Chapter 46: A Misunderstood Alliance

One of the individuals, toiling in the distance to clear a new path alongside others, seemed to perceive something, prompting him to cast a glance over his shoulder.

The moment he registered the potent aura radiating from Gern, he couldn’t help but utter a low curse.

“Who’s this imbecile? These people are already dead, so they’re dead. Why bother risking their lives? And now he’s even exposed his identity!”

He gritted his teeth, a realization dawning on him. The aura emanating from Gern was undeniably formidable, suggesting he might be a high-ranking official within their cult.

If he could only make a good impression on the superior, perhaps his own standing within the organization could see a significant elevation.

Besides, the individuals surrounding him had all been ‘seeded,’ meaning he could easily slip away to complete his own mission there.

“Tsk, never mind that! Currying favor with the superior is the priority right now.”

“Kraken, where are you off to?”

“I’m going to lend them a hand. You all carry on with your work.”

****

Man and serpent remained locked in a tense standoff for a fleeting moment, neither daring to make the first move. It was precisely then that a sudden shout erupted from behind Gern.

“Allow me to assist you!”

Gern glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see someone wielding a pitchfork, their body covered in…

‘Wrong channel,’ he thought. It was, in fact, a young man clad in a long robe, standing atop the earthen bridge Lilia had constructed.

To Gern’s surprise, following that very shout, the colossal serpent actually recoiled two steps before slithering deep into the jungle’s embrace.

The young man, having just arrived and utterly oblivious to the preceding events, mistakenly believed his own shout had been enough to frighten off the massive snake, a notion that filled him with no small amount of smug satisfaction.

Gern’s lips twitched, utterly at a loss for words regarding the individual before him.

“May I inquire as to your identity?”

“Oh, my lord, I am a newly inducted member of the Heretic God Cult, and one of the operatives tasked with executing the current infiltration plan into Theoviga Academy.”

“Ah? No, hold on a moment…”

Gern felt as though his cerebellum had been dealt a resounding blow. The person standing before him was a spy sent by the Heretic God Cult.

‘No matter how one considered it, such a revelation should never be uttered so openly,’ he mused.

Gern was utterly bewildered by the man’s straightforward self-introduction. The man, however, misinterpreted Gern’s stunned silence as an air of aloof superiority, and thus continued.

“My lord, for this operation, we are all meant to proceed separately. Should the organization discover that we two are operating within the same unit, I trust you are well aware of the repercussions.”

“I implore you, my lord, to depart swiftly. This area can be safely entrusted to my care.”

Gern blinked his large, violet eyes, and a sudden realization dawned upon him. The man before him had likely witnessed the martial arts he employed, leading him to mistakenly assume Gern was also a member of the Heretic God Cult.

Having pieced together the misunderstanding, Gern gazed at the deferential young man before him, a mix of amusement and exasperation bubbling within him.

Feigning solemnity, he offered a slow nod before speaking.

“Indeed, a point I am well aware of. However, the plan has undergone a significant alteration, and I am here to apprise you of it.”

“Ah? Is… is that truly the case?”

The man’s brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

“Yes. There are far too many outsiders nearby. Approach me, and I shall clarify everything.”

“Oh, right.”

Upon hearing Gern’s instruction, the man drew closer without a moment’s hesitation. A chilling, sinister curve played upon Gern’s lips as he swiftly shattered the man’s defenses with a single strike, pinning him to the ground with one hand.

“My… my lord, what is the meaning of this?”

The man was still reeling, his mind a chaotic jumble, when Gern effortlessly hoisted him fully off the ground.

“Meaning? I harbor no other intention than to present you before them, for you to atone for your transgressions.”

The young man finally, belatedly, grasped the situation, his face contorting with a sudden surge of terror and fury.

“You… you’ve betrayed the Cult!”

“Indeed? One might certainly phrase it that way.”

Gern offered an enigmatic nod, neither confirming nor denying, before dragging the man directly before the gathered onlookers.

Upon seeing the individual Gern held captive, a flicker of bewilderment crossed the eyes of everyone present.

“Gern, what exactly is happening here?”

Lilia’s gaze was brimming with confusion, a sentiment echoed by Sina and Hera, who stood beside her.

Hera, in particular, who was not intimately acquainted with Gern, harbored a distinct wariness in her eyes, stemming from her previous observation of him utilizing the Heretic God Cult’s martial arts.

Witnessing the scene, the surrounding individuals quickly converged, and upon seeing Gern with the man he held aloft, the collective emotions of the group erupted.

“Boy! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Release him at once!”

“He is our brother, one who has endured trials and tribulations alongside us! Are you truly intent on provoking a conflict with us?”

The clamor surrounding them grew deafening. Gern’s gaze swept deliberately across each face in the crowd, a flicker of irritation stirring within him.

“Everyone, please calm yourselves and listen to me. This individual is a member of the Heretic God Cult…”

Gern’s explanation was cut short as Anthony spat disdainfully. He stepped forward, directly confronting the imposing aura of a Klett third-order knight.

“You claim our brother belongs to the Heretic God Cult, and so he is? By that logic, if I declare you a Heretic God, does that make it true?”

“Precisely!”

“It’s entirely possible this man is a spy sent by the Heretic God Cult, deliberately employing this tactic to sow discord and suspicion among us.”

Several of those present were individuals who had previously joined Anthony in provoking Gern.

The Heretic God Cult member, still suspended in Gern’s grasp, heard the chorus of refutations and was suddenly struck by an ingenious idea.

“Everyone, I’ve been gravely wronged! I merely observed this esteemed brother struggling, and so I intended to offer my assistance.”

“To my astonishment, however, I witnessed this esteemed brother employing the power of the Heretic God Cult. He… he wishes for me to impersonate a cult member, to conceal the myriad atrocities he has committed!”

The moment these words left his lips, a wave of nods rippled through the crowd, everyone unequivocally siding with the Heretic God Cult member.

“What more could you possibly say in your defense?”

“You lapdog of the Heretic God Cult, prepare to die!”

The individual lunged forward, eager to engage Gern in combat, but was swiftly restrained by his vigilant teammates.

Gern, after all, was a third-order knight, capable of clashing head-on with a fourth-order magical beast and even repelling it.

Such an impressive feat would leave even most seasoned third-order knights humbled.

As for them, they were uniformly second-order knights. The disparity between these individuals and Gern was akin to the vast chasm separating a disorganized rabble from a disciplined, formidable army.

Watching the volatile situation unfold, Gern merely raised an eyebrow, unfazed. He had, in truth, long prepared himself for such an outcome.

His presence here was not solely for his own sake, but also for the multitude of young people currently being corrupted by the insidious influence of the Heretic God Cult.

Should this present company prove themselves utterly intractable, he would not hesitate to cast aside all notions of leniency.

Gern’s gaze steadily hardened, growing frigid, just as the crowd’s clamor reached a fever pitch, demanding that Gern be brought to justice.

From the periphery, Lilia instantly stepped forward.

“Everyone, please quiet down. I firmly believe that Mr. Gern would never deceive us.”

She was well aware of Gern’s past grievances with the Heretic God Cult, and considering his conduct over the past while, she was utterly convinced he was no cultist.

With the princess of the kingdom herself stepping forward to speak, the dissenting voices around them subsided considerably. Yet, the gazes directed at Gern by many still held an undeniable glint of suspicion.

Sina, who had remained silent throughout, found her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. The young man’s tall, resolute figure from moments ago refused to leave her mind, as if it had been indelibly seared into her memory.

After a brief pause, Sina finally steeled her resolve, taking a slow step forward before speaking in a measured tone.

“I, too, believe Gern. He would not deceive us.”