The Warden of The Witches-Chapter 262:
Chapter 262:
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Chapter 262: The Warden's Faction Reputation</ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Evening. Aiden sat in Abigail's summoning space, updating her on the situation's progress.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"...Due to these unexpected developments, the person from the Progenitor Faction and I directly took care of that guy. He's now been handed over to the Inquisition." Aiden recounted the entire sequence of events to Abigail.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Handing him over to the Inquisition for processing, is that really okay?" Abigail seemed somewhat skeptical about the Inquisition's ability to handle such a prisoner.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Although saying this to a witch might sound a bit... I must still advise you, madam, not to underestimate the Inquisition institutions too much." After all, Aiden had personally seen a Dominator imprisoned by the Inquisition; an agent of a god shouldn't pose too great a problem.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Alright. In any case, it seems there was no opportunity for me to step in," Abigail's tone was placid. "Besides, for Your Excellency, this wasn't exactly a difficult problem to begin with, was it?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Difficult? Of course, it was difficult!<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> Aiden thought inwardly. <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->I just want to manage my prison properly, not personally engage in life-or-death battles like this.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> He could tell Abigail didn't consider the "envoy" sent by the God of Death a big deal at all, simply because Abigail herself possessed the strength to instantly kill the Agent. Due to Aiden's previously displayed knowledge of divine Authorities, Abigail had consistently treated him as a powerhouse on her level—or at least someone with an incredibly formidable backer. Aiden could sense the Witches' Coven had consistently overestimated him. Abigail felt the God of Death's Agent wasn't much of a threat, and thus assumed, projecting her own perspective, that it wasn't a big deal for Aiden either.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->This feeling of being treated as an equal by a powerhouse was peculiar, like dining with a millionaire who casually discusses various luxury goods far beyond his means, then turns and asks, completely unaware, "What do you think?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"It was manageable," Aiden could only offer a polite smile, then gave a friendly reminder, "However, although this Agent was dealt with by me... judging by his movements, he likely figured out who ended up with the 'Proliferation' Authority. I think you should still be somewhat careful."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Given Abigail's power, the God of Death's Agent, or even the entire Blood Moon Cult's blood-kin, weren't significant threats. But the God of Death worshipped by these blood-kin was a different matter. The gap in strength between a Dominator of an Authority and a Saint approaching that Authority was incomparable. To the God of Death, Abigail held the remaining key elements under the "Life" throne and was the successor of the Nameless Witch who had once betrayed him—if the God of Death learned all this, he would likely try everything possible to kill Abigail.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I don't think there's much need to worry. I suspect the God of Death likely lacks the strength to act personally anymore," Abigail remained surprisingly calm.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Aiden hoped so too. After all, this incident had forcibly placed Aiden on a side in the blood-kin's internal factional struggle. If using game terms like faction reputation, he, the Warden of Rose Iron Prison, should now have earned a "Friendly" reputation with the Progenitor Faction, while gaining a "Hated" reputation with the Death God Faction. Besides that, his reputation with the Witches' Coven should also be positive; as a past collaborator and current business partner, Abigail was a very valuable connection for Aiden now. Naturally, he didn't want Abigail to be killed by the God of Death either.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->So he calmly reminded her, "Aren't you being a bit too optimistic?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"My 'mother' also investigated the God of Death's movements in the past. Based on the intelligence I've accumulated, the God of Death's power has been dormant for many years since the fall of the old Kingdom two centuries ago. Now, he still relies on such an agent to act..." Abigail said nonchalantly. "The battle two hundred years ago likely inflicted unexpectedly severe damage on the God of Death."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Honestly, I find it a bit strange. The God of Death is the Dominator of 'Death'; he should be able to completely manipulate the concept of 'death'. The Dominator of death shouldn't actually be able to die, right?" Aiden raised the question. Never mind the Progenitor who merely approached the "Death" Authority; even Kyle and the Agent possessed immortality. Kyle had mentioned the Progenitor couldn't die even if burned to ash; replenishing blood would allow him to reform. If the mighty God of Death couldn't achieve this level, it simply wouldn't make sense. How could an unkillable god be so severely wounded as to be unable to act personally for two hundred years?<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"For various Authorities, overcoming 'death' isn't too unusual. The body being unkillable doesn't mean the mind cannot be affected. Remember, the one confronting the God of Death back then was the Dominator of the 'Desire' Authority," Abigail clearly understood Aiden's point. "That Authority falls under the 'Mind' throne."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Regarding the powers of the 'Desire' Authority..." Aiden asked.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Not very familiar, but I can speculate somewhat. Wasn't my ancestor nearly mentally eroded by that so-called Goddess of Love?" Abigail said calmly. "I imagine one of the powers of the 'Desire' Authority is the complete control over a person's 'purpose'."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Like hypnosis?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"A Dominator's power is likely more than that. She should be able to impose all of her own 'purposes' onto others, gradually making their way of thinking completely synchronized with hers, turning them into another 'self'—I believe this is the foundation allowing her to gradually erode others' minds."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Meaning she did the same thing to the God of Death?" Aiden followed Abigail's train of thought.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Abigail nodded. "At least, that's what I believe. The God of Death destroyed the body of the 'Desire' Dominator, while the 'Desire' Dominator exhausted herself eroding the God of Death's mind—resulting in mutual destruction. I suspect the God of Death is likely still helpless against this erosion."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Hearing that, if the erosion succeeded, the God of Death's mind would become identical to the Goddess of Love's, and the 'Death' Authority would fall into the hands of the 'Desire' Dominator?" Aiden frowned. "Isn't that ability a bit too unbeatable?"<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"No, considering the rank of Dominators, the effect of this erosion must be relatively limited. But at the very least, we can be fairly certain that the God of Death cannot currently act autonomously," Abigail stated firmly.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->
<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Then let's hope things are truly as you say..." Aiden shook his head. "Actually, I have a few other things I wanted to ask you about."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Please speak."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Have you heard of an organization called the 'Vengeance Sanctuary'?" Aiden began asking Abigail.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>
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