Chapter 218: The Gathering Storm

Night fell smoothly over the soaring peaks of Mount Ryogoku, draping the lavish sanctuary of the late Silver Lotus Elder in long, dancing shadows.

Priest Arnold stood before his wide, open lattice window, his arms folded neatly inside his white-and-gold holy sleeves, gazing out at the quiet mountain landscape.

A sharp, firm knock echoed against the heavy oak door of his chamber, breaking the silent stillness.

"High Priest Arnold, I am Inspector Lyrex from the Grey Paladin unit," a deep, guttural voice rasped through the thick wood.

"May I come in?"

"Come in," Priest Arnold answered softly, his tone calm and inviting.

The iron latch clicked, and the heavy door swung open.

Priest Arnold slightly turned his body away from the window, a warm, serene smile spreading across his handsome face as he greeted the imposing figure standing in the doorway.

It was Inspector Lyrex—the commander of the newly arrived Grey Paladin strike unit.

Clad head-to-toe in heavy, radiant silver steel armor that hummed with dense holy mana, the broad-shouldered warrior stood like an immovable iron fortress.

Inspector Lyrex stepped inside, lowering his head in utmost respect toward the high cleric.

"High Priest Arnold. The Grey Paladin unit has arrived in full force and stands completely at your disposal."

Priest Arnold nodded in satisfaction, stepping closer to the armored commander. "Thank you for your unyielding loyalty to the Holy Church, Inspector Lyrex, and for your absolute dedication to our Lord, the God of the Sky." He paused, his blue eyes narrowing slightly.

"I trust you fully understand the nature of your duty here?"

"I do, High Priest," Inspector Lyrex replied, his guttural voice echoing behind his featureless steel visor. "The insidious followers of the so-called ’God of Beast’ must be tracked down, rooted out, and utterly purged from these lands."

Priest Arnold’s lips curled faintly into a delicate, almost quiet giggle. "That is precisely right, Inspector. Our Lord has personally designated that Church to be an abhorrent, demonic blight upon the mortal plane. A righteous war has officially begun—a holy crusade to purge those vile, beast-worshipping heretics."

Priest Arnold raised his right hand, pointing out toward the dark mountain ranges visible beyond the window.

"The Grey Paladins will venture into the three major cities within the Northern Hashian Mountains immediately. You will search every street, investigate every suspicious individual, and trace any footprint left by the Apostle of the God of Beast."

The cleric’s blue eyes gleamed with a sharp, lethal light. "Once you find any definitive trace of the Apostle, inform me at once. I believe an Apostle of a divine entity must possess a cultivation level of at least a Martial Lord... therefore, I shall handle that threat personally."

"I obey," Inspector Lyrex bowed his head deeply. He turned on his heel, his heavy armored boots clanking against the stone floor, ready to march out and execute the sky god’s absolute judgment upon the mortal realm.

However, just as his hand reached the doorframe, the steel commander’s movements suddenly halted.

He paused, turning his steel visor back toward the priest.

"Ah... one more thing, High Priest," Inspector Lyrex asked in a flat, ruthless tone. "Am I permitted to kill civilians during our investigations?"

Priest Arnold did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second. His serene smile remained entirely intact as he offered a gentle, dismissive wave of his hand.

"If they resist your investigations, then yes," Priest Arnold declared, his melodic voice carrying a chilling, absolute coldness.

"Those who protect or harbor heretics are heretics themselves and must be purged without mercy. Heresy will never be permitted to thrive in these lands."

"Understood," Inspector Lyrex nodded firmly. Without another word, the Paladin commander stepped out into the dark corridor, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind him.

The second the armored commander was gone, Priest Arnold exhaled a long, deep sigh of relief.

He leaned back against the windowsill, his heart swelling with divine pride. Everything was moving according to plan, and he was fulfilling the sacred will of the God of the Sky.

***

Meanwhile, miles away in the bustling, brightly lit streets of Jayrel City...

Inside the private, second-floor dining room of a high-end restaurant, four individuals sat around a large wooden table piled high with steaming roast meats, fine wines, and delicate delicacies.

To any ordinary waiter or patron passing by, they appeared to be a group of wealthy, noble human travelers enjoying a lavish feast.

In reality, these four were high-ranking leaders of the Church of the God of Beast: Alisa, Eurenia, Pope Croak, and Grand Chancellor Manuses.

Thanks to the divine blessings and active shapeshifting skills granted directly by their god, their monstrous, beastial forms were completely concealed beneath pristine human skin.

Every single one of them had recently received the secret telepathic reports dispatched by their Apostle, Roy.

BANG!

Pope Croak—currently taking the form of a burly, middle-aged human warrior—slammed his heavy fist down onto the table, causing the wine goblets to rattle violently.

"Insolent fools!" Pope Croak cursed out loud, his human face contorting in pure, unadulterated rage.

"How dare a foreign, arrogant Church insult the glorious name of Lord Varanus! They dare brand us as demonic heretics conducting human sacrifices? They must be ripped apart and fed to the hounds!"

Grand Chancellor Manuses, appearing as a sharp-eyed, elegant scholar, took a slow sip from his glass, his expression dark.

"Indeed. Their slander is a direct insult to our master’s divinity."

Eurenia, disguised as a strikingly beautiful woman with long, braided hair, wiped her lips with a silk napkin and leaned forward.

"We all agree they deserve annihilation, but what is our next move? Eurenia asked, her sharp eyes fixing on Alisa. "Do we strike their vanguard as they enter the city?"

Alisa, taking the form of a serene, sharp-witted young noblewoman, slowly shook her head.

"No," Alisa answered calmly, slicing a piece of seasoned meat with her knife. "The Apostle has issued a strict order: we are to remain hidden in the shadows. He has already successfully infiltrated the deep core of the Glorious Mythical Sect.

Let him do his work from within. When the timing is absolute, he will summon us to unleash total war. That is what I believe."

Grand Chancellor Manuses nodded in agreement. "I support Lady Alisa’s stance. Moving prematurely will only ruin the Apostle’s intricate trap."

Pope Croak crossed his thick arms over his chest, a deep scowl still plastered on his face.

"Fine! But what about those Paladins heading toward Jayrel City right now to search for us? Are we just supposed to sit on our hands, or can we kill them?"

"We cannot kill them directly," Alisa explained, her eyes narrowing into dangerous, slit-like pupils for a brief second.

"If a full squad of Paladins vanishes into thin air, their Church will immediately pin our exact location and track us down with their full military strength. However..."

A wicked, devilish grin slowly curled Alisa’s lips. "...we can certainly cause a massive commotion and quietly take out a few of their stragglers along the way."

Pope Croak’s eyes lit up with brutal anticipation. "And do you have a concrete plan, Alisa?"

"Of course I do," Alisa shrugged nonchalantly, swirling the red wine in her glass as her smile widened into something truly terrifying.

"Though... a lot of innocent people will have to die if this plan is going to work smoothly."

She raised her glass toward the ceiling, her voice dropping into a dark, mocking whisper.

"I truly pray their fragile, mortal souls find peace in the afterlife."