[Vol. 8] Chapter 230: The Apostle and the Assassin
“...A person?”
Sasha frowned slightly, as if something had just occurred to her. Her expression turned a bit more serious.
“What kind of person?”
“Well… how should I put it… It was a man, a human. He looked pretty young, wearing something like leather armor, maybe a mercenary or adventurer. He’d clearly been attacked by something. When the guards found him, he was already badly injured and unconscious.”
Even though he was a seasoned merchant who had seen a lot in his life, the deputy leader still looked a bit pale, as if he was still shaken by what he had seen.
“I went to take a look earlier… Those injuries were really scary. His armor was torn to shreds, blood everywhere… You could even see the bones inside. What kind of fierce battle must it have been to end up like that?”
Sasha didn’t say anything for a moment. No one could tell what she was thinking, but after a short pause, she just nodded.
“More and more strange things are happening lately… Did the guards bring him back? Did they run into whatever attacked him?”
“Well, we couldn’t just leave a dying man out there. As for the enemy… we didn’t see anyone. Judging by how dry the blood was, it looks like he had been running for a while before he finally collapsed from exhaustion.”
The deputy leader suddenly paused for a moment and then lowered his voice, as if he was afraid of being overheard.
“Um… Miss Sasha, I found something on him. And… well, something about it just feels off.”
Sasha raised her eyebrows, looking at him curiously.
“If it’s something important, why be so mysterious about it? Just show me.”
“This isn’t just some random item… Look at this…”
He took something from inside his coat, a badge stained with dried blood. Sasha instinctively reached out and took it. Holding it under the firelight, she examined it closely, and her eyes suddenly widened in shock.
The badge was made from a golden-colored metal, though not actual gold. Carved on it was a shining symbol, something that looked like a glowing disc, not quite the sun and not quite the moon. It gave off an aura of holiness and nobility.
To ordinary merchants, this symbol might not have meant much. But for Sasha, and this deputy leader, it was a different story.
“This is… a token from the [Light Worshipper Church]? And not just any token, this is a high-level Apostle’s Holy Seal! Could that injured man be… a missionary from the [Light Worshipper Church]?”
Sasha’s face turned pale. Her previously casual expression quickly changed into one of deep seriousness.
The [Light Worshipper Church] was no ordinary organization.
Back during the Fourth Demon War, Sasha had traveled through the Holy Empire with the Xavier Merchant Group. At one point, she was accidentally infected by the Plague of [Defilement], a disease spread by one of the Four Demon Lords. Her life was in danger.
It was the [Light Worshipper Church], the group she was trading with, that came to her aid. Through their help and guidance, she was miraculously cured.
There was a strict requirement for the healing ritual to work. The infected person had to join the [Light Worshipper Church] and believe in the light of salvation that they worshipped. Only then could they receive the mysterious blessing that could resist demonic corruption.
So technically speaking, Sasha, the deputy leader, and even President Xavier were all members of the Church now.
However, the organization itself was quite loose in structure. Unlike the Goddess Church, it didn’t have so many strict rules. After their illnesses were cured and the war had calmed down, they eventually left the Holy Empire and returned to the Human United Kingdom to continue their trade.
Even so, Sasha had never forgotten this “gifted” identity. She never officially left the church either. And unlike in the Holy Empire, the [Light Worshipper Church] had grown quickly in the Human United Kingdom. In just a few years, it had gained many followers and was even starting to rival the influence of the major temples.
It’s strange when you think about it, despite how fast the [Light Worshipper Church] has grown, the kingdom’s authorities act like they haven’t noticed it at all. They just ignore it and let it be. Even the Goddess Church, which should have been in direct competition with them for followers, hasn't made any move at all. It’s like they don’t care that their believers are being taken away. Very suspicious.
In the [Light Worshipper Church], the Apostles hold very special and rare positions. Every Apostle not only has a mysterious identity, but also carries out missions that usually have a huge impact. They play a key role in how the church grows and expands.
For example, Sasha knew that there was an Apostle stationed in Courage City within the Human United Kingdom. Because of that, the church's influence there had grown unusually fast. Now, almost one-fifth of the population there were official members of the [Light Worshipper Church].
If the injured man really was an Apostle, then his being hunted down and seriously wounded wasn’t just some random accident. It had to be something much more serious.
Finally realizing the real reason why the deputy leader was so nervous, Sasha didn’t waste any more time. She quickly stood up and grabbed her longbow.
“Where is he? Take me to him, now!”
“Okay, Miss Sasha, this way—”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the night!
Whoosh!!
Two arrows came flying straight at them out of nowhere!
“!?”
Sasha’s expression changed in an instant. She didn’t even have time to draw her bow. Without thinking, she threw her dagger at the arrow heading for her, knocking it off course. But just as she was about to grab the deputy leader beside her, who hadn’t even had time to react, a freezing, bone-chilling presence suddenly rushed at her from behind!
Years of battle experience kicked in. She instinctively twisted her body to the side. It was close, she barely dodged a sharp blade that had silently stabbed out of the darkness. But because she had to move, she missed the chance to save her ally. And on the other side…
"Thwack!"
One of the arrows had already reached the deputy leader. In the split second Sasha was distracted, it pierced straight through his neck. Blood sprayed out like a fountain. He didn’t even understand what was happening. His eyes wide open, the middle-aged man collapsed and died on the spot, without any chance to fight back.
“York?!”
Sasha’s eyes went wide with rage. But before she could do anything, the assassin who had tried to stab her attacked again from the shadows, while the hidden archer fired another arrow from the distance. The two attackers moved in perfect sync. Sasha didn’t even have time to draw her bow. She could only dive and roll to the ground, barely dodging both deadly strikes.
Still half-kneeling on the ground, she didn’t hesitate for even a second. She nocked an arrow to her bow and fired. Scarlet flames burst to life around the arrow as she fired an angry shot toward where the archer had been hiding, following the path of the earlier attacks.
“Zing!!!”
“We’re under attack!!!”
Her furious scream shattered the peace of the camp like a thunderclap. Powerful energies burst into the air from all directions, several strong fighters from the trade caravan were already rushing toward her location without hesitation!
Whoosh!
The burning arrow flew into the bushes, followed by a barely audible grunt of pain. Maybe her shot had hit one of them, or maybe the two mysterious assassins had been wary of facing the full force of the caravan. Either way, their ambush had failed. Without a sound, they quickly retreated into the darkness and disappeared without a trace.