The Defeated Saintess Is On A Journey To Tame The Evil God Book 01 Chapter 06.02 - Whale Song

Lucius glanced at Xing Mo, and a gratified smile appeared on his lips: "You, like Miriam, are a good kid, burdening yourself with such a heavy burden despite your young age."

His posture was somewhat stooped, lacking the previous vigor.

"Instructor, are you alright?" Xing Mo scrutinized the instructor's face.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury, nothing important." Lucius shook his head, "What's important is... our troubles have multiplied..."

"It's Steam Man, isn't it?" Xing Mo's eyes dimmed a little.

"That's right. When he attacked me, I saw him break free from the binds of the academy's string formation." Lucius recalled that day's incident, "He's at least six string rank, possibly even approaching Demigod rank..."

Approaching Demigod rank...? No wonder he was able to run away after being hit by Aurora's spear...

"We still don't know if he is inherently that strong, or if the steam armor made him that strong." Lucius murmured, "But the important thing is... the Church still can't explain how he managed to unleash successive strikes in the White Tower District and the academy. You see, the three attacks that night occurred within half an hour, without triggering any defensive magic. He even showed up Nevirabeta's Rear Gardens..."

"Perhaps not unlike in the urban legend, he is the ghost of the Steam Revolution, a specter." Lucius smiled mockingly.

"Come on, Instructor, we'll catch him sooner or later." Xing Mo comforted.

A chilly wind blew past and raised ripples across the lawn, making it seem like the two were standing on a rippling lake.

Looking up at the gray sky, Lucius adjusted the collar of his trench coat, his baritone voice intermittent: "I... recognize the device on his body."

"What?" Xing Mo turned her head abruptly.

She met the instructor's lake-blue eyes—now a dark shade of blue, resembling vast seas swirling whirlpools.

"The steam alchemy machine formation on his body, I recognize it." Lucius's voice was hoarse, "It's the prototype that was activated the day Miriam died. The culprit who caused her death sneaked into my workshop for that very prototype..."

"They stole the prototype's blueprints and released alchemical steam, intending to blame me for the deaths of tens of thousands of people!"

"However, Miriam saved the lives of those innocent people. And because of that... because of that..."

Lucius fell to his knees, trembling. Xing Mo extended her hand to help him, but the middle-aged gentleman raised his hand in refusal.

He rose to his feet, bracing himself on his knees for support, taking deep breaths until he calmed down.

"Are you sure you didn't see it wrong..." Xing Mo murmured.

She knew what this meant: the person behind Steam Man was most likely also responsible for Miriam's death. After all these years, they finally obtained a clue about the culprit.

"I'm sure. The string of fire base, in combination with the string of the shadows, functions to generate high temperatures in an instant, resulting in steam with a subdued hue." Lucius said in a low voice, "If that fellow wishes, he can induce the meltdown of the string reactor. The resulting alchemical steam will be greater... and denser... than the night Miriam left us..."

"If it is unleashed in the White Tower District, the entire Citadel may be turned into a dead city."

Lucius pulled up a sleeve of his trench coat, and Xing Mo noticed that his hands covered in visible veins were trembling.

"Judging by the kill list you obtained in the Sunflower Hot Springs, the person behind Steam Man can only be him..."

"Prince Austin..." Xing Mo said in a quiet voice.

... the list was found at the Sunflower Hot Springs. And that same night, three people on the list were attacked by Steam Man...

... the Sunflower Hot Springs were confirmed to be affiliated with Prince Austin. Furthermore, Prince Austin's name was not on Steam Man's hit list...

... Bishop Freyr's last known destination was the Sunflower Hot Springs, and his name was on Steam Man's hit list...

If all this wasn't a coincidence, then Prince Austin's plan was quite straightforward—

—to eliminate all the senior figures of the Citadel and gain control of the Citadel.

As for Bishop Freyr... since he walked into Prince Austin's trap, perhaps like the others on the hit list, he had already been dealt with by Steam Man...

"Bishop Freyr's whereabouts are no longer of consequence." Lucius shook his head, "Since he disappeared in the Southern District, in the Sunflower Hot Springs, then the Angel's Tear..."

"... must have fallen into Prince Austin's hands." Xing Mo finished the instructor's sentence, hands trembling.

She recalled the details of Mordheim's Evil God's descent incident: if Prince Austin was the one who modified the White Tower's warning, thus facilitating Aurora's arrival, then now that he obtained the Angel's Tear, what will he do with it?

Will he use it to seal the godhead and then banish the Evil God? No...

"He wants to gain the power of the Gods?" Xing Mo felt the cemetery grow colder.

"Imperials have always been ambitious..." Instructor Lucius said, "Anyway, we must get our priorities straight..."

Indeed, Steam Man's threat was imminent. At this time, Aurora was not only not an enemy, but was even a figure they must actively seek to ally with.

She had to be safe.

Although worrying about the safety of an Evil God seemed unnecessary...

"How are things between you two?" Lucius asked.

"Very good. She can already take care of herself." Xing Mo exhaled.

"Sounds like you guys are getting along well." Lucius forced a smile, "Let's not be too downbeat. The police and Bell Protectors have obtained crucial evidence. Prince Austin will soon be brought down, but it will take time to plan the operation in the Southern District, to avoid triggering a riot among the imperials when he is arrested."

"But... won't Prince Austin try to run, considering that the Sunflower Hot Springs have been closed down?" Xing Mo worried.

"Vivian changed the reason for the closure, from 'heretic string magic formation' to 'problematic gaming practices.'" Lucius smiled, "In any case, he hasn't noticed anything strange for now. He will soon be brought to justice."

"I hope everything goes smoothly." Xing Mo said.

"Don't worry. Even if it isn't smooth sailing, I'll make sure he doesn't get away scot-free."

At this time, rain oozed out from the dark clouds, dripped onto the lawn's ripples.

Lucius looked up at the sky, raindrops falling on his lake-blue eyes, creating ripples.

These ripples resembled waves of a raging sea rather than waves on a lake.

He lowered his head, caressed Miriam's tombstone, then adjusted the hat on his head. He turned to Xing Mo and smiled gently: "I am a father, Mo-mo. If you take away my daughter, you must pay the corresponding price."

"Even an old dog will fight for its puppies, not to mention me."

With that, he turned around and started across the rippling lawn.

Xing Mo watched the instructor leave. His steps were still a little unsteady, yet his back was no longer stooped, but rather as straight as a mountain.

That was the kind of back only a father would have.

…

Xing Mo turned and stroked Miriam's tombstone as well.

Feeling the gravestone's cold touch, Aurora's words rang in Xing Mo's mind unbidden: "You shouldn't be like this. As I see it, if someone took away your best friend, you should destroy him. Use your fire, inflame your fire, so that no one can stop you."

Feeling a fire burning in her chest, Xing Mo whispered to Miriam's tombstone: "Miriam, if Prince Austin is really the culprit behind your death, I will avenge you."

After she finished speaking, she pulled up her hood and strode away.

......