Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 910 - 188: Internal Collapse (Part 2)

"Hmm."

Ave exhaled deeply. Every time Ethan said, "I have a plan," things would head in a better direction, allowing her to finally go home and enjoy a meal after leaving the Cabinet Building.

However, she seemed to remember something, reminding, "Although Carlo is an extreme war criminal, he's not foolish. He should be aware of the disparity between the Far West and the current empire..."

Because of this, the report on Bishop Solari's assassination greatly exceeded Ave's expectations.

She had originally assumed Carlo would confine his attacks on the empire to speeches, but Bishop Solari's assassination sent her a signal — Carlo truly intends to instigate war, believing he is prepared to wage war against the empire.

Where does Carlo's confidence come from?

The intelligence department only reported that Carlo had gathered the Devoted Battle Group. From a professional standpoint, this new force, although large in number, is composed of ordinary soldiers rather than Transcendents, and their training period is extremely short. On a real battlefield, they could only serve as cannon fodder.

As for more in-depth intelligence, it could not be uncovered. The department's spies sent to the Crown of Dawn Church all lost contact. The High-tier Priests of the Life Divine Teachings mostly have mastery over the Holy Word Art, meaning spies would have no place to hide before them.

"Carlo must have other means."

Ave said, "At least enough to simultaneously counter several Saints. Although it sounds redundant, you should still exercise caution."

...............

Meanwhile, at the Far West border.

Darkness, cold, and endless void.

After losing consciousness, Solari wandered aimlessly forward. Gradually, a faint light appeared on the path ahead. However, when he approached, he discovered that the light shining into this darkness represented not salvation, but destruction.

It vaguely refracted a scene of the future.

Blazing fires engulfed the city, and scattered all around were mutilated corpses. This was the border city he was familiar with, now consigned to flame and ash by war.

This war, ignited by his death, brought ruin to the Far West and the Church Court.

The redemption Carlo declared never arrived, nor did the gods he promised return to the people. What did all this ultimately achieve?

Was this war truly for justice?

Had the empire really fallen under the Evil God's bewitching influence?

At the moment the cold dagger penetrated Solari's heart, everything he had ever been sure of shattered. Death allowed him to dissociate from the identity of a Believer and, for the first time, view the turmoil in the Far West as a bystander.

No justice, no redemption, only ambition and hatred.

Believers, the populace, even all left behind by the Goddess of Life, had become tools in Carlo's pursuit of ambition, but by the time Solari discovered this, it was too late.

Solari walked through those shattered streets, knowing it was his long-standing silence that led to war and destruction.

Now, all that remains is a defiled soul, one unworthy of entering the Life Courtyard.

He moved forward like a walking corpse.

Lost amidst destruction, until utterly fading away; or retreating into the land of exile described by the Holy Scripture as punishment for sinners, no matter where the path leads, he is willing to accept the penalty.

At the end of the darkness, a door awaited him.

Solari stood before the door for a moment, then grasped the handle.

For the first time in a long while, he felt the cold touch.

What followed was a gasping breath, like a drowning man nearly succumbing. The first thought in his mind upon regaining consciousness was merely to breathe.

He saw an unfamiliar ceiling and the hard cot that supported his body. The sounds outside the door gradually became clear, and the discussions of the people helped him understand his current situation — this was a border city inn, and those people were planning to join the Devoted Battle Group together.

The bishop's death brought unimaginable changes to this city and pushed those who wavered.

Some pursued faith, some aimed for glory, and others merely sought weapons and training to survive the war. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Solari immediately reached for his once-pierced chest. As he looked down, the wound had disappeared without a trace, as if the assassination and death were a mere nightmare, and he had just drifted asleep in this unfamiliar inn.

He almost immediately wanted to rush out and declare to everyone that he was alive, that the reports of his death were the Pope's conspiracy to incite war. But he quickly dismissed this naive thought.

He could do that, but what awaited him was to be stabbed in the heart by an assassin once more, with no change to the Far West situation.

Resurrection is a miracle. In Solari's understanding, only the Goddess of Life could grant him another chance.

Moreover...

For him now, death is the best disguise.

As long as Carlo believes him to be dead, there'd be no more assassins to watch him, creating opportunities for his next moves.

The emotions stirring in his heart were indescribable and couldn't be discussed with anyone.