Prevent the Assassination

"Finally, I wish the month-long Industrial Exhibition a complete success!"

Returning once more to the exhibition grounds, the thunderous applause beneath the podium greeted Luo Wei’s eyes—the same familiar scene he had witnessed before.

Luo Wei had already heard the emperor’s speech three times. He felt like he could recite it by heart now.

[Save Point: Crystal Palace Exhibition Hall]

[Remaining Loads: 3/5]

Upon returning, Luo Wei immediately contacted the witch on the other side of the communication ring.

"What? You want me to protect that old fool, the Pope? And the higher-ups of the Church?" Tilis’ voice was laced with disbelief. She had never heard such a request in her life.

Her grievances with the Church ran deep. As the long-hunted "Calamity Witch," Tilis had never imagined a day would come when she would be protecting the very institution that sought her demise...

"We have no other choice," Luo Wei said helplessly. "If that woman gains control of the Holy Edict Church, combined with her existing Holy Light Church, she’ll absorb all the faith in the world..."

"Exactly," Ophelia nodded in agreement. She wasn’t particularly concerned about whether Eleya ascended to godhood—after all, the woman had never expressed any intent to take Luo Wei for herself or monopolize him. Even in the past, Eleya had been the kind of gentle older sister who simply wanted the family to stay together, posing no real threat to her.

What worried Ophelia was that if Eleya, the Church’s Saintess, became a deity, the Age of the Church would inevitably return.

As a high-ranking member of the royal family in one of the most secular nations on the continent, Ophelia knew all too well what the Age of the Church meant. It was a past not too distant, an era where every aspect of life—birth, aging, sickness, and death—revolved around "divine guidance."

In that age, doctrine was law, and serving the gods was the entirety of human existence. There was order, yes, but it was archaic and stifling. In such a world, innovations like Magical Industry would never see the light of day again.

"Of course I know that, but..." Tilis’ reluctant voice came through the ring.

Hearing the witch’s resistance, Luo Wei knew exactly how to handle her. With a chuckle, he said, "By then, Eleya will be far stronger than you. You’ll never stand a chance against her again."

"Ha!" Tilis scoffed disdainfully. "A mere Church Saintess? How could she possibly surpass me?"

After declaring her superiority like a top-tier character card, the witch vanished from her old mansion in an instant, reappearing amidst the bustling crowd.

The convoy had yet to depart. She observed the guards, searching for an opportunity to slip in unnoticed.

Once he confirmed Tilis was in position, Luo Wei smirked to himself before turning to his companion.

"Ophelia, we’ll head straight for Adrian. This time, you’ll need to take the lead."

"Understood." Without hesitation, Ophelia led Luo Wei toward the Church delegation.

Hearing that plans had changed and everyone had a role to play, Helena’s voice also chimed in through the ring.

"Brother! What about me? What’s my task?"

"Yours is the most important," Luo Wei said.

"Really?!" Helena’s voice brightened with excitement.

"Mhm." Luo Wei nodded. "You’re in charge of guarding the house."

"Oh..."

Helena deflated, shooting a sullen glance at the motionless Eleya.

With the witch gone, the living room was left to just the two of them. Helena slumped onto the sofa, idly waiting for her brother’s next instructions.

The room remained silent for a long while—until Eleya’s vacant gaze flickered faintly.

She stared at the spot where Tilis had disappeared, her expression contemplative.

...

Seizing the moment while the convoy remained parked outside the Crystal Palace, Luo Wei and Ophelia approached Pope Adrian.

"Your Highness, are you suggesting... the assassin is hiding among our clergy? That we have a traitor in our midst?" Adrian regarded them with confusion.

"Precisely. The assassin is here." Ophelia’s icy gaze swept over the Church’s higher-ups, lingering briefly on one individual.

Luo Wei had already marked the assassin—a plain-looking middle-aged priest who remained unnervingly calm even under scrutiny.

"Your Highness..." Adrian lowered his voice gravely. "Do you have any evidence? His Majesty is about to return to the palace, and delays are unacceptable. If anything goes wrong..."

"The assassin’s target isn’t my father. It’s you," Ophelia stated coolly. "As for evidence, you’ll see it soon enough."

"Me?" Adrian blinked, taken aback.

With Ophelia blocking the way, the convoy’s departure was delayed. A group of the emperor’s attendants hurried over.

"Your Highness, His Majesty wishes to know what’s happening."

All eyes turned to Ophelia—except the assassin’s. Luo Wei noticed the man’s lips twitch.

This was the assassin’s only chance. With a cry of "The Lord is with me!", countless spears of light materialized above the heads of the Church’s leaders.

The attack was so sudden that none of the clergy could react in time.

Yet, in the next instant, the spears didn’t descend. No one was turned into a pincushion—because the witch disguised as security intervened.

Tilis flashed behind the assassin and swung her magic-infused baton straight at the back of his skull.

The blow not only cut off the second half of his divine incantation but also robbed him of the chance to commit suicide.

All he could do was collapse, eyes rolling back, foam bubbling at his mouth.

Luo Wei gave Tilis a subtle thumbs-up. He’d wondered how she’d conceal her magic, but this brutishly straightforward "physical" approach was perfect. Truly, every mage dreamed of going melee.

Pale-faced, Adrian turned to Ophelia, who glanced at the unconscious assassin and smiled.

"Your Holiness, with the assassin captured red-handed, is this evidence sufficient?"

"More than sufficient, more than sufficient..." Adrian motioned urgently to his subordinates. "Take him back to the Church for interrogation! Do not disturb His Majesty!"

...

In the White Chapel District, within St. Karen’s Cathedral, Tilis used puppet magic to interrogate the dazed assassin.

Through his confession, Luo Wei learned that this priest, named Lance, had defected for reasons similar to Bishop Lawrence—exposure to new divine arts and subsequent recruitment by the Church’s hidden operatives.

But Lance was far more devout. Brainwashed by Eleya, he was willing to dedicate his life to the so-called "Light" and serve the Saintess unto death, making him a crucial sleeper agent planted in the Royal Capital by the Church.

"Confess all the names of the Church's accomplices hidden in St. Carren that you know of," Tilis demanded.

"Alright..."

Priest Lance's lips moved stiffly, uttering a string of names one after another, while the church scribe beside him hurriedly recorded them.

"Did Eleya give any other orders? Aside from the assassination, did she have any other schemes?" Tilis pressed further.

"No... I don't know..." Priest Lance replied mechanically.

Tilis turned wearily to Luo Wei. Soul-related dark magic was incredibly draining, and the interrogation had already lasted the entire afternoon.

Luo Wei glanced at the sky outside—dusk had fallen, and Priest Lance had revealed everything he could.

"You've worked hard," Luo Wei said with a smile. "Let's head home first. We can discuss the rest there."

Tilis finally relaxed.

In the interrogation room, as everyone prepared to leave, Pope Adrian quickly spoke up. "Your Highness, this friend of yours... her mastery of magic is truly extraordinary. Might I ask who she—"

Ophelia had no intention of revealing Tilis's identity, nor did she have time to entertain the pope. She simply waved a dismissive hand without looking back.

As they descended the grand cathedral steps, Luo Wei silently gazed at the peaceful city of St. Carren bathed in the evening glow.

The emperor had long since returned to the palace, and the journey back had been uneventful—no dangers encountered along the way.

Moreover, the pope was still alive, the assassins had been captured, and the Church's spy network in St. Carren would soon be completely dismantled.

It seemed this conspiracy had truly come to an end...

Yet, strangely, the mission remained unfulfilled.