Chapter 7: The Last Supper

“What do you mean?”

Lin Lan’s voice suddenly turned ice-cold.

“The Purifying Temple knows everything that’s happening in this world, my dear,” Murphyxia said gracefully as she approached Lin Lan’s camp bed. The hem of her robe traced a graceful arc on the rough ground.

She took from her chest a silver badge engraved with the Temple’s runes and placed it before Lin Lan.

“You seem to have some misunderstandings about the Purifying Temple.”

“The doctrine of the Temple is to cleanse the filth of the world and guide the lost lambs back into the embrace of the holy light. We are fundamentally different from a place like Eisenberg, which relies on violence and oppression and desecrates life.”

“And right now, your little treasure is locked up in Eisenberg by Seraphina…” Murphyxia deliberately paused, her fingers lightly stroking the silver badge. “In your current state, don’t even think about rescuing her—you can’t even get near the outskirts of Eisenberg’s slums.”

“…”

Lin Lan closed her eyes, clenched and then relaxed her fists.

No matter what intentions this divine envoy from the Temple had…

At least she confirmed one thing in Lin Lan’s heart:

Seraphina was indeed lying.

Blatantly lying.

The young woman bent slightly, a faint scent of incense drifting from her, intoxicating and elusive;

She reached out and gently brushed Lin Lan’s blood-stained cheek with a delicate touch, as if handling a fragile, precious relic.

“What you’ve lost… perhaps I can help you find it,” Murphyxia’s smile was pure and compassionate, her tone growing gentler. “We share a common enemy, don’t we?”

Lin Lan narrowed her eyes and sharply brushed her hand away, expressionless as she scrutinized this seemingly pristine woman before her.

She never believed in free lunches.

Especially when it came from the Purifying Temple…

“What do you want from me?”

The girl did not get angry; instead, her lips curled up slightly more than before, her soft voice carrying a hint of righteous indignation:

“The White Night Queen of Eisenberg—Seraphina—is not only your enemy but also a ‘lost soul’ the Temple believes needs to be ‘guided’!”

“Her greed for power, her distortion of order! And—”

Murphyxia grew increasingly impassioned.

“Cut the nonsense and lies, or I’ll cut out your tongue,” Lin Lan interrupted coldly.

“Hmm… very well,” the girl coughed lightly. “As far as I know, that child possesses extraordinarily powerful special abilities, right? And you know this well.”

Lin Lan’s face darkened even further.

This bastard was here for Mili too…

“We can cooperate, Commander Lin,” Murphyxia said as she stood, hands behind her back, her voice dropping lower. The purple robe almost swallowed the firelight outside the tent, leaving only a silver halo around her hair.

“Seraphina took her from you and imprisoned her in an icy steel fortress, trying to monopolize the divine gift.”

“That is a blasphemy against the gods! And a merciless trampling of the profound bond between you and that child!”

“The Temple only hopes that after ‘purifying’ Eisenberg, that child can receive proper guidance and, bathed in holy light, fulfill her true potential to bring blessings to this suffering world…”

“And you, as her protector, will also gain the Temple’s friendship and respect.”

“The Temple has the power and resources you need—everything: weapons, personnel, intelligence, opportunities…”

“We can help you take back what belongs to you and make Seraphina pay the price.”

Looking at Murphyxia’s kind and gentle smile, Lin Lan was filled with disgust.

But… did she have any other choice?

For Mili’s sake…

“I need time to think…” After a long moment, Lin Lan finally lowered her eyelids.

Murphyxia showed a satisfied smile and nodded slightly.

“Of course. The holy light always welcomes those who repent.”

“But my dear, don’t hesitate too long. The Temple’s patience… and your little friend’s life… are both limited.”

“I will wait for your reply outside the Oasis, Commander Lin.”

With that, she turned gracefully and left the tent as silently as she had come, leaving behind the silver badge and a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.

“Lin Jie…” the captain of the guards hesitated and called softly.

Lin Lan did not reply but gripped the silver badge tightly, staring toward the direction where Murphyxia had disappeared, a complex mixture of emotions and reflections swirling in her eyes.

…

Eisenberg.

Inside the palace in the core area.

Mili was escorted by two expressionless female guards—more accurately, they were escorts—brought before a new room.

As Seraphina had said, this room was right next to her own chamber.

Compared to the small guestroom that resembled a cell, this place was enormous, like a private apartment…

The room was spacious and bright, with a soft large bed draped in snow-white sheets, walls adorned with a blurred old-era landscape oil painting.

There was an independent bathroom, a small living room, a study, and a balcony—just furnished with a low tea table and a small lounge chair.

The balcony was surrounded by tempered glass, encased in hollow stainless steel plates, and beyond that was an endless layer of burglar-proof wire mesh…

All possible exits were sealed off; not even a mosquito could enter.

Still, the lighting wasn’t bad, and a faint airflow could be heard from the ventilation above.

“This is… a room?” Mili hesitated, turning her head to ask softly.

The guards said nothing and silently exited the room, closing the heavy metal door behind them with a dull thud.

She heard faint whispers outside—probably a shift change.

Nervously standing at the door, unsure where to put her hands and feet, Mili looked around before cautiously walking to the balcony.

This apartment was indeed, as Seraphina said, inside the palace.

Right next to her own chamber…

Through the gap of the half-drawn curtains, Mili could see a private garden outside, with a small fountain in the center.

Though the water had long since dried up, leaving only cracked gray residue at the bottom.

Feeling uneasy, Mili returned to the bedside and sat at the foot of the bed, touching the sheets, which were soft as clouds.

She was so tired.

She almost wanted to collapse on the bed and sleep deeply…

But at the thought of Seraphina’s cold and strange heterochromatic eyes, she dared not move carelessly.

Not long after, just as she was daydreaming and conflicted, the door opened again.

Two female guards walked in. One carried a tray with dinner, the other held a thick stack of books.

“Dinner and the queen’s designated reading materials,” the guard announced coldly.

After placing the tray on the table, the guard robotically retreated to the door and stood silently on guard.

The other neatly stacked the books on the small desk in the study, then handed Mili a note before leaving.

On it were a few short words:

“Inspection tomorrow. — S.K.”

Seraphina?

Karen?

Mili racked her brain to understand the note’s meaning but still couldn’t fully recall the name.

She shook her head, stood, and walked to the table, lifting the lid on the tray—

A piece of roasted meat, slightly charred.

A few green vegetable leaves.

A small steaming bowl of thick soup…

And a long white bread roll.

This… was for her?

Mili could hardly believe her eyes.

Not to mention back in the Oasis…

Even before coming here, she had never eaten such a fancy meal.

The female guards stood silently by the door, closing the metal door behind them.

“Th-Thank you…” she mustered the courage to say quietly.

They did not respond, standing motionless like statues.

It felt as if Mili was the only person left in the room.