Chapter 82: The Elders’ Secret

“What does this mean?”

Alice was full of suspicion. Following Anjie’s gaze, she looked at Chloe.

A cool breeze brushed against Chloe’s skin. She hugged herself and shuddered.

Anjie withdrew her gaze, then turned to fix her eyes on Alice. “We Elders don’t originally belong to this world.”

“…What did you say?”

Constantine’s eyes widened, her face a mask of disbelief.

“The empire was created by our god, Xia Ni, and the Elders were likewise his creation, with the position passed down through generations until three hundred years ago, correct?”

“Nonsense. That’s straight out of the history books. Do you think you’re talking to a child? Get to the point!” Alice said angrily.

How had Chloe become a deity? That question was still unresolved.

“Aren’t you curious why we can retain eternal youth, while those Original Orderers have aged beyond recognition?”

“Isn’t it because they abandoned the old god?” Chloe asked.

“No… Before the empire’s collapse, the Elders’ lifespan was normal. My mother was once an Elder. Our ages were locked only after the old god became inactive.”

Chloe frowned, resting her chin on her hand as she savored Anjie’s words.

“Inactive?”

Constantine shook her head, clearly not understanding.

Alice pondered for a moment. She lifted her eyes, a glint flashing within them.

“You mean, for some unknown reason, the old god stepped away from the observer’s role—that in his world, we were ‘paused’?”

Anjie nodded approvingly.

“As expected of Alice. And from what I’ve gathered, the Original Orderers believe that Augustus is the native god of this world, while the old god Xia Ni is a foreign god.”

“Wait! Isn’t there only one god in the world?!”

Una opened her mouth wide. As a fanatic, she couldn’t accept the existence of multiple gods.

Anjie ignored Una’s protest. She paused and revealed a new fact: “In any case, the Original Orderers found a new god named Summer.”

Anjie gently stroked the silver scale.

“So after believing in the new god, their time began to ‘flow’ again?” Alice responded.

Chloe didn’t understand why the Original Orderers would do such a thing. It was practically asking for death. So she asked, “What’s the use of that, besides turning them into old hags?”

“If I could understand them, I wouldn’t be standing here. But the Original Orderers are indeed focused on collecting these scales. There might be something deeper. Every one we take is one less for them.”

Anjie handed the scale to Chloe. Chloe took it and felt it was a bit hot.

“Master, I leave it to you.”

“I told you not to call me master!”

Chloe was Xia Ni, and Caesar was Summer—a secret only she knew.

Could this be a game world? If so, Xia Ni was indeed the empire’s founder.

Observation paused? Could it be because Xia Ni had been summoned to this world?

So much information flooded into Chloe’s mind like a torrent. She felt a headache coming on.

The stench of rotting corpses only made Chloe more uncomfortable. She took deep breaths, trying to fill her lungs with every trace of fresh air.

This was awful. She just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, to return to Avros, to Sirena Castle, to her soft, cozy bed.

“Let’s regroup with Wuxu.”

Chloe’s proposal quickly met with unanimous agreement. Anna was the first to raise her hand; she had already moved far away, afraid of catching the stench of corpses.

“You all go. I’ll wait here for the Cardinal Bishop to return.”

Constantine placed her sword on the ground and sat down cross-legged.

“Are you crazy?”

Anjie stared at Constantine in disbelief.

“I won’t stop until I uncover the truth behind Alena’s incident.”

Constantine tied her long gray hair into a ponytail, her eyes fixed resolutely on the distance.

Staying here was suicide! Even Anjie had been injured; going solo was even more dangerous for Constantine. No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t withstand a swarm of enemies.

Chloe was about to speak when Alice shook her head helplessly and said, “Let her stay here. That woman is as stubborn as a mule. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Constantine said simply.

Chloe didn’t want Constantine to leave the group. Her strength was extraordinary, her individual combat power terrifying. Losing her would be like losing an arm.

No, she had to take Constantine with her.

“Avros. The truth about Alena lies buried in Avros.”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Chloe. Her heart was in her throat.

“What do you mean?”

Constantine stared at Chloe, her tone icy.

Crap!

Those words had slipped out before Chloe had even thought through the rest.

“Alena wouldn’t have gone there for no reason!”

“Wasn’t she there for you? What else could she have encountered?”

Damn it! Anjie was undermining her, and with a broad smile on her face.

No—that was her hint to Chloe!

“Alena was already severely injured when she met me. I don’t think an ordinary knight or soldier could have inflicted such damage.”

“You mean… she encountered something on the way?” Alice asked.

Chloe nodded firmly. She had to seize this hard-won opportunity. “Yes. If we go to Avros, we’ll find the truth. So… Constantine, come back with us!”

Chloe closed her eyes nervously. Her reasoning was too flimsy; Constantine would never believe her.

“I’ll have the head maid prepare a soft bed and complete bathing facilities for you. You can enjoy all kinds of teas and delicacies every day!”

She felt like a tour guide, rambling about irrelevant things.

Constantine sighed. She stood up, lifted her sword, and fastened it to her belt.

Huh? What was this? Did it actually work?

“Rather than staring at those beasts, I’d rather be with you all. It’s more comfortable.”

Constantine’s blue eyes fixed on Chloe, the tightness around her mouth slightly easing.

“Yay!”

Chloe excitedly high-fived Una.

“Then can Una debate theological propositions with you?”

“All ears,” Constantine said flatly.

Alice sidled up to Constantine, looking at her with suspicion.

“This isn’t like you.”

“I thought you’d dig your heels in here,” Anjie said, her smile fading as she spoke coldly.

“Since Alena decided to trust Chloe, so will I. Besides, I’ve already started to like that girl.”

“Ah, what do you plan to do to my master?”

“Hey! She’s mine!” Alice’s tone was full of displeasure.

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