Chapter 187: Gaze from the Starry Sky

Some time after the viscount’s mansion was reduced to ash in a great conflagration, the murderer—just as Shugin had predicted after severing the arm of the black-smoke humanoid—vanished without a trace. No further nobles fell victim to such attacks.

As for the assassin who had attempted to slay Viscount Nick amidst the chaos, only to be effortlessly dispatched by the true killer, a thorough investigation by various intelligence networks eventually uncovered the hideout where the corpse had resided in life.

Further scrutiny unexpectedly revealed traces of Seuintan spies within that very sanctuary.

The final conclusion drawn was that the man who had sought to eliminate Viscount Nick was a Seuintan operative who had attempted to exploit the notoriety of the black-smoke humanoid—the entity hunting nobles in the royal capital—to stir up greater turmoil in Alastair.

This discovery, ironically, ruled out the possibility that the black-smoke humanoid was a Seuintan agent, rendering the identity of the creature that had slaughtered several nobles yet remained at large even more inscrutable.

...

Wang Yu sat before a wooden table, leafing through the recent intelligence reports brought to him by Edward.

The text was explicit: because the black-smoke humanoid’s surface was coated in a peculiar substance that masked detection, the royal family, having exhausted various investigative avenues, had cast their suspicions upon the followers of the Lady of the Night, who possessed similar clandestine powers.

Though there was no overt persecution, a campaign of covert exclusion and suppression against the faith of the Lady of the Night was underway. Places where proselytizing had once been permitted were now watched by city guards and noble retainers, and the spread of the faith was no longer tolerated.

"So the noble investigative committee couldn't find their target, and now they’re pointing their blades at the Nightfall Church, too."

Wang Yu tapped his fingers on the key points of the report, muttering to himself as he pondered.

The royal family’s actions lacked any real basis; they were forcibly linking the Nightfall Church to the black-smoke humanoid simply because its powers bore a superficial resemblance to those of the Lady of the Night, despite there being no theoretical support for such a connection.

It was an irrational targeting, yet the royal family held absolute authority in Alastair. Though Wang Yu felt a surge of irritation, he found himself with few options.

There was still no word from the Shadow of the Royal Capital, but according to Edward, it wasn't just the followers of the Lady of the Night on the surface who were being targeted; recently, unfamiliar faces had been seen loitering near the underground gathering spots of the Shadow.

While they hadn't moved directly against the Nightfall Church yet, the pressure mounting from all sides was a significant obstacle to the spread of the Lady of the Night’s faith.

"The most troublesome part is within the Blades of Night. The royal family has recently made several moves against the Blades—a force they previously left to operate with relative freedom to maintain order in the capital. This includes probing how many members are followers of the Lady of the Night and investigating the effects of the 'Prayer Communication Network' on mental corruption."

Wang Yu summarized the situation based on Edward’s intelligence.

"I don't get it. Does the faith of the Lady of the Night really bother the royal family that much? Is it worth this much effort to target them?" Wang Yu clicked his tongue, feeling deeply restless.

"Wang Yu, it might be because of the 'Seal of the Heavenly Gloom.' That thing was branded onto the Blades of Night with the royal family's help," Avia, who sat opposite him listening to the report, reminded him.

"Is that so... indeed..."

Wang Yu paused for a moment. He hadn't considered that angle, but at Avia’s prompting, he realized it immediately.

He had never truly regarded the "Prayer Communication Network" as anything more than a tool for resisting mental corruption and facilitating contact between believers. Even when Shugin repeatedly emphasized that the network would bring about a transformation for the Blades of Night, Wang Yu had only viewed it as significant because it mitigated the threat of mental corruption.

But under Avia’s guidance, Wang Yu understood the other layer of the "transformation" Shugin spoke of, beyond the mere act of ignoring mental corruption.

The "Prayer Communication Network" had helped the Blades of Night break a shackle—a shackle placed upon them by the royal family.

The "Seal of the Heavenly Gloom," which could have been used to shatter the souls of the Blades of Night under the pressure of mental corruption and render them useless, had lost its efficacy under the influence of the "Prayer Communication Network."

The royal family had lost a vital means of controlling this organization—the Blades of Night—which possessed undeniable power and a certain transcendent nature. Such uncontrollability was something the royal family could not tolerate.

Yet, the kingdom still needed the Blades of Night; it still needed these people who fought for its sake. Thus, they could not move directly against the Blades.

The royal family could only seek other ways to weaken the influence and utility of the "Prayer Communication Network" within the Blades of Night.

"Damn it, no wonder they’re going after the faith of the Lady of the Night. They’re just picking the softest persimmon to squeeze."

Exhaling, Wang Yu clenched his fist, his knuckles popping. The trouble of staying in the royal capital was mounting, and the urge to leave for somewhere else grew ever stronger.

"Clatter, clatter, screech—" Just as Wang Yu was lost in thought, the sound of a carriage horse trotting rapidly and the friction of wheels coming to a halt reached him from outside.

He exchanged a glance with the girl sitting across from him. They nodded in silent agreement; at this hour, the only person who would visit in person without using communication methods was likely that one individual...

The door was tapped gently—not hurried, but with a calm, unhurried rhythm. Wang Yu rose, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

"Greetings, Lord Wang Yu, Lady Avia. My apologies for the unannounced intrusion, but there are indeed some matters I wish to confirm with you."

A gentle, tranquil female voice drifted in from outside. The words were soft, carrying an ethereal quality that naturally put the listener at ease.

"Please, come in, Lady Serene. Are you here alone?"

Appearing at the doorway was a lady dressed with great dignity. Her hair was a peculiar, lustrous azure, long and sleek, cascading past her shoulders and bound with exquisite ornaments.

She wore a gown of gossamer fabric with a lining; the soft, delicate outer layer shimmered with bright, tiny points of light, crafted with some unknown technique that lent it an elegant hue.

Her skin was fair and translucent, her features refined. She was undeniably a beautiful woman—not with the vibrant, youthful beauty of a girl, but with a mature, seasoned charm that exuded immense poise.

Her eyes were closed, and she kept them shut even while speaking to Wang Yu and walking toward the door, making her all the more difficult to read. A faint smile played on her lips, giving her an air of affability.

And at this time, the only person who would visit Wang Yu in such attire could be one individual: the royal astrologer, Serene. This was the person the civil official had mentioned to Wang Yu, though he had not expected a visit so soon.

"Just myself. After all, this visit to Lord Wang Yu is merely to chat and understand a few things; there is no need to bring guards or the like."

Serene spoke with her eyes closed, her tone soft and gentle.

Her words betrayed an absolute confidence in her own strength. As the astrologer Serene, her status and capabilities were on par with the King’s closest ministers—those of finance and military affairs. Such confidence was only natural.

"Please, sit. The house is small, and I am ill-prepared for guests." Wang Yu pulled a chair from under the wooden table, gesturing for the astrologer to sit, while he and Avia took their places opposite her.

"Is there anything you need of a small figure like me, Lady Serene?" Wang Yu asked with practiced courtesy.

Serene lightly covered her slightly upturned lips with her hand, displaying an exceptionally ladylike demeanor, and responded with a faint smile.

"Lord Wang Yu can hardly be called a small figure. A member of the Blades of Night special operations team, a captain of the general staff, an archbishop of the Nightfall Church, and at the very least, a viscount... you are certainly no minor character."

As if reciting a list of treasures, Serene enumerated Wang Yu’s identities, both the secret and the public.

Wang Yu did not appear shocked; he merely raised an eyebrow. He had never held any illusions that these identities could be kept secret. He had never underestimated the royal family’s intelligence-gathering capabilities, and it seemed his caution had been well-founded.

"Compared to you and my captain, I am still but a small figure," Wang Yu replied with another polite nod.

"Haha, Lord Wang Yu is truly a humble gentleman. I admire you greatly. I came today simply to make the acquaintance of a person of such great potential, and to learn a little more about you."

With a light chuckle, Serene expressed her favor. Her eyes remained closed, yet Wang Yu’s keen intuition, born of his formidable senses, felt the weight of her gaze upon him.

"Yes, nothing special. I simply wish to understand some things about you as a friend."

"As for me, Lord Wang Yu may know of my peculiarities. Regarding what others tell me, the stars reveal the truth or falsehood within."

"Therefore, as a friend, I hope you and I can be candid with one another. After all, if I were to discover that you were lying to me, I would be very sad."

The tone remained peaceful, yet the underlying aggression made Wang Yu sneer inwardly.

"What kind of friend is this? Having a friend like you is my misfortune."

Outwardly, however, Wang Yu maintained a respectful demeanor, his eyes appearing exceptionally sincere.

"Of course. How could I ever deceive a respected astrologer?"

"I am delighted to have your friendship. I would like to ask: are you the creator of the 'Prayer Communication Network'?"

The tone of her voice suddenly took on an inexplicable quality, creating a sense of distance. Though she was right before him, her words seemed to drift from a very distant place—from high above, from beyond the sky, from the starry heavens...

As Wang Yu looked at Serene with sincere eyes, Serene suddenly opened the eyes she had kept closed all along. It was difficult to describe them; they were beautiful—extraordinarily beautiful. Wang Yu had to admit that her eyes were stunning.

They looked much like those colorful glass marbles sold in Earth’s general stores, filled with a dusting of diamond powder.

One must forgive Wang Yu’s poor descriptive skills, but that was the impression they gave him. For a person to have eyes like that was, in Wang Yu’s view, quite "beautiful."

Unlike Avia’s clear, bright eyes, which were as clean as a blue, cloudless sky, Serene’s eyes, fixed upon Wang Yu’s, were brilliant and unfathomable.

The starlight flickering within them, set against the backdrop of her deep purple irises, made it feel as though two vast, starry skies had converged within this lady’s gaze—profound, distant, and infinite.

To be held in the gaze of those eyes is to suffer the illusion that one’s very soul is being drawn into their depths; such is the consensus of all who have stood before Celine, the Astrologer. Her gaze pierces the spirit, a vision capable of unmasking any falsehood.

At this moment, those uniquely brilliant, starlit pupils were fixed upon Wang Yu, their profound intensity waiting for his reply.

"Different from magic, the Void, or battle aura? This is my first encounter with such a thing. Does the source of this power lie in the starry sky? Is that the origin of the title, Astrologer?"

Wang Yu paused, his mind turning over the possibilities. He felt no sensation of his soul being laid bare; to him, it was merely a look. What more could it be? A glance would hardly cost him a pound of flesh—though, he mused, some esoteric arts might indeed be capable of such things.

What he did sense were ripples passing through the air around him, a peculiar energy enshrouding his form. It was a power he had never felt before—not magic, not battle aura, and entirely unrelated to the Void. Did this power truly descend from the stars above?

It was broad daylight, the sun hung high, and the brilliant firmament was invisible; yet, whether seen or unseen, the stars remained suspended in their silent vigil.

And there, beyond the veil of daylight, it was as if an eye had opened in the heavens—or perhaps it was merely a trick of the stars’ alignment, a pattern mimicking a gaze.

Regardless, the eye was profound and hollow, a bottomless pit of infinite depth. Any soul that chanced upon it would feel themselves plummeting into an endless, terminal fall.

The "eye" turned, piercing through the layers of reality to look down upon the earth.

"What on earth is watching me? A gaze from the stars, yet it feels as though it isn't directed at me at all, but merely sweeping past. I wonder what it seeks."

Wang Yu pondered in silence. He could feel the weight of the observation, but it seemed incidental, a mere byproduct of a greater search that had brushed past him, leaving him ignored.

"No, I am not the creator of the 'Prayer Communication Network,'" Wang Yu replied without a moment’s hesitation.

"Is that so?" The brilliant eyes searched him once more, but Wang Yu remained perfectly composed.

"I see. It seems you have no intention of deceiving me, my friend." Celine closed her eyes and nodded with a faint smile.

"Then I shall not overstay my welcome. My unannounced arrival was an imposition, and to linger further would only be a nuisance to you."

She rose, seemingly satisfied with the answer, offered an apology for her intrusion, and prepared to depart.

"Not at all. You are welcome to visit us as often as you like, Ms. Celine." Wang Yu stood as well, offering a polite farewell.

"Goodbye. I shall bring a gift when I visit again," she said, waving as she turned toward the door.

"Goodbye," Wang Yu echoed, waving back.

"Wait. I haven't spoken to Miss Aivia yet. That would be quite impolite of me."

Reaching the door, Celine suddenly turned, her eyes wide open, fixing their gaze upon the girl who had been listening in silence.

"Miss Aivia, do you happen to know who created the 'Prayer Communication Network'?"

The question was soft and plain, yet under the influence of those uncanny eyes, it took on a sinister edge.

"Me? I don't know."

The girl pointed to herself, confused as to why she was being addressed, and shook her head, indicating her total ignorance of the matter.

"Ah, then it is of no consequence. I shall trouble you no further. Goodbye, everyone."

Celine closed her eyes again and turned toward the exit for the second time. This time, there was no abrupt, lingering glance.

The door clicked shut, sealing the room from the world outside.

Wang Yu sat down instantly, catching the little mage as her body went limp. He supported her back with his hand, his fingers meeting a damp sensation; at some point, Aivia’s clothes had been soaked through with sweat.

"Hoo... hoo..." The girl’s ragged breathing filled the room, only beginning to steady once Wang Yu pulled her close, letting her lean against his shoulder.

"I... I felt like I was being watched. It wasn't fear, just the sheer weight of that power. It left me breathless. But... thank goodness, the mental protection you gave me held firm."

Her words were stuttered as she struggled to regain her composure.

Wang Yu said nothing, merely clasping Aivia’s hand in his own.

"Power from the stars... this world is far too full of chaotic forces. Still, I suppose this means we’ve passed the test."