34: Chapter 34 The Rules of the Night Raven Society! The Earl's Conspiracy!

Ice Lake City, Black Market.

In a shop named "Echoes of the Past."

Rowan currently wore the appearance of a sallow-faced, sinister-looking middle-aged man. He said:

"I want to buy information. Regarding the organization that uses the Shadow Demon Breathing Technique. Be specific."

The shopkeeper was an old man. Upon hearing this, he said slowly: "This information costs 20 gold coins."

Rowan's eyes sharpened upon hearing this. Then, he took out a small pouch of gold coins and pushed it across the wooden table: "Speak."

After counting the coins, the old man took a puff from his pipe and said with a chuckle: "The guest is asking about the Night Crow Society, right?"

Rowan's expression remained unchanged: "Tell me in detail."

The old man seemed to be recalling something and said in a low voice:

"This is an assassin organization with roots spread throughout the continent. They mainly take on commissions for assassinations, intelligence theft, and the like. As long as the price is right, there is almost nothing they won't do."

"Their reputation... is actually not bad in the underground world. At least, once they take the money, they get the job done."

"They worship the Lord of Shadows, an evil god who holds dominion over secrecy, slaughter, and deception. Of course, they claim to be the guardians of secrecy and the dark side of order."

"The Night Crow Society has a strict hierarchy. The lowest level is called Grey Crows, mostly Apprentice Knights or ordinary people with special skills, responsible for peripheral surveillance and passing messages."

"Above them are Black Crows, usually Official Knights, who are the main force for operations."

"Further up are Blood Crows, with strength at the level of Senior Knight or above, often responsible for important missions."

"Higher still are Shadow Crows and Night Crows, usually existences at the level of Great Knight or above, elusive and rarely seen."

"As for their leader, their code name to the outside world is Knight Shadow, who once displayed the powerful strength of a Legendary Knight during an operation."

"Regarding this person's true identity, some say he is a great noble in the public eye. But all of this is just speculation; no one can confirm it."

Rowan listened quietly.

Night Crow Society, Lord of Shadows, a massive underground network, a leader who is a Legendary Knight...

After hearing the intelligence, Rowan nodded and left the shop.

But the expression under his hood remained relatively relaxed.

Because according to what the shopkeeper said, the Night Crow Society has a rule:

After a first assassination fails, the commission is considered finished, and the deposit is not refunded.

If one wants to continue commissioning the same task, they must choose a higher tier of service.

In other words, if they want to continue assassinating him, they would have to commission an assassin of the Blood Crow level or higher.

And the price for an assassin at this level is astronomical. Moreover, it's not just gold coins that are needed; more often, it requires specified precious resources.

If it were the assassin hired by Viscount Gladstone, he couldn't afford the cost.

Meanwhile.

Gino City, Golden Flame Earl Manor.

Unlike the simplicity of White Cliff Territory or the rich commercial atmosphere of Ice Lake City, Count Farrell's manor is the undisputed symbol of power in Gino City.

Towering turrets, meticulously manicured courtyards.

Oil paintings of ancestors' conquests or receiving titles hang on the corridor walls, and the air is permeated with the scent of expensive wood.

But deep within the manor, in a secret room paved with complex soundproofing magic arrays, the atmosphere is completely different from the luxury and splendor outside.

The magic light is deliberately dimmed, illuminating only the two ends of the obsidian long table in the center of the secret room.

Sitting at one end is Knight Shadow, the actual ruler of Gino County, Count Farrell.

He looks younger than he did at the ball, wearing a deep purple casual outfit.

At the other end is a figure who seems to be on the verge of merging into the shadows at any moment, wearing a featureless, pale mask on his face.

It is the Pale Knight, one of the important leaders of the Crimson Knights in the Will Province of the empire's northern border.

Even sitting quietly, he exudes an unsettling aura.

"Are you sure that the rising star of the royal family really failed the breakthrough?" Count Farrell asked slowly.

The Pale Knight nodded: "Indeed. They were too impatient. His Majesty the King was too eager to use a new Sky Knight to deter all parties."

"Unfortunately, the more eager one is, the more unstable the foundation. That is a Sky Knight, an existence capable of traversing the sky with their physical body, known as non-human. It is a true qualitative change; how could it be so easy to break through."

Hearing this, Count Farrell's fingers tapped gently on the obsidian tabletop, making a crisp tapping sound:

"If the news is true, then the royal family's attention will be firmly tied to the imperial capital for a long time to come, with no time to attend to matters in the Northern Territory. This is a good window of opportunity for us."

"The window of opportunity has always been there; it just depends on whether you have the courage to push open that window." The Pale Knight's voice remained ethereal: "It is time for the Northern Territory to change masters, to change... faith."

Count Farrell did not pick up on the topic of faith; that was the insane doctrine of the Crimson Knights. He did not fully agree with it, but he needed this crazy power at this moment.

He changed the subject and said: "The only variable is the Church of Dawn. That old fox Cole Randall, and the Temple Knight Order he brought, are not easy to deal with."

"Most importantly... that newly arrived Chief Priestess, Aria Windsor."

Mentioning this name, Count Farrell's brows furrowed imperceptibly: "She is digging very deep. Although the deaths of the Iron Thorn Knight and the Maple Leaf Knight last time were handled cleanly, the time and place were ultimately too coincidental."

"I suspect she is already investigating this matter in secret, and... it is very likely she has already tracked it to me." Count Farrell's voice carried a hint of irritation.

"Suspicion requires evidence." The Pale Knight said indifferently, "The church has its rules, especially regarding an Earl of the Empire. Without solid evidence, they dare not act rashly. So, what do you want to do by calling me here?"

"I need you to find something for the church to do, to attract their attention, the bigger the better." Count Farrell leaned forward slightly, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes:

"Make them run around in exhaustion, with no time for in-depth investigation."

"It would be best if... you could make Priestess Aliyah leave Gino City, or, silence her forever."

The Pale Knight was silent for a long time, the pale mask reflecting cold light in the dim light.

After a long while, he said slowly: "It can be done. There are several churches in small towns in the north where the priests seem not devout enough to the Goddess. We will make them devout."

"As for that priestess... she comes from the Inquisition, and her strength is at the peak of the Morning Star rank as a clergy member. She is not weak herself. To move against her, we need an opportunity and sufficient price."

"Opportunities can be created, and the price can be negotiated." Count Farrell said in a deep voice:

"But it must be fast! While the royal family is unable to attend to other matters, we must accelerate our pace! The seeds in various places need to be ripened, and the altars need more offerings!"

"I understand." The Pale Knight stood up, his grey-white cloak moving without wind:

"I will arrange it. However, before that, there is a small matter that needs to be handled. That waste Ulysses fell in a remote barony while doing private business for that Gladstone of yours."

"Blood Thorn Knight? Ulysses?" Count Farrell was slightly startled, then said displeasedly, "What is Gladstone up to again?"

"White Cliff Territory, Rowan Flynn." The Pale Knight reported the name, "Gladstone seems to have some grudges with him and had Ulysses take action, but the result was failure."

"White Cliff Territory..." Count Farrell frowned and pondered. There are hundreds of nobles in Gino County; he could not remember each one clearly.

But he had some impression of this name; it seemed... he had seen it on the invitation list for the ball not long ago?

He vaguely remembered the butler mentioning it, that it was a young baron who had inherited a remote territory, whose father died in the Twilight Canyon campaign.

"A baron from a remote place in his early twenties was able to kill Ulysses?"

Count Farrell's tone was full of suspicion.

"Who knows?" The Pale Knight's figure had already begun to blur, as if about to merge into the shadows, "Failure is a fact. You can ask your good vassal when you have time."

"Now, I need to go arrange the matter of sending a gift to the church." As the words fell, the Pale Knight's figure dissipated like a reflection in water disturbed by a pebble, disappearing silently into the shadows in the corner of the secret room.

Only Count Farrell remained in the secret room.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbed his brow, and the gloom in his eyes deepened.

Gladstone, that idiot, acting privately and even losing Ulysses!

Although Ulysses was a member of the Crimson Knights, he had always been one of the important executors of his affairs. Now he has to look for a new candidate to handle the sacrifices.

More importantly, even if it succeeds, will it be noticed by the church? What if they follow the trail...

"It seems I need to find time to remind Gladstone to keep a low profile recently." Count Farrell muttered to himself.

He left the secret room slowly and looked towards the center of the city.

The church spire reflected holy light in the thin autumn sunlight.

"Cole Randall, a Morning Star rank clergy member... and those Temple Knights..." Count Farrell felt a headache coming on. In a direct confrontation, their chances of winning were slim.

"Aria Windsor... from the Inquisition, with exceptionally keen perception." He recalled that flash of pure white and ice blue at the ball, incomparably beautiful, yet carrying bone-chilling Insight.

"I hope that guy, the Pale Knight, can draw away their attention this time." He sighed softly.