“Your injuries should be almost healed by now, Black Rose?”
Shandie set down the supplies she had scavenged, nudging Black Rose, who was sitting against the cave wall, with the tip of her shoe.
“Hey, aren’t we supposed to be companions? Isn’t your attitude toward the wounded a little too harsh?”
Shandie didn’t refute Black Rose’s words. She just sneered in her heart—Companions, huh…
Her gaze swept across the cave.
Aside from Black Rose, the other two present were the childlike Third Divine Envoy, and the one who had intercepted Mu Xingge outside the city, cloaked in black and silent the entire journey.
Shandie didn’t even know if this person was male or female!
Although these two were the helpers Black Rose found for the Summersea City incident, Shandie couldn’t consider these mysterious Divine Summon Order members as her companions.
“Don’t worry. With the Third Divine Envoy’s help, my injuries are pretty much healed. Really didn’t expect to run into that monster, the Silverflame Dragon Princess.”
Black Rose sighed. “It’s just a shame I couldn’t help the Divine Envoy take the Blood Moon Witch away. I was planning to lend the Divine Envoy a hand after taking care of my own business.”
Shandie didn’t join the conversation, instead observing the Third Divine Envoy—the one she feared the most.
Not to mention, she couldn’t understand the way this person healed Black Rose; she knew that this one was smashed to a pulp by the Blood Moon Witch back in Summersea City, yet still managed to reunite with them unscathed afterward.
It can’t be resurrection, can it?
“No matter. I only wanted to visit the Saintess and see how she’s been all these years,” the Third Divine Envoy smiled with childlike innocence.
“If the Saintess is willing to come with me, that’s ideal. If not, I won’t force her.”
“In any case, the Saintess will eventually dedicate herself to our Divine Summon Order’s great cause.”
Shandie curled her lip, thinking: As if the Blood Moon Witch was ever so loyal to your Divine Summon Order.
After escaping from Hidden Bone Hall, she was too busy dating Magical Girls, not looking to reunite with you. This Third Divine Envoy is way too confident.
“Miss Luodie, there’s no need to worry. The Saintess could never betray the Divine Summon Order. She will eliminate all obstacles for us, like that Eternal Star, hehe…”
Shandie jumped in shock—she hadn’t said a word just now, but the Third Divine Envoy somehow guessed what she was thinking?
Since things were out in the open, Shandie straightforwardly joined the conversation.
“How can you be so sure? I don’t think the Blood Moon Witch looked all that eager to do your Divine Summon Order’s bidding this time.”
“Hehe… Miss Luodie, you should know the Saintess is our most successful ‘creation’, right? And since she is a creation, she can be modified.”
The Third Divine Envoy smiled. In her mouth, Ye Xinglan sounded less like a living person and more like a robot, to be manipulated and altered at will.
“To serve the Saintess better, we Divine Envoys make decisions for her during battle. While this prevents her from using her full strength, her power is more than enough to deal with ordinary enemies.”
Shandie said nothing. This was just a way to prevent her from escaping—controlling her actions and calling it “serving”?
The Divine Summon Order truly is a top-tier cult, a master at twisting black and white.
The Third Divine Envoy kept rambling about divine matters. Shandie automatically translated it in her head into plain speech……
In other words, usually the Divine Envoy controls the Blood Moon Witch in battle, but if she encounters a powerful enemy—someone like Eternal Star—then the Blood Moon Witch herself must fight at full strength to stand a chance.
But then, how do they ensure the unrestrained Blood Moon Witch will obediently fight?
So the Divine Summon Order came up with a dirty trick: they planted a “Seed” in the Blood Moon Witch’s consciousness—a Seed of hatred toward Magical Girls and Eternal Star.
“So aren’t you… afraid your Saintess will notice her feelings have been tampered with?”
“Impossible,” the Third Divine Envoy shook her head.
“We only planted a Seed, nothing more. The feelings that sprout from that Seed are the Saintess’s true emotions.”
“Faced with those detestable Magical Girls… especially that Eternal Star, who has brought the Saintess endless pain, it’s only natural for her to harbor hatred. The Seed is just a safeguard, to ensure the Saintess maintains a pure mind.”
Shandie clicked her tongue. The Divine Summon Order’s methods were even more inhuman than she imagined.
This thing was like a mental shackle—its victim likely wouldn’t even realize something was wrong.
“But… if those are real feelings, couldn’t the Blood Moon Witch choose to let go of her hatred for Eternal Star? Since you say all you did was plant a Seed.”
“I believe the Saintess would never go down such a mistaken path.”
Whenever the Third Divine Envoy didn’t answer directly, Shandie knew she’d guessed right.
The Divine Summon Order hadn’t forcibly controlled the Blood Moon Witch’s thoughts.
If the Blood Moon Witch wanted, she really could, by her own will, let go of her hatred for Eternal Star and Magical Girls.
However… Shandie also knew how hard that would be.
The hatred toward Eternal Star that the Blood Moon Witch had built up over years of chaos—how could it be so easily put down?
“Whew… I think I’m mostly recovered now.” Black Rose, who had been resting on the side, suddenly stood and stretched.
“We should be able to hit the road tomorrow. The Divine Envoy’s methods are truly miraculous.”
The Third Divine Envoy nodded slightly, then turned to the figure standing guard at the cave entrance.
“Jing, how far is it to the next inhabited outpost?”
Outside the cities protected by the Association, traces of human activity still remained.
Not everyone was willing to live under the Association’s protection, and some shadowy organizations set up bases outside the cities.
Take, for instance, the Bounty Hunters led by An Wanwan. Though loosely managed, the main base must be outside the city.
Most bounty hunters have at least some ability to defend themselves against monsters.
“Eighty-plus kilometers. If we set out tomorrow morning, we can reach it before dark.”
The Divine Envoy called Jing spoke up. This was the first time Shandie had heard her voice—so, she was female?
But her tone was mechanical and cold, almost lifeless.
It was as if… she wasn’t even alive.
Shandie shivered and edged closer to Black Rose. “So where are we headed next?”
“North Blossom City,” Black Rose chuckled.
“The business in Summersea City is finished. Next up, we’ll have a little fun in North Blossom City.”