101: Chapter 101 A Letter from the Windsor Family! Intelligence! Soul Refining with Heartfire!

Gino City.

Several major forces had also learned through various channels that the war in the Western Border had flared up again.

With their keen senses, they almost simultaneously reached the same conclusion.

The investigation into the Scarlet Heresy Case... would likely be ending very soon.

Everyone was secretly adjusting their strategies, preparing for the upcoming conclusion and a new round of interest distribution.

Dawn Cathedral, Chief Priest's quiet room.

Aria had just finished reading a secret letter urgently sent by her family through a special channel.

The family hoped she would conclude the Scarlet Heresy Case as soon as possible and return to the Imperial Capital; her new position had already been arranged.

Furthermore, they hoped that in the final disposition, she would change the candidate for the Lord of the Purple Thorn Territory to Vanessa Bryce.

The Bryce Family would provide support for her recommendation list in The Senate and assist in handling some subsequent troubles.

She set down the secret letter, a trace of thought flashing in her eyes.

Purple Thorn Territory...

That was the hereditary territory of the Iron Thorn Knight Mercer Family. Now that the family's heirs were all dead, its reclamation was a foregone conclusion.

But... give it to the Bryce Family?

In her original plan, this territory was to be given to a Peak Knight Baron who had rendered great service...

And then there was the Scarlet Heresy Case.

Perhaps... it was time to end it.

She sighed softly and stood up, preparing to head to the Tribunal Prison for one final interrogation of the Pale Knight.

Although this would most likely lead to his death, the war in the West had already begun. She had to obtain the key information as quickly as possible to determine if a greater crisis was hidden in the North.

However, just as she reached the door of the quiet room, a white-robed monk hurried over and bowed respectfully:

“Priest, Baron Flynn seeks an audience outside. He says he has important intelligence and must report it to you personally.”

Rowan?

Aria's footsteps paused slightly.

She couldn't help but recall the breakthrough of a Great Knight with the Perfect Breathing Method that had triggered a phenomenon in the city a few days ago.

At that time, she had caught a fleeting aura that felt inexplicably familiar...

Could it be him?

This thought surfaced uncontrollably.

A twenty-two-year-old Great Knight?

And with a Perfect inheritance?

Was that possible?

But if it really was him... what was this so-called important intelligence he came to bring now?

After thinking for a moment, she made a decision.

“Take him to the Silent Light Prayer Room,” Aria’s calm voice rang out. “I will be there shortly.”

“Yes, Priest.”

...

Inside the Silent Light Prayer Room.

The light was soft, holy, and peaceful.

Rowan was dressed in a proper dark grey formal suit today, his aura restrained.

The wait was not long.

Soft footsteps approached.

The door to the prayer room was pushed open.

Aria was as cold and beautiful as ever, her ice-blue eyes like a cold pool, looking at Rowan with calm stillness.

Their gazes met in the air.

Rowan bowed slightly in greeting:

“Good day, Priest.”

Aria nodded slightly and walked to the prayer altar. She did not sit down, but simply turned to face Rowan and got straight to the point:

“Baron Rowan, you said you have important intelligence?”

Rowan had already prepared his speech, and spoke now in a steady, unhurried tone: “Reporting to the Priest...”

“Yesterday evening, while shopping in the city with a friend, I happened to sense a... subtle bloody aura while passing near the manor area where The Senate observation team is staying.”

“Out of caution, I secretly investigated further and found that the characteristics of the aura... share many similarities with the [Pale Knight] from Mist Whisper Town, and it is even stronger.”

He paused, observing Aria's reaction, and continued: “My strength is meager, so I did not dare get too close.”

“But for such a powerful individual to be hiding near the observation team's residence, and with an aura originating from the same source as the Crimson Knights, it is truly suspicious.”

“After much thought, I felt this matter was of great importance and did not dare hide it, so I have come specifically to report to the Priest.”

After Aria finished listening, her gaze narrowed slightly!

But she did not speak immediately; instead, she carefully sized up Rowan before her.

Back in Mist Whisper Town, the process of him killing Count Farrell had actually been within her vague perception.

She knew he was a Peak Knight at that time.

But Count Farrell had been hit by her Primal Fire then, so it was impossible for him to escape anyway...

After a few breaths.

Aria's voice rang out softly:

“You have broken through to Great Knight.”

It was not a question, but a statement.

Hearing this, Rowan was not surprised.

This was part of his plan all along.

After all, the Lord of the Golden Flame Territory had to be a Great Knight.

A trace of 'good fortune' appropriately appeared on his face: “The Priest is perceptive. Having cultivated with a quiet mind these past few days, I had some insights and fortunately managed to take that step.”

Aria gave him a deep look.

A twenty-two-year-old Great Knight, no matter how much 'luck' was involved, could be called a heaven-sent talent.

Add to that the Perfect-grade Breathing Technique phenomenon from that night...

The man before her held many secrets.

She couldn't help but think of the experience at Snow Velvet Manor, and a nearly imperceptible flicker of something unusual flashed in the depths of her eyes.

But right now, she didn't want to delve into those things.

After a moment's pondering, Aria said something that even surprised Rowan.

She let out a soft breath and said calmly:

“You... come with me.”

Having said that, she turned and walked straight out of the prayer room.

Rowan was slightly taken aback, then stepped forward to follow.

One after the other, they crossed the solemn corridors and descended a winding stone staircase.

The further down they went, the dimmer the light became, and the aura of intertwined holiness and coldness in the air grew heavier.

At the entrance to the underground structure.

The guarding black-robed monks saw Aria personally bringing a stranger and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes, but no one dared ask more. They bowed respectfully and cleared the way.

The two finally arrived outside the deepest cell where the Pale Knight was imprisoned.

Behind the steel bars, the Pale Knight, suspended in mid-air by countless rune chains, sensed someone's arrival and raised his head with difficulty.

When he saw that pure white figure outside the bars, endless resentment and madness erupted in his dark red pupils, and he laughed hoarsely:

“Heh... heh... Priest of the Church... you're here again... have you figured it out?”

“Join the embrace... of my Lord...”

Aria acted as if she hadn't heard his wild words.

In the next moment.

In her eyes.

A Blazing pure white flame rose up!

Oracle: Heart Fire Soul Refining!

“AAAAHHHHHH——!!!”

The Pale Knight's wild laughter instantly turned into a scream of extreme agony!

The pure white flame was not a physical fire, but acted directly upon his soul and the depths of his mind!

He felt his consciousness, memories, and even his soul's origin being scorched by this terrifying white flame!

The scarlet law barrier protecting his core memories began to sizzle and fluctuate violently under the calcination of the pure white Heart Fire!

He realized that this time, this Arbitration Priest was no longer testing him, but was going to forcibly break through his final line of defense!

This would cause his soul to collapse and his memories might be destroyed, but the other party clearly no longer cared!

“No! Stop! Stop!”

“You will regret this! My Lord...”

The Pale Knight struggled, cursed, and threatened frantically.

But it was to no avail.

The chains rattled and the wounds on his body burst open, dripping with blood, yet he could not stop the erosion of the pure white Heart Fire.

Rowan stood half a step behind Aria, quietly watching this scene, inwardly solemn.

Falling into her hands, the outcome didn't look very good.

At the same time, he also carefully observed that pure and vast aura emanating from her body.

A moment later, his heart stirred.

This seemed like a good opportunity!

Her Primal Fire had left her body!

He quietly activated his Charm skill, silently continuing to deepen her favorable impression of him...

...

Meanwhile.

Western District of Gino City.

The manor where Theodore Witton was staying.

The Bloodthirsty Knight, who had been standing in the shadows like a statue, suddenly snapped his eyes open, a blood-red light bursting from them!

He sensed it!

That extremely strong holy purification power coming from the cathedral's basement, aimed at the Scarlet Guardian!

“That girl has made her move! They are forcibly breaking through the Scarlet Guardian of that trash, Pale!”

The Bloodthirsty Knight's voice trembled with excitement. He looked sharply at Theodore and revealed a gruesome smile:

“It's our turn! According to the plan, interfere with the cathedral's formation and stall that old Bishop and the tin-can Commander! I'm going to kill that church girl!”

“Haha!”

Theodore Witton's expression shifted, but he knew there was no turning back now.

The information in the Pale Knight's mind—it was better if the Church didn't know.

Otherwise, speculation was just speculation, but what if the Church ignored the chaos in the West and decided to cause trouble for the Duke's Mansion anyway?

He gritted his teeth, took out a pitch-black rune stone covered in cracks from his robes, and crushed it ruthlessly!

At the same time, he issued the order to strike to several of his confidants hidden in the manor!

This rune stone was a backdoor secretly placed at certain leyline nodes in Gino City during Count Farrell's era.

It was specifically designed to interfere with the Church's formation at a critical moment!

It would be enough to stall Bishop Cole and Temple Knight Commander Calvin, who were stationed at the cathedral!

They only needed to stall them for a moment to buy time for the Bloodthirsty Knight...

...