We exit the Temple as dawn begins to break over the Capital.
The rescued victims are taken to a secure location where healers can tend to their physical and ntal wounds.
The four captured cultists are brought to a different facility entirely—an interrogation chamber deep beneath the Royal Palace.
I stand before them now, studying their faces.
Three n and one woman, ranging in age from their twenties to their fifties.
Their tongues are intact, and I have hope that their minds are still capable of providing with so answers.
"Where are the others?" I ask, keeping my voice level.
"We found so of the missing people, but not all of them. Where are the rest?"
The cultists remain silent, staring at with expressions of defiant hatred.
"Your Temple is destroyed," I continue. "Your ritual was interrupted. Your fellows are dead. You have nothing left to protect. So tell —where are Seraphina Mornantte, Sir Jonathan, Prince Claus, and Lord Dracus Krawford?"
Still nothing.
"We can make this easy," I say. "Or we can make it very, very difficult. The choice is yours."
The woman finally speaks, her voice hoarse.
"If they’re not among those we captured..." She smiles, showing bloodstained teeth. "Then they’re already gone. Used. Consud by the ritual. Nothing remains of them but echoes."
"You’re lying."
"Am I?" Her smile widens. "Search all you want, Knight. You won’t find them. They served their purpose and were discarded. Just like you’ll be discarded when our Leviathan Lord finally awakens."
The other cultists nod in agreent, their expressions eerily unified.
I don’t believe them.
Sothing in their eyes—a flicker of uncertainty, perhaps, or fear—tells they’re not revealing everything.
"Very well," I say quietly. "If you won’t talk willingly, then we’ll do this another way."
I turn to the guards stationed at the door. "Prepare the chamber. We’re beginning enhanced interrogation."
The cultists’ confident expressions falter slightly.
They should be afraid.
*******
Three days later, I erge from the torture chamber.
"Haaa..." I exhale deeply while staring down at my limbs.
My hands are clean—I made sure to wash thoroughly—but I can still feel the phantom sensation of blood on my skin. The screams of the cultists echo in my mory, joining the chorus of other terrible sounds I’ve accumulated over my two lives.
Klein waits outside, his expression carefully neutral. "Did you learn anything?"
"Yes," I say. "Though I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news yet."
The cultists broke eventually.
Everyone does, given enough ti and the proper application of pressure. What they revealed, however, raises more questions than it answers.
And the answer they gave offers very little in terms of comfort, but brings with it a fair share of worries.
"There’s a good chance that Seraphina and the others are still alive." I start off by telling Klein this, causing him to sigh in deep relief.
I can’t bla him.
Although he certainly cares about saving others, his wife remains his priority.
"The Temple we raided isn’t their only one. In fact, these guys are actually low-ranking mbers of the Enlightened Witnesses of Truth. We haven’t caught the big fish yet. That’s likely where all the important prisoners were taken to."
"Oh, so you an—"
"Yes." I smile wryly. "They were taken sowhere else."
But this is a place even the cultists don’t know.
They only refer to it as "The Threshold."
Apparently, it is a place where the boundaries of reality grow thin.
A domain where their god—the Leviathan Lord they worship—can reach through from whatever dinsion it inhabits.
Naturally, I know this is likely a great exaggeration ford from their deeply religious and superstitious minds, but there are truths that can be gleaned from this knowledge.
The Temple was never the main location.
It was just a gathering place, a recruitnt center so to speak.
It was a staging ground for the newest and lowest mbers to prove themselves with their first ever ritual in preparation for their continuous journey towards enlightennt.
The Threshold is where the true horror lies.
How infuriating.
"Looks like we’re back to the drawing board again..." Klein sighs in deep frustration, flicking his glasses slightly.
But I shake my head silently.
’I wouldn’t be too sure about that now.’
After all, I received so additional information while torturing them.
It’s about their patron.
—Lord Leviathan!
’Just as I suspected, they aren’t the ones actually participating in the abductions. Their words implied a higher existence bestowing it onto them...’
In their own words:
"The ssenger of God leaves sacrifices for us to use. We are reliant on his blessings. He cos and goes like the wind. We cannot comprehend his machinations. Glory to the Eternal Witnesses of Truth. Adoration be bestowed upon God and his ssenger. Tribute be given to the Leviathans—the ones who move the world."
Those ramblings ca off as religious nonsense at first, until I chose to peel the layers and interrogate them on it.
This revealed a more literal dinsion to their claims.
’The abducted individuals actually appeared within the Temple at the designated ti. The mysterious appearance of the sacrifices was all the proof that these people needed, thus they believed a ssenger of God brought them as lambs to be slaughtered.’
This tells a lot.
For one, since no Trace Elents were left behind after the sacrifices showed up, I am definitely dealing with a Leviathan here.
Secondly, since the Temples were locked and there were no signs of entry—sothing that could happen if a couple dozen people were mysteriously brought in, then this can’t be the work of Frontflow.
The nature of the action leads to a single direction based on my knowledge.
—Tracing!
The Leviathan involved is either a Leaper or a Harbinger.
Considering how extrely rare Harbingers are, the likely possibility is that this Leviathan belongs to the Leaper Pathway.
Soone who can travel forward and backward in ti... and can also travel through locations they once visited.
That is who I am dealing with.
Frightening!
Unfortunately, this is the most I have been able to deduce for now.
I am still unaware of the Rank of this Leviathan or the specifics associated with them.
Their intentions are also not clear.
A Cult sacrificing humans and eating them—what kind of gain be associated with such acts of barbarism?
Surely, this Leviathan would be aware that paranormal kidnappings of this frequency, targeted at high mbers of society, will draw so attention.
So what could be their true goal?
I can’t say.
’My biggest suspect is the Leaper from Zarius’ notes, but there’s no way to track that person down. I’ve arrived at a dead end again. Which ans my only other clue is the one I have been saving as a last resort...’ I stare emptily into space and rember an incident that happened when I was still a student.
"Klein, do you rember the Royal Academy Incident?" I ask him all of a sudden, and he looks at with mild confusion.
"Yes. Alaric—"
"There could be so ties between the deceased professor and the Enlightened Witnesses of Truth. Both of these parties believe in the existence of Leviathans and have taken extre actions due to their devotion."
"Leviathans... huh?"
Klein is still unaware of my identity as a Leviathan, but his exposure to this case has made him very familiar with the concept.
"I’ll have to trouble you to help with sothing regarding his research while I pursue another clue."
"I thought it was all destroyed."
I shake my head.
"That is extrely doubtful. The Royal Family would have surely kept tabs on them and kept so for research. I’ll give you a letter which you will show the Royal Family. Once you do, you’ll be authorized to gather all the information regarding Alaric and his interaction with Leviathan studies and research. Even the materials and journals in his estate count."
"Okay..."
"If we’re lucky, we might be able to draw a direct link between the two parties.".
"Understood. I’ll do my best!"
Determination forms on Klein’s face yet again, and I can see his passion swelling at an astronomical pace.
It pains to give him this much hope regarding such a vague alternative.
But it can’t be helped.
’We’ve run out of options and ti.’
"What about you, Javier? What clue will you be pursuing?" Klein asks with a rather curious gaze.
I smile.
’, huh? I’m about to make yet another selfish request of Ciel.’
Indeed...
I wish for her to use Higher Divination again.
’It was dangerous the last ti, but now that I know Lady Anastasia has my back in this matter, I can use this connection to fast track my progress.’
If I could get a major clue from Lady Anastasia, we’ll make significant progress in this case.
Of course, the problem remains whether or not Ciel is going to agree to this.
She was pretty spooked after the last ti.
Oh well...
I still have to try.
Ti, I suppose, will tell.
*****
Much to my relief, Ciel agreed to the Higher Divination, and we left for the sacred cave not too long after.
Unfortunately, my joy was not fated to last very long.
Because—
"The Higher Divination failed."
Ciel sighs as she slowly descends from her floating state.
She walks on the clear lake and returns to my side, shaking her head in both disappointnt for and relief for her sake.
"I see..."
Perhaps I should be more surprised about this outco, but a part of deeply suspected it.
Why?
For one, Lady Anastasia could have given Ciel more information about the Enlightened Witnesses of Truth during the last Higher Divination... but she didn’t.
She is also a Leviathan, one higher in Rank than , so I don’t expect her to succumb to my will.
I simply cannot ’use’ her.
There’s also the possibility that this Leviathan has a higher rank than Lady Anastasia or maybe they have a special barrier, perhaps even a Potion with such a concealing effect, but I find this very doubtful.
If it were a normal Divination, perhaps this could be the case.
But Higher Divination is special.
And since Lady Anastasia could provide us with answers before, she should not be inferior to this Leviathan.
That’s what I think, at the very least.
’In any case, it seems Lady Anastasia expects to resolve the situation with the hints she already gave .’ I sigh deeply, thanking Ciel for her efforts while contemplating my next move.
I don’t have much left to play.
Now that it has co to this, I suppose Professor Alaric Duskryn and his obsession with Leviathans are the only things left to count on.
Hopefully, Klein has made so progress.
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