Chapter 44: Playing Her Like a Fiddle

“We’re here. Gria Volcano’s ahead.”

Not her first time, but Meng Linna still hated this place.

“So hot.”

Without hesitation, she stripped to her underwear.

Na Naya grimaced.

“I get you’re hot, but really?”

She was sweaty too but held it together.

“Less nagging. You’d better strip too.”

Meng Linna didn’t explain.

She dragged supplies from the carriage, slipping into a heat-resistant suit.

Ji Jige nodded approvingly.

“You knew to wear a heat suit. You’ve been here before, Little Meng.”

She swapped her outer bishop robe for a heat suit, keeping some dignity.

“Tch.”

Grumbling, Na Naya donned her suit.

For pride, she kept her outer clothes.

The fireproof suit was heavy and stuffy.

A small cooling array inside helped, barely preventing heatstroke.

Suited up, Ji Jige eyed Meng Linna.

“So, your info says the heretics are in a village mid-mountain?”

Meng Linna’s past-life memory confirmed it.

But…

Na Naya’s Flame Giant Whip came to mind.

Shouldn’t it still be enshrined in that village?

Had the worldline shifted?

She panicked but hid it.

“Based on my info, yeah.”

Na Naya, listening, was baffled.

This potion-making adventurer knew about western border heretics?

Seeing Ji Jige’s serious face, she stayed quiet.

“Got proof?”

Meng Linna shrugged.

“Nope. Just my word.”

Ji Jige paused at her bluntness, then smiled.

“Bold. I wouldn’t believe you if I didn’t have similar intel.”

“Should I thank your trust?”

“No need. Let’s move.”

Ji Jige stayed behind Meng Linna.

This little nun acted too familiar, not like a typical noble daughter.

More like a seasoned church veteran who knew they couldn’t touch her.

Meng Linna fit Ji Jige’s taste, but as a cardinal, she wasn’t swayed by beauty.

She was wary of this nun barging into her circle.

If Meng Linna offered herself, fine.

But using her? No way.

With this caution, Ji Jige let Meng Linna lead.

Meng Linna knew Ji Jige’s suspicions but wasn’t fazed.

She’d fought these heretics in her past life.

They were weak.

Leading was no issue.

“The village is ahead.”

Meng Linna reported early.

“Rush in or talk first?”

“Hold on.”

Ji Jige sat, pulling a holy bell from her suit.

Chanting slowly, a small lava rat emerged.

After a brief chat, it scurried toward the village.

Meng Linna knew Ji Jige had druid-like nature communion skills.

But this was her first time seeing it in a volcano.

In her past life, no lava rat scouted.

They’d stormed in, wiping out the heretics.

She’d assumed no animals here could commune.

Ji Jige’s nature school stemmed from druids.

Once deemed heretics, druids joined the church after seeing the power gap, forming the nature school.

The lava rat returned.

“No issues?”

Ji Jige’s gaze, more suspicious than curious, fixed on Meng Linna.

Meng Linna shrugged.

“Your call. I’m just the intel. Don’t trust me? Let’s head back.”

Kidding.

Was a cardinal some idle fool?

Meng Linna’s words left Ji Jige no retreat.

She had to push forward.

“Clever talk.”

Ji Jige fell for it.

“We’re here. No turning back. Let’s question them first.”

Without further debate, Ji Jige led them toward the village.

Ahead, unnoticed, Meng Linna smirked.

Ji Jige was still so easy to play.

A few words, and she was hooked.

If she were smarter, she could’ve been the next pope.

But that was far-fetched.

Meng Linna tucked her Crystal Saint Bell into her suit’s pocket, ready for battle.

Trailing behind, Na Naya’s mood was complex.

Meng Linna’s obvious taunt had Ji Jige, a cardinal, wrapped around her finger.

As much as she hated to admit it, Scumbag Miss was a master manipulator.

She knew how to nudge people into her desired choices.

As a former junior under Meng Linna, Na Naya knew it well.