CA - Chapter 194
Chapter 194
When Monica woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. She sat up in bed and pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling a dizzy and unpleasant fog in her mind. The memories from before she lost consciousness surfaced, and Monica’s expression changed as she reached for the Space Gem at her waist.
However, her hand met only empty air.
The Space Gem was gone, and her staff was nowhere on her person. Monica’s heart sank, and her face turned pale. Had she been captured by those vampires to be a blood slave?
A sound came from the doorway. Monica looked up alertly, her eyes fixed on the door. It was pushed open from the outside, and two Holy Knights in golden armor walked in.
Monica froze at the sight of the Holy Knights. She recalled that it was also Holy Knights from the Holy See who had lured her to a secluded place with ill intentions. She bit her lip, suppressing the rage in her heart.
Someone in the Holy See was colluding with vampires.
The Holy Knights walked to the bedside and said expressionlessly, “Get up. His Highness the Holy Son wants to see you.”
The Holy Son? Monica frowned, suppressing her shock. She got out of bed and silently followed the Holy Knights.
As the Pope’s successor, how could the Holy Son be involved with vampires? And why had he brought her here… Monica’s heart grew heavy, and she couldn’t help but clench her fists at her sides.
The Holy Knights led Monica to the Holy Son’s door, knocked, and said respectfully, “Your Highness, the person is here.”
With that, they opened the door and pushed Monica inside by the shoulder.
Monica stumbled into the room. The Holy Son was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, resting. Hearing the commotion, he opened his eyes slightly. The impatience on his face faded somewhat when he saw Monica. He seemed a little surprised. “So it’s you.”
When Gabriel had sent someone to say he was sending a person over for his amusement, he had initially found Gabriel meddlesome. But now… this old fox really knew what he liked.
The Holy Son’s mood improved upon seeing Monica. He sat up straight. Noticing her pale face, panicked expression, and somewhat disheveled appearance, he frowned and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
He stood up and walked toward Monica.
Monica steadied herself upon seeing the Holy Son. She smoothed the stray hairs on her forehead and said in a low voice, “I’m fine…”
“Really? Let me see.” The Holy Son grabbed Monica’s wrist, a slight smile on his lips. With his other hand, he brushed the hair from her forehead. Looking at the scar there, he clicked his tongue, shook his head, and said with pity, “Such a beautiful face. Don’t let it get hurt.”
Monica was stunned by his sudden proximity and suggestive actions. A moment later, she reacted, shoving him away. She frowned and said, “Your Highness, have some self-respect.”
The Holy Son was displeased at being pushed away. “What’s with this attitude? Is this how Reese taught you?”
“What are you talking about? What does this have to do with Reese?”
“You need to be obedient, Monica.” The Holy Son reached out and grabbed Monica’s arm, trying to pull her into his embrace. “As long as you’re obedient, I’ll give you everything you want.”
“Just like your sister, you can become the youngest Red-robed Archbishop in the Holy See.”
“Let go of me.” Monica was both shocked and furious. She struggled to push the Holy Son away, saying with disgust, “Stay away from me.”
The Holy Son was pushed back a few steps. He stared at Monica menacingly. “You’ve got some nerve.”
Monica gritted her teeth and said angrily, “As the Holy Son, you openly violate the laws of the Holy See! Light, justice, benevolence—have you forgotten all the laws of the Holy See?”
“The Light Goddess would be ashamed to have a believer like you. You are not worthy of being the Holy Son, much less the Pope.”
Monica crossed her arms, glaring warily at the Holy Son. She knew it was best not to provoke him at a time like this, but the fire in her heart made it impossible not to resist.
What was this? The man before her was the next Pope. Monica felt a wave of despair. A Holy See led by such a person… would it still be the Holy See that blankets the Statu Continent in light?
Although Monica had long been dissatisfied with the higher-ups in the Central Church, she had always held onto a sliver of hope. This expedition to suppress the darkness had made her mistakenly believe that the light was returning.
However, she never expected her faith to crumble so quickly. And to think this man harbored such filthy intentions toward her—it was utterly nauseating.
Monica’s tirade exhausted the Holy Son’s patience. He looked at her coldly and pursed his lips. “Why can’t you just be as obedient as your sister?”
Monica froze. She looked up, her eyes red. “What did you say?”
Her hand, clutching her sleeve, tightened unconsciously. A sudden thought made her body go rigid, as if she had been plunged into an ice cave. Monica gritted her teeth and demanded, “…What did you do to her?”
The Holy Son crossed his arms, looking down on Monica from his superior position. He shook his head and said, “She’s much more obedient than you. You’re a real disappointment.”
The pleasant mood he’d felt upon seeing Monica was ruined. He began to feel annoyed and waved his hand dismissively. “You can go.”
He turned to walk back to his chair, but after just one step, he suddenly felt the surrounding temperature rise. The Holy Son frowned and turned slightly, his peripheral vision catching a flash of fire rushing toward him.
The Holy Son’s expression changed slightly. His fingers twitched, and a golden light intercepted the holy flame. After a brief standoff, the golden light flared, sending Monica flying.
A sharp pain shot through Monica’s chest, and she lowered her head, spitting out a mouthful of blood. She covered her mouth and coughed a few times, her green eyes filled with cold hatred. “I’m going to kill you.”
“You!” The Holy Son raised his hand in fury, but when he saw Monica’s face, his rage slowly dissipated.
He closed his eyes, lowered his hand, and called out coldly to the guards outside, “Take her away.”
The Holy Knights pushed the door open and entered. Seeing the Holy Son’s dark expression, they all lowered their heads. As Monica was being led away, one of the remaining Holy Knights tentatively asked, “Your Highness, how should we deal with Bishop Monica?”
The Holy Son was silent for a moment before saying indifferently, “Send her back to Reese.”
“Tell her to teach Monica a proper lesson. If this happens again, I’ll send her to Eden.”
The Holy Knight acknowledged the order and left. He closed the door to the Holy Son’s room, gave a meaningful look to the two knights holding Monica, and then turned to walk toward Gabriel’s room.
The Holy Son and Gabriel were staying in a small manor that had been hastily prepared for them, and their rooms were not far apart.
The Holy Knight arrived at Gabriel’s room and, with his head respectfully bowed, informed Gabriel that the Holy Son wanted to send Monica back.
Gabriel was somewhat surprised to hear this. “Send her back?” She had just been sent to the room, not even half an hour ago, and he already wanted her sent back?
The Holy Knight recounted the argument he had overheard from outside the door.
Gabriel let out a low chuckle and said with a hint of helplessness, “How useless.”
Abel, who was sitting at the table, glanced at Gabriel’s expression, then lowered his eyes without a word.
The Holy Knight asked tentatively, “Shall I have someone send her back then?”
“Send her back? Don’t bother.” Gabriel toyed with the cup in his hand and said nonchalantly, “Find a Dark Formation and throw her in.”
He hadn’t captured her just to have her argue with the Holy Son.
“Say it’s the Holy Son’s order.” Gabriel tossed a Space Gem to the Holy Knight. “And remember, make sure your men keep their mouths shut.”
The Holy Knight caught the Space Gem and replied in a low voice, “Understood.” Seeing that Gabriel had no other instructions, he took his leave.
Abel watched the Holy Knight’s retreating back, his eyes flickering. He picked up the cup before him and took a sip of cold tea. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke up, “I’ll go keep an eye on them, just in case something goes wrong.”
Gabriel grunted in agreement. “Go on.”
Many of the other bishops staying at the manor saw Monica being led out of the Holy Son’s room, injured. A few with active minds tried to approach and inquire about the situation, but they were all driven away. Even so, they managed to piece together a few fragments of the inside story.
Monica was being taken away for punishment because she had disrespected the Holy Son. Although it was called a punishment, the way she was being handled made it clear that her fate was likely grim. But at a time like this, no one dared to challenge the Holy Son’s authority. Not a single person stepped forward to intervene as Monica was led out of the manor.
Monica, who had already lost all faith in the Holy See, merely sneered, her face a mask of indifference.
To be safe, the Holy Knights took Monica to a Dark Formation some distance from the manor. The cold, sinister aura of darkness made Monica shiver. She looked at her surroundings, a flash of understanding on her face. She said coldly, “As Holy Knights, have you fed your inner light to the dogs?”
“These are the Holy Son’s orders,” the Holy Knight holding Monica said dispassionately. “We are just following orders.”
“Disgusting.”
The Holy Knight remained silent, but his grip on Monica’s arm tightened.
Monica’s face turned white with pain, and she spat out another mouthful of blood.
They brought Monica to the edge of the Dark Formation. A swamp of blood flowed quietly in the darkness of the night. Monsters appeared in the surroundings, staring at them grimly, two green flames dancing with excitement.
The Holy Knights didn’t dare get too close to the Dark Formation. They stopped a few steps away, then shoved Monica forcefully forward by the shoulders.
Monica, already in a semi-conscious state, stumbled and fell in. A black mist instantly swallowed her whole.
The Holy Knights watched from the outside for a moment. Only after Monica’s figure had completely disappeared did they turn and leave.
A short while later, Abel emerged from the darkness. He approached the Dark Formation, trying to find any sign of Monica, but was forced back by the surging power of darkness.
Abel frowned. He took a brightly colored mushroom from his Space Gem and tossed it in. Upon contact with the dark aura, the mushroom instantly expanded, rooting itself in the blood swamp like a protective umbrella.
Seeing the mushroom umbrella form, Abel took out a skeletal mouse and placed it on the ground, muttering to himself, “You have to run fast, you hear?”
Whether Monica lived or died was now up to luck. Abel sighed inwardly. If it weren’t for the blond-haired bishop, he really wouldn’t want to get involved in this mess.
Gosse Empire.
Mario kept his head bowed after reporting Monica’s disappearance, even holding his breath. Reese hadn’t said a word, but the icy pressure that filled the room made his entire body stiffen.
The moment he realized he couldn’t contact the knights he had sent to protect Monica, he knew something was terribly wrong. Having followed Reese for years, he knew exactly what her breaking point was.
“Do you know who took her?” Reese asked, her face grim, her tone calm.
Though her tone was calm, if Mario had dared to look up, he would have seen that Reese’s hand resting on the desk was trembling slightly.
Mario told Reese what his investigation had uncovered. “Some say the Holy Son sent people to take Bishop Monica, but I haven’t been able to confirm if it’s true.”
Reese sneered. “The Holy Son, is it?”
She suppressed the anxiety in her heart, stood up, and asked coolly, “Where is the Holy Son staying now?”
“Setaya.”
“Find a teleportation scroll.”
What light, what darkness—none of it had anything to do with her. So what if darkness consumed this continent? If something happened to Monica, she would be the first to rebel against this Holy See.
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