13 Mink Street

The negotiating representatives had already entered the conference hall, which meant that everyone outside could be temporarily dismissed.

The Church of Reincarnation’s attendants began returning to the hotel. Their ranks remained perfectly neat, perhaps because at a time like this, only such discipline could allow them to create the appearance of refusing to be looked down upon. However, the more they behaved in that manner, the more deliberately lax the Church of Order’s attendants became.

Respect lost on the battlefield could not be won back elsewhere. Respect for the defeated was built on the premise that the defeated were truly worthy of respect. As for an opponent whose surrender document had arrived even before the formal declaration of war, it was genuinely difficult to respect them.

During this period, several deliberate provocations occurred. People from the Church of Order intentionally mocked those from the Church of Reincarnation with various words and gestures, though the other side did not respond. Because the Reincarnation people understood that responding would lead to conflict, and any conflict would only result in whoever got beaten being beat for nothing. Matters from the battlefield were yet to be resolved. How could the important figures above possibly care about some minor brawl outside the venue?

Nio clapped his hands at his squad members and said, “All right, dismissed. Remember, you must gather here before evening. No one is allowed to be late.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Yes, Captain.”

After dismissing the squad, Nio walked to the hotel entrance and called a carriage. Once he arrived at his destination, he got out and vanished for a while. When he emerged again, he had changed into a set of clothes worn by the locals of Darkmoon Island. The clothes had been taken from a nearby residence. Nio left a gold coin behind.

He then stood in place for a moment before vanishing once more. He went back to the residence and replaced the gold coin with three silver coins. After that, Nio began searching for marks along the streets.

These marks basically appeared in the form of decorations and small murals, all of which had been blended into the local culture of Darkmoon Island, so they did not look out of place.

Nio understood that the one within his soul had once intended to bring the believers who followed him to settle and develop on Darkmoon Island. For that reason, he had deliberately begun merging Light and Darkmoon Island’s local culture. That had been done with the greatest sincerity.

After finding the first mark, Nio followed its guidance to the next step. The whole process was somewhat complicated and even required contact with people. For instance, Nio stopped by a cigarette stall and bought eighteen cigarettes.

Cigarettes could be sold individually, because buying an entire pack was rather costly. Loose cigarettes were common not only on Darkmoon Island, but even in the slums of Veyn. However, each pack contained twenty cigarettes, so buying eighteen was hardly any different from buying a whole box, and strictly by price, buying a box was more economical.

The stall owner gave Nio a bag with the cigarettes inside, then said a local blessing to him, “Darkmoon above. May luck and happiness be with you.”

Above? Nio went up the stairs behind the stall and arrived at a platform. There was a restaurant there, and the day’s featured dishes were written on a blackboard outside, complete with illustrations.

In truth, neither the stall owner nor the restaurant knew what sort of code or marker this was. They were merely following instructions. Of course, they also received additional payment every month. Perhaps they had suspected something, but once it became a habit, fear would also keep them from reporting it.

After looking at the illustration on the blackboard menu, Nio turned and went back downstairs. He crossed two streets and arrived at the entrance of a small merfolk shop.

This establishment was more of a workshop and could not compare with a mermaid theater at all. After entering, one could see nothing but water tanks, each stuffed with male and female merfolk. After choosing one, clients paid directly and went to the row of small compartments beside the tanks to finish matters.

Places like mermaid theaters were playgrounds for the wealthy, after all, a ticket alone was expensive. Shops like this, however, were important channels through which locals came into contact with and studied merfolk culture.

The owner was a woman with hideous scars across her face. When Nio entered, she was sitting behind the cashier counter clipping her toenails.

Nio came to a stop. The owner glanced up at him and was just about to quote a price when Nio spoke first, “Do you have any merfolk that came ashore half a year ago?”

The owner set down the nail clippers in her hand. “By now, that would be dried fish.”

“Perfect. Saves on salt.”

The owner rose to her feet, washed her hands first, then gestured for Nio to follow her into the small room next door. “You should have come wearing a mask.”

“My first time here,” Nio replied honestly.

“From outside?” the owner asked.

“Mhmm.”

“Then you’ll need to be tested first.”

Aside from the Order mission chapel, Darkmoon Island did not currently permit any other open church organizations, but the island’s prosperity came from maritime trade, and the more developed a region’s maritime trade, the more mixed its population became.

Although Bernard had slaughtered a group of Light priests, their ideas had already been transmitted and spread. Even though the authorities had always maintained a high-pressure crackdown policy, believers had secretly and stubbornly persisted. After more than a century of development, their existence had even spread beyond Darkmoon Island. On some nearby islands, there were many islanders who believed in the Church of Reincarnation, because one of Reincarnation’s holy lands was located in the local waters. However, nearly every island also had believers who secretly worshipped Light. Their numbers included sea merchants, sailors, and even some pirates. Even among them were believers of Light.

Many other orthodox churches were unwilling to anger Darkmoon Island, so they did not preach openly. As for preaching in secret, the cost was high, the risk was great, and the effect was poor, so they were generally uninterested. Most such believers were self-organized. But the Light vermin were different. They had begun living beneath the shadows more than a century ago. Though they were Light, they could only dwell in the darkness.

If Darkmoon Island’s main faith had not been Darkmoon, perhaps the entire island would already have been covered by Light. Even so, the island had become the missionary base of Light in these waters.

In Nio’s mind appeared the thousand-person pit on the snake island. The fire they had left behind more than a century ago had not been extinguished. It had been passed down. Perhaps this was the meaning of Light? Darkness is the best soil for Light’s survival.

Tch... What am I thinking? Nio reached up and patted his forehead.

“What’s wrong?” the owner asked.

“A bit of a headache.”

“Need me to get you some medicine?”

“No need. It comes and goes.”

“All right. Who introduced you?”

“Dead.”

“He taught you to recognize the marks?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else you can reveal?”

“No.”

“Then I now need to test you. Please don’t mind.” The owner took out a palm-sized crystal ball and placed it before Nio. He reached out and grasped it. Light power flowed into the crystal ball, and it began to glow, soft and pure.

The owner appeared to be somewhat surprised. She gave Nio a serious look, then bent down, took out a mask that she handed to him. “Please put this on.”

“All right.” Nio put on the mask. It had the face of a snake and was very ugly.

“In two hours, go to the café at the end of the street. The password is: ‘The weather is hot.’”

“Understood.” Nio turned and left the small merfolk shop.

He truly found it very easy to blend in. Not only because he was familiar with the marks, but because, fundamentally, he was himself genuine Light vermin, and one of an extremely high level. When Bertha, who was an apostle, had seen him, she had immediately called him ‘Elder.’ Nothing proved Nio’s identity better than that gentle radiance. Sometimes even he found the situation amusing. His heart belonged only to Order, yet fate had turned him into Light.

In the past, he had felt somewhat lonely because of it, until discovering Karon.

Although Karon was somewhat different from Nio, his Light seemed to have been acquired afterward, and through some unknown method, he made the two powers coexist harmoniously, while Nio was pure Light. Yet regardless, that single similarity was enough to grant another layer of trust between the two, beyond the relationship of captain and squad member.

Nio removed the mask and walked into a nearby restaurant. He ordered several dishes, but no seafood, because he was wearing local clothes. Locals did not order seafood in restaurants. As he ate, he observed the pedestrians outside the window. Time quickly passed.

Nio rose, paid the bill, and left the restaurant. He walked to the end of the street. The café was not large, and there were not many customers. From time to time, people wearing masks or other face coverings entered. Nio put the snake-face mask back on. He truly felt that it was hideous, but it was not as though he could have one custom-made at this time.

When he entered the café, a server came over and examined the mask on each person’s face. After confirming them, he led them to the back.

There was a basement behind the café. Descending into it brought them to a fairly large underground space. Its only flaw was that it was somewhat long rather than square, though that had been done for the sake of secrecy.

Nio found a place and sat down. In front was a small platform with a chair placed on it. Those who knew understood that this was a secret gathering of Light vermin. Those who did not might think it was a small stage for a stand-up performance.

At that moment, a man sat down beside Nio. The two of them seemed to sense something in one another and exchanged a glance. The last time Nio had felt this kind of perception was when he saw Karon wearing a mask. But Nio knew Karon was currently in the conference hall watching the negotiations and could not possibly appear here.

Mhmm. This fellow’s hands were also very pale. In that regard, he’s a bit like Karon. Nio felt that since it was rare to meet someone he could sense in this way, he ought to take the initiative and say something, so he greeted him first, “Have you eaten?”

Some greetings worked universally, regardless of era or cultural background. After all, eating was something every person did every day.

“Mhmm, I have. You?” The other person responded with equally awkward small talk.

“I ate. At the seafood restaurant on this street, but I didn’t order seafood.”

“Yes, the seafood here isn’t good. It’s better to buy it at the market and cook it yourself. I don’t like heavy flavors. I think they cover up the seafood’s natural taste.”

“I have a friend with the same palate as you. He says food should be eaten for its original flavor, because that is nature’s finest gift to us.”

“Is your friend a believer of the Berai Church?”

“Heh, no. He just likes using nature to stand in for certain things. He’s a believer in the Light as well. He curses the God of Order every day.”

“I see. Is your friend on the island too?”

“He is.”

“He didn’t come?”

“Between the two of us, one is enough.”

“How long ago did you arrive on the island?”

“Just recently. We came in on a merchant ship.”

“Then you’d best be careful. The Darkmoon authorities have been hunting us lately. They haven’t had much success, but that doesn’t mean we can lower our guard.”

“What happened?”

“Apparently one of our people broke into General Tafmann’s private residence to assassinate him, but failed. That brought the general’s retaliation down upon us all.”

“Oh, how could that bastard do such a thing!”

“Exactly. That kind of behavior harms every one of us.”

“Yes. He deserves to die.” Nio cursed himself.

“You shouldn’t put it that way. I believe his intentions were good.”

“Do you know the theme of tonight’s gathering?” Nio asked.

“I heard it has something to do with the major matter unfolding on the island lately. The meeting should already be underway by now, the negotiations between the Church of Order and the Church of Reincarnation.”

“Yes, I know of it. Could it be they mean to gather us and have us strike at those two great churches? Sabotage the talks?”

“I doubt it. The war was already fought, and our influence over any sort of peace talks would be limited. Nothing we do now is likely to alter the designs or bottom lines of two orthodox churches.”

“Then the purpose of this gathering is—”

“Look, he's here. Mister Sebas. He is the local organizer on Darkmoon Island.”

A short, wiry figure walked onto the stage, an elderly little man by his appearance. He wore a ram mask that was too large for his small frame, making the whole sight strangely mismatched.

By now, around seventy or eighty people were seated below. Conversation ceased, and all eyes turned toward the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, our time is limited, so I will keep this meeting as brief as possible.

“You all know that Darkmoon Island is hosting the negotiations between the Church of Order and the Church of Reincarnation. This is the grandest event Darkmoon Island has seen in decades, grander even than the centennial cycle celebration held in honor of Darkmoon.

“Those Darkmoon traitors who once betrayed Light hope to use this occasion to force their way into the upper circles of the church world and expand their influence. It was also the dying wish of that traitor Bernard.”

That snake island had always remained a secret. Few people of Darkmoon Island knew of it, but the believers of the Light had passed the truth down from generation to generation. As those directly concerned, they could see matters clearly enough. Their position alone made the truth obvious.

Though Phileas and the nearly thousand believers who followed him had vanished overnight, Bernard’s subsequent order to purge the Light believers and mission chapels of Darkmoon Island all but confirmed what had happened: Betrayal!!!

The revival of the Light had once again been betrayed!”

Mister Sebas continued, “So now, most of Darkmoon Island’s available forces have been deployed to guard Bernard Hotel. The Darkmoon Clan won’t dare let anything happen to those people from the two orthodox churches. They lick those churches’ toes with admirable diligence.

“We have confirmed that, because of this event, half the guards stationed at the Ancient Marshpool have been transferred away, and after some unknown person recently infiltrated General Tafmann’s private estate and failed in an assassination attempt, ah, perhaps that very person is seated among us now.”

Nio immediately turned to look at the man beside him.

The man replied, “Not me.”

“I don’t believe you,” Nio said.

“Because of that attempt, Darkmoon Island had to draw out more fighters for the search. Four additional squads were taken from the Ancient Marshpool. Only four squads remain guarding it now.

“This is the best opportunity we have had in a hundred years.

“We all know that more than a century ago, our guide, Mr. Phileas, came to Darkmoon Island upon the sea turtle Torathos with a group of believers of the Light.

“Later, Torathos believed our guide would establish himself here and would have no immediate need of him, so it chose to enter slumber. Mr. Phileas arranged for it to be sealed within the Ancient Marshpool. It is a divine guardian beast of the Light. Its body towers like a mountain. Terrifying lava can pour from its mouth. It was moved by Mister Phileas and submitted itself beneath the Light.

“That is why, after Bernard betrayed us, neither he nor his descendants ever dared relax their watch over the Ancient Marshpool. And now, our chance has come. While Darkmoon Island lacks the manpower to spare, we will gather a force, strike the Ancient Marshpool, and awaken Lord Torathos, who has slept for a hundred years.

“Our goal is to have Lord Torathos punish the descendants of those traitors! And once punishment has been delivered, we hope Lord Torathos will return to the sea and guard the mission chapels of our island, so that the light of our church’s revival may burn once more. Praise Light!”

“Praise Light!”

“Praise Light!”

“Praise Light!”

Torathos? Something stirred faintly in Nio’s mind. Following that sensation, he recalled something.

“I will now assign the operational plan. We need volunteers, and volunteers are all we can rely on. Those unwilling to join may leave later, but keep tonight’s matters secret. Those willing to participate may register with my assistant now.

“Believe me, if all goes well, within the next two days you will hear Lord Torathos’ furious roar rising from the Ancient Marshpool. It will shake all of Darkmoon Island!”

The middle-aged man beside Nio stood and headed forward to sign up. A moment later, Nio rose as well.

He did not go to register, but instead vaulted straight onto the platform.

“What are you doing?” Sebas was startled by Nio’s sudden rush to the stage.

“You idiots! Even if you break into the Ancient Marsh Pool, you still won’t be able to awaken Torathos. To awaken Torathos, you need to sound the Covenant Conch. That conch is in Bernard’s tomb right now, buried with him as a burial object!

“As long as you obtain that conch and blow it within thirty kilometers, Torathos will sense it and awaken!”

Nio then raised both arms high and roared, “The place we need to attack is Bernard’s tomb!”

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