Chapter 88: Secret Talks Behind the Scenes

Another mysterious black-cloaked figure?

Sun Fei instinctively felt a jolt upon hearing that.

The image described by Divine Master Mazzola instantly reminded Sun Fei of the Four-Star Wood Element Mage, Evans. He knew that the Four-Star Mage Evans, whom he had schemed to death earlier, also typically wore a black cloak. Could there be a connection between them? Was… this newly appeared mysterious person Evans’ accomplice?

Sun Fei could only silently pray in his heart that the newly appeared black-cloaked figure had nothing to do with Evans. Otherwise, it meant others likely knew about the Divine-Demon Ruins map. That would be truly troublesome, and the seriousness of the situation would far exceed him casually killing a Fourth Prince of the Sande Empire with a sword.

“Tell me the detailed account of what happened one more time…” Sun Fei’s gaze was sharp as he stared straight at Two-Legged Bald Rattlesnake Mazzola, leaving no room for argument. “Don’t leave out anything, or else… you know the consequences.”

“Yes, yes, absolutely. I wouldn’t dare hide anything from you, sir.”

Mazzola nodded repeatedly, bowing and scraping with a fawning smile as he recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

It turned out that he and Luciano had hidden in St. Petersburg for a while. After hearing that the Black Armored Army had retreated, they immediately set out to return to Shampoo City. After all, in Shampoo City, they were the lofty little kings, having everything they wanted. But in the Imperial Capital Saint Petersburg, the heart of the Zenit Empire, they were just insignificant nobodies—like unimportant little eunuchs beside the emperor.

However, on their way back, their group was suddenly stopped by a mysterious black-cloaked figure who appeared out of nowhere. This black-cloaked person demonstrated formidable strength; even Mazzola, a Three-Star Divine Master, and Luciano, a Three-Star Knight, were no match. Fortunately, this person showed no hostility. Instead, he disclosed a very important piece of information to Mazzola: during the battle at Shampoo City’s Stone Bridge, a faint trace of Necromancy had appeared.

The word ‘faint’ used by the black-cloaked figure made Mazzola and Luciano’s eyes light up. Necromancy was utterly intolerable to the Holy Church. If they could investigate the cause and capture the Necromancer with that faint divine power, it would be a huge achievement. Their positions within the Holy Church might advance further.

As for later arresting people randomly after entering the city, that was actually Mazzola seizing the opportunity. On one hand, it was to greedily amass wealth. On the other hand, they knew that their actions during the Black Armored Army’s siege—not assisting in defending the city but fleeing using an excuse—had caused the Holy Church to lose all credibility in Shampoo City. So they wanted to re-establish their authority.

It’s just that they had tyrannized for too long. Even with Two-Legged Bald Rattlesnake Mazzola’s scheming mind, instead of using conciliatory tactics, he foolishly employed an antagonistic approach that only deepened the conflict.

“So, neither of you knows the identity of this mysterious black-cloaked figure? Not even seen his real face?” Sun Fei frowned after hearing Rattlesnake Mazzola’s honest account.

“Yes, Honorable Sir. That mysterious person was very powerful, at least around Four-Star Mage level. Luciano and I initially wanted to capture him for questioning… but we were no match…” Mazzola said this with a slightly embarrassed expression, and the bearded Knight Commander Luciano nodded vigorously beside him.

Sun Fei lowered his head, deep in thought.

Another black-cloaked Mage with unfathomable origins and Four-Star power—it sounded like it had some connection to Evans, who had died earlier in the Iron Prison Water Dungeon. This secretly alarmed Sun Fei; it felt like he had poked a hornet’s nest… But at the same time, he faintly felt he might have overlooked something, or someone.

Back then, in Necromancer Mode, Sun Fei had only used two skills—Teeth and Corpse Explosion—done in less than three or four seconds. Afterward, with the Stone Bridge collapsing, all evidence had sunk into the Zuli River. Logically, no one should have discovered it, unless a master was secretly observing the Stone Bridge battle all along. If that was true, then the mysterious black-cloaked man mentioned by Mazzola should have been present. But then a question arose: if he was truly present then, watching his accomplice Evans get captured, he definitely wouldn’t have stood idly by. With his Four-Star power, he could have turned things around instantly… which meant it seemed quite possible this mysterious black-cloaked figure wasn’t Evans’ accomplice after all.

But then, who was he?

“You may withdraw for now,” Sun Fei ordered after failing to find any leads, waving Mazzola and Luciano away. After a moment’s thought, he added, “Regarding the matter of Necromancy, let it rest here. Do not investigate further. The interests involved in this are beyond anything you two can imagine. I will handle it personally. If your private investigation alerts anyone and ruins my plans, when His Holiness the Pope gets enraged… believe me, two spots on the stakes at Wanliu Peak will be reserved just for you.”

Sun Fei was simply taking advantage of the situation to cover up the truth.

Since Mazzola and Luciano had mistaken him for a high-ranking figure, Sun Fei intended to boldly use this to his advantage. His original plan was to find an opportunity to discreetly eliminate these two. But now, keeping Mazzola and Luciano around might prove unexpectedly useful later.

Hearing Sun Fei’s words, a gleam flashed in Mazzola’s eyes, revealing an ‘as expected’ expression. He quickly bowed again, assuring him, “Sir, you have our utmost assurance. Luciano and I shall not involve ourselves in this the slightest bit from now on… If there is anything you need in the future, simply command us. The Holy Church of Shampoo City would be honored to serve you to the death.”

“Hmm, you two fare well enough. For discovering traces of Necromancy, I shall record your merit for now. Once this affair concludes and my training here ends, when this seat returns to Holy Mountain Wanliu Peak, benefits for you two shall naturally follow.” Sun Fei delivered a few heavy threats and then casually tossed out a sweet promise. To make it more convincing, he even referred to himself as ‘this seat’.

Mazzola and Luciano were overjoyed at these words, instantly feeling their futures brighten. They repeatedly kowtowed, humbly kneeling to kiss Sun Fei’s leather boots before happily exiting the King’s Hall.

Returning to his throne, Sun Fei pondered. The identity of the black-cloaked man was too mysterious; there was no real clue. He decided to stop thinking about it for now. Instead, he summoned the Prison Warden, Mazzola, back to the hall and gave him a few low-voiced instructions.

…

Returning to the church, Mazzola and Luciano dismissed all their attendants and quietly slipped into a secret chamber behind the church hall’s main chamber.

This was where Mazzola and Luciano discussed important matters.

“Divine Master Mazzola, are you truly certain that fool King Alexander from before is actually a lord from the Headquarters?” The bearded Knight Commander couldn’t stop fretting about the magic stones and Magic Scrolls he had gifted away, frowning as he asked. The decision to offer gifts to Alexander had been Mazzola’s, and Luciano still found it somewhat hard to accept Mazzola’s judgment.

“Well… I’m not one hundred percent certain.”

Back in the familiar setting of the church, Rattlesnake Mazzola reverted to his aloof and haughty manner. Standing with his back to the statue of God the Father in the candlelit, dimly flickering secret chamber, Mazolla solemnly made the sign of the Holy Cross before turning around. “But don’t forget, the dual golden Battle Aura Rings Alexander displayed today were beyond doubt. You too must have felt the level of terrifying Holy Power they contained within those golden rings. I doubt even His Excellency Pope Sergiyeli of Zenit possesses Holy Power that pure!”

“That much is true… but as we both know, according to all information we had before, Alexander was nothing but a fool since birth. He’d been simple-minded for almost seventeen years! How could he be a God’s Favored One?”

Luciano was still uncertain.

“Exactly that point troubles me… However,” Mazzola’s eyes flashed with a fleeting trace of fear, “consider this: before he became famous, Saint Paladin Garcin, once the top expert of the Church’s Judgment Knight Order, was considered a fool because he was wheelchair-bound and silent. And that Martial Saint Maradona, whom even His Holiness the Pope respects these days—most of his actions these years resemble those of a madman! On the vast and mysterious Azeroth Continent, such cases are far too common. It’s possible Alexander was merely feigning madness all along…”

Mazzola continued slowly, his expression growing darker, “Old friend, I suddenly have a rather terrible feeling. It seems Shampoo City holds secrets we are unaware of. We may have stumbled into something we shouldn’t know… It’s possible Alexander really is, as he claims, acting upon the Pope’s secret orders, investigating something clandestinely.”

After saying this, flickers of cold light flashed in Mazolla’s eyes, making him appear gloomy and sinister.

“So, after all that, you aren’t actually sure of Alexander’s true identity?” The bearded Knight Commander grew impatient. “Then why didn’t we just observe for a while longer? Why did you rush to go present gifts? What a waste of that chest of precious Magic Stones, those Magic Scrolls… especially that mysterious black scroll; it might even have been a forbidden spell one, the kind that you rarely ever meet!”

“Ah, that’s where you are mistaken, old friend. Opportunity knocks but once. If missed, regret comes too late.”