The Heaven-Cursed Costs Life, But I Have Infinite Life-Chapter 36: Annie Leaves, The Apocalypse Academy
Lucas stared at Priest, asking curiously, "Why did you need to capture that Elf? I recall the Assassins’ Guild has a bounty on The Elf Saintess. Is the Church of Light behind this?"
"No. You’re overthinking it, City Lord. That Elf just stole something from the Church of Light. No other motive. I’ll be heading back now; I’ll leave the cleanup to you." Priest felt uneasy, unwilling to stay any longer, so he led the remaining Bright Knights away quickly.
Lucas’s smile vanished, his expression cooling. He waved, and a guard stepped forward.
"Did the Church of Light get what they wanted?" he asked in a low voice.
The guard replied respectfully, "Sir, we succeeded. However, we weren’t the only ones stealing Holy Water."
"Someone else stole Holy Water?" Lucas asked, confused.
The guard nodded. "That person arrived first. They weren’t very powerful, only Stage 2, but their movements were strange. I sent someone to track them, but they managed to escape."
Someone with just Stage 2 power dared to sneak into the Church of Light to steal Holy Water?
Lucas frowned immediately, his first thought going to Allen.
But Allen and Lilia had been with him just moments ago. It couldn’t be them.
It must have been another Killer.
The Assassins’ Guild had a bounty on Holy Water, so Lucas didn’t really care about the theft.
"Clean up the battlefield. Make sure no traces are left," Lucas ordered, then turned and headed back to Blackspire.
...
Meanwhile, back at the Church of Light, Priest learned about the stolen Holy Water immediately.
"What a bunch of fools! Without The Knights of Light, can’t you even guard Holy Water?" Priest raged at the crowd of followers below him.
First, they were tricked, and now Holy Water was stolen. He felt a deep unease rising in his chest.
William stepped forward respectfully. "Sir, this incident is likely linked to the City Lord’s Mansion. Also, the Vampire attack outside the city was probably led by Lilia. The City Lord’s Mansion stole the Holy Water to prevent us from moving against her."
Priest nodded in agreement but still looked puzzled. "William, why didn’t Lucas kill us when he had the chance? Why didn’t he frame the Elves instead?"
William paused, shaking his head in confusion as well.
Kyle was already dead. If he had taken out Priest, Blackspire would have been entirely under Lucas’s control. It made no sense for him to spare them.
Priest frowned deeply. "Send a few more people to Stormcrest immediately to pass on the message."
"Yes," William understood the urgency, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave.
"What does Lucas actually want?" Priest paced back and forth, annoyed and at a loss.
...
At the City Lord’s Mansion, the group gathered in the study, including The Elf Saintess, Annie.
Allen studied the stranger curiously. She was petite, with sapphire-blue eyes and long blue hair, looking like she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
"Hey, why are you staring at Annie like that?" Lilia asked sharply, her tone cold.
"Ahem," Allen cleared his throat awkwardly. "It’s just that I’ve never met an Elf before, so I was curious."
"Hmph!" Lilia snorted, clearly not buying it.
Annie smiled gently. "I’ve figured out what happened in Blackspire. I’m here to say goodbye."
"Annie, you’re leaving so soon?" Lilia felt a pang of sadness. She and Annie hadn’t seen each other in over ten years; she didn’t want to part ways so quickly.
"Don’t worry, we’ll meet again soon," Annie promised with a smile.
"Annie, what were you investigating in Blackspire?" Lucas asked curiously.
"Three years ago, over a dozen Elves went missing," Annie explained. "It was all connected to Blackspire."
"I heard about that too, but I didn’t find anything," Simon said, looking confused. He had been investigating for years with no results.
Annie nodded. "Kyle was behind it. But since he’s dead now, I consider that justice for them."
"Kyle did it?" Simon was stunned. He had always suspected the Church of Light. "But why would Kyle capture Elves?"
"I’m not sure," Annie replied. "Maybe for cultivation, or to extend his lifespan." She didn’t know for certain, but since Kyle was dead, she had no reason to stay in Blackspire.
Like Allen, Elves possessed a vital life force in their blood, though not as powerful as his.
Lucas frowned, looking apologetic. "This was my oversight, Simon. This time, please escort Miss Annie to the Chaos Zone."
"And what about you?" Simon asked, worried.
His identity was already exposed, and he had planned to go to the Chaos Zone with Allen and Lilia.
"Wait."
Lilia interrupted them. "I’m going to the Chaos Zone?"
The Chaos Zone lay at the border of the three great kingdoms, outside any ruler’s jurisdiction. Rumor had it that it was pure chaos, with absolutely no order.
Annie nodded. "Not just you, Mr. Allen will go too."
"Me?" Allen pointed at himself, confused.
"I haven’t told them yet," Lucas said. "I’ve made the arrangements. After this Academy tournament, you two will head to the Chaos Zone to train at the Apocalypse Academy."
"The Apocalypse Academy?" Allen paused. "City Lord, I heard that academy only accepts non-humans. Lilia can get in, but I’m not sure I can."
Simon glanced at him and said simply, "You’re also non-human."
"Impossible, I’m a human," Allen insisted. He knew he was definitely human.
Simon explained, "Any SSS-rank Class Awakened is considered non-human. The Heaven-Cursed are just the prime example."
"Is that how it is?" Allen was puzzled. He’d never heard such a thing before.
"City Lord, I think I should stay with these two to make sure they’re safe," Simon said, worried about them being alone.
Annie added, "I’ve been traveling the continent for years; I can take care of myself."
Lucas shook his head. "Simon, your identity is already exposed. It’s better for you to stay with me. Don’t worry; I can handle the upcoming operations. As for these two, I’ll send the Shadow Guards to escort them."
Simon hesitated but finally agreed. If he kept showing up, it would only hinder Lucas’s future plans.
He pulled a badge from his chest and handed it to Lucas. "Here is the token of a Cardinal Bishop. If the Church of Light catches on, you should head straight to the Chaos Zone."
"Don’t worry, everything will be fine," Lucas said, taking the token with confidence.
"Dad, how do you have a Cardinal Bishop’s token?" Lilia asked, puzzled.
Allen was curious too.
"Simple. Kill a Cardinal Bishop, and you get their token," Lucas said casually.
"Dad, I’m not trying to be rude, but do you really think you can kill a Cardinal Bishop?" Lilia scoffed.
There were only twelve Cardinal Bishops in the Church of Light. Their rank was just below the Pontiff, and they were all Stage 9.
Her father had absolutely no chance against them.
Lucas felt a bit embarrassed. He glanced at Allen and said, "It wasn’t me. Someone else killed a Cardinal Bishop and gave the token to Simon."
"Someone actually dared to kill a Cardinal Bishop?" Allen asked curiously. "Aren’t they afraid of the Church of Light’s retaliation?"
"Retaliation?" Lucas scoffed coldly. "They should be the ones fearing the Church of Light. If they hadn’t used such despicable tactics, it’s anyone’s guess if the Church of Light would even exist on this continent now."
"No way, could someone actually stand up against the Church of Light?" Allen couldn’t believe it.
"Maybe..." Lucas looked at him, about to speak but then stopped. "Never mind, you’ll understand eventually. Simon, no time to waste. You and Miss Annie should leave now."
Simon nodded. He looked at Lilia and Allen and added, "You two don’t need to appear in the rest of the plan. Just stay put and behave yourselves."
"Don’t worry, we won’t do anything crazy," they both promised quickly.
After everyone left, the study fell silent.
Lucas sat straight in his chair, closing his eyes to think.
For some reason, he felt a flaw in this plan.
"Elves? Hell’s Gate? Holy Water stolen?" he murmured to himself. Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open.
Frowning deeply, Lucas wondered: Kyle is dead. Did the method to open Hell’s Gate truly vanish with him?
And Kyle’s death was strange. Simon didn’t strike him, yet this incident somehow exposed Simon’s identity.
Why did Kyle want to capture Elves?
He wasn’t a Class Awakened and couldn’t cultivate; the only explanation was to extend his lifespan.
Then there was the theft of the Holy Water today. If it wasn’t an Assassins’ Guild bounty, who else would want it? And what did they intend to do with it?
"Lilia!"
Lucas gasped softly. He realized the Holy Water had another purpose besides healing wounds: it forced Vampires to reveal their true forms.
That was why he arranged for the water to be stolen.
But if someone else stole it, they must be targeting Lilia!
