Chapter 227
by post_apiChapter 227: Lingering Melody
The witch smiled faintly.
As always, her “smile” resembled a mask, concealing untold truths.
No one could truly peer into the depths of the witch’s soul.
“Well, what do you wish to discuss? Is it your desire to make me surrender, kneel in fear before you with a forced smile, and then lick your shoes?”
Her biting sarcasm didn’t stir a single emotion on Bai Yan’s face. His calm, serene expression remained unwavering.
“Merete Chambers,” he began, “I simply wish to have an open and honest conversation.”
He continued, “Firstly, there are the ‘Three Articles of Agreement.’ Babel Tower, as an organization, stands for a balance between chaos and benevolence. If you wish to join us, we must agree on some boundaries. While we won’t stop you from pursuing certain goals, indiscriminate killing—direct or indirect—is unacceptable.”
Merete Chambers narrowed her eyes briefly before nodding.
“Very well,” she replied without hesitation, “I agree to your terms.”
Bai Yan nodded. “You’re planning to go to the Eruo League, aren’t you? To the Kingdom of Dark Light?”
Her lips curled into a sly smile.
“It seems you know far more than I anticipated. Tell me, are these your own thoughts, or the will of the mysterious Savior pulling the strings behind the scenes?”
“Care to guess?” Bai Yan chuckled softly.
In that moment, Merete Chambers realized how enigmatic he truly was.
Her unique abilities, which allowed her to glimpse the truth in others, failed her when it came to this man. She couldn’t discern whether these were Bai Yan’s intentions or those of the Savior.
Regardless, the agreement with Babel Tower was clear.
“Very well,” she said. “I’ll try to be a good person—for now. I am indeed headed to the Eruo League to seek something I need.”
“The Order of the Moon Witch, perhaps?” Bai Yan’s voice was steady, unyielding. “The one that worships the Ultimate Witch—the one that should be serving you.”
For a fleeting moment, surprise flickered across Merete Chambers’ face.
The Order of the Moon Witch had a history spanning millennia in the Kingdom of Dark Light. Although not ancient compared to other orders, it carried deep roots. They revered the Ultimate Witch, Merete Chambers’ most powerful incarnation across countless lifetimes.
But the witch’s tone was dismissive.
“Descendants of traitors, all of them. Their deaths wouldn’t matter to me, yet for now, they can be useful.”
Bai Yan nodded in
understanding.
“Whatever choices you make,
whomever you use, Babel
Tower will not stand in your
way. If the opportunity arises,
we might even help you
achieve godhood. After all,
isn’t that your ultimate dream?”
“Indeed,” she murmured, her
smile faint yet laced with
solemnity. Raising a hand, her
tone grew serious.
“Only as a true deity can I
rewrite my fate—to escape the
endless cycle of tragedy. I
have failed countless times
across countless lifetimes, yet
I edge ever closer to my goal.
Joining Babel Tower may
finally grant me what I’ve long
sought.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“And so, I follow the Savior,
hoping to receive true power
from Him.”
Bai Yan smiled faintly, though
the meaning behind it was
indecipherable.
“Then, I wish you good luck,” he
said. “Perhaps we’ll meet
again in the Kingdom of Dark
Light.”
Merete stepped forward.
“Find me in Annottales—
thelargest, oldest city in the
Kingdom of Dark Light, Noah’s
world. It is the stage for
divinity, the gateway no
aspirant to godhood can
bypass.”
She paused, her voice quieter
now.
“But to become a deity is to
declare war on the Rainbows,
the hidden manipulators of
this world.”
Annottales.
The City of Miracles. The Holy
Capital. The largest city in
Noah’s world.
A city of 30 million, renowned
for its history, legends, and
gods descending to walk its
streets.
Before leaving the Demon
Hunt Agency, Merete paused,
her face clouded with doubt.
“I can tell,” she said, “that when
you say you’ll help me, it isn’t
an empty promise. You truly
mean it.”
“Why?”
Bai Yan’s reply was calm, his
smile unwavering.
“Because I serve the Savior. If
you are to join Babel Tower,
you must grow stronger. It’s
that simple.”
Merete tilted her head,
studying him with her abilities.
He spoke the truth.
Yet she shook her head.
“Things rarely go as planned,”
she said, smiling faintly as she
turned to leave.
Before disappearing, she
added, almost as an
afterthought, “I’ve
administered life-extending
medication to Holly’s parents.
That girl, in the end, chose not
to cross the line of the law.
She said she didn’t want to
disappoint her companions.”
She vanished into the mist,
leaving behind a lingering
melody of her words.