"Since it's been determined that the Sun-Forgers Cult incident poses no immediate threat to us, there's only one matter left to discuss..."
"How should we deal with the traitors from the previous 'Cup's Servant' descent incident?"
Silver Wing Locust keenly glimpsed the gloom in Alwin's eyes, pursed her crimson lips, and gave a shallow smile.
"That's up to you. The Confidential Division only provides intelligence; making decisions isn't really our main job. But if you want an opinion, I'd recommend cleaning out those fellows thoroughly. They haven't seen their own blood in too long... to the point of getting a bit carried away."
Black Banyan narrowed his eyes, somewhat puzzled, looking back and forth between the two speaking in riddles.
"Traitors? Within our own ranks, or within the White Cup Cult?"
He currently cared about two things. First, the identity of the betrayer, so he could go wring their neck. Second, it seemed only he didn't know about this...
Silver Wing Locust sighed lightly, took out a cigarette and placed it between her fingers, but didn't light it.
"Clearly neither. Black Banyan, have you thought carefully about... why the Red Cup Cult could inscribe a ritual array connecting three districts in Norlington's sewer system?"
"Didn't you say it was something the Red Cup Cult secretly pulled off during the great plague? We were overwhelmed at the time, so naturally it was hard to detect."
Silver Wing Locust nodded somewhat approvingly, as if relieved that Black Banyan's brain capacity hadn't shrunk along with his body.
"That's indeed true. But someone later covered up for them. Their actions were subtle and clean, almost leaving no trace..."
"Think carefully. Who is responsible for the daily maintenance of public facilities? Who possesses intelligence agencies capable of deceiving the Confidential Division? Who has been waiting for an opportunity to retaliate after falling from power?"
Black Banyan's gaze sharpened, a trace of coldness rising.
"City Hall? Those politicians still have the leisure for this? This isn't inviting the wolf into the house... It's purely playing with fire. If we and the White Cup scholars were defeated, they would undoubtedly become the Red Cup Cult's next target."
--
Alwin stood in the center of the office like a high wall, towering and burly.
He crossed his arms and responded decisively to Black Banyan's confusion.
"Not necessarily. The Red Cup Cult isn't very interested in seizing power. Compared to exposing themselves and becoming a target, they clearly prefer hiding behind the curtain to guide developmental trends."
"If someone is willing to be a puppet on stage and can provide them with the sacrifices and pleasures they need... perhaps not only would they not be attacked, but they'd receive corresponding protection and rewards."
Hearing this, Black Banyan couldn't help but curl his lip.
"Heh, very consistent with my image of certain City Hall councilors. They'd indeed do such things. Perhaps these guys know what the cost and outcome are... But as long as they are given the illusion of regaining their former power, they'll abandon everything for it."
"So, why exactly did you have me participate in this meeting?"
"Although I'd be delighted to bring warm greetings to the betrayers, hunters on suspension may not participate in missions. That's our Burial Court's precept."
After speaking, he lightly rubbed his hands, with an expectant look full of tacit understanding, and waited for the two's answers.
And this was precisely the content to be clarified with Black Banyan; Alwin had no reason to keep them in suspense.
"Madam Marian submitted your psychological screening and stability test reports in August. She believes the changes on you originate from the relic S-923 'Death Banyan' and not Evil Spawn pollution; the risk of losing control can be managed."
"The General Affairs Division considered her opinion and decided to restore your director position. This is your reinstatement notice... Of course, you'll have a few more review procedures than others for each mission afterward."
Black Banyan grinned, his handsome, boyish face gradually revealing a hint of a smile.
"Alwin, why is your General Affairs Division's decision-making speed so fast this year? And it doesn't seem as restrained as previous years... Looks like you've been quite stimulated these past few months."
"Alright, time to end this boring tea party. All I've had to do lately is stay in the Medical Wing waiting for Madam Marian to draw blood; my bones are almost rusting."
"I guess you two already have the target list and operational orders prepared, just lacking an executor... Right?"
Silver Wing Locust raised an eyebrow, somewhat yielding as she sighed lightly.
"If you Burial Court hunters were this sharp about other matters, you wouldn't have left the stereotype of obsessives with every department."
--
Norlington, South District, Sandlank Street.
It was evening. Haida and Vivian walked on the empty, desolate street.
The dim, yellowish streetlights flickered several times, casting chaotic shadows. Fine rain, like hairs, pattered onto the ground, pooling into several puddles of turbid water reflecting dimly.
"This mission area is in the South District, and Grandfather Will's bookstore is nearby... I hope nothing messy happens again during this time. This year's strange incidents are more than the past three years combined."
Vivian looked towards the bookstore's direction, her brow carrying a hint of worry.
"The Confidential Division believes the routine patrol's potential threat level in this area isn't high, below Category Two. Even lower than Solani's case. No need to worry."
Seemingly to make Vivian a bit more at ease, the silent Haida suddenly spoke.
"Ha, is that so..."
Vivian sensed Haida's kindness, but the nun's example somewhat increased her anxiety... making her current smile slightly forced.
Madam Solani's case was almost the prologue and opening of the entire "Plum Moon Ritual" incident.
At first, everyone thought it was just an ordinary missing person case. Even when traces of the Red Cup Cult later appeared, no one could have imagined the event would eventually develop to the level of a "Cup's Servant" descent...
"I've been too sensitive lately, after all, Sandlank Street is right under the White Cup Cult's watchful eyes..."
Vivian patted her cheeks, putting herself back into a calm mission state.
If not for the White Cup's research, development, and production being affected recently by the Sun-Forgers Cult incident, they probably wouldn't have specially commissioned the Secrets-Hunters to assist with patrols.
"But... shouldn't cases of homeless people disappearing generally be handled by City Hall? How did it eventually fall to the Burial Court?"
Vivian was somewhat curious about this.
Solani's case back then was handed to the Burial Court, firstly because the North District was the Secrets-Hunters' territory, secondly because the Confidential Division thought at the time that this case might be related to a secret cult.
But small-scale homeless disappearances might not necessarily be done by a secret cult lacking sacrifices; the perpetrator was more likely a serial killer seeking sensory stimulation...
"The Burial Court has taken over all matters originally handed to City Hall."
Haida stepped slowly over a few puddles on the sidewalk, explaining concisely.
"This indicates City Hall is no longer trustworthy. If my guess is correct... there should be a reckoning against them soon."
"Reckoning? Why?" Vivian widened her eyes, inexplicably feeling a sense of frustration.
As a Confidential Division agent, Haida actually knew this intelligence before her...
"They're connected to the previous 'Drinker's' descent. Director Alwin mentioned it casually during training, but he only gave a general idea. The specific situation depends on later General Affairs orders."
"Put that way, City Hall's suspicion is indeed not small..."
After Haida's reminder, Vivian also linked the two.
That enormous ritual array [Summon the Drinker] would have been extremely difficult to set up within the city district, let alone in a complex environment like the drainage system.
But if officials responsible for public facility maintenance provided cover... the efficiency of inscribing the array would be greatly increased.
Sandlank Street wasn't exactly a bustling area; the deeper into the district, the fewer pedestrians.
And because of the disappearance cases during this period, the homeless had also banded together and hid.
The two reached the end of the district, about to turn back. If nothing unexpected happened, this routine patrol would also end as usual.
But unexpected things always come unannounced...
From the corner of a deep alley, a figure wearing a black wind robe emerged—a style from some ethnic minority in Attilan, effective against sandstorms and sunlight.
He was of slender build; beneath the wind robe was a shadow difficult to peer into.
"Good evening, ladies. Still on duty at this hour? Secrets-Hunters' work is truly hard. But I heard you have top-tier accident insurance... So dying wouldn't be a bad thing, right?"
He greeted Haida and Vivian. But his greeting gesture was rather exaggerated, his tone carrying the teasing of a clown.
"Followed us all night without making a move; I thought you weren't planning to show yourself."
Haida showed no surprised expression, calmly taking the wooden-handled folding knife from her waist, holding it in a reverse grip.
Although she'd been itching for action lately, eager to try [Nirvana] 's blade edge, the opponent might not have the qualifications worth her drawing her sword.
Facing an unworthy enemy, one sword strike is an end, one punch is equally an end; no need for extra steps.
"You actually noticed? Oh, I forgot you're a Secrets-Hunter. I should have listened to my friend's advice, sprayed some deodorant before going out... Then I wouldn't have been smelled out."
Byers sighed full of regret.
"Are the homeless disappearance cases related to you?" Haida ignored the other's performance, merely pointing the wooden-handled knife at him.
"Homeless? What homeless?"
Byers seemed very puzzled. He pinched his chin in thought, then dropped his hand, as if suddenly realizing.
"Oh, you mean those unwanted snacks on the roadside. Although they're somewhat unappetizing, low-quality goods, I happen to have the good habit of not being picky. I don't mind these... As long as there's something to eat, it's happiness."
"An Evil Spawn, or a heterodox priest?"
Puzzled, Vivian silently disengaged the safety of the firearm hidden in her sleeve's shadow.
An Evil Spawn with thinking ability capable of normal communication, even the weakest, originates from the transformation of a senior acolyte. If it were before, Vivian would now be thinking about how to disengage and call for reinforcements.
But now, although she still sent a special incident signal via the Confidential Division's Category Two, lower-tier secret art [Calling Bird], she didn't feel afraid.
After all, her group leader Sister Haida dared to give the "Cup's Servant" two strikes to the kidneys...
"'Evil Spawn' are derivatives under a deity's skirt, while 'heterodox' are cults you exclude from your system. Narrowly speaking, I am neither. But similarly... you could also consider me both."
Byers slowly stepped forward, walking towards Haida, who was watching him closely.
"Actually, you two can relax a bit. I just want to retrieve some stolen things. If you two are willing to cooperate, I guarantee I'll never appear in Norlington."
"What thing?" Haida wasn't in a hurry to act.
She knew Vivian had already sent out the Calling Bird; delaying time was advantageous for their side. And she didn't mind gathering information this way.
"I'm searching for the Sun-Forgers Cult's lost artificial sun. Hmm... Perhaps you're more familiar with the name Sigrid?"
"...Are you from the Sun-Forging Main Temple?"
Haida narrowed her eyes, a flicker of surprise appearing in her gray-chestnut eyes.
This fellow before her differed rather greatly from the Sun-Forging members she'd seen. In comparison, Solm's hastily made armor was neat to the point of being like a uniform.
"No, really not, completely not. I have absolutely no relationship with the Sun-Forging Main Temple."
Byers waved his hands, somewhat perfunctorily disavowing any connection between the two sides.
"Sister, anything else to ask?"
Haida shook her head.
"Save the rest for interrogation." She took hold of a wooden-handled knife and closed in swiftly; the wind pressure surging around her was almost shattered by her steps.
Although Byers tried desperately to dodge, he was still struck hard in the chest by the knife handle; the sensation of shattered ribs and pulped flesh instantly came.
"Ugh..." He couldn't help but retch, bending over.
Simultaneously, Vivian seized the opportunity and pulled the trigger. Two steel-core bullets pierced through Byers's knee joints with a sound, further depriving him of mobility.
"Hah, nun, with this almost monstrous physique... you indeed have the capital to say that."
Blood mixed with saliva spilled from Byers's mouth. But just as Haida prepared to deliver an elbow strike to completely knock him unconscious, a sudden change occurred.
He... burst apart.
Byers's body burst apart into countless bats. These screeching nocturnal creatures flapped their leathery wings, pulling far away before reforming together.
"A bloodkin?"
Vivian took two silver-core bullets from her tactical bag, inconspicuously loading them into the magazine.
"Oh, you're such a well-cultured and polite young lady. Previous hunters' first words upon seeing us were always 'vampire.' Could you tell me your name? If you're still a virgin, I'd be willing to give you the First Embrace."
Bang!
The response to Byers was the roar from Vivian's gun muzzle. The silver-cored bullet directly shot into his chest and passed through his body.
But he didn't fall down thereupon, merely smirking and touching the burn-like injury on his chest.
"Very sorry, miss. I know my earlier words were impolite. But I've been confined for too long, and I'm desperate to communicate with people. Every word spoken with someone now makes me feel deeply satisfied..."
"Can you understand having your skin stripped off then replaced with airtight metal? Can you accept having prayers engraved on your bones with an engraving knife? Can you imagine having your cranial cavity filled with alchemical solution?"
Byers spoke in short bursts. Though his face under the bandages was unseen, it was clearly hysterical.
"I'm not interested in your experience."
Although somewhat surprised by the other's race, Haida didn't show it, maintaining her usual calm.
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL