Chapter 75: The Executioner’s Path and a Grave Task

“What a favored one you are, Brother Levi.”

No sooner had Isola exited the dream than the Mad Hatter began to whistle, teasing him. “How utterly—”

“Envious?”

March Hare shot the Mad Hatter a cold glance.

The Dormouse, nestled between them, simply lowered his head and fell asleep on the tea table.

“Well, any man would feel a bit of it, wouldn’t they?”

The Mad Hatter stroked his chin, admitting it quite directly.

Seeing his frankness, the March Hare couldn’t even muster anger, only a helpless sigh.

“Is there something you wish to discuss with me?” Levi inquired.

“Before that, let’s talk about our previous agreement. I heard March Hare’s report — you passed the test, I gather? May I see the results?”

The Mad Hatter extended a hand.

Levi instinctively reached for his pocket. He always carried the soul he had reaped from Camilla with him.

Yet, in the very next instant, he was astonished to find the Devil’s Coin already resting in his palm.

“A soul’s crystal is pure materialized spirit; it can enter dreams and be transmitted at any time.”

The Mad Hatter chuckled, reaching out. “Come now, let your mentor see the spoils of your first hunt!”

Levi, with a swift flick of his wrist, tossed the soul’s crystal to him, which the Mad Hatter caught steadily.

The Mad Hatter held up the Devil’s Coin, examining it meticulously, as if appraising an ancient artifact.

“A cruel soul, laced with the agony of its demise, and from a Blessed One at that? What a marvelous combination.”

The Mad Hatter let out a strange laugh as he observed it, then tossed the Devil’s Coin back. “Excellent, you’ve passed. One task for one companion—truly a good bargain!”

Alice, hearing the Mad Hatter utter the same words she had once divined, caught the soul. “Then, what you promised…”

“Assist you in advancing? Of course, no problem. Consume that soul, and you can advance to the Eighth Order.”

The Mad Hatter pointed at Alice, instructing her.

“It’s that simple?” Alice’s eyes widened.

“It’s that simple! The Eighth Order of the ‘Abyss,’ the ‘Executioner’—also known as the ‘Hangman’—its advancement ritual is to reap a soul. The material needed for this advancement is a complete, suffering soul personally reaped by the advancer. You fully meet the conditions for advancement!”

The Mad Hatter clapped his hands, smiling.

“Executioner… that title sounds a bit brutal. What special abilities does it have?” Alice asked.

“An Executioner can demonize their hands, like this.”

The Mad Hatter raised his hands, demonstrating for Alice. “Demon Claws.”

His hands swelled and deformed, suffused with an eerie power, transforming into hideous talons. The skin and fingertips were covered in black, spiky chitin. “Demonized strength is greater than that of ordinary humans. Demon Claws are incredibly tough; they can directly grip common swords, making them an excellent ability for close combat. Furthermore, when Demon Claws scratch someone, they can inflict additional spiritual damage.”

“Spiritual damage?”

“Wounds inflicted by Demon Claws cause soul loss. The injured will experience negative emotions like despair and grief, and their thoughts will become sluggish. The more severe the injury, the stronger the effect, and this spiritual damage can accumulate. Once it reaches a certain threshold, the target’s mind will collapse, and the Executioner can then directly reap their soul.”

The Mad Hatter continued to explain. “Beyond that, an Executioner also possesses an ability to induce self-inflicted spiritual frenzy, allowing them to enter a brief state of madness. At the cost of losing some rationality, they can deepen the extent of their demonization, enhancing their strength while resisting mental control imposed by enemies.”

Levi pondered this. The power of the Eighth Order of the ‘Abyss’ was still not exceptionally potent.

In terms of pure offense, the ‘Executioner’s’ Demon Claws might not be more formidable than a ‘Cursemancer’s’ one-hit-kill voodoo doll.

However, a ‘Cursemancer’ cannot strengthen themselves. When using curse abilities, a ‘Cursemancer’s’ hands can only touch the opponent’s threads of fate; in other words, they can only extract voodoo dolls from the opponent, unable to touch any physical entity or cause damage. Against an opponent capable of resisting charm and counterattacking, this ability finds little use.

The ‘Executioner’s’ abilities, on the other hand, were well-suited for direct combat, capable of compensating for Levi’s shortcomings in that area to some extent. Additionally, mid-to-high-order Blessed Ones of the ‘Bishop’ class would possess mental interference abilities. Against such opponents, the ‘Executioner’s’ frenzy could also play a significant role.

“This ability is quite practical; you should just advance.”

As if discerning Levi’s thoughts, the Mad Hatter said with a smile, “Your power increasing will also benefit our subsequent actions. As it happens, I have a favor I’d like to ask of you now.”

“What favor?” Levi realized the conversation was turning serious.

“Actually, my adventurous trip to the Imperial City this time was to deal with a certain matter. About half a year ago, the Tea Party’s local branch had a负责人, a priest of the Abyss Church whom I knew, of the Seventh Order, a ‘Sorcerer.’”

The Mad Hatter’s tone grew serious. “Half a year ago, he guided a young man of his own kin, helping him join the Tea Party and the Abyss Church, becoming his mentor. That young man’s family had been persecuted by nobles in the past, leading to the deaths of his family members. After joining the Abyss Church and becoming a Blessed One, with his mentor’s support, he assassinated that noble, avenging his family.”

“His experience sounds a bit like mine,” Levi commented.

In this nation, those who suffered persecution due to class differences were by no means isolated cases.

“But what he did afterward was different from you. According to our subsequent investigation, he later committed at least two murders in the Imperial City, cruelly killing a noblewoman and the daughter of a wealthy merchant—we have found no other connection between him and these two victims to this day.”

The Mad Hatter’s voice deepened. “It was only then that the people at the Imperial City branch realized that those experiences had instilled in him an indiscriminate hatred for Imperial citizens, especially those of the upper class. Moreover, during the process of revenge, he likely awakened a penchant for grotesque killings.”

Levi’s eyes widened in stunned silence.

“Roughly a month ago, when his mentor first began to suspect him, he specifically interrogated him. According to reports from other members of the Tea Party branch, he confessed on the spot, crying and repenting to his mentor, begging for a chance to atone for his sins. However, by the next day…”

At this, the Mad Hatter’s gaze turned sharp. “The brothers of the Tea Party discovered his mentor had been killed, his soul reaped, and he himself was nowhere to be found. It’s presumed he used his mentor’s affection for him to ambush his benefactor; otherwise, with a one-order difference, he shouldn’t have had the opportunity. In the month that followed, two more grotesque murders occurred consecutively in the Imperial City, causing a huge stir. I imagine it won’t be long before you hear about them over there.”

“So, the favor you want me to help with is…” Levi perceived the Mad Hatter’s objective.

“His actions have severely violated the discipline of the Tea Party and the traditions of the Abyss Church. We must take responsibility and clean up our own house, which is why I specifically came to the Imperial City.”

The Mad Hatter pressed his hand to his hat, looking earnestly into Levi’s eyes. “But finding one person in such a large place isn’t easy, so we wish to borrow the power of a witch. Brother Levi, you are now a member of the Tea Party and a devotee of the Abyss Church. I hope you will accept this task.”