NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99: The Secret of the Guardian's Staff
"So... do you think the Gray Swan Orphanage in the Ninth District is hiding the secrets of the Sun Temple?"
Looking at Sebastian and Nisi, who had sneakily returned to the Holy Palace and resumed their true appearances, Charlotte curiously asked.
"To be precise, it's very likely that the Judgement Court in the Ninth District is involved in the conspiracy of the Sun Temple. Our investigations over the past few days have almost all pointed there."
Sebastian respectfully said.
"Pointed there, indeed..."
Charlotte mused thoughtfully.
To be honest, if the secrets of the Sun Temple are indeed related to the Judgement Court of the Ninth District, she would not be surprised.
The Ninth District is the poorest and most chaotic area of the Holy Capital, yet the Judgement Court there is the most powerful.
Moreover, the Judgement Courts in such slum areas are generally more heavily guarded but tend to operate discreetly, making them indeed suitable for hiding secrets.
"Lord Charlotte, I believe we need to rescue the director of the Gray Swan Orphanage. Currently, the Judgement Court is relentlessly targeting the Gray Swan Orphanage, not even sparing the children, which indicates that the orphanage must have discovered something."
"The brother of the director of the Gray Swan Orphanage is the deputy captain of the Judgement Court in the Ninth District, and after Filiberto was judged, he also disappeared."
Nisi added.
Charlotte nodded slightly, then looked at the necklace in her hand.
It was a cross necklace, a common religious adornment among Church Priests.
"So... is the necklace you brought also the director's?"
She asked.
Sebastian nodded:
"Yes, it's the director's. Nisi and I have checked it, and this necklace also contains Holy Power. Furthermore, it carries an aura similar to the Holy Power you bestowed upon us..."
"This necklace seems to contain some Divine Arts, capable even of inducing precognitive dreams. The little girl we rescued avoided the pursuit of the Judgement Knight commanded by a precognitive dream brought by this necklace, ultimately finding us."
"Precognitive dreams?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued.
She fiddled with the necklace in her hand, after a moment of investigation, she fell into contemplation.
"Are you... certain?"
Charlotte looked at the two and asked.
Sebastian and Nisi exchanged a glance, both nodded.
"Yes, Lord Charlotte. The girl was very afraid when she saw us, but once we revealed our identities by displaying Holy Power, she was no longer frightened."
"Not only that, she called us the Divine Envoys mentioned in the Oracle!"
"We inquired further and learned that she dreamt of the 'Oracle,' but after further validation, what she referred to as the Oracle should be the precognitive dream she had, and the source of the precognitive dream is most likely this necklace."
"We have confirmed that this necklace belongs to the director of the Gray Swan Orphanage and was initially given to her by her brother, the Judgement Knight."
"This is most likely an artificial Divine Artifact created by the Church, and as far as I know, most artificial Divine Artifacts of the Church are held by the upper echelons of the Church. A Judgement Knight Captain whose strength does not exceed the Third Tier could not obtain such an artifact through regular channels, so... it must have been obtained through other means."
Charlotte's heart stirred:
"Are you suggesting... the Sun Temple?"
Nisi nodded:
"Yes, we sensed Holy Power similar to ours in this necklace. The Holy Power we wield is granted by you, and you once mentioned that your Holy Power carries traces of Primordial Aura, which means this Holy Power similarly bears traces of Primordial Aura."
"Since the Creator God has fallen asleep, the source of the Primordial Aura might only have one possibility left."
Nisi spoke meaningfully.
Charlotte remained noncommittal.
She gazed at the necklace with an inscrutable expression, deep in thought.
"Lord Charlotte, we believe the Judgement Court in the Ninth District is very likely hiding the secrets of the Sun Temple, and the Gray Swan Orphanage is probably implicated because of it. This artifact capable of granting precognitive dreams probably also comes from the Sun Temple."
"The director of the Gray Swan Orphanage is likely aware of something, and the Judgement Knights hunting the orphans might be related to this necklace. If we could rescue the director of the Gray Swan Orphanage, we might uncover the conspiracy behind the Sun Temple!"
Sebastian also said.
"What is the director's name...?"
Charlotte looked at the person and the cat, and asked.
"Susan, Susan Russo. We have already investigated, she is also an orphan. Her ancestors were small nobles from the southern Yonette Peninsula and a faithful Holy believer. She had been maintaining the operation of the orphanage with her salary together with her brother, the Judgement Knight Captain. The siblings were also helping other poor children and the destitute in the slums."
"But... such a person was falsely accused as a heretical witch by the Judgement Court, and her brother has also disappeared."
Nisi sighed.
"When is she to be judged?"
Charlotte continued to ask.
"Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, in the square of the Ninth District."
Nisi said.
Charlotte nodded slightly:
"I understand."
"Master (Lord Charlotte)! Have you decided to rescue her?"
Sebastian and Nisi asked.
"Since she is a just and kind priest and very likely knows the secrets of the Sun Temple, I naturally have to save her."
Charlotte said.
Having said that, she then looked at the two:
"You should also prepare. Since the Judgement Court in the Ninth District is likely related to the secrets of the Sun Temple, this might be an opportunity."