like an ordinary commoner girl.

"Quite a coincidence." Meiwu'er, who was beside him, also noticed this and murmured with a sigh.

When they parted in the morning, Katharine was still wearing her faded school uniform with a dark, old cloak. Now that she's changed into this gorgeous dress, one is surprised to find that the girl is so radiant and beautiful.

However, for a commoner girl with no background, such glory is probably not a blessing.

Xialike slowly withdrew his gaze, without responding to Meiwu'er's words.

Is it really just a coincidence? he wondered to himself.

As evening fell and dusk settled, replacements arrived at their posts and took over from Katharine's group.

"Huh?" The priest in charge of scheduling flipped through the roster, somewhat surprised. "Katharine, shouldn't you be assigned to this newly arrived group for tonight's vigil?"

The New Year's Eve prayer ceremony is solemn and lengthy, and the most "elite" members are assigned here.

"It seems like something got mixed up," Katharine replied innocently. "The nanny switched me to the day shift."

To cope with the complexities of the celebrations, Saint Lan Cathedral mobilized over three thousand temporary supporters, including students, in addition to its own staff. Such mishaps were common, and the priests did not investigate further.

"So, you were on the day shift yesterday too, right?" he confirmed.

"Yes, yes! That's right!" Katharine nodded quickly.

The priest found Katharine's name in the thick roster of trainees and corrected her mistakenly assigned night watch shift back to the day shift. Katharine couldn't contain her joy; another potential problem had been successfully averted!

"Come report for duty again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." The priest added the schedule for the next two days after her name.

Katharine pursed her lips and drawled, "Yes."

Shi turned and walked towards the church entrance, where he encountered Queen Ghostly Flower and his youngest daughter Qiluomilan, in the foyer. They had already parted ways with the two elven officials who had accompanied them, and had obviously been strolling around the church for quite some time, admiring the artworks.

Katharine couldn't help but sigh inwardly; this mother and daughter unicorn truly loved the artworks in the church's collection!

"Thank you so much for your guidance and those thoughtful suggestions today!" Queen Ghostly Flower smiled gently. "Your sharing made this trip very enjoyable."

"It's my duty!" Katharine lifted her skirt and bowed respectfully.

Queen Ghostly Flower took a beautifully crafted card bearing the emblem of the Silver Moon Forest from her pocket. "We're having a small New Year's costume ball tonight at the Diplomatic Residence. This is the invitation."

Katharine was somewhat flattered and even a little flustered. "Your Majesty, I'm just an ordinary student..."

"This is exactly the kind of relaxed gathering that belongs to the ordinary folks," Ghostly Flower explained.

"My mom and I have to deal with those incredibly boring celebrations. It's much more comfortable to go to a ball like this!" Qiluomilan said with a disgusted expression, pouting.

Katharine hesitated.