Backlund, East Borough.
"Huff"
The early morning temperature at the start of the new year was still quite low.
Xio Derecha walked hurriedly along the road, white breath continuously puffing out from beneath her hood.
Following the coded directions, she turned left and right, quickly slipping into a secluded alley.
"What's the matter?"
The petite "Sheriff" asked in a lowered voice.
Across from her, a man wearing a golden mask emerged from around the corner.
"There's a new commission. See if you want to accept it."
The man's steady voice came through the mask, sounding somewhat muffled.
"Is it about the Blood Reverend again?"
Xio frowned. "Are you still investigating him?"
Recently, MI9 had gone crazy, searching everywhere for this lunatic's whereabouts.
Just as frantic as them were the bounty hunters coveting the astronomical reward.
The two groups had practically turned all of Backlund upside down, yet still hadn't found any valuable clues.
Instead, they'd stirred up endless trouble in the underground Beyonder world.
Fors had used this as an excuse to hide at home without coming out.
Honestly, if she kept being this lazy, she'd grow together with her armchair!
Just as Xio was grumbling internally, she saw the golden mask across from her shake his head.
"No, the Blood Reverend is no longer in Backlund."
The latter's voice carried obvious resentment.
"According to the latest intelligence, he's already appeared in the Sonia Sea."
"The Sonia Sea?"
"Yes, he's caused some incredible trouble again. The specifics, you'll see in today's newspapers."
Golden Mask said irritably. "Anyway, I'm looking for you today about something else."
He took out a photograph from inside his robe and handed it to Xio.
The photo showed a red-haired young woman in a court dress, with a noble and radiant appearance.
"This is..."
"The third princess of Intis, Sophia Einhorn."
Golden Mask said, "She's gone missing recently.
If you find any information about her, contact me immediately.
If the information is reliable, you'll receive a reward of at least 1000 pounds."
1000 pounds!
Xio's heart leaped.
Well, that made sense given it involved a royal family member, but...
"What does an Intis princess going missing have to do with your MI9?"
She couldn't help but ask.
"It's classified. I can't tell you."
Golden Mask answered flatly.
Classified?
Xio furrowed her valiant brows and glanced at him.
Golden Mask usually commissioned secret work but would at least give some explanation.
This was the first time he'd told her absolutely nothing.
"I understand. I'll keep an eye out."
She put away the photograph. "Anything else?"
After receiving Golden Mask's negative response, Xio left the alley. Two questions lingered in her mind, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
What had the Blood Reverend done this time?
And why was MI9 searching for the missing princess?
Her first question was soon answered.
"Extra, extra! Blood Reverend appears in the Sonia Sea, attacks local government and flees!"
"Extra, extra! Blood Reverend publicly recruits on Toscarter Island, declares he'll become a pirate and oppose Loen!"
At the morning market on the border between East Borough and Jorwood District, newsboys waved freshly printed newspapers, shouting loudly.
The shocking news immediately drew everyone's attention the moment it hit the streets.
"Give me one!"
From a passing carriage, a gentleman leaned out the window and called.
"Sir, it's an urgent bulletin, two pence more than usual."
"Here's the money, hurry and give it to me!"
The man paid and snatched the newspaper, scanning it eagerly.
Xio noticed that as he read, the gentleman's expression turned more and more stunned.
He muttered under his breath, "No… this can't be… how is this possible?"
What on earth could the newspaper say?
Curiosity stirred within her, and she wanted to buy a paper too, just to see.
At that moment, the two newsboys were already surrounded by curious people, packed tight.
Xio used her powerful strength that didn't match her physique to forcibly push through the crowd and successfully bought a newspaper.
The Backlund Post read:
"Blood Reverend Spotted at Sea: Announces Plan to Raise Pirate Crew Against the Kingdom!"
This paper reports that recently, the notorious criminal nicknamed 'Blood Reverend,' who committed the grave crime of attacking the palace in Backlund, has appeared in the Sonia Sea and attacked Toscarter Island on the easternmost edge of the sea.
According to the investigation, the 'Blood Reverend' calls himself Alexander Gascoigne.
Together with a former pirate hunter from the Fog Sea, he launched a surprise attack on the island's government.
The attack caused heavy casualties among the soldiers and left the local governor unconscious.
In addition, the Blood Reverend Alexander Gascoigne seized vast sums of money from the island and enlisted numerous pirates and outlaws, openly declaring his intention to oppose the royal family.
His Excellency Amyrius Rieveldt, the Kingdom's naval admiral, has publicly declared that the glorious Royal Navy will soon capture the audacious "Blood Reverend" and bring him to justice.
As Xio read, her eyes couldn't help but narrow slightly.
The [Blood Reverend] had caused major trouble again!
An entire administrative district had actually been looted. No wonder that Golden Mask looked so troubled!
---
Sonia Sea, beyond the normal shipping lanes.
A fleet sailed across the sea, the three-masted sailing ship at its head moving at extreme speed.
"The Omniscient and Omnipotent Lord created everything, then entered slumber."
In the captain's quarters, Silas held some parchments and read quietly.
"After this, the Ancient Gods ruled the world."
"Giant King Aurmir, the 'Dragon of Imagination' Ankewelt, Elf King Soniathrym, Ancestor of Vampires Lilith, Devil Monarch Farbauti, Ancestor of Phoenixes Gregrace, Mutated King Kvastir, Annihilation Demonic Wolf Flegrea, divided up the authority left by the Lord.
They became the deities that ruled the sky, earth, and ocean, ruled reality, the spirit world and the astral world, ruled the various races.
True deities, ancient deities."
After finishing these lengthy names, he paused, then muttered to himself, "The legends of the City of Silver differ from the scriptures of the Seven Gods on the Northern Continent."
What he held in his hands were precisely the texts about the Mythical Age that [The Sun] had transmitted through Mr. Fool.
In the scriptures of the Seven Gods, the mythology regarding creation was relatively simple.
It only said that the Creator awakened from chaos, broke through the darkness, created the first ray of light, then completely merged into the universe and transformed into all things.
All monsters, deities, the earth, and mountains were differentiated from Him.
"Medici, which of these two accounts is closer to the truth?"
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly spoke, asking the Red Angel dwelling within him.
This angel had come from an even more ancient era and should know more.
"..."
Medici didn't answer.