There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game-Chapter 847 - 709: The Enemy’s Ambush

Chapter 847 -709: The Enemy’s Ambush

The night grows ever deeper.

Amidst towering mountains and precipitous ridges.

Even if that legion wanted to launch a carpet search, it would be difficult to achieve, let alone at night, which is a natural camouflage for stealth.

After leaving the cave, Xu Shuo and his companion deftly avoided the enemy’s search and quickly distanced themselves from that area.

Lacking means of transportation, they relied on their own strength to sprint over a dozen kilometers.

Then, encountering a village on their way, they took advantage of the night to sneak in and rob a farmhouse, changing their gear and disguising themselves as ordinary rangers to continue their journey.

They also conveniently stole two horses.

This time, even upon reaching a fortress, they had no intention to rest, taking routes mostly fraught with dangers convenient for escape.

Taking the long way around, naturally, meant spending more time on the road.

Only when dawn was about to break.

Did they finally catch a glimpse of the shadow of Dalton City-State.

Catalina asked in a daze, “Is this what you meant by ‘we must get there tonight’?”

Xu Shuo, expressionless: “Dawn has not yet broken.”

Catalina pursed her lips and said no more, but her expression was conflicted. Throughout the journey, the gazes she cast at the youth’s back always carried a tinge of unspoken resentment.

The atmosphere between the two was oddly strained.

But fortunately, it didn’t have much of an impact.

…

It is not yet daybreak.

But on the wide and smooth city roads, columns of traders and mercenary groups had already started to increase in number.

Dalton City-State is the obligatory path to the Royal Capital, occupying a vast area with roads branching in all directions, making it the economic hub of the Eastern Continent, its prosperity rivaling that of the Imperial Metropolis.

Dressed in ordinary clothes and wearing conical hats, riding horses borrowed from a farmhouse, they entered the city as siblings and paid the entry fee normally.

Now was not the time to fully incite conflicts.

Thus, in this densely populated and wealthy city-state, it was very likely they would not encounter further ambushes by enemies, and even if they did, it would not matter.

The Holy Court’s army was stationed nearby.

Xu Shuo therefore entered the city with a clear conscience.

And went directly to the Dalton Cathedral with a clear conscience.

His undisguised actions, all done openly and legitimately, seemed to be deliberately taunting those hidden masterminds behind the scenes—See.

I have successfully arrived, are you angered?

…

The priests of Dalton Cathedral were unaware of his identity.

Xu Shuo couldn’t be bothered to explain.

So upon arrival, he expertly checked into the cathedral’s rear hall under the identity of the Archbishop, requested hot water and new clothes from the worshippers, and took a leisurely bath.

When he emerged freshly attired, he came face to face with the Ice and Snow Elves who were staring intently outside the bathing room.

Xu Shuo: “…What are you doing here?”

Catalina pursed her lips: “Those people outside had discovered my identity, to avoid trouble I came in first.”

So it’s this matter.

Xu Shuo casually responded, his now-loose silver hair cascading down his back, and walked out of the chambers dressed in new clerical robes of the God of Light, only to find a group of stern-looking people gathered in the outer hall.

Upon seeing Xu Shuo, their eyes sparkled with surprise, and then they promptly saluted in unison.

“In God’s name! Radiance shines!”

The voices of a few were vigorous, as if shouted out.

Shouted out with a bit of resentment.

When the news reached that the one entering Dalton Cathedral was the Pope of Light, the Supervisory Bishop from the Priesthood and the Chief of the Bright Moon Knight Order who were informed of this plan rushed over.

Upon arrival at Dalton City-State, the Holy Court’s army regrouped with the Bright Moon Knight Order, who were traveling separately, because just ahead of Dalton City lay the Royal Capital.

There was no longer any need to continue in divided groups.

Moreover, neither of the separate teams included the true Pope of Light, so their continued separation was meaningless.

This time, only seven members from the Priesthood accompanied the group; the rest of the supervisory bishops were either too old or needed to stay and defend the City of Light, so not all followed the pope’s journey.

And this group of people.

Had been holding their breath since the departure.

Of course, they neither dared nor could they openly reproach His Holiness the Pope, so they could only swallow their resentment in silence.

Fortunately, nothing happened to the Pope during the journey.

And luckily, the Order of the Solar Knights later managed to track the Pope’s whereabouts.

It was also because of the Order of the Solar Knights’ presence that the supervisory bishops accompanying him could breathe a sigh of relief, not descending into frantic panic when they discovered the Pope was missing.

Otherwise, this group might have truly fallen ill from their frustrations.

…

After a cursory glance at each person in the hall, Xu Shuo’s gaze settled on a trembling Church Acolyte in the corner.

This acolyte was Xu Shuo’s decoy.

The acolyte was filled with grievances.

He had barely left the city when the Priesthood realized that the one in the pope’s carriage was an impostor. Had it not been for a message left by the pope himself, the irate Priesthood might have executed him on the spot!

Even though execution was ultimately avoided.

His complicity in the Pope’s whims had led to the Pope’s disappearance, and the Priesthood had shown him no kindness on the road since.

But the Pope had left.

So the Priesthood had to continue the charade, keep him disguised as the true Pope, and, according to the Church’s original plans, transfer him mid-journey from the Holy Court’s army to the escort of the Bright Moon Knight Order.

Then under the protection of the Knight Order, head toward the Royal Capital.

It could be said.

He was enjoying the Pope’s treatment on one hand.

And the sword of Damocles hanging over his head on the other.

Acolyte: To be fair, were it any one of you facing the Pope’s caprice at that time, it’s likely none could have defied it.

Church Acolyte: Now that the Papal has returned, is the Priesthood going to off me?

Church Acolyte: I’m scared.

It was precisely because of this fear.

That the acolyte huddled in a corner, shivering uncontrollably.

“Well done.”

Xu Shuo said softly in that direction.

Although the acolyte didn’t dare to look up.

And had no idea to whom that sentence was addressed.

But, in that moment, he felt as if he was basked in the glow of the Belief in Light, his heart, originally frightened and regretful, suddenly eased, and his entire being seemed to relax.

The Church Acolyte looked up in shock.

But upon catching a glimpse of the Pope’s visage, he quickly lowered his head again, as if committing an offense, and offered a respectful and reverent bow in that direction.

Seeing this, the Priesthood pursed its lips.

It seems that His Holiness is quite pleased with this gutsy youngster, and thus it looks like vengeance would not be possible; they would have to keep this boy around.

“Your Holiness, you can’t do this again next time.”

A Supervisory Bishop from the Priesthood, a figure of significant standing, sighed and took the initiative to speak out: “The relationship between our Holy Court and the Empire is extremely tense right now. The Varo Royal Family has always been deceitful. If they were to offend you, what could you possibly do?”

Humans find Elves exceedingly cunning, Elves think the Holy Court is deceitful, and the Holy Court considers the Royal Family deceptive.

The animosity on the continent even seems to have come full circle.

Xu Shuo laughed softly, noncommittal.

He sat down in the top seat of the temple, casually propped up his chin, and asked, “Did you encounter anything on the way here?”

The Supervisory Bishop frowned and said, “The army from the Holy Court had been marching proudly and openly on the main road. Upon entering the Eastern Continent, they were escorted by the military deployed from the Royal Capital until we reached Dalton City-State without facing any attack. However…”

He paused, glancing towards the Commander of the Bright Moon Knight Order.

The Commander of the Bright Moon Knight Order appeared older than the Chief Knight under the Pope’s command, with a more resolute and stern visage, and the armor he wore bore the emblem of the sun cradling the moon.

The Commander spoke gravely, “The squad of the Bright Moon Knight Order encountered an ambush by a group of bandits just before entering the Eastern Continent. Their onslaught was fierce; they had sophisticated armor and weaponry, not resembling ordinary vagabond bandits.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Shuo seemed pensive.

The two squads definitely hadn’t just traveled a few days before catching the enemy’s attention and probing.

Before encountering a direct ambush, there must have been many covert surveillances, but all this was expected before setting out, not worth particular attention.

Although the two squads took different routes, the marching speed of the Bright Moon Knight Order.

Was essentially consistent with that of the Holy Court’s army.

This was also to ensure that when the Bright Moon Knight Order faced insurmountable forces, they could quickly receive support from the Holy Court’s army and move the true Pope’s carriage to a safe location.

However, when the Holy Court’s army entered the Eastern Continent.

The Royal Capital sent a military escort.

Almost at the same time.

The Bright Moon Knight Order suffered the bandit attack.

This indicates that the Royal Capital also clearly understood what they were arranging, so the dispatched military, though nominally for escort, were actually supervising. When necessary, they would even prevent the Holy Court’s army from aiding the Knight Order.

However…

Neither of the squads actually contained the real Pope.

Therefore, the Holy Court’s army outwardly showed some impatience while inwardly remaining unfazed, and the reinforcements they covertly deployed were not particularly heartfelt.

If it weren’t for misleading the enemy.

They probably wouldn’t want to bother feigning such restlessness.

…

Xu Shuo asked pensively, “Along the way, did the Bright Moon Knight Order have any obvious exposure?”

The Commander shook his head, “We disguised ourselves as a merchant caravan, proceeding to the Eastern Continent under the escort of a Mercenary Corps, never revealing any information related to the Holy Court.”

Half merchant caravan, half Mercenary Corps.

An old method of traveling incognito.

However, due to the special mission of the Bright Moon Knight Order, their sixty-member squad did not include any outsiders; it was entirely comprised of knights in disguise.

Warriors with a military background have a certain commanding presence no matter the disguise, and it is difficult to hide this demeanor.

Xu Shuo was also unclear for the moment.

Whether it was the Bright Moon Knight Order that had inadvertently divulged their own identity.

Or if it was some other channel that had given away their whereabouts.

All he thought about was, the Holy Court’s army was easy to locate due to its lack of concealment and significant size. The Bright Moon Knight Order also had a slight risk of exposure, so what about himself?

Where had he himself been exposed?

Upon reflection, from the day the plan was initiated.

To just before this evening.

The enemy seemed to have been informed of their movements.

From Black Tide Island to The North, then to the Silver City-State, as well as the sudden appearance of the Royal Capital’s Messenger on the eve of the departure of the Silver Shield Legion.

And as for his own side, it was needless to say, despite being diligently on the way, they were unexpectedly ambushed by a death warrior legion.

Xu Shuo’s brow furrowed deeply.

The others noticed the Pope’s deep contemplation. Though they were eager to inquire if His Holiness had been faring well in the past few days, they did not disturb his thoughts, merely exchanging silent glances among themselves.

Just then.

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Xu Shuo seemed to think of something, his gaze suddenly sharp.

He abruptly waved his hand, and the Power of Light lingering in the cathedral rapidly converged, instantly forming a Light Magic Circle.

Immediately, with the magic circle’s golden light flickering, a jade that seemed to have been waiting a long time flew out.

Xu Shuo quickly unfolded the jade to check the message.

A message entered his mind.

Direct, without any superfluous chatter.

Zuo Fang: [Help meeee!!!]

…