"Tell me more," Azrael raised an eyebrow with growing interest. "Are there still demons roaming around Donglai?"
Godfrey's expression had become notably grave. "I've never witnessed them collaborating with demons before."
"Even during our previous confrontations, I never observed this level of cooperation."
"Based on the detailed descriptions my operatives provided, the situation feels disturbingly familiar."
"They're coming from the north."
Upon hearing this revelation, Azrael straightened in his chair immediately. The "from the north" that Godfrey referenced could only mean the demon army stationed along the northern frontier.
"Is the pressure on the Empire of Aetherlight really that severe in the northern territories?" Azrael fell into contemplative silence.
Due to the dramatically altered course of history in this world, the extremely cold northern lands that had once belonged to Tsarist Russia were now completely occupied by organized demon armies.
The Eastern Slavs had been forced to retreat almost entirely to their ancestral homelands in Eastern Europe.
As for the Oirat and Jurchen peoples, being primarily nomadic societies, they had been nearly exterminated during the initial wave of secret realm manifestations.
Emperor Taizong Wen and Emperor Chengzu Wen probably never could have imagined that their lifelong campaigns against foreign tribal invasions would ultimately conclude in such an absurd and catastrophic manner.
Technically speaking, the demon army positioned along the Empire's northern border was effectively fighting a two-front war, engaging Tsarist Russian forces to the west while simultaneously battling the Empire of Aetherlight to the south.
This strategic reality made Azrael wonder why the military situation had deteriorated so rapidly and extensively.
Logically, the demon army shouldn't have the operational capacity to extend their influence this far south, especially considering that Donglai was considerable distance from the contested northern frontier.
The demon army and the Onefold Doctrine represented two completely different organizational structures and operational philosophies.
The Onefold Doctrine could only be regarded as a domesticated lapdog that the demons maintained for specific purposes.
If the demon army had actually appeared in Donglai, then the security situation in cities much closer to the northern battlefront must be deteriorating into complete chaos.
However, Azrael currently held only the position of Vice President of the Donglai Cardian Master Association. It seemed more prudent to allow the higher-ranking officials and experienced administrators to worry about such large-scale strategic concerns first.
"Do you have any intelligence about their recent activities?" With this practical consideration in mind, Azrael inquired about the Onefold Doctrine's current operational patterns.
Upon hearing this question, Godfrey shook his head with obvious frustration. "I'm afraid I don't have solid information. Those Onefold Doctrine operatives have been maintaining an unusually low profile recently. Even during the latest demon incursion incident, they didn't emerge to cause their typical disruptions."
"Tsk," Azrael frowned slightly with growing unease. This deceptively calm situation always gave him the uncomfortable feeling of being the deliberate quiet before a devastating storm. "Never mind that for now. Let the association's senior leadership handle this particular matter. It's not really within our immediate jurisdiction."
Godfrey fell into contemplative silence. As the Director of the Public Security Office, he understood that ultimately he couldn't avoid dealing with any security issues that emerged in his territory. Such responsibilities came with his official position.
"Director Godfrey, do you have time available today? This would be an excellent opportunity to recruit some promising new members." Setting the Onefold Doctrine concerns aside temporarily, Azrael shifted their discussion toward other pressing organizational matters. "You should already have a general idea of the candidates you want to approach, correct?"
Godfrey nodded affirmatively. Even when Azrael had initially assigned him the recruitment task, the experienced middle-aged official had already identified several promising individuals who met their specific criteria. He would need to return to his office to organize the detailed information properly.
But for immediate purposes, the number of potential candidates was definitely sufficient to complete the assignment that the man before him had requested.
With a brief flash of pale light, both men and the massive spider disappeared completely from the abandoned factory building.
In a modest, cramped living room, a middle-aged man sat chain-smoking with a deeply furrowed brow.
But even this habitual nervous activity couldn't seem to calm the profound anxiety churning within him.
Beside him, a middle-aged woman with black hair streaked with premature gray sat silently wiping her reddened, tear-stained eyes.
In front of them both, a visibly dejected young man knelt reluctantly on the hard floor.
After an extended, uncomfortable pause, the middle-aged man finally stopped smoking and spoke, his voice thick with barely controlled fury. "How old do you think you are?!"
"Still fantasizing about becoming a Lore Cardian? If you actually possessed the talent for it, wouldn't you have succeeded already!"
"You spend every single day wasting time instead of pursuing legitimate employment!"
"Tell me exactly how much money you owe!"
The young man had been ignoring his father's furious tirade entirely, his attention only sharpening at the final demand, though he still hesitated to answer directly.
"Bang!"
The heavy glass ashtray crashed down beside the young man's head. The middle-aged man let out a bitter, angry laugh. "They've already thrown paint across your door, so what exactly are you still afraid to admit?"
Hearing this confrontation, the young man finally gave up any pretense and responded with obvious defiance in his voice, "Three hundred thousand Empyrean Dollars."
"How much?!"
A thunderous roar echoed throughout the small apartment, and the middle-aged man stared at his son with complete disbelief and horror.
The young man had completely abandoned any remaining facade at this point, responding with stubborn determination, "I don't have any money anyway. They told me that if I can't repay the debt, I'll pay with my life instead. So just watch what happens, Dad."
Witnessing his son's callous attitude, the middle-aged man gasped for breath several times, but then seemed to age several decades in an instant. His posture collapsed as he hunched forward and whispered desperately, "The family only has twenty or thirty thousand Empyrean Dollars saved."
"We'll just have to sell the house," the young man replied with complete indifference. Before confessing the full extent of his debt, he had already calculated how to extract maximum value from his parents.
The middle-aged woman, who had remained silent throughout the entire confrontation, slowly pulled out several worn, crumpled banknotes from her coat pocket. "Here's what your mother earned serving meals today, son. Please take this."
"Your father and I will find a way to handle the rest of the money. Please don't worry about it."
"Your mother is getting old and becoming useless."
Looking at the pathetic collection of bills that totaled no more than two hundred Empyrean Dollars, the young man curled his lips in obvious disdain. "What exactly can I accomplish with this pittance?"
"I'll definitely strike it rich once I become a Lore Cardian!"
"You're always spoiling our son! Look at what your precious boy has become!" The middle-aged man's eyes turned bloodshot as he stood up in absolute fury. "Get out of this house!"
"I'm going to pretend you're not my son anymore!"
He physically shoved the young man toward the door with violent force.
Looking at the closed security door in front of him, the young man spat with contempt, delivered a sharp kick to the metal surface, and walked away with aggressive swagger.
On the apartment building's rooftop, Azrael remained silent for several long moments before turning toward Godfrey. "Does the association provide lending services here in Donglai?"
What had just transpired reminded him vividly of his own early experiences in this world.
He too had been burdened with crushing debt and had been forced to sell his residence to meet his financial obligations.
Fortunately, he had discovered a genuine talent for Lore Cardian creation, which had helped him bridge that dangerous financial gap.
Without that fortunate discovery, he would have been forced to join the Crimson Oath Society under much less favorable circumstances.
Although he was already a member of the Crimson Oath Society, Azrael assumed that similar recruitment processes would apply to other desperate individuals in Donglai.
Godfrey, positioned beside him, shook his head with a completely expressionless demeanor. He hadn't expected to witness such an intense family drama immediately upon their arrival.
"This particular individual is simply a chronic troublemaker. He was even detained by the association for a period after physically attacking a Lore Cardian."
Azrael assessed the young man's apparent physical capabilities and felt his eye twitch involuntarily.
It was genuinely difficult to believe that this person could defeat even a child's toy, let alone an actual trained Lore Cardian.
He realized he had been completely misjudging the situation's context. After all, he had only assigned Godfrey the recruitment task earlier today.
The Director of the Public Security Office couldn't have orchestrated this elaborate debt collection scenario in advance.
"It should be a straightforward loan shark operation, right?" Azrael was preparing to make that assessment when his attention became fixed on something unexpected.
Godfrey also stared downward with obvious confusion.
At the building's entrance, a burly man covered in prominent scars emerged from the shadows as the young man stumbled outside, casually placing his hands in his jeans pockets. "Where's the money you owe?"
The scarred man asked while draping his arm around the young man's shoulders in a deceptively friendly manner.
The young man shuddered involuntarily, and a nervous, ingratiating smile appeared across his face. "Luke, my parents assured me they'll put the house on the market tomorrow to raise the money I need. Please don't worry, I'll definitely repay everything I owe."
Upon hearing this response, Luke displayed a distinctly unsettling smile. "You understand that tomorrow is the absolute final deadline, correct?"
The young man nodded frantically like a nervous bird, but Luke's next words made him freeze completely in terror.
"So if I don't see the full payment tomorrow, the amount won't remain at three hundred thousand Empyrean Dollars afterward."
Selling a residential property wasn't something that could be completed within a single day or two.
This clearly indicated that the young man's debt was already significantly overdue.
"Luke, please give me just a few more days! I promise I'll pay back every single Empyrean Dollar!" The young man swallowed hard and made hurried promises.
Luke appeared somewhat troubled by this request. "The terms are written clearly in black and white on our contract, and I can't simply extend deadlines just because you ask nicely."
"However," he continued after a deliberate pause.
Sensing that the situation might have some flexibility, the young man quickly pressed, "Luke, just tell me what conditions you'll accept!"
Hearing the young man's desperate words, Luke regarded him with apparent kindness. "Then you'll need to come with me for a while."
Sensing Luke's predatory gaze, the young man felt his stomach clench with dread, his heart sinking into despair. "Absolutely not!"
But considering the compound interest penalties that would accumulate on overdue payments, he finally gritted his teeth and followed the intimidating man.
On the rooftop above, Azrael, who had witnessed the entire exchange, asked with obvious interest, "Director Godfrey, shall we go observe this situation more closely?"
Godfrey nodded with cold professional determination.
The reason for both men's sudden heightened attention was that they had both detected the burly man's identity as a Lore Cardian.
Although only at the Bronze level, he was clearly operating outside legal authorization.
The two followed the pair from a safe distance until they entered a brightly illuminated establishment that was obviously a brothel.
"Director Godfrey should be capable of disguise work, correct?" Azrael asked casually while examining the establishment ahead of them. "I'd prefer not to see tomorrow's Donglai Morning News featuring headlines about Public Security Director Godfrey's scandalous activities."
Godfrey maintained his expressionless demeanor despite the young man's playful teasing.
As a covert operative within the Crimson Oath Society, naturally he possessed sophisticated disguise capabilities.
With a brief flash of pale blue light, a stern-faced young man with a military crew cut appeared before Azrael.
"Today you'll be Mr. Octavius, and I'll be Mr. Bruce," Azrael said with obvious amusement, as if recalling something particularly entertaining. "Let's visit the brothel to listen to some music. This will be my treat."
Godfrey's lips twitched stiffly in what might have been an attempt at a smile. "How could I possibly allow Mr. Bruce to pay? I insist on covering the expenses."
The two men stepped confidently into the establishment known as "Sanguin Tower."
Upon entering, a brothel madam immediately greeted them with a practiced, welcoming smile. "Is this your first visit here, gentlemen?"
Azrael responded casually while his enhanced senses systematically searched for the burly man and the young debtor.
His physically enhanced body naturally made it simple to locate both individuals.
"What are the charges for accessing the second floor?"
Azrael's question immediately caused the madam's eyes to light up with obvious excitement. "You gentlemen have arrived at the perfect time! Sanguin Tower is currently running a special membership promotion."
"Deposit ten thousand Empyrean Dollars and receive an additional ten thousand in credit."
"And second-floor access requires membership status."
"So just deposit ten thousand Empyrean Dollars and you'll automatically become members," she explained persuasively.
Before the madam could complete her sales pitch, Godfrey had already produced his payment card.
"Ten thousand each."
"Excellent! Please proceed upstairs, honored gentlemen."
Azrael and Godfrey followed the madam to the second floor, only to discover that their targets had proceeded directly to the third floor.
Azrael didn't hesitate before asking the madam, "What are the charges for the third floor?"
The madam appeared genuinely surprised. "The third floor is designated as staff rest areas and isn't open to public access."
Azrael and Godfrey exchanged meaningful glances.
"Is that correct?" Azrael asked while scratching his head thoughtfully.
The madam suddenly rolled her eyes back and collapsed unconscious.
Fortunately, the second floor consisted entirely of private rooms, so no one witnessed the brief incident in the hallway.
After locating an empty storage area to safely deposit the unconscious madam, Azrael looked toward the staircase leading to the third floor. "Come along, Master Octavius. Let's investigate what's happening upstairs."
Godfrey hesitated momentarily before finally nodding his agreement.
On the third floor, Luke stopped at a particular door.
The young man, who had been contemplating strategies to minimize his physical suffering, was caught off guard and collided with the burly man's back. "Have we arrived?"
Luke turned around with a smile that revealed gleaming white teeth in the harsh lighting. "We're here."
He yanked the door open and shoved the young man inside forcefully.
The young man stumbled forward, preparing to complain about the man's rough treatment, when he realized that the interior environment was completely different from Sanguin Tower's standard decor.
If Sanguin Tower represented a den of vice and debauchery, then this room resembled a horrific slaughterhouse.
Various severed limbs and dismembered body parts hung from metal hooks throughout the space.
"Luke," the young man asked with trembling legs as he stammered nervously, "where exactly are we?"
Luke laughed with obvious satisfaction. "Haven't you always fantasized about becoming a Lore Cardian?"
"Now I'm offering you an opportunity to possess the same power as any Lore Cardian."
"Are you interested?"
Hearing the phrase "Lore Cardian" immediately captured the young man's attention, his desperate desire instantly overcoming his terror. "What kind of opportunity?"
Luke sighed dramatically. "I won't conceal the truth from you. I'm actually a member of the Onefold Doctrine."
"Our organization possesses secret techniques that can help ordinary people acquire the power of the Holy Spirit."
"The only requirement is paying a small price."
The young man swallowed nervously. "Holy Spirit?"
Seeing that the young man didn't fully understand the terminology, Luke's expression showed obvious disgust. "In the crude language used by those association pigs, they're called demons."
"Damn them! If it weren't for their constant interference, this entire territory would have long since embraced the Holy Spirit's protection."
Upon hearing the word "demon," the young man shuddered with instinctive fear.
But considering that demons reportedly possessed the same formidable power as Lore Cardians, his ambition continued burning intensely.
"Since you despise the association so much, then don't blame me for defecting to your side!"
With this rebellious thought driving him, the young man immediately responded with obvious flattery, "You're absolutely right! That damned association is genuinely detestable!"
"Luke, when do you think I might be able to..."
Luke laughed heartily and patted the young man on the back encouragingly. "A person who understands the current situation is truly wise!"
"However, the Holy Spirit who possesses our secret techniques has traveled to several other locations to assist people like yourself."
"I'm afraid there will be some delay before their return."
"Until then, you'll need to wait here patiently."
The young man naturally understood that Luke was concerned about him revealing sensitive information if he left the premises, so he quickly assured him, "I completely understand, Luke. Please don't worry about discretion."
"I'll wait here for the Holy Spirit's arrival."
Then he seemed to remember something important and asked hesitantly, "Luke, what about my outstanding loan..."
Luke feigned displeasure upon hearing this concern. "Listen, once you receive the secret techniques, we'll all be family members."
"Between brothers, why would anyone discuss money?"
Realizing that his debt could be completely forgiven, the young man felt so elated that he nearly burst into tears of joy.
He had already begun fantasizing about defeating Lioren, overpowering Master Lucian, and achieving the pinnacle of success in life.
Just as the young man was preparing to continue his grateful flattery, a voice spoke from behind them both.
"So it really is the Onefold Doctrine."
Luke and the young man turned simultaneously to see two figures observing them with knowing half-smiles.
Beside the two men stood a terrifying spider monster of enormous proportions.
"I haven't finished settling accounts with you yet."
"Consider this a small payment of interest on that debt."