Joint Interrogation of Aleya by Three Courts

After Luo Wei met up with Captain Raymond at the agreed location, the scattered members of the Night Crow Gang were swiftly arrested by the police officers closing in on them. The firearms and corpses were also confiscated by the authorities.

Not wanting to involve himself further in the aftermath, Luo Wei turned to Tilis, who used teleportation magic to bring the group back to the old mansion's living room.

It was already late at night. As the glow of magic faded, Helena, dressed in her pajamas, approached them with a yawn.

"Mmm... Why is Brother back so late...?"

"Huh? Why is everyone here?"

Helena noticed the unusually large group and, more curiously, the strange smell lingering on them.

The odd scent immediately snapped her awake. Pinching her nose in disgust, she looked at Luo Wei in confusion. "Brother, weren’t you attending an exhibition? Why do you smell like this?"

She distinctly remembered him going to an industrial expo, not some fermented fish canning festival. The memory of that "delicious canned delicacy" Evelyn had once treated them to in the northern regions was forever etched in her mind—and now, her brother and the others reeked of something similarly foul.

"That's... a long story," Luo Wei muttered, instinctively sniffing his sleeve. He thought Tilis’s protective magic should have kept him from getting contaminated...

Ophelia cast a glance at Eleya, who had been captured, then hurriedly retreated to her room. "I’m going to change. Wait for me before interrogating this woman!"

"Hmm?" Helena’s attention shifted to the unfamiliar woman with stiff movements, her guard instantly rising. "Who is she? Brother, why have you brought another woman home?"

She stepped closer, scrutinizing Eleya with wary eyes. Eleya met her gaze, her lips curling into a gentle smile.

"Little Helena, you’ve grown up... and become quite beautiful," Eleya said softly.

"Who... are you?" Though Helena had never heard this voice before, the tender tone felt oddly familiar.

Eleya’s gaze wandered with difficulty, taking in the old mansion with a nostalgic expression.

"It hasn’t changed much, though the furnishings are far more luxurious now. Ophelia must have brought them, right?"

"Oh, Luo Wei, is my old room still there? I’ll stay there tonight. If it’s messy, I’ll tidy it up myself."

"You really don’t see yourself as an outsider, do you?" Tilis sneered. "You’re our prisoner—show some seriousness!"

With a wave of her hand, a wooden chair floated into the center of the hall. She forced Eleya onto it and tightly bound her with ropes.

"Do you really have to tie me this tightly?" Eleya glanced at Tilis. "Feels like you’re taking out personal grudges here."

"Hah, this is just the beginning," Tilis replied with a chilling grin, her voice dripping with vindictiveness. "The Church has hunted us, the Arcane Coven, time and time again. And now, you’ve caused this mess in Saint Callen. Did you think I’d let you off easy? You’re finished, Eleya. I’ll make sure you beg for death but find none!"

"Oh?" Eleya replied indifferently. "And what will you do to me?"

Tilis turned to Helena. "Go fetch the torture tools from the basement. Make sure every model of the bone saw is there!"

"O-okay..." Helena nodded, then hesitated. "Um... Miss Witch, should I bring the anesthetic too?"

"Of course not!" Tilis hissed. "I won’t just inflict physical pain—I’ll burn her soul! She’ll sob and beg before this is over. Today, she’ll confess every last scheme, or this isn’t ending!"

Helena shuddered at the terrifying aura radiating from the witch. The entire living room seemed to grow colder from her malice.

Yet Eleya remained unfazed.

She chuckled, looking at Luo Wei. "Still the same as ever, isn’t she? I always said foul magic corrupts the mind. I tried so hard back then to guide her back to the right path, but look at her now—utterly ruined. Beyond salvation."

"Who defines what’s right or wrong?" Luo Wei retorted coldly. "Everything you’ve done will bring chaos, war, and death to Saint Callen—no, to all of Weignar. How can you say such things with a straight face? Right now, you’re the last person qualified to criticize Tilis."

He knew Eleya had always despised mages—or "witches"—ever since the wars of the central nations. Her homeland had been destroyed by a dark sorcerer, and her adoptive mother, a kind-hearted nun, had died because of it.

But now, what difference was there between her actions and that dark sorcerer’s?

Luo Wei stared at her. "It’s not too late to wake up. Order your followers to halt their activities in Saint Callen. End this meaningless war. If you do, there’s still a place for you in this home. All of us will help you achieve what you truly desire."

To his surprise, Eleya’s expression instantly turned distant, her eyes hollow.

"No. Spreading the Holy Light’s dominion is my wish. I will bring order to this world."

Luo Wei frowned, sensing an unsettling, almost divine aura emanating from her.

"Pawn of the Light," Tilis spat impatiently. Seeing Helena hadn’t returned, she conjured a barbed whip. "Looks like I’ll have to teach you a lesson today. Let’s see if that knocks the madness out of you!"

"Wait..." Luo Wei sensed something off about Eleya’s state. He stepped closer, probing carefully. "Eleya... is this really you?"

"Of course it’s me," Eleya replied, her gaze softening as she smiled at him—just as she had earlier.

Luo Wei’s frown deepened.

"Then answer me this," he pressed. "If you truly want the Holy Light to envelop the world, do you genuinely wish to see the deaths of this nation’s innocent people as part of that? That’s not the Eleya I knew."

The Eleya he remembered was gentle and kind-hearted. She couldn’t bear to see suffering and had once prayed for an end to all wars.

"It’s a necessary sacrifice," Eleya declared firmly. "Only light can dispel darkness. A moment of cruelty and loss, in exchange for eternal order and peace—isn’t that a simple equation? Luo Wei, I thought you’d understand."

"And how do you plan to achieve this?" Luo Wei tried to guide her. "The root of this world’s tragedies lies beyond your comprehension. The Church’s era is not the future—the Siston Theocracy proved that a thousand years ago."

"All tragedies in this world stem from the lack of power in those involved," Eleya declared. "The Second God of Light managed to seal away most of the Elder Ones without even absorbing the faith of the entire world. What He failed to accomplish, I will achieve—for I have heard the call of the Light."

"Light?" Luo Wei questioned skeptically. "Who is Light? What is Light? How did It speak to you?"

"The Light is the future me. I will become the Third God of Light," Eleya murmured softly. "Luo Wei, stand by my side. As I’ve said before, the Church has reserved a place for you. I need you to manage the faith for me, to rule this kingdom in my name."

"Luo Wei, don’t listen to her honeyed words!" Tilis snapped, her hand outstretched as dark flames erupted around her. "A god? You? Don’t make me laugh."