Chapter 407 (1): The Price of Using Demons
In the all-white, classical office building, two High Reverends had waited a long time. The man and woman both appeared in their thirties like Sandrine, with a calm composure that gave them the dignified presence of people in power.
They sat at a round table. The man was Houry, the Church of Sun’s High Reverend in Palis. His sturdy build filled and strained his black suit. With neatly cut short hair and sculpted, masculine facial features, he had a scholarly air to him. Standing at two meters tall, the big man was taller than others even while seated.
The woman was named Givenchy, very much a Francan name. She was the Church of Moonlight’s High Reverend in Palis. With long, elegant hair and a stunning face, she wore a light, airy robe to cover her tall, slim figure. There was a quiet grace to her.
Seeing Sandrine, Houry broke the silence, “You invited us, but arrived last? What is the meaning of this? What are you going to talk about today?”
“Houry, calm down,” Givenchy placated with a smile. “Sandrine, who is your companion? Is he related to today’s meeting? If not, please tell him to give us some privacy.”
While mediating, she made a sarcastic comment. It was clear that Sandrine’s sudden change of mind had displeased the two High Reverends. Before Sandrine’s arrival, they had had a last-minute meeting to form a temporary alliance. If Sandrine decided to push unwisely, she should expect them to drive down the price together.
“This is my secretary. He has to be present.”
“What happened to your previous secretary?”
“Dead.”
“...” x2
Anyone with eyes could see that Sandrine was furious.
Houry frowned, rubbing his head. “What happened? You look... different.”
Givenchy nodded. “Indeed. You seem to have become more beautiful.”
“Because of love!” Wayne chimed in.
“...” x3
As Sandrine closed her eyes with a blank face, the two other High Reverends turned to Wayne. They didn’t understand why a man essentially here to carry Sandrine’s purse would be bold enough to spout nonsense at such an important meeting. Who did he think he was? He didn’t even have a seat at the table. This was not an occasion for him to open his mouth!
The two High Reverends were displeased that Sandrine hadn’t disciplined her subordinate for the insolence. It didn’t take long for them to reach a conclusion.
No wonder she seemed different. It was because of love!
That would explain it! x2
Both looking at Sandrine with a teasing glint in their eyes, Houry grinned, while Givenchy covered her smile with a hand. She said, “Aren’t you going to share your story with your friend, Sandrine? When did it happen? You’ve kept it a secret well. I haven’t gotten wind of it...”
“I have to say, you look like a good match.”
“Had he even entered primary school when you were sixty?”
The sarcastic remarks made clear the disingenuous nature of their friendship.
“Shut up!” Sandrine slammed the table, shaking with fury. Since she couldn’t do anything to Wayne, she decided to take her frustration out on Givenchy and Houry. “I asked you to come to discuss something important. Our intel is inaccurate. The Black Axiom Sect isn’t backed by Andrius the Troll alone. The mutants were released to mislead us.”
Houry and Givenchy looked at her in surprise.
“Impossible,” Houry said with certainty, shaking his head. “The information we’ve gathered through our concerted effort can’t be wrong.”
Givenchy frowned. “Sandrine, where did you get your information? This matter is too important for you to keep secrets.”
“I can’t tell you. I suspect that there is a traitor among us!” Sandrine considered her fellow High Reverends. “Between the two of you, one has betrayed their faith and become a pawn serving Hell, leading to bad decision-making from the Life Alliance that allowed the Black Axiom Sect to reach today’s scale.”
“Sandrine, this isn’t a claim you could just make. This isn’t how you negotiate!”
“You think we’re demons’ pawns? I think you are one!”
Houry and Givenchy scoffed. The latter added, “If this is what you’re going to talk about, you shouldn’t have asked for a meeting. We’ve already decided on the division of profit. The greedy ones are destined to come out empty-handed.”
They were about to leave when Wayne suddenly blocked their way. “Please stay, High Reverends. The negotiation has yet to end. High Reverend Sandrine believes that power is everything. She has a bigger voice at this table, so you two will agree to the result of the renegotiation.”
“Are you out of your mind, Sandrine?!”
Houry glared at Sandrine over Wayne’s shoulder like he didn’t exist, knuckles cracking. Sandrine’s eyes twitched. She had almost died at Wayne’s hand three hours ago. Having only just recovered, she couldn’t possibly fight Houry and Givenchy. If a battle broke out, she would be toeing the line between life and death again.
Cursing Wayne out in her head, she kept her poker face on and said, “I don’t care whether you want to listen or not. The facts are undeniable. Neither of you is getting out of here until the traitor is identified.”
“That’s not for you to decide...” Houry’s eyes lit up with gold light. His vitality field swept down and circled Wayne and Sandrine, trapping them in a mirror world of golden radiance.
The fantastical world was entirely constructed with mirrors. Every patch of land, every wall, and even the air was a mirror. The innumerable mirrors reflected the sunlight coming from high in the sky, creating a resplendent ocean of light and shadow.
The sunlight seemed particularly radiant in this world. Split into different colors by the mirrors, the rays of light intersected and interwove, appearing as miniature suns moving within the mirrors. The stunning scene made it impossible to differentiate between reality and reflection.
Amazing. The big man is skillful despite what his rugged appearance would suggest. The vitality field is impressive.
Wayne nodded to himself, his hands itching to shatter a few mirrors for fun.
Meanwhile, Givenchy had also unfolded her vitality field. A silver glacier connected heaven and earth. In the silent, still world, the sound of ice cracking alone rang in the air, distant yet clear, ethereal yet quaint. There was an indescribably lifeless tranquility to it.
Above the vast tundra, four moons of different phases shone cold white light into the bottomless fissures in the frozen land, lending the serenity a magnificent property.
Oh, this is nice, too. The ice seems fun to break.
Wayne was anticipating a good time, but Sandrine would disagree. A drop of cold sweat streaked down her forehead as she conjured a small vitality field with difficulty. The greenery seemed sickly, lacking the vibrancy of life.
Damn it, I can’t win.
“What are you doing, Sandrine?” Houry burst out laughing after a moment of surprise. “You should be stronger than this!”
“It’s because of love!” Givenchy explained helpfully, her lips curling into a smirk. “Your legs are shaky. There must have been an intense clash before you came here. Should we give you some time to recover?”
It was an intense clash, and Sandrine had almost died. But it wasn’t what Givenchy was insinuating.
Sandrine didn’t want to waste her breath explaining. Taking a step back, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Wayne. She didn’t dare to put him before her since she lacked the power or status to make him her shield.
“Mr. Wayne, I’ve arranged a meeting for you. It’s now your—”
She trailed off when she turned to Wayne.
(꒪﹃꒪)
The blank, crystal-clear eyes suggested that the weak man had lost his senses to the manipulation of the vitality fields, trapped in a fantasy.
Bastard, are you not stopping until I’m dead?!
Sandrine was dying from her fury. She had explained that she served Senna, but Wayne continued to work against her, as if he wouldn’t be satisfied until she died.
“Since we’re here, Sandrine, let us have a good talk!”
Houry reached the intersection of the two vitality fields in a flash, his powerful aura surging and projecting flames behind him, pressuring Sandrine’s vitality field into losing stability.
As he took one step, tens of thousands of light arrows shot out, setting the green patch of grassland on fire. Through the flames, he barged into Sandrine’s vitality field.
Her enemy had entered her circle, ready to be harvested, yet Sandrine couldn’t do anything about him.
Houry narrowed his eyes. Opening his thick hands, he conjured a greatsword of light. “You’re acting suspicious today. Let’s see what you’re up to.”
There was an edge of killing intent in his tone. In a whoosh, his greatsword of sunlight blazed with rolling heat waves, burning the greenery around Sandrine into a charred yellow. She wanted to stop him, but her weakened thoughts couldn’t muster any strength. Every time she tried to use a spell, her brain would feel a stabbing pain.
She couldn’t get into battle mode.
The energy shields she created with difficulty kept getting shattered by Houry’s greatsword. Houry easily reached Sandrine, his eyes glinting with greater killing intent as he looked at her pale face. His tentative moves turned murderous, aiming straight at her chest.
Bam!
A hand reached out to grab the fierce sunlight blade, ignoring the blazing fire.
Oh, a strong one!
Houry looked at Wayne in surprise. Wayne’s eyes were clear and cold, unlike the blank look of a man whose senses had been manipulated.
“Who are you?”
“Her secretary.”
Wayne tightened his fist, crushing the greatsword of light. When Houry teleported away, he didn’t give chase immediately. His serious face made it seem like he was facing a formidable enemy he had never encountered before, and one misstep could lead to his doom.
Why are you still acting? Hit him. Houry only looks strong. Just try it, and you’ll know. After a punch, you’ll be begging for him not to die on your knees.
Sandrine felt her heart burn with an overpowering anxiety because of Wayne’s actions. She had a feeling that she would end up under the bus again.
Wayne didn’t disappoint her. With a grave expression, he said, “High Reverend, I’ve never met a formidable enemy like him. I’ll try my best to match him, but I’ll have to leave the High Reverend of Moonlight to you. Remember to come save me after defeating your opponent.”
With that, he conjured a vitality field less than three meters in diameter and rushed into Houry’s turf like a bolt of lightning.
“I’ve been waiting!”
Boom!!!
The mirrors reflected countless rays of light as the sun fell from the sky, combusting into violent waves of heat that threatened to shatter the land.
Wayne fought Houry with his bare hands. Though his physique could repel blades, he couldn’t match his opponent’s myriad of offensive skills with simple punches. By teleporting through the reflection of the mirrors, Houry cornered Wayne again and again.
I’m terribly sorry, Sandrine. I can’t help you take on Givenchy.
Sandrine couldn’t believe it. Before she could curse him out, she saw a flash of light and smelled a faint fragrance. Givenchy wore a reserved smile, but her frosty eyes gave off an unnerving chill.
“Givenchy, I know there was bad blood between us. I’m sorry. I was in the wrong,” Sandrine said seriously. “But I have to warn you not to use this chance to retaliate. The man fighting Houry is powerful, incredibly so. He’s come for demons. If you make a move against me, he’ll see you as one.”
“Oh, is he not your lover?” Givenchy maintained her smile as she held up a bow of cold moon.
If only he were my lover. Then I would have everything and even become the Pope.
Sandrine swallowed her complaint. When she realized what she was thinking, she cursed out and thought about Wayne’s despicable face, immediately losing all desire for such a future. “I’m telling the truth,” she said solemnly in warning. “He was the one who beat me into this state. He’s so strong that he doesn’t seem like a legendary mage. If you don’t want to get beaten to death, you’d better put your bow away and have a civilized conversation with me.”
Givenchy looked to the side and saw Wayne struggling to fight Houry. Without hesitation, she raised her bow and shot an arrow of ice at Sandrine.
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