After walking for nearly half an hour, traversing half the urban area, Goki and Skadi, carrying a suitcase, finally stood before the magnificent building on the cliff.
Iberia is a religious nation, where reverence for deities is deeply ingrained. Churches are always built on the highest ground in a city, and no building in the entire city is allowed to be taller than a church spire.
Of course, modern mobile cities have large populations, so they couldn't just build bungalows. Therefore, the Iberian government created an artificial cliff above the city.
In the dim, decaying city, with white as its main color, only on this cliff could green trees and shrubs be seen.
"Dong, dong, dong—"
The low tolling of a bell made the already gloomy, overcast day even more oppressive, as if portending a heavy rain.
"It's here. Cleric Quintus always stays in the church. When everyone gets hungry, they come here."
Her black skirt swayed in the air, Anita, like a vibrant little bird, nimbly walked in front of the Hunter and the Skadi the Singer.
"Cleric Quintus gives us 'Holy Communion,' which is always fish and shellfish from the sea. I ate it often when I was little, but lately, I hardly get any. The Priest says it's a gift from the ocean—he's really amazing."
Although her body was a bit thin, Anita was still full of the resilience and vitality of life.
After Goki and Skadi found her and gave her a few candies they had gotten from Kal'tsit, the little girl immediately confidently accepted the task of leading the two to the Saltwind City church.
"The Priest always makes us recite some strange prayers. I haven't been to school, so I don't understand a lot of them… But he says a strong body is very necessary, and nothing is more important than a full stomach—Oh dear!"
Suddenly, Anita felt her body lighten, her feet leaving the ground, and then a gentle small hand stroked the top of her head.
"Ocean Goddess… These madmen, they really love to make things up. In the sea, there are only terrifying Seaborn, where would there be any goddess?"
Holding Anita in her arms, Skadi expressionlessly extended her small hand and ruffled her soft black hair.
"The ocean belongs to everyone, not to a sea god, understand?"
Abyssal Hunters all have white hair and red eyes, and black hair is not common among Iberians. Skadi had always been very curious about the jet-black hair of Goki and Anita.
Coupled with the fact that the cute pet kept by the woman named Kal'tsit was also black, Skadi immediately developed a great interest in their hair.
"That tickles, Skadi the Singer big sister… I don't quite understand, but what you say must be right too."
Anita was not afraid, merely letting Skadi stroke her, even comfortably narrowing her eyes.
"I don't know if there's a sea god, but as long as I can eat, that's good enough."
Beside them, Goki, leaning on his cane, sighed, pressed the hat on his head, and stood at the church entrance, observing the surrounding scenery.
"Ah, as long as you two are happy."
Grand, weighty, reserved, and understated—these were the impressions Goki had when he first saw the church.
Unlike the white architectural style of the city, this largest building was constructed from black brick and stone. The spires and walls were carved with religious inscriptions, giving it a solemn and dignified appearance.
Coupled with Anita's description of the "Priest," and his generous and selfless demeanor, it was easy to believe that the Priest in this church was a devout and steadfast believer.
However… this did not include Goki.
"Tsk, the Church, and they even give out seafood… You really find these kinds of people everywhere, giving out eggs to trick old men and women into listening to their sermons. That's all these people are good for."
Goki generally—had no good feelings for religious figures.
Whether it was the Abyssal Cultist Skadi had just identified, or the Iberian Church represented by the Inquisitors, Goki had a poor impression of them all.
After all, in Yharnam, whether it was the Healing Church, which caused the widespread beastly scourge, or the Choir, which broke away from the Healing Church, this Old Hunter had thoroughly slaughtered them all, inside and out.
These people, in their pursuit of true knowledge about the Great Ones, the ancient gods, had long since abandoned their conscience, and God knows how many human experiments they had conducted.
They single-handedly brought about the calamity of Yharnam City, yet they portrayed themselves as saviors, enjoying the faith of the populace and guiding the people's ignorance.
Perhaps there were many good people among them, but at least during Goki's time, all the good people had died out, while the scourges remained.
Compared to the Healing Church, which abandoned the people of Yharnam and ultimately declined, the heretics who worshipped the Great Ones, the red-robed elder in the small chapel, were actually more reliable—though she also harbored impure motives.
And based on the information he had investigated and gathered within less than a day of arriving, Goki also had his own judgment.
Anita said that because joining the Church meant getting food, many residents of Saltwind City had already become members of the Church. Moreover, recently, some residents would mysteriously disappear while foraging, with no trace of them alive or dead.
Kal'tsit, the "ordinary researcher," stated that after trying to contact several Priests, she found that he seemed to be secretly engaged in some clandestine activities, which was highly suspicious.
Clearly, Kal'tsit was reminding Goki—she always knew more than she let on.
However, she didn't know that Goki knew even more than her, was even more… omniscient.
The Abyssal Church, Goki could essentially confirm that the entity entrenched in this church was such a shameless cult.
He didn't need the complex interrogation and investigation work of an investigator; he simply brought Skadi to kick down the door.
If he knew the original plot and still let the enemy play him for a fool, then he would be a disgrace to Transmigrators.
"Abyssal Church… We have fought them for a long time. They have also caused immense destruction to many Aegir cities. We initially thought they were all poor Souls controlled by the Seaborn—but we didn't expect them to be willing participants."
Putting Anita down, Skadi's fair nose twitched, taking a deep breath, her red eyes growing more vibrant, seemingly filled with Battle Intent.
"The smell of the sea, I can smell it. It's very much like the Seaborn, very much like the enemy—you give the order, and I'll send them all flying."
Clutching her suitcase tightly, Skadi adjusted her crimson skirt and nodded to Goki.
Skadi's heart was racing; she smelled prey.
Goki also nodded, bent down, and reached out to ruffle Anita's small head.
"Alright, Anita, try to get everyone away from this area, understand?"
She was not yet ten years old; innocent, she didn't need to understand so many complex things.
"Got it! Cleric Quintus is a very good person. Are you here to see him because you have some worries—Oh, the door's open!"
Anita nodded obediently, then excitedly pointed towards the main entrance.
The church doors slowly opened, and a group of emaciated residents emerged from within.
Compared to yesterday, when they had hidden in their homes, eyes warily watching the outside, these residents' expressions showed less vigilance and more serenity.
No, looking at those residents who, unable to resist hunger, were already stuffing small, palm-sized pieces of raw fish directly into their mouths, Goki felt more… muddled confusion.
"Brothers and sisters, enjoy your breakfast. This is a reward for good deeds, for hunger and sickness have not defeated us, but have made us more sincere, more united, and more loving."
And from behind the crowd, a calm and gentle voice emerged.
The Bishop, clad in green robes, held a golden crozier and placed the last few pieces of fish into the hands of the worshipping citizens, his handsome face adorned with a serene smile.
"Do you hear it? The sound of the waves, thump, thump, thump, just like our heartbeats. What you eat and drink are all gifts from the sea. Brother, do you feel an abundance of strength surging from your mouth and stomach, flowing through your limbs, reaching your heart?"
Before him, all the worshippers, dressed in tattered clothes, had faces filled with profound gratitude.
"Thank you, Priest sir. I will thank the sea. Your words are truth."
"The language of the ocean is truth. Embrace the vastness before you; this is the hope of new life."
And so, a group of residents who had received food quickly poured out of the church.
However, it was clear that they valued the food in their hands more than the Priest's words; they only cared about that.
Among them was Hearth, whom Goki and Skadi knew. Seeing Anita, he immediately ran excitedly to her side.
"Well, I'm off, Hunter big brother, Skadi the Singer big sister. I hope you have a pleasant time with the Priest."
Goki smiled and waved goodbye to the girl, then, together with Skadi, silently looked at the now exceptionally empty interior of the church.
He could tell that, more than being relieved, these citizens seemed to have been… tamed.
[No wonder, in a few years, the residents here would all become so muddled.]
Inside the church, the light was dim, with only a few candles glowing faintly.
"Welcome, welcome. I've heard about you from Your Excellency, the Inquisitor, Mister Hunter, Nona Skadi the Singer. You are the nurturers of flesh and Soul. Please, come in, come in."
Grinning at Goki and Skadi, Cleric Quintus struggled to suppress his impulsive desires.
Who would have thought that the Abyssal Hunter, who had just failed to be captured, would so foolishly and unguardedly walk right into the trap?
Did she truly believe that the Skadi the Singer's fragile disguise wouldn't be seen through at a glance?
"Today's 'Holy Communion' has already been distributed, but if you have any troubles you need to confide, perhaps Old Quintus can answer your questions and dispel your doubts… After all, we are all brothers and sisters."
Inviting the two with a kind tone, Quintus turned and walked towards the interior of the church.
Relying on his long experience of infiltration in northern Iberia, Quintus was well-prepared to face a wary Abyssal Hunter.
Though very reluctant, Quintus had still removed the scent of the ocean from his body.
Whether it was his tone, his speech, his expression, or his interpretation of heretical doctrines, he could perfectly disguise himself, making himself perfectly conform to the behavior of a Laterano Cultivator.
The fact was that neither the Laterano Inquisition nor the Iberian Inquisition could see through his disguise.
[As long as I can easily stall them for a while, my cultists will be able to cover this place with the densest firearm firepower, and the powerful reinforcements granted by the Emissary will also tie them down, not to mention that decisive weapon… And now, they will still only think of me as an ordinary Priest.]
Turning his head, Quintus continued to force himself to smile at the two inferior beings.
"Lost brothers and sisters, I am honored to hear your confessions—huh?"
Clang—
Crack—
But when he turned around, Quintus suddenly found that the white-haired girl in the red dress and the black-clad Hunter had silently hoisted a huge black mechanical sword and a rusty Saw Cleaver, like a jigsaw, onto their shoulders.
The two stared intently at Quintus, as if they had discovered interesting prey.
"Goki, in that case, can we cut him?"
Her crimson eyes reflected excited light; Skadi was already somewhat impatient.
"Yes, we can cut him—let's finish this quickly."
Goki sighed and silently drew his pistol.
Quintus's "gentle" smile froze on his face.
"I don't understand, brother. I am just an unarmed Priest, and there are no valuables to steal here, so why—"
"Blame it on you not being a cute young girl—SKIP! Skip the plot!"
The next second, the two Hunters charged forward simultaneously, like lions sprinting towards wildebeest.
They didn't know anything about the plot, nor did they know why they were here; they only knew—it was time to kill!
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