Chapter 1264 - 569: The Hidden Traitor in the Shadows

Chapter 1264: Chapter 569: The Hidden Traitor in the Shadows

"You know, you..."

Ophidia’s tense body softened in the whisper, helplessly sighed, leaned back, and fell into the arms of the person behind her.

She closed her eyes, exhaled deeply, and asked, "So, this time you don’t need help again, wanting to go it alone?"

Again like before, letting me do nothing?

Ophidia opened her eyes, turned back, and looked resentfully at the guy who didn’t understand a woman’s heart.

No, how could this guy not understand!

He clearly knows what I want to do, but he just won’t cooperate.

That’s even worse!

"Yes, and no."

Herbert lightly shook his head, smiled under her dissatisfied gaze.

He didn’t explain directly, but shifted the topic by saying, "You know? The performance I asked you all to assist with isn’t just for the cultivators of the monastery."

"Hmm?"

Herbert squinted his eyes, looked upward, as if his gaze could penetrate the chaos of the half-plane, looking further up.

"The audience isn’t just those people."

The more Herbert understood the world, the more he realized Mist Monastery was far more unique than it appeared.

The sense of presence here was too low.

Clearly there were creatures like the Archbishop, situated next to the Divine Forbidden Area, guarding the remains of the Divine...

From any angle, this is a deeply rooted, fearsome special organization.

But in the eyes of the world, it’s just an ordinary monastery supported by a small Kingdom.

The Mist Mountain Range is less renowned among powerhouses than it is famous among mortals.

This is illogical.

One could say it’s very unreasonable!

Herbert never believed, from what Nenasha revealed, she was definitely not a simple figure in her prime.

For a "legacy" left by such an existence, how could no Divine be concerned!

Everything here seemed to be erased by some great power, making it harmless and without presence.

Was it the Archbishop’s presence that deterred petty scoundrels from harboring ill intentions?

Or did those people still exist, just hiding?

Of these two guesses, Herbert tended more towards the latter.

Behind the curtain, there were eyes silently watching, waiting for a chance.

Or maybe, not just one pair, but many existences waiting silently?

Does the Archbishop know of those behind-the-scenes people?

Herbert couldn’t verify.

Not to mention the Archbishop isn’t here, even if he were, it’s unlikely he’d answer honestly.

Why was Herbert so sure?

Because if he were in that position, he too wouldn’t say anything.

There was no choice, they’re just such arrogant and willful folks.

"This performance has two purposes."

One arm around Ophidia’s shoulder, the other held up two fingers in front of her, Herbert said seriously:

"One is to increase my reputation among the cultivators and lay the groundwork for my future actions."

This fact was known to the three Cardinals, understanding Herbert was building his influence.

"And the other, I need certain ’audiences’ to believe that the Mist Monastery still adheres strictly to millennia-old rules, remaining steadfast."

"Regardless of circumstance, there will be no change."

His eyes shone with calculated gleam, his voice hushed as he said:

"I want them to believe, no matter how I, this ’variable,’ might stir things up, the monastery remains conservative and predictable."

"Thus, when I truly take action in the future, they’ll feel secure, not reacting immediately."

Upon hearing this, Ophidia’s expression changed, instantly understanding his meaning, she frowned and said, "Are you saying... there’s a traitor in the monastery?"

That’s not a new idea.

Any organization would be infiltrated by outsiders.

Even highly disciplined organizations requiring oaths and soul-selling would have traitors mixed in.

Even the Divine Spirit Church gets infiltrated, let alone the monastery, a loose organization with weak constraints.

Mist Monastery naturally had various organizations planting traitors, Ophidia knew the real identities of some people, but had been too lazy to deal with them.

As long as they didn’t cause trouble or cross lines, she let them be.

But now, hearing Herbert’s words, it seemed those traitors could become a huge danger?

"Maybe, maybe not, but they are not important."

Herbert also didn’t care about those worthless pawns, reminding her not to mistake the truly worthy opponents.

"The ones to truly focus on are those existences possibly alarmed behind them."

"You asked me earlier if this time I’m doing it alone again?"

Herbert nodded, seriously said:

"Yes, the battle in the Mist Mountain Range, I need to handle on my own using the Demons in the Disciplinary Hall, not needing or allowing other monastery members to intervene."

He wanted to use this opportunity to firmly clear the identities of the Monster Girls, not letting anyone else interfere.

"But isn’t it not requiring your help again?"

"No, Ophidia, this time, I need your help."

Herbert shook his head, seriously said:

"I need you to monitor the movements inside and outside the monastery, help me identify hidden traitors and those behind them."

"Also, I need to understand who these people are behind them without alarming them, which is quite difficult."

"To discern truth from subtle details, it requires vast knowledge and high wisdom, only you can do this."

"I can only rely on your help."

Ophidia furrowed her brows, fell into silence, not moving for a long time.

"..."

After a while, she finally reacted, didn’t mention rejecting, but asked: "...So, you’re planning to take them deep into the Mist Mountain Range and cause a ruckus?"

Herbert nodded, replied frankly, "With the Archbishop absent, it’s a rare opportunity to let them release their power recklessly."

"Anyway, I’ve already laid the groundwork before, afterward no matter the scale of chaos I cause in the mountains, it won’t matter."

"Even triggering some ’disturbance,’ the monastery’s members will understand the situation... Eh?"

Herbert intended to continue explaining, but Ophidia’s snake tail coiled around his waist, directly holding him in check.

"Uh, what’s wrong?"

He wanted to explain further, but saw Ophidia’s dissatisfied purse of her lips, and noise of discontent.

"No, what I mean is... you’re taking them to create chaos, not taking me? And have me do such troublesome tasks?"

"...Hmm?"

At that moment, Herbert finally realized where Ophidia’s discontent came from—you’re not taking me along?

His earlier explanation, seemed like an ultra-American bullying to her.

Hey! We’re going to attend an amazing party, guess who didn’t get an invite?

Haha, that’s right—it’s you!

We’re going to have fun, remember to do a good job!

"..."

Herbert rarely fell into a speechless silence, a question echoing in his mind.

Isn’t it?

Does the monastery have issues?

Why do all the high-ups want to sneak out and have fun!?!!

...

...

Meanwhile, as Herbert and Ophidia were secretly conversing, a concealed dialogue unfolded in the Heroic Spirit Legion’s camp.

The Legion Commander, emitting an aura of ancient grandeur, stood silently before a damaged idol with indistinguishable features.

"..."

His armor bore the scars of countless forgotten battles, validating his valor.

Beside him, a nimble figure wielding twin blades softly reported, her voice betraying a subtle ripple.

"Gall’s spirit imprint... has completely extinguished."

"Judging by the last fading wave, it wasn’t destroyed by force, but seemed... captured, isolated by some power, waiting to be ’purified’ and reshaped."

She raised her head, spirit flame in her eyes sharp, solemnly said: "They indeed have a fully functional Heroic Spirit Pool, and wield it quite skillfully."

"Consistent with the intelligence revealed to us by that person from Elda."

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