"Continue. What does this group represent?"
The other person's gaze became distant. Even when mentioning the name, Sean could see a state of fear appearing above the girl's head.
"Is it related to the ancient gods? Are the followers of the ancient gods active in the northern part of the empire?" Sean suddenly asked.
The sudden state of the girl before him closely resembled what was commonly seen in Takoma City at the time. This reminded him that the followers of the ancient gods might not only be active in the Basharan Empire but also in other countries. Without effective countermeasures, it would be difficult to completely eradicate them.
Sean used a calming spell, tapping Darshi on the shoulder, and her fear instantly vanished.
She looked up at him with a very complex expression.
But there was more hatred in her eyes. If she had enough food to regain her strength, Sean believed this girl would not hesitate to take him down with her.
"You're lying. This thing wasn't found on our companions. You want to frame us so you can execute us in front of your beloved people and make it look justified." She had quite an imagination, Sean had to admit.
Honestly, Sean hadn't thought of that approach.
The Olo region, due to past events, had always been both fearful and hateful of the ancient gods' followers. Using the excuse of involvement with them to deal with these people might even earn him some goodwill, winning back the favor of those who had turned against him.
"You've given me an idea, but dealing with you is easy for me. I don't need to perform in front of any people. On the contrary, seeing you pretend not to believe the handwriting of your own companions is what truly opens my eyes." Sean sneered, putting away the thick paper. If she wouldn't talk, he would have to wait for Freya to send someone or find a knowledgeable wizard in Olo City.
"They are Borg people."
Just as he was about to leave, he heard the girl behind him finally speak.
"Borg people?"
Looking at her face in the firelight, it was already filthy beyond recognition.
She had been eating, drinking, and relieving herself in this cramped cell. Honestly, if her voice weren't so soft, Sean wouldn't have even bothered to come closer.
The smell was too strong, too unpleasant.
"Be specific. And those cultists you mentioned earlier—are they followers of the ancient gods?" Sean's questioning only provoked her displeasure, and she deliberately kept silent.
"Even if you don't tell me, it doesn't matter. I already know you're targeting me to curry favor with the Borg people. The Borg are ready to strike in the north, but a simple external attack won't easily conquer the Basharan Empire, which has stood for centuries. So they need insiders. If I'm not mistaken, you are those insiders. But given the Borg's general distrust of us, they need you to prove your loyalty, right?"
Sean looked at her. The clues from the past few days had connected everything.
He had initially thought it was just a conflict between two empires and internal strife, but he hadn't expected the booklet he received today to involve the ancient gods. That required deeper investigation.
Even now, facing such an existence, Sean felt a profound sense of helplessness. He could think of no way to counter the ancient gods. Even the power of the Gehros Eye could at most take down a few followers. If the ancient gods themselves appeared, nothing short of Gehros's own arrival could face them.
"So the Borg need you to do something—preferably kill a high-ranking noble in the region. That would fully commit you to the battlefield. But since your forces are scattered and can't effectively target local nobles, you traveled all the way to my city. Olo City is newly established and suffered heavy losses in the last incident. You thought this city would be the most likely to rebel."
Sean laid out the rebels' plan plainly. Based on the clues from the past few days, this was likely correct.
"But—"
"I didn't expect you to dabble in the power of the ancient gods. That's something humans shouldn't touch. Bringing it in will only bring endless disaster. Your talk of liberating the suffering masses is just a lie to ease your own conscience. In truth, you're just as bloodthirsty." Sean said coldly.
"I don't know anything about followers of the ancient gods! That's the Borg, not us!"
Sean's words seemed to enrage the girl, who screamed in a hoarse voice.
"Then what is this?" He pointed at the thick paper in his hand.
"I don't know either. They call it the Lovecraft Pendant—something that makes the body stronger. I only heard someone mention it in a meeting. The Borg have been searching for it, but I didn't know it had anything to do with the ancient gods."
There was no sign of lying on her face. She was probably telling the truth.
She likely didn't even know how followers of the ancient gods had infiltrated the revolutionary army, and that those followers were her own companions.
"What are they looking for these things for?"
She fell silent again, glaring at him fiercely.
"They're looking for many things, but I won't tell you a single one!"
"Ah!"
Sean squeezed her face hard. For a moment, he truly felt like killing her.
He took a deep breath.
"Fine. Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out eventually. But you haven't realized it yet. If the Borg are really here to find ancient god artifacts, you're just one of their sacrifices. Victory? Hah, a huge joke."
Sean released her and walked straight to the cell door.
"Chaos will begin, and you'll all die at the hands of those you once oppressed. You're so capable, aren't you? Go find it yourself. I heard the Borg most want a silver key that shines under the moonlight. Find it, and you'll know everything."
Darshi's mocking laughter came from inside the cell.
"Is that so? Then let's make a bet—on whether the empire or you will survive to the end. Take good care of her. Move her to a cleaner place. I don't want her dying just yet." He said to the soldiers at the door.
"Yes, Count."
He left the cell with a heavy expression.
Meanwhile, somewhere on the northern border of the Basharan Empire, all soldiers on the tall border walls were ready.
The wind was strong today. Winter seemed near.
In previous years, this was the time for cities to stockpile food for the winter. Now, they faced a greater threat.
"How many are there?" A general stood at the highest point of the wall, gazing at the dark mass in the distance.
"Countless."
The sound of cannon fire echoed from afar.
"Take cover!"
Soldiers shouted loudly.