Chapter 623: The Fate of the Cult of Order

Chapter 623 The End of the Order of Order

Karen felt that this dragon clan family drama possessed a few too many elements, so many that if it were made into a movie, it would seem overly tedious, and the dense succession of thrills would induce aesthetic fatigue in the audience, so that by the time the film ended, the theater might be filled with the sound of snoring.

After a brief silence, Madame Anse took another puff of her smoke, propped her chin with her palm, and looked at Karen, letting out a long, seductive sound:

"Mmm..."

Auggie, delayed by who knew what, or perhaps anxious standing at the door because she had no way of knowing what was being said within the barrier Karen had set up, actually pushed open the door and walked in, looking like a silly goose.

And the moment the silly goose entered, she heard her own mother making the sound of a dragon courting toward Karen.

Furthermore, the air had in fact long been permeated by a certain secreted scent that possessed an extremely potent aphrodisiac effect.

It was just that her mother had used a special method to mask it, rendering it colorless and odorless, yet truly present.

Auggie knew very well how terrifying the influence of this scent was; after all, when any minuscule thing was paired with the massive body of the dragon race, that dosage became utterly horrific.

Yet, Auggie discovered that Karen, sitting opposite her mother, still maintained a calm expression.

For a moment, Auggie was both exasperated and amused; this young man seemed capable of maintaining his propriety no matter the occasion, invisibly degrading the person opposite him.

In truth, Karen had not detected it at all, because he had never even considered that the female dragon before him would dare to "poison" him!

And the aphrodisiac scent exhaled by Madame Anse was, soon after entering Karen's body, purified by his system as a weak form of contamination.

The only sensation it caused Karen was a slight itch on his skin, but he subconsciously assumed it was because of that puff of smoke from the special medicinal herbs of the Earth Vault Cult he had just taken.

"Tell me, Lord Minister Karen, the thrill of having a dragon submit beneath your waist, that pleasure of overriding all else—do you really not want to experience it?"

"I am curious, Madame, is it necessary for you to go this far?" Karen leaned back slightly, a composed smile appearing on his face.

In this regard, any normal person would have such needs, whether physical or spiritual, which was why Karen quite enjoyed the "choosing stockings" game between himself and Eunice, but Eunice was his fiancée.

The last time he had been close to making a mistake, feeling a slight wavering, was on Dark Moon Island facing Ophelia, when the princess of the Dark Moon Island borrowed his shoulder to temporarily rest her head, and Karen had felt an impulse in his heart to put his arm around her.

But he had restrained himself even then, let alone now.

Moreover, in the process of constantly fighting the hunger addiction, Karen's self-control in all aspects was continually strengthening; or rather, no matter what intense desire you had right now, you only needed to recall in your mind the feeling of hacking your own soul with the Scythe of War, and the whole person would instantly sober up.

"I am willing, it just depends on whether you are willing, Minister Karen."

Madame Anse leaned her body forward slightly; she was already tall and voluptuous, and the vast expanse of fair skin on her chest seemed to be the place in this world most capable of making male creatures want to sleep forever;

"Or, perhaps let my daughter join me?"

Madame Anse proposed an even more tempting suggestion.

But upon hearing these words, a wave of nausea welled up in Karen's heart.

Not everyone, upon achieving sufficient conditions, would pursue demands and enjoyment in this area like a breeding stallion; the dividing line between bestiality and humanity often lay right here.

A flash of doubt appeared in Madame Anse's eyes; she had used all her seductive methods, yet this young man before her truly felt nothing at all?

Was he even a man?

No, even if it were a woman, under the influence of the scent she radiated, they should have long been in a daze by now.

Karen spoke, "I do not think I am worth your doing this, so I want to ask why."

Madame Anse withdrew the scent, sat back up, restored her dignified posture, and answered:

"Because he admires you very much, and I trust his judgment."

"Does Madame mean that skeleton?"

"A skeleton? Yes, but I know that is not the real him."

"Just because he admires me?"

Karen knew that the skeleton did not admire him in a top-down manner, but rather revered him in a bottom-up way, though with a prefix: his future self.

"Yes, I met him a very long time ago; he is a mysterious yet highly intelligent being, and I know that the last person he admired—whom my husband went out of his way to fawn over, even going so far as to give his newly born daughter to his subordinate—that person is now the Grand Priest of the Order of Order.

Therefore, I believe that if something were to happen between you and me, or between you and my daughter, it would be of great help to my future and my daughter's future."

"Isn't that a bit too casual? I don't mean your behavior, Madame, but rather that sometimes, such things can simply be reneged on."

"No, the kind of fellow who has absolutely no sense of responsibility, who only knows how to scheme and would sacrifice everything for it, is someone he would never look highly upon; take my husband for example, I knew very early on that although he helped my husband, he never truly respected him."

"Is there anything else regarding information on that skeleton?"

"That is all; he never conceals his false identity, but that is the best concealment; if Order can find him and capture him, I would be very glad to see it."

"Regarding the matter of that skeleton, I will report it upward."

"I can cooperate with you to modify the testimony, but I feel that the part where he admires you should be a plus for you."

"It is alright; after all, the Order of Order does not lack outstanding young people, and being admired by such a character makes me worry additionally that the higher-ups might question my stance."

"Hehe, it seems you do not need this kind of blessing right now."

"Mm."

"Is your interrogation over?"

"It is over for now, but next, when my people arrive, another process will have to be gone through; regarding this matter and the dragon lineage, Order will give its own arrangements.

And what you need to do is cooperate unconditionally."

"I understand, but I also hope you can convey my request to the higher-ups."

"I will."

Madame Anse stood up, saw her daughter standing behind her as she turned, smiled slightly, and patted her daughter's buttocks with her hand as she passed by her.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound caused the glass of the office window to resonate along with it.

"My daughter, a perfect adult form, you are destined to be stronger than both me and your father; what is lacking now is merely time."

Auggie paid no attention to her mother.

"I thought your personality would be like mine, but now it seems your experience growing up in Order has made you somewhat introverted?"

Karen, sitting in his chair, shook his head slightly; it was only because Auggie's mind was in a mess right now, but in reality, Lord Auggie's personality was actually quite similar to her mother's.

Just as her mother said, she merely lacked time, just as fine Wien bean paste cannot do without the precipitation of time.

Damn it... why was he starting to use Wien analogies even when thinking to himself now?

"I will go out first, you have a chat with Minister Karen; perhaps he does not like someone of my age, but likes someone young and vibrant like you?"

"Mother, please respect yourself."

"Slap!"

The previous slap was on her daughter's buttocks, which actually carried a mother's affection for her daughter, whereas this slap struck Auggie directly across the face.

"You have no right to speak to me like that; do you know how much your father forced me to sacrifice in order to climb to that position?"

Auggie averted her gaze.

"Now that you are grown, you know how to use human etiquette and morality to restrain your mother? Do not think that only we dragons are promiscuous by nature; those tiny humans, they are the true source of all evil!"

At this point, Madame Anse turned her head to look at Karen and said apologetically, "Not referring to you, Lord Karen, I am sorry."

Karen paid her no heed.

"I will head out first, see you later, my dear daughter."

Once Madame Anser had departed, Augie pointed to the chair where his mother had previously been seated and asked, "May I sit?"

"Of course, after all, you are a turned witness."

Augie sat down and waved his hand.

This gesture caught Cullen's attention, who immediately raised his own hand, sending a plume of the Fire of Order surging upward; the flames seemed to scorch something unseen, flickering slightly and shifting in color.

"What was that?"

"An aphrodisiac."

Cullen let out a breath of relief and said, "Ah, your mother certainly is playful."

"Even an adult dragon would go into heat under such a dose, yet you feel absolutely nothing?"

"Because I carry a sacred relic of purification on my person."

Well, I myself am a purifier.

"I just went to see Miss Dana, and her life is indeed no longer in danger. I wanted to ask roughly when I might take her back."

"I do not know, that is not for me to decide, but the probability is high that you will not be able to leave for the time being."

"Why?"

"Because if your mother's performance falls apart, you will likely have to step into her place."

"Me? Is that even possible?"

"Nothing is impossible. I have yet to receive directives from above. In an extreme scenario, if our upper echelon intends to infinitely elevate this incident for a grand reckoning—such as genuinely dispatching the Knight Order—then the purged lineage of the dragons, upon seeing a kinsman raised within Order, would likely be so deeply moved to tears that they would instantly enshrine you."

"I understand." Augie stood up. "I have told myself countless times that I am merely a pet, a slave, yet for some reason, there are times when my heart still feels uneasy."

Without waiting for Cullen to reply, Augie continued:

"Perhaps you were right; it is just like how water tastes better when you add ice cubes."

Cullen frowned slightly; though Augie was repeating the very words he had just spoken, he found himself somewhat unable to grasp their meaning now.

Augie left the office.

Cullen took out a fountain pen, spinning it between his fingertips; the current sensation was actually rather pleasant, waiting for his own people to arrive on one hand, and waiting for the directives from above on the other, while he merely needed to manage the operations in the middle, keeping an eye out for whatever benefits he could reap for himself.

That contingent of Dark Moon warriors from Dark Moon Island was about to arrive, and if he truly wished to subdue and "forge" them, the cost required would absolutely be staggering.

Had Alfred not collected the historical dossier on the Grand Priest? Could he investigate how the Grand Priest had accumulated his power and developed his forces back then? If there were an example to copy blindly, things would be far more convenient.

Furthermore... didn't that skeleton say he was going to give the bone dragon to me?

Where exactly is the bone dragon now?

You said you admired me greatly, so, you wouldn't break your word, would you?

...

"Does this affair have anything to do with you?"

Inside a cavern shimmering with an eerie red luster, Commander Daan looked at the crimson sphere of light before him and asked.

Soon, a woman stepped out from within the crimson sphere, her back adorned with countless tentacles that resembled extended mucous membranes.

"I have not set foot outside for all these years, do you truly think it has anything to do with me?"

"I have not even told you what happened."

"Because I had no intention of hiding it from you; someone came to see me not long ago, hoping that I would step forward when the time comes to plead for the Crypt Cult."

"Who is he?"

"A skeleton, a most interesting skeleton. He seemed to know a few things about my past, and not only that, he understands you, Vorden, ... and even the Grand Priest, all too well."

"Then this matter has nothing to do with you. Very well, I am leaving."

"Daan, we have not seen each other for so many years, and before we can even exchange a few words, you intend to leave? Besides, I took the initiative to set the stage because I wished to continue speaking with you. You may look dull and slow, but I know that your mind was the most delicate among our group back then."

"You must realize that our failure to meet for so many years was not because I was too busy to see you, but because I simply did not wish to see you.

Furthermore, as a renegade of Order, being permitted to continue existing in this fashion is already the greatest leniency the Grand Priest has shown you out of respect for past sentiments."

"Hehehe... Daan, you have followed the Grand Priest for so long; oh, that is right, you even personally slaughtered those companions who attempted to distance themselves from him, so you should understand better than anyone what kind of person the Grand Priest we once collectively followed truly is.

He is benevolent, he is wise, he is brilliant, he is majestic, yet he simultaneously embodies the exact opposites of these virtues.

Any who dare to distance themselves from him are terminated and cleared away in the name of our old vows.

Are you not curious at all as to why I, as a traitor, was still granted the chance to live?"

"I am not curious, I believe that all of the Grand Priest's decisions have their own justification."

"Perhaps that is the reason you have all been able to accompany him to this point; many are like you, Daan, completely believing in him, even to the point where enshrining him as a deity would not be an exaggeration in the slightest, while many others are like Vorden, filled with immense awe for the Grand Priest from the very beginning.

But...

I can tell you now the reason I am still alive, because I am not a renegade, I am guiltless!"

"Morindy, what is the point of saying all this now?"

"Before, I had not figured it out, but recently, I have come to understand."

"Does it have to do with that skeleton?"

"Yes, exactly, he was willing to use his wisdom to help answer a doubt of mine."

"And you? What did you pay in return for this?"

"What did I pay?"

The crimson hue faded completely, revealing the situation in the depths of the cavern in its entirety.

Connected to the rear of Morindy's body was a colossal heart, and beneath that heart lay the gargantuan skeleton of a dragon.

Daan pursed his lips and said, "That bone dragon, you were the one who nurtured it?"

"He prepared everything; he himself is an exceptionally powerful necromancer—though of course, he may be more than just a necromancer. I merely lent a hand in passing, nurturing a little creature, and it was simply good fortune that it did not fail."

"Heh."

"Let us resume our previous topic."

"The things you are telling me now, did he ask you to tell me those as well?"

"No, they are not; these are thoughts I have been pondering continuously, and I intended to share them with you all once I had finished my reflections. Daan, are you a believer in Order?"

"Does that even need to be questioned?"

"Do you believe in the great God of Order?"

"He is the supreme and ultimate."

"Yes, exactly. In truth, on this point, I am the same as you; the reason we chose to follow the Grand Priest back then was because we believed the Cult of Order could only become stronger and more beautiful under his leadership."

"Morindy, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"What I am trying to say is, if one day, the Grand Priest we... no, the Grand Priest *you* follow, and the God of Order we believe in, were to stand on opposing sides, how would you choose?"

"Are you telling a joke? The Grand Priest of the Cult of Order and the God of Order standing on opposing sides—that is simply the greatest joke in the world!"

"Daan, have you forgotten the last mad pope of the Church of Light?"

Daan fell into a sudden silence.

"If the pope of the Church of Light could cry out that he did not believe in the actual existence of the God of Light, why must it be impossible for our own Church of Order to produce a High Priest who blasphemes the God of Order?"

"You ought to know the true identity of the High Priest."

"Mhm, of course, the great Lord Tyranus, the composer of the 'Light of Order', the compiler of the 'Decrees of Order', the concrete founder of the Church of Order.

Heh, Daan, we have both had contact with the Children of God; do you truly believe our High Priest and those Divine Children are the same?"

"The High Priest is the High Priest, beyond anything those Children of God can be compared to; in my eyes, the High Priest is the very inheritance of Lord Tyranus's will."

"Yet I have discovered that our High Priest, from a very long time ago, has been continuously suppressing the will belonging to Lord Tyranus within his own body.

The gods are about to return, the ruptured age of deities is on the verge of revival; when that time comes, the orthodox cults, the large churches, the medium churches, and the small churches—their deities and branch gods will descend one after another.

The rules of Order will suffer a severe onslaught; when that moment arrives, as the Commander of the Knights, what will you do?"

Daan smiled and said, "I shall lead my knighthood, under the guidance of the God of Order, to continue battling for Order; even if the gods return, the rules of Order shall absolutely never be permitted to be defiled!"

At the end of the previous epoch, the God of Order had already reigned supreme, and even now, the Church of Order remained the foremost faith; even if the gods returned, what could they possibly change?

"But can the God of Order return?"

"If other gods will return, why can our God of Order not return?"

"Hehehe... but what our High Priest desires to do is precisely to obstruct the return of the God of Order!

Imagine that scene, if you will: every other faith successfully receives