Chapter 105-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation

 The moment Ye Zheng saw Percy, she confirmed she had walked into the main storyline.

This Grand Church was indeed the plot's crucial point.

"Percy?"

Sykes stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed young man, his tone unfriendly. "Who gave you permission to enter?"

The West District was sealed off. A commoner like Percy should not be here.

What the hell. Why did this kid always inexplicably appear on his path forward? Every time he saw him, Sykes felt a surge of anger.

"I'm just here to find a friend who's trapped in the West District. I have no intention of opposing the Empire's officials."

Percy explained. This time, he did not want to be an adversary to Sykes.

Meeting Sykes here might not be a bad thing. As the Crown Prince of the Empire, he must also be here to solve the West District's problems. There was no conflict between them this time.

"Haha, so everyone does know each other. That's excellent. Times of crisis require people to unite. You are all the future hope of the Empire."

Kiran winked with great affability, looking at the three children like a kind elder with a sense of relief.

Ye Zheng's eyelid twitched. She subtly glanced at the white-robed man. She was exceptionally sensitive to the word "Hope" now.

"Stop the nonsense. Tell us everything you know."

Sykes interrupted Kiran's small talk.

Kiran faced the Crown Prince's utterly rude attitude without showing a trace of displeasure. His eyes always carried an absolute sense of forbearance.

Sykes caught Kiran's gaze and subconsciously frowned. He hated the man's overly familiar attitude, as if he were a junior needing care and affection. It inexplicably made him feel disgusted.

This was the first time Ye Zheng and Sykes shared the same thought. She lowered her head thoughtfully. Was it because his demeanor resembled Wen Jian's somewhat?

No, he was different from Wen Jian. In Wen Jian's seemingly gentle and affable expression, there was always a trace of undisguised hypocrisy and an unctuous (sleazy/smarmy) artificiality. But this Kiran's expression was impeccable, as if his gentleness and affability truly came from the heart.

Ye Zheng quietly raised her eyes again to ponder, thinking that in front of him, the signature Saintess expression she had painstakingly cultivated looked childish.

In the slightly old room, the man's sigh faded as he began to recount what had happened during this period.

Over a month ago, the Platinum District in the West District became foggy. Although it was somewhat inconsistent with usual weather conditions, people didn't think anything was wrong and went about their lives as usual.

Three weeks ago, on a foggy morning, the West District Public Security Bureau received news that shocked the Chief: Mr. Yuan Xianming, the Governor-General of the West District, had died on his way to the Municipal Council Building. According to the driver's testimony, he suddenly felt palpitations in the back seat of the car, shouted to get out, and collapsed upon opening the door.

Subsequent investigations suspected that the fog prevented pollutants from diffusing, and it was not uncommon for residents to suffer relapses of chronic illnesses and die from respiratory distress while walking on the road.

Two weeks ago, Ms. Zhou Yun, the Governor-General's wife, went to the Municipal Council Building to sort through her husband's belongings. On that very day, the dense fog completely isolated the entire West District, turning it into an island.

Hearing this, Ye Zheng politely raised her hand first before speaking to interrupt, "You specifically mentioned Ms. Zhou Yun. She is involved in this, correct?"

She had just clashed with Zhou Yun and learned that she seemed to be the mastermind behind the disaster. She had already informed Sykes but had not mentioned this to Kiran.

Kiran nodded, his tone slightly melancholy, "Of course. We know each other. I've been a guest at the Yuan family quite a few times. She was originally a respectable lady."

"Originally?"

Percy had come to this church after entering the West District and didn't know about Ms. Zhou Yun, but he also sensed the subtle regret in Kiran's tone.

"She triggered this catastrophe—by the way, did you run into her?"

Ye Zheng looked up, meeting Kiran's questioning gaze.

Percy also followed Kiran's line of sight and looked at Ye Zheng.

She slowly blinked her eyes and said, "Your Excellency is truly perceptive. After entering the West District with the Crown Prince, we first went to the Municipal Council Building and were attacked by Zhou Yun."

A look of astonishment flashed across Kiran's face, followed by visible delight and praise, "Ah, truly worthy of being... We have lost a large number of the Sei Curia Knights trying to deal with her, yet we couldn't even harm her shadow."

"You are truly remarkable, great children..."

Sykes once again impatiently cut off his effusive words, "So, what exactly did this Zhou Yun do? How did she do it?"

"The file clearly states she's a commoner without any ability."

He threw the file onto the table in front of Kiran. Kiran picked up the document, glanced over it, and then suddenly stopped, as if seriously staring at a specific spot.

Ye Zheng stood across from him, carefully observing him. Unfortunately, she could not tell what Kiran was looking at in the file from this angle.

Kiran sighed heavily, then turned the file face down on the table.

Noticing his unconscious action, Ye Zheng subtly raised an eyebrow. This detail of placing it face down suggested that the file might contain something he disliked or didn't want to look at for long.

"Zhou Yun did this for her daughter, Yuan Yuan."

Kiran said softly.

Hearing the unfamiliar name, Percy and Sykes simultaneously frowned, looking at the white-robed man with confusion.

"After the West District was completely enveloped by the dense fog, all communications were cut off. The people we sent out to seek help never returned. They must have been dealt with by Zhou Yun."

"So I couldn't inform the Empire. After the incident, Zhou Yun negotiated with me. She threatened the entire West District, demanding that the Sei Curia resurrect her daughter, who died in the Demonic Domain—how could that be possible?"

"To bring Yuan Yuan back, even Wen Jian, who possesses that kind of power, couldn't do it."

Kiran shrugged, "As for why Zhou Yun suddenly possesses such immense power, we don't know either. I've heard that some people awaken their abilities late. Perhaps she's one of those rare cases."

Percy asked, puzzled, "Your Excellency, how did Zhou Yun's daughter die? Why would she make such an unreasonable request to the Sei Curia?"

The whole thing sounded absolutely bizarre. A mother who lost her daughter suddenly unleashed a power capable of trapping the entire West District, all for the wish to resurrect her daughter?

Percy felt there was a flaw in the logic. He asked directly, "Even if it was to resurrect her daughter, Zhou Yun should have negotiated with the Royal Family and the upper district Sei Curia, who possess superior healing abilities, not sealed off the West District until people outside realized something was wrong."

The three people present looked at the white-robed man with suspicion. Kiran looked as if he was in pain, closing his eyes. When he opened them, he looked at the only girl present.

"Zhou Yun's daughter, Yuan Yuan, died because she aspired to be like you."

As Kiran's sigh-like words fell, Percy and Sykes were momentarily stunned, then they looked at Ye Zheng.

Ye Zheng's expression was also slightly stunned. She even forgot her honorifics. "What did you say?"

"The Saintess's great achievements have spread throughout the Empire. She, as a woman, wielded the Divine Sword, a symbol of salvation. She established the Empire's first Female Knight Order. Her deeds are so inspiring to girls her age!"

"Yuan Yuan turned down the marriage arranged by her family. She proactively approached me, saying she hoped to help people just like the Saintess. I permitted her to join the Sei Curia's team and enter the Demonic Domain for training. Then, the accident happened..."

Kiran's voice grew increasingly bitter, his head lowered, as if he could no longer speak. The three young people present were also silently quiet, especially Ye Zheng.

Suddenly, he raised his head, his gaze trembling as he looked at Ye Zheng, "No, I absolutely do not mean to blame you. You are a good child, and so was Yuan Yuan. I never believed that a woman's destiny is a husband; they should belong to this world. Your existence is key to the continuation of hope!"

Kiran's handsome face was etched with sorrow. He struggled to utter blurry words, "Saintess, you and Yuan Yuan are both good children. Neither of you did anything wrong. Zhou Yun... I hoped she would accept her grief, but she killed her husband, and she killed so many people. I can no longer understand this old friend."

He gazed at Ye Zheng, his expression lamenting, his gentle eyes dimmed.

"She must be mad to do such a crazy thing over Yuan Yuan's accident."

The single word "mad" seemed to be the best explanation for Zhou Yun's behavior.

Ye Zheng's expression was blank. She rarely appeared so expressionless in front of others. Percy and Sykes looked at her in unison, their expressions hesitant, as if they wanted to comfort her.

"Ye... Saintess, Miss Yuan Yuan's death was just an accident. It was her own decision."

Percy comforted her with hesitation.

"Are you blaming yourself? Don't be so foolish."

Sykes frowned.

The two male voices were like a fleeting wind past her ears, not even leaving a ripple in Ye Zheng's heart. She hadn't even noticed the two young men speaking to her.

Ye Zheng was currently enraged. Her blank expression was her effort to manage her emotions. Her dark eyes suppressed the surging feelings, making them look particularly bright instead.

She was silent for a long time. All three people in the room waited patiently until she raised the corner of her mouth again, her words calm.

"I apologize for Miss Yuan Yuan's accident. I admire her choice, but that determination and spirit had nothing to do with me. I believe she wanted to do that long ago. To attribute it to my influence would be a desecration of her courage."

Kiran looked at the smiling Saintess in surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to return to her normal demeanor so quickly, even looking completely unaffected.

"My only regret is that I should have come sooner, to stop all this sooner."

As Ye Zheng said this, she lowered her head. From Kiran's angle, her broken black hair concealed her expression, making it impossible to know if she was feeling remorseful, dejected, or fragile.

Kiran's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something comforting. Ye Zheng glanced at the clock hanging high in the room and said, "It's getting late. I see that Bishop Kiran is too saddened by bringing up old memories today to continue. Perhaps you should rest for a while, compose yourself, and we can resume our discussion later."

"Regarding this matter, I believe you must have overlooked some details, which might be key to dealing with the West District crisis."

Seeing Ye Zheng pull herself out of Kiran's sorrowful narrative and take control of the conversation's pace, Percy looked at Kiran with a hint of scrutiny. He, too, felt that Kiran must be hiding something, such as why Zhou Yun, who wanted to resurrect her daughter, didn't seek help from the Royal Family and the upper district Sei Curia, but instead sealed off the West District? Just because Zhou Yun was mad?

Sykes's gaze on the white-robed Bishop was scrutinizing. He had met Zhou Yun not long ago. That woman did not look like an irrational lunatic; she was far more meticulous and intelligent than those incompetent officials.

He had almost been led astray by this Kiran just now. Their focus had somehow shifted to Ye Zheng, who was seemingly unrelated to the West District incident. Thinking back, was this man's genuine emotional outpouring, or a deliberate attempt to blur the main point?

Percy and Sykes silently became suspicious in unison.

Facing the gazes of the three, Kiran also fell silent. After a good while, he managed a strained smile. "Our Saintess is right. Everyone has worked hard today. Let's rest. The rooms have been prepared for you."

Sykes was too impatient to stay any longer and was the first to push the door open and leave. Percy politely excused himself and also left, glancing back at the room before doing so.

Ye Zheng did not move.

From Percy's small action, she noticed that he seemed to be paying attention to this room. She briefly looked around. The room was a bit old and looked unused. A large bed was placed in the back, suggesting it was a guest room. Other than that, she couldn't see anything special.

"Not going to rest? Do you have something else you want to say to me?"

Kiran watched the young woman with a calm and gentle expression. Only the two of them remained in the room.

"If my words offended you just now, I apologize. My intention was never to blame brave girls like you. On the contrary, I've always admired courageous and righteous children like you."

"I am absolutely not your enemy. Five years ago, we were already standing on the same front, weren't we?"

Ye Zheng shed her affected smile, her eyes cold and steady. Kiran had indeed witnessed her murder at that banquet!

"Don't look at me like that. If I were a bad person, Ye Zheng, you wouldn't have had the chance to become the Saintess. Who would have thought that the noble and righteous Saintess personally murdered her great uncle when she was twelve?"

"But I understand you. In order to make this world a better place, we always need some less-than-perfect methods, correct?"

The tall, handsome white-robed Bishop walked closer to Ye Zheng and murmured in her ear, "We are one and the same, Saintess."

His tone was nauseatingly intimate.

Ye Zheng turned her head expressionlessly and, mimicking his demeanor, whispered in his ear, "Too bad your less-than-perfect methods didn't make the Empire better. Instead, they brought trouble."

Kiran's expression subtly changed. He slowly stepped back, his eyes fixed on Ye Zheng with a touch of coldness.

"Don't be so clever. I don't want to hurt you, but I will absolutely not allow outsiders to destroy all this..."

"Outsider?"

Ye Zheng tilted her head, her tone slightly rising. She suddenly pulled a small knife from her pocket and, under Kiran's astonished gaze, swiftly sliced open her right palm, causing blood to surge out, revealing a deep, bone-visible wound!

Ye Zheng held up her bloodied right hand, her slightly raised face showing an arrogant smile, her eyes subtly contemptuous.

"Kiran, you let the Sei Curia's experiment spiral out of control. Do you know how much trouble you've actually caused?"

The white-robed Bishop's somewhat cold expression first flashed with confusion. Then, he stared at the bleeding palm of the Saintess. A familiar, tempting scent rushed toward him—it was the scent of Dragon Bone!

His face remained stunned for a moment, then burst into joy. He was so happy that his handsome face twisted. He quickly approached Ye Zheng, his eyes looking at her right palm with obsession.

"No wonder, no wonder you acquired the God of Hope's Divine Sword... Our direction was not wrong!"

"Did Wen Jian implant it in you? Ah, he always acts so self-righteously, but I don't dislike his self-righteousness this time."

Ye Zheng withdrew her right hand from Kiran's burning gaze. She took a step back in disgust. Kiran was not disappointed by this and looked at her with even greater fervor.

"Ah, I apologize for my lack of decorum. I'm just too happy, happy for this world full of hope."

Kiran exclaimed in wonder.

Ye Zheng watched the white-robed man coldly. She had guessed correctly. Kiran Aston was the person in charge of the Sei Curia's Dragon Bone experiment in the West District.

And this West District incident—Zhou Yun, Yuan Yuan, Lucy... was all related to the experiment.

"Kiran Aston, tell me everything you know in meticulous detail. I have the right to know everything that has happened in the West District."

She commanded.

Author's Note: This woman was born to be the master...

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