Moments after Vincent entered the Nation of Disorder, a bolt of brilliant white lightning tore across the sky, illuminating half of Backlund.
Wind, rain, thunder — one after another, without end.
The Singer of God, draped in the Archbishop's robes of the Church of Storms, stood suspended in mid-air, gazing down at Bernadette. "Found you, blasphemer."
Ace Snake descended in a torrent of lightning and thunder, hurtling straight toward Bernadette.
The next second, a deafening explosion rocked heaven and earth.
...
Several hundred metres away, atop the roof of an abandoned church, the golden-eyed priest in his white robe held an antique notebook, writing at an unhurried pace:
"Bernadette's sentencing — though the evidence review was never completed and proper procedure was lacking — everyone present was fully aware of the crimes Duke Negan had committed. Many among them had even been complicit in those crimes. They were the witnesses to Duke Negan's guilt."
"Therefore, under the gaze of all those present, Bernadette completed her final act of roleplay and fully digested the potion."
"However, having barely left the scene, Bernadette happened to be discovered by Ace Snake, Saint of the Church of Storms, who had been summoned by a signal. He recognised her at once as the 'blasphemer' who, over a month ago, had directed a spirit-world creature to desecrate a church — and he struck without hesitation…"
"At the same time, in another city of this kingdom, another act was already underway."
At that, the priest closed his notebook, raised his golden eyes to the glittering stars, and said gently: "Are you satisfied with this arrangement?"
......
Tingen City.
Some twenty minutes earlier.
After an entire day of searching, both teams led by Klein and Melissa had come back empty-handed.
In all fairness, that was actually good news — because it might mean Lanevus's letter was nothing but a bluff after all.
For the Nighthawks, the best outcome was always the one where nothing happened.
Melissa trudged wearily into the reception hall and sank into the sofa, lifting one leg to gently massage it. If she hadn't been accustomed to walking to and from school, she might not have held up.
"That Megose girl… I think she's still outside."
Leonard glanced toward the door, puzzled. "Melissa, why does she keep following you around?"
"No idea."
Melissa shrugged. "A few days ago, I was just walking along minding my own business when she came running up and nearly crashed into me. I caught her on reflex, and ever since then she's been following me everywhere."
In truth, the girl had been trying to follow her mysterious teacher. But after the teacher vanished, she couldn't find a trace and had settled for following Melissa instead.
The thing was, all she did was follow. She never said why she was following, never said what she wanted, and when asked if she needed help, she didn't answer. Melissa had only later learned that this girl was the victim from a case Klein had handled.
"Leave her be. She'll go home on her own once it gets late."
Just as she said this, Megose, who'd been pacing outside, suddenly turned and stared blankly in their direction. After a dozen or so seconds, she walked into the reception hall, her eyes vacant, her expression dazed.
Klein stepped forward. "Miss Megose, is there something you'd like to commission us with?"
Megose stroked her belly, said vaguely: "I don't know. He told me to come inside and have a look."
"He?"
A glow of maternal warmth softened her features. "Yes — my child. He's very clever, and very capable. He often gives me hints."
Ah. This poor girl, ruined by Lanevus — her mental state is deteriorating.
Klein recalled that last time he hadn't managed to activate his Spirit Vision in time to confirm Megose's condition. He raised his teeth slightly, about to tap them to the left—
And then he froze. Thought after thought crashed through his mind, each more urgent than the last:
Don't look!
Don't look! Don't look!
You'll die!
If you see it, you die!
If you see it, you die!
Klein's body went rigid, rooted to the spot. A chill raced up his spine; cold sweat broke out across his back in dense, prickling waves. In a flash of horrifying clarity, his mind replayed fragment after fragment of information.
Moments later, he understood with sickening certainty what Lanevus's "bomb" referred to.
He bit down hard on his tongue, then looked at Leonard and gave him a meaningful look. Gripping the charm and bronze whistle in his pocket, he forced his voice into something as gentle as he could manage: "Would you like a tour of our office? No problem at all — I can show you around. By the way, would you prefer coffee or black tea?"
"Can… she come?"
Megose looked toward Melissa.
"N—"
Before Klein could object, Melissa walked over. "Sure, come on in. There's honestly not much to see — it's just a regular office."
"Melissa—"
He'd barely called her name when Leonard strolled over and bumped his shoulder. "Let's go downstairs and get things ready. We'll come find you in a bit."
With that, he grabbed Klein and headed for the basement.
"They…"
Megose caressed her belly, staring fixedly at the two men's retreating backs. She murmured: "They want to hurt my child."
Melissa said at once: "That's impossible! Klein and Leonard are good people!"
"But… he senses something unsettling."
She kept stroking her belly, her expression growing increasingly agitated. Yet she struggled to maintain her calm, fixing Melissa with a pleading gaze. "My child tells me that only you — no, only the person you were with last time — can help us."
"What?" Melissa lowered her voice. "You mean my teacher? But help you with what?"
"I don't know."
Megose grew more and more restless, her expression beginning to twist. "He tells me it's very dangerous. But only that person can help us. Do you know where she is?"
"I don't. She appears and disappears like a ghost. I can only wait for her to come to me — I've never been able to find her on my own."
"But — but if we can't find her, we'll be… in danger."
Her eyes turned abruptly sinister. "You will all… be in danger too."
Before Melissa could make sense of the situation, Megose suddenly tore a large clump of bloody hair from her own scalp. Then she began clawing at her own face — rip — tearing away a strip of flesh, long and blood-soaked.
"!!!"
Melissa's body locked up. Even she could see that something was horribly wrong with Megose — so that's why Leonard and Klein's reactions suddenly became so strange…
Wait.
Lanevus's letter?
The bomb?
The child in Megose's belly — Lanevus's child.
In that instant, Melissa understood everything.
She fought to control her body and her voice, forcing a tender smile: "Miss Megose, perhaps — perhaps I could try to contact my teacher. As long as I can reach her, can she resolve your danger?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Megose clutched at the words like a drowning woman at a rope, nodding frantically. "Find her. Hurry."
But the very next second, her expression twisted dark. "No — there's no time. My child tells me… someone wants to hurt him. You… you want to hurt him!"
"No! I will never allow anyone to hurt my child!"
She let out a piercing shriek and lunged at Melissa with blood-smeared hands.
To be continued…
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