Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 929 - 196: Caged Bird

Ethan smoothly asked, "I need to know exactly how confident you are."

"Since you know about the existence of the Choir, it becomes much easier. You should know how those killing machines came about, right? And... their true purpose."

Darant observed Ethan's reaction, only when Ethan gave the correct answer could he be completely at ease.

Because this was a secret known only to him, Julius, and his mentor Turzan.

"The Descent Ritual, they exist as the 'god's' vessels, for this reason, their minds must be removed by some means so that they can fully accept the descent of the 'god'."

Ethan's answer made Darant exhale deeply. He was completely convinced that Ethan was the trusted confidant chosen by Julius.

In the eyes of many at the main headquarters of the Church Court in the Imperial Capital, the Choir appeared to be killing machines cultivated by Julius. They simply did not understand the true meaning of the Holy Word Art.

"Ave-Margaret is the most perfect 'vessel'. The entire plan for the Choir also began because of her."

In Julius's original plan, Ave-Margaret would eventually return to the empire, and after completing the final Descent Ritual, she would become the true manager of the Choir.

Although he was mentally prepared, when Darant personally confirmed this matter, Ethan's heart was still extremely conflicted.

This explained Ave's identical appearance to Mary.

It was the existence of these people that made Ave a puppet controlled by thoughts from the moment she was born.

In her growth, what was controlled by Julius, and what were her choices of free will?

Last night, halfway through his activity as a priest, Ethan received a call from Ave.

She mentioned her experiences at home on the phone. She saw her mother's ghost in the mirror. For this, she read a lot of books in the Imperial Capital Library, only to conclude that this was an impossible "supernatural event."

Her mother had been cremated, and a priest had recited a eulogy, cutting off the possibility of her soul turning into a ghost.

Precisely because of this, Ethan left insults for Carlo on the parchment, determined to sneak into the Crown of Dawn Cathedral at dawn.

He knew the names Savia and Darant from Ave.

Her father mentioned that during the time they fled the family, they spent a pleasant time in Gear City until the appearance of a Choir Heartbinder, which gave Savia the idea of living in the Far West.

Land of Redemption lies in the west.

They would ultimately find peace and redemption in the Far West, truly severing the fate that their child was destined to bear the Margaret bloodline's destiny.

"Destiny is fascinating, desirable, yet always elusive."

Following Ethan's topic, Darant's thoughts returned to many years ago.

He met Savia at a banquet of the Gear City guild. According to his agreement with Carlo, he needed to use a month to make Savia believe that destiny had made the best arrangement for her and her unborn child in the Far West.

"The Margaret Clan holds the key to ancient technology, and due to the existence of the Golden Fleet, the Royal Family will certainly ensure they remain firmly in their grasp."

Darant spoke about the fate of the Margaret Clan, saying words he had also told Savia, "Each Patriarch of the Margaret Family for generations would give birth to a son and a daughter. The daughter would be married off to the Royal Family as a political pawn, while the son would remain at home, being raised as the future heir of the family from a young age."

But, destiny shifted in this generation.

Because the future heir of the Margaret Clan fell in love with a woman of impure status and bloodline.

The Royal Family and the family feared that the pure ancient bloodline might be changed, and were worried that the soon-to-be-born daughter would inherit the lowly traits from her mother.

"Henry VI decided to adhere to ancient traditions but also made an agreement with the Margaret Family—that after the daughter was born, she would be taken away from her parents and sent to the Church Court. The high-tier priests of the Life Divine Teachings would then place a spell on her to remove her innate bad traits. Moreover, during the girl's upbringing, her mother was not to see her again."

At this point, Darant paused slightly, a sarcastic smile appearing on his face, "All this is for the tradition of the empire spanning hundreds of years and the purity of the bloodline."

No matter the reason or angle, the Royal Family and the Margaret Family reached this agreement, and even the current Queen Margaret did not object.

This made his work much simpler.

Darant no longer needed to weave a convincing lie; he only needed to "accidentally" disclose the agreement between the Royal Family and the Margaret Family to Savia, and lead her to understand the essence of the Holy Word Art and what would happen to the soon-to-be-born girl.

"The Holy Word Art would remove the girl's bad traits, but it would also take away something extra, such as her sense of emotions. She would feel neither joy nor sorrow and despair. Once all this was done, she would live the rest of her life like a wooden person."

And Darant knew there was no mother in the world who, upon hearing of her child's fate, would willingly hand her over to the Margaret Family and the Royal Family.

"So, you became the mastermind behind this plan."

Ethan said.

"You really overestimate me. Like you, I am just a pawn in Julius's plan. Perhaps... even he is just a pawn."

Behind Julius stood his mentor, and... the God of Trickery.

From the perspective of a True God, everything in this world may be just pieces on His chessboard.

"There are many details in this plan that I haven't mentioned, like the agreement between the Royal Family and the Margaret Family, which was completed under Julius's witness."

"Isn't this the truly fascinating aspect of destiny? That rebellious heir made the bravest decision, fleeing the Imperial Capital with his beloved to live in a border city. At that time, he must have believed he had escaped the control of destiny and obtained a life of freedom."

At this point, Darant shifted his tone, "But what about before that?"

"When he met Savia at the banquet, when they confessed their feelings to each other under the moonlight, how much of that was his free will, and how much was 'destiny's' arrangement?"

"It was 'destiny' that chose Savia."

Ethan had learned everything he wanted to know, "If Ave is to be turned into the most perfect vessel, her parents are crucial. This is a fusion of the Holy Word Art and 'rebirth'."

The gears of 'destiny' had started turning long before Ave was born.

Upon hearing this, Darant nodded in satisfaction. This young man chosen by Julius, though he seemed very young, was definitely not foolish, quickly seeing the underlying secret.

This sparked a strong interest in Ethan in Darant, as it was his first meeting with Ethan, and Julius, while alive, had never introduced this young man to him.

"Young man, tell me your name."

"Ethan."

Ethan, Ethan...

Darant silently repeated the name, and in the next moment, his smile froze on his face.

He stared wide-eyed in terror.

"You—!"

"Thank you, Mr. Darant."

Every incantation Darant wanted to recite got stuck in his throat. His unfocused gaze watched Ethan rise, slowly walking to his side, the raised palm obscuring his view.

He closed his eyes, and his consciousness immediately slipped into eternal darkness.

Darant hardly felt any pain, nor did he notice the process of life slipping away; everything happened in an instant.

The fatal wound was on the heart.

Penetrated by the wind element, the cells seemed unable to realize the fact that they had been severed.

As the noonday sun spilled over the Crown of Dawn Cathedral, shocking news rapidly circulated among various sects.

—Darant was murdered.

Someone had assassinated the world's greatest Heartbinder at the main headquarters of the Church Court, under the witness of the Goddess of Life, before anyone noticed anything amiss!